XXI
COLONEL ROYALL was reading an extra edition of the morning paper; it contained a full account of the attempted lynching, and the timely arrival of the militia. The colonel was smoking a big cigar and the lines of his face were more placid than they had been for a week, but his brow clouded a little as he looked down the broad driveway and saw Jacob Eaton approaching. Jacob, of late, had been somewhat in the nature of a stormy petrel. Nor did the colonel feel unlimited confidence in the younger man’s judgment; he was beginning to feel uneasy about certain large transactions which he had trusted to Jacob’s management.
The situation, however, was uppermost in the colonel’s mind? He dropped the paper across his knee and knocked the ashes out of his cigar. Jacob’s smooth good looks had never been more apparent and he was dressed with his usual elaborate care. Nothing could have sat on him more lightly than the recent verdict, and the fact that he was out on bail. Colonel Royall, who was mortified by it, looked at him with a feeling of exasperation.
“Been in town?� he asked, after the exchange of greetings, as Jacob ascended the piazza steps.
“All the morning,� he replied, sitting down on the low balustrade and regarding the colonel from under heavy eyelids.
“How is it? Quiet?� The colonel was always sneakingly conscious of a despicable feeling of panic when Jacob regarded him with that drooping but stony stare.
“Militia is still out,� said Jacob calmly, “and if the disturbances continue the governor threatens to call on Colonel Ross for a company of regulars.�
“He’s nervous,� commented the colonel reflectively. “I don’t wonder. How in the mischief did Aylett happen to be near Yarnall?�
Jacob looked pensive. “I don’t know,� he said; “I was in the rear corridor by the State’s Attorney’s room. They say Aylett was crossing the quadrangle just in front of Yarnall.�
The colonel smoked for a few moments in silence, then he took his cigar from between his teeth. “What were you doing in the corridor?� he asked pointedly.
Jacob took a cigarette out of his pocket and lit it. “I was going to Colonel Coad’s office, and I was the first to try to locate the shots outside the court-house.�
“I was in Judge Ladd’s room,� said Colonel Royall deliberately, “and I reckon that was as near as I want to be. I see by this�—he touched the paper with his finger—“that Caleb Trench induced Juniper to surrender to the authorities, and he says that he’s sure he can prove the negro’s innocence.�
Jacob laughed, showing his teeth unpleasantly. “Probably he can,� he remarked; “he’s under arrest himself.�
The colonel swung around in his chair. “Caleb Trench? What for?�
“For the assassination of Yarnall.�
“By gum!� said the colonel in honest wrath, “what rotten nonsense!�
Jacob said nothing; he continued to smoke his cigarette.
The colonel slapped the paper down on his knee. “When men’s blood is heated, they run wild,� he said. “Why, Trench was Yarnall’s counsel; he’d won the case for him—he—�
“Just so,� replied Jacob coolly; “you forget that Aylett had insulted Trench twice in court, that he despised him as heartily as I do and that Aylett was almost beside Yarnall!�
The colonel pushed his hat back on his head and thought. He knew that Eaton hated Trench, but his mind did not embrace the enormity of a hatred that could revel in such an accusation. “The charge then must be that he meant to hit Aylett,� he said, after a long moment, “and that makes him take big risks. These Yankees aren’t good shots, half of ’em.�
Jacob laughed unpleasantly. “Well, I reckon he wasn’t,� he remarked, and as his thoughts went back to a certain gray morning in Little Neck Meadow, his face reddened.
The colonel wriggled uncomfortably in his chair. “What did he want to shoot Aylett for?� he demanded.
“You’ve forgotten, I suppose, that Aylett called him a liar twice in court,� said Jacob dryly.
“He didn’t shoot you for a greater provocation,� retorted the colonel bluntly.
“He was the only man found in the court-room with the smoking weapon,� said Jacob. “Juniper ran away, and he’s been protecting Juniper,—buying him off from testifying, I reckon.�
“I can’t understand why either he or Juniper was in the court-room,� declared the colonel, frowning.
“Had good reason to be,� replied Jacob tartly, tossing his cigarette over the rail.
“See here, Jacob,� said the colonel solemnly, “I’m an old man and your relation, and I feel free to give you advice. You keep your oar out of it.�
Jacob laughed. “I’ve got to testify,� he drawled.
“Good Lord!� exclaimed the colonel.
Then followed several moments of intense silence.
“Where’s Diana?� asked the young man at last, rising and flipping some ashes off his coat.
“In the flower garden,� replied her father thoughtfully, “she’s seeing to some plants for winter; I reckon she won’t want you around.�
Jacob looked more agreeable. “I think I’ll go all the same,� he said, strolling away.
The colonel leaned forward in his chair and called after him. “Jacob, how about these stocks? Iwanted to sell out at eight and three quarter cents.�
Eaton paused reluctantly, his hands in his pockets. “You can next week,� he said; “the market’s slumped this. You’d better let me handle that deal right through, Cousin David.�
“You’ve been doing it straight along,� said the colonel. “I reckon I’d better wake up and remember that I used to know something. I’m equal to strong meats yet, Jacob, and you’ve been putting me on pap.�
“Oh, it’s all right!� said Jacob. “I’ll sell the shares out for you,� and he departed.
The colonel sat watching him. The old thought that he would probably marry Diana no longer had any attractions for him; he had lost confidence in Jacob’s sleek complacence, and the recent testimony in court had shaken it still more. Besides, he had a fine pride of family, and the verdict against Jacob had irritated and mortified him. Nothing was too good for Diana, and the fact that there was the shadow of a great sorrow upon her made her even dearer to her father. He had never thought that she had more than a passing fancy for Jacob, and lately he had suspected that she disliked him. The colonel ruminated, strumming on the piazza balustrade with absent fingers. Before him the long slope of the lawn was still as green as summer, but the horse-chestnut burs were open and the glossy nuts fell with every light breeze. Across the road a single gum tree waved a branch of flame.
He was still sitting there when Kingdom-Come brought out a mint julep and arranged it on the table at his elbow.
The colonel glanced up, conscious that the negro lingered. “What’s the matter, King?� he asked good-humoredly.
“News from town, suh,� the black replied, flicking some dust off the table with his napkin. “Dey’s tried ter storm de jail, suh. De militia charged, an’ deyer’s been right smart shootin’.�
Colonel Royall looked out apprehensively over the slope to the south which showed in the distance the spires and roofs of the city. A blue fog of smoke hung low over it and the horizon beyond had the haze of autumn. “Bad news,� said he, shaking his head.
“It suttinly am, suh,� agreed Kingdom-Come, “an’ dey do say dat Aunt Charity ez gwine ter leave Juniper now fo’ sho.�
“She’s left him at intervals for forty years,� said the colonel, tasting his julep; “I reckon he can stand it, King.�
The negro grinned. “I reckon so, suh,� he assented. “Juniper dun said once dat he’d gib her her fare ef she’d go by rail an’ stay away!�
Just then Miss Kitty Broughton stopped her pony cart at the gate and came across the lawn. The colonel rose ceremoniously and greeted her, hat in hand.
“Where’s Diana?� Kitty asked eagerly.
“In the rose garden with Jacob, my dear,� said the colonel.
Kitty made a grimace. “Noblesse oblige,� she said; “I suppose I must stay here. Colonel, isn’t it all dreadful? Grandfather can’t keep from swearing, he isn’t respectable, and Aunt Sally has Sammy.� Kitty blushed suddenly. “I took Shot, the dog, you know; they won’t let Mr. Trench have bail.�
“It’s the most inexplicable thing I know of,� said the colonel, stroking his white moustache. “Why Caleb Trench should shoot his own client—�
Kitty stared. “Why, Colonel, you know, don’t you, that the arrest was made on Jacob Eaton’s affidavit?�
Colonel Royall leaned back in his chair, and Kitty found his expression inexplicable. “How long have you known this?� he asked.
“Since morning,� said Kitty promptly. “Grandpa told us; he’s furious, but he says it’s a good case. It seems Mr. Eaton saw Mr. Trench first in the court-room. The two shots were fired, you know, in quick succession. Juniper was seen by some one at the window just before; no one saw who fired the shots, but Mr. Eaton met Caleb Trench leaving the room. No one else was there, and Mr. Trench says that Juniper did not fire the shots. Juniper is half dead with fright, and in the jail hospital; he went out of his head this morning when the mob tried to rush the jail. It’s awful; they say six people were killed and three wounded.�
“Caleb Trench wounded two last night,� said the colonel. He had the air of a man in a dream.
“They won’t die,� replied Kitty, cold-bloodedly, “and it’s a good thing to stop these lynchers. Wasn’t Mr. Trench grand? I’m dying to go and see him and tell him how I admired the account of him facing the mob. What does Di think?�
“She hasn’t said,� replied the colonel, suddenly remembering that Diana’s silence was unusual. He looked apprehensively toward the rose garden and saw the flutter of a white dress through an opening in the box hedge. “Kitty,� he added abruptly, “you go over there and see Diana and ask her yourself.�
“While Mr. Eaton’s there?� Kitty giggled. “I couldn’t, Colonel Royall; he’d hate me.�
The colonel looked reflectively at the young girl sitting in the big chair opposite. She was very pretty and her smile was charming. “I don’t think he’d hate you, my dear,� he remarked dryly, “and I know Diana wants to see you.�
Kitty hesitated. “I don’t like to interrupt,� she demurred.
“You won’t,� said the colonel, a little viciously.
Kitty rose and descended the steps to the lawn, nothing loath; then she stopped and looked over her shoulder. “Mr. Trench will be tried immediately,� she said; “the Grand Jury indicted him this morning.�
The colonel’s frown of perplexity deepened. “I call it indecent haste,� he said.
“Grandpa is to defend him,� said Kitty, “and we’re proud of him. I think Caleb Trench is a real hero, Colonel Royall.�
The colonel sighed. “I wish Jacob was,� he thought, but he did not speak.