The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-06-29
SOME new AMERICAN STORIES
Produced by a Combination Of Newspa-
pers and Published SeiaIly.
in Parts, Every Sunday
II. 5
Copyright, 1850, BY Bret HNte
Al Rishs Reserved rA
A BLUE GRASS PENELOPE,
BY BRET HARTE. ~
First Part. tsNi
copyrirhs, 1851, BY Bret Harta
All Rights Reserved gfi
First Part.
CHAPTER I.

CHAPTER I.
She was barely twenty -three years old. ft b 1
probable that up to that age. and tho begtus
ming Of this episode. her life had boon unevsnt.
full. Born to the easy medlocrlty Of such
compensating extremos as q small farmhoueo;
and large lands. good position and 40
society In that vast grazing district o.
Kentucky known al tho Blue Grassg
region. all tho possibilities OF westerA
American girls existence lay before her. ~
piano in tho bare walled house. the latest pat-
ented mower in tho limitloss meadows. and q
silk dress sweeping the rough floor e;
the Imprinted meeting house." were a.
ready the promise OF those possihlii.S
ties. Beautiful she was. but the power 81
that beauty was limited by being equally
shared with her few neighbors. There wore
small. narrow. nrched feet besides her own
that trod the uncarpeted floors Of outlying log Y
cabins with equal grace and dignity: BRIGHT
clearly opened eyes that wero equally capable
OF looking unabashed upon princes and potan-c1
tates-as few later dld-and the heiress offhe !
Countrywide read her own beauty without envy
In the frank glances and uncovered crest Of Z
the blacksmith's daughter. Eventually she had
married the malo OF her species. q youne
stranger. who rs schoolmaster In tho nearest
town. had utilized to some local extent scant
capital Of education. In obedience to the un-
written law OF tho West. after the marriage
was celebrated the doors OF the ancestral home
cheerfuly opened. and bride and bridegroom
Issued forth without regret and without senti.
ment to seek the further possibilities OF life
beyond these already too familiar voices. With
their departure for California as Mr.. and Mrs.
Spencer Tucker. the parental nest In the Blues
Grass meadows know them no moro. IA
They submitted with equal cheerfuness 70
tho priy afI npo nd ~ hot
ditlons. Within three years the schoolmastsE
developed into lawyer and capitalist. the 4
Blue Grass bride supplying q grace and easo
to these transitions that were all her own. (
She softened the abruptness OF sudden wealth.
mitigated the austerities OF the newly acquired
power. and made the most elaring incongrutty
picturesque. Only one thing seemed to limit
their progress In tho region Of these possiblli-
ties. They were childless. 1t was as II they
had exhausted the future In their own youth
leaving little or nothing for another generara
ton to do.
A southwesterly storm was beating againss
the dressing-room windows Of their new house
in one Of the hilly suburbs OF San Francisco. 4
and threatening the unreasonable frivolltv a.
the stucco ornamentatlon OF cornlce and bAl-5
cony. Mrs. Tucker had been called from The
contemplation Of the dreary prospect without
by the arrival Of o visitor. On entering th0.
drawng-room she found him engaged IN ~
half-admiring. half-resentful examinations ~
its now furniture and hangings. Mrs. Tucker a
once recognized Mr.. Calhoun Weaver. Q forts1R l
Blue Grass neighbor; with swift feminine intut-
tion she also felt that his slight sntaaonissn 49,
likely to be transferred from her furniture "
herself. Waving 1t with the lazy amiability IT.
Southern indifference. she welcomed him ~;
the familiarity Of Christian name.
recEOned TINT mabhaa Won onfnAd AlA
Blue Grass friends wouldn't naturally hitch on
to them fancy don's." he said. glancing around
the apartment to avoid her clear eyes, a. Is
resolutely setting himself against the old
charm OF her manner as he had against the.
more recent glory Of her surroundings. but n
thought I'd just drop In for the sake Of old
times"
why shouldn't you. Cal 2" said Mrs. Tuckasj
with frank smile. 1879
Especially as I'm going up to Sacramento;
tonight with some influential friends" he
continued with an ostentation calculated a..
resist the assumption OF her charms and hsE
furniture. Senator Dyce Of Kentucky ana
his cousin. Judge BriGgs-perhaps you know
EN-. or may be Spencer-I mean Mr.. Tucker.
does" iii
Il reckon" said Mrs. Tucker. smiling: but
tell mo something about the boys and girls q.
Vinevllle-and about yourself. You're Looking
well. and right smart. too" She paused ~
give due emphasis to this latter recognition 81
huge gold chain with which hcr visitor We,
somewhat ostentatiousy trifiinc. S1
Il didn't know as you cared to hear anysd
thing about Blue Grass" he returned. litt1S;
abashed. I've been away from there sonaes
time myself" he added. his uneasy vanity
taking fresh alarm at the faint suspicion u.
patronage on the part Of his hostess. "They'ros
dom WE'LL though-perhaps as we'll % SONG,
others" Al
And you're not married yet" continued'
Mrs. Tucker. oblvious OF the innuendo. AZ.
CAL" she added archly. Il am afraid you' arr
as tickle "a ever What poor girl In vinevillss
have you left pfuing?" III
Tho simple face OF the man before her flushed
with foolish qualification at this old-fashionsd
ambiguous fattery Now. look yor, BELIZE
he said. chucklin9. III you're talking Of Old
times and you think Il bear malice agin'
Spencer. why" XII
But Mrs. Tucker interrupted what might
have boen an nopportune sentimental retros
spect with finger OF arch but languid waStt.:
ing. That will dol I'm dying to know "a
about 1t. und you must stay to dinner and tell
me. It's right mean you can't see Spencer.
too; but he isn't back from Sacramento yet" n
Grateful as tete-d-tete with his old neighboa
In her more prosperous surroundings would
have been-if only for the sake OF later gosslp-
ing about tho felt 1t would be inconsistsnt
with his pride and his assumption Of present
business. More than that. he was uneasily
conscious that In Mrs. fuckers simple and
unaffected manner thore was greater supert.
GRITTY than he had ever noticed during their
previous acquaintance. He would have felt
kinder to her Ind she shown any airs and
graces." which he could have commented upon
and forgiven. He stammered some vague ex.
cuse OF preoccupation. yet fingered in the hops
OF saying something which. II not aggressively
unpleasant. might at least transfer to her in.
dolent serenity some OF his own irritation. II
reckon" he said as he moYad hasitafin9ly To.