A Tame Surrender: A Story of the Chicago Strike (Illustrated) E-Book

Captain Charles King

• Herausgeber: Bauer Books
• Kategorie: Geisteswissenschaft
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025

Beschreibung

King was the son of Civil War general Rufus King, grandson of Columbia University president Charles King, and great grandson of Rufus King, who was one the signers of the United States Constitution on September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He graduated from West Point in 1866 and served in the Army during the Indian Wars under George Crook. He was wounded in the arm and head during the Battle of Sunset Pass forcing his retirement from the regular army. During this time he became acquainted with Buffalo Bill Cody. King would later write scripts for several of Cody's silents films. He also served in the Wisconsin National Guard from 1882 until 1897, becoming Adjutant General in 1895.

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A Tame Surrender: A Story of the Chicago Strike (Illustrated Edition)

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Table of contents

CHAPTER I.

She had met him the previous summer on the Rhine, and now “if theyaren’t engaged they might as well be,” said her friends, “for he is her shadow wherever she goes.” There was something characteristically inaccurate about that statement, for Miss Allison was rather undersized in one way and oversized in another; at least that, too, is what her friends said. She was not more than five feet in height nor less than five feet in breadth “measured from tip to tip of her wings,” as her brother said. Miss Allison had wings, not because she was an angel, but because it was the fashion,—wings that sprouted at her fair, plump, shapely shoulders and billowed out like balloons. Her brother Cary, above referred to, a sixteen-year-old specimen of Young American impudence and independence, said further of her, in the spring of ‘94, that if Floy’s sleeves were only inflated with gas she could float on air as easily as she did on water, and on water Miss Allison was buoyancy personified. On water, too, and in her dainty bathing-dress, Miss Allison’s wings were discarded and her true proportions more accurately defined. She was anything but slender. She was simply deliciously, exquisitely rounded now; but the question which so disturbed her feminine friends as to call for perennial repetition was, What would she be a few years hence? This, however, was a matter that seemed to give the lady in question no uneasiness whatever. Certainly it resulted in no loss of flesh. Perhaps it might have been better for her future figure if it had. With her perfect health, digestion, and disposition, there was absolutely no way of worrying off a pound or two a week. She was the soul of good nature and content. She had an indulgent father, a luxurious home, abundant wealth, an unimpeachable complexion, character, and social position. She had a swarm of enviously devoted girl friends on the one hand and selfishly devoted male admirers on the other, or on both if she chose. She was absolutely without a mean or unkind thought of anybody. She was full of every generous impulse. She was lazy and energetic by turns, had been a romping idler in her earlier school-days, and had been polished off and finished in an expensive Eastern establishment without finishing anything herself. She had lived an almost unshadowed life, had laughed off a dozen lovers when she went abroad in ‘93, and had then fallen in with her fate across the water.

“Oh, don’t go by rail! Wait and take the boat with us; it’s so much lovelier!” “I shall not be apt to write,” said Forrest, coldly, after a pause. “Well—in case you—you see any of the family again. If it’s all the same to you——” “Has that young man asked you to marry him, Florence?” And Florence burst into tears. “Then all I’ve got to say is, you are the most extraordinary persons I ever met,— of you.” CHAPTER II. —th Regiment of Infantry, U.S.A. “Why are you not dressed?” she somewhat caustically inquired, as her niece came down arrayed for dinner. “I’m not going to the Langdons’ box.” “You were, and Mr. Forrest was to dine here and take you.” “Mr. Forrest left for the West on sudden orders at noon, and came at ten to tell me.” “I did not know you were here, Mr. Elmendorf,” said Miss Allison, coldly. “I supposed you were in the study with my brother.” “I was until a moment ago. We needed a book, and I came down for it.” “Mr. Elmendorf!” interrupted Miss Allison, with eyes and cheeks aflame. “I certainly so understood Florence.” “What was that?” asked Mrs. Lawrence, with prompt and pardonable curiosity. “That he was ordered away—under a cloud—in order to put an end to probable scandal.” “Gambling?” asked Mrs. Lawrence, whose own first-born left college prematurely because of fatal propensities in that line. “What talk? Where?” she asked. “I thought they prided themselves on being gentlemen,” said Mrs. Lawrence, wrathfully; “and gentlemen would never permit it.” Cranston looked at his housekeeper in surprise. “The gentleman who came to look over my books?—Mr. Elmendorf?” “And it had taken Elmendorf,” said Cranston, wrathfully, “at least three-quarters of an hour to concoct that palpable dodge.” “Yes, sir, I have that.” “Already? I didn’t suppose it could be done so fast. Do I give you the address now?” “If you please.” “Mr. Max Elmendorf,” he began. “Shall I spell it for you?” “It is something that doesn’t have to be done to-day?” she asked, looking quickly up. “Certainly not, if the sun has been too much for you. Has it?” No answer for a moment. “It isn’t the sun,” finally replied Miss Wallen, “but I—should rather not take this.” CHAPTER V. “A friend of yours, Mr. Elmendorf?” asked the elder lady, languidly. “What’s her name? Who is she?” “Her name is Wallen. She is employed at the Lambert Library.” “Mr. Elmendorf, I have told you that there is no truth whatever in these reports.” “Oh, indeed I mustn’t trouble you to come. The driver can——” And then, alas! she remembered that she had but ten cents about her. “The driver can, perhaps, but in this case he won’t,” was the grave, half-smiling answer. “Number what? Which street, if you please?” “I would, if it would comfort you,” said he, calmly, “but he’s already engaged to me by the hour for the evening.” “He will be there less frequently in future. And now is there nothing I can do? Are you sure you have everything you need at home?” “Good-night, sir, and thank you.” “Thank you, no,” she answered, quietly. “I always walk after a long day’s work. It is exercise and pleasure both.” “But surely you are very late, and—forgive my reminding you of your recent unpleasant experience.” “Upon my word, you make me ashamed of my own laziness,” said “Going to be married, I suppose?” “Yes, and within six weeks. She’s a girl I simply can’t replace.” “Why not?” Forrest was silent a moment. “It is work that demands all a girl’s time, I suppose?” he ventured. “Would she come for sixty dollars, do you suppose?” “You shouldn’t permit it,” he said to her, later. “Is this Lieutenant Forrest?” “But what, Donnelly? Who put you up to such a dirty piece of business?” “Oh, sure ye told me to show this bill when everybody could see it, sorr, and that would take the starch out av her.” “Settle it between you, gentlemen,” said Mr. Forrest, turning contemptuously away. “I have heard more than enough.” “Such fellows won’t, another time,” said Forrest, quietly. “Elmendorf was back of this, for some reason that I mean to fathom.” “He my brother and out of work,” she answered, simply. “Can’t he get work?” “He says he can’t.” “What can he do?” “And you have had not only that house and your mother to care for, but an able-bodied brother?” “Do you mean that out of your little salary you have paid that houserent and all the expenses and your mother’s and his too?” No answer. “But only to make some purchases. You are going on to tea, and I have something I want to say.” “I may have to wait, and you have your engagements.” “Nothing in the world but to dine, , at the Virginia, and my appetite’s about gone. I mean to wait, Miss Wallen.” “Miss Wallen, where and how can I see your brother? I’ve an idea of a place he might fill. He is unmarried, I presume?” Silence a moment. “No, Mart has a wife.” “A wife? Where is she? What does she do?” “She isn’t strong, and can’t do much of anything.” “Not even mend his clothes, or stop—— How about children?” “You know the old adage,” said she, with a quiet smile, “and Mart is a poor man.” “And they, too, are your care—you their support—and—this has been going on since last year?” “Oh, no; Mart gets odd jobs now and then.” “That’s the man, then?” asked, in cautious, querulous tone, the shorter, slighter of the two. “That’s him—damn him! I can feel his kick to this day.” “And it was with him—in his room—she took refuge? you could swear to it?” “‘Course I could, on a stack of Bibles.” And here, turning about now and facing her, was Elmendorf. “Is this observing my prohibition, Mr. Elmendorf?” said Jenny, stopping and facing him. “Oh, well, possibly not.” “Then you will kindly say at once what your business is. I have told you I will not listen to anything you say about Mr. Forrest.” “I am detaining you here,” he said, evasively. “Let us walk on.” “Then I’ll see his secretary,” answered Elmendorf, with his usual shrug, and without a stop. “What is wanted?” “Open the door, please.” “Whom do you wish to see.” “I desire to speak with Miss Wallen.” “Miss Wallen declines.” “I have business to transact.” “Mr. Wells is not here, and Miss Wallen is not empowered to act for him. You will have to wait and see him to-morrow.” Another nod as cool as the first. “And you turned away in contemptuous unbelief, did you not?” “Contempt certainly, but unbelief—not entirely.” “Well, it may modify your contempt to know that my words have come true.” “That Mr. Forrest was ordered away in disgrace?” she calmly asked. “Not so much that, as that he has returned, brought back, as I said, by Miss Allison.” “Why, but that is no news at all. I knew he was coming, and I saw them together this morning.” “Yes, and to let him in, I suppose, and see him behind locked doors, as you doubtless have before, Miss Wallen——” “Yes, Allison, and here’s a Federal officer who won’t agree with you for a moment.” “Faith and I did,” said Sloan, laughing, “and he hit you fellows in the ribs. Why, where’d he find it all out?” “Forrest, that’s Utopia,” said Mr. Allison. “Like our——, for instance,” said Allison, uplifting his eyes as though to include the study aloft. “Well, how do get them, then? The Lord knows you treat them worse than we do.” “No, indeed,” said Forrest, promptly. “It was a very different thing.” Allison’s face showed added annoyance. “No. Unless—at least—— Is Miss Florence in the parlor?” “Miss Allison some time since, sir, begged to be excused.” “Isn’t she well?” asked Allison, looking at the tutor in some amaze. “I cannot say as to that, sir. Miss Allison was in conversation with her aunt awhile.” “Odd,” said Allison, irritably. “These women are queer. Excuse me a moment, will you?” And, rising, he left the room. “Well, it’s time for me to be off,” said Sloan, consulting his watch, “yet I don’t want to leave without saying good-night.” “As for me, I have to go,” said Forrest, “because of an engagement.”