“I have Billy’s consent,” said Philip to Elnora, “and all the other consent you have stipulated. Before you think of something more, give me your left hand, please.”
Elnora gave it gladly, and the emerald slipped on her finger. Then they went together into the forest to tell each other all about it, and talk it over.
“Have you seen Edith?” asked Philip.
“No,” answered Elnora. “But she must be here, or she may have seen me when we went to Petoskey a few days ago. Her people have a cottage over on the bluff, but the Angel never told me until to-day. I didn’t want to make that trip, but the folks were so anxious to entertain me, and it was only a few days until I intended to let you know myself where I was.”
“And I was going to wait just that long, and if I didn’t hear then I was getting ready to turn over the country. I can scarcely realize yet that Edith sent me that telegram.”
“No wonder! It’s a difficult thing to believe. I can’t express how I feel for her.”
“Let us never speak of it again,” said Philip. “I came nearer feeling sorry for her last night than I have yet. I couldn’t sleep on that boat coming over, and I couldn’t put away the thought of what sending that message cost her. I never would have believed it possible that she would do it. But it is done. We will forget it.”
“I scarcely think I shall,” said Elnora. “It is something I like to remember. How suffering must have changed her! I would give anything to bring her peace.”
“Henderson came to see me at the hospital a few days ago. He’s gone a rather wild pace, but if he had been held from youth by the love of a good woman he might have lived differently. There are things about him one cannot help admiring.”
“I think he loves her,” said Elnora softly.
“He does! He always has! He never made any secret of it. He will cut in now and do his level best, but he told me that he thought she would send him away. He understands her thoroughly.”
Edith Carr did not understand herself. She went to her room after her good-bye to Henderson, lay on her bed and tried to think why she was suffering as she was.
“It is all my selfishness, my unrestrained temper, my pride in my looks, my ambition to be first,” she said. “That is what has caused this trouble.”
Then she went deeper.
“How does it happen that I am so selfish, that I never controlled my temper, that I thought beauty and social position the vital things of life?” she muttered. “I think that goes a little past me. I think a mother who allows a child to grow up as I did, who educates it only for the frivolities of life, has a share in that child’s ending. I think my mother has some responsibility in this,” Edith Carr whispered to the night. “But she will recognize none. She would laugh at me if I tried to tell her what I have suffered and the bitter, bitter lesson I have learned. No one really cares, but Hart. I’ve sent him away, so there is no one! No one!”
Edith pressed her fingers across her burning eyes and lay still.
“He is gone!” she whispered at last. “He would go at once. He would not see me again. I should think he never would want to see me any more. But I will want to see him! My soul! I want him now! I want him every minute! He is all I have. And I’ve sent him away. Oh, these dreadful days to come, alone! I can’t bear it. Hart! Hart!” she cried aloud. “I want you! No one cares but you. No one understands but you. Oh, I want you!”
She sprang from her bed and felt her way to her desk.
“Get me some one at the Henderson cottage,” she said to Central, and waited shivering.
“They don’t answer.”
“They are there! You must get them. Turn on the buzzer.”
After a time the sleepy voice of Mrs. Henderson answered.
“Has Hart gone?” panted Edith Carr.
“No! He came in late and began to talk about starting to California. He hasn’t slept in weeks to amount to anything. I put him to bed. There is time enough to start to California when he awakens. Edith, what are you planning to do next with that boy of mine?”
“Will you tell him I want to see him before he goes?”
“Yes, but I won’t wake him.”
“I don’t want you to. Just tell him in the morning.”
“Very well.”
“You will be sure?”
“Sure!”
Hart was not gone. Edith fell asleep. She arose at noon the next day, took a cold bath, ate her breakfast, dressed carefully, and leaving word that she had gone to the forest, she walked slowly across the leaves. It was cool and quiet there, so she sat where she could see him coming, and waited. She was thinking deep and fast.
Henderson came swiftly down the path. A long sleep, food, and Edith’s message had done him good. He had dressed in new light flannels that were becoming. Edith arose and went to meet him.
“Let us walk in the forest,” she said.
They passed the old Catholic graveyard, and entered the deepest wood of the Island, where all shadows were green, all voices of humanity ceased, and there was no sound save the whispering of the trees, a few bird notes and squirrel rustle. There Edith seated herself on a mossy old log, and Henderson studied her. He could detect a change. She was still pale and her eyes tired, but the dull, strained look was gone. He wanted to hope, but he did not dare. Any other man would have forced her to speak. The mighty tenderness in Henderson’s heart shielded her in every way.
“What have you thought of that you wanted yet, Edith?” he asked lightly as he stretched himself at her feet.
“You!”
Henderson lay tense and very still.
“Well, I am here!”
“Thank Heaven for that!”
Henderson sat up suddenly, leaning toward her with questioning eyes. Not knowing what he dared say, afraid of the hope which found birth in his heart, he tried to shield her and at the same time to feel his way.
“I am more thankful than I can express that you feel so,” he said. “I would be of use, of comfort, to you if I knew how, Edith.”
“You are my only comfort,” she said. “I tried to send you away. I thought I didn’t want you. I thought I couldn’t bear the sight of you, because of what you have seen me suffer. But I went to the root of this thing last night, Hart, and with self in mind, as usual, I found that I could not live without you.”
Henderson began breathing lightly. He was afraid to speak or move.
“I faced the fact that all this is my own fault,” continued Edith, “and came through my own selfishness. Then I went farther back and realized that I am as I was reared. I don’t want to blame my parents, but I was carefully trained into what I am. If Elnora Comstock had been like me, Phil would have come back to me. I can see how selfish I seem to him, and how I appear to you, if you would admit it.”
“Edith,” said Henderson desperately, “there is no use to try to deceive you. You have known from the first that I found you wrong in this. But it’s the first time in your life I ever thought you wrong about anything—and it’s the only time I ever shall. Understand, I think you the bravest, most beautiful woman on earth, the one most worth loving.”
“I’m not to be considered in the same class with her.”
“I don’t grant that, but if I did, you, must remember how I compare with Phil. He’s my superior at every point. There’s no use in discussing that. You wanted to see me, Edith. What did you want?”
“I wanted you to not go away.”
“Not at all?”
“Not at all! Not ever! Not unless you take me with you, Hart.”
She slightly extended one hand to him. Henderson took that hand, kissing it again and again.
“Anything you want, Edith,” he said brokenly. “Just as you wish it. Do you want me to stay here, and go on as we have been?”
“Yes, only with a difference.”
“Can you tell me, Edith?”
“First, I want you to know that you are the dearest thing on earth to me, right now. I would
give up everything else, before I would you. I can’t honestly say that I love you with the love you deserve. My heart is too sore. It’s too soon to know. But I love you some way. You are necessary to me. You are my comfort, my shield. If you want me, as you know me to be, Hart, you may consider me yours. I give you my word of honour I will try to be as you would have me, just as soon as I can.”
Henderson kissed her hand passionately. “Don’t, Edith,” he begged. “Don’t say those things. I can’t bear it. I understand. Everything will come right in time. Love like mine must bring a reward. You will love me some day. I can wait. I am the most patient fellow.”
“But I must say it,” cried Edith. “I—I think, Hart, that I have been on the wrong road to find happiness. I planned to finish life as I started it with Phil; and you see how glad he was to change. He wanted the other sort of girl far more than he ever wanted me. And you, Hart, honest, now—I’ll know if you don’t tell me the truth! Would you rather have a wife as I planned to live life with Phil, or would you rather have her as Elnora Comstock intends to live with him?”
“Edith!” cried the man, “Edith!”
“Of course, you can’t say it in plain English,” said the girl. “You are far too chivalrous for that. You needn’t say anything. I am answered. If you could have your choice you wouldn’t have a society wife, either. In your heart you’d like the smaller home of comfort, the furtherance of your ambitions, the palatable meals regularly served, and little children around you. I am sick of all we have grown up to, Hart. When your hour of trouble comes, there is no comfort for you. I am tired to death. You find out what you want to do, and be, that is a man’s work in the world, and I will plan our home, with no thought save your comfort. I’ll be the other kind of a girl, as fast as I can learn. I can’t correct all my faults in one day, but I’ll change as rapidly as I can.”
“God knows, I will be different, too, Edith. You shall not be the only generous one. I will make all the rest of life worthy of you. I will change, too!”
“Don’t you dare!” said Edith Carr, taking his head between her hands and holding it against her knees, while the tears slid down her cheeks. “Don’t you dare change, you big-hearted, splendid lover! I am little and selfish. You are the very finest, just as you are!”
Henderson was not talking then, so they sat through a long silence. At last he heard Edith draw a quick breath, and lifting his head he looked where she pointed. Up a fern stalk climbed a curious looking object. They watched breathlessly. By lavender feet clung a big, pursy, lavender-splotched, yellow body. Yellow and lavender wings began to expand and take on colour. Every instant great beauty became more apparent. It was one of those double-brooded freaks, which do occur on rare occasions, or merely an Eacles Imperialis moth that in the cool damp northern forest had failed to emerge in June. Edith Carr drew back with a long, shivering breath. Henderson caught her hands and gripped them firmly. Steadily she looked the thought of her heart into his eyes.
“By all the powers, you shall not!” swore the man. “You have done enough. I will smash that thing!”
“Oh no you won’t!” cried the girl, clinging to his hands. “I am not big enough yet, Hart, but before I leave this forest I shall have grown to breadth and strength to carry that to her. She needs two of each kind. Phil only sent her one!”
“Edith I can’t bear it! That’s not demanded! Let me take it!”
“You may go with me. I know where the O’More cottage is. I have been there often.”
“I’ll say you sent it!”
“You may watch me deliver it!”
“Phil may be there by now.”
“I hope he is! I should like him to see me do one decent thing by which to remember me.”
“I tell you that is not necessary!”
“‘Not necessary!’“ cried the girl, her big eyes shining. “Not necessary? Then what on earth is the thing doing here? I just have boasted that I would change, that I would be like her, that I would grow bigger and broader. As the words are spoken God gives me the opportunity to prove whether I am sincere. This is my test, Hart! Don’t you see it? If I am big enough to carry that to her, you will believe that there is some good in me. You will not be loving me in vain. This is an especial Providence, man! Be my strength! Help me, as you always have done!”
Henderson arose and shook the leaves from his clothing. He drew Edith Carr to her feet and carefully picked the mosses from her skirts. He went to the water and moistened his handkerchief to bathe her face.
“Now a dust of powder,” he said when the tears were washed away.
From a tiny book Edith tore leaves that she passed over her face.
“All gone!” cried Henderson, critically studying her. “You look almost half as lovely as you really are!”
Edith Carr drew a wavering breath. She stretched one hand to him.
“Hold tight, Hart!” she said. “I know they handle these things, but I would quite as soon touch a snake.”
Henderson clenched his teeth and held steadily. The moth had emerged too recently to be troublesome. It climbed on her fingers quietly and obligingly clung there without moving. So hand in hand they went down the dark forest path. When they came to the avenue, the first person they met paused with an ejaculation of wonder. The next stopped also, and every one following. They could make little progress on account of marvelling, interested people. A strange excitement took possession of Edith. She began to feel proud of the moth.
“Do you know,” she said to Henderson, “this is growing easier every step. Its clinging is not disagreeable as I thought it would be. I feel as if I were saving it, protecting it. I am proud that we are taking it to be put into a collection or a book. It seems like doing a thing worth while. Oh, Hart, I wish we could work together at something for which people would care as they seem to for this. Hear what they say! See them lift their little children to look at it!”
“Edith, if you don’t stop,” said Henderson, “I will take you in my arms here on the avenue. You are adorable!”
“Don’t you dare!” laughed Edith Carr. The colour rushed to her cheeks and a new light leaped in her eyes.
“Oh, Hart!” she cried. “Let’s work! Let’s do something! That’s the way she makes people love her so. There’s the place, and thank goodness, there is a crowd.”
“You darling!” whispered Henderson as they passed up the walk. Her face was rose-flushed with excitement and her eyes shone.
“Hello, everyone!” she cried as she came on the wide veranda. “Only see what we found up in the forest! We thought you might like to have it for some of your collections.”
She held out the moth as she walked straight to Elnora, who arose to meet her, crying: “How perfectly splendid! I don’t even know how to begin to thank you.”
Elnora took the moth. Edith shook hands with all of them and asked Philip if he were improving. She said a few polite words to Freckles and the Angel, declined to remain on account of an engagement, and went away, gracefully.
“Well bully for her!” said Mrs. Comstock. “She’s a little thoroughbred after all!”
“That was a mighty big thing for her to be doing,” said Freckles in a hushed voice.
“If you knew her as well as I do,” said Philip Ammon, “you would have a better conception of what that cost.”
“It was a terror!” cried the Angel. “I never could have done it.”
“‘Never could have done it!’” echoed Freckles. “Why, Angel, dear, that is the one thing of all the world you would have done!”
“I have to take care of this,” faltered Elnora, hurrying toward the door to hide the tears which were rolling down her cheeks.
“I must help,” said Philip, disappearing also. “Elnora,” he called, catching up with her, “take me where I may cry, too. Wasn’t she great?”
“Superb!” exclaimed Elnora. “I have no words. I feel so humbled!”
“So do I,” said Philip. “I think a brave deed like that
always makes one feel so. Now are you happy?”
“Unspeakably happy!” answered Elnora.
The Harvester
This portion of the life of a man of today is offered in the hope that in cleanliness, poetic temperament, and mental force, a likeness will be seen to Henry David Thoreau.
Contents
CHAPTER 1:
Belshazzar’s Decision
CHAPTER 2:
The Effect of a Dream
CHAPTER 3:
Harvesting the Forest
CHAPTER 4:
A Commission for the South Wind
CHAPTER 5:
When the Harvester Made Good
CHAPTER 6:
To Labour and to Wait
CHAPTER 7:
The Quest of the Dream Girl
CHAPTER 8:
Belshazzar’s Record Point
CHAPTER 9:
The Harvester Goes Courting
CHAPTER 10:
The Chime of the Blue Bells
CHAPTER 11:
Demonstrated Courtship
CHAPTER 12:
“The Way of a Man with a Maid”
CHAPTER 13:
When the Dream Came True
CHAPTER 14:
Snowy Wings
CHAPTER 15:
The Harvester Interprets Life
CHAPTER 16:
Granny Moreland’s Visit
CHAPTER 17:
Love Invades Science
CHAPTER 18:
The Better Man
CHAPTER 19:
A Vertical Spine
CHAPTER 20:
The Man in the Background
CHAPTER 21:
The Coming of the Bluebird
Chapter 1
Belshazzar’s Decision
“Bel, come here!” The Harvester sat in the hollow worn in the hewed log stoop by the feet of his father and mother and his own sturdier tread, and rested his head against the casing of the cabin door when he gave the command. The tip of the dog’s nose touched the gravel between his paws as he crouched flat on earth, with beautiful eyes steadily watching the master, but he did not move a muscle.
The Best of Gene Stratton-Porter Page 60