“Just what it war, younker,” replied Cale; “an’ it’s a feelin’ better some, already.”
Thad moved back. He seemed to know that Jim was just itching to have a few words with his father-in-law; and that the opportunity seemed ripe. Besides, Thad was more or less curious to know just what that clinching argument might be, which Jim meant to advance, and which he seemed so positive would bring the determined old man around.
When Jim took his place, Cale gave him one look, and then turned his head away. “I wisht yew wudn’t feel like yew does agin me, Dad Martin,” Jim started to say.
“Stop right thar!” burst out the other, as his old temper began to sway him again. “I don’t want anything ter do wid yer, Jim Hasty. Time was when I vowed ter pin yer ears ter a tree, if ever ye showed up hyar agin; an’ I meant it, I shore did. Then sumhow, thinkin’ o’ that leetle gal, an’ how she sot sum store by ye, kinder flabbergasted me, an’ I dassent stay around whar ye was, lest I do all I’d threatened, an’ it’d break her heart. So I kim hyar ter my lonely home, thet ain’t hed a single ray o’ sunshine in it sense ye stole her away. But I don’t forgit it, Jim Hasty, an’ I ain’t never agoin’ ter forgive ye, er make up. So don’t waste yer breath atryin’.”
But when Thad saw the grin on Jim’s face he knew the guide felt encouraged. His reception had been far less stormy than he had had reason to expect from all he knew of the violent temper of his respected father-in-law. And knowing that Jim was getting ready to spring his surprise, Thad almost held his breath while listening and watching.
“I tole yeou I kim here ’cause she sent me,” Jim went on, in a pleading tone. “It grieved her gentle heart all this while ’cause she cudn’t see yeou, Dad Martin. She sez as haow it’s jest gut tew stop! She wants yeou, and wants yeou bad. An’ so be they’s another as ort tew see yeou. Here’s ther message Little Lina sends tew yeou by me, her husband. Sez she, ’take this tew him, an’ when he sees the face o’ my baby and knows thet we calls him Leetle Caleb, p’raps then he’ll forgive yeou, Jim, fur takin’ me away; an’ come back tew us all. Tell him we want him the wust kind, Leetle Caleb an’ Lina!’”
He had thrust something into the hand of the old poacher as he spoke. Thad felt almost like giving vent into his overwrought feelings in a yell. Why, all the excitement attending the race with the forest fire had not been a circumstance to the thrill that swept over him when he saw that hard-hearted old man staring at the pictured faces of mother and child on that bit of cardboard, and then, filled with a return of the old love, pressing it wildly to his bearded lips.
And Thad knew, just as Jim had said, that the message which Lina had sent in the form of her baby’s picture, had broken down the barrier of the old man’s pride and obstinacy; for in another moment he was squeezing Jim’s hand convulsively.