Bob Dean; or, "Our other boarder,"

Chapter I. The Days Of The Republic

EXAS has been neglected by romancers. The geese,

X whose cackling saved the Roman city, became illustrious ; while the pigs, whose martyr death is said to have been the salvation of the young “Republic,” are unknown beyond her domain, and forgotten within its limit.

Have you ever heard the story ? No ? Then I will tell it you in the language of one of her own early historians.

“The independence of Texas had been acknowledged by the United States, England, and France, and M. de Saligny, the French Minister, was residing at Austin, and had erected near the city one of the finest residences then in Texas . . . and perhaps he might have remained but for an unfortunate difficulty between himself and Mr. Bullock, the principal hotel-keeper in the city. It appears that Mr. Bullock’s pigs were in the habit of running around M. de Saligny’s stable, and some of them were killed by one of the servants of the French Minister, whereupon Mr. Bullock whipped the servant. The Minister got mad and called upon Mr. Bullock about the matter, who, not being entirely in a good humor, ordered him off the premises in language perhaps not the 2 13

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most polite. The Minister, feeling that France was insulted, called upon the President (Lamar), and demanded the immediate punishment of Mr. Bullock, which he declined to accede to, but turned him over to the civil authorities. This did not appease the anger of the Minister by any manner of means, and he conducted himself in such a manner as to induce the President to ask that he be recalled, which was done. This, apparently, was a small matter, but it produced great results. It prevented the Republic from obtaining what is commonly known as the French Loan, for which negotiations were then pending, and had she been successful, would have been the ruin of the Young Republic.”

In the year 1839, the little village of Waterloo, whose population was represented by three families, was selected by the commissioners appointed for the purpose as the future capital of Texas.

Situate on the bluff overlooking the blue, winding Colorado, whose limpid waters laugh in the glowing sunlight, the new city, Austin, sprang up apace. The census of January, 1840, gave the population at eight hundred.

Among the immigrants into this new world came Judge Robert Osgood Dean, from Philadelphia, a man of capital and of culture. He left his elegant home and circle of refined friends to seek health from the free zephyrs that fan the broad prairies of the West. But a brief enjoyment of the voluptuous climate will imbue with enthusiasm the man who visits the prairies in the hilarious springtime of the South. The rollicking wind, with its savor from the salt sea ; the broad acres of virgin sod, whose grassy billows are studded with the nodding “blue bonnets” of Buffalo clover (Trifolium Reflexum), where the pink and gold primroses vie with brilliant patches of “Spanish blanket” and wild verbenas;

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the “cattle upon a thousand hills,” whose fat flanks attest the richness of their diet of mesquite; the herds of mustangs, not less free than the white clouds scudding overhead ; all these fill the heart of the traveller with an ecstatic wonder, and he resolves to make his home here while life lasts, and, fate willing, to decree his mortality be added to the generous soil, which gives him so rich a welcome. He writes home to his friends and tries to tell them what it is that intoxicates his senses, and he urges them, too, to come.

And if, when a “hard” winter ensues, and leaden sky is dripping and prairie is brown and sodden ; when the live cattle and horses have sought the covert of the “bottom” thickets, and the numerous dead diversify the plains with their hideous carcasses ; when the grass is sere and the flowers forgotten — then if he grows disgusted and returns home declaring that “Texas is overrated,” it will be only to return in the spring, finding it impossible to resist the impulse that draws him.

Judge Dean, though past his youth, threw himself zealously into the spirit of the day. He unreservedly espoused the interests of his adopted government, participated in the inaugural ceremonies of President Houston on his election, took a personal part in the notorious Archive War, and assisted his fellowcitizens in repelling the frequent incursions of the Comanches, whose homes were in the cliffs and fastnesses of the Lampasas mountains, skirting the town on the north and east.

A part of his large capital Judge Dean expended in purchasing the rich lands to be bought then for a mere song. Some of the most valuable business lots in the new city came into his possession ; but a goodly portion of his money he left invested securely in Philadelphia. While a successful man in his legal profession, he had always felt an antipathy i6

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to actual trade, and had for years contented himself with putting his money to work for him, instead of working with it. His life had not been a happy one. Married early to a beautiful woman, younger than himself in years, but older in worldly wisdom, his twenty months of connubial life had been potent to show him that man is born unto trouble. Then he buried his wife and shut his heart to womankind in maturity. But there was a wee piece of womanhood, his baby daughter, Annetta, who was very dear to him, and he intended to rear her to be noble and true. When a little girl she was weird and wise, and he laughed at her shrewdness, and was proud of her beauty. But when she grew up her wisdom was only cunning, her shrewdness duplicity, and in view of this her father deplored the fatal beauty that gave her power.

Two years ago he bad given her to one he named “ good,” and when Robert Dean said that of a man it embodied most of the noble qualities of manhood. Col. Chapin, his daughter’s husband, had his full confidence and friendship. He hoped Annetta would be dutiful and make him happy, and he sighed to think how perilous a thing it is for a good man to give his life’s happiness into the keeping of a woman.

About this time his health, never robust, began to yield under the strain of business and worry, and his physician advised a change for him. So he made ready to go to Texas, then the traveller’s novelty, but before he could get off he was stricken down with nervous prostration, and for months he was a weary, fretful prisoner in his sick chamber. One day, when he was utterly despondent, the good doctor brought to see him his young daughter. “To cheer you, you know, sir. You are blue. Esther is used to sick people, and she will brighten you up.”

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He could never remember how it was, but if a veritable angel from heaven had winged her way into his dreary room, the effect could not have been enhanced. She did cheer him. Cheered him until he was well again, and then he could not do without the sunshine of her presence. He knew she, too, was good, and he loved her and told his love. She confessed that he had her heart in return, but she would not then give her hand with it. He must go away a year, and see if he did change his mind. So he came to Texas.

Chapter II. A Point Carried

UDGE DEAN did not change his mind. Ere the “ Lone

Star ” had added her rays to Uncle Sam’s galaxy, he had gone home for -his bride and returned to Austin. Col. and Mrs. Chapin, and several other friends came with them, enticed by the stories of wealth, health, and happiness to be attained here.

On the north-west corner of Pecan and Lavacca there stands an old two-story house, built of brick and painted red. Without the appurtenances of modern architecture, it now looks so uninteresting it would hardly occur to you that within its bleak walls young love dreams had been cherished, or a hero of romance born. But at this time it was one of the “palatial residences” which the “Austin City Gazette” and “Sentinel” boasted were “being erected in our rising city of the West.” And here Judge Dean prepared for his bride a home of ease and as much elegance as the limited facilities 2* • B i8

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of the day permitted, when freights were hauled overland in ox-wagons from Houston, Matagorda, or from Mexico, incurring the risks of weather and Indian depredations.

Col. Chapin had a home for his family not far from his father-in-law, and on East Pecan Street was the flourishing banking house of “Chapin & Co.,” the Co. representing Judge Dean and his Philadelphia capital, withdrawn and invested here, where his son-in-law was sure it would realize “ millions.” With his usual antipathy to trade, he took little active interest in the business, but in a great measure gave himself up to the enjoyment of his home, a pleasure unknown in the past, but now fully realized in the devotion of his young wife.

After fifteen years we look again into their lives, years eventful to the young State, but placid to our friend. Chapin & Co., bankers and brokers, have realized, if not millions, a princely fortune. The population of Austin has increased to about eight thousand, the State is free from debt, handsome public buildings erected, and trade brisk. But in the near future is gathering a cloud. In i860 the country begins to feel the throes of the gigantic struggle approaching so near. The financial strength of trade is thrilled to its centre, and some imprudent and weak houses have already gone to pieces. Chapin & Co. have traded largely of late, and it is unreasonable that the public should think they can afford to steadily pay out gold to be hoarded up, buried perhaps, until times are quieter.

Col. Chapin says so, as he stands in his office this January day.

It is past four o’clock, and business is closed when the partners hold their council. Col. Chapin is a fleshy man, well past forty, said by his friends to be a fine-looking gentle-

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*9 man. He has not any top hair to speak of, but his very black beard is full and lengthy ; soft, sallow skin, and black eyes, sharp but bilious. His dress is rich, and a big brilliant flashes on the least finger of the fat, yellow hand, which habitually toys’ with the fox-head charm pending from his massive watch-chain.

Judge Dean contrasts him in a marked degree. Seated in his office chair, contemplating the wood fire which burns in the open fire-place, he is a benevolent-looking elderly gentleman. With clean, snow-white hair, brushed straight back from a broad, kindly brow, face pale, but not wrinkled or careworn, we would say that the fifteen years of domestic bliss had robbed Time of his spoils.

But this afternoon he is annoyed, and there is an unwonted petulance in the tone that replies to a remark just made by his partner.

‘‘But, Chapin, I don’t see how in justice we can do anything else. We have taken their money, and our paper is out. If they bring it back, demanding their gold, they must have it !”

“ But they can’t get it, I tell you, Judge. On day after to-morrow our note for that cotton purchase over at Bastrop falls due — thirty-five hundred dollars it is. If the shipment reached New Orleans when it ought to have done so it brought a good price, and we will get the money back with a nice margin next week ; but if this pressure keeps up we will go under before it gets here.”

He paused to munch his beard which he put between his teeth, always with the jewelled hand.

“ Cordina & DeLeon,” he continued, “ want to get seventeen thousand dollars in the morning, and they offer fourteen per cent, for it and good security — a mortgage on the Van

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Dusen ranche lying a few miles this side of San Antonio. I know the property and know their papers. They have a good and sufficient lien on the entire ranche, stock and interest. ’T will be a first-rate investment for us, because they would rather turn over the property to us and keep the money, which Cordina wants to invest. Beef will command a good price this year, and the drive will cover the note, without touching the stock cattle or ranche."

He chews his black beard and tightens his lips into a grin, a peculiar habit of his when preoccupied. Judge Dean answers :

“But we cannot spare the seventeen thousand ; it will be as much as we can do to weather the storm as it is, unless I sacrifice my real estate," and, rising, he mended the fire with the tongs, and, turning his back to it, looked with kind eyes at the Colonel, who grinned again before answering, with some hesitation.

“We can’t, if we keep on paying out at the rate we’ve .been doing to-day. But — ’’ he paused to chew and grin, “ but we might let Cordina have the money to-morrow, and then stop payment a few days until we could get on our legs again. ’T would perhaps do no one any real harm. These fools are only crazy about their gold — they will all be bring, ing it back in a month."

“ Not to us, if we were to follow your policy. It is theirs, Chapin, and they have a right to it when they call for it. It would be dishonorable in us to divert the capital of the house to other channels, instead of paying our just debts."

Judge Dean has lost his patience, and puts on his overcoat with unseemly haste. The sleeve is not well managed, and proves refractory. Colonel Chapin comes courteously to his assistance, and draws the garment snugly into place, while he answers, —

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“ Dishonorable is a hard word, Judge. It is no more than all business houses do under pressure. Our creditors ought to have some consideration about them. Come, you think it over to-night at home, Judge, and come down early in the morning, so we can have another talk before business hours. ’ *

He handed the Senior his soft black hat and his cane, and let him out at the door, laying his hand soothingly on his shoulder as they parted.

Judge Dean walked slowly homeward, stopped frequently on his way by the greeting of friends, for all loved and honored the upright citizen. At his own gate he was accosted in childish tones with —

“ Oh, father ! father ! just see ! I ’ve been waiting to show you what I ’ve got. It is one of old Speck’s chickens ! When Aunt Sukie went to shut ’em tip in the coop the door fell and hurt this little fellow. See ! he can’t stand up ! ”

The Judge stooped down to kiss his boy, a bright, manly lad of nine years, his pride, and only offspring of his last marriage.

“ P5t him down, Bob, and let ’s see. No, he will never walk again ; but don’t hurt him, son.”

“ Oh, no ! I wouldn’t hurt him for anything. And he was such a s??iart chicken. I was noticing yesterday that he was the first always to get what the old hen found for them. I picked him out for my favorite and named him Pluck.”

“He doesn’t look plucky now. Come, let us go in and find mother.”

“Yes, dinner is waiting, and she has only just left the door. She has been looking for you.”

An hour afterwards the lamps are lighted in the family room, and father and mother are having a cosy talk by the

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fire while the boy is doing something with his wounded chicken on the floor near the table, and meanwhile giving half heed to the conversation.

“ Their talk can’t be very nice,” he is thinking, “ for father stands up with his back to the fire instead of resting in the easy-chair I bought for him Christmas with my own money ; and mother has laid down her crochet work, and looks at him, and talks a good deal. It is about the business and brother Irwin they are talking — but I wish I had a knife that would cut ; this one won’t. My matches break before I can split them. I wish I had some nice splints like Dr. Martin had, but I guess I can make these do.” Aloud now — “ Please, father, will you lend me your knife a little while? ” “ What are you doing, Bob ? ”

“ Oh, I ’m going to mend my chicken’s leg.”

“ Mend it ! how, my son ? ”

“ Why, I ’ll just cut these matches right thin, and hold the leg straight, and with a little strip of this linen cloth bind them tight around it — don’t you see? ” and he leaped to his feet and ran eagerly to show his plan, which he demonstrated on the forefinger of his left hand.

Judge Dean and his wife exchanged smiles as the boy returned to his work, having obtained the knife he coveted.

“ Did he ever see anything of the kind done, mother? ” The boy spoke quickly — “Oh, yes, father — excuse me for answering, mother— but last week when Charley Froude fell from the acting pole at Mr. Smith’s school and broke his arm, they took him home, and he wanted me to go with him to carry his books and marbles ; and Dr. Martin took some thin pieces of wood and fixed his arm up like I tell you. Oh, mother ! when I get to be a man, I mean to be a surgeon — that is what they call a doctor who mends bones,” — and the little fellow drew a deep breath of satisfaction at the thought.

The parents smiled again and went on with their talk, little dreaming he had indeed marked out his future.

A tap at the door, announcing callers ; but it is only Colonel and Mrs. Chapin, who enter as privileged characters.

I have said that Mrs. Chapin was a beautiful woman, and when the adjective has been extended to its most superlative degree, it has not been made too strong to express her charms, chiefest among which is her voice. Language can hardly convey the smooth, thrilling cadences, as her words flow with the intonation of silver bells. Every word that falls from her scarlet lips is as pure and clear cut as a dew-drop in the morning sunlight.

“Good-evening, papa! how do you feel now? Colonel tells me you complained to-day of not enjoying your wonted health. Better? I am rejoiced to hear it, and to believe that your indisposition was only temporary, perhaps induced by your intense solicitude to do your duty to that Juggernaut business. ’Tis a pity that one with your literary taste and aesthetic culture, fitted to grace society in its highest niche, should ever need to soil his hands with the dealings of ordinary mortals. Nay, you need not disclaim ; you know it is but true, Esther ; you need not to assure me you are well, for naught but perfect health could keep you so fresh — so sweet.”

All this said standing, with a hand of each held in her own soft, white ones — so soft and white, one is irresistibly reminded of the paws of a pussy cat. But now she turns to little Bob, who stands impatiently waiting, too well trained to interrupt.

“ And dear little brother, how are you ? You have not been to see my Paul since so long a time. You ought to come

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oftener, for he is never so good as when he has been with you, you perfect little paragon!” and she pats his chubby cheek with her — I had like to have said — paw; but she did not see that he wanted to kiss her, for he was fond of his beautiful lady sister; but Mrs. Chapin rarely kissed any one: those perfect lips she kept sacred; ’twas only her paws she used on other people. Perhaps the weird faith of the Hindoo fireworshipper, that the soul of man is in his breath, had unconsciously possessed her, and she feared its true nature, like alcohol, could be detected by inhalation.

She now seats herself in the luxurious chair which Bob had wheeled in from the parlor for her, and she might be a queen enthroned, for looks.

“ Why didn’t you bring the children, Annetta?” asked her father.

“Oh! my little ones were all naughty this afternoon — all but baby Maude, who would, doubtless, also have come under condemnation, had she been strong enough to leave her cradle to tread on forbidden ground. Do you know, papa, I am becoming a firm believer in your doctrine of total depravity,” and she folded her hands over her lace-covered breast with the air of a martyr.

“ Pray, what did the little ones do to bring down on their heads such condemnation?”

“ I will tell you. I had only just finished having them arrayed in their nicest clothes, for I was going to drive to the cemetery with them, and intended to call at the mansion on my return — you know the Governor has small children — and Paul and Florine wished to have them at their party next week. I had them beautifully attired, when a lady called, and I descended to the parlor, after repeated injunctions that they should remain in the nursery, and on no account soil their

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apparel. After my visitor had departed, and I found leisure to look after my olive branches — where do you suppose I found them?”

A prophetic pause, which her auditors understood must not be interrupted, and the remainder of the incident related much as a judge of a criminal court might pronounce sentence of death on the condemned.

“I found them in the back yard at the chopping-block, where Mam Judy was cleaning a great fish; Paul, with a blunt knife, scraping lustily; Florine stringing the scales on thread for necklaces, with which to adorn Lola’s throat, over her blue silk dress ; Gustav had procured an old tincup, and was bringing water from the well to pour over the disgusting thing.”

The fatal story of Mountain Meadow massacre could not have been recited with more thrilling horror.

“Ha! ha! ha! now they were having a good time, I say. ' I don’t see how you could find it in your heart to spoil their pleasure,” said Judge Dean, while his wife and Colonel Chapin smiled, and Bob’s wide, merry eyes attested his enjoyment of the scenes presented to his mind.

“Papa, how can you say so?” — Impressively — “Though ’t was only four o’clock, I banished them to their respective couches in punishment, and remanded the privilege I had given Mam Judy to go across the river on Sunday to visit her daughter, who is wedded to a jetty Adonis on the Ethridge place. She should not have encouraged my children in their disobedience. When I chid her, her only excuse was that ‘ It look like they was injying theyselves so, an’ I done pin my handcher ober Miss Flo’s dress, an’ Mas Gus got on my check apun.’ I threatened the children that they should forego the pleasure of their party, but I scarcely think I shall adhere to that, for some invitations have been extended.”

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“Yes, and I say you are wrong to tell them so; they know you will let them have it,” interposed her husband, hitherto silent.

“I would not punish the little things too severely,” softly plead Mrs. Dean.

“But, Esther, if I do not cause them sorely to feel the penalty of disobedience, how shall I hope to rear my offspring to be law-abiding citizens ? ”

The stern Martin Luther never propounded a more unanswerable “stunner.”

“ But, sister,” timidly interposed Bob, “ you don’t always punish them when they do what you tell them not to.”

“ How do you know, little man ?”

“The other day you gave Paul a dollar and a half to pay the milkman with, and he took it and bought Tommie Murrains set of chessmen and board. I asked him yesterday what you did to him for it, and he said 1 nothing,’ and that his papa had said the set was well worth three dollars.”

An awkward pause, then Mrs. Dean said, “ You must go to bed now, son. Tell sister, and brother, and father, good-night.”

“ Oh, mother, I forgot ! You said the other day that I must not talk much when old folks were present ; that is the reason I must go to bed now. I bet I don’t forget again. Good-night, everybody. I must get my poor little chicken ; his eyes are shut and I am afraid he feels sick ; I ought to have finished fixing his leg instead of — ” Leaving his sentence incomplete, he bowed himself out at the door, holding his cheeping pet under his soft chubby chin. He felt he was being banished, but was of too stout spirit to make a display of his disappointment.

“Children propound knotty problems, which put to severe

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2 7 test the skill of philosophers,” sententiously observed Mrs. Chapin. “I should have pointed out to my little boy the impropriety of his conduct ; but truly, I could not bear to mar his delight in his new-found treasure. It really was a beautiful set of chessmen, and I believe the toys will prove of material benefit to his mental development. The close attention* necessary to a successful issue in the game cannot but be conducive to the growth of the powers of observation and calculation. Designing, as we do, to educate him for the army, this is a point unwise to ignore.”

Was the subject under discussion moral discipline or the merits of a game of chess ? Mrs. Chapin seems to have forgotten, but her stepmother brought back the wandering theme.

“ But, if you will excuse me, dear Nettie, I will say that I think you are very wrong in allowing such a breach of good faith to go unrebuked. How can you tell when he will be able to draw a line between his own property and another’s unless you teach him now? ”

“ But this was only a paltry hundred and fifty cents, and he knew I would have given it to him for himself had he asked.”

“But he did not ask, and it was not his; nor should there be any difference in the principle of handling one hundred and fifty cents and as many dollars or thousands of dollars. I think, often, the very failure to make honest men of our boys, which you were just deploring, originates in our confusing their minds as to which are the cardinal virtues. Frequently a child is uncertain which is the greater crime, to tear his pantaloons or to tell a lie — he knows he is liable to receive reproof or punishment for either alike. In attempting to force the observance of all the commandments, we fail

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to make him understand which are the weightier matters of the law, and which are only mint, anise, and cummin.’ ’

“Your theory is very unique, Esther; but unless we are willing to have our offspring grow up savages — ”

“ Have you read the Governor’s message, Judge?” interrupted Colonel Chapin. His wife, unaccustomed to having the euphonious flow of her periods broken* turned to him in surprise and met a glance from his eyes, the significance of which she probably understood, for she folded her hands, leaned back in her chair and looked beautiful.

“ I did not read the message myself, but my wife read it, and gave me the points of it,” answered Judge Dean.

“What do you think of his Mexican policy?”

“About the protectorate? I think it merely a blind to divert attention from the more troublesome questions at home.”

“ The accounts of these incendiary fires throughout the State are most shocking,” said Mrs. Chapin, shuddering.

“They are indeed; mysterious, too,” assented her father.

“ One cannot repose in peace for the dread apprehension of having one’s slumbers rudely broken by the shrill alarm of fire rung aloud on the still air of night, being aroused to find all you hold dear in the greedy grasp of the pitiless destroyer.” She covers her eyes with the beautiful hands as if to shut out the scene.

“ The Indian outrages on’ the border are not less horrible,” said Mrs. Dean.

“No; and add to these the depredations of Cortina and his desperadoes on the Rio Grande, and our State seems to be in a deplorable condition,” added Judge Dean.

“ Besides being in constant fear that the negroes will rise in insurrection to take the lives of those they constantly serve.

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Really, I never know when I eat or drink but l am taking my last fatal potion,” lamented Mrs. C.