Summaries

Synopsis

Lydia Hilton is the daughter of a widower in comfortable circumstances, whose income ceases at his death. Without any training for a business career or means of earning a livelihood, Lydia is glad to accept the offer to hire out as a general servant to a neighbor, Mrs. Anderson, a woman of shrewish temper and an overwhelming ambition for her daughter, Bella. Bernard Chetwin is a young man alone in the world, who has inherited a small legacy. Knowing the opportunities are greater in America than in England, he decides to buy a ranch in the West. He is quite ignorant of farming, so he makes a bargain with Mr. Anderson to teach him practical farming, so he will know how to run his ranch. He pays for six months in advance, expecting in that time to have required sufficient knowledge. At Anderson's Farm Bernard meets Lydia and they fall in love. Also Bella Anderson falls in love with Bernard, he being of a higher class than she has veer met before. She tries desperately to win Bernard, even going to the point of offering to let him kiss her but Bernard refuses. Mrs. Anderson is jealous of Lydia's beauty and overworks the girl terribly. Hodge a field hand, at Anderson's, also loves Lydia, but realizes that she is too far above him ever to look at him. His love is a sacred thing to which he dedicates his life. Bernard and Lydia are secretly married. He wishes to remain the six months of which he has paid Anderson, and also wishes Lydia to retain her position in the household, as neither of them have any money. Bernard steals to the girl's room secretly at night. Lydia is constantly begging him to announce their marriage, feeling that it is not right to be ashamed of what should be her greatest pride, her wife-hood and approaching motherhood. Bernard constantly urges practical financial reasons for delay. On the night that Bernard's time is up, Bella reveals her love for him. Bernard is gather shocked and as gently as possible lets the girl know that he does not care for her! On the same evening a stranger Eustace Pelham, on a walking tour through the country, stops at the farm and asks for a drink of water. He happens to meet Lydia and is much amazed to learn that she is aservant. He talks to her of the world and uses the parable of a shop window filled with toys to illustrate how we select a career. Hetells the girl that in the brilliantly lighted window we are attracted to some glittering toy, which we feel that we must own; we buy it and in our own room, away from the brilliant lights, we discover that the glittering toy is only cheap painted wood and bright gilded tin. The girl does not quite understand him, but she is strangely attracted to this fascinating man, who expresses so easily all the vague thoughts of her mind, The man passes on. Lydia begs Bernard to take her with him to America, but he assures her that the country is too wild, that he will have to camp out until a house is built and that he cannot be worried about her safety. Lydia warns him that if he leaves for America without her there can be no telling what changes the future will bring them. Bernard laughs at her. Lydia broods over the strangers casual chat. She steals out to the hay-field to bid Bernard good-bye. Hodge, who has suspected that the Bernard has wronged the girl follows and interrupts their parting, threatening to kill Bernard, Lydia intervenes and confesses the marriage. Bernard thanks Hodge for protecting Lydia and asks him to look after the girl until, she can come to America. Hodge tells him of Mrs. Anderson and he had had a quarrel and he has been discharged. Bernard offers him a position on the ranch if he will come to America. Hodge accepts. Heart-broken Lydia sobs out her grief in the hay-stack A terrible thunder-storm comes up and she remains curled up in the hay over night. In the morning, Mrs. Anderson finds that the girl's bed has not been occupied and believes that Lydia has eloped with Bernard. Bella, however, finds Lydia asleep in the hay-stack. Upon awakening her, the girl murmurs Bernard's name. Mrs. Anderson accuses the girl of an intrigue and discharges her. Lydia proudly shows her marriage certificate and leaves the farm. Bernard has left her a small sum of money and upon this the girl exists until after her baby is born. Things go very well with Bernard and when the baby is a few weeks old he sends for Lydia to rejoin him in Arizona. On the ranch are employed Black Feather an elderly lazy Indian, and his daughter, Starlight, who has fallen very much in love with Hodge. Lydia comes and Starlight and Black Feather become her devoted slaves. Starlight soon realizes Hodge's idealistic love for Lydia and knows that he will never think of her. Bernard has become so engrossed with his work that he almost neglects Lydia, not meaningfully but unconsciously. She is left alone all day with only the baby and her household duties, for Starlight, the only other woman on the ranch, is frequently at other parts of the place. Lydia broods over what she thinks is Bernard's neglect. Hodge realizes this without knowing the exact cause. When the baby is about a year old, Pelham comes to the Rockies on a shooting trip. He meets Bernard through camping at the edge of the ranch, and is invited to the house. Lydia recognizes him, though he does not remember her. Pelham's great hobbies are shooting and his violin, he being a really capable musician. Bernard has purchased a phonograph for Lydia which has been her only music until Pelham comes. Bernard is glad that Lydia has congenial companionship, and gives Pelham the freedom of the place. The inevitable result follows. She becomes much attracted to him, and he falls madly in love with her. Hodge begins to suspect this, and takes to watching Pelham. Black Feather also conceives a great dislike for the Englishman. Things go from bad to worse with Bernard who now gives nearly twenty hours a day to his ranch. He is working over time in the hope of sooner acquiring a sufficient income to enable him to enjoy life a bit. But Lydia does not understand his viewpoints. She wants to enjoy life now, while she is young. Bernard wishes to wait until the child is old enough to enjoy it with them. On a night when he discovers that the stores are very low and that he must ride into town at once for food supply. Pelham calls at the house. Lydia begs Bernard not to leave her, but he tells her that it is urgent. Pelham begs Lydia to elope with him that night. He is leaving at sunrise to return to England. Lydia promises to come to his camp before morning. Black Feather witnesses kiss between Pelham and Lydia and informs Hodge, who promptly knocks him down. The Indian persisting in his story, Hodge decides to watch. He stops Lydia as she is about to leave the house. She reminds him that he has no right to interfere in her life or try to govern her actions. Hodge tells her that his great love gives him the right to save her when in danger. He threatens to kill Pelham rather than let Lydia go with him. Pelham returns, Hodge tries to prevent the elopement and Pelham shoots him, wounding him in the shoulder. Lydia and Pelham start for the camp. Black Feather and Starlight have heard the shot and come to Hedge's aid. He sends Black Feather after Bernard, knowing that the Indian can overtake the team. Bernard returns and when he learns of Lydia's action refuses to go after her. Hodge tells Bernard how he has neglected the girl and that her conduct is only the result of his action. He warns Bernard that if he, her husband does not save her, Hodge will. Black Feather, after sending Bernard back to the ranch, goes to Pelham's camp, hoping to reach Lydia. first. Starlight has also decided to save her, simply because Hodge cares for her. Starlight. takes the baby and sets out for the camp. Bernard, however, reaches the camp before any of them. Pelham and Lydiabeing on foot. Bernard finds only Pelham's guide, who truthfully denies all knowledge of Lydia, Bernard turns back on the trail to find them. Lydia and Pelham reach camp and shortly after Black Feather comes appealing to her to return do her home, This Lydia declines to do. Starlight comes, bringing with her the baby. For the first time Lydia realizes that there is something in life bigger than her own selfish desire for pleasure. She wishes to return, but is afraid that Bernard will not overlook the fact, that she has left the house, even though she is physically innocent of wrong doing. Black Feather warns her that Bernard means to kill Pelham. Pelham bids Lydia and Starlight hide in the tent, and when Bernard appears he lies like a gentleman in the effort to save Lydia's reputation. Bernard refuses to listen to him and attempts to enter the tent. He is confronted by Starlight. Bernard immediately jumps to the conclusion that Pelham has wronged Starlight. He tells the girl he is sorry for her, but must forbid her entering his home again. Starlight meekly submits to his decree, but Lydia concealed in the tent will not have another suffer for her wrong doing. She enters from the tent and faces her husband. Bernard at first refuses to take her back, even when Pelham assures him that the woman is innocent of everything save a harmless walk from the house to his camp and the one kiss which the Indian witnessed. Hodge weak from his wound manages to reach the camp and eventually through the intercession of her united friends, Lydia is taken back to her home. Bernard changes his habit of neglect, devotes more time to his wife and child and eventually Lydia comes to realize that her love, the toy she had selected in life's shop window, has proven to be real gold.