The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1871-09-16
8ew 1urth.West.
THE ROMANCE OF MADRONO HOLLOW.
BY BRET uARTE.
From the Atlantic Monthly for septe,nbe

S1ncn CUckeu Twice. ne gaze Itself was so
much in shadow that lovely night. that "old
man Folinsbec,' sitting on his porch. could
distinguish nothing but a tall white hat,
and beside il a few futtcring ribbons under
the pines that marked the entrance. Whether
because Of this fact, or that he considered
that sufficient time had elapsed since the
clicking Of the latch for more positive dis.
closure do not know; but after few mos
mcn's' hesitation he quietly laid aside his
pipe and walked down the winding path
towards the gate. At the Ceanothus hedge
he stopped and listened.
There was no: much 10 hear. The hat
vas saying to the ribbons that it was a fine
night, and rcmarking generally upon the
CHAN outline of the Sicrras upon the blue.
black sky. The ribbons. It SO appeared. had
admired this NIL the way home aud asked
the hat IL II had ever seen anything half so
lovely as the moonlight on the summit? The
hat never had; ii recalled some lovely nights
In the South in Alabama Gin the South in
Ahiahahm," WAS the way the old man heard
it, but then there were other things that
made this night seem SO pleasant. The rib
bons could not possibly conceive what the
hat could he thinking about. At this point
there was pause. of which Mr.. Folinsbec
avnilcd himself to walk very grimly and
craunchingIy on the gravel walk toward the
gate. Then the hat was lifted, ard disap-
pcarcd in the shadow, and Mr.. Fo!insbcc
confronted only the half foolish, half mis-.
chevious, but wholly pretty face of his
daughter.
II was afterwards known to Madrono Hol-
low that sharp words passed between miss
DO" and the old man. and that the latter
coupled the names Of one Culpcppcr Star
bottle, and mis- uncle. Colonel Starbottle.
with certain uncomplmcntary cpithets, and
that Miss 10 retaliated harshly ''Hcr
fathers blood boiled before her fathers face
and proved her truly of his race" quoted
the black smith, who leaned toward the no.
bic verse OF Byron. 'She saw the old mans
bluff and raised him." was the director com
ment Of the college bred Masters.
Meanwhile the subject of these animal
versions proceeded slowly along the road to
. point where the Folinsbec mansion came
IN vlcw-a long, narrow, white building,
unprctcntious. yet superior to its neighbors,
and bearing some evidences Of taste and re.
finenient in the vines that clambered over
its porch, in its French windows, and the
white muslin curtins that kept out the fierce
California sun by day, and were now touched
with silver in the gracious moonlight. Gull
pepper leaned upon the low fence, and gazed
long and earnestly at the building. Then
she moonlight vanished ghost like from one
Ut the windows, a material glow took its
place, and q girlish figure, holding candle,
drew the white curtains together. To Gull
pepper it was vcstal virgin standing DC.
fore hsll0wed shrine; to the prosaic OBJ
s"rvcr, fear it was only fair haired young
woman. whose wicked black eyes still sl,one
with until,al warmth Howbeit. when the
figure had disappeared, he stepped out
briskly into tho moonlight of the high road
Here he took off his distinguishing hat to
wipe his forehead, and the moon shonc full
upon his face.
II was moi nm unrrepossessirg one. alb'i'
trifle too thin and Iank and bilious TO be
altogether pleasant. The cheek-boncs were
prominent. and the black eyes sunken in their
orbits Straight black hair fell slantwise of
= high but narrow forehead, and swept part
Of a hollow check. A long black mustachc
followed the perpendicular curves Of his
mouth. IT was on the whole serious. even
QuixOtic face. but at times it was relieved
by rare smile of sucl, tender and even 20
thetic sweetness that Miss 10 is reported Ia
have said TINT, IL he would only last through
the ceremony, she would have married Its
posscssor on the spot II once told him
co. added the shameless young woman
''but the man instantly fell into settled
melancholy. and hasn't smiled since"
A half mile below the Fclinsbee Ranch
the white road dipped and was crossed by a
trail that run through Msdrono Hollow.
Perhaps because II was near cutoff to the
settlements, perhaps from some less prscti.
col reasons, Culpcpper took this trail, and
In few moments stood among beautiful
lrees that gave their name to the valley.
Even in That uncertain light the wierd
beauty Of these harlequin masqueraders was
apparent; their rcd trunks-a blush in the
moonlight. deep blood stain in the shadow
stood out against the silvery green foliage.
It was as 1t nature. in some gracious mo-
ment, had here caught and crystallized the
gypsy memories Of the transplanted Span
lard, 10 cheer him in his lonely exile.
As Culpcppcr entered the grove, he heard
loud voices. As lie turned toward clump
of trees, a figure SO bizarre and characters.
tic that il might have been resident Daphne
"a form Oyerdressed in crimson silk and lace,
with bare brown arms and shoulders, and q
wreath Of honeysuckle-stcpped out Of the
shadow. 1t was followed by man. Cul.
pepper started. To come to the point briefly,
he recognized in the man the features of his
respected uncle, Colonel Starbottlc; in the
female. lady who may be briefly described
~ one possessing absolutely no claim 10 all
over equally unpleasant details, both were
evidently under the influence Of liquor.
From the excited conversation that en-.
eucd, Culpeppcr gathered that some insult
had been put upon the lady at public ball
that evening; that the Colonel, her escort,
had failed to resent 1t with the sanguinary
completeness that she had desired. ] regret
that, even in a liberal age, may not record
the exact and even picturesque language IN
which this was conveyed to her hearers.
Enough, that ri the close Of fiery perors
ton, with feminine Inconsistency, she flew
Ut the gallant Colonel, aud would have Wis.
tied her delayed vengeance upon his luck.
hess head but for the prompt interference Of
Culpepper. Thwarted in this, she threw
herself upon the ground, and then into un.
picturesque Mysteries. There was u fine
moral lesson, not only in this erotesque per.
Torrance in sex that cannot afford ~ be
grOlesQuc, but in the ludicrous concern
with which it inspired the two men. Cul.
pepper, TO whom woman was more or less
angelic. was panied and sympathetic; the
Colonel, to whom she was more or less I'M.
proper, was exceedingly terrified and EN-.
bsrrassed. Howbeit, the storm was soon
over, and after Mistress Dolores had re
turned little dagger to its sheath cher gar
Hollow, and happily out of these pages for.
ever. The two men, left 70 themselves,
conversed In low toneA Dawn stole upon
them before they separated; the Colonel
quite sObered and In full possession of his
usual jaunty sell. assertion; Culpepper, with
bAneful glow In his hollow cheek, and il