Gideon by Wells Hastings
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to seem strange to him in_the solitude . he tried the defiant experiment of laughing for_the effect of it, an experiment which brought him to_his feet in startled terror; for_his laughter was echoed . as he stood peering about him, the sound came again, not laughter this_time, but a suppressed giggle . it_was human beyond a doubt .Gideon's face shone with relief and sympathetic amusement; he listened for a moment, and then strode surely forward toward a clump of low palms . there he paused, every sense alert . his ear caught a soft rustle, a little gasp of fear; the sound of a foot moved cautiously .

"Missy," he_said tentatively, "I reckon yo'- all's come jes ' bout 'n time foh breakfus .Yo' betteh have some .Ef yo' ain' too white to sit down with a black man ."

the leaves parted, and asmiling face as black as Gideon's own regarded him in shy amusement .

" who_is yo', man ? "

"I mought be king of Kongo," he laughed, " but I ain't .Yo' see befo' yo' jes Gideon-- at yo'r 'steemed sehvice ." he bowed elaborately in_the mock humility of assured importance, watching her face in pleasant anticipation .

but neither awe nor rapture dawned there . she repeated the name, inclining her head coquettishly; but it evidently meant nothing to her . she was merely trying its sound ."Gideon, Gideon .I don' call to min' any sech name ez that .Yo'- all's f'om up no'th likely ." he_was beyond the reaches of fame .

" no," said Gideon, hardly knowing whether he_was glad or sorry--" no, I live south of heah . what- all's yo' name ? "

the girl giggled deliciously .

" man," she said, "I shu got the mos' reediculoustest name you eveh did heah . they call me Vashti--yo' bacon's bu'nin' ." she stepped out, and ran past him to snatch his skillet deftly from_the fire .

"Vashti"--a strange and delightful name .Gideon followed her slowly . her romantic coming and her romantic name pleased him; and, too, he thought her beautiful . she was scarcely more than a girl, slim and strong and almost of_his own height . she was barefooted, but her blue- checked gingham was clean and belted smartly about a small waist . he remembered only_one woman who ran as lithely as she did, one_of_the numerous "diving beauties" of_the vaudeville stage .

she cooked their breakfast, but he served her with an elaborate gallantry, putting forward all his new and foreign graces, garnishing his speech with imposing polysyllables, casting about their picnic breakfast a radiant aura of grandeur borrowed from_the recent days of_his fame . and he_saw that he pleased her, and with her open admiration essayed still greater flights of polished manner .

he_made vague plans for delaying his journey as_they sat smoking in pleasant conversational ease; and when an interruption came it vexed him .

"Vashty ! Vashty ! " a woman's voice sounded thin and far away ."Vashty-y ! Yo' heah me, chile ? "

Vashti rose to her feet with a sigh .

" that's my MA," she said regretfully .

" what do yo' care ? " asked Gideon ." let her yell awhile ."

the girl shook her head .

" MA's amoughty POW'ful 'oman, and she done got a club ' bout the size o' my wrist ." she moved off a step or so, and glanced back at him .

Gideon leaped to_his feet .

" when yo' comin' back ? Yo'--yo' ain' goin' without----" he held out his arms to her, but she only giggled and began to walk slowly away . with a bound he_was after her, one hand catching her lightly by_the shoulder . he_felt suddenly that he_must not lose sight of her .

" let me go ! Tu'n me loose, yo' ! " the girl was still laughing, but evidently troubled . she wrenched herself away with an effort, only to_be caught again a moment later . she screamed and struck at him as he kissed her; for now she was really in terror .

the blow caught Gideon squarely in_the mouth, and with_such force that he staggered back, astonished, while the girl took wildly to her heels . he stood for a moment irresolute, for something was happening to him . for months he had evaded love with a gentle embarrassment; now, with_the savage crash of_that blow, he_knew unreasoningly that he had found his woman .

he leaped after her again, running as he had_not run in years, in savage, determined pursuit, tearing through brier and scrub, tripping, falling, rising, never losing sight of_the blue-clad figure before him until at last she tripped and fell, and he stood panting above her .

he_took a great breath or so, and leaned over and picked her up in_his arms, where she screamed and struck and scratched at him . he laughed, for he_felt no longer sensible to pain, and, still chuckling, picked his way carefully back to_the shore, wading deep into_the water to unmoor his boat . then with a swift movement he dropped the girl into_the bow, pushed free, and clambered actively aboard .

the light, early morning breeze had freshened, and he_made out well toward the middle of_the river, never even glancing around at_the sound of_the hallooing he now heard from shore . his exertions had quickened his breathing, but he_felt strong and joyful .Vashti lay a huddle of blue in_the bow, crouched in fear and desolation, shaken and torn with sobbing; but he_made no effort to comfort her . he_was untroubled by any sense of wrong; he_was simply and unreasoningly satisfied with what he had done . despite all his gentle, easygoing, laughter-loving existence, he_found nothing incongruous or unnatural in_this sudden act of violence . he_was aglow with happiness; he_was taking home a wife . the blind tumult of capture had passed; a great tenderness possessed him .

the leaky little boat was plunging and dancing in swift ecstasy of movement; all about_them the little waves ran glittering in_the sunlight, plashing and slapping against the boat's low side, tossing tiny crests to_the following wind, showing rifts of white here and there, blowing handfuls of foam and spray .Gideon went softly about_the business of shortening his small sail, and came quietly back to_his steering- seat again . soon he_would_have to_be making for what lea the western shore offered; but he_was holding to_the middle of_the river as long as he_could, because with every mile the shores were growing more familiar, calling to him to_make what speed he_could .Vashti's sobbing had grown small and ceased; he wondered if she had fallen asleep .

presently, however, he_saw her face raised--a face still shining with tears . she saw that he_was watching her, and crouched low again .a dash of spray spattered over her, and she looked up frightened, glancing fearfully overside; then once more her eyes came back to him, and this_time she got up, still small and crouching, and made her way slowly and painfully down the length of_the boat, until at last Gideon moved aside for her, and she sank in_the bottom beside him, hiding her eyes in her gingham sleeve .

Gideon stretched out a broad hand and touched her head lightly; and with a tiny gasp her fingers stole up to_his .

" honey," said Gideon--" honey, yo' ain' mad, is yo' ? "

she shook her head, not looking at him .

"Yo' ain' grievin' foh yo' MA ? "

again she shook her head .

" because," said Gideon, smiling down at her, "I ain' got no beeg club like she has ."

a soft and smothered giggle answered him, and this_time Vashti looked up and laid her head against him with a small sigh of contentment .

Gideon felt very tender, very_important, at peace with himself and all the world . he rounded ajutting point, and stretched out a black hand, pointing .

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