Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-04-23
Continuation
CHAPTER XIX.

the weather common to that climate
and season, and night set in in such
chilly fashion that Seth cast about his
threadbare wardrobe in an impatient
and hopeless search for something that
might serve as a substitute for q top
coat.
He twas bound to see that thing out
If he had to set the night through in
his shirt sleeves on that windy gallery. y
The S%criptural apportionment Of sew
en- women to one man came very near
Of achievement at Sans Souci in those
days, and Seth felt a sense of RESPONSE.
bility for their physical welfare that
was not confined to the careful herding
Of their diminishing focks or the rails.
ing Of acceptable food crops.
That "a lot Of impudent Yankee cuss-
es" should have visited Sans Souci and
let their trough tongues" loose on the
madam and sissy was an indignity that
stirred him to hot but impotent wrath.
He had so expressed himself with in
effeotual remorse when the story Of the
morning had been told him, variously
and excitedly.
II don't know rs I could a-done any.
thing if I'd ben here, but seems like
there oughter ben a man bout te
a-saved you all some"
"We amt through with 'em yet,
sonny. You'll have a chance at 'em,'
said his mother, with pathetic pride
in the courage Of the Martins. I'll
wouldn't surprise me one particle il
them sassy rogues was to come back to.
night and stick a torch to us all while
we was asleep"
1t was this frightful prophecy that
ret Seth to hunting up a topcoat, which,
Of course, he did not find.
He relinquished the search with q
patient sigh and compromised on a
moth eaten comforter, which he was
cheerfully convinced would secure him
against the added pangs Of sore throat.
They were an ~unexacting lot, those
hemmed in rebels, men and women,
and had learned the great lesson Of do.
ing without thoroughly we'll. And q
man who has learned to do without
such superfuities as flour and coffee
and sugar and shoes and hats is not apt
to grow captious over the absence Of 8
topcoat.
"If it worn't for the women folks, ]
could stand it better, durn'd if
couldn't. I'd enjoy mortifyin the
flesh in some fashion, seein I'm shut of
from doin any of the fghtin, but nam
my's old and the madam's delicate, and
dog-on me if it don't make me snortiz
mad to have them pestered."
Thus Seth to himself, pacing slowly
and softly up and down the vine cur
tanned gallery, a lonely, bewildered SEN
tinel, not knowing in the least what
the moments might bring forth, accept
ing duty for his password and ready to
follow his commander, conscience. into
the very jaws Of death.
Two huge tubbed oleanders fanked
the front steps on either side. The soft,
slow patter Of the rain upon their thick
leaves made him nervous. 1t lessened
his chances Of hearing approaching foot
steps and tended to further confuse his
bewildered senses.
At one moment the pattering sound
ed like the 1aroff clatter Of innumera-
BILE hoofs, then again it fell with the
sharp distinctness of blinking spurs on
nearby heels, while over the shadowy
groups Of the dark shrubs the night
wind swept its molian harp with rest.
less fingers.
When unstinted physical labor has
filled the day, sleep makes imperative
demands on a man, let him be never so
nervously excited otherwise, and Seth
had to keep in constant motion to ward
off drowsiness. He would never forgive
himself if those predicted torch bearers
should accomplish their wicked ends
while he slept.
oh 'em, they may shoot me fur
it, but I'll get in one or two ticks fust. "
His football was noiseless, nothing
between him and the damp gallery floor
but the stout wooden socks knitted by
his mothers dexterous fingers.
The wooden sabots he had laborious-
~ achieved for outdoor wear were too
painfully audible for such a delicate
mission as that night was devoted to.
This sentinel duty had not been dis.
cussed with the women. They had all
retired early after that nerve trying
day, and he hoped they were all Sleep
ing off the recollection Of its trials.
Seth was affectionately minded to spare
them every unnecessary pang, and il
they knew he was footing it, out
there in the chill darkness some Of
them would "fret over it."
There was no suggestion Of the hero
in Seth Martin 3 personality at the best.
Heroes do not SLOUGH through the OBJ
scure byways Of the world on shambling
feet and with down dropped head.
Pride Of record lifts their heads above
the earthworm's trail. But Seth had
no record to be proud Of.
Destiny had assigned him this posi-
ton IS keeper of the home. It had not
been his choice. He should never be
able to quite forget what he suffered
when all Of the ''men folks had turn.
ed their faces from Sans Souci, leaving
him and old Dolbear Ito keep things
together"
How much easllw to- have gone into
the fghtl With all his might he had
been keeping things together" Dol.
bear was his only counselor. It would
never do to fret the women with such
wearisome details. For them always
the ready ingenuity, the patient smile.
the encouraging note, struck from his
own despairing soul with such deter.
mined elasticity as to carry comfort in
spite Of its false ring.
Nothing heroic in all that. Nothing
even remotely suggestive Of heroism in