JASPER WINS
In the morning Kit crossed the moor to Whinnyates. The sun shone, the
wind was fresh, and swift cloud-shadows checkered the dry bent-grass.
A larch wood on the hillside was bright like an emerald; the sheltered
hollows were green with springing fern.
Kit went fast, and his mood was buoyant. He had done all he agreed to
do, and now he was entitled to think for himself. Since Evelyn had
cheated, he was free to marry where he loved. For all that, he had not
yet persuaded Alison, and in the circumstances she might hesitate. Kit
banished his doubts and smiled. As a rule, where he thought he had a
rather heroic part the part was humorous, but he tried to play up.
Well, Alison knew his follies and extravagances, and somehow he hoped
she was not daunted.
When he got to Whinnyates nobody was about. The old ash trees tossed
and the shadows of their thin leaves trembled on the stones. In the
background sheep climbed the broken hillside and their faint bleating
was musical. A noisy beck plunged down a ghyll and vanished behind a
wall.
Kit crossed the farmyard to the porch. The door was open, and by
contrast with the sunshine the kitchen was dark. Mrs. Tyson occupied a
rocking-chair; Tyson by the chimney stirred a big black pot. When he
heard Kit’s step he turned and his eyes twinkled.
“You’re back? Weel, we’s glad t’ see you. You’ll stop for dinner?”
“Thank you,” said Kit. “You’re hospitable folk. I wonder whether you
expected me?”
Tyson looked at his wife. The dalesfolk are keen, but they are
cautious. Mrs. Tyson gave Kit a thoughtful glance.
“We reckoned you might come across. You kenned you’d be welcome.”
“That’s something,” said Kit. “You see, I want to marry Alison. I
thought you ought to know.”
“Alison’s a fine lass. You’ll get none better, but she’s not your
aunt’s sort,” Mrs. Tyson remarked.
“Her father was a statesman, but when he died farm was sold to pay his
debts, and t’lass came to us,” said Tyson. “Tom Forsyth’s land was wet
and sour; maybe he was a bit feckless, but his luck was bad. Alison’s
her mother’s dowter, an Wythops o’ Lang Fell are canny, striving folk.
Weel, my farm’s landlord’s, and when I and Kate are gone t’lass will
maybe get five hundred pounds. I reckon it’s aw’.”
Kit knew a statesman is a yeoman farmer, owning the soil he
cultivates, and he smiled.
“Mrs. Carson is not my aunt; I doubt if she’d admit I am her sort, and
my fortune is sixty pounds. Perhaps for Alison to marry me would be
rash, but I’ve got a good job and I know her pluck.”
“It’s for t’lass to choose,” said Mrs. Tyson. “You’ll find her by
t’beck.”
Kit went along a stony lane. The splash of water got louder, and by
and by Alison, carrying a large bucket, pushed back a gate. Her
clothes were cotton print and she wore a blue sun-bonnet. When she saw
Kit she stopped, and her color came and went. Kit put the bucket on
the wall and held the gate.
“I think you know I love you, Alison.”
“You did not tell me properly, Kit; but I did know,” said Alison in a
quiet voice.
“Then why did you let me go to Netherhall? You had heard about the
marriage my relations planned.”
“I thought you ought to go,” Alison replied, and gave Kit a level
glance. “If you had not gone, you would always have been sorry.
Besides, I’d hate to think I tempted you to shabbiness.”
“You are very proud, my dear, but I like your pride. Well, you tried
me out, and now you ought to be kind, because the test was hard. In a
week or two I must go back and get to work. Will you marry me before I
start?”
“Are you altogether sure you want me, Kit?”
Kit smiled. “Perhaps your inquiry’s logical, but I don’t think you
doubt. I wanted you, unconsciously, at the Winnipeg waiting-room, and
when your train went I was forlorn. Afterwards, when I stayed with Bob
for week-ends my visits were marked by a happiness for which I could
not account. I thought Austin’s home charming; I didn’t know the real
charm was you were at the house.”
“Ah,” said Alison, “I wonder whether Florence enlightened you! Now I
think about it, she forced the locomotive engineer to wait——”
“Florence admitted she was jealous, but we won’t talk about Miss Grey.
The light broke when I found you in the snow, and I was dazzled and
carried away. For long I was strangely dull; but you know all and
you’re generous. I need you in Canada. You risk it?”
Alison blushed and gave him her hand.
“I’ll marry you when you like, Kit, but I cannot yet leave
Whinnyates.”
Kit took her in his arms, and by and by he said, “Well, if Mrs. Tyson
wants you, I must be resigned. You pay your debts and I cannot dispute
her claim.”
“When I join you all our debts will be gone; we will start without a
load and look in front. In the meantime, aunt waits for the water.”
Kit laughed and seized the bucket; Alison’s thinking about the water
was typical. They went to the house, and in the afternoon Kit started
for the post-office. Mrs. Tyson stipulated for a wedding at the
village church, and he must send Wheeler a cablegram.
Not long afterwards Ledward one afternoon arrived at Netherhall and
joined Jasper in the library. For a time they talked about the forge
and the letters Ledward brought; and then Jasper said:
“Your wedding is not for a few days, Harry, but you must go to
Sheffield in the morning, and I thought I’d give you my present.”
Ledward thanked him, and when he took the check looked up in surprise.
Almost he doubted if he read the figures accurately, but the writing
in the body of the form agreed.
“Your generosity is almost embarrassing, sir. I feel I ought not to
take a sum like this——”
“When one marries I imagine money’s useful, and I didn’t see much
advantage in your waiting for a legacy. Besides, to know an avaricious
Government will not claim its share is some comfort,” Jasper replied.
Ledward began to understand, but he waited, and Jasper continued:
“I am accountable for your starting on a business career. I excited
your ambition, and perhaps your hopes.”
“You made it possible for me to marry——” Ledward remarked, and
stopped, for he saw Jasper’s twinkle.
“The ground is awkward? Your beaten rival is my nephew. Well, if
Evelyn and you are happy, Kit must bear his loss; and I want to talk
about something else. Your help is useful, and since a wife is
expensive, I must put up your pay.” Jasper stated the increase and
resumed: “So long as I can carry on and you are willing to work for
me, you will get the sum. The important thing is, it’s all you will
get.”
Ledward tried to brace up. The wedding present and increased pay was
not all he had thought to get; but he admitted his employer was just.
“I am content, sir.”
“Very well. I don’t know if Evelyn will be as philosophical, but
that’s another thing. Before very long I shall be forced to stop, and
you are not my heir. For all that, my successor will need you, and I
will stipulate for you to keep your post.”
For a few moments Ledward was quiet. He had perhaps been justified in
thinking himself Jasper’s heir. At all events, Mrs. Haigh had reckoned
on his inheriting, and he imagined she and Evelyn would get a nasty
jolt.
All the same, he had some money; Jasper’s wedding present was a useful
sum, and his pay was good. For himself he was not remarkably
ambitious, and he had taken the post because he wanted to marry
Evelyn. He knew her calculating selfishness, and perhaps it was
strange, but he was not much daunted. Evelyn was not a fool, and by
and by he thought she would see she had not much grounds for
discontent.
“I expect you know, I’m rather disappointed, but I must not grumble,”
he said. “When I joined you I was a fastidious loafer and was getting
slack. You gave me an occupation I was soon keen about and made it
possible for me to marry the girl I want. I owe you much, sir, and on
the whole I think I’m fortunate. Anyhow, so long as you feel my help
is useful, it is yours.”
“Your judgment is sound and I like your pluck,” Jasper remarked.
“However, I get tired, and I expect your aunt will be interested.”
Ledward agreed, and finding Mrs. Carson had gone to Mrs. Haigh’s, he
followed her to the house. Although he thought he could picture Mrs.
Haigh’s emotions, he was rather disturbed than sympathetic. When he
arrived tea was served, and Mrs. Haigh handed him a cup.
“Jasper has given me a wedding present,” he said, and put the check on
the table.
“He is extremely generous,” Mrs. Carson remarked with keen surprise;
but when Mrs. Haigh noted the sum her color got high and she set her
thin mouth.
“He declares he is not,” said Ledward. “You see, he says it’s all I
shall get.”
Mrs. Haigh’s hand shook, and she put down the teapot.
“Ah!” she said, “since the evening Kit arrived I think I expected
something like that.”
Ledward saw the knock was hard, but he knew her nerve was good, and he
was moved to grim humor. Although Mrs. Haigh had lost the prize for
which she planned, he thought she would not refuse the second best.
“But I don’t see——” said Mrs. Carson in a puzzled voice; and then her
eyes sparkled. “Jasper has cheated you!” she exclaimed and Ledward did
not know whether she addressed him or her hostess. “From the beginning
he plotted——”
“I think your relation did plot,” Mrs. Haigh agreed, with an effort
for calm. “Harry, however, has not yet told us very much.”
Ledward began to narrate his interview with Jasper. After a few
moments Evelyn came in, but he did not stop. Evelyn ought to know, and
he did not want to talk about the thing again. She rested her arm on
the table and her color came and went. All were very quiet, and
Ledward felt his voice jarred. When he stopped Mrs. Carson’s look got
very hard.
“Kit has conquered!” she remarked. “He gets all, and he will soon be
your employer.”
“Oh, well,” said Ledward, “I think Kit’s part was an unconscious part,
and he’s not revengeful. Jasper promises that I shall keep my post.”
“He made a tool of you; he tricked us all——” said Mrs. Carson, and
stopped, for she saw what her remarks implied. She frowned and got up.
“Alan waits for me. We are going to Hadriansford.”
Mrs. Haigh went with her to the gate, and Evelyn gave Ledward an
embarrassed glance. Jasper had used her and Harry, and she was
humiliated because she thought Harry knew. All the same, Harry would
not admit it. His part was obvious, and she expected he would play up.
She pictured Kit’s romantic charm; sometimes Kit had moved her
strongly, but Harry did not. She had weighed Harry’s advantages, and
her mother’s arguments had tipped the beam. For the most part, his
advantages had vanished, but she could not call back Kit.
“I’m sorry,” said Ledward; “I expect your disappointment’s keen. Some
of our plans for the future must go, but after all we really shall not
be forced to be very economical.”
Evelyn blushed and gave him a queer smile. “That is something! Since
you’re frank, I admit I hate to be frugal, but it looks as if Jasper
did not altogether cheat you, and I suppose we must be content. Well,
we won’t talk about it. Do you want some tea?”
Ledward said he did not. He thought Evelyn’s inquiry typical, and they
went to the garden.
In the morning Kit, at Whinnyates, gave Alison a note in which Jasper
stated that if the afternoon were fine he would try to reach the
Netherdale inn.
“You agreed to meet me, and although, I doubt if you were very
willing, your word goes,” Jasper wrote. “Then I would like you to
bring Miss Forsyth. Perhaps I am not entitled to ask this favor, but I
cannot get to the farm, and I hope she will indulge me.”
“Perhaps I ought to go,” said Alison. “I feel he’s kind.”
“He’s a queer old fellow. For long I thought he didn’t mean to bother
about me, but I begin to doubt. I certainly did not try to win him
over.”
“I will go,” said Alison in a thoughtful voice.
In the afternoon they crossed the moors. When they reached Netherdale
a man pushed a wheeled chair along the road. A thick larch wood rolled
down the hill and the sun was on the fresh green foliage and a high
mossy bank. Jasper ordered the man to stop by a large beech trunk.
“Take a smoke and wait until I call,” he said, and when the servant
went off turned to Alison.
“You know who I am, and we won’t bother Kit to present me. I did not
invite you to Netherhall because the house is not mine, and I dare say
you know my nephew’s independence. Then since the spot is quiet and
sunny, there is not much use in going on to the inn. You see, I soon
get tired.”
Alison saw he gave her ceremonious politeness, but his look was kind,
and she smiled.
“Kit is independent, but sometimes independence like his is
justified.”
“It’s possible,” Jasper agreed. “Your championing Kit is natural,
because I believe you are going to marry him very soon.”
“I wonder whether you think I ought,” said Alison quietly, and
motioned Kit to wait.
“You are frank, but I like your frankness,” Jasper replied. “Well,
your lover is my nephew, and I know something about you. You spring
from old yeoman stock and I think its virtues are yours. Our fortunes
are recent and the founder of our house was a blacksmith. However, I
want to talk to Kit, and I hope to have your support.”
He indicated the smooth trunk and turned to Kit. “I imagine you feel
you do not owe me much?”
“Perhaps I did feel something of the sort, but now I don’t know. All
the same, I’m puzzled. You found out Blake sold the boiler drawings.
Yet you said nothing!”
“My reserve was calculated. From the beginning I had plans for you.
Then I felt the money I used, which might be yours, was not altogether
mine. Some I inherited, but all was got by sweat of brain and muscle
at office and forge; I was resolved our fortune must not be squandered
in social ambitions and extravagance. It must be used to forge steel,
to build ships and bridges and rolling mills. Our business is to
hammer iron and I felt I’d sooner see my nephew labor with a navvy’s
shovel than loaf about town.”
“But since I did not want to loaf, I don’t yet see——”
“I think Alison sees,” said Jasper, and gave her a smile. “When a man
marries he is not altogether a free agent; much depends on his wife
and something on her relations. Well, I expect you will find Mrs.
Carson’s point of view is mine, Kit, and in the meantime we’ll let it
go. I wanted you to try your powers, to face obstacles, and get
control and balance. In fact, I wanted to learn if you could go
alone.”
“I begin to understand, sir. You tried me out?”
“Yes; I experimented. I felt I was trustee for my fortune and the
business the others had built, and when I was forced to quit I wanted
a man all could trust to carry on my job. Now I am satisfied, and I
offer you the post!”
Kit said nothing, but the blood came to his skin. He admitted he had
not known Jasper, and his dulness humiliated him.
“You ought to agree, Kit. The job is yours,” said Alison in a quiet
voice.
“Thank you, my dear,” said Jasper. “I reckoned on your support. Well,
Kit?”
“I’m embarrassed, sir, and half ashamed. At the shipyard I thought you
might some time help me get a post; but that was all, and when the
company turned me down I resolved I wouldn’t bother you. Since I’d got
entangled, I myself must break the entanglement. Now I hesitate. I’m
young, I don’t know if I’ve yet got my proper balance, and the job’s
important. Then I undertook to build the tanks for the Canadian
company, and I must make good.”
“That is so,” said Jasper. “When you have carried out your
undertaking, will you come back and talk about my plan again?”
“Yes, sir,” Kit replied quietly.
“It’s all I want; you must do what you agreed to do,” said Jasper.
“Well, I doubt if I can get to your wedding; but perhaps Alison and
you will meet me another time before you start?”
He turned and gave Alison a gentle look. “I expect you know your
lover. Kit is good stuff, and now he will go soberly I feel you and he
will go far. I soon must stop, but you have youth and hope. Your road
runs on across the horizon; perhaps to a better country than we old
folks know.”
Alison kissed him, and he gave Kit his hand and called his servant.
The man pushed his chair down the hill and they presently vanished in
the shadows of the wood. Then Alison turned to Kit.
“Your uncle is very fine! We must try to go where he expects.”
Kit said nothing, but he kissed her, and they started up-hill in the
sun.
THE END