A Romance of Billy Goat Hill

Summary

In an era of rigid social decorum, the Colonel's daughter, Myrtle, known affectionately as "Miss Lady" by the household staff, finds herself entangled in a web of emotional precarity. Her suitor, Don Morley, carries the shadow of a 'gay life' passion, a predilection Myrtle cannot abide, despite his earnest vows of reformation. A twist of fate, orchestrated by the carelessness of Chick's foster-father, brings Myrtle into contact with Chick, a poignant, silent boy whose muteness belies an acute observational faculty. The narrative thickens when a storm forces Don and the unscrupulous Lee Dillingham into a saloon, leading to a violent altercation where Lee wounds the proprietor, Sheely. Chick, a hidden witness, becomes the silent repository of this dark secret. Lee cunningly manipulates the truth, implicating Don, who, honor-bound by a promise to Lee, absconds to the Orient, leaving Myrtle under the stricture of her father's disapproval. A tragic train derailment, another consequence of Chick's foster-father's negligence, claims the Colonel's life and injures Professor Querrington. Myrtle, now financially vulnerable, marries the convalescing Professor, only to find herself neglected as he retreats into his academic pursuits. Lee's malevolent deception continues to poison Don's hopes, falsely informing him of Myrtle's marriage, prompting his prolonged exile. It is Don's friend, upon returning home, who unearths Lee's treachery, igniting a desperate plea for Don's return. The Professor's subsequent financial ruin and death, precipitated by Don's unwitting advice (itself based on a false premise), leaves Myrtle widowed and destitute, clinging to the solace of Chick's companionship. A successful operation restores Chick's voice, just as Don faces trial for Sheely's shooting. Overhearing Myrtle's despair, Chick, now able to articulate, reveals Lee as the true culprit, leading to Don's swift exoneration and, finally, the long-delayed union of Don and Myrtle, their romance salvaged from the brink of perpetual misunderstanding and malevolent design.

Synopsis

"Miss Lady," as the Black servants call the Colonel's daughter, has an admirer in the person of Don Morley whom she does not care for on account of his passion for gay life. However, he promises to reform if Myrtle (Miss Lady) will marry him. As they are out for a canter one day, an accident caused by Chick's foster-father's carelessness, is just averted, and in this way Miss Lady makes the acquaintance of Chick, a little mute chap. A storm one day causes Don and Lee Dillingham to seek shelter in a saloon conducted by Sheely. Sheely and Lee fight and Lee shoots, wounding Sheely, but not seriously. Lee gets Don to promise that he will say nothing about it. All of this has been observed by Chick, hidden in an old barrel. Don, according to the agreement leaves town, and Lee so warps the story that suspicion is fastened upon Don. The Colonel forbids his daughter to receive any word from Don until his name is cleared. Don has left for the West and accompanied by a friend makes a trip to the Orient, where he anxiously awaits a letter from Miss Lady in response to the one he sent her. Through Chick's foster-father's carelessness, a train is derailed; the Colonel is killed and his friend Professor Querrington is injured; he is taken to the Colonel's home, where Miss Lady nurses him back to health. He falls in love with her; later, financially embarrassed and not knowing where Don is, she consents to assume the responsibilities of the Professor's household. But the Professor resumes his writing and Miss Lady is quite neglected. As Don with his friend are ready to return home, he receives a letter from Lee telling him of the marriage of Miss Lady. He is grief-stricken and decides to remain in the Orient while his friend returns home. His friend calls upon the Professor and it is then that Miss Lady learns that Lee has tricked her lover. Don's friend wires him to return home. Christmas Eve the Sequins are giving a party but so engrossed is the professor in his work that he sends Miss Lady alone. She will not dance, as her husband does not approve of the pastime. Don, who has returned, goes to the affair, meets Miss Lady and when she tells him that she did not receive his letter, he leaves her. Sequin advises Don to sell a certain bank stock. He does and a few days later the bank fails. This causes the loss of the professor's entire fortune and eventually his death. Then Miss Lady returns to her own home and takes with her Chick to whom she has become attached. Finally she decides to have him operated upon in the hope of restoring his speech. The operation is successful. Don has been brought to trial for the injury of Sheely and things look bad for him. Chick hears Miss Lady weeping over the fate of Don, and then he tells her that it was the dark-haired man, Lee, who did the shooting. They waste no time in running to Don's aid. and he is soon vindicated. Later Don and Miss Lady are married.