the portygee-第7章
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that if Speranza； or any other condemned undesirable like him；
dared to so much as look in the direction of Jane Olivia Snow； his
daughter； he personally would see that the return for that look
was a charge of buckshot。 Speranza； white…faced and furiously
gesticulative； commanded the astonished bellboy to put that 〃Bah！
pig…idiot！〃 out into the hall and air the room immediately
afterward。
Having； as he considered； satisfactorily attended to the presumptuous
lover； Captain Zelotes returned to the school and to what he
believed would be the comparatively easy task； the bringing of his
daughter to reason。 Jane had always been an obedient girl； she was
devoted to her parents。 Of course； although she might feel rather
disappointed at first； she would soon get over it。 The idea that
she might flatly refuse to get over it； that she might have a will
of her own； and a determination equal to that of the father from
whom she inherited it； did not occur to the captain at all。
But his enlightenment was prompt and complete。 Jane did not rage
or become hysterical； she did not even weep in his presence。 But；
quietly； with a set of her square little chin； she informed Captain
Zelotes that she loved Speranza； that she meant to marry him and
that she should marry him； some day or other。 The captain raged；
commanded； pleaded； begged。 What was the matter with her？ What
had come over her？ Didn't she love her father and mother any more
that she should set out to act this way？ Yes； she declared that
she loved them as much as ever； but that she loved her lover more
than all the world； and no onenot even her parentsshould
separate them。
Captain Zelotes gave it up at last。 That is； he gave up the appeal
to reason and the pleadings。 But he did not give up the idea of
having his own way in the matter； being Zelotes Snow； he certainly
did not give that up。 Instead he took his daughter home with him
to South Harniss； where a tearful and heart…broken Olive added her
persuasions to his。 But； when she found Jane obdurate； Mrs。 Snow
might have surrendered。 Not her husband； however。 Instead he
conceived a brilliant idea。 He was about to start on a voyage to
Rio Janeiro； he would take his wife and daughter with him。 Under
their immediate observation and far removed from the influence of
〃that Portygee；〃 Jane would be in no danger and might forget。
Jane made no remonstrance。 She went to Rio and returned。 She was
always calm； outwardly pleasant and quiet； never mentioned her
lover unless in answer to a question； but she never once varied
from her determination not to give him up。 The Snows remained at
home for a month。 Then Zelotes； Jane accompanying him； sailed from
Boston to Savannah。 Olive did not go with them； she hated the sea
and by this time both she and her husband were somewhat reassured。
So far as they could learn by watchful observation of their
daughter； the latter had not communicated with Speranza nor
received communications from him。 If she had not forgotten him it
seemed likely that he had forgotten her。 The thought made the
captain furiously angry； but it comforted him； too。
During the voyage to Savannah this sense of comfort became
stronger。 Jane seemed in better spirits。 She was always obedient；
but now she began to seem almost cheerful； to speak； and even laugh
occasionally just as she used to。 Captain Zelotes patted himself
on the back； figuratively。 His scheme had been a good one。
And in Savannah； one afternoon； Jane managed to elude her father's
observation； to leave the schooner and to disappear completely。
And that night came a letter。 She and Miguel Carlos Speranza had
been in correspondence all the time； how or through whose
connivance is a mystery never disclosed。 He had come to Savannah；
in accordance with mutual arrangement； they had met； were married；
and had gone away together。
〃I love you； Father；〃 Jane wrote in the letter。 〃I love you and
Mother so very； VERY much。 Oh； PLEASE believe that！ But I love
him； too。 And I could not give him up。 You will see why when you
know him； really know him。 If it were not for you I should be SO
happy。 I know you can't forgive me now； but some day I am sure you
will forgive us both。〃
Captain Zelotes was far； far from forgiveness as he read that
letter。 His first mate； who was beside him when he opened and read
it； was actually frightened when he saw the look on the skipper's
face。 〃He went white；〃 said the mate； 〃not pale； but white； same
as a dead man； oror the underside of a flatfish； or somethin'。
'For the Lord sakes； Cap'n；' says I； 'what's the matter？' He never
answered me； stood starin' at the letter。 Then he looked up； not
at me； but as if somebody else was standin' there on t'other side
of the cabin table。 'Forgive him！' he says； kind of slow and under
his breath。 'I won't forgive his black soul in hell。' When I
heard him say it I give you my word my hair riz under my cap。 If
ever there was killin' in a man's voice and in his looks 'twas in
Cap'n Lote's that night。 When I asked him again what was the
matter he didn't answer any more than he had the first time。 A few
minutes afterwards he went into his stateroom and shut the door。 I
didn't see him again until the next mornin'。〃
Captain Zelotes made no attempt to follow the runaway couple。 He
did take pains to ascertain that they were legally married； but
that was all。 He left his schooner in charge of the mate at
Savannah and journeyed north to South Harniss and his wife。 A week
he remained at home with her； then returned to the Olive S。 and
took up his command and its duties as if nothing had happened。 But
what had happened changed his whole life。 He became more taciturn；
a trifle less charitable； a little harder and more worldly。 Before
the catastrophe he had been interested in business success and the
making of money chiefly because of his plans for his daughter's
future。 Now he worked even harder because it helped him to forget。
He became sole owner of the Olive S。； then of other schooners。
People spoke of him as one destined to become a wealthy man。
Jane lived only a few years after her marriage。 She died at the
birth of her second child； who died with her。 Her first； a boy；
was born a year after the elopement。 She wrote her mother to tell
that news and Olive answered the letter。 She begged permission of
her husband to invite Jane and the baby to visit the old home。 At
first Zelotes said no； flatly； the girl had made her bed； let her
lie in it。 But a year later he had so far relented as to give
reluctant consent for Jane and the child to come； provided her
condemned husband did not accompany them。 〃If that low…lived
Portygee sets foot on my premises； so help me God； I'll kill him！〃
declared the captain。 In his vernacular all foreigners were
〃Portygees。〃
But Jane was as proud and stubborn as he。 Where her husband was
not welcome she would not go。 And a little later she had gone on
the longest of all journeys。 Speranza did not notify her parents
except to send a clipped newspaper account of her death and burial；
which arrived a week after the latter had taken place。 The news
prostrated Olive； who was ill for a month。 Captain Zelotes bore
it； as he had borne the other great shock； with outward calm and
quiet。 Yet a year afterward he suddenly announced his determination
of giving up the sea and his prosperous and growing shipping
business and of spending the rest of his days on the Cape。
Olive was delighted； of course。 Richesthat is； more than a
comfortable competencyhad no temptations for her。 The old house；
home of three generations of Snows； was painted； repaired and； to
some extent； modernized。 For another year Captain Zelotes
〃loafed；〃 as he called it； although others might have considered
his activities about the place anything but that。 At the end of
that year he surprised every one by buying from the heirs of the
estate the business equipment of the late Eben Raymond； hardware
dealer and lumber merchant of South Harniss； said equipment
comprising an office； a store and lumber yards near the railway
station。 〃Got to
