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barrownet's daughter…in…lawwas just laughin' herself into fits in
the brush！ No； sir； she played this yer camp for all it was worth；
year in and out； and we just gave ourselves away like speckled
idiots！ and now she's lyin' out thar in the bone yard； and keeps on
p'intin' the joke； and a…roarin' at us in marble。〃
Even the later citizens in Atherly felt an equal resentment against
her； but from different motives。 That her drinking habits and her
powerful vocabulary were all the effect of her aristocratic
alliance they never doubted。 And； although it brought the virtues
of their own superior republican sobriety into greater contrast；
they felt a scandal at having been tricked into attending this
gilded funeral of dissipated rank。 Peter Atherly found himself
unpopular in his own town。 The sober who drank from his free
〃Waterworks；〃 and the giddy ones who imbibed at his 〃Gin Mill；〃
equally criticised him。 He could not understand it； his peculiar
predilections had been accepted before； when they were mere
presumptions； why should they not NOW； when they were admitted
facts？ He was conscious of no change in himself since the funeral！
Yet the criticism went on。 Presently it took the milder but more
contagious form of ridicule。 In his own hotel； built with his own
money； and in his own presence； he had heard a reckless frequenter
of the bar…room decline some proffered refreshment on the ground
that 〃he only drank with his titled relatives。〃 A local humorist；
amidst the applause of an admiring crowd at the post…office window；
had openly accused the postmaster of withholding letters to him
from his only surviving brother； 〃the Dook of Doncherknow。〃 〃The
ole dooky never onct missed the mail to let me know wot's goin' on
in me childhood's home；〃 remarked the humorist plaintively； 〃and
yer's this dod…blasted gov'ment mule of a postmaster keepin' me
letters back！〃 Letters with pretentious and gilded coats of arms；
taken from the decorated inner lining of cigar…boxes； were posted
to prominent citizens。 The neighboring and unregenerated
settlement of Red Dog was more outrageous in its contribution。 The
Red Dog 〃Sentinel；〃 in commenting on the death of 〃Haulbowline
Tom；〃 a drunken English man…o'…war's man； said： 〃It may not be
generally known that our regretted fellow citizen； while serving on
H。 M。 S。 Boxer； was secretly married to Queen Kikalu of the
Friendly Group； but； unlike some of our prosperous neighbors； he
never boasted of his royal alliance； and resisted with steady
British pluck any invitation to share the throne。 Indeed； any
allusion to the subject affected him deeply。 There are those among
us who will remember the beautiful portrait of his royal bride
tattooed upon his left arm with the royal crest and the crossed
flags of the two nations。〃 Only Peter Atherly and his sister
understood the sting inflicted either by accident or design in the
latter sentence。 Both he and his sister had some singular
hieroglyphic branded on their arms；probably a reminiscence of
their life on the plains in their infant Indian captivity。 But
there was no mistaking the general sentiment。 The criticisms of a
small town may become inevasible。 Atherly determined to take the
first opportunity to leave Rough and Ready。 He was rich； his
property was secure； there was no reason why he should stay where
his family pretensions were a drawback。 And a further circumstance
determined his resolution。
He was awaiting his sister in his new house on a little crest above
the town。 She had been at the time of her mother's death； and
since； a private boarder in the Sacred Heart Convent at Santa Clara；
whence she had been summoned to the funeral； but had returned the
next day。 Few people had noticed in her brother's carriage the
veiled figure which might have belonged to one of the religious
orders； still less did they remember the dark； lank； heavy…browed
girl who had sometimes been seen about Rough and Ready。 For she had
her brother's melancholy； and greater reticence； and had continued
of her own free will； long after her girlish pupilage at the
convent； to live secluded under its maternal roof without taking
orders。 A general suspicion that she was either a religious
〃crank；〃 or considered herself too good to live in a mountain mining
town； had not contributed to her brother's popularity。 In her
abstraction from worldly ambitions she had； naturally； taken no part
in her brother's family pretensions。 He had given her an
independent allowance； and she was supposed to be equally a sharer
in his good fortune。 Yet she had suddenly declared her intention of
returning to Atherly； to consult him on affairs of importance。
Peter was both surprised and eager； there was but little affection
between them； but； preoccupied with his one idea； he was satisfied
that she wanted to talk about the family。
But he was amazed； disappointed； and disconcerted。 For Jenny
Atherly； the sober recluse of Santa Clara； hidden in her sombre
draperies at the funeral； was no longer to be recognized in the
fashionable； smartly but somewhat over…dressed woman he saw before
him。 In spite of her large features and the distinguishing Roman
nose； like his own； she looked even pretty in her excitement。 She
had left the convent； she was tired of the life there； she was
satisfied that a religious vocation would not suit her。 In brief；
she intended to enjoy herself like other women。 If he really felt
a pride in the family he ought to take her out； like other
brothers； and 〃give her a show。〃 He could do it there if he liked；
and she would keep house for him。 If he didn't want to； she must
have enough money to keep her fashionably in San Francisco。 But
she wanted excitement； and that she WOULD HAVE！ She wanted to go
to balls； theatres； and entertainments； and she intended to！ Her
voice grew quite high； and her dark cheek glowed with some new…
found emotion。
Astounded as he was； Peter succumbed。 It was better that she
should indulge her astounding caprice under his roof than
elsewhere。 It would not do for the sister of an Atherly to provoke
scandal。 He gave entertainments； picnics； and parties； and 〃Jinny〃
Atherly plunged into these mild festivities with the enthusiasm of
a schoolgirl。 She not only could dance with feverish energy all
night； but next day could mount a horseshe was a fearless rider
and lead the most accomplished horsemen。 She was a good shot； she
walked with the untiring foot of a coyote； she threaded the woods
with the instinct of a pioneer。 Peter regarded her with a singular
mingling of astonishment and fear。 Surely she had not learned this
at school！ These were not the teachings nor the sports of the good
sisters！ He once dared to interrogate her regarding this change in
her habits。 〃I always FELT like it；〃 she answered quickly； 〃but I
kept it down。 I used sometimes to feel that I couldn't stand it
any longer； but m