Mr. Hunter

“ Mr Hunter, as he was called to his face and as he was known to his brethren at the Shining Light Chapel, or 'Misery' or 'Nimrod,' as he was named behind his back by the workmen over whom he tyrannised, was the general or walking-foreman or 'manager' of the firm, whose card is herewith presented to the reader:
There were a number of sub-foremen or 'coddies,' but Hunter was the foreman.
He was a tall thin man, whose clothes hung loosely on the angles of his round-shouldered, bony form. ”

“ If that younger one had lost his life in the gravel pits, he would have died an innocent man.'
Away to the yard now, as fast as her legs would carry her. In turning in, she ran against Austin Clay.
'I want to speak with Mr. Hunter,' she imperiously said. 'Mr. Lewis Hunter—not the one I saw in the gig.'
'Mr. Hunter is out of town, Miss Gwinn,' was Austin's reply. 'We do not expect him at the yard to-day; he will not be home in time to come to it.'
'Boy! you are deceiving me!'
'Indeed I am not,' he returned. 'Why should I? Mr. Hunter is not in the habit of being denied to applicants. ”

“ You have seen some of its disastrous working upon the men: you cannot see it all, for it would take a whole volume to depicture it. But there was another upon whom it was promising to work badly; and that was Mr. Hunter. At this, the eleventh hour, when the dispute was dying out, Mr. Hunter knew that he would be unable to weather the short remains of the storm. Drained, as he had been at various periods, of sums paid to Gwinn of Ketterford, he had not the means necessary to support the long-continued struggle. ”

“ Hunter.
'A fellow dressed in black, with a squint and a white neckerchief; an ill-favoured fellow, whoever he is.'
'How should I know about him?' replied Mr. Hunter, carelessly. 'Somebody after the men, I suppose.'
But Austin Clay felt that Mr. Hunter did know; that the description could only apply to Gwinn of Ketterford. Dr. Bevary entwined his arm within his brother-in-law's, and led him from the room.
'James, do you want doctoring?' he inquired, as they entered the one just vacated by Lawyer Gwinn. ”

“ Hunter would long ago have made him foreman, for he had no man whom he so fully trusted; but Jim’s limited knowledge of letters and figures prohibited that distinction, and he remained in one sense an ordinary ranch-hand, apparently content. Still, in another sense, there was something unique about his position. The younger men looked up to him, because of his wide experience and fund of practical knowledge; Mr. Hunter relied implicitly upon his honesty, and consulted him upon many matters of ranch management; and, next to her father, there was no one in all Wyoming whom Virginia so loved. ”

“ Here we are, in the depth of winter, and [Pg 379] what sort of homes do you possess to fortify yourselves against its severities!' What sort indeed! Mr. Hunter's delicacy shrank from depicting them. 'I am not speaking to you now as your master,' he continued, conscious that men do not like this style of converse from their employers. 'Consider me for the moment as your friend only; let us talk together as man and man. ”

“ He thinks he has something better to do."
"That's just what I want to see him about," said Laurence.
"You mentioned a—a Mr. Hunter." Mary Virginia spoke after a short pause. "This is the first time I've heard of any Mr. Hunter in Appleboro. Who is Mr. Hunter?"
"Inglesby's right-bower, and the king-card of the pack," said Laurence promptly.
"One of them which set up golden images in high places and make all Israel for to sin," said my mother. "That's what Howard Hunter is!"
"Oh, ... Howard Hunter!" said she. "What sort of a person may he be? And what is he doing here in Appleboro?" ”

“ Henry Hunter? None less. Never a man whose outside gave indications of a clearer conscience. But, Dr. Bevary, if her enemy be Mr. Henry Hunter, how is it she does not know him by name?'
'Ay, there's another point. She evidently attaches no importance to the name of Hunter.'
'What was the name of—of the enemy she talks of?' asked Austin. 'We must call him "enemy" for want of a better name. Do you know it, doctor?'
'No. Can't get it out of her. Never could get it out of her. ”

“ Hunter’s lifted hand checked him.
“Marcel, first I am a preacher of the Gospel; also, I am a doctor of medicine. I came into the North to minister to the bodies as well as to the souls of its people. Don’t speak of money. This case demands that we start at once. Have you good dogs?”
Troubled and mystified by the attitude of Wallace, McKenzie broke in, “He’s surely got the best dogs on this coast—made a record trip down. But, Mr. Hunter, I’ll not agree to your starting in this hell outside. You must wait until daylight. The inspector has decided that it would be impossible to keep the trail.” ”

“ Hunter?” Doctor Morgan asked John as he came around to the gate after the horses were fastened.
“All right, I guess. She’s had a good deal of company to-day. I didn’t want them, but you can’t offend people.”
“We usually have a good deal of company at a funeral,” the old doctor said dryly, as he viewed the extra horses and wagons about the fence.
When he entered the sickroom his face hardened.
“I’m not as much afraid of your neighbours as you are, Mr. Hunter,” he said, and went to the middle door and beckoned Luther to come with him into the yard. ”

“ Isaac Thornycroft held his signal for the approach of the boats, laden with their heavy spoil; Richard was speeding back to assume his watch overhead; and it was just about this time that Mr. Hunter had taken his departure from the Red Court Farm.
It is quite useless to speculate, now, why Robert Hunter went on the plateau. Some power must have impelled him. These things, bearing great events in their train, do not occur by chance. ”

“ Hunter, he took off his hat and spoke to us! I thought we’d die! Siwash would eat the bushes, and I thought we’d never escape! He’s not going to stay here after he has something to eat, is he, Mr. Hunter? You don’t know how awful he is!”
Vivian stopped—merely for breath. Mr. Hunter with a mighty effort repressed a smile. Mary was torn between a desire to play fair and the awful remembrance of her fright. She said nothing.
“Vivian,” said Mr. Hunter, “out here we’ve learned not to judge persons by whether or not they wash in the creek and eat canned beans. I’m sorry Crusoe frightened you. ”

“ Hunter was convinced that life was not the result of organization; and though many may have conjectured life to be something not dependent on structure, Mr. Hunter was the first who deduced the opinion, as a legitimate consequence of legitimate facts, that life actually constructed the very means by which it carried on its various processes, and that it could operate in semifluid and even fluid substances. His intelligent mind further perceived that no system of physiology could be perfect that did not equally explain the morbid as well as the healthy actions of life. ”

“ Hunter died. Then Horace didn’t have much work. But Mr. Hunter had indicated that it would be good business for us to live up here during the summer and meet wealthy people.”
“Some of us are far from wealthy!” put in Mary Louise.
[143]
“We didn’t know that. We judged everybody to be like the Hunters. Besides, Mr. Hunter said that he owned a lot more land around Shady Nook, and as he sold it off in lots, he’d see that Horace got the contracts to design the new cottages.
“We came up early in the spring, and Horace enjoyed designing our bungalow and the Robinsons’. ”

“ An instant's hesitation with himself whether it should [Pg 288] be compliance or resistance, and Gwinn of Ketterford went forth.
'Richard,' said Mr. Hunter, as the servant closed the hall-door.—'Sir?'
'Should that man ever come here again, do not admit him. And if he shows himself troublesome, call a policeman to your aid.' And then Mr. Hunter shut himself in the room, and burst into heavy tears, such as are rarely shed by man.
CHAPTER VI. THE LITTLE BOY AT REST.
No clue whatever had been obtained to the assailants of John Baxendale. The chief injury lay in the ribs. ”

“ Mr Hunter told me, that when he has a stranger to introduce, he does it by ordering the whole herd to be taken to a strange place, either a field, an empty stable, or any other large out-house, with which they are all alike unaccustomed. ”

“ He hung himself in that shed at the back of Dunn's house, where the men held some meetings in the commencement of the strike. I wonder how many more souls this wretched state of affairs will send, or has sent, out of the world!'
'Hundreds, directly or indirectly. The children are dying off quickly, as the Registrar-General's returns show. A period of prolonged distress always tells upon the children. And upon us also, I think,' Mr. Hunter added, with a sigh. ”

“ He was educated in that town, and began painting at twenty years of age, after four years' clerkship. His education as a painter was derived from Nature. Mr. Hunter was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy in January, 1884, and is also a Member of the Royal Scottish Water Colour Society. ”

“ Hunter. Every one's been most kind.
[There is an awkward pause for a moment, no one knowing quite what to say. Both Miss Godesby and Miss Sillerton have started the conversation in the direction of clothing and are fearful of the topic being changed. As the pause becomes embarrassing, they look helplessly from one to the other, and all five, suddenly and at once, make an ineffectual effort to say something—or nothing. Out of the general confusion Mrs. Hunter comes to the front, mistress of the situation.] Are you going to stay in New York this winter, Mr. Trotter? ”

“ Hunter.
"But, setting aside my affection, think how much it will relieve you of care. Dear Mrs. Hunter, the care of your property and the [16] responsibility of educating and training your son is too much for a woman."
"Frank never gives me any trouble," said Mrs. Hunter. "He is a good boy."
"He is a disagreeable young scamp, in my opinion," thought Mr. Craven, but he said, unwittingly speaking the truth:
"He is indeed a noble boy, with excellent qualities, but you will soon be called upon to form plans for his future, and here you will need the assistance of a man." ”

“ Hunter. Unusually delicate she looked, as she half sat, half lay back in her chair, the [Pg 96] firelight playing on her features. Florence had dragged forth a stool, and was sitting on it in a queer sort of fashion, one leg under her, at Austin's feet. He was a great favourite of hers, and she made no secret of the liking.
'You are not looking well this evening,' he observed, in a gentle tone, to Mrs. Hunter.
'I am not feeling well. I scarcely ever do feel well; never strong. I sometimes think, Mr. Clay, what a mercy it is that we are not permitted to foresee the future. ”

“ Hunter. There is nothing for you to do on the roof at present. This attack is a mere outbreak of rage on the part of the Sepoys that we have all escaped them. They know well enough they can't take this house by merely firing away at the roof. When they attack in earnest it will be quite time for you to take part in the affair again. Now, Mrs. Hunter, my orders are absolute that he is not to be allowed to get up.”
On the Doctor leaving the room he found several of the ladies outside; the news that Mr. Bathurst had been carried down had spread among them. ”

“ They have just got a sprinkling of men for show—not many. Where are they to get them from?'
'Do you know what I heard? That Mr. Henry Hunter has been over to Belgium, and one or two of the other masters have also been, and——'
[Pg 266]
'There's no fear of the Beljim workmen,' interrupted Ryan. 'What English master 'ud employ them half-starved frogs?'
'I heard that Mr. Henry Hunter was quite thunderstruck at their skill,' continued Darby, paying no attention to the interruption. Their tools are bad: they are not to be called tools, compared to ours; but they turn out finished work. ”

“ I shall soon be a man at any rate, and I am sure we can get along as well as we have done."
Mrs. Hunter was not a strong or a resolute woman, but even women of her type can be obstinate at times. She had convinced herself, chiefly through Mr. Craven's suggestion, that the step she was about to take was for Frank's interest, and the thought pleased her that she was sacrificing herself for him. The fact that she didn't fancy Mr. Craven, of course heightened the sacrifice, and so Frank found her far more difficult of persuasion than he anticipated. ”

“ The portrait of him by Sir Joshua Reynolds adorns the Hunterian Museum at Glasgow. An unfinished painting by Zoffany represents him in the attitude of lecturing on the muscles at the Royal Academy, surrounded by academicians. Hunter’s portrait is the only completed part. It was presented to the College of Physicians by Mr. Bransby Cooper in 1829.
We hear of no matrimonial projects at any time on William Hunter’s part. He was wedded to his museum, his profession, his lectures. He lived a [Pg 132] frugal life, eating little food, and that plainly prepared; rising early, and being always at work. ”

“ He doesn't look as if he was worth five hundred dollars in the world. What made him tell you all this?"
"He said that some people would accuse him of being a fortune-hunter, and he wanted to convince me that he was not one."
"It may be a true story, and it may not," said Frank.
"You are really very unjust, Frank," said his mother. "I don't pretend to love Mr. Craven, and he doesn't expect it, but I am sure he has [27] been very kind, and he takes a great deal of interest in you, and you will learn to know him better." ”