In Apple-Blossom Time: A Fairy-Tale to Date

by Clara Louise Burnham

  CHAPTER IV

  The Good Fairy

  So again Mrs. Whipp saw her friend and employer descend from the Barrycar.

  She didn't open the door for her this time, but sat, rocking, in theshop with Pearl in her lap, and sniffed at her as she entered.

  "You and your fine friends," she scoffed. "Pretty soon you won't demeanyourself to use the trolley at all."

  "If you had only been willing to come to church, Charlotte, they'd havebrought you home, too," said Miss Mehitable, hoping she was telling thetruth.

  "'The Sabbath was made for man,'" snapped Mrs. Whipp, "not man for theSabbath, to go and hear that man talk through his nose!"

  "Now, Charlotte, I refused to go home to dinner with them just so's youand I could have our meal together; so don't you make me sorry."

  Mrs. Whipp had started up at once alertly on her friend's entrance,spilling Pearl, and was already removing Miss Mehitable's jacket and hatwith deft fingers and receiving the silk gloves she pulled off.

  "H'm, I don't believe they'll eat any better things than we're goin' tohave. How can I go to church and have us a good hot dinner?"

  "Sunday dinner should be cold mainly," returned Miss Upton calmly. "Minealways was till you came. Of course you're such a splendid cook,Charlotte, it's kind of a temptation to you to spoil me and feed me up,yet you know I ought not to eat much."

  "Oh, pshaw," returned Mrs. Whipp. "More folks die from the lack o' goodthings than from eatin' 'em."

  "You'll have to look out," said Miss Mehitable warningly, following herfriend's lead to the sunny living-room where the table was spread. "It'sa sayin' that good cooks are always cross. The better you cook the moreyou must watch to have your temper as sweet as your sauces."

  "Ho! Vinegar's just as important as oil," retorted the other. "You're sosmooth to everybody it's a good thing I came to live with you and keepyou from bein' imposed upon."

  Miss Mehitable laughed. "You think together we make a pretty good salad,do you?" she returned.

  When dinner was on the table and they were both seated, Miss Upton spokeagain:

  "I wonder how you're goin' to like it to the port?" she said.

  "Awful rheumatic, I sh'd think 'twould be," returned Mrs. Whipp.

  "Pretty soon we'll have to be goin'," said Miss Upton. "I usually lockeverything up here tight as a drum for three months. I was talkin' to aman in town yesterday that thought it was a joke that folks in Keefejust went a few miles to their seashore cottages. He was from Chicagowhere you have to go a thousand miles to get anywhere. I told him Icouldn't see anything funny about it. Keefe was a village and Keefeportwas a resort; but he kept on laughin' and said it was like lockin' thedoor of one home and goin' across the street to another, then back againin the fall. I told him I was full as satisfied as I would be to haveto make my way through Indians and buffaloes to get anywhere as you haveto in those wild Western cities. He claimed that it was perfectlycivilized around Chicago now; but of course he'd say that."

  "H'm," returned Mrs. Whipp, non-committally.

  "Now I was thinkin', Charlotte, that there ain't a reason in the worldwhy you should go to the port if you don't want to. You can stay righthere and look after the house. I shall move the shop goods just as Ialways do to my little port place."

  "You don't get along there alone, do you?" asked Charlotte hastily.

  "No; one o' the schoolgirls is always glad to live with me in vacationand work for her board. I had Nellie McIntyre last summer."

  "Oh, of course, if you'd rather have Nellie."

  "I wouldn't," said Miss Upton calmly; "but she don't have rheumatism normind the dampness. She thinks it's a great chance to be to the shore andswim every day, and she's happy as a bird from mornin' till night. Ifshe ain't to go this year, I must let the child know, for I expectshe's lottin' on it."

  The silence that followed this was broken only by the purring of Pearlwho had established herself upon a broad beam of sunshine which layacross the ingrain carpet. Miss Mehitable was recklessly extravagant ofcarpets in Mrs. Whipp's opinion. She would not allow the shutting-out ofthe sunlight.

  Miss Upton drank her tea busily now to conceal her desire to smile. Someof Ben Barry's comments upon her companion returned to her irresistibly;for she easily followed Charlotte's present mental processes.

  Mrs. Whipp was in a most uncomfortable corner and her friend had drivenher into it with such bland kindness that it made the situation doublydifficult. There was nothing Charlotte could resent in being offered asummer of ease in the Keefe cottage; but to be confronted with thealternatives of renouncing all right to complain of fog and storm, orelse to part from Miss Mehitable and allow her to run her own life andnotions for the whole summer, was a dilemma which drove her also todrinking a great deal of tea, and leaving the floor to Pearl for someminutes.

  Miss Upton did not help her out, but, regaining control of her risibles,continued to eat and drink placidly, allowing her companion tocerebrate.

  Well she knew that now was the time to defend herself from a summer ofgrumbling as continuous as the swish of waves on the shore; and well sheknew also her companion's verbally unexpressed but intense devotion toherself which made any prospect of their separation a panic. So shewaited and Pearl purred.

  One Mr. Lugubrious Blue flits through the drawings of a certain famouscartoonist. Mr. Blue's mission is to take the joy out of life andCharlotte Whipp was his blood kin. The tip of her long nose was aschilly as his and her gloom was similarly chronic. Miss Upton wasdetermined that she would not be the first to break in upon Pearl'ssolo.

  Finally Charlotte spoke:

  "Do the Barrys have a house to the port?"

  "Yes, a real cottage. The rest of us have shelters, but you can't call'em houses."

  Mrs. Whipp looked up apprehensively. "Do you mean they let in the rain?"

  "Sometimes in storms," returned Miss Upton cheerfully, "but we runaround with pans and catch it."

  Mrs. Whipp viewed her bread and butter gloomily, the down-drawn cornerof her one-sided mouth unusually depressed.

  Miss Mehitable felt a wild desire to laugh. She wished she could keepBen Barry out of her mind during this important interview. Her kindheart administered a little comfort.

  "You see, there isn't any lath and plaster to the cottage, but it's goodand tight except in very bad weather," she said.

  "It's a wonder you don't get rheumatics yourself," vouchsafed Charlotte.

  "Nobody thinks of such a thing in that beautiful sun-soaked place,"returned Miss Upton.

  "Sun-stroke did you say?" asked Mrs. Whipp, looking up quickly.

  "No." Miss Mehitable indulged in one frank laugh. "Sun-soaked."

  "Sounds more like water-logged to me from your description," said theother sourly, returning to her dinner. "I don't see why you go there."

  "For two reasons. First, because I love it better than any place onearth, and second, because it's good business. I do a better businessthere than I do here. You think it over, Charlotte, because I ought tolet Nellie know."

  "Well, you can let Nellie know that I'm goin'," replied Mrs. Whippcrossly. "What sense is there in your takin' a girl to the port to go inswimmin' while you work?"

  "Nellie was a very good little helper," declared Miss Mehitable, againtaking refuge in her teacup. When she set it down she continued: "If youthink, Charlotte, that you can make up your mind to take the bitter withthe sweet, the rain and the sun, the fog and the wind, why, come along;but it don't do a bit o' good to argue with Neptune. He'll stick hisfork right through you if you do."

  Mrs. Whipp stared, but Miss Upton's eyes were twinkling so she suspectedthis was just one of her jokes.

  "I never was one to shirk," she declared curtly.

  "Then I can tell Nellie you want to go?"

  That word "want" made Charlotte writhe and was probably accountable forthe extra acidity of her reply:

  "Yes, unless you're tongue-tied," she returned.

  When dinner was over and
the dishes washed and put away (Miss Upton'sSunday suit being enveloped in a huge gingham apron during theperformance), Miss Mehitable watched solicitously to see if Charlottemanifested any symptoms of going out for a constitutional. She askedherself, with a good deal of severity, why she should dread to informMrs. Whipp of her own plan for the afternoon.

  "I guess I'm free, white, and twenty-one," thought Miss Upton. But allthe same she continued to cast furtive glances at Mrs. Whipp, who showedevery sign of relapsing into a rocking-chair with Pearl in her lap.

  "It's a real pleasant day, Charlotte," she said. "Ain't you goin' towalk?"

  Mrs. Whipp yawned. "Dunno as I am."

  "I've got to go out again," pursued Miss Mehitable intrepidly, but shefelt the dull gaze that at once turned and fixed upon her. "I've got tosee Ben Barry about some business that came up in the city yesterday."

  "I knew you had something on your mind last night," returned Mrs. Whipp,triumphantly. "I notice you wouldn't tell _me_."

  "You ain't a lawyer, Charlotte Whipp."

  "Neither is that young whipper-snapper," rejoined the widow, "but thenof course he's a Barry."

  "You do try my patience dreadfully, Charlotte," declared Miss Mehitable,her plump cheeks scarlet. "If you didn't know when you came here thatMrs. Barry is one o' the best friends I've got in the world, I'll tellyou so now. You needn't be throwin' 'em up to me just because they'vegot money. I'm goin' there whenever they ask me, and this afternoon'sone o' the times."

  She felt like a child who works its elbows to throw off some hamperingannoyance. How her companion managed to hold her under the spell ofdomination which seemed merely a heavy weight of silent disapproval, shedid not understand. It always meant jealousy, Miss Mehitable knew that,and usually her peace-loving, sunny nature pacified and coaxed theoffended one, but occasionally she stood her ground. She knew thatpresently the Barry car would again draw up before her gate and she feltshe must forestall Charlotte's sneers.

  "How soon you goin'?" inquired the latter mildly.

  "At three o'clock," returned Miss Upton bravely.

  "Let me fix your collar," said Charlotte, rising; "your apron rumpled itall up."

  "Why can't I remember to bully her oftener?" thought Miss Mehitable. "Italways does her good just like medicine."

  Promptly at three Ben Barry jumped out of his car before Miss Upton'sEmporium, and Mrs. Whipp dodged behind the window-curtain and watchedthem drive away.

  "I saw that cute Lottie looking after us," said Ben.

  "Poor thing, I kind o' hate to leave her on a Sunday," said Miss Upton,sighing.

  "'The better the day, the better the deed,'" remarked her companion."You've got me all het up about you and your umbrella. What's my part?To keep you out of the lock-up? Whom did you 'sault 'n' batter? Whenare you going to tell me?"

  "You see that's one thing that's the matter with Charlotte," said MissMehitable. "She does hate to think I'm keepin' anything from her and shefelt it in the air."

  "Do you believe she'll visit you in prison? I'll address the jurymyself. I maintain that one punishment's enough. You at least deserve aholiday. Say, Mehit, me dear, I've a big surprise for you, too. You knowI told you I warned mother to have no guests this afternoon."

  "Yes, you said you wanted to write poetry--Ben"--the speaker suddenlygrasped the driver's coat-sleeve--"I never thought of it till thisminute, but, Ben Barry"--Miss Upton's voice expressed acute dismay--"areyou in love?"

  "Why, does it mean so much to you, little one?" responded Bensentimentally.

  "You wouldn't take near as much interest, not near as much if you've gota girl on your mind."

  "One? Dozens, Mehit. I'm only human, dear."

  "If it's dozens, it's all right," returned Miss Upton, relieved."There's always room for one more in that case, but what is yoursurprise, then, Ben?"

  "I didn't want to be alone to write poetry. I wanted to gloat,undisturbed. My dandy mother is giving me something I've been aching tohave."

  Miss Upton's face brightened. "Yes, I know. Something's being built wayback o' your house. Folks are wonderin' what it is. It looks like somequeer kind of a stable. What in the world can you want, Ben! You've gotthe cars and a motor-cycle, and a saddle-horse."

  "Well"--confidentially--"don't tell, Mehit, but I wanted a zebra. Horsesare too commonplace."

  "But they can't be tamed, zebras can't," returned Miss Upton, muchdisturbed. "I've read about 'em. You'll be killed. I shall--"

  "I _must_ have a zebra and a striped riding-suit to be happy. Whileyou're wearing the stripes in jail I'll come and ride up and downoutside your barred window and cheer you up."

  "I don't believe it's a zebra," declared Miss Mehitable; "but if it is Ishall tell your mother you cannot have it, Ben Barry."

  "And yet you expect me to sympathize with your umbrella--"

  "Oh, how beautiful!" exclaimed Miss Upton suddenly; for now the tinted,pearly pink cloud of the Barrys' apple-orchard came in view.

  The house was a brick structure with broad verandas, set back amongwell-kept lawns and drives, and its fine elm trees were noted. Mrs.Barry was reclining in a hammock-chair under one of them as the cardrove in, and she rose and came to meet the guest. Miss Mehitablethought she looked like a queen as her erect, graceful figure movedacross the lawn in the long silken cape that floated back and showed itsviolet lining.

  "It's perfectly beautiful here to-day," she said as the hostess greetedher; "but, oh, Mrs. Barry, I suppose I'm a fool to ever believeBen"--the speaker cast a glance around at her escort--"but you won't lethim have a zebra, will you? They're the most dangerous animals. He saysyou're goin' to give him--"

  "My dear Miss Upton," Mrs. Barry laughed, "I do need a scolding, I know.I've allowed myself to be talked into something crazy--crazy. It's muchworse than a zebra, but you know what a big disappointment Ben had lastyear--flapping his wings and aching and longing to go across the seawhile Uncle Sam obstinately refused to let him go over and end the War?All dressed up and no place to go! Poor Benny!" Mrs. Barry glanced ather son, laughing. "He did need some consolation prize, and anyway hepersuaded me to let him have an aeroplane."

  "Mrs.--_Barry_!" returned Miss Mehitable, and she gazed around at Benwith wide eyes.

  "I'm such a bird, you see," he explained.

  "Well," said the visitor after a pause, drawing her suspended breath,"I'm glad I can talk to you before you're killed."

  "Oh, not so bad as that," said Mrs. Barry. "He is at home in the air,you know, and he assures me they will soon be quite common. Come up onthe veranda, Miss Upton. I'm going to hide you and Ben in a cornerwhere no one will disturb you."

  "What a big place for you to live in all alone," observed Mehitable asthey moved toward the house, and Ben drove the car to the garage.

  "Yes, it is; but I'm so busy with my chickens and my bees I'm neverlonely. I'm quite a farmer, Miss Upton. See how fine my orchard is thisyear? I tell Ben that so long as he doesn't light in my apple-trees wecan be friends."

  "I think you're awful venturesome, Mrs. Barry!"

  That lady smiled as they moved up the steps to the veranda, the blackand violet folds of her shimmering wrap blowing about her in lines ofbeauty that fascinated her companion.

  "What else can the mother of a boy be?" she returned. "Ben has beentraining me in courage ever since he was born; apparently the prize-ringor the circus would have been his natural field of operations; so I havechained him down to the law and given him an aeroplane so he can workoff his extra steam away from the publicity of earth."

  At last the hostess withdrew, and Miss Upton found herself alone withher embryo lawyer in a sheltered corner of the porch where the vineswere hastening to sprout their curtaining green, and a hammock,comfortable chairs, a table and books proclaimed the place anout-of-door sitting-room.

  "Your mother is wonderful," she began when her companion had placed hersatisfactorily and had stretched himself out in a listening attitude,his hands clasped behind his head and his eye
s on hers.

  What eyes they were, Miss Upton thought. Clear and light-brown, thecolor of water catching the light in a swift, sunny brook.

  "She is a queen," he responded with conviction.

  "A pity such a woman hasn't got a daughter," said Miss Mehitabletentatively.

  "I'm going to give her one some day." A smile accompanied this.

  "Is she picked out?"

  Ben laughed at his companion's anxious tone. "You seem interested in myprospects. That's the second time you have seemed worried at the idea.No, she isn't picked out. I'm going to hunt for her in the stars. Why?Have you some one selected?"

  "Law, no!" returned Miss Upton, flushing. "It is a--yes, it is a girlI've come to talk to you about, though." The visitor stammered and grewincreasingly confused as she proceeded. "I thought--I didn't know--thegirl needs somebody--yes, to--to look after her and I thought yourmother bein'--bein' all alone and the house so big, she might have someuse for a--young girl, you know, a kind of a helper; but Charlotte saysthe girl would fall in love with you and--and--" Miss Upton paused,drawing her handkerchief through and through her hands and lookinganxiously at her companion who leaned his head back still farther andlaughed aloud.

  "Come, now, that's the most sensible speech that ever fell from Lottie'srosebud lips." He sat up and viewed his visitor, who, in spite of hercrimson embarrassment, was gazing at him appealingly. "I don't believe,Mehit, my dear, that you've begun at the beginning, and you'll have to,you know, if you want legal advice."

  "I never do, Ben; I am so stupid. I always do begin right in the middle,but now I'll go back. You know I went to the city yesterday."

  "You and the umbrella."

  "Yes, and I was mad at myself for luggin' it around all the mornin' whenthe weather turned out so pleasant and I had so many other things; butnever _mind_"--the narrator tightened her lips impressively--"thatumbrella was all _right_."

  "Sure thing," put in Ben. "How could you have rescued the girl withoutit?"

  Miss Upton's eyes widened. "How did you know I did?"

  "The legal mind, you know, the legal mind."

  "Oh, but I didn't rescue her near enough, not near enough," mourned MissMehitable. "I must go on. I got awful tired shoppin' and I went into arestaurant for lunch. I got set down to one table, but it was sodraughty I moved to another where a young girl was sittin' alone. A man,a homely, long-necked critter made for that place too, but I got therefirst. I don't know whether I'm glad or sorry I did. Ben, she was theprettiest girl in this world."

  Miss Upton paused to see if this solemn statement awakened an interestin her listener.

  "Maybe," he replied placidly; "but then there are the stars, you know."

  "She had lots of golden hair, and dark eyes and lashes, with kind o'long dark corners to 'em, and a sad little mouth the prettiest shape youever saw. We got to talkin' and she told me about herself. It was like astory. She had a cruel stepmother who didn't want her around, so kepther away at school, and a handsome, extravagant father without enoughbackbone to stand up for her; and on top of everything he died suddenly.Her stepmother had money and she put this poor child in a cheaplodgin'-house tellin' her to find a job, and she herself went calmly offtravelin'. This poor lamb tried one place after another, but her beautyalways stood in her way. I'm ashamed to speak of such things to you,Ben, but I've got to, to make you understand. She said she wondered ifthere were any good men in this world. She was in despair."

  Ben's eyes twinkled, but his lips were serious as he returned hisfriend's valiant gaze.

  "Her name is Geraldine Melody. Did you ever hear such a pretty name?"Miss Upton scrutinized her listener's face for some stir of interest.

  "I never did. Your girl was a very complete story-teller. You blessedsoul! and you've had all these thrills over that!" Ben leaned forwardand took his companion's hand affectionately. "I didn't believe even youwould fall for drug-store hair, darkened eyes, and that chestnut story.What did the fair Geraldine touch you for?"

  Miss Upton returned his compassionate gaze with surprise andindignation. "She didn't touch me. What do you mean? Why shouldn't sheif she wanted to? I tell you her eyes and her story were all the truth,Ben Barry. I ain't a fool."

  "No, dear, no. Of course. But how much did you give her?"

  "Give her what?"

  "Money."

  "I didn't give her any, poor lamb." Into Miss Mehitable's indignant eyescame a wild look. "I wonder if I'd ought to have. I wonder if it wouldhave helped any."

  Ben gave a low laugh. "I'll bet she had the disappointment of her younglife: to tell you that yarn, and tell it so convincingly, and yet dearold Mehit never rose to the bait!"

  Miss Upton glared at him and pulled her hand away. He leaned back andresumed his former easy attitude. "When are you going to reach theumbrella?" he asked.

  "I've passed it," snapped Miss Mehitable, angry and baffled. "I keptthat long-necked, gawky man off with it, pretty near tripped him up so'sI could get to the table with that poor child."

  Ben shook his head slowly. "To think of it! That good old umbrella aftera well-spent life to get you into a trap like that. All the same"--helooked admiringly at his companion--"there's no hay-seed in _your_ hair.The dam-sell--pardon, Mehit, it's all right to say damsel, isn'tit?--didn't think best to press things quite far enough to get into yourpocket-book. You call it a rescue. Why do you? Geraldine might have gotsomething out of the gawk."

  Miss Upton's head swung from side to side on her short neck as she gazedat her friend for a space in defiant silence. His smile irritated herbeyond words.

  "Look here, Ben Barry," she said at last; "young folks think old folksare fools. Old folks _know_ young folks are. Now I want to find thatgirl. I see you won't help me, but you can tell me where to get adetective."

  Ben raised his eyebrows. "Hey-doddy-doddy, is it as serious as that?Geraldine is some actress. It would be a good thing if you could letwell enough alone; but I suspect you'll have to find her before you cansettle down and give Lottie that attention to which she has beenaccustomed. I will help you. We won't need any detective. You shall meetme in town next Saturday. We'll go to that restaurant and others. Ten toone we'll find her."

  "She's left the city," announced Miss Upton curtly.

  "She told you so?" the amused question was very gentle.

  "That cat of a stepmother had a relative on a farm, some place soGod-forsaken they couldn't keep help, so the cat kindly told the girlshe was desertin' that if other jobs failed she could go there. I'vetold you why the other jobs did fail, and it's the truth whether youbelieve it or not, and at the time I met her the poor child had given uphope and decided to take that last resort."

  Ben bit his lip. "Back to the farm, Geraldine!"

  Miss Upton's head again swung from side to side and again she glared ather companion.

  "It would surprise you very much if we were to meet her in town nextSaturday, wouldn't it?" he added.

  "I'd be so glad I'd hug her beautiful little head off," returned MissMehitable fervently.

  "Do that, dear, if you must. It would be better than bringing her outhere to be a companion to mother." Miss Upton's eyes were so fiery thatBen smothered his laugh. "I'm nearly sure that Miss Melody wouldn't suitmother as a companion."

  "I wouldn't allow her to come anywhere near you," returned Miss Uptonhotly. "I s'pose you think she didn't go to the farm. Well, I saw her gomyself with that very gawk I tripped up with my umbrella."

  "Of course you did," laughed Ben; "and pretty mad he was doubtless whenshe told him she hadn't got a rise out of you. Those people usually workin pairs. We'll probably see him, too."

  Miss Upton clutched the iron table in front of her and swung herself toher feet with superhuman celerity.

  "Ben Barry, you're entirely too smart for the law!" she said. "You'llnever stoop to try a case. You'll know everything beforehand. You're akind of a mixture of a clairvoyant and a Sherlock Holmes, you are. Ifyou'd seen as I did that beautiful, touchin' young fa
ce turn to stonewhen that raw-boned, cross-eyed thing looked at her so--so hungry-like,and took possession of her as though he was only goin' to wait till theygot home to eat her up--and I let 'em go!" Miss Upton reverted to herchief woe. "I let 'em go without findin' out _where_, when in all theworld that poor child had nobody but me, a country jake she met in arestaurant, to care whether that Carder picked her bones after he gother to his cave."

  "That what?"

  "Carder, Rufus Carder. The one thing I have got is his hateful name. Helives 'way off on a farm somewheres, but knowin' his name, a detectiveought to--"

  Ben Barry leaned forward in his chair and his eyes ceased to twinkle.

  "Rufus Carder? If it is the one I'm thinking of, he's one of the biggestreprobates in the country."

  "That's him," returned Miss Upton with conviction. "At first I sized himup as just awkward and countrified; but the way he looked at the childand the way he spoke to her showed he wa'n't any weaklin'."

  "I should say not. He's as clever as they make 'em and he has piles ofmoney--other people's money. He can get out of the smallest loopholeknown to the law. He always manages to save his own skin while he takesthe other fellow's. Rufus Carder." Ben frowned. "I wonder if it can be."

  Miss Upton received his alert gaze and looked down on him in triumph.

  "You're wakin' up, are you?" she said. "I guess I don't meet you in townnext Saturday, do I? Oh, Ben"--casting her victory behind her--"do youmean to say you know where he lives?"

  "I know some of the places."

  "That farm"--eagerly--"do you know that?"

  "Yes. Pretty nearly. I can find it."

  "And you mean you will find it? You dear boy! And you'll take me withyou, and we'll bring her back with us. I can make room for her at myhouse."

  "Hold on, Mehitable. We're dealing with one of the biggest rascals onthe top side of earth. If he wants to keep the girl it may not be simpleto get her. At any rate, it's best for me to go alone first. You write anote to her and I'll take it and bring back news to you of the lay ofthe land."

  Miss Upton gazed in speechless hope and gratitude at the young man as herose and paced up and down the piazza in thought.

  "Oh, Ben," she ejaculated, clasping her hands, "to think that I'm intime to get you to do this before you kill yourself in that aeroplane!"

  "Nothing of the sort, my dear Mehit" he returned. "Remember that, unlikethe zebra, they are tamable in captivity, you'll be soaring with meyet."

  Miss Upton laughed in her relief. "If all they want is something heavierthan air, I'm _it_," she returned.