Join Host Bree Carlile as she reads the twenty-second chapter of Jo's Boys.

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Today we'll be concluding Joe's boys.

My Louisa May Alcott.

Chapter 22 positively Last Appearance Upon my word, I feel as if I lived in a powder magazine and don't know which barrel will explode next.

And send me flying, said Mrs.

Jo to herself next day as she trudged up to parnassus to suggest to her sister that perhaps the most charming of the young nurses had better return to her marble gods before she unconsciously added another wound to those already won by the human hero.

She told no secrets, but a hint was sufficient, for Mrs.

Amy guarded her daughter as a pearl of great price, and at once devised a very simple means of escape from danger.

Mr.

Lori was going to Washington on Dan's behalf and was delighted to take his family with him when the idea was carelessly suggested.

So the conspiracy succeeded finally, and Mrs.

Jo went home feeling more like a traitor than ever.

She expected an explosion, but Dan took the news so quietly, it was plain that he cherished no hope.

Mrs.

Amy was sure her romantic sister had been mistaken.

If she had seen Dan's face when Bess went to say goodbye, her maternal eye would have discovered far more than the unconscious girl did.

Mrs.

Joe trembled, lest he should betray himself, but he had learned self control in a stern school and would have got through the hard moment bravely.

Only when he took both hands, saying, heartily goodbye, Princess, if we don't meet again, remember your old friend Dan.

Sometimes she touched by his late danger and the wistful look he wore answered with unusual warmth how can I help it when you make us all so proud of you?

God bless your mission and bring you safely home to us again.

As she looked up at him with a face full of frank affection and sweet regret.

All that he was losing rose so vividly before him that Dan could not resist the impulse to take the dear goldie head between his hands and kiss it with a broken goodbye, then hurried back to his room, feeling as if it were the prison cell again, with no glimpse of heaven's blue to comfort him.

This abrupt caress and departure rather startled Bass, for she felt with a girl's quick instinct that there was something in that kiss unknown before, and looked after him with sudden color in her cheeks and new trouble in her eyes.

Mrs.

Jo saw it, and fearing a very natural question, answered it before it was put forgive him bess.

He has had a great trouble, and it makes him tender at parting with old friends.

For you know he may never come back from the wild world he's going to.

You mean the fall in danger of death?

Asked Bess.

Innocently.

No, dear, a greater trouble than that.

But I cannot tell you more except that he has come through it bravely so you may trust and respect him as I do.

He has lost someone he loved.

Poor Dan.

We must be very kind to him.

Beth did not ask the question.

Beth seemed content with her solution of the mystery, which was so true that Mrs.

Jo confirmed it by a nod and let her go away, believing that some tender loss and sorrow wrought the great change all saw in Dan made him so slow to speak concerning the past year.

But Ted was less easily satisfied, and this unusual reticence goaded him to desperation.

His mother had warned him not to trouble Dan with questions till he was quite well, but this prospect of approaching departure made him resolve to have a full, clear and satisfactory account of the adventures which he felt sure must have been thrilling.

From stray words, Dan let fallen his fever.

So one day, when the coast was clear, master Ted volunteered to amuse the invalid and did so in the following manner look here, old boy.

If you don't want me to read, you've got to talk and tell me all about Kansas and the farms and that part the Montana business, I know, but you seem to forget what went before.

Brace up and let's have it.

He began with an abruptness which roused Dan from a brown study most effectually.

No, I don't forget.

It isn't interesting to anyone but myself.

I didn't see any farms.

Gave it up, he said slowly.

Why, other things to do what?

Well, brushmaking, for one thing.

Don't chaff a fellow tell.

True.

I truly did.

What for?

To keep out of mischief as much as anything.

Well, of all the queer things, and you've done a lot that's the queerest, cried Ted, taken aback at this disappointing discovery, but he didn't mean to give up yet and began again.

What?

Mischief, Dan?

Never you mind.

Boys shouldn't bother.

But I do want to know awfully, because I'm your pal and care for you no end.

Always did.

Come now, tell me a good yarn.

I love scrapes.

I'll be mum as an oyster if you don't want it known.

Will you?

And Dan looked at him, wondering how the boyish face would change if the truth were suddenly told him.

I'll swear it on the locked fists, if you like.

I know it was jolly, and I'm aching to hear.

You're as curious as a girl more than some.

Josie and Bess never asked a question.

They don't care about Rose and things.

They liked the mine business heroes and that sort.

So do I, and I'm as proud as punch over it.

But I see by your eyes that there was something else before that.

And I'm bound to find out who Blair and Mason are and who was hit and who ran away and all the rest of it.

What?

Cried Dan in a tone that made Ted jump.

Well, you used to mutter about him in your sleep, and Uncle Lori wondered.

So did I.

But don't mind if you can't remember, or would rather not.

What else did I say?

Clear what stuff a man will talk when his wits are gone.

That's all I heard, but it seemed interesting, and I just mentioned it, thinking it might refresh your memory a bit, said Teddy very politely, for Dan's frown was heavy at that moment.

It cleared off at this reply, and after a look at the boy squirming with suppressed impatience in his chair, dan made up his mind to amuse him with a game of cross purposes and half truths, hoping to quench his curiosity and so get peace.

Let me see.

Blair was a lad I met in the cars, and Mason, a poor fellow who was in a well, a sort of hospital where I happened to be.

Blair ran off to his brothers, and I suppose I might say Mason was hit because he died there.

Does that suit you?

No, it doesn't.

Why did Blair run?

And who hit the other fellow?

I'm sure there was a fight somewhere, wasn't there?

Yes, I guess I know what it was about.

The devil you do.

Let's hear you guess.

Must be amusing, said Dan, affecting an ease.

He did not feel charmed to be allowed to free his mind.

Ted at once unfolded the boyish solution of the mystery which he had been cherishing, for he felt that there was one somewhere.

You needn't say yes, if I guess right, and you're under oath to keep silent.

I shall know by your face and never tell.

Now see if I'm not right out there.

They have wild doings, and it's my belief that you were in some of them.

I don't mean robbing males and clue kluxing and that sort of thing, but defending the settlers, or hanging some scamp or even shooting a few as a fellow must sometimes in self defense.

AHA, I've hit it, I see.

Neat and speak.

I know the flash of your old eye and the clench of your big fist.

And Ted Pranced with satisfaction.

Drive on, smart boy, and don't lose the trail, said Dan, finding a curious sense of comfort in some of these random words and longing, but not daring to confirm the true ones.

He might have confessed the crime, but not the punishment that followed.

A sense of its disgrace was still so strong upon him, I knew I should get it.

Can't deceive me long, began Ted with such an air of pride, Dan could not help a short laugh.

It's a relief, isn't it, to have it off your mind?

Now just confide in me and it's all safe.

Unless you've sworn not to tell.

I have.

Oh, well, then, don't.

And Ted's face fell, but he was himself again in a moment and said with the air of a man of the world, it's all right.

I understand.

Honor binds silence to death, etc.

Glad you stood by your mate in the hospital.

How many did you kill?

Only one.

Bad lot, of course.

A damned rascal.

Well, don't look so fierce.

I've no objection.

Wouldn't mind popping at some of those bloodthirsty black guards myself.

Had to dodge and keep quiet after it, I suppose.

Pretty quiet for a long spell.

Got off alright in the end and headed for your minds and did that jolly brave thing.

Now I call that decidedly interesting and capital.

I'm glad to know it, but I won't blab mind you don't.

Look here, Ted.

If you'd killed a man, would it trouble you?

A bad one, I mean.

The lad opened his mouth to say not a bit, but checked that answer as if something in Dan's face made him change his mind.

Well, if it was my duty in war or self defense, I suppose I shouldn't.

But if I'd pitched into him in a rage, I guess I should be very sorry.

Shouldn't wonder if he sort of haunted me and remorse nod at me as it did Aram and those fellows.

You don't mind, do you?

It was a fair fight, wasn't it?

Yes, I was in the right, but I wish I'd been out of it.

Women don't see it that way and look horrified at such things.

Makes it hard.

But it don't matter.

Don't tell them, then.

They can't worry, said Ted with a nod of one versed in the management of the sex.

Don't intend to, mind you keep your notions to yourself, for some of them are wide of the mark.

Now you may read if you like.

And there the talk ended.

But Ted took great comfort in it and looked as wise as an owl afterwards.

A few quiet weeks followed, during which Dan chafed at the delay, and when at length word came that his credentials were ready.

He was eager to be off, to forget a vain love and hard work and live for others, since he might not for himself.

So one wild March morning, our Sindrim rode away with horse and hound to face again the enemies who would have conquered him but for heaven's help and human pity.

Ah, me.

It does seem as if life was made of partings.

And they get harder as we go on, sighed Mrs.

Jo a week later, as she sat in the long parlor at Parnassus one evening, whithered the family had gone to welcome the travelers back and meetings too dear, for here we are, and Nat is on his way at last.

Look for the silver lining, as Marmi used to say, and be comforted, answered Mrs.

Amy, glad to be at home and find no wolves prowling near her sheepfold.

I've been so worried lately, I can't help croaking.

I wonder what Dan thought, it not seeing you again.

It was wise, but he would have enjoyed another look at home faces before he went into the wilderness, said Mrs.

Joe, regretfully much better.

So we left notes in all we could think of that he might need, and slipped away before he came.

Thus really seemed relieved.

I'm sure I was, and Mrs.

Amy smoothed anxious line out of her white forehead as she smiled at her daughter, laughing happily among her cousins.

Mrs.

Jo shook her head as if the silver lining of that cloud was hard to find.

But she had no time to croak again, for just then Mr.

Lori came in, looking well pleased at something.

A new picture has arrived.

Face towards the music room, good people, and tell me how you like it.

I call it Only a Fiddler after Anderson's story.

What name will you give it?

As he spoke, he threw open the wide doors, and just beyond they saw a young man standing with a beaming face and a violin in his hand.

There was no doubt about the name to this picture, and with the cry Nat.

Nat.

There was a general uprising, but Daisy reached him first and seemed to have lost her usual composure somewhere on the way, for she clung to him, sobbing with the shock of a surprise.

Enjoy.

Too great for her to bear.

Quietly everything was settled by that tearful and tender embrace, for though Mrs.

Meg speedily detached her daughter, it was only to take her place, while Demi shook Nat's hand with brotherly warmth.

And Josie danced round him like Macbeth's, three witches in one, chanting in her most tragic tones, chirper, thou wast second violin.

Thou art first, thou shalt be hail.

All hail.

This caused a laugh and made things gay and comfortable at once.

Then the usual fire of questions and answers began to be kept up briskly.

While the boys admired Nat's blonde beard and foreign clothes, the girls his improved appearance, for he was ruddy with good English beef and beer, and fresh with the sea breezes which had blown him swiftly home.

And the older folk rejoiced over his prospects.

Of course, all wanted to hear him play and when tongues tired, he gladly did his best for them, surprising the most critical by his progress in music, even more than by the energy and self possession which made a new man of bashful nat.

By and by, when the violin, that most human of all instruments, had sung to them the loveliest songs without words, he said, looking about him at these old friends, with what Mr.

Bear called a feeling full expression of happiness and content.

Now let me play something that you will all remember, though you won't love it as I do, and standing in the attitude which old Bull has immortalized, he played the street melody he gave them the first night he came to Plumfield.

They remembered it and joined in the plaintiff chorus, which fitly expressed his own emotions.

Oh, my heart is sad and weary everywhere I roam longing for the old plantation and for the old folks at home.

Now I feel better, said Mrs.

Jo, as they all trooped down the hill soon after.

Some of our boys are failures, but I think this one is going to be a success and patient Daisy, a happy girl at last.

Nat is your work, fritz and I congratulate you heartily.

But we can sow the seed and trust that it falls on good ground I planted.

Perhaps you watched that the fowls of the air did not devour it, and Brother Lori watered generously, so we will share the harvest among us and be glad even for a small one heart's desire.

I thought the seed had fallen on very stony ground with my poor Dan.

But I shall not be surprised if he surpasses all the rest in the real success of life, since there's more rejoicing over one repentant sinner than many saints, answered Mrs Jo, still clinging fast to her black sheep, although a whole flock of white ones trotted happily before her.

It is a strong temptation to the weary historian to close the present tale with an earthquake which should engulf Plumfield and its environment so deeply in the boughs of the earth that no youthful Schleeman could ever find a vestige of it.

But as that somewhat melodramatic conclusion might shock my gentle readers, I will refrain and forestall the usual question how did they end?

By briefly stating that all the marriages turned out well.

The boys prospered in their various callings.

So did the girls, for Bess and Josie won honors in their artistic careers and in the course of time found worthy mates.

NAN remained a busy, cheerful, independent spinster and dedicated her life to her suffering sisters and their children, in which true woman's work she found abiding happiness.

Dan.

Never married, but lived bravely and youthfully among his chosen people till he was shot defending them and at last lay quietly asleep in the green wilderness he loved so well with a lock of golden hair upon his breast and a smile on his face which seemed to say that aslaga's Knight had fought his last fight and was at peace, stuffy became an alderman and died suddenly of apoplexy after a public dinner.

Dolly was a society man of Mark till he lost his money when he found congenial employment in a fashionable tailoring establishment.

Demi became a partner and lived to see his name above the door.

And Rob was a professor at Lawrence College.

But Teddy eclipsed them all by becoming an eloquent and famous clergyman to the great delight of his astonished mother.

And now, having endeavored to suit everyone by many weddings, few deaths, and as much prosperity as the eternal fitness of things will permit, let the music stop, the lights die out, and the curtain fall forever on the March family.

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