Belden

“ Sal died 'fore any come. Thet's why I'm here.' Belden abstractedly began to light his pipe, which had failed to go out, and then brightened up with, 'How 'bout yerself, stranger—married man?' For reply, he opened his watch, slipped it from the thong which served for a chain, and passed it over. Belden picked up the slush lamp, surveyed the inside of the case critically, and, swearing admiringly to himself, handed it over to Louis Savoy. With numerous 'By gars!' he finally surrendered it to Prince, and they noticed that his hands trembled and his eyes took on a peculiar softness. ”

“ A tall fellow in a long ulster sprang forward to grasp his hand. “You don’t say it’s yourself come down to meet us. Here we all are, Johnson, Clemmerding, Albright, Cranston—all of the old set. Rainsford, you’ve heard of my cousin, Will Belden. My wife and Miss Wakeman are behind here; but we’ll do all the talking afterward, if you’ll only get us off for the hall now.”
“Well, I am glad to see you, Henry,” said Mr. Belden heartily. He thrust the pound of butter hastily into a large pocket of his mackintosh, and found himself shaking hands with a score of men. ”

“ Across from Rockledge School was the village of Belden. On a high bluff over there the new boys saw several red brick buildings among the trees.
"That's Belden School," explained Pee Wee. "We have to beat them at football this fall. We did them up at baseball in the spring. They're a mean set of fellows anyway," added the fat boy. "Once they came across here and stole all our boats. ”

“ Belden, who spoke of him as a man of remarkable attainments in certain branches of scientific research, notably in chemistry and toxicology. Dr. Jaquet cultivated friendly relations with Professor Dean and Mr. Kearns, and his visits to Dr. Belden’s establishment became more frequent than ever. All three were fond of exercise on foot and they took long rambles together over the surrounding country.
Dr. Jaquet, too, had, like Professor Dean, his hobby, and this hobby was the subject of suspended animation. ”

“ They had learned many of the stock stories of school—legends of great fights with the boys of Belden School, or of mighty games at football or baseball or some other sport, in which victory had perched upon the banners of Rockledge.
The loyalty of boarding school boys is second only to family feeling or patriotic love for one's country. Bobby and Fred and the other boys of Dormitory Two were just at that age when the mind and heart are both most impressionable. ”

“ Rockledge, as the visiting team, was first at bat. The first man up went out on strikes and a chorus of cheers arose from the partisans of Belden. Fred, who came next, whipped a sharp liner to left. If it had been smartly fielded, it would have gone for a single, but the left fielder fumbled it for a moment and Fred by great running reached second. Then it was the turn of Rockledge to cheer. The hit availed nothing, however, for Barry went out on a pop fly to the pitcher and Sparrow sent a towering fly to right which was gathered in after a long run. ”

“ He can neither dig nor fight.
"But he must not be allowed to escape again at night. I tell you! He shall be made to sleep in the guardhouse. He is not to be trusted to watch your ward. You may have him to assist you during the day. At night he must be a prisoner. But let him sleep off his potations now."
"Many thanks, gnädiger Herr," Belinda said.
"The pleasure is mine," the young nobleman replied, his mean little eyes devouring the figure of the nurse in her neat uniform.
She had come to his quarters outside the hospital enclosure with a permit from the Herr Doktor. ”

“ He was wild to be one of the Belding rangers. The idea of riding a horse in the open desert, with a dangerous duty to perform, seemed to strike him with an appealing force. Something within him went out to the cowboys, to this blunt and kind Belding. He was afraid to meet the girl. If every man who came along fell in love with this sweet-voiced Nell, then what hope had he to escape—now, when his whole inner awakening betokened a change of spirit, hope, a finding of real worth, real good, real power in himself? ”

“ Belding smiled, "Working too hard, as usual."
"And working every one else, especially you. Well, I assume that's his way. I'd like you to tell him that we're building a new church because he did not seem to care for the other one."
"Does that fall within the office of an engineer?" said Belding doubtfully.
"Unquestionably. Your profession does many different things by many different methods. By the way, I hear we are to have iron works in St. Marys."
"Yes, thanks to Fisette."
"It's some years since Mr. Clark told me he had reason to believe there was iron in the district. ”

“ And his enemies "Toasted-cheese."
"His form is ungainly—his intellect small—"
(So the Bellman would often remark) —
"But his courage is perfect! And that, after all,
Is the thing that one needs with a Snark."
He would joke with hyænas, returning their stare
With an impudent wag of the head:
And he once went a walk, paw-in-paw, with a bear,
⁠"Just to keep up its spirits," he said.
He came as a Baker: but owned, when too late—
And it drove the poor Bellman half-mad—
He could only bake Bride-cake—for which, I may state,
No materials were to be had. ”

“ He had just one idea—but, that one being “Snark,”
The good Bellman engaged him at once.
He came as a Butcher: but gravely declared,
When the ship had been sailing a week,
He could only kill Beavers. The Bellman looked scared,
And was almost too frightened to speak:
But at length he explained, in a tremulous tone,
There was only one Beaver on board;
And that was a tame one he had of his own,
Whose death would be deeply deplored. ”

“ He's always hanging round. Bold! Why, that isn't the thing to call Mr. Chase. He's absolutely without a sense of decency. He bribes our servants. He comes into our patio. Think of that! He makes the most ridiculous excuses. He bothers mother to death. I feel like a poor little rabbit holed by a hound. And I daren't peep out."
Somehow the thing struck Belding as funny, and he laughed. He had not had a laugh for so long that it made him feel good. He stopped only at sight of Nell's surprise and pain. ”

“ Devenish, young fellow, when you matched yourself against a man of my repute, when you matched yourself against a man–matched yourself against a man of my repute (crossing towards fireplace)
(Belinda rises stealthily, takes up her hat and exits through the swing doors and through the garden up R.)
when you matched yourself against a man who has read papers (moving towards centre table) at Soirees of the Royal Statistical Society–" (Looking round the room, he discovers that he is alone. He picks up his hat from the table and jams it down on his head.) ”

“ But, poor boy——"
"Waste no sympathy on him," growled Paul. "He is a treacherous little beast. Whether it be true or not——"
"Whether what be true, Paul?" demanded Belinda, unable to smother her impatience, and shaking his arm in the grip of both her hands. "Tell me! Is there something wrong? What has Ernest said to you?"
"That the flying-man talks other languages than German. That he speaks French to that harelipped Erard. That they have long conferences together." ”

“ Six couples swung into the street, with Belinda at their heels. Out of the grim, inclosing walls, with the cool, moist air in their faces, the lights reflected gayly in the glistening pavements, the cabs and carriages dashing by, the mystery and fascination of a great city clinging around them, and a matinée idol beckoning them, the girls began to find life more cheerful. ”

“ Let the beard of the Lord Mayor of Newcastle be the talisman that my lady demands; I am satisfied.
Baxter. This sort of thing is entirely contrary to my usual mode of life, but I will not be outfaced by a mere boy. (Rising.) I am prepared. (Going to her.)
Devenish. Speak, lady.
Belinda (speaking in a deep, mysterious voice) . Gentlemen, ye put wild thoughts into my head. In sooth, I am minded to send ye forth upon a quest that is passing strange. Know ye that there is a maid journeyed hither, hight Robinson–whose– (in her natural voice) what's the old for aunt?
Baxter (hopefully) . ”

“ Find me my little infirmier, Erard. I must have somebody who knows how to assist at a dressing. You are wasting my time."
"Ah, Belinda, why are you so cross?" cried the sergeant-major, with a pleading note in his voice. "Why so harsh with one who admires you so?"
"Tut, tut, Paul! Save your love making for village maidens," Belinda told him tartly. "Nor are we rehearsing a scene from a comic opera. This is serious business, this hospital work——"
"And I'd have you know," said Paul with sudden fierceness, "that I am serious, too, Cousin Belinda. ”

“ He is a really wonderful man, Belinda—a man of countless disguises and subterfuges. When I set him down in that field four days ago he drew on a peasant's smock, put his feet in sabots, and before I got my plane in the air again he was hobbling toward the village, the true picture of one of these old peasants, so decrepit and lame that even the Prussians fail to set them to work. ”

“ When the fortune which had seemed a premise in life's logic shrunk to proportions barely adequate to support the mother and the younger children, and became for Belinda herself a vague hypothesis, New York still hung mystic and alluring upon the horizon ”

“ With no night nurse, no assistance of orderlies, the work bore heavily upon Belinda and her infirmier. Jacob did what he could; but his wounds had been painful and he was only able to hobble about the ward.
Erard crept to Belinda's side as she was busy preparing packs and bandages for the day's dressings, and whispered:
"Mademoiselle, what will you do when the Boches come? Me, I shall slip away. I am a small man—and a cripple. They will not bother one like me. But you, Mademoiselle——"
"I speak German," Belinda said briefly.
"But you wear the French insignia." ”

“ Now did Beltane divide the three hundred into five companies of sixty; over the first company he set Walkyn, over the second, Roger, over the third, Ulf, over the fourth Jenkyn o' the Ford. Then spake he on this wise:
"Walkyn, take now these sixty good fellows and march you north-westerly yonder across the valley; let your men lie well hid a bow-shot within the forest, but do you stay upon the verge of the forest and watch for the coming of our foes. ”

“ Up to an elbow sprang Beltane to find the sun new risen, filling his humble chamber with its golden glory, and, in this radiance, upon the open threshold, the tall, grim figure of the stranger.
"Messire," quoth Beltane, rubbing sleepy eyes, "you wake betimes, meseemeth."
"Aye, sluggard boy; there is work to do betwixt us." "How so, sir?" ”

“ Every man who could was sitting or standing erect. Even those on their backs who possessed a whole hand saluted her.
"Gesegnete Zukunft!" they cried in unison.
Belinda's eyes overflowed. She could only kiss her hand to them and run out. The relieving nurse was in sight.
The wet and windy night had rightly foretold a dreary day. How could the sun have shone when all Belinda's hopes had fallen into such chaos? Self-centered as her thoughts were—centered upon Frank Sanderson and her own troubles—the Red Cross nurse felt as though the very world itself were coming to its end. ”

“ Here is the fine poulet for that same Herr Lieutenant." He bowed low before the troubled nurse. "But yes," he said boldly. "I am a man, me! I am no slave of a soldier. I have accomplished all that I set forth to do."
Belinda caught her breath. She knew the man was speaking directly to her—was reassuring her; although what he said seemed merely the vaporings of wine.
"Come!" cried Carl again.
"Pardon, Monsieur," said Erard politely. "Is that the way to leave a lady? I kiss your hand, Mademoiselle. I am relieved of that so-dirty work of the ward for a season—is it not?"
He spoke French. ”

“ Belinda (to herself) . Mariton! How funny! I wonder if it's the same one.
Baxter. What one?
Belinda. Oh, just one of the ones. (Gratefully.) Mr. Baxter, you are doing all this for me.
Baxter. Pray do not mention it. I don't know if it's Devonshire (going to and sitting L. of Belinda) , or the time of the year, or the sort of atmosphere you create, Mrs. Tremayne, but I feel an entirely different man. There is something in the air which–yes, I shall certainly go over to Mariton this afternoon.
Belinda (gravely) . I have had the same feeling sometimes, Mr. Baxter. ”

“ CHAPTER XXXII HOW BELTANE MET WITH A YOUTHFUL KNIGHT Now at this time the fame of Beltane's doing went throughout the Duchy, insomuch that divers and many were they that sought him out within the green; masterless men, serfs new-broke from thraldom, desperate fellows beyond the law, thieves and rogues in dire jeopardy of life or limb: off-scourings, these, of camp and town and village, hither come seeking shelter with Beltane in the wild wood, and eager for his service. ”

“ Now as she hearkened, the Duchess Helen grew angry, yet straightway, she dissembled, looking upon him 'neath drooping lashes. Soft and tender-eyed and sighing, she answered:
"Ah, Beltane! how unworthy are such things of a man's love! For if he pluck them, that he may lay these flowers upon his heart, lo! they fade and wither, and their beauty and fragrance is but a memory. Ah, Beltane, when next ye sing, choose you a worthier theme." ”