"There are persons so peculiarly constituted as to suppose that all the
inhabitants of the terrestrial globe have their minds occupied with
thoughts of them," said Toney to the Professor.
"And that all the people of the planets are peeping through telescopes
and making critical observations on their actions," said the Professor.
"The unfortunate M. T. Pate must have been in some such mental condition
after his lamentable break down in court."
"What has become of him? I have not seen him for a whole month."
"During several weeks he remained in seclusion, and manufactured an
immense amount of melancholy for home consumption. His stock being
finally exhausted he came forth into the world again."
"To discover that the world was occupied with its own affairs and
thinking very little about him?"
"Yes; some were engaged in making money; some in making mischief----"
"And Tom Seddon in making love with indefatigable industry----"
"While the earth revolved on her axis as if nothing extraordinary had
ever occurred in the court-room."
"What is Pate now doing?"
"He has become a collecting lawyer."
"What is that?"
"An attorney who, for a moderate commission, rides over the country
collecting money for his clients."
"A dun? Why, yonder comes Pate now on his old white horse!"
"Good-morning, Mr. Pate," said Toney, as the lawyer rode up.
"Are you riding far to-day?"
"Only to the Widow Wild's residence. I have a claim to collect for Mr.
Clement. Good-morning, gentlemen." And Pate rode on.
"Did he say he was going to the Widow Wild's residence?" asked the
Professor.
"Yes; to dun her for a debt."
"If my identity was merged in that of M. T. Pate, I would be afraid to
venture within a hundred yards of the widow's house."
"Why?"
"I sat by her side in the court-room, and heard her declaration of war
against M. T. Pate."
"He denounced her terribly in his speech to the jury."
"And she denounced him terribly in her speech to me."
"I wish Tom Seddon was here; we might send him to witness the interview
between the widow and M. T. Pate."
"His absence is to be deplored. Ida has done the sect of Funny
Philosophers great injury by carrying off one of its most efficient
members, who is so much needed in this emergency. But when that young
lady returned to Bella Vista she took Mr. Seddon's heart with her; and,
of course, it was not to be expected that he should exist in one
locality, and that important organ, which is supposed to be the seat of
vitality, in another."
The Professor here proceeded to animadvert on the conduct of young
ladies in appropriating other people's hearts, and was making sundry
remarks on the subject, when he was interrupted by Toney, who
exclaimed,--
"Why, yonder comes Clement and his clerk from the direction of the Widow
Wild's house! Good-morning, Mr. Clement. Have you seen Mr. Pate?"
"I saw him ride up the avenue leading to Mrs. Wild's house, and
dismount," said Clement.
"I saw him pull the bell at the front door," said the clerk.
"Was the door opened to him?" asked the Professor.
"It was opened by the widow herself, who, with a smiling countenance and
an extended hand, seemed to bid him welcome," said the clerk.
"That is strange!" said the Professor.
"Not so strange as it may seem," said the clerk; "for, though Pate is
sometimes bad-mannered among men, he will purr as softly as a pussy cat
as soon as he comes in proximity to a petticoat. It is just as likely as
not that the widow has taken a fancy to him."
"Women are enigmas," said Toney.
"The Widow Wild certainly is," said the Professor. "She would puzzle the
brain of an Oedipus."
The deadly hostility of the widow to M. T. Pate was well known to the
people of Mapleton, and a crowd collected around Clement; and, in a
prolonged discussion, endeavored to solve what now appeared to be a
mystery.
"She was glad to see him!" said one.
"Shook hands with him!" said another.
"Invited him in!" said a third.
"But why does he stay so long?" said Clement.
During the day this question was often repeated by the gossips, who
assembled in groups, with their gaze fixed on the road leading from the
widow's mansion to the town.
Suddenly a horse and rider are seen approaching from that direction at a
furious speed. As they come nearer, the man seems to be without a hat,
and with a heavy suit of black hair, and huge black whiskers. The steed
is spotted like a leopard. The people behold the strange horse and rider
with amazement as they enter the town with the speed of Tam O'Shanter.
At this moment a shout goes up from the crowd.
"Stop! stop!, stop!" cried a number of voices.
But, Mazeppa-like, the mysterious apparition dashes through the town;
and while men, women, and children are gazing in gaping wonderment, the
bare-headed rider and spotted steed disappear beyond a distant hill.
"Who do you think it was?" said a group of astonished people to the
Professor.
The Professor shook his head and was silent.
"What is your opinion, Mr. Clement?" asked a man in the crowd.
Clement was puzzled, and said nothing.
"Who was that hatless and hugely-whiskered rider?" said Toney to the
Professor.
"It is a mystery yet to be solved," said the Professor, as he took
Toney's arm and walked with him to the latter's office.