CHAPTER XIII. "Second: A Small Present"
The next morning Eliph' Hewlitt purchased the two-pound box of candy inthe pictured box that had long been considered by the druggist a foolishinvestment. For months it had reposed in the end of the toilet soapcase awaiting a purchaser, and had acquired a sweet odor of scented soapmingled with the plainer odor of cut castile, and no one had been soextravagant as to buy it. Once the druggist had tried to persuade thecandy salesman to take it back in exchange for more salable goods, butafter taking it from the show-case and smelling it the drummer refused.At the opposite end of the case the druggist kept his plush manicure andbrush-and-comb sets, with a few lumps of camphor scattered among themto discourage moths, but the odor of camphor did not hurt the candy. Thescented soap protected it from the camphor. When Kilo buys scented soapshe likes to have it really scented.
Miss Sally, when the small boy Eliph' secured as a messenger haddelivered the box of candy, knew well enough what it meant. The neatlywritten card, "From Yours very truly, E. Hewlitt," did not suggest much,perhaps, but in Kilo friends do not scatter two-pound boxes of candyrecklessly about. To receive a two-pound box on Christmas would havebeen a suspicious circumstance, for a smaller box would have done quiteas well between friends, but to send a two-pound box on a day that wasno holiday at all, but just a plain day of the week, could stand forbut one of two things--the giver was insane, or he had "intentions," andMiss Sally knew very well that Eliph' Hewlitt was not insane. Unless onthe subject of Jarby's Encyclopedia.
She carried the box of candy to Mrs. Smith, and showed her the card.
"How lovely!" cried Mrs. Smith, an exclamation which might have meanteither the box of candy or the sentiment that inspired the sender, andthen added, "How odd! It smells like soap!"
"That's a sign it's good candy," said Miss Sally. "The candy Rudge sellsalways smells of soap, an' he handles only the best, so when you seecandy that smells that way you know it's good. This is Rudge's candy,sure enough, for I know this box by heart. Rudge has had it in his showcase ever since the firm was Crimmins & Rudge. It must be some stale bythis time, but the box is pretty."
"I don't suppose Mr. Hewlitt knew it was stale," said Mrs. Smith, "Heevidently tried to get the best he could."
"Yes," admitted Miss Sally. "He wouldn't know this box of candy so wellas we town folks do, him bein' a newcomer here. I suppose Rudge gave hima discount off the price on account of the box bein' soiled a little.I hope to goodness that man wasn't so foolish as to go an' pay straightsixty cents a pound for it. He got cheated if he did, an' I'll tell himso when I see him next." She slowly untied the red ribbon that bound thebox, and rolled it neatly around the fingers of her left hand, to layaway for future use. "Now, what do you suppose that man sent it to mefor?" she asked.
Mrs. Smith smiled, for she knew Miss Sally was asking the questionmerely that she might have her own belief made sure by the words ofanother.
"Because he's in love, of course," said Mrs. Smith. "Because he isdesperately in love. It is a romance, my dear."
Miss Sally looked doubtfully toward Susan, who was curled up on theold sofa in the corner of the room. She was not sure that such mattersshould be discussed before one so young, but Susan would have refused toleave the room, even if asked, and she resented the questioning glancethat Miss Sally had thrown at Mrs. Smith.
"'Courtship--How to Make Love--How to Win the Affections--How To HoldThem When Won,'" she said gaily. "'First, get acquainted; second, makesmall presents, such as flowers, books or candy; third, ask for thelady's hand.' You needn't look at me that way, Miss Sally; I know allabout it. I read it in Jarby's Encyclopedia."
"Lands sakes!" exclaimed Miss Sally. "And me and him only got wellacquainted last night at the festival. I never heard of such a thing!"
"It's love at first sight," teased Mrs. Smith. "He will probably bearound this afternoon to propose, and we can have the wedding thisevening."
"Well, he needn't come this afternoon, if he's got it in his mind tocome," said Miss Sally shortly, "for I won't be at home. I ain't goin'to be rushed that way, not by no man. I don't say but Mr. Hewlitt is aclever spoken man, Mrs. Smith, when he ain't talkin' books, but I ain'tin the habit of bein' courted like I was a Seidlitz powder, and had tobe drunk down before I stopped fizzin'. That may be some folks way ofdoin' it, but it ain't mine."
"Nor Colonel Guthrie's," suggested Mrs. Smith.
"If the Colonel's slow it ain't his fault," said Miss Sally. "He'dbe quick enough if I'd let him, but I can't see no hurry, one way oranother. I don't say but that a husband is a good thing to have, mindyou! I guess I'm like all other women and want to have one some time,but so long as I've got pa I'm in no hurry. He's as much trouble asa husband would be, and as grumpy when things don't go to suit him.Sometimes I feel like in the end I'd choose to marry the Colonel, sinceit wouldn't be so much of a change, the Colonel bein' like pa in someways, such as bein' economical; and then again I feel like I'd preferSkinner, just because he'd BE a change. I'd be always sure of gettin'good meat, for one thing, and I'd insist upon it. I can't a-bare toughmeat."
"Shoemakers' children go without shoes," suggested Mrs. Smith.
"They wouldn't if I was their mother, an' I'll tell Skinner so, if Ichoose to marry him an' he tries to send home any but the best meat he'sgot in the shop," said Miss Sally firmly. "That's one man, if I marryhim, I won't take no foolishness from. When a man is castin' his eyes myway, an' then has to have a city ordinance made to compel him to do methe favor of buyin' four fire-extinguishers off of me, that ain't noearthly use to me, I'll let him know I'm going to have my way about somethings when we're married. I know well enough I ain't such a beauty thatSkinner an' the Colonel is what you might call infatuated with me, andI don't expect 'em to be. Pa's got money, and if he didn't have I guessthe Colonel an' Skinner wouldn't bother their heads about me much; butif they like me for pa's money now I guess they'll like me for it justas well after they marry me, for I'll have it well known that moneydon't go out of my name. And I'll let this book agent man know it too.If it's pa's money he's in such a hurry to get, he'll find out hismistake."
"I rather like the book agent," said Mrs. Smith. "He doesn't seem to meat all the adventurer type."
"His whiskers do make him look like a preacher," said Miss Sally, "ifthat's what you mean; but if he means business he ought to know I ain'tthe kind of bird to be caught with boxes of candy. Neither Skinner northe Colonel is so silly as to think that."
She smoothed her apron across her knees, and looked at its checkedpattern.
"Seems to me," she said, with a touch of regret, "this ain't no time orage for such foolishness. It ain't as if I was a girl like Susan there.Boxes of candy an' Susan would match up like pale blue an' white. Iguess the safe thing is to make choice of one that ain't a stranger.I've done business with Skinner years an' years, sellin' him calves an'buyin' meat off of him; an' as for the Colonel, I guess I know all hisbad points as well as his good ones. The Colonel has been a friend ofpa's a long time."
So it happened that when Eliph' Hewlitt called at Miss Sally's thatafternoon he did not find her at home. Mrs. Smith received him and triedto make up by her kindness for the disappointment Eliph' evidentlyfelt. She thanked him in Miss Sally's name for the beautiful box ofcandy--although Miss Sally had left no such word--and drew him on totalk of Jarby & Goss, the publishers of the Encyclopedia, and of hisown adventures. The longer she talked with the little man the better heropinion of him became, and she saw that he was gentle, shrewd, capableand sincere--sincere even in his wildest enthusiasm for Jarby'sEncyclopedia of Knowledge and Compendium of Literature, Science and Art.When he arose to go he stood a moment hesitatingly with his hat in hishand. He coughed apologetically.
"I hope Miss Sally like the little token of esteem; the box of candy;"he said, looking up into Mrs. Smith's face anxiously, "it isn't as if Iwas used to such matters. My preference would have been a book; a goodbook; a book that I could recommend to man, woman or c
hild, containingin a condensed form all the world's knowledge, from the time of Adamto the present day, with an index for ready reference, and usefulinformation for every day of the year. It was my intention to have givenher such a book, which would have been a proper vehicle to convey to hermy--my regard, but I learned only last night that she already had a copyof that work, without which no home is complete, and which is publishedby Jarby & Goss, New York, five dollars, bound in cloth; seven fifty,morocco. I learned that she already had one."
"She told you I had given her my copy?" asked Mrs. Smith.
"Yes," said Eliph' simply. "So I could not present her with a copy ofthat work. My preference was to give a work of literature; I am a workerin the field of literature, and it would have been more appropriate.But I could give her nothing but the best of its kinds, and where findanother such book as Jarby's Encyclopedia of Knowledge and Compendiumof Literature, Science and Art? Nowhere! There is no other. This bookcombining in one volume selections from the world's best literature,recipes for the home, advice for every period of existence, togetherwith one thousand and one other subjects, forms in itself a volumeunequaled in the history of literature. No person should be without it."
"I know, Mr. Hewlitt," pleaded Mrs. Smith, smiling, "but I have alreadybought two copies. Don't you thing you ought to let me off with that?"
"I was not trying to sell you one," said Eliph' with embarrassment. "Ihoped----" He paused and coughed behind his hand again. "You know myintention in sending a present to Miss Briggs," he said bravely. "Iadmire her greatly. I--to me she is, in fact, a Jarby's Encyclopedia ofKnowledge and Compendium of Literature, Science and Art among women."
"Dear Mr. Hewlitt," said Mrs. Smith, taking his hand, "I understand. AndI wish you all the good fortune in the world. I shall do all I can tohelp you."
"Thank you," said Eliph', shaking her hand as if she was an oldacquaintance he had met after long years of separation. "So youunderstand that I can feel the same to no other woman. Not even to--toanyone." He wiped his forehead with his disengaged hand. "So I feel thatyou will not misunderstand me if I ask you to accept a copy of Jarby'sEncyclopedia of Knowledge and Compendium of Literature, Science and Art,bound in morocoo, seven fifty. I mean gratis. No home should be withoutone."
"Why, it is very kind of you to suggest such a thing," said Mrs. Smith,"and I'm sure I'll be glad to own a copy."
"I'm glad to have you," said Eliph'. "I wanted to give you one, but Ididn't want you to think I meant it in the way I meant what I sent toMiss Sally. I was afraid you might, or that Miss Sally might. But Idon't mean it that way."
"I know you don't," said Mrs. Smith heartily. "And if Miss Sally isjealous I will tell her she is quite mistaken. But if you will let awoman that has had a little experience advise you, do not be too hasty.Do not try to hurry matters too much. It would spoil everything if youpressed for an answer too soon and received an unfavorable one. And I'mafraid it would be an unfavorable one if you put it to the test now."
Eliph's countenance fell. It said plainly enough that he understoodher to mean that the Colonel and Skinner were more apt to be favorablyreceived.
"I'm afraid so," said Mrs. Smith regretfully. "You know they are olderacquaintances, and Miss Sally is not one of those who think new friendsare best."
"I was coming again to-night," said Eliph'. "Perhaps I'd better not sayanything to-night. Perhaps I had better wait until to-morrow."
"Wait until next month, or next year," advised Mrs. Smith. "There is nohurry. Something may turn up."
Kilo : being the love story of Eliph' Hewlitt, book agent Page 13