RAINBOW CASTLE
SOME weeks had passed, and it was now early fall at the ranch. But
another change had taken place besides that of the seasons, for Jim and
Ruth and the Ranch girls had moved away from the old Lodge into their
splendid new home.
To everybody's satisfaction, however, the Lodge was not deserted; for
Ralph Merrit had changed into it from his old quarters, and his friend,
Henry Tilford Russell, was still with him--not that the young professor
had become an invalid owing to his accident at the Rainbow Mine, for his
broken leg was completely healed. But as he had come west for his
general health somehow the Rainbow Ranch seemed to hold more curative
properties than any other place. And Ralph was delighted to have his
society. The youthful professor of ancient languages appeared to have
recovered in a measure from his previous prejudice against girls, or at
least he was able to find the companionship of the four Ranch girls
endurable.
The move to the big house had been somewhat hastened for several
reasons, the most important being that Jacqueline Ralston and Frank Kent
were to be married during the first part of October. Frank would not
consent to returning to England without Jack. He insisted that she was
far too uncertain a quantity to be left alone in her beloved western
lands, since her prairies were his most dangerous rival. Moreover, as he
had promised his father to stand for a Liberal seat in Parliament that
same winter, Jack was needed at Kent House to aid him in winning his
election.
Now it seemed that all of the intimate friends that the girls had
acquired in their two years away from home, had suddenly decided to pay
visits to the Rainbow Ranch. Among them were the Princess Colonna and
her nephew, Giovanni, who, because of the death of her husband without
heir, had inherited the Prince's ancient title.
Miss Katherine Winthrop had finally arrived, and her presence seemed to
compensate Olive for the loss of a good deal of Jack's companionship;
yet when the two friends were able to be together without any one else,
they were as intimate and as devoted as at any time in their lives. And
though Jack never referred to the subject of their unfortunate
conversation, she could find no trace in Olive of unhappiness or regret.
It is true that Miss Winthrop and the girl, who was like a peculiarly
devoted and sympathetic daughter, spent numbers of afternoons in the
nearby Indian village discussing Olive's desire to become a teacher to
the Indians when she was old enough and sufficiently well trained for
the task. For the older woman was wise enough not to oppose the girl's
present fancy as Jack had done, only insisting that she wait until she
felt sure of her own fitness.
But although Olive had frequent talks with old Laska, who never could
entirely connect the charming young American lady with the child she had
persecuted, there was a new member of the village community with whom
Olive would have no conversation. And this was her once devoted friend
and admirer, the Indian boy, Carlos.
After Jacqueline Ralston's home-coming, when she had the opportunity to
explain her unaccountable disappearance, it was Jim Colter who at once
armed himself with a short whip and demanded that the business of
punishing Carlos be left entirely to him. Yet, notwithstanding her long
night of wandering about in the sand, too weary and too stupefied to
find her way home or to believe that the boy would not eventually return
with her horse, Jack immediately became Carlos' defender, finally
persuading her guardian to punish the boy no further than by not
permitting him again to set foot on Rainbow Ranch. She also confessed
her own share in the day's difficulties, taking a part of the blame upon
herself by insisting that if she had not struck the boy he would never
have attempted so ugly and dangerous a revenge.
Jim and Frank, though at last agreeing to Jack's wish, did have one
interview with Carlos. But though they came away leaving the boy
frightened and submissive, he never was brought to confess just what he
had intended in riding off with Jack's horse. Perhaps during the long
afternoon he had vainly been trying to think of some form of vengeance
and then at the last moment the idea of stealing Jack's horse and
deserting her had come like a sudden inspiration. Or perhaps the boy
had meant to return--no one ever knew. He had gone on with the two
horses to the nearest Indian village and never again left it for any
other home. For the effort to civilize Carlos had been a vain one and he
cheerfully reverted to the habits and companionship of his own race.
Nevertheless, he did not go unpunished, although no one ever knew in
what his punishment consisted. But the refusal of Olive's further
friendship was a sorrow which the Indian lad endured in silence to the
end of his days. For he never married and was that very rare figure
among his people--an old bachelor, looked after by old women and the
squaws of other men. And this when half a dozen Indian maidens would
gladly have mated with Carlos. For he was unusually handsome and was
always admired and reverenced by his own nation.
At the time they moved into the new house Ruth and Jim and the girls
were feeling particularly happy and prosperous, because, not long after
the announcement of Jack's and Frank's engagement, Ralph Merrit had made
discoveries of fresh supplies of gold in Rainbow Mine. Also, he had
devised the long-sought-for method by which the gold could be extracted
without too great danger and expense. He had not trusted entirely to his
own judgment and experience, for three of the greatest mining experts in
the West had been sent for, who were open in their praises of Ralph's
idea and plan, predicting a big future for him and offering him
opportunities with them should he ever care to leave the Rainbow Mine.
But this new "pot of gold at the end of the rainbow," Ralph had
straightway announced was to be his particular wedding gift to Jack and
Frank. Certainly he had no idea of deserting his old friends, now that
he was again able to prove his usefulness. So he was working on in
apparent contentment when the Princess and the young Prince appeared.
Then once more his dream faded and it was hard for Ralph not to think of
his work as mere drudgery in which the labor was almost all his and the
large rewards for others.
For like lightning out of a clear sky, soon after the Princess Colonna's
installation in their new home, even before Ruth or the girls had become
accustomed to her presence, with entire formality she asked Jim Colter's
consent to Jean Bruce's marriage to her nephew, Giovanni, the young
Prince Colonna. When Jim was only barely able to express his surprise
and consternation at such a suggestion, she explained to him a complete
understanding of his feelings, that this method of procedure in a
question of marriage was the custom in Italy, her nephew's country.
Therefore the young Prince would never dream of speaking to Jean without
first obtaining her guardian's approval. Nevertheless, Mr. Colter must
not believe that there was any lack of affection on the Prince Colonna's
part, for he had never ceased thinking and talking of Jean from that
first hour of their meeting in the Pincio Gardens in Rome.
In reply to the Princess, Jim could only flush and stammer, saying that
he would prefer first talking the matter over with Mrs. Colter before
giving his answer. For the truth was that Jim really wished to shout
aloud his refusal to consider such a proposition even for five minutes.
Jean to marry a wretched little Italian youth, no taller than she was
herself, when she might have almost any clean, hard working American
fellow! It was bad enough for his adored Jack to be going away with an
_Englishman_, but then Frank Kent was different!
Nevertheless, Jim understood that the reply which he really wished to
make was not altogether fair and certainly not courteous to their
guests. Ruth must at once find some way of clearing up the situation.
So soon as her husband had explained the matter to her Ruth was under
the impression that she did see a way. With the Princess' and the Prince
Colonna's consent she herself would first speak to Jean, letting them
hear later whether Miss Bruce was willing to listen to the Prince's
suit.
Of course this was the best way out! Jim sighed with relief at his
wife's suggestion, for neither he nor Ruth had the faintest idea that
Jean would do anything but refuse even for a moment to consider the
Prince or his offer. Ruth believed that she had always understood Jean
better than any one of the four Ranch girls.
Without comment the girl heard of the young nobleman's proposal, and
instead of declining, she asked to be allowed to consider it. In the
meantime the Prince and his aunt were to remain at the Rainbow Ranch in
order that Jean and the young man might learn to know each other better.
They were frequently together and very soon the state of affairs was no
secret to any member of the family, or to their closest friends. And
although a number of persons were puzzled, no one said a word to Jean.
Could it be possible that she was going to marry solely for position? No
one believed that she could have come to care so deeply for the young
Italian prince in so brief a time.