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<v Speaker 1>This is section thirty eight of The Gilded Age. This

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<v Speaker 1>LibriVox recording is in the public domain. The Gilded Age,

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<v Speaker 1>A Tale of to Day by Mark Twain and Seed Warner,

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<v Speaker 1>Chapter thirty eight. Now this surprising news caused her fall

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<v Speaker 1>in a trance life as she were dead, no limbs

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<v Speaker 1>she could advance. Then her dear brother came her from

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<v Speaker 1>the ground he took and she spake up and said, oh,

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<v Speaker 1>my poor heart is broke. The barncastle tragedy. Don't you

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<v Speaker 1>think he is distinguished looking? What that gawky looking person

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<v Speaker 1>with miss Hawkins there, he's just speaking to missus schoonmaker.

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<v Speaker 1>Such high bred negligence and unconsciousness, nothing studied. See his

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<v Speaker 1>fine eyes. Very they are moving this way now maybe

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<v Speaker 1>he is coming here, but he looks as helpless as

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<v Speaker 1>a rag baby. Who is he, Blanche? Oh? Is he?

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<v Speaker 1>And you've been here a weak grace and don't know

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<v Speaker 1>he's the catch of the season. That's Washington Hawkins, her brother.

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<v Speaker 1>No is it? Very old family, old Kentucky family. I

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<v Speaker 1>believe he's got enormous landed property in Tennessee. I think

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<v Speaker 1>the family lost everything. Slaves and that sort of thing

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<v Speaker 1>you know in the war, but they have a great

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<v Speaker 1>deal of land, minerals, mines and all that. Mister Hawkins

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<v Speaker 1>and his sister too, are very much interested in the

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<v Speaker 1>amelioration of the condition of the colored race. They have

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<v Speaker 1>some plans with Senator Dilworthy to convert a large part

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<v Speaker 1>of their property to something and other for the freedmen.

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<v Speaker 1>You don't say so. I thought he was some guy

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<v Speaker 1>from Pennsylvania. But he is different from others. Probably he

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<v Speaker 1>has lived all his life on his plantation. It was

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<v Speaker 1>a day reception of Missus Representative Shoemaker, a sweet woman

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<v Speaker 1>of simple and sincere manner. Her house was one of

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<v Speaker 1>the most popular in Washington. There was less ostentation than

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<v Speaker 1>there in some others, and people liked to go where

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<v Speaker 1>the atmosphere reminded them of the peace and purity of home.

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<v Speaker 1>Missus Schoonmaker was as natural and unaffected in Washington society

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<v Speaker 1>as she was in her own New York house, and

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<v Speaker 1>kept up the spirit of home life there with her

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<v Speaker 1>husband and children, and that was the reason probably why

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<v Speaker 1>people of refinement liked to go there. Washington is a microcosm,

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<v Speaker 1>and one can suit himself with any sort of society

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<v Speaker 1>within a radius of a mile to a large portion

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<v Speaker 1>of the people who frequent Washington or dwell there. The

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<v Speaker 1>ultra fashion, the shaddy, the jobbery are as utterly distasteful

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<v Speaker 1>as they would be in a refined New England city.

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<v Speaker 1>Shoonemaker was not exactly a leader in the house, but

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<v Speaker 1>he was greatly respected for his fine talents and his honesty.

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<v Speaker 1>No one would have thought of offering to carry National

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<v Speaker 1>improve Movement Director's relief stock for him. These day receptions

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<v Speaker 1>were attended by more women than men, and those interested

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<v Speaker 1>in the problem might have studied the costumes of the

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<v Speaker 1>ladies present in view of this fact to discover whether

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<v Speaker 1>women dress more for the eyes of women or for

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<v Speaker 1>effect upon men. It is a very important problem, and

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<v Speaker 1>has been a good deal discussed, and its solution would

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<v Speaker 1>form one fixed philosophical basis upon which to estimate woman's character.

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<v Speaker 1>We are inclined to take a medium ground and of

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<v Speaker 1>her that woman dresses to please herself and in obedience

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<v Speaker 1>to a law of her own nature. They are coming

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<v Speaker 1>this way, said Blanche. People who made way for them

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<v Speaker 1>to pass turned to look at them. Washington began to

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<v Speaker 1>feel that the eyes of the public were on him also,

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<v Speaker 1>and his eyes rolled about now towards the ceiling, now

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<v Speaker 1>towards the floor, in an effort to look unconscious. Good morning,

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<v Speaker 1>Miss Hawkins, delighted, mister Hawkins, my friend, Miss Medlar. Mister Hawkins,

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<v Speaker 1>who was endeavoring to square himself for a bow, put

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<v Speaker 1>his foot through the train of missus Senator Poplin, who

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<v Speaker 1>looked round with a scowl, which turned into a smile

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<v Speaker 1>as she saw who it was. In extricating himself. Mister Hawkins,

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<v Speaker 1>who had the care of his hat as well as

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<v Speaker 1>the introduction on his mind, shambled against Miss Blanche, who

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<v Speaker 1>said pardon with the prettiest accent, as if the awkwardness

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<v Speaker 1>were her own, and mister Hawkins righted himself. Don't you

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<v Speaker 1>find it very warm today, mister Hawkins, said Blanche, by

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<v Speaker 1>way of a remark. It's awfully hot, said Washington. It's

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<v Speaker 1>warm for the season, continued Blanche, pleasantly. But I suppose

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<v Speaker 1>you are accustomed to it. She added, with a general

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<v Speaker 1>idea that the thermometer always stands at ninety degrees in

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<v Speaker 1>all parts of the late Slave States. Washington weather generally

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<v Speaker 1>cannot be very congenial to you. It's congenial, Washington, brightening

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<v Speaker 1>up when it's not congealed. That's very good. Did you hear, Grace?

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<v Speaker 1>Mister Hawkins says it's congenial when it's not congealed. What is? Dear?

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<v Speaker 1>Said Grace, who was talking with Laura. The conversation was

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<v Speaker 1>now finely under way. Washington launched out an observation of

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<v Speaker 1>his own. Did you see those Japs, miss Levitt? Oh? Yes,

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<v Speaker 1>aren't they queer? But so high bred? So picturesque. Do

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<v Speaker 1>you think that color makes any difference? Mister Hawkins, I

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<v Speaker 1>used to be so prejudiced against color, did you I

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<v Speaker 1>never was? I used to think my old mammy was handsome.

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<v Speaker 1>How interesting your life must have been. I should like

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<v Speaker 1>to hear about it. Washington was about settling himself into

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<v Speaker 1>his narrative style when missus General mc fingle caught his eye.

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<v Speaker 1>Have you been at the capital to day, mister Hawkins?

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<v Speaker 1>Washington had not. Is anything uncommon going on? But they

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<v Speaker 1>say it was very exciting the Alabama business. You know,

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<v Speaker 1>a General Suttler of Massachusetts defied England, and they say

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<v Speaker 1>he wants war. He wants to make himself conspicuous. More like,

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<v Speaker 1>said Laura, he always, you have noticed talks with one

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<v Speaker 1>eye on the gallery while the other is on the speaker. Well,

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<v Speaker 1>my husband says, it's nonsense to talk of war and wicked.

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<v Speaker 1>He knows what war is. If we do have war,

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<v Speaker 1>I hope it will be for the patriots of Cuba.

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<v Speaker 1>Don't you think we want Cuba, mister Hawkins, I think

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<v Speaker 1>we wanted bad, said Washington. And Santo Domingo Senator Dilworthy says,

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<v Speaker 1>we are bound to extend our religion over the isles

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<v Speaker 1>of the sea. We've got to round out our territory.

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<v Speaker 1>And Washington's further observations were broken off by Laura, who

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<v Speaker 1>whisked him off to another part of the room and

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<v Speaker 1>reminded him that they must make their adieu. How stupid

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<v Speaker 1>and tiresome these people are, she said, let's go. They

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<v Speaker 1>were turning to say good bye to the hostess when

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<v Speaker 1>Laura's attention was arrested by the sight of a gentleman

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<v Speaker 1>who was just speaking to missus schoonmaker. For a second,

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<v Speaker 1>her heart stopped beating. He was a handsome man of

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<v Speaker 1>forty and perhaps more, with grayish hair and whiskers, and

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<v Speaker 1>he walked with a cane as if he were slightly lame.

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<v Speaker 1>He might be less than forty, for his face was

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<v Speaker 1>worn into hard lines, and he was pale. No, it

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<v Speaker 1>could not be, she said to herself, it is only

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<v Speaker 1>a resemblance. But as the gentleman turned and she saw

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<v Speaker 1>his full face, Laura put out her hand and clutched

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<v Speaker 1>Washington's arm to prevent herself from falling. Washington, who was

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<v Speaker 1>not minding anything as usual, looked round in wonder. Laura's

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<v Speaker 1>eyes were blazing fire and hatred. He had never seen

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<v Speaker 1>her look so before, and her face was livid. Why

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<v Speaker 1>what is it, sis, Your face is as white as paper.

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<v Speaker 1>It's he, it's he, come, come, She dragg him away.

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<v Speaker 1>It's who, asked Washington when they had gained the carriage.

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<v Speaker 1>It's nobody. It's nothing, did I say? He? I was

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<v Speaker 1>faint with the heat. Don't mention it. Don't you speak

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<v Speaker 1>of it, she added, earnestly, grasping his arm. When she

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<v Speaker 1>had gained her room, she went to the glass and

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<v Speaker 1>saw a pallid and haggard face. My god, she cried,

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<v Speaker 1>this will never do. I should have killed him if

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<v Speaker 1>I could. The scoundrel still lives and dares to come here.

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<v Speaker 1>I ought to kill him. He has no right to live.

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<v Speaker 1>How I hate him, and yet I loved him. Oh, heavens,

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<v Speaker 1>how I did love that man? And why didn't he

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<v Speaker 1>kill me? He might better, he did kill all that

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<v Speaker 1>was good in me. Oh, but he shall not escape.

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<v Speaker 1>He shall not escape this time. He may have forgotten.

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<v Speaker 1>He will find that a woman's hate doesn't forget the law.

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<v Speaker 1>What would the law do but protect him and make

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<v Speaker 1>me an outcast? How all Washington would gather up its

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<v Speaker 1>virtuous skirts and avoid me if it knew. I wonder

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<v Speaker 1>if he hates me as I do him. So Laura

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<v Speaker 1>raved in tears and in rage by turns tossed in

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<v Speaker 1>a tumult of passion, which she gave way to with

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<v Speaker 1>little effort to control. A servant came to summon her

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<v Speaker 1>to dinner. She had a headache. The hour came for

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<v Speaker 1>the president's reception, She had a raving headache, and the

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<v Speaker 1>senator must go without her. That night of agony was

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<v Speaker 1>like another night. She recalled how vividly it all came

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<v Speaker 1>back to her. And at that time she remembered, she

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<v Speaker 1>thought she might be mistaken. He might come back to her.

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<v Speaker 1>Perhaps he loved her a little after all. Now she

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<v Speaker 1>knew he did not. Now she knew he was a

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<v Speaker 1>cold blooded scoundrel, without pity, never a word in all

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<v Speaker 1>these years she had hoped he was dead. Did his

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<v Speaker 1>wife live, she wondered. She caught at that, and it

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<v Speaker 1>gave a new current to her thoughts. Perhaps, after all,

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<v Speaker 1>she must see him. She could not live without seeing him.

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<v Speaker 1>Would he smile as in the old days when she

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<v Speaker 1>loved him so? Or would he sneer as when she

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<v Speaker 1>last saw him? If he looked so, she hated him.

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<v Speaker 1>If he should call her Laura darling and look so,

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<v Speaker 1>she must find him. She must end her doubts. Laura

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<v Speaker 1>kept her room for two days on one excuse, in another,

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<v Speaker 1>a nervous headache, a cold to the great anxiety of

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<v Speaker 1>the senator's household. Callers who went away said she had

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<v Speaker 1>been too gay. They did not say fast, though some

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<v Speaker 1>of them may have thought it. One so conspicuous and

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<v Speaker 1>successful in society as Laura could not be out of

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<v Speaker 1>the way two days without remarks being made, and not

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<v Speaker 1>all of them complimentary. When she came down, she appeared

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<v Speaker 1>as usual, a little pale, maybe, but unchanged in manner.

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<v Speaker 1>If there were any deepened blinds about the eyes, they

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<v Speaker 1>had been concealed her course of action was quite determined.

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<v Speaker 1>At breakfast, she asked if any one had heard any

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<v Speaker 1>unusual noise during the night. Nobody had. Washington never heard

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<v Speaker 1>any noise of any kind after his eyes were shut.

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<v Speaker 1>Some people thought he never did when they were open either.

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<v Speaker 1>Senator Dilworthy said he had come in late. He was

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<v Speaker 1>detained in a little consultation after the Congressional Prayer meeting.

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<v Speaker 1>Perhaps it was his entrance. No, Laura said she heard

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<v Speaker 1>that it was later. She might have been nervous, but

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<v Speaker 1>she fancied somebody was trying to get into the house.

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<v Speaker 1>Mister Brierly humorously suggested that it might be as none

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<v Speaker 1>of the members were occupied in night session. The Senator

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<v Speaker 1>frowned and said he did not like to hear that

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<v Speaker 1>kind of newspaper slang. There might be burglars about. Laura

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<v Speaker 1>said that very likely it was only her nervousness, but

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<v Speaker 1>she thought she would feel safer if Washington would let

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<v Speaker 1>her take one of his pistols. Washington brought her one

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<v Speaker 1>of his revolvers and instructed her in the art of

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<v Speaker 1>loading and firing it. During the morning, Laura drove down

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<v Speaker 1>to missus Shoemaker's to pay a friendly call. Your receptions

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<v Speaker 1>are always delightful, she said to that lady. The pleasant

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<v Speaker 1>people all seem to come here. It's pleasant to hear

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<v Speaker 1>you say so, Miss Hawkins, I believe my friends like

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<v Speaker 1>to come here. Though society in Washington is mixed, we

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<v Speaker 1>have a little of everything, I suppose, though you don't

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<v Speaker 1>see much of the old rebel element, said Laura with

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<v Speaker 1>a smile. If this seemed to missus Shoemaker a singular

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<v Speaker 1>remark for a lady to make who was meeting rebels

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<v Speaker 1>in society every day, she did not express it in

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<v Speaker 1>any way, but only said, you know, we don't say

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<v Speaker 1>rebel any more. Before we came to Washington, I thought

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<v Speaker 1>rebels would look unlike other people. I find we are

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<v Speaker 1>very much alike, and that kindness and good nature wear

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<v Speaker 1>awayed prejudice. And then you know, there are all sorts

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<v Speaker 1>of common interests. My husband sometimes says that he doesn't see,

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<v Speaker 1>but Confederates are just as eager to get as the

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<v Speaker 1>treasury as Unionists. You know that mister Shoemaker is on

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<v Speaker 1>the appropriations. Does he know many Southerners? Oh? Yes, there

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<v Speaker 1>were several at my reception the other day. Among others,

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<v Speaker 1>a Confederate colonel a stranger, handsome man with gray hair.

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<v Speaker 1>Probably you didn't notice him, uses a cane in walking,

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<v Speaker 1>A very agreeable man. I wondered why he called. When

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<v Speaker 1>my husband came home and looked over the cards, he

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<v Speaker 1>said he had a cotton claim, A real Southerner. Perhaps

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<v Speaker 1>you might know him if I could think of his name. Yes,

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<v Speaker 1>here's his card, Louisiana. Laura took the card, looked at

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<v Speaker 1>it intently till she was sure of the address, and

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<v Speaker 1>then laid it down with no. He is no friend

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<v Speaker 1>of ours. That afternoon, Laura wrote and despatched the following note.

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<v Speaker 1>It was in a round hand, unlike her flowing style,

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<v Speaker 1>and it was directed to a number and street in Georgetown.

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<v Speaker 1>A lady at Senator Dilworthy's would like to see Colonel

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<v Speaker 1>George Selby on business connected with the cotton claims. Can

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<v Speaker 1>he call? Call Wednesday at three o'clock pm. On Wednesday

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<v Speaker 1>at three pm, no one of the family was likely

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<v Speaker 1>to be in the house except Laura. End of Chapter

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<v Speaker 1>thirty eight.