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lighter cherry； while her nose was purple； and her forehead an
Indian red。 To add to the effect of this awkward and discomposing
dramatic exhibition of embarrassment； she began to wipe her hands
on her dress； and sat silent。
〃I understand；〃 said the lawyer hastily。 〃No matterthe
conditions WERE fulfilled。〃
〃No！〃 said Peg amazedly。 〃How could they be until he was dead？〃
It was the lawyer's turn to color and grow embarrassed。
〃He DID say something； and make some conditions；〃 continued Peg；
with a certain firmness through her awkwardness； 〃but that's
nobody's business but mine and his'n。 And it's no call o' yours or
theirs。〃
〃But； my dear Miss Moffat； if these very conditions were proofs of
his right mind； you surely would not object to make them known； if
only to enable you to put yourself in a condition to carry them
out。〃
〃But；〃 said Peg cunningly； 〃s'pose you and the Court didn't think
'em satisfactory？ S'pose you thought 'em QUEER？ Eh？〃
With this helpless limitation on the part of the defence； the case
came to trial。 Everybody remembers it；how for six weeks it was
the daily food of Calaveras County； how for six weeks the
intellectual and moral and spiritual competency of Mr。 James Byways
to dispose of his property was discussed with learned and formal
obscurity in the court； and with unlettered and independent
prejudice by camp…fires and in bar…rooms。 At the end of that time；
when it was logically established that at least nine…tenths of the
population of Calaveras were harmless lunatics； and everybody
else's reason seemed to totter on its throne； an exhausted jury
succumbed one day to the presence of Peg in the court…room。 It was
not a prepossessing presence at any time； but the excitement； and
an injudicious attempt to ornament herself； brought her defects
into a glaring relief that was almost unreal。 Every freckle on her
face stood out and asserted itself singly； her pale blue eyes； that
gave no indication of her force of character； were weak and
wandering； or stared blankly at the judge； her over…sized head；
broad at the base； terminating in the scantiest possible light…
colored braid in the middle of her narrow shoulders； was as hard
and uninteresting as the wooden spheres that topped the railing
against which she sat。
The jury； who for six weeks had had her described to them by the
plaintiffs as an arch； wily enchantress； who had sapped the failing
reason of Jim Byways； revolted to a man。 There was something so
appallingly gratuitous in her plainness； that it was felt that
three millions was scarcely a compensation for it。 〃Ef that money
was give to her； she earned it SURE； boys： it wasn't no softness of
the old man；〃 said the foreman。 When the jury retired； it was felt
that she had cleared her character： when they re…entered the room
with their verdict； it was known that she had been awarded three
millions damages for its defamation。
She got the money。 But those who had confidently expected to see
her squander it were disappointed： on the contrary； it was
presently whispered that she was exceedingly penurious。 That
admirable woman； Mrs。 Stiver of Red Dog； who accompanied her to San
Francisco to assist her in making purchases； was loud in her
indignation。 〃She cares more for two bits than I do for five
dollars。 She wouldn't buy anything at the 'City of Paris；' because
it was 'too expensive；' and at last rigged herself out； a perfect
guy； at some cheap slop…shops in Market Street。 And after all the
care Jane and me took of her； giving up our time and experience to
her； she never so much as made Jane a single present。〃 Popular
opinion； which regarded Mrs。 Stiver's attention as purely
speculative； was not shocked at this unprofitable denouement； but
when Peg refused to give anything to clear the mortgage off the new
Presbyterian Church； and even declined to take shares in the Union
Ditch； considered by many as an equally sacred and safe investment；
she began to lose favor。 Nevertheless； she seemed to be as
regardless of public opinion as she had been before the trial； took
a small house； in which she lived with an old woman who had once
been a fellow…servant； on apparently terms of perfect equality； and
looked after her money。 I wish I could say that she did this
discreetly； but the fact is； she blundered。 The same dogged
persistency she had displayed in claiming her rights was visible in
her unsuccessful ventures。 She sunk two hundred thousand dollars
in a worn…out shaft originally projected by the deceased testator；
she prolonged the miserable existence of 〃The Rockville Vanguard〃
long after it had ceased to interest even its enemies； she kept the
doors of the Rockville Hotel open when its custom had departed； she
lost the co…operation and favor of a fellow…capitalist through a
trifling misunderstanding in which she was derelict and impenitent；
she had three lawsuits on her hands that could have been settled
for a trifle。 I note these defects to show that she was by no
means a heroine。 I quote her affair with Jack Folinsbee to show
she was scarcely the average woman。
That handsome； graceless vagabond had struck the outskirts of Red
Dog in a cyclone of dissipation which left him a stranded but still
rather interesting wreck in a ruinous cabin not far from Peg
Moffat's virgin bower。 Pale； crippled from excesses； with a voice
quite tremulous from sympathetic emotion more or less developed by
stimulants； he lingered languidly； with much time on his hands； and
only a few neighbors。 In this fascinating kind of general
deshabille of morals； dress； and the emotions； he appeared before
Peg Moffat。 More than that； he occasionally limped with her
through the settlement。 The critical eye of Red Dog took in the
singular pair；Jack； voluble； suffering； apparently overcome by
remorse； conscience； vituperation； and disease； and Peg； open…
mouthed； high…colored； awkward； yet delighted； and the critical eye
of Red Dog； seeing this； winked meaningly at Rockville。 No one
knew what passed between them； but all observed that one summer day
Jack drove down the main street of Red Dog in an open buggy； with
the heiress of that town beside him。 Jack； albeit a trifle shaky；
held the reins with something of his old dash； and Mistress Peggy；
in an enormous bonnet with pearl…colored ribbons a shade darker
than her hair； holding in her short； pink…gloved fingers a bouquet
of yellow roses； absolutely glowed crimson in distressful
gratification over the dash…board。 So these two fared on； out of
the busy settlement； into the woods； against the rosy sunset。
Possibly it was not a pretty picture： nevertheless； as the dim
aisles of the solemn pines opened to receive them； miners leaned
upon their spades； and mechanics stopped in their toil to look
after them。 The critical eye of Red Dog； perhaps from the sun；
perhaps from the fact that it had itself once been young and
dissipated； took on a kindly moisture as it gazed。
The moon was high when they returned。 Those who had waited to
congratulate Jack on this near prospect of a favorable change in
his fortunes were chagrined to find； that； having seen the lady
safe home； he had himself departed from Red Dog。 Nothing was to be
gained from Peg； who； on the next day and ensuing days； kept the
even tenor of her way； sunk a thousand or two more in unsuccessful
speculation； and made no change in her habits of personal economy。
Weeks passed without any apparent sequel to this romantic idyl。
Nothing was known definitely until Jack； a month later； turned up
in Sacramento； with a billiard…cue in his hand； and a heart
overcharged with indignant emotion。 〃I don't mind saying to you；
gentlemen； in confidence；〃 said Jack to a circle of sympathizing
players；〃I don't mind telling you regarding this thing； that I
was as soft on that freckled…faced； red…eyed； tallow…haired gal； as
if she'd beenaaan actress。 And I don't mind saying；
gentlemen； that； as far as I understand women； she was just as soft
on me。 You kin laugh； but it's so。 One day I took her out buggy…
riding；in style； too；and out on the road I offered to do the
square thing； just as if she