Category: Historical Novels
It was my fate, I will not say my misfortune--being too proud--to dwell overmuch with camps and caucuses and transact more than stood best for me of politics and war. These were my schools, and they sadly served to make me coarse and turn me hard. Sometimes I think this pity,...
It was my fate, I will not say my misfortune--being too proud--to dwell overmuch with camps and caucuses and transact more than stood best for me of politics and war. These were...
2. CHAPTER II--PORT WINE DUFF AND PIGEON-BREASTDuff Green was a round, insincere, self-seeking, suave, smooth, porpoise-body of a personage, small of eye, hair age-streaked, a port wine voice, wide mouth, and nose of friendl...
3. CHAPTER III--PEG'S MEETING WITH THE MAJORBefore, in this relation, I go to that meeting with Peg whereof I made account in the commencement of my story, it would be proper, I think, to notice a singular personality; on...
4. CHAPTER IV--THE JEW AND HIS SPANISH SWORDJim's surmise of trouble on the brew set fire to my feet. At the door of the card room I met Duff Green coming out--Duff of the Oporto nose. I barely nodded; I could taste of in...
5. CHAPTER V--REVEREND CAMPBELL AND THE MAGPIEIt was as good as a study of character, the varying fashions wherein those interested received the story of Noah's clash with Catron. There was nothing told of it in the paper,...
6. CHAPTER VI--THE STORM GATHERS AGAINST PEGThose next few weeks went by in a tumbling procession that was more like mob violence than aught orderly or sequential. The town was overrun of folk. It was a climbing case of e...
7. CHAPTER VII--THE SECRETARY, SUAVE AS CREAM.And now there comes beneath my hand the hard portion of this history, the part which I most mislike and bear with least of patience. It is the record written by the smug, false...
8. CHAPTER VIII--THE MAD CAPRICIOUS PEGNext morning the sun had not climbed over-high when the Reverend Campbell, head down and secret eye aslant, came shuffling to call upon the General. I caught the black shadow of...
9. CHAPTER IX--THE GENERAL SELECTS HIS SUCCESSOR.Now fell across us the sultry summer; sometimes with rain, and steamy mud to follow; and then with stretches of a burning dryness when the dust curled aloft on the impertinent l...
10. CHAPTER X--THE MAJOR AND PEG AT CROSSESNext morning I went straight into the midst of my correspondence and began tossing it on my pen as husbandmen toss hay. There rang no unusual call for this energy of ink, but th...
11. CHAPTER XI--THE GENERAL MAKES PROVERBSIn those few days next to follow Peg's tantrum of the chair, like those several to precede it, I was given no more than meager pictures of her. I should perhaps beg forgiveness...
12. CHAPTER XII--HOW PEG WOULD WEAR THE CORAL.This is how I shall do,” said Peg at last, and after the General and I had waited upon her small profundity for some space; “this shall be my plan. We will have the White House...
13. CHAPTER XIII--THE SON OF THE SPANISH BULL-FIGHTERPeg's war for social eminence would now move bravely. The tale of that double reception with its polite throngs pushing forward in honor of her and her “good little secretary,”...
14. CHAPTER XIV.--THE FEDERAL UNION: IT MUST BE PRESERVED.Doubtless, since my very palms itched to be about that employment, I would have had my hands on others of the rogue crew, but I was granted no chance. Rivera poured himself agai...
15. CHAPTER XV--HOW PEG WAS SAVED FROM PEG.Now when the General's toast at that banquet in the Indian Queen had gone abroad, it would have the effect of a warning, each man taking it home. A mighty silence fell upon Stat...
16. CHAPTER XVI.--LOVE'S FUNERAL IN THE SNOW.As though in a dream I took Peg in under my great cloak, and having my arm about her would now hold her close and warm to my side. Her ear was over my heart as her face lay pres...