Law of the Land

Emerson Hough

Description

In this gripping novel from Emerson Hough, long-simmering racial tensions come to a head in a small town in the Mississippi Delta when a powerful local land baron is tried for a gruesome crime; meanwhile, a confounding mystery of mistaken identity and lost fortune is resolved.

Sujets

• Westerns
• Western (genre)
• Western

Informations

• Publié par: The Floating Press
• Date de parution: 01 décembre 2016
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781776673278
• Langue: English

Extrait

THE LAW OF THE LAND
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EMERSON HOUGH
 
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The Law of the Land First published in 1905 Epub ISBN 978-1-77667-327-8 Also available: PDF ISBN 978-1-77667-328-5 © 2015 The Floating Press and its licensors. All rights reserved. While every effort has been used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in The Floating Press edition of this book, The Floating Press does not assume liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in this book. The Floating Press does not accept responsibility for loss suffered as a result of reliance upon the accuracy or currency of information contained in this book. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. Many suitcases look alike. Visit www.thefloatingpress.com
Contents
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The Law of the Land BOOK I Chapter I - Miss Lady Chapter II - Muley Chapter III - The Visitor Chapter IV - A Question of Valuation Chapter V - Certain Problems Chapter VI - The Drum Chapter VII - The Bell Chapter VIII - The Volcano Chapter IX - On its Majesty's Service Chapter X - Miss Lady of the Stair Chapter XI - Colonel Calvin Blount's Proposal Chapter XII - A Woman Scorned Chapter XIII - John Doe Versus Y.V.R.R. Chapter XIV - Number 4 Chapter XV - The Pursuit Chapter XVI - The Traveling-Bag Chapter XVII - Miss Lady and Henry Decherd Chapter XVIII - Misfortune BOOK II Chapter I - The Making of the Wilderness BOOK III Chapter I - Eddring, Agent of Claims Chapter II - The Opinions of Calvin Blount Chapter III - Regarding Louise Loisson Chapter IV - The Religion of Jules Chapter V - Discovery Chapter VI - The Dancer Chapter VII - The Summons Chapter VIII - The Stolen Steamboat Chapter IX - The Accuser Chapter X - The Voyage Chapter XI - The Wilderness Chapter XII - The House of Horror Chapter XIII - The Night in the Forest Chapter XIV - At the Big House Chapter XV - Certain Motives Chapter XVI - The New Sheriff Chapter XVII - The Law of the Land Chapter XVIII - Miss Lady at the Big House Chapter XIX - Three Ladies Louise Chapter XX - The Lid of the Grave Chapter XXI - The Red Riot of Youth Chapter XXII - Amende Honorable
The Law of the Land
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Of Miss Lady, whom it involved in mystery, and of John Eddring, gentleman of the South, who read its deeper meaning
TO R.E.B.TO T.A.D.
BOOK I
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Chapter I - Miss Lady
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Ah, but it was a sweet and wonderful thing to see Miss Lady dance, astrange and wondrous thing! She was so sweet, so strong, so full ofgrace, so like a bird in all her motions! Now here, now there, andback again, her feet scarce touching the floor, her loose skirt, heldout between her dainty fingers, resembling wings, she swam throughthe air, up and down the room of the old plantation house, as thoughshe were indeed the creature of an element wherein all wasimponderable, light and free of hampering influences. Darting,nodding, beckoning, courtesying to something that she saw—it musthave moved you to applause, had you seen Miss Lady dance! You mighthave been restrained by the feeling that this was almost too unreal,too unusual, this dance of the young girl, all alone, in front of thegreat mirror which faithfully gave back the passing, flying figureline for line, flush for flush, one bosom-heave for that of theother. Yet the tall white lilies in the corner saw; and the tallwhite birds, one on each side of the great cheval glass, saw also,but fluttered not; since a lily and a stork and a maiden may each betall and white, and each may understand the other subtly.
Miss Lady stood at length, tall and white, her cheeks rosy withal,her blown brown hair pushed back a bit, one hand lightly resting onher bosom, looking—looking into the mirror, asking of it somequestion, getting, indeed, from it some answer—an answer embodying,perhaps, all that youth may mean, all that the morning may bring.
For now the sun of the South came creeping up apace, and saw MissLady as it peered in through the rose lattice whereon hung scores offragrant blossoms. A gentle wind of morning stirred the lace curtainsat the windows and touched Miss Lady's hair as she stood there,asking the answer of the mirror. It was morning in the great room,morning for the southern day, morning for the old plantation whosebell now jangled faintly and afar off—morning indeed for Miss Lady,who now had ceased in her self-absorbed dance. At this very moment,as she stood gazing into the mirror, with the sunlight and the rosesthus at hand, one might indeed have sworn that it was morning forever, over all the world!
Miss Lady stood eager, fascinated, before the glass; and in thepresence of the tall flowers and the tall birds, saw something whichstirred her, felt something which came in at the window out of theblue sky and from the red rose blossoms, on the warm south wind.Impulsively she flung out her arms to the figure in the glass.Perhaps she felt its beauty and its friendliness. And yet, an instantlater, her arms relaxed and sank; she sighed, knowing not why shesighed.
Ah, Miss Lady, if only it could be for ever morning for us all! Nay,let us say not so. Let us say rather that this sweet picture of MissLady, doubled by the glass, remains to-day imperishably preserved inthe old mirror—the picture of Miss Lady dancing as the bird flies,and then standing, plaintive and questioning, before her own image,loving it because it was beautiful and friendly, dreading it becauseshe could not understand.
Miss Lady had forgotten that she was alone, and did not hear the stepat the door, nor see the hand which presently pushed back thecurtain. There stepped into the room, the tall, somewhat full figureof a lady who stood looking on with eyes at first surprised, thencynically amused. The intruder paused, laughing a low, well-fed,mellow laugh. On the moment she coughed in deprecation. Miss Ladysprang back, as does the wild deer startled in the forest. Her handswent to her cheeks, which burned in swift flame, thence to drop toher bosom, where her heart was beating in a confusion of throbs,struggling with the reversed current of the blood of all her tallyoung body.
"Mamma!" she cried. "You startled me." "So it seems," said the new-comer. "I beg your pardon. I did not mean to intrude upon yourdevotions."
She came forward and seated herself-a tall woman, a trifle full offigure now, but still vital of presence. Her figure, deep-chested,rounded and shapely, now began to carry about it a certain air ofease. The mouth, well-bowed and red, had a droop of the samesignificance. The eyes, deep, dark and shaded by strong brows, helddepths not to be fathomed at a glance, but their first message wasone of an open and ready self-indulgence. The costume, flowing, looseand easy, carried out the same thought; the piled black hair did notdeny it; the smile upon the face, amused, half-cynical, confirmed it.Here was a woman of her own acquaintance with the world, you wouldhave said. And in the next breath you must have asked how she couldhave been the mother of this tall girl, at whom she now smiled thusmockingly.
"I was just—I was—well, I was dancing, mamma," said Miss Lady. "Itis so nice." This somewhat vaguely.
"Yes," said her mother; "why?"
"I do not know," said Miss Lady, frankly, and turning to her withsudden courage. "I was dancing. That is all."
"Yes, I know."
"Well, is it any crime, mamma, I should like to ask?" This withspirit, and with eyes showing themselves able to flash upon occasion.
"Not in the least, my dear. Indeed, I am not at all surprised. I knewit was coming."
"What was coming, mammal? What do you mean?"
"Why, that this was going to happen—that you were going to dance. Itwas nearly time."
"I do not know what you mean."
"It was always thus with the Ellisons," said the other woman. "Allthe Ellisons danced this way once in their lives. All the girls doso. They're very strange, these Ellison girls. They dance becausethey must, I suppose. It's as natural as breathing, for them. Youcan't help it. It's fate. But listen, child. It is time I took youmore in hand. You will be marrying before long—"
"Mamma!" Miss Lady blushed indignantly. "How can you talk so? Idon't know—I didn't—I shan't—"
"Tut, tut. Please don't. It is going to be a very warm day. I reallycan't go into any argument. Take my word, you will marry soon; or ifyou don't, you will reverse all the known horoscopes of the family.That, too, is the fate of the Ellison girls—certain marriage! Ouronly hope is in some miracle. It is time for me to take you in hand.Listen, Lady. Let me ask you to sit a trifle farther back upon thatchair. So, that is better. Now, draw the skirt a little closer. Thatis well. Now, sit easily, keep your back from the chair; try to keepyour feet concealed. Remember, Lady, you are a woman now, and thereare certain rules, certain little things, which will help you somuch, so much."
Mrs. Ellison sighed, then yawned, touching her white teeth with thetip of her fan. "Dear me, it certainly is going to be warm," she saidat last. "Lady, dear, please run and get my book, won't you? You knowyour darling mamma is getting so—well, I won't say fat, God forbid!but so—really—well, thank you."
Miss Lady fled gladly and swiftly enough. For an instant she halted,uncertain, on the wide gallery, her face troubled, her attitudeundecided. Then, in swift mutiny, she sprang down the steps and wasoff in open desertion. She fled down the garden walk, and presentlywas welcomed riotously by a score of dogs and puppies, long since herfriends.
Left alone, the elder lady sat for a moment in thought. Her face nowseemed harder in outline, more enigmatical. She gazed after the girlwho left her, and into her eyes came a look which one must havecalled strangely unmaternal—a look not tender, but hard,calculating, cold.
"She is pretty," she murmured to herself half-aloud. "She is going tobe very pretty—the prettiest of the family in generations, perhaps.Well-handled, that girl could marry anybody. I'll have to be carefulshe doesn't marry the wrong one.