Archie's shadow

Preface

It is a law of nature, that for all healthy physical development, there must be the blessed influence of light. If plants are to bear fair blossoms and fruit, they must lie in the embrace of the sun. Shut them off from this, — persistently overshadow them in any way, — and blight, deformity, worthlessness must follow.

It is a spiritual law, that all healthy souls must be matured by heaven-light ; and if anything throws this into eclipse, — if the shadow of any great sin is allowed to intervene, — the soul becomes feeble and stumbling ; confused and bewildered, it wanders farther and farther from the Light, till, at last, it comes upon the & verge of the “ outer darkness.

Among the most dangerous, and powerful, and ancient of soul-shadows, is Anger, — the second Shadow that fell between man and Heaven. How strong it is, how rapidly it 00 vi

PREFACE.

grows, what unceasing watchfulness and energy are required to escape from its tyranny, — this volume has feebly endeavored to portray. Perhaps there are but few of the youthful readers of these pages, who have keenly felt the power of this particular enemy. We will hope it. But there are many other Shadows, great and small ; none can entirely escape. May the perusal of this simple story help some dwindling soul — wondering at its own feebleness — to search out its Shadow, be it never so cunning and stealthy; may it drag it to the Light, nor ever rest satisfied while there is one dark corner where it might hide itself. This may be a life-long struggle, but, at last, the morning will surely break, and the Shadows all flee away ; and the happy soul, spotless and shining, shall come to that promised, shadowless city, where there can be no more stumbling, for the undimmed “ glory of God doth lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.”

Earth-Light .

THE MAGNET STORIES

BY LYNDE PALMER.

I. DRIFTING AND STEERING.

II. ONE DAY’S WEAVING.

III. ARCHIE’S SHADOW.

IV. JOHN-JACK.

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ARCHIE’S SHADOW.

Chapter I

I^ETTINE, Bettine,” cried a clear, ringing voice, in the direction of the south fence.

Bettine lifted her flushed face, put back the damp rings of hair, and peered through the lilac bushes, past the white lilies nodding in the noonday heat, — the happy lilies that toiled not, neither did they spin, — and smiled as she caught a glimpse of the well-known sailor hat, and blue ribbon. In a minute, with a little sigh, she had turned back, and again taken up the work that had fallen in her lap.

fct Bettine, Bettine,” again cried the persistent voice. “ I am coming over the fence. If the mountain wont come to Mahomet, why, Mahomet must go to the mountain.”

ARCHIE'S SHADOW.

“ Do go, Tiny,” cried Bob, uneasily, looking up from the old chair he was mending. “ He’ll be here in a minute, and then he’ll scold to find you sewing so hard. And I’m sure I don’t want you to work any* more than he does ; but then how would you ever get a new bonnet for next Sunday? O, dear ! I wonder if that old law-suit will ever come to an end ! No, there is no use thinking of that. Ah, don’t you wish I could jump ahead five years, and be big enough to take care of you and grandfather— ”

Bob suddenly paused at finding he was only haranguing the lilac bush ; for Bettine had already passed the white peonies and the lilies, and had met Archie at the foot of the little tumble-down arbor.

44 What is the matter with your ears to-day?” he cried. 4 4 I believe you have put cotton in them. I wanted to tell you such a grand plan we have been getting up. We all think of going up the river this afternoon, — say about five o’clock, when it is cooler, — taking our tea on one of the islands, in a gypsy sort of a way, and coming home by moonlight ! What do you say ? Would you and Bob go ? ”

THE OWNER OF THE SHADOW.

6 6 Would we?” cried Bettine, clasping* her hands, ecstatically. “ O, a thousand times yes, — or — ” her face suddenly fell.

‘ 6 Or one times no , which more than balances the thousand? You weren’t going to say that, Bettine ! ” pleaded Archie.

“ She will go, of course, wont she?” cried another voice ; and just above the brown palings, appeared a handsome, curled head. 66 Or must I come and urge her myself? ”

i 4 Of course,” said Archie, quickly, answering the first question, while a slight shade of annoyance crossed his face.

The head mounted higher, showing itself in company with a carefully brushed coat, and the neatest of linen, while the handsome, shapely feet, changing sides of the fence, were encased in the most perfectly fitting boots. Not that in the one point of neatness lie could claim any superiority over Archie, — who, with the true instincts of a gentleman, was most scrupulously careful in this respect, — but every garment, being fashioned in the latest style, gave him an air of great elegance in the eyes of poor Bettine, who now involuntarily sat down on the archie’s shadow.

little rustic seat, and confided the shoe with a patch, to the friendly protection of the pretty pink skirt.

46 Yes, you really must go,” said Philip, speaking in a deliberate way he had. 44 The arrangements are perfect, and the supper will be something to be remembered. I shall see to all that myself, and there will be nothing wanting you may be sure.”

44 Of course, there wont,” cried Bettine, warmly, watching his slender hands playing with his watch chain.

Archie bit his lips. 44 No, there wont be anything wanting, for I shall see to it. It was my idea from the first, and of course I take the responsibility.”

44 Now wrhy do you trouble yourself, my dear boy ! ” said Philip, lowering his voice, though Bettine heard every word. 44 There are a great many luxuries and delicacies of the season, which are expensive, and yet it would be nice to have them. Now if you should furnish them, you would probably have to deny yourself something which you actually need, while I should not feel it at all.”

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“ How very generous ! ” thought Bettine, but the unaccountable Archie flushed violently.

“ And how do you happen to be so well informed upon what I am able to afford ? ” he cried, with no attempt at an undertone.

66 Some other time,” said Philip, pointing with a courteous bow, to their companion.

“ No, speak out,” cried Archie. “ I have no secrets from Bettine.”

“ Well, — if you insist upon it, — my common sense tells me that if papa Falconer came so near failing last week, that he had to call a meeting of his creditors, it isn’t likely he has a great deal of ready money to put in his son Archie’s pockets.”

“ Failing ! Creditors ! ” repeated Bettine, in blank astonishment. She had always considered Archie’s father such an inexhaustible mine of wealth.

64 No, he didn’t fail, Bettine,” said Archie, in a constrained voice. “ He made some compromise with his creditors for the present, by which he could go on with the business. But if he lives, and 7 live, we shall yet pay off every dollar, and owe no man living a penny ! ”

Archie’s shadow.

I am so glad,” cried Bettine, who had an indistinct remembrance of what misery the word 44 failure,” had meant in her family. 44 And everything is to go on just as usual ? ”

44 Yes,” said Philip, quietly, 44 thanks to my mother, who has lent Mr. Falconer about half our property.”

The veins in Archie’s forehead stood out like cords, and his hands clenched involuntarily, as he made a step forward.

44 Now don’t bring out the blow-pipe this warm day,” said Philip, smiling and laying his hand on Archie’s shoulder. 44 Not the least occasion. I am sure I did not say that we were not all very glad that papa Falconer should have it. Indeed, Adeline and I are very happy at the thoughts of obliging you. Pray, control vourself,” he added in a lower tone. 44 You really frighten Bettine.”

It was all very right and reasonable, but Archie felt the hot blood mounting, mounting ! How he wished for a moment, that he could see a lion coming, that he might dart upon it and tear it in pieces ; he had so much superfluous strength, and yet it was not quite enough to

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bear that gentle tap, tap upon his shoulder. The drops stood upon his face.

“ There, that will do, Philip,” said he, shaking him off. * ‘ I think Rosette will appreciate that patting better than 1 do, — if your hand has the St. Vitus’ Dance, and can’t possibly stop.”

Philip elevated his eyebrows, and smiled with .unruffled composure at Bettine, whose face was very red.

u We must be careful how we approach Archie,” said he. “ He is like a cannon, always too heavily loaded, and whenever he goes off, you must look out ; if he doesn’t burst, he will, at least, kick terribly.”

Archie, struggling hard with himself, tried to smile. “Very good; and what do you call yourself? ”

Philip laughed. “ Only a poor nobody, who doesn’t like to be kicked, and so sometimes tries to draw the charge to this great gun ; but it’s dangerous business.”

“Draw the charge!” cried Bob Leighton, suddenly appearing on the scene. “ Yes, I should think so ! There’s nothing you like akohie’s shadow.

better than to ram in a triple load, and then touch it off.”

“ O, hush, Bob!” cried Bettine, in some alarm. Bob had very strong prejudices, and having espoused Archie’s cause, was apt to be very unjust and unmannerly to Philip.

“ I don’t care,” cried Bob. “ Archie will be a great man one of these days. I don’t care how far ahead some people seem to be now, their eleven sheaves will all have to tumble down to his one, sometime. Will you take me to live with you, when you are a great man, Archie?”

“ O, yes,” laughed Archie. “ You and little Thumb, and I will be very happy in a home all by ourselves. Only we might have some trouble about boiling our potatoes, and making our tea. What would you say to being housekeeper for us, Bettine? ” he asked with a smile.

“ And having two new calico dresses a year, and living on boiled cabbage, and hasty pudding?” interposed Philip, speaking a little quicker than usual.

“No, Bettine,” cried Archie. “You shall have everything you want, a dress for every day

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in the week, and a silk as blue as your eyes for Sundays.”

“ Liberal,” whispered Philip, “ when he hasn’t enough of his own to buy you a blue ribbon yet.”

Bettine looked full of sympathy at Archie.

“ Yes,” said Philip, following the direction of her eyes. “ I am very sorry for him too. It is hard when a fellow thinks his way is all paid through life, to find he has got to 6 work his passage’ instead.”

Archie looked towards them uneasily.

“He says you will have to work your passage through life,” repeated mischievous Bob.

“ And what if I will !” flamed Archie, again. “ It brings out all there is in a fellow, to struggle so. And then one gets some grand views from the mast-head, that are not shared by the comfortable passengers in the cabin, Philip. I’ll tell you what, Bettine,” he turned to her impetuously, “I may not become very rich, but money isn’t God’s best gift. Money will almost always come by the sweat of the brow, you know, but greatness can only come by sweat of the brain ; that is the hardest, — nobody knows

Archie’s shadow.

how hard till he has tried it ; but then, it brings its reward, — something more precious than money, — and that is what I mean to have.”

Archie’s cheeks were flushed, his eyes grew a deeper blue ; a painter could not have wished for a more perfect embodiment of beautiful youth and enthusiasm. Bettine felt it, as she looked at him in half frightened admiration.

“ It is such a pity he is so impetuous,” whispered Philip. “ He will never be very great, his character is not well balanced.”

“ I have not quite made up my mind what I shall be,” pursued the unconscious Archie, 4C but I was reading in a French book, the other day, about some man that I call very grand. Of course he had a fine mind, and was splendidly educated, and then, there wasn’t any great thing he couldn’t do just as easily as any little clerk could measure off a yard of calico. This book said — 4 People came to him and ordered a railroad or a canal, just as they would order a shoemaker for a pair of shoes.’ Now think of it, Bettine, suppose I was living in a little cottage, but suppose some day, a party of great men, who lived in palaces, should

THE OWNER OF THE SHADOW.

come to the door, and say, 4 will you please tell Mr. Falconer that we would like an ocean telegraph, and would he be so kind as to say when it could be done?’ Wouldn’t you be proud, Bettine ? ”

Philip laughed. 44 Or perhaps they would like a ladder for the man in the moon, who sprained his ankle the last time he came down too soon, to enquire the way to Norwich.”

44 Perhaps,” said Archie, joining in the general merriment, 44 and I should certainly try to furnish it. I wont admit that anything is impossible. I mean to be a man in advance of the age.”

44 And so be perfectly wretched,” interposed Philip. 44 I don’t know of anything worse than being different from other people, and always being uncomfortable and out of place. One might better be a duck born in the midst of the desert of Sahara ! ”

44 But the fame ! ” cried Archie, 44 think of being known and honored, and making men’s hearts beat and thrill, when the very names of the comfortable people have been forgotten for generations.”

Archie’s shadow.

4 6 And precious little I should care for that, after I was dead and gone,” said Philip. 44 At any rate, Bettine, I have a piece of advice for you. Keep clear of being 4 housekeeper,’ for any of these great men with full heads and empty pockets. I suppose Socrates is one of Archie’s models, but all the world knows now, what a life poor Xantippe led with him. Hardly a rag to wear or a mouthful to eat, — no wonder she was cross. If she had only married a rich man, the name Xantippe might have stood for saint, instead of vixen. I don’t suppose there was a woman in that age, who wasn’t happier than the wife of Socrates.”

Bettine looked bewildered. Archie was ruthlessly picking a rose in pieces.

44 Come Tiny,” said Bob, uneasily, feeling the force of Philip’s words, and fearing that his favorite was getting the worst of it. 44 You must come in out of this blaze, — you will have a sun-stroke.”

44 Nonsense ! ” cried Philip ; 44 the sun

doesn’t hurt her, any more than it does the peaches against the south wall, — it only makes her grow prettier. I want to tell her something about my housekeeping. I haven’t any fancy for a cottage. I prefer a building of stone, something like our present one, only handsomer.” He pointed to the soft gray turrets and gables visible here and there through the trees. “And then my housekeeper should never be confined to one silk dress, * — her closet should be a perfect rainbow, with a different color for every day in the week, and velvet and satin for Sunday. She should never put her pretty fingers in a dish-pan. I should never have them used for anything but to string diamonds upon. Then, of course, she should have books and pictures, pretty curtains, and soft carpets; eh, Bettine? how would you like that ? which would be best ? ”

Poor little Bettine who had never worn a silk dress except for the sixtieth part of a second, in a most tantalizing dream, — flushed to the tips of her pretty ears, at the mere possibility of such grandeur. She looked wistfully at Archie, who had turned his back. She had had quite enough of living in a cottage. Ah ! such scrimping and contriving, — but that was a secret.

Archie’s shadow.

“Bettine,” cried Bob, again, “you look very warm ; do come in, and let me make you a glass of iced lemonade, while you read the magazine awhile.”

Honest Bettine stared. Iced lemonade ! why, they couldn’t afford to take ice, and there hadn’t been a lemon in the house for weeks. But suddenly, as she caught Bob’s eye, and a regretful pantomimic short-hand, which she well understood, — she remembered the pile of shopwork, which she had promised to have done that very night ; and she must have been out there nearly an hour. Yes, the “ iced lemonade” and the “last magazine,” were only genteel figures of speech, — flowers of rhetoric, under which lay the thorns of needle, thimble, and scissors. She rose hastily, still remembering to keep the patched shoe in the rear.

“Ah, I thought you wTould like the lemonade,” said Bob, linking her arm in his.

Bettine looked at him reproachfully ; but the absurd Bob, — very proud of his sister, — always insisted upon keeping up a fiction of gentility and easy circumstances before their neighbors.

THE OWNER OF THE SHADOW.

“ But you haven’t answered our questions, yet,” cried Archie. “ How about the picnic, to begin with ? ”

Poor Bettine remembered, with a sinking heart, her promise that the work should be finished and carried home that very night. She could not break her word.

‘ 6 1 am afraid I cannot go ” — she began regretfully —

“N o,” cried the ever-ready Bob, fearful of what might come next ; “we have an engagement for this evening, — a very important engagement of some days’ standing, and it will not do to break it.”

4 ‘Ah, I think I did hear that the mayor had invited a few friends to meet some distinguished visitors, this evening,” said Philip, smiling at his important manner.

“And you really cannot go,” said Archie, with great regret. “ Well, I suppose there may be other days just as lovely, but I had quite set my heart upon to-night.”

“ But how about the other question?” cried Philip. “ Wasn’t my picture the pleasantest?”

As Bettine hesitated, half assenting, she had akchie’s shadow.

a strange impression that a cloud had come over the sun. Something chilled her. Could it be only the dark shadow stealing over Archie’s face ?

4 4 Bet tine has chosen!” laughed Philip, triumphantly. 6 4 You and the log-house must look out for another housekeeper, with more elevated sentiments.”

44 I do not intend to live in a log-house,” said Archie, with more emotion in his voice than the occasion seemed to warrant. 4 4 And I am sure I can be rich, too, if I please, — if everybody thinks that is the best thing.”

44 I am sure I hope you will,” said Philip, 44 and I’m sure I should be most happy to give you a start, but I’m afraid our family hasn’t anything more to lend, at present.”

44 How insulting!” cried Archie, with a quick, fierce gesture, which made Philip draw back, involuntarily.

Bettine ran up to him with a little frightened cry. 44 Don’t be so angry, Archie. O, how white you are ! ” she cried, as pale and trembling, he leaned against the arbor. A violent headache, to which he was subject, had come

THE OWNER OF THE SHADOW.

suddenly upon him, with sharp, quick shafts of pain ; he closed his eyes with a weary look.

44 We all like you so very much,” said Bettine, tremulously, 44 and some time Bob and I will certainly come and get tea for you in your dear little cottage. I didn’t think at first, — I’m sure we should like it best.”

44 See how you have frightened the child,” said Philip ; ” she will say anything you want her to, now. Is this one of your triumphs? ” Archie looked up humbly, Philip might say anything now. After every such outburst of anger, he was always overwhelmed with shame, and the strongest reproaches from others were taken patiently ; they were not so bitter as the contempt he was heaping on his own head.

44 I did not expect a simple expression of good-will to be taken in such a way,” continued Philip. 44 1 confess to being a bungler in the way of expressing myself ” —

“A great bungler, when you please,” mut tered Bob.

44 Pray say no more,” cried Archie, with a pained face. 44 I most heartily beg your pardon. They keep Bengal tigers in iron

Archie’s shadow.

cages,” said he, glancing remorsefully at Bettine’s tearful eyes. “ Fm sure I don’t know what ought to be done wTith me . Try to forgive me, Bettine. Could you shake hands? Thank you ; ” and he vaulted hurriedly over the fence.

Philip more slowly followed his* example, pausing a moment on the other side.

46 Such a fearful temper!” said he, pityingly.

“ But there are so many good things about him,” — said Bettine, anxiously. “ If you had only known him as many years as I have ” —

“ O, a great many excellent things!” assented Philip, promptly. “ I hope you do not think me so ungenerous as not to admit that. It is probably only because the sun is so bright that we can so clearly see the spots.”

Bettine sighed, as she turned away. She did not like to see any spots in Archie, and yet, how just and even-tempered Philip seemed by contrast. She wished Archie was willing to imitate him in some respects ; but he seemed to have taken one of his strong prejudices against him. Such a pity ! he certainly might consent

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to learn a few things of him, without pride taking offence, for Philip was two whole years older.

“Ah, Bob, what are you doing?” she cried, coming suddenly upon that young gentleman, bending with flushed cheeks over her pile of work.

“Helping,” said Bob, demurely. “I thought you’d never get through. What do you think of that button-hole, now ! ”

“ It looks just like a row of shark’s teeth,” said Bettine, frowning and laughing. “ You might much better have gone to school. O, dear, only think, I might have made twelve button-holes in all this time, and that would have been six cents.”

“Never mind,” said Bob, catching up his books. “ They say, fretting makes the poorest kind of dipper for taking up spilled milk. You’ll finish it yet, and we’ll go down to-night and buy the new bonnet and ribbon. And then you’ll trim it up, to-morrow, and give it such a jolly style. Adeline Fairchild will just go crazy, and think it was certainly done by Madame Lustre, herself.”

Archie’s shadow.

At the very thought of such a climax of triumph, Bob immediately stood upon his head, — a peculiar way he had of relieving himself, under pressure of strong emotion, — and disappeared from Bettine’s view, heels in the air.

But poor Bettine looked lovingly at the sweet grass, and the pale, blue summer sky, and dreamed of the island and the river. It was very pleasant to have Bob so proud of her, but she wished he was not quite so ambitious. Now, there was the pretty blue mouslin, he had been so anxious she should have. She did not mean to say that she was not very glad that it was hanging in her little closet ; and yet, what a price she had paid for it ! four weeks of early summer days, thousands of wild-flowers, robins, butterflies, clouds and grass, — all lost out of Bettine’s life; and in return, just those few yards of blue mouslin. Bettine felt keenly that she had made a very bad bargain, though it was no worse than most older people are doing every day of their lives. She almost wished for a moment, that people were all clothed like the birds; but then, suppose Adeline Fairchild had been a golden-breasted humming-bird, and

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she, only a little brown thrush, — why, Bob would have picked his heart out if he could not have found some way to paint her feathers.

So she thought, and worked on till it drew toward evening ; the air was full of damp, spicy odors, and the birds dashed across the sky with long, sweet bursts of song.

“ I knew you would finish it,” said Bob, rattling away the tea-things. “ Now we will go and buy the bonnet.”

“ Yes, go,” said Grandfather Leighton, looking up from the coarse mat he was braiding, with the smile which always made his old face look young. M It is hard for such young robins to be kept in a cage so long. Are you going down by the river, dear?”

“No, Grandfather, shopping,” said Bettine, just a little sadly.

“ Didn’t you see, last Sunday,” broke in Bob, “ she was perfectly indecent and disgraceful ” —

“ One of the Leightons indecent and disgraceful 1 ” exclaimed his grandfather, in pretended alarm.

“Only a Leighton bonnet,” smiled Bettine.

Archie’s shadow.

“ Ah, that makes it better. My little one must have some finery, is that it? Well, well, I suppose that is according to Nature. There must always be pretty pink blossoms before we can look for the sober, solid fruit. But don’t think too much of the blossoms, it is the life underneath that is of the most consequence. Wouldn’t it be sad, Bettine, to be only a flower, all one’s life ? ”

“ What do you mean, Grandfather?” cried Bob.

“ I knew two girls once,” said the old man, “ or let us say two apple-blossoms ; they were very lovely, — for a long time you could not tell which was the sweeter of the two. But by and by there came a great wind, — an evil wind is sure to blow some time or other, — and the pretty leaves, youth, beauty, and riches, we will call them, all fell away. And now you could see very plainly the difference in the two blossoms. One pined and shrivelled, and mourned over what it had lost, and finally, — dried and useless, — fell from the great tree of life, to be raked up with other stubble, and burned. The other gradually expanded into a beautiful golden

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t-m m -m fruit, far more precious, and lovelier than It had ever been before, and, at last, became so perfect that it was gathered by the Lord of the harvest, himself.”

Bettine smiled ; she always understood her grandfather. She would remember that life underneath. It was very pleasant to think that when youth and beauty dropped away, there might still be something left, beautiful enough for the gathering of those glorious hands.

44 But it’s time for the blossoms now, any way, Grandfather,” cried impatient Bob. 44 Come, Bettine, come ! ”

44 Yes, yes,” sighed the fond old grandfather, 4 4 I wish I could give them all the sunshine they needed, and that they had nothing to do but dance in the wind. If that law-suit — but no, we mustn’t think of that. If I get all I expect to for these mats, and don’t have a poor turn before I can finish another lot ” —

44 O, hush, hush, grandfather!” cried Bob, hastily. 44 Here comes Archie Falconer ! ”

Chapter II. The Shadow’s Name

RCIIIE sat with Grandfather Leighton in the cottage door, while the warm sunset faded into the serenest golden twilight. Looking to the left, he caught glimpses of the river flowing sweet and solemn between its green banks, like a happy, peaceful life. To the right, stretched the bit of dusty road, down which lie had watched Bob and Bettine, to the angle where they had taken the street car to go down into the city. How the good little Bettine, mindful of the mute appeal in his pale face, had turned, the last thing, to wave her handkerchief and smile, in token that everything was forgotten.