 CHAPTER 9 OF IN THE HIGH VELLY This is the LibraVox Recording. All LibraVox Recording's in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibraVox.org. Recording by Ellie. IN THE HIGH VELLY by Susan Coolidge. CHAPTER 9 THE ECHOES IN THE EAST CANIEN Larnel ist certainly the third one, when Johnny's Message was delivered to him. The quick eyed Elsie noted it and dated the local Clover. But Clover only shook her head slightly in return. Each sister turned to her own opinion. There were very desirous that the High Valley should make a favourable impression on Dory, for it was his first visit to them. The others had all been there except Katie, and she had seen Cheyenne and St. Helens. But to Dory everything west of the Mississippi was absolutely new. He was a very busy person in these days, and quite a success of the Car Family and a money point of view. The turn for Mechanics, which he exhibited in Boyhood, had continued and determined his career. Electrical Science had attracted his attention in its earlier half-developed stages. He had made a careful study of it and qualified himself for the important position, which he held under the company, which was fast revolutionizing the lightning and streetcar system of Burnett. Now going to be a large manufacturing centre. This was doing well for a young fellow, not quite 25, and his family were very proud of him. He was too valuable to his employers to be easily spared. And except for the enforced lash of the grippe, it might probably have been years before he had felt free to make his sisters in Colorado a visit. In which case nothing would have happened, that did happen. Dear steady old Soba Sides, said Ersy, and she spread a fresh cover over the shelves, which did the duty of a bureau in the bachelor's room. I wonder what he will think of it all. I am afraid he will be scandalized in our scrambling ways, and our having a regular church, and consider us a set of half-heathen Bohemians. I don't believe it. Dory has too much good sense, and has seen too much of the world among businessmen to be easily shocked. And our little Sunday service is very nice, I think. Choffer it so reverently. And for sermons, we have our pick of the best there are. I know, and I like them dearly myself, but I seem to feel that Dory will miss the pulpit, and sitting in a regular pew, he is rather that sort of person, don't you think? You're too much inclined to laugh at Dory, the clovery-provenly. He does not deserve it of you. He's a sorely good sensible fellow, and has excellent abilities. Papa says, not brilliant, but very sound. I don't like to have you speak so of him. I clove him a little clovey. I almost believe you are scolding me. Let me look at you. Yes, there's quite a frown on your forehead, and your mouth has the firm look of Grandpa Bacca's daguerreotype. I'll be good, really I will. Don't fire again. I've come down like the cool in the anecdote. Dory's a dear, and you are an other, and I'm so glad he's coming. But really it's not in human nature not to laugh at one so long person in a frivolous family like ours. Now is it? See that you behave yourself then, and I'll not scold you any more. Replied clover with chisterally, and ignoring the last question. She was the effect of a lecture by kissing Elsie as she spoke, but it was hard to resist the temptation. Elsie was so droll and coaxing and so very pretty. They expected to find Dory still something of an invalid, and made preparations accordingly. But there was no sign of the ability in his jump from the carriage, or his run up the steps to greet them. He was a little thinner than usual, but otherwise seemed quite himself. It's the air, explained Johnny, this blessed western air. He was forlorn when we left Burnett, and so tired when we got to Chicago, but after that he improved with every mile, and when we reached Denver this morning, he seemed fresher than when we started. I do think Colorado air the true elixir of life. It is quite true what she says. I feel like a different man already. I did Dory. Clover, you look a little pulled down yourself. Was it nursing miss? What's her name? I'm alright. Another day or two will quite rise me. I came home only day before yesterday, you see. How delicious it is to have you both here. Dory dear, you must have some beef tea directly. Your fein has a little basin of it ready, and dinner will be in about an hour. Beef tea? What for? I don't need anything of the sort. I assure you. Roast mutton, which I seem to smell in the distance, is much more in my line. I want to look about and see your house. What do you call that snow peak over there? This is a beautiful place of yours, I declare. Papa would open his eyes if he could see him, remarked Johnny confidentially, when she got his sister to herself a little later. It's like a miracle the way he has come up. He was so trekt and miserable and so very gross only three days ago. Now, dear things, let me look at you both. Are you quite well? How are the brothers-in-law? Where are the babies? And what have you done with Miss Young? The brothers-in-law are alright. They will be back recently. There is a roundup day to day, which is the reason we sent Isidore in with the carriage. Now an airscope is spared. The babies are having their supper. You will see them in noon. Imogen has gone for a fortnight to St. Helens. Oh, Johnny turned aside and began to take down her hair. Mr. Young is with her, I suppose. No indeed, he is here and staying with us. You will see him at dinner. Oh, said Johnny again. There was a difference between these two oars, which else is quick ear-detected. Please unlock that release, went on Johnny, and take out the dice on top. This, I have honest to try, fully dusted to be entured. Joanna Carl had grown up very pretty. Many people considered her the handsomest of the four sisters. Taller than any of them except Katie, and of a very different bird, large vigorous and finely formed, she had a very white skin, hair of pale bronze-brown, and beautiful, velvety dark eyes, with sick curling lashes. She had a turn for dress two and all colors suit to turn. The woolen gown of cream yellow, which she now put on, seemed exactly what was needed to throw out the tints of hair in complexion, but she would look equally well on the more in blue. With quick accustomed fingers, she whisked her pretty locks into a series of heartlessly artful Loops, with little blowing rings about her forehead, and stuck a bow in here in the pin there, talking all the time, and finally cut little fillet up in her strong arms, and ran downstairs just in time to greet the boys, as they dismounted at the door, and shake hands in your little slain alleyang, who came with them. All three had raised down from the very top of the upper valley at breakneck speed, to be in time to welcome the travellers. There is always one moment to pick this fate, when processes begin to take place, when the first fine needle of crystallization forms a transparent fluid, and the impulse of the chilling principle begins to work on the fruit juice, and the frost principle to inform the water atoms. These fateful moments are not always perceptible to our dialy prehensions, but nonetheless they do exist, and they are apt to take us by surprise, because we have not detected the fine, gradual chain of preparation, which has made ready for them. I think one of these fateful moments occurred that evening, as Lionel Young held her on her car's hand, and his straightforward English eyes poured an a terrible beam of welcome into hers. They had seen a good deal of each other two years before, but neither was prepared to be quite so glad to meet again. They did not pause to analyze or classify their feelings. People rarely do when they rarely feel, but from that night their attitude toward each other was changed, and the change became more apparent with every day that followed. As these days went on, bright golden days, cloudless and full of the sestern snap of the near and cold, Dory grows stronger and stronger, so well did he feel that after the first week or so, he began to elude to himself as quite recovered, and to show an ominous desire to get back to his work. But this suggestion was promptly scouted by everybody, especially by John, who said she had come for six weeks at least, and six weeks at least she should stay. And as much longer as she could, and that Dory as her escort must stay too, no matter how well he felt. Beside, she argued, there's all your life before you, in which to dig a way at the nameless and things, and you may never be in Colorado again. You wouldn't have the heart to disappoint Glova and Elsa and Harry back, and there's no real necessity. There's a place to have a visit from you. Oh, I'll stay. I'll certainly stay, said Dory. You shall have your visit out, John. Only when a fellow feels as perfectly well as I do, it seems ridiculous for him to be sitting around with his hands folded, taking a mountain cure, which he doesn't need. Autumn is the busiest season for cattlemen everywhere, which made it the most singular, that Lionel Young should manage to find so much time for sitting and riding with Johnny, or taking her to walk up the steepest and loneliest canyons. They were together in one way or another half the day at least, and during the other half, Johnny's face always was a preoccupied look, and was dreamily happy and silent. Even Glova began to perceive that something unusual was in the air, something that seemed like a ideal look good to be true. She and Elsa held conferences in private, during which they hugged each other and whispered that, if, whenever, if ever, Papa would truly come out to live in the valley. He never could resist three of his girls all at once, but they resolved not to say one word to Johnny, even look as if they suspected anything, lest it should have a discouraging effect. It never does to poke your finger into a bird's nest, observed Elsa with a sapient shake of her head. The eggs always addle if you do, or the young birds refuse to hatch out, and of course in the case of turtle doves, it would be all the more so. Lay low, prayer fox, and wait for what happens. It all promises delightfully, only I don't see exactly, supposing this ever comes to anything, how immature Young is to be disposed of. We won't cross that bridge till we come to it as a Glova, but all the same she did cross it in her thoughts many times. It is not in human nature to keep off these mental bridges. At the end of the fortnight, Imogen returned in very good looks and spirits, and further beautified by a pretty autumn dress of dark blue, which Mrs. Hope had persuaded her to order, and over the making of which she herself had personally presided. It fitted well and set off the admiration a delicate pink and white of Imogen's skin, while the new warmth of affection, which had come into her manner, was equally becoming. Why didn't you say what the pretty girl Miss Young was, demanded Dori the very first evening? I don't know him sure. She looks better than she did before she was ill, and she is very nice and all dead, but we never thought of her being exactly pretty. I can't think why. She is certainly much better looking than that Miss Chase, who was here the other day. I should call her decidedly handsome, and she seems easy to get on with, too. Isn't it odd, remarked Elsie, as she retailed this conversation to Glova? Imogen never seemed to me very easy to get on with, and Dori never before seemed to find it particularly easy to get on with any girl. I suppose they happen to suit, but it is very queer that they should. People are always surprising you in that way. What Miss Jones recently developed tendency to disappear into Kenya in Switzerland and Young, was the boys necessarily so occupied, and their own many little tasks and home duties, there had been moments during the fortnight when Glova and Elsie had found Dori rather heavy on their hands. He was not much of a reader except in a professional way, and still less of a horseman. So the two principal amusements of the valley counted for little with him, and they feared he would feel dull or fancy himself neglected. With the return of Imogen's apprehensions, we laid at rest. Dori if left alone promptly took the trail in the direction of the hutlet, returning hours after while looking beaming and contented, to casually mention by way of explanation that they had been reading aloud to Miss Young, or that he and Miss Young had been taking a walk. It is remarkably convenient, Elsie remarkt one evening, but it's just as remarkably queer. What can they find to say to each other, do you suppose? If Dori had not been Dori besides being her brother, she would probably have arrived at the conclusion about the matter much sooner than she did. Quick people are too apt to imagine that slow people have nothing to say, or do not know how to say it when they have. While all the time for slow and quick alike there is the old old story for each to tell in his own way, which makes the most holding lips momentarily eloquent, in which supposed to speak and listener seems forever new, fresh, wonderful, and inexhaustibly interesting. In a retired place like the High Valley intimates his flourish with a wonderful facility and quickness. A manse in such a place counts for more than half a year amid the confusions and interruptions of the city. Dori had been struck by emotion at first evening. He had never gotten very well with girls, or known much about them. There was a delightful novelty in his present sensations. There was not the word as to the need of getting back to business after she dawned on his horizon. Quite the contrary. Two weeks, three, four went by. The original limit set for the visit was passed, the end of his holiday tour near, and still he stayed uncontentedly, and every day devoted himself more and more to emoji and young. She and her butt was puzzled and flattered, but not unhappy. She was quite alive to Dori's merits. He was her first admirer, and it was a new and agreeable feature of life to have one, like other girls, as she told herself. Lionel was too much absorbed in his own affairs to notice her in the fear. So the time went on, and the double entanglement wound itself naturally and happily to its inevitable conclusion. It was in the beautiful little ravine to the east, which Chloe had named Fantastic Man Canyon, from the quantity of those flowers which grow there. The Dori made his final declaration. There were no Fantastic Man's in the valley now, no Yukos or Columbines, only a few bladed Autumn Crocuses and the scarlet bearded Mets of Kinnick Kinnick remained. But the day was his golden-breite store, it was there September. We have known each other only for a week, said Dori going straight to the point in his usual direct fashion. And if I were going to stay on, I should think I had no right perhaps to speak so soon. For you I take mind, not for my own. I could not be sure about my feelings for you, if we have been acquainted for years. But I have to go away before long, back to my home and my work, and I rarely cannot go without speaking. I must know if there is any chance for me. I like you very much, said Emojendi Murli. Do you? Then perhaps one day you might get to like me better still, I'd do all that the man could to make you happy if you would, and I think you'd like Bernard to live in. It's a big place, you know, with all the modern improvements, not like this, which pretty as it is, would be rather lonely in the winters, I should think. There are lots of nice people in Bernard, there's Johnny, whom you already know and my father. You'd be sure to like my father. Oh, don't go on in this way, as if it were only the advantages of the change that I should consent. It would be for quite different reasons if I did. Then after a short pause she added, I wonder what they will say at Bedford. It was an indirect yes, but Dory understood it was yes. Then you'll think of it. You don't refuse me, Emojen, you make me very happy. Dory did look happy. Then this place is beautifying, he looked handsome as well. His strong-wellened figure showed to advantage in the rough-claiming suit, which he wore. His eyes sparkled and beamed as he looked at Emojen. May I talk with Lana about it? He asked persuasively, he represents your father over here, you know. Yes, I suppose so. She blushed a little, but looked frankly up at Dory. Poor lion, it's hard lines for him. They feel guilty at the idea of discerting him so soon, but I know your sisters will be good to him, and I can't help being glad that you care for me. Only there is one thing I must say to you, Siodor. No one since you was baptized did ever call Dory Siodor till now. For I don't want you to fancy me nicer than a really M. I was horribly stiff and prejudiced when you first came out. I thought everything American was inferior and mistaken, all the English ways were best. And I was nasty. Yes, really very nasty to your sisters, especially dear Clover. I have learned her words now, in the laughter in America, and I shall laugh at all the better for your sake. But all the same, I shall probably disappoint you sometimes, and be stiff and impractical and provoking, and you will need to have patience with me. It is the price you must pay if you marry an English wife, this particular English wife at least. It's the price that I'll gladly pay, cried Dory, holding her hand tight, not that I believe a word you say, but you are the dearest, truest, honestest girl in the world, and I love you all the better for being so modest about yourself. For me I am just a plain, super sort of fellow. I never really was bright like others, and there is nothing in the least subtle or hard to understand about me. But I don't believe I shall make the worst husband for that. It's only in French novels the dark, inscrutable characters are good for daily use. Indeed, I don't want an inscrutable husband. I like you much the better as you are. Then after a happy pause, Isabel Tempestow, she is Choff's sister, you know, and my most intimate friend at home predicted that I should marry over here, but I never supposed I should. It didn't seem likely that anyone would want me, for I'm not pretty or interesting, like your sisters, you know. Oh, I say, Cractuary, haven't I been telling you that you interest me more than anyone in the world ever did before? I never saw a girl whom I considered to hold a candle to you, certainly not one of my own sisters. You don't think your people at home will make any objections, do you? No indeed, they will be very pleased to have me settled, I should think. There are good many of us at home, you know. Meanwhile a little father up the same canyon, but screened from observation by projecting shoulder of rock, another equally satisfactory conversation was going on between another pair of flowers. Johnny and Lionel had strolled up there about an hour before Dora and Emo-Chen arrived. They had no idea that anyone else was in the ravine. I think a new two years ago that they cared more for you than anyone else, Lionel was saying. Did you? Perhaps the faintest suspicion of such a thing occurred to me too. I used to keep thinking about you at odd minutes all day, and I was working over the kettle and everything, and always thought steadily about you at night when I was falling asleep. Very strange, certainly. And the moment you came and I saw you again, it flashed upon me what it meant, and I perceived that I had been desperately in love with you all along without knowing it. Still stranger. Don't tease me, darling Johnny. No, John, I like the better than Johnny. It makes me think of short arc. I shall call you that, may I? How can I help it? You have a big will of your own as I always knew. Only don't connect me with the arc unless you spell it and don't call me Jonah. Never, he was the prophet of evil, and you are the good genius of my life. I am not sure whether I am or not. He plunges you into all sorts of embarrassment so think of marrying me. Neither of us is any money. You'll have to work hard for years before you can afford a wife, and then there's your sister to be considered. I know poor Moggy, but she came out for my sake. She will probably be only too glad to get home again whenever at the arrangements are possible. Will you wait a while for me, my sweet? I don't mind if I do. How long will you wait? Shall we say ten years? Ten years? But Choff, no. We'll say no such thing, but eighty months? We'll fix it at eighty months or two years at farthest. I can surely fetch it in two years. Very well then. I'll wait two years with pleasure. I don't ask you to wait with pleasure. That's carrying it a little far. I don't seem able to please you whatever I say. Remark, Johnny, pretending to pout. Please, my darling John. You please me down to the ground. You always did. But if you'll wait two years, not with pleasure, but with patience and resignation, I'll buckle to this well and earn my happiness. Your father won't be a wurz, will he? Poor Papa. Yes, he's very a wurz to having his girls marry, but he's somewhat hardened to it. I'm the last of the four, you know. They think you'll give his blessing to you rather than anyone else, because you bring me out here to live near the others. Perhaps you will come too. It is the dream of Glowers and Earth's lives that you should. That would be quite perfect for us all. You say that to please me, I know, but you will say it with all your heart if it happens. For my father is the sweetest man in the world and devises the most reasonable. You will love him dearly. He has been father and mother and all to us children. And there is my sister Katie. You will love her too. I've seen her once, you remember? Yes, but you can't find Katie out at once. There's too much of her. Oh, I've ever so many nice relations to give you. There's Ned Washington. He's a dear and cousin Helen. Did I ever tell you of her? She's a terrible invalid, you know. Almost always confined to a better sofa and yet she's been one of the great influences of our lives. A sort of daddy and angel. Always helping and brightening and cheering us all and starting us in right directions. Oh, you must know her. I can't think how you ever were. For of course, she can never come to Colorado, but somehow it shall be managed. Now tell me about your people. How many are there of you? Eleven. And the scarcely remember my oldest brother. He went away from home so long ago. Jim was my chum. He's not end of a good fellow. He's in New Zealand now. And Beatrice, that's the girl next to Imogen, is awfully nice too. And they are one or two jolly ones among the smaller kids. Oh, you like them all, especially my mother. We'll go over someday and make a visit. That will be nice, but we shall have to wait till we go rich before we can take such a long journey. Lion, do you think by and by could manage to build another house or move your cabin farther down the valley? I want to live near a clover and airsy. You'll have to be a very good little of course as the other boys are and the mile is a goodish bit, as Imogen would say. It would make all the difference in the world if I had the sisters' clothes at hand to put my lips to when dispatched. Why, of course we were. Jeff built a hutlet, you know. I didn't put any money into it. I chose the position because, well, the few was good and I didn't know how much he did off as the rest you understand. I thought you might do better a little farther away, but with you it's quite different, of course. I dare say the hutlet could be moved. I'll talk to Jeff about it. I don't care how simple it is, so long as it is near the others. When not Johnny, it's easy enough to make a simple house pretty and nice. I'm so glad that your house is in this valley lion. A little pause ensued. What was that? asked Johnny suddenly. What? That sound. It seemed to come down from the canyon. Such a very odd Echo, if it was an Echo. What kind of sound? I heard nothing. Voices, I should say, if it were not quite impossible that it could be voices. Very low and hushed as if it goes to confabulating with another ghost about a quarter of a mile away. Oh, that must be just a fancy protested lion now. There isn't any living soul within a mile of us. And at the same moment there are a couple of hundred feet distant was remarking to Imogen. These canyons do have the most extraordinary Echoes, there's the strangest Cooing and Zibylating going on a bath. What pigeons most probably, there are heaps of them here about. Presently the bear from a bath slowly climbing down the ravine hand in hand came upon the bear below, just rising from the sea to go home. There was a mutual consternation of four countenances comical to behold. You here, cried Imogen? And you here retorted Lana, why we never suspected it. What brought you up? And car too, I declare. Why? Oh, it's a pretty place, Stemmann Imogen. See you there, Mr. Karamine. No Lionel, what are you loving at? Nothing, said her brother, composing his features as best as we could. Only it's such a very odd coincidence, you know. Very odd indeed, remarked Dory gravely. All four looked at one another solemnly and questioningly, and then it was impossible to help it, all four laughed. But choff, cried Lana, between his paroxysms, I do believe we've all come up here on the same errand. I dare say we have, remarked Dory. There were some extremely queer echoes that came down to us from above. Not the big queerer, I assure you, then some which floated up to us from below, retorted Johnny, recovering her powers of speech. We thought it was dafs. And we were sure it was ghosts, affectionate ghosts, you know, on excellent terms with each other. Young, I want a word with you, said Dory, trolling Lionel aside. And I want a word with you. And I want several words with you. Gregg Johnny brightly putting her arms through immigrants. She looked searchingly at her. I am going to be your sister, she said. I promised Lionel. Are you going to be mine? Yes, I promised Ciudor. Ciudor, Gregg Johnny, with the world of admiration in her voice. Oh, you mean Dory. We never call him that, you know. Yes, I know, but I prefer Ciudor. Dory seems a childish sort of name for a grown man. Do you mean to say that you are coming out to the valley to live? Yes, by and by, and you will come to burn it? We shall just change places. Isn't it nice and queer? It's a sort of double-barrel international alliance, declared Lionel. Now let us get down and astonish the others. The others were astonished indeed. They were prepared for Johnny's confession, but had so little sort of doorstatt for some time he and emotions stood by unheeded, waiting to turn at explanation. Why Dory cried earlier at last? Why are you standing on one side like that with Miss Young? You don't look as surprised as you are. Did you hear the news before we did? Imogendir, it isn't such good news for you as far as... Oh yes, indeed it is. I'm quite happy in it, as you can be. Ladies and gentlemen, Katlana, who was in Topping Spirits and could not be restrained. The shrinking pair also have a tale to tell. It is a case of changed partners all around and down the middle. Let me introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Ciudor. Lion, you're a cheap boy, stop. Interrupted Johnny, that is not at all the right way to do it. Let me introduce them. Friends and countrymen, allow the echoes of the Upper East Canyon to present to your favorable consideration the echoes of the Lower East Canyon. We have all been sitting up there unbeknownst, within a few feet of each other, and none of us could account for the mysterious noises that we heard, till we all started to come home and met each other on the way down. What kind of noises? Demanded Ersy in a suffocated voice. Oh, coolings and gurglings and soft murmurs of conversation and whisperings. It was very unaccountable indeed, very. Dory said Ersy next day when she changed to be alone with him. Would you mind if I ask you a rather important question? You needn't answer if you don't want to. But what was it that first put into your head to fall in love with Imogen Young? I'm very glad that you did, you understand. She will make you a capital wife, and I'm going to be very fond of her. But still, I should just like to know. I don't know that I could tell if I tried, replied her brother. How can a man explain that sort of thing? I fell in love because I was destined to fall in love, I suppose. I liked her at the start and sort of pretty and all that, and she seemed kind of lonely and left out among you all. And then she's a quiet sort of girl, you know, not so ready to talk as most, or so quick to pick at a fellow or trip him up. I've always been the slow one in the family, you see. And by way of a change, it's rather refreshing to be with a woman who isn't so much brighter than I am. The rest of you jump at an idea and off it again, while I'm gathering my wits together to see if there is an idea. Imogen doesn't do that, and it rather suits me that she shouldn't. You're all delightful and I'm very fond of you, I'm sure. But for a wife, I think I like someone more like myself. Of all the troll explanations that I've ever heard, that is quite the trollest, said Elsie to her husband afterward. The idea of a man falling in love with a woman because she's dulled in his own sisters. Nobody but Dory would ever have thought of it. End of Chapter 9, recording by Ellie, Oktober 2009 Chapter 10 of In The High Valley This is LibraVox Recording, und LibraVox Recording is a public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibraVox.org. Recording by Ellie, In The High Valley, by Susan Kulich. Chapter 10, A Double Knot The next few days in The High Valley were too full of excitement and discussions to be quite comfortable for anybody. Imogen was sister's companion since leaving Lionel without the housekeeper, and proposed to Dory that the wedding should be deferred till the other's were ready to be married also, as a suggestion to its story wouldn't listen for a moment. The prolonged business talks between the range partners is to house and vence, letters to be written, and the numerable confabulations between the sisters, in which Imogen took part, for she counted as the first sister now. Clover and Elsie lessen den pländen advice, and found their chief difficulty to consist in hiding and keeping in the background the unfähenden, flattering joy over the whole arrangement. It made matters to the light fully easy all round to if Imogen engaged to Dory, and it was so much to their own individual advantage to exchange of a Dory that reality had not expressed the light to openly. The great question was always how Papa would take the announcement, und wether he could be induced to carry out his half-promise of leaving Bernard and coming to live with them in the valley. They waited anxiously for his reply to the letters. It came by telegraph two days before they had dared hope for it, and was as follows. God bless you, all four. Genesis 43, 14. P. Carr. This biblical edition nearly broke John's heart, her sisters had to comfort her with all manner of hopeful orgaries and promises. He'll be glad enough over it in time, they told her, seeing what it would have been, if you were going to Mary in California, or a man with an orange plantation in Florida. He'll see that it's all for the best as soon as he gets out here, and he must come. Johnny, you must never let him off, and don't take no for an answer. It's so important to us all that he should consent. The prime to his persuasive messages and arguments in both clover and airs wrote him a long letter on the subject. And the very if departure came a second telegram. Telegrams were not every day things in the high valley, the nearest wire, being at the U-Totel five miles away, and the arrival of the messenger on horseback created a momentary panic. This telegram was also from Dr. Carr, it was addressed to Johnny. Following chest received, Miss Inches died today of Pneumonia, no particulars, P. Carr. It was a great shock to poor Johnny, she and Mama Marian, as she still called her godmother, had been warm friends always. They corresponded regularly, Johnny had made several long visits to Inches Merse, and she had written to her among the first with the news of her engagement. She never got it. She never will know about Lana now, she kept repeating mournfully, and now I can never tell her about any of my plans, and she would have been so pleased and interested. She always cared so much for what they cared about, and hoped she would come out here for a long visit someday and see you all, oh dear dear, what a sad ending to our happy time. Not an ending, only an interruption, put in the comfort in clover, but John for a time could not be consoled, and the party broke up on the cloud, literal as well as metaphorical, for the first snowstorm was drifting over the plain as they drove down the pass. The melting flakes instantly drank up by the sand, all the soft blue of distance had vanished, and the grey mist trapped the mountaintops. The high valley was in temporary eclipse, its brightness in sparkle put by for a moment. But nothing could long eclipse the sunshine of such useful hearts and hopes. Before long, John's letters could cheerful again und presently she wrote to announce a wonderful piece of news. Something very strange has happened, she began, I am an heiress. It's just like the girls in books, and yesterday came a letter from a fern of lawyers in Boston with a long document enclosed. It was an extract from Mama Mary and Svir, an only sink. She has left me a legacy of 30.000 dollars, dear thing, and she never knew about my engagement either, or how wonderful it was going to help in our plans. She just didn't because she loved me, to try on a inches car, my name's sick and child by affection, the will says, and I think it pleases me as much as having the money. That frightens me a little, it seems so much, at first I did not like to take it, and felt as if I might be robbing someone else, but Papa says she had no very near relations, and that I need not hesitate. Oh my darling Clover, is it not wonderful, now Lion and I need not wait two years, unless he prefers it, and can just go on and make our plans happily to suit ourselves and all of you. And I shall love to think that we owe it all to dear Mama Marian, only it will be a source but always, that she never got the letter telling of our engagement. It came just after she died, and they returned it to me. Ned has his orders at last, he goes to see in April, and Katie writes to Papa, that she will come and spend the year with him if he likes, when let is away. But Papa won't be here, he's quite decided I think, to leave Bernard and make his home for the future with us in the High Valley. Three different physicians have already offered to buy out his practice, and it is arranged that Dorechel rent the old house of him, and the furniture too, accept the books and a few special things, which Papa wishes to keep. He is going to write to you about the building of what he is pleased to call a separate shanty, but please don't let the shanty be really separate. He must be in with all of us somehow, or we shall never be satisfied. Did Lionel decide to move the heartlet? Of course, Katie will spend her year in the valley instead of Bernard. I am beginning to get my little Trousseau together, and have set up a wedding bureau to put things in, but it is no fun at all without any sisters at home to help and sympathize. I am the only one who has had to get ready to be married all by herself. If Katie were not coming in two months, I should be quite desperate. The chief thing on my mind is how to arrange about two weddings is the family so scattered as it is. This difficulty was settled by Chloe a little later. Both the weddings she proposed should take place in the valley. It is a case of Maromet and Mountain, she wrote. Look at it dispassionately. Hugh and Papa and Katie and Dory have to come out here anyway, and the rest of us are here. It is clearly impossible that all of us should go on to Bernard to see your marriage, though if you persist some of us well, inconvenient and expensive as it would be. But just consider what a picturesque and romantic place the valley is for a wedding. With the added advantage, that you would be absolutely the first people who will ever marry the next since the creation of the world. I won't say what may happen in the remote future. For Rose-Red writes, that she is going to change its name and call it henceforth the Ararat Valley. Not only because it contains a very few souls that is eight, but also because all the creatures who go into it seem to enter parallel and come out between two impairs. You will inaugurate the long procession at all events. Do please think serious love this, dear John. Consider, co-consider, and write me that you consent. We are building Papa the most charming little bungalow ever seen, a big library and two bedrooms, one for himself and one to spear. It is just off the southwest corner and a little covered way connected with our Piazza, for we have quite decided that he is to take his meals with us and not have the border of independent housekeeping. Then if you decide to put your bungalow on the other side of his, as we hope you will, we shall all be close together. Lion will do nothing about the building till you come. You are to stay on indefinitely with us and oversee the whole thing yourself from the driving of the first nail, and we will all help and want to be fun. There is something very stately and comforting in the idea of a resident physician, as he declares that now Filida may have the group by any other infant disease she likes, and I shan't lie awake at night to wonder what we should do in case Jof was thrown off the borough in broken bone. I am not sure, but we may yet attain the dignity of a resident pastor as well, for Jof has decided not to move the hutlet, but to leave it as it is, putting in a little simple furniture and offered from time to time to some invalid clergyman who needs Colorado air and would be glad to spend a few months in the valley. Who knows, but it may grow someday into a little church. Then indeed we should have a small world of our own, as the learned profession is all represented, for of course, fill by that time we will be qualified to do our law for us, in case we quarrel and require rits, and ripple vines and habeous corpuses, or any last verse and testaments drawn up. I have begun on new curtains for Katie's room already, and Elsie and I have all men of beautiful projects for the weddings. Now Johnny Darling write at once and say that you agree to this plan. It really does seem a perfect one for everybody. The time must of course depend on when Dory can get his leave, but we will be ready whenever it comes. Clover's arguments were unanswerable, and Elchowang gradually gave into the plan, which had so much at heart. Dory got the fortnets holiday, beginning on the 15th of June, so the 20th was fixed as the day for the double wedding and the preparations went merrily on. Early in May Katie reifte und burnet, and after that Johnny had no need to complain of being an sister. For Katie was a host in herself and gave all her time to helping everybody. She's you then finished, she packed and advised, she assisted to box her father's books, and went with Dory to choose the new papers and rugs, which were to make the old house freshly bright for emotion. She exclaimed and rejoiced over each wedding present that arrived, and supplied the sweet atmosphere of mutual interest and sympathy, which is the vital price of a family occasion. All was ready in time, the old home was in exact and perfect order for its new mistress. The goodbyes were sad, and on the morning of the 15th the party started for Colorado. Quite a little group waited for them on the platform of the St. Helens station three days later. Lana had of course come to meet his bride and Imogen her bridegroom, and Choff had come in Clover to meet her father in Katie and Phil was also in waiting. It was truly a wonderful moment when they trained her up and Johnny all beautiful in smiles and dimples encountered Lana, while Dory jumped out to greet Imogen, who was in blooming health again and very pleased to see him. We have brought the two carriers, Clover explained. Choff got the new one the other day that the means of transportation may keep pace with the increase of population, as he says. I think Choff will put the brights and bright comes together in the new one, then the echoes from the back seat can mix with the echoes from the front seat. It will be as good as the east canyon and they will all fill at home. So, it was arranged and the party started. Katie cried Clover, looking at her sister with eyes, that seemed to drink her in. I had forgotten quite how dear you are. It seems to me that you have grown handsome my child, or is it only that you are a little fatter. I am afraid the latter, replied Katie with a laugh. No one but Ned ever was so deluded as to call me Handsome. Whereas Ned, it is such a shame that he can't be here, the only one of the family missing. He is on his way to China, so Katie with a little suppressed sigh. Yes, it is too bad, but it can't be helped. Naval orders are like time and tide and wait for no man and most of all for no woman. She paused the moment and changed the subject abruptly. Did I tell you, she asked, that after I broke up at Newport, I went to Rose for a week. Johnny wrote that you were to go. It was such a bright week, Boston was beautiful, as it always is in spring, with the public garden a place of flowers and all the pretty country about so green and sweet. Rose was most delightful and I saw ever so many of the old hills of our girls and even had a glimpse of Mrs. Nipson. That must have been rather a bad joy. No, not exactly. I was rather glad on the whole to meet her again. She isn't as bad as we made her out. Schoolgirls are almost always unjust to their teachers. Oh, come on now, the clover making a little face. This is a happy occasion certainly and I am in a benign frame of mind, but really I can't stand having you so hurriedly charitable. There's no virtue, madam, in a much of concession. Mrs. Nipson was an unpleasant old thing, so dare. Let us talk about something else. Tell me about your visit to Cousin Helen. Oh, that was a sweet visit all through. I stayed ten days and she was better than usual, it seemed to me. Did I write about little Helen's ball? No. She's just nineteen and it was her first dance. Such a pretty creature and so pleased and excited about it. And Cousin Helen was equally so. She gave Helen her dress complete, down to the satin shoes and defended the long gloves, the turquoise necklace and turquoise pins for her hair. You never saw anything so charming as the way in which you enjoyed it. You would have supposed that Helen was your own child, as she lay on the sofa with such bright beaming eyes, while the pretty thing turned round and round to exhibit her finery. There certainly never was anyone like Cousin Helen. She's embodied sympathy, the clover. Now, Katie, I want you to look. We are just turning into our own road. It was a radiant afternoon, with long soft shadows alternating with golden sunshine, and the high valley was its very best, as they slowly climbed the zigzag pass. This ever-turning wind in Katie's pleasure grew, and when they rounded the last curve and came inside of the little group of buildings, with the picturesque background of forest and the splendid peak soaring above, she exclaimed with delight. What a perfect situation. Cloe never said enough about it. Surely the half was not told to me, as the Queen of Sheba remarked. Oh, and there is also on the porch, and that thing in white beside her is Phyllida? I never dreamed she could be so large. How glad I am, that I didn't die of measles when I was little, as the rose red used to say. Katie's coming was the crowning flesh of the occasion to all, but most of all to clover. To have her most intimate sister in her own home and be able to see her every day and all day long and consultant twice and lay before her the hopes and intentions and desires of heart, which she could never fully share with anyone else except Choff, was the delight, which never lost its test, and of which clover never grew weary. So settelt Dr. Kain his new quarters was an utter bläscher and which the old took equal part. When his books and microscopes were unpacked and the burning belongings arranged pretty much in the old order, the room looked wonderfully home like even to him. The children soon learned to adore him, as children only said then, the only trouble was the thought for the possession of his knee, and never would willingly have left him a moment for himself. His Läscher had to protect it by a series of nursery laws and penances, or he would never have had any. But he said he liked the children better than the Läscher. He was born to be a grandfather. Nobody told stories like him or knew so well how to please and pacify and hit the taste of little people. But all this of course came subsequently to the double wedding which took place two days after the arrival of the home party. The morning of the adventures was unusually fine even for Colorado, fair, cloudless and golden bright as if ordered for the occasion. Without the cloud on the sky from down to sunset. The ceremony was performed by a clergyman from Portland, who with his invalid wife versettelt in the hutlet for the summer, were declared of the pleasant little home offered them, and to escape from the crowd in confusion of Mrs. Marsh's boarding house, the choffee found them. Two or three particular friends drove out from St. Terrence, but with that exception the whole wedding was well made, as Elsie declared, including delicious raspberry ice cream and an enormous cake, over which she included expanded much time and sort, and which decorated with emplemical designs in icing and rice with yucca blossoms stood in the middle of the table. The ceremony took place at noon precisely, when, as filfestitiously observed, the shadows of the high contracting parties could never be less. There was little that was formal about it, but much that was reverent and sweet and full of true feeling. You, Mochan and Johnny, have both decreed to wear white muslin dresses. Very much such dresses is too old accustomed to wear in afternoons. But Mochan hat an her head her matters wedding veil, which had been sent out from England. And Johnny wore Kate's Falak, as she said. Both carried a big bouquet of Mary-Posa Lilies, and the house was filled with the characteristic wild flowers of the region, most skillfully and effectively grouped and arranged. A hearty luncheon followed the ceremony, of which the old paddock, then Mochan went the way to put on a pretty travelling suit of pale brown, and the carol came round to take Mr. and Mrs. Siodo car to St. Terrence, which was the first stage of their journey of life. The whole party stood on the porch, to see them go. Mochan's last word and embrace were for Clover. We are sisters now, she whispered. I belong to you, just as much as Isabel does, and I am so glad that I do. Dear Clover, you have been more good to me than I can say, and I shall never forget it. Nonsense, about being good. You are my daughter's wife now, and our own dear sister. There is no question about goodness, only to laugh on and other. She kissed Mochan warmly and helped her to the carriage. Dori sprang after her. The wheels revolved and filled a seizing horse shoe, which hung ready to hang on the wall of the house, flang it after the departing vehicle. It is more appropriate than any other sort of old shoe for this place of hoofs, you observed. While the car family are certainly pretty well disposed of now, I am the last ungettered rose on my ancestral tree. I wonder who will kill me from my stem. You can't afford to hang on a while longer, remarkt Elsie. I don't consider you fairly expanded yet, by any means. You'll be twice as well was gathering a few years from now. Oh, very fine. Yes indeed. Why, I shall be a city old bachelor. That would never do. And Amy Ash, whom I've had had in my eye ever since she was in Pine of Forest, will be married to some other fellow. Don't set your heart on Amy, said Katie. She's not seventeen yet, and I don't think her mother has any idea of having her maiden to ashes of roses so early. There's no harm in having a girl in one's eye. Retorted felt his consulately. I declare, you look also contented and so satisfied with yourselves and one and other, that it is enough to make me a fellow left out, as I am in the cold. I shall go back to Santarnes with Dr. and Mrs. Hope. The others left to themselves in a happy loneliness scattered together in the big room, after the last guest had gone. Joff touched a match to the ready-laid fire. Clover willed an armchair forward for her father and sat down beside him with an arm on his knee. John and Lana took possession of the big sofa. Now, let us enjoy ourselves. Sit Clover. The world is shut out. We are shut in. There are none to molest and make us afraid. In please heaven, there is a whole long happy year before us. I never did suppose anything so perfectly perfect could happen to us all as this. Now, Papa, dear Papa, just say that you like it as much as we all do. Elsie perched herself on the arm of her father's chair. Katie stood behind stroking his hair. Dr. Carr held out his hand to Johnny, ran across the room, knelt down, caught it in both hers and found a little cheek upon it. I like it quite as much as you do, he said, where my girls are is the place for me and I am going to be the most contented old gentleman in America for the rest of my days. The end. End of Chapter 10, recording by Ellie, October 2009. End of Inner High Valley by Susan Coolidge.