THE END OF AN IDYL
Rockhaven, a colony by itself, had slowly increased from its one family
starting-point until more than two hundred called it home. In doing this
it had, to a certain extent, sustained the individuality of its
progenitor, Captain Carver; a strictly honest, God-fearing descendant of
the Puritans; Baptist in denomination, who regarded work and economy as
religious precepts, home building as a law of God, and strict morality
and total immersion the only avenues to salvation. Long before the
little church was built he gathered the few families about him each
Sunday, while he read selections and then led them in prayer. It was his
indomitable religious will, as well as money, that erected the small
church, and for years he led services there, praying that the time might
come, and population as well, sufficient to induce a regularly ordained
minister to officiate instead. It did, for he lived to a ripe old age
and the satisfaction of his hopes, and to be buried on the sloping
hillside back of it. Also to the glory of having "Founder of Rockhaven"
inscribed on his tombstone.
He was of Scotch descent, which accounted for a certain latent taste in
his great-granddaughter, Mona Hutton. Though stern as the granite cliffs
of the island in his religious connections, regarding works without
faith and morality, without conviction as of little value, the shadow of
his mantle in time gave way to a more charitable Christianity. And
though the offshoot of his church, the Free Will Baptist of Northaven,
was never recognized by the elect of Rockhaven, intermarriages and a
mutuality of interests reduced its separation in creed to one in name
only.
Then, too, the isolation of the island resulted in the growth of the
feudal instinct and a tacit leadership, vested in one man whose opinion
and advice was by common consent accepted as law and gospel, and to whom
all disputes were left for final settlement.
Captain Carver had been this authority at the start, others had
succeeded him, and when Winn Hardy came to the island Jess Hutton held
the sceptre. All this is but history, pertinent merely to show how it
came about that Winn won his way so easily, and those otherwise
hard-headed islanders followed Jess Hutton's lead without question. Winn
won him at the start, and the rest without effort.
But a community, like a family, is upset by an unusual event, and the
starting of the quarry, the investment in its stock, and the final
return of Jess from the city, to distribute among them sums so out of
proportion to their original investments, were like so many stones
thrown into a placid mill pond. And had Winn Hardy returned with Jess,
or come later, his reception would have been like that of a conquering
hero.
All this formed the sole topic of conversation for weeks, and hearing
Winn lauded to the skies as a benefactor, before whom all should bow,
had a peculiar effect on Mona. She, poor child, having little in common
with any other and feeling herself of small account to them or even to
her mother, felt herself still less so as this wave of universal
applause for Winn swept over the village. Then another point of pride
arose in her mind. While Winn had sought her society often, it was as a
next-door neighbor and by force of situation, rather than as a suitor,
she felt; and even his visits to the cave with her were due to a
romantic taste and his wish to hear her play. All this was, in a way,
both right and wrong, and yet to Mona, keenly imaginative, it seemed
entirely true. Then, too, her mother had made her feel that her violin
playing was no credit; no one else, except Jess, ever expressed a word
of interest in her one talent, and poor Mona readily felt it more a
discredit than otherwise. Winn only had seemed to appreciate it, and to
Winn her heart had opened like the petals of a wild rose.
For a few days after his departure, she lived in a seventh heaven of
sweet illusions with this one king among men as her ideal--his every
word and smile and thought, all that life held for her. And then came
his letter which, to her tender heart and timid nature, seemed but a
cold farewell message. He had no plans, was uncertain of his future, and
of hers had no concern. This much she read between the lines, and
reading thus, her heart was broken, her courage crushed. How many tears
she shed no one knew; how many hours she passed alone in utter misery of
mind, no one guessed. For Mona was proud as well as tender, and not even
Uncle Jess should know that she suffered.
Now the waning summer, the nearing of chill autumn, and desolate
ice-bound winter added to her gloom. Her mother was not a sympathetic
companion, mates among the other island girls of her own age she had
none; only Uncle Jess, her violin, the cave, the flowers, and the sea.
In summer she had company, in winter none, except Jess.
And now summer was gone and winter nearing, and poor, timid, tender,
friendless Mona was broken-hearted.
For only a few days more did she go to the cave, and these visits
increased her grieving; it was like visiting the grave of a dead love.
When the November gales swept the island, Mona was made a prisoner, the
store and Jess her only escape. Here she kept her violin, and here she
came to brood over her sorrow and fight her own heartache. And here, be
it said, in the company of Jess only did she find any consolation. He
had such genial philosophy, such a happy faculty for looking upon the
bright side of all troubles,--his own as well as others,--that it made
him a well spring of good cheer.
He was not long in guessing the cause of Mona's despondency, though with
his cheerful optimism, feeling sure that in good time all would come out
right. He also discovered the new ambition that had come to her that
summer, as well as love, and in his own peculiar way set out to solve
the problem.
And here it must be stated that a girl in love and separated from her
heart's choice, having an ambition to go out into the world and earn
fame as a musical artist, was a more complex problem than Jess had
previously attempted. Then another factor entered into Mona's troubles;
for young David Moore, who for years had cherished an open and loudly
voiced admiration for her and between voyages always sought to woo her,
now came home and, finding the coast clear, renewed his attentions.
He was outspoken and assertive, full of enthusiasm and conceit. He
lacked refinement, but he was frugal and owned a third interest in his
uncle's fishing schooner and was very much in love with Mona. Worse than
that, her mother secretly favored his suit.
It may seem strange that the same practical sense of utility that
governed her girlhood's impulses and led her to accept a ready-at-hand
love, instead of waiting for an absent one, now shaped her desires
toward her daughter. Romance had no place in Mrs. Hutton's nature,
neither had love of music. In her calendar, also, one man was as good as
another if he behaved himself as well, and a present lover for Mona, if
he meant business and could provide a home, was far better than an
absent one, even if the entire island cried his praises.
So she favored young Moore and, in the many ways a mother can, gave him
opportunities.
But to Mona, sensitive, half heart-broken, and unable to escape this new
infliction, it was inexpressible misery.
So the days and weeks went by, and the snow came to whiten Rockhaven
ledges, the billows thundered unceasingly against them, and the little
harbor became frozen over.
And sometimes, in the hours of bitterest desolation, Mona thought of the
old tide mill and the girl who had once gone there to end her heart
hunger.