CHAPTER XIX.—THE INDIGNATION MEETING
ANCE had been in Waterville something over a week, and his enthusiasm was noticeably subdued. One evening he discovered that a great many citizens were assembling in the Town Hall. He joined the crowd, and found it was composed of representative of nearly every family in Waterville.
The meeting was called to order with J. Arthur Boast in the chair. It was an indignation meeting. Instead of huzzaing for the Waterville Town Company, its members were being vigorously denounced. A speaker addressed the chair, and among other things said:
“Where is our sash, blind and door factory? Where is our foundry? Where is our woolen mill? Where are our canning factories? Where is our great smelting plant, and other manufacturing enterprises which have been promised us by the Waterville Town Company? When we see anything in a newspaper we have a right to believe what it says. Outside of Waterville, the newspapers claim the members of the Waterville Town Company to be a lot of restless town site boomers. I believe what I see in the papers. The dog-fennel is already growing in our streets—our town is dead; not one stranger in a week alights from the train at Waterville. We have been deceived, and it is now time for an indignant community to assert its rights, take the reins of government, so to speak, in our own hands, and give the Waterville Town Company to understand that no more bonds of any kind will be voted or subsidies given.”
A number of other speakers expressed themselves in bitter terms against the Waterville Town Company. The chairman, J. Arthur Boast, finally addressed the meeting, and with his thin, piping voice advise moderation.
He said it was true that, during his absence, prices had been unfortunately inflated, and a reaction had set in. He reminded his hearers that he was still in the real estate business, and by listing their property with him he would try to put it on his “special bargain list,” and thought possibly he could, in time, re-establish confidence and create a new era of activity in the real estate business.
Boast was very careful not to openly charge the depression in Waterville to anyone in particular, but his insinuations left no room to doubt he meant the Waterville Town Company.
It seemed to be the sense of the meeting that retrenchment was in order. One speaker advised the closing of the public school. The suggestion seemed to meet with favor. Old Dick Ballard pushed his way through the crowd, and addressing the chairman, begged the crowd to listen to reason. “You know,” he continued, “that I’m your school director in this township. The office sought me; I didn’t seek the office. Retrenchment in any other line exceptin’ the closin’ down of our public school is, perhaps, all right; but do not take a step backward. Our public school system is our pride, and should appeal to the patriotism of every one here.” In conclusion, he offered to give an entertainment with his State Militia Company for the benefit of the public school of Waterville. Hi is remarks would probably have been effective had not a fiery speaker followed him and advanced the idea that by discontinuing the public school it would be a direct rebuke to the Waterville Town Company.
“Let it be noised abroad,” said he, “that the residents of Waterville refuse to pay any school taxes, and then the Waterville town Company will begin to understand that we must be consulted, or we will thwart their schemes of booming this town. All they care for, anyway, is the money there is in selling town lots.”
The speaker then asked Dick Ballard how much money was in the teacher’s fund of the school treasury. Ballard said he did not know, but he could find out in a day or two. The speaker then addressed the chair, and said:
“I move you, sir, that it is the sense of this public demonstration that we quit paying taxes to support a public school in Waterville, and when the funds now on hand are exhausted that our school be closed.” The motion almost unanimously prevailed. There were a few feeble protests, but they were not recognized by the presiding officer.
A little later Vance felt some one plucking at his sleeve, and old Dick Ballard motioned him to follow.
“Now, sir,” said Ballard, in a deep whisper when they were alone, “there is some mighty important work to be done. Be in the parlor of my hotel in half an hour from now. Say nothin’.” At this Dick Ballard, with a mysterious look on his face, turned and hurried away.
A little later Vance walked over to the hotel and found Dick Ballard, Homer Winthrop, and Marcus Donald. They apparently were waiting for him. Ballard was very careful to lock the door securely.
He then turned and said: “Now, gentlemen, we have business of importance on hand. Yes, sir, the time has come for us to act, and act promptly. Hold on—just wait a moment until I read you a letter. This is private,” said he, tapping a letter which he unfolded with a great flourish. “This is from General Ira House, the greatest town builder in the world. Now, here’s what he says:
“‘I will settle my board bill, no, hold on; that isn’t the place. Here it is: ‘Tell the people to be patient. The darkest hour is just before the dawn. Waterville is all right.’.rdquo;
“What do you think of that, gentlemen?” said he, folding the letter and putting it into his pocket. “I tell you, General House can come as near breakin’ the shell and gettin’ at the meat of the kernel as any man I ever knew’. He’s brainy, and no mistake. Our citizens are excited,” Ballard went on, “and in their excitement they are foolish. They’re attemptin’ to bite the hand that is feedin’ us all. ‘The Town Company has made this town. I address my remarks, Mr. Gilder, to you. Modesty forbids, sir, that I should say to my friends, Mr. Donald and Mr. Winthrop, that which I unhesitatingly proclaim to an outside party. Now let me ask, Mr. Gilder, if I didn’t tell you long ago that the members of the Waterville Town Company were the brainiest men this country had ever produced?”
"I believe you made that remark,” replied Vance.
“Yes, sir, and I am proud to repeat the statement, and in the letter which I have just read to you I have the evidence, the prima facie evidence, that Watcrville is only restin’, as it were, preparatory to enterin’ the free-for-all hurdle race, and makin’ the fastest time on record. Yes, sir, her time will be a record breaker, and she will distance all would-be competitors, notwithstandin’ the slanderous and libelous articles now goin’ the rounds in the press.’
“We now,” continued Mallard, “are a ways-and-means committee. The closing of our public school would indeed be a calamity. They asked me over at the town meetin’ how much money was in the school treasury. I told them I didn’t know. I beg you gentlemen’s pardon for my reply, I do know. There is not a cent. I was forced into the awkward position of tellin’ a falsehood for the good of my adopted city, Waterville. Now, gentle men, what do you advise?”
“I think,” said Donald, “that our taxpayers proper are not objecting to the expense of our public school. The Waterville Town Company owns fully three-fourths of all the property in Waterville, and we want the school to go on. The citizens who are the loudest in denouncing the expense, and calling most vigorously for retrenchment, as a matter of fact, do not pay a penny of tax.”
“You’re right,” said Dick Ballard, glowingly, “that’s the talk! There’s argument in your remarks, Mr. Donald, and if I had them printed on dodgers I would regard it as a personal privilege to deliver copies to members of my State Militia Company, and issue a general order to have them distributed over the entire town.”
“I wish to call your attention to one thing,” continued Ballard. “No member of my State Militia Company voted to discontinue our public school; no, sir, not one.”
Winthrop was called on for remarks, and observed that the demonstration was a hasty action that would not be approved, probably, by the people themselves on mature reflection. "A few weeks ago,” he went on, “these same people were hurrahing; for the Waterville Town Company. They expect us to perform wonders in a few weeks’ time, that in reality require months, and even years. I fully believe the present depression will be followed by a healthy activity that will satisfy the most pronounced pessimist in Waterville.”
“Gentlemen.” said Dick Ballard, “there are four of us. Miss Virginia Bonifield is a most exemplary young lady, while, as a teacher, she is without a peer. I stand ready to pledge myself for one-fourth of her salary. Her salary for the entire year is $500.
“Put me down for one fourth,” said Vance.
“I will gladly pay one fourth,” said Marcus Donald, “and my check is ready at any time.”
“Count me in on the deal,” said Homer Winthrop “Just one thing, gentlemen,” said Dick Ballard, “I am pretty well acquainted with Miss Virginia Bonifield.
She posseses the spirit of independence to a very large degree. She is, indeed, the daughter of her father, Colonel Bonifield. If she knew that her salary was comin’ from a private source, why, you could not get her to touch a dollar of it, therefore I think it best to consider this compact and agreement strictly confidential.”
Dick Ballard’s views met with the approval of his associates, and then the conversation became general. Vance inquired when the Town Company would probably hold another meeting.
"Not for some time, from present indications,” replied Winthrop.
“No,” replied Marcus Donald, “I have to-day received a letter from Colonel Alexander, and he says it will be necessary, on account of pressing business in the Wharfage and Dockage Company down on the Gulf coast, to defer holding another Town Company meeting for some months. The only thing we can do,” continued Donald, “is to keep a good grip on our holdings here and wait. The dark days will roll by like so many clouds and the sun will shine again. Waterville will be in the ascendency. Strangers will be coming in, bringing money for internal improvements; this great valley will be settled up, and successful activity, in my judgment, will take the place of the present unfortunate depression.”
Vance continued his stay in Waterville several days longer than he had at intended. His frequent consultations with Horner Winthrop and Marcus Donald led him to believe they were two of the most honorable men he had ever met. Possibly they were wrong in their judgment about Waterville, but they certainly were sincere. They seemed like men who had been fighting for a goal against bitter odds. The goal was finally reached when the last obligation of the Waterville Town Company had been paid. They were left practically penniless, or at best, with very little money; yet they were content to wait until time should lift then out of the trough of the sea upon the waves of commercial activity again, which they fully believed would come.
When Vance started for Gold Bluff, he said he might see them again in a couple of weeks, and again, he might not see them for a year or longer. He was wholly undecided what to do.
Arriving at Gold Bluff in the evening, Vance made a hasty toilet and called upon the woman he secretly loved so devotedly. She welcomed him warmly. Soon after, they were seated in the little parlor where Vance had spent so many happy evenings.
The Colonel greeted him enthusiastically.
The open grate was crackling and burning cheerily with a bright wood fire, and seemed to add warmth to the welcome extended.
“Am delighted to see yo’, Mr. Gilder, I am indeed, still. We have at last reached the 400 foot level. Tempo’ary embarrassments will soon be relegated into antiquity, yes, suh; a few days longer, a few days mo’ of waitin’, suh, and the struggle for a livin’ will be oveh with. No matteh how much we may fight against it, we are bound to be wealthy. Of cou’se it’ll take a few days yet, but only a few.”
It was evident that the Colonel was greatly in earnest. It was a welcome hope to Vance. He briefly related to the Colonel and Louise concerning the depression at Waterville, but that he still had hopes that eventually—he did not pretend to say exactly when, but some time in the future—his investment in Waterville town lots would turn out all right.
“On gen’al principles,” said Colonel Bonifield, “I am not favo’able to real estate spec’lations. I presume, suh, the reason is I know so vehy little about them, but when it comes to a mine, suh,’.pecially like Gray Rocks, I inva’ably know, suh, what I am talkin’ about. Louise,” said the Colonel, looking at his daughter, “let us have some music. I see Mr. Gilder is vehy tired, and we will talk no mo’ business this evenin’.”
Louise opened the piano and sang for them. There was a plaintive sweetness in the girl’s voice that made Vance’s heart pulse with delicious contentment. Hope played back and forth among the chords as the music swelled and surged in sweet, symphonious strains. While she was singing, he felt how easy it would be to declare his love, but when she had ceased, and the last vibrations of music had died away, he knew he lacked the courage.
Vance would be called a brave man in the daily walks of life, and yet, as Louise’s lover, he was the most arrant of cowards.