Ramsey Milholland

“ There was “Music” again in the German class, which was another alleviation; though it was the same old “Star Spangled Banner” over again. Ramsey was tired of the song and tired of “My Country 'Tis of Thee”; they were bores, but it was amusing to sing them in German. In German they sounded “sort o' funny,” so he didn't mind this bit of the day's work.
Half an hour later there arrived his supreme trial of this particular morning. ”

“ The students worked in pairs, a special family of plants being assigned to each couple; and the instructor selected the couples with an eye to combinations of the quick with the slow. D. Yocum and R. Milholland (the latter in a strange state of mind and complexion) were given two chairs, but only one desk and one microscope. Their conversation was strictly botanical.
Thenceforth it became the most pressing care of Ramsey's life to prevent his roommate from learning that there was any conversation at all, even botanical. ”

“ Yes, I guess the way things are settling down ought to suit Dora. There isn't goin' to be any war.”
“She was pretty sure there was, though,” Ramsey said, thoughtfully.
“Oh, of course she was then. We all thought so those few days.”
“No. She said she thought it prob'ly wouldn't come right away, but now it was almost sure to come sometime. She said our telegrams and all the talk and so much feeling and everything showed her that the war thought that was always in people somewhere had been stirred up so it would go on and on. ”

“ If they won't give us a chance to do something under our own flag, then we'll have to go and do it under some other flag; and I want to tell you I'm one that's going to go! I'll stick it out in college up to Easter, and then if there's still no chance to go under the Stars and Stripes I'll maybe have to go under the flag my great-great-grandfather fought against in 1776, but, anyhow, I'll go!”
It was in speaking to Ramsey of this declaration that Dora said Fred was a “dangerous firebrand.” ”

“ But in this world mighty few people think they're on the Devil's side, Ramsey. There was a Frenchman once, in olden times; he said people were crazy because, though they couldn't even make worms, they believed they could make gods. ”

“ Said the squire's brother-in-law:
"That boy must know the danger to him there is in that document," and the planter of Milliken's Bend agreed.
So did their wives. There was "everything in it he wouldn't want there and nothing he would want."
He was doing the "brave thing," they all said, and the wives called it too brave. The brave thing, they thought, "ran a slim chance against Hayle's twins."
"My dear ladies," said the planter, "it runs the only chance he has. The brave thing is the only thing those two young fire-eaters have any respect for." He stopped short; Ramsey had overheard. ”

“ A hundred beholders laughed, and then turning and peering at the dim, central figure of Ramsey suddenly redoubled the laugh and presently redoubled it again.
Yet it yielded a certain relief. While there is mirth there is hope. Even now the player of the part was recognized only as Mrs. Gilmore's maid. Her resemblance to Ramsey was passing for pure accident. That the whole thing was visibly offensive to Hayle's twins made it all the more amusing, and Ramsey's pause in the aisle seemed the most natural thing she could do on finding herself in two places at the same time. ”

“ Under the next point a close turn led into a long northeastward reach, and as the Votaress bore due north across it the morning star, at one flash, blazed out on the dark world and down the flood. Through her stateroom's high window its silvery beam found Ramsey in the upper berth and opened her eyelids with a touch. Staring on the serene splendor, she would soon have slept again, but just then the many lights of a large steamer glided out of the next bend above and Ramsey sprang to an elbow to watch its swift approach and await her own boat's passing call and the other's reply. ”

“ Ramsey settled himself more deeply in his chair and crossed his knees, lightly quoting: “'They also serve, who only stand and wait.' The quality that insures success, Achison,” he went on, “is the staying power. And I am with you to the bitter end.”
“I am afraid it will indeed be the bitter end for you.” The lawyer lighted a cigarette, and threw one arm carelessly over the back of his chair.
“I listened closely to you and Brown,” said Ramsey deliberately, “and the longer I listened, the more my conviction grew that there is something crooked in this affair.” ”

“ So his father had just left him, leaving with him the thought, though without hint of it in word or tone, that some night, on some boat as deeply freighted with cares as this one, he must sit thus, her master. The wonder of it, with the wonder of the boat herself and all she carried, sounded a continuous stern alarum through his spirit like a long roll sounding through a camp: "Be a man! Make haste! See even those Hayle twins, with all their faults, and up! Make haste! Rise up and be a man!" Had the wonder-loving Ramsey been there she must have laughed again ”

“ Gilmore paled with anger. Ramsey's merriment, which had begun at the beginning, ceased for a breath and then, to the loathing of the twins, came on worse as she found herself very erect in one of Mrs. Gilmore's gentle arms. The eyes of both the wife and the girl were on the actor and their every nerve was unstrung. Beseechingly he waved them away.
"Come," the wife said, though without moving, "come on."
"Oh, not a step!" laughed Ramsey. "They—they need us! We must help!" She had turned her frank gaze to Hugh in mingled wonder, exultancy, and distress. ”

“ A hurrying car was starting the ascent.
Achison turned and snatched up the pistol which he had flung back upon the table.
“You first, then I!” he said thickly. And then he stopped.
“By God, there is a way out!” he cried. “Listen, Ramsey. Listen. If I give you your life, will you hold your tongue? Even if you speak, they can't fasten anything on me. Suppose they have that crowd down in the village, those men will never give me away—never. They know that I can send any or all of them to the chair. ”

“ Achison was proceeding, “there is that side of me which delights in my profession, in supplementing my knowledge of the law with tricks of oratory or courtroom ingenuity. Quite distinct from that, is the personality of the connoisseur, of the man who is forever haunted by his vision of beauty, and who must surround himself with lovely and precious things. And then Ramsey, there is the personality which you have tracked so relentlessly, the one that demands the excitement of a big gamble. The mere playing for money has never appealed to me. The stakes must be higher, the hazards greater.” ”

“ The sound of a violin is mingled with my memories of Ramsey, and the talk of a group of rough men around the bar-room stove is full of savage charm. A tall, pale man, with long hair and big black eyes, one who impressed me as being a man of refinement and culture, reduced by drink to poverty and to rebellious bitterness of soul, stands out in powerful relief—a tragic and moving figure. ”

“ At different points three men stood up at once. In the front row appeared Julian. A few seats behind him loomed the exhorter. The third rose just at Ramsey's elbow, offering her his seat, yet counting it but courtesy still to keep his attention mainly on the play. It was the first clerk, he who had once been clerk on the Quakeress, where he had known Phyllis as Hugh's nurse, and whose scrutiny "Harriet" had until now somehow escaped. Whether in thanking him Ramsey accepted or declined she hardly knew, for just then the gaze he still bent on "Harriet" showed a gleam of recognition. ”

“ Hugh said.
"So, then—he—he had it when he came aboard?"
"He had it when he came aboard," assented Hugh, moving for the group to be seated. "But——"
"Wait," said Ramsey. "Mustn't we all be as gay and happy as we can?" And when every one but the judge's sister playfully said yes she turned to the Vicksburg merchant: "Then will you change places with Mr. Gilmore?"
Faith, he would! It paired him with the actor's wife, and his wife with the actor. Gayety began forthwith. "And will you change—with—with you?" Ramsey asked the planter of Milliken's Bend and the squire's brother-in-law. ”

“ Ramsey went on, “you remain to me an unsolvable enigma. Again and again I have asked myself, why you, holding so much and winning so easily by a sort of divine right the things men struggle and fight for, should deliberately choose the crooked road of danger with its tremendous odds of detection and disgrace.”
Achison gave a slight shrug of the shoulders, but made no answer. His expression was inscrutable as he lighted another cigarette and surveyed his captive through the smoke. ”

“ You know nothing could ever bespatter mom-a!... I'm going to her to get clean!"
"Dat's good!" A shrewd elation lit up the black face. "Go on! As you say yo'se'f, go on!"
Ramsey started away but with an overjoyed gasp found herself in her mother's arms. She pressed closer while the three laughed, and when the other two ceased she still mirthfully clung in that impregnable sanctuary. Suddenly she hearkened, tossed her curls, and stood very straight. Two male voices were coming down the stairs.
"We cannot," said one, "submit to this alive!" ”

“ His words were neither impromptu nor printed, but, as every one quickly perceived and Ramsey had known beforehand, were memorized and were fresh from the pen of the actor. Diffidence warped the first phrase or two, but soon each word came clear, warm from the heart, and reaching all hearts, however borne back by the rapturous yells with which the exhorter broke in at every pause.
"And though to our own sight," pleaded the supplicant, "we are but atoms in thy boundless creation, we yet believe that prayer offered thee in love, humility, and trust cannot offend. ”

“ All persons of unusual powers are complex. Every strong nature is made up of a number of personalities. These, I take it, are more distinct and differentiated in me than in most men.”
He was leaning back in his chair now, talking as if thinking aloud and absorbedly. He would go on thus for a time. If he flagged, he must be spurred by artful questions or driven by argument to further exposition. Some way, any way, he must be kept going. Time was passing, and Ramsey only asked an hour. God keep his brain nimble! He was staking his life on his ability to hold the other man's attention that long. ”

“ Joy was getting Basile away.
"It is moved by the last speaker," said the player, "and seconded by"—he glanced inquiringly about—"by several—that we make an immediate contribution for the benefit of our deck passengers, who are in dire need, and that——"
"That we make it a big one!" repeated Ramsey.
"All in favor—" he said. "Unanimous. I will ask Mr. Courteney and Miss Hayle to take up the collection."
The dispersal of the meeting found the lady of Milliken's Bend with the judge's sister. The judge, joining them, reported that the laughing Ramsey's collection was double that of the solemn Hugh. ”

“ Mr. Ramsey had been there in his surplice, reading the burial service, and a mob of Mistwell fellows were making a frightful row. He felt dazed. Then, suddenly, he remembered everything.
No one would expect him to keep such a promise. He had hardly known what he was saying. He made up his mind that he would go straight to Mr. Jerrold and talk it over with him. And, if he met Grace, he would speak frankly to her, as she had spoken to Mr. Ramsey. ”

“ The girl stared round at him and then back at his father, her eyes wide with merriment. "No Ramsey to the pilot-house with him if he can help it!" she managed to say, and fell over her mother and nurse, down into her chair and across its arm, her laughter jingling like a basket of glass rolling down-stairs. Suddenly she hearkened. The captain was speaking to her mother:
"Must you reach Loui'ville as quickly as you can?"
"Ah!—well? yes? we muz' do our possible. My 'usband he—Ramsey!" ”

“ He figured we might need you to convince Ramsey we're not bluffing. Someone who knows we're not bluffing. Someone who knows we'd kill his daughter before we gave him a third chance to make up his mind and hand over the dough."
"A third chance? I thought—"
"You think too much, Corriston. I'll spell it out for you. Henley is on his way now to give Ramsey his first chance. He may succeed or he may not. If he doesn't succeed he'll come back and take you to the fortress with him. That will be Ramsey's second chance. He won't get a third." ”

“ Ramsey’s face was set and cold, but all his capacity for insolent indifference did not enable him to conceal his annoyance. His eyes flashed with anger.
“I think we ought to be going; it is getting rather late. We don’t want to be swept out with the dust, do we?” He addressed Madame de Corantin.
“Oh, I am in no hurry, Mr. Ramsey,” she replied. “It gives me great pleasure to see Mr. Froelich again. I was obliged to leave Paris so suddenly, and never had an opportunity of showing him how much I appreciated his kindness to me.”
Ramsey said nothing, but he glared at Bobby vindictively. ”

“ Ramsey is a hale, hearty, and well preserved gentleman, who is passing gracefully into what with many is the season of the sere and yellow leaf. He is genial and pleasant in his manners, and would impress the ordinary observer as one whose "lines have fallen in pleasant places," and who is the happy possessor of a good digestion, a serene temper and a clear conscience. ”