Ever since his quarrel with Ruth about Jim Tumley Seth had been
boiling with temper. Old poisons that had spoiled his life in many
ways and that he thought he had conquered crept back to tyrannize over
him. Poor Seth had had so much discipline in his youth that the least
hint of pressure threw him into a state of vicious rebellion. Seth had
a fine mind, could think quicker and straighter to the point than a
good many Green Valley men. But when that mind was clouded with anger
and stubbornness Seth was a hopeless proposition. Ruth was his one
star and even she, Seth felt, had set herself against him.
So Seth, who seldom had frequented the hotel, was there almost every
day now when he should have been working. He even drank more than
before. Not that he cared more for it but it was his way of showing
independence.
So Seth was very ugly these days and his horses suffered as they had
never suffered before. They too were growing ugly and vicious and so
nervous that the least noise, the least stir, sent them into a
quivering frenzy of fright.
Every one in Green Valley knew this and not a few men and women were
worrying. Several men were making up their minds to speak sharply to
Seth about it. But everybody smiled and even felt relieved when they
heard that Fanny had offered her services to the Civic League in this
capacity.
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