by Anne Warner
Produced by Suzanne Shell, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team.
SUSAN CLEGG
AND
Her Friend Mrs. Lathrop
BY
ANNE WARNER
Author of "A Woman's Will," etc.
BOSTONLittle, Brown, and Company
1904
_Copyright, 1903, 1904_,BY THE CENTURY COMPANY.
_Copyright, 1904_,BY LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY.
THE UNIVERSITY PRESSCAMBRIDGE, U.S.A.
_PREFATORY NOTE_
_The first four chapters of "Susan Clegg and her Friend Mrs. Lathrop"appeared in "The Century Magazine" as separate stories during thepast year. They have been revised and partly rewritten for bookpublication, and "The Minister's Vacation," never before printed,has been added._
_Miss Clegg and her friend Mrs. Lathrop, as well as the othercharacters in the book, and the scenes in which they figure, arewholly imaginary_.
Contents
PageIThe Marrying of Susan Clegg 1
IIMiss Clegg's Adopted 43
IIIJathrop Lathrop's Cow 83
IVSusan Clegg's Cousin Marion 126
VThe Minister's Vacation 166
SUSAN CLEGG
_And her Friend Mrs. Lathrop_
I
THE MARRYING OF SUSAN CLEGG
Susan Clegg and Mrs. Lathrop were next-door neighbors and bosomfriends. Their personalities were extremely congenial, and thetheoretical relation which the younger woman bore to the elder was afurther bond between them. Owing to the death of her mother sometwenty years before, Susan had fallen into the position of a helplessand timid young girl whose only key to the problems of life in generalhad been the advice of her older and wiser neighbor. As a matter offact Mrs. Lathrop was barely twelve years the senior, but she hadmarried and as a consequence felt and was felt to be immeasurably themore ancient of the two.
Susan had never married, for her father--a bedridden paralytic--hadoccupied her time day and night for years. He was a great care and asshe did her duty by him with a thoroughness which was praiseworthy inthe extreme she naturally had very little leisure for society. Mrs.Lathrop had more, because her family consisted of but one son, and shewas not given to that species of housekeeping which sweeps under thebeds too often. It therefore came about that the one and onlyrecreation which the friends could enjoy together to any great extentwas visiting over the fence. Visiting over the fence is an occupationin which any woman may indulge without fear of unkind criticism. Ifshe takes occasion to run in next door, she is of course leaving thehouse which she ought to be keeping, but she can lean on the fence allday without feeling derelict as to a single duty. Then, too, there issomething about the situation which produces a species of agreeablesubconsciousness that one is at once at home and abroad. It followedthat Susan and Mrs. Lathrop each wore a path from her kitchen door tothe trysting-spot, and that all summer long they met there early andlate.
Mrs. Lathrop did the listening while she chewed clover. Just beyondher woodpile red clover grew luxuriantly, and when she started for theplace of meeting it was her invariable custom to stop and pull anumber of blossoms so that she might eat the tender petals whiledevoting her attention to the business in hand.
It must be confessed that the business in hand was nearly always MissClegg's business, but since Mrs. Lathrop, in her position ofexperienced adviser, was deeply interested in Susan's exposition ofher own affairs, that trifling circumstance appeared of little moment.
One of the main topics of conversation was Mr. Clegg. As Mr. Clegg hadnot quitted his bed for over a score of years, it might seem that hisnovelty as a subject of discussion would have been long sinceexhausted. But not so. His daughter was the most devoted of daughters,and his name was ever rife on her lips. What he required done for himand what he required done to him were the main ends of her existence,and the demands of his comfort, daily or annual, resulted in numerousphrases of a startling but thoroughly intelligible order. Of such asort was her usual Saturday morning greeting to Mrs. Lathrop, "I 'msorry to cut you off so quick, but this 's father's day to be beat upand got into new pillow-slips," or her regular early-June remark,"Well, I thank Heaven 't father 's had his hair picked over 'n' 'the's got his new tick for _this_ year!"
Mrs. Lathrop was always interested, always sympathetic, and rarelyever startled; yet one July evening when Susan said suddenly, "I 'vefinished my dress for father's funeral," she did betray a slightshock.
"You ought to see it," the younger woman continued, not noticing theother's start,--"it's jus' 's _nice_. I put it away in camphor balls,'n' Lord knows I don't look forward to the gettin' it out to wear, f'rthe whole carriage load 'll sneeze their heads off whenever I move inthat dress."
"Did you put newspaper--" Mrs. Lathrop began, mastering her earlieremotions.
"In the sleeves? Yes, I did, 'n' I bought a pair o' black gloves 'n'two handkerchiefs 'n' slipped 'em into the pockets. Everythin' is allfixed, 'n' there 'll be nothin' to do when father dies but to shake itout 'n' lay it on the bed in his room. I say 'in his room,' 'cause o'course that day he 'll be havin' the guest-room. I was thinkin' of itall this afternoon when I sat there by him hemmin' the braid on theskirt, 'n' I could n't but think 't if I sit 'n' wait very much longerI sh'll suddenly find myself pretty far advanced in years afore I knowit. This world's made f'r the young 's well's the old, 'n' you c'nbelieve me or not jus' 's you please, Mrs. Lathrop, but I 've alwaysmeant to get married 's soon 's father was off my hands. I wascountin' up to-day, though, 'n' if he lives to be a hunderd, I 'll benigh onto seventy 'n' no man ain't goin' to marry me at seventy. Not'nless he was eighty, 'n' Lord knows I ain't intendin' to bury fatherjus' to begin on some one else, 'n' that's all it 'd be."
Mrs. Lathrop chewed her clover.
"I set there thinkin' f'r a good hour, 'n' when I was puttin' away thedress, I kep' on thinkin', 'n' the end was 't now that dress 's done Iain't got nothin' in especial to sew on 'n' so I may jus' 's wellbegin on my weddin' things. There's no time like the present, 'n' 'f Imarried this summer _he 'd_ have to pay f'r half of next winter'scoal. 'N' so my mind's made up, 'n' you c'n talk yourself blind, 'fyou feel so inclined, Mrs. Lathrop, but you can't change hide or hairo' my way o' thinkin'. I 've made up my mind to get married, 'n' I 'mgoin' to set right about it. Where there's a will there 's a way, 'n'I ain't goin' to leave a stone unturned. I went down town with thekerosene-can jus' afore tea, 'n' I bought me a new false front, 'n' Imet Mrs. Brown's son, 'n' I told him 't I wanted him to come upto-morrow 'n' take a look at father."
"Was you thinkin' o' marryin' Mrs. Br----" Mrs. Lathrop gasped, takingher clover from her lips.
"Marryin' Mrs. Brown's son! Well, 'f your mind don't run queer ways!Whatever sh'd put such an idea into your head? I hope you 'll excusemy sayin' so, Mrs. Lathrop, but I don't believe anybody but you wouldever 'a' asked such a question, when you know 's well 's everybodyelse does 't he's runnin' his legs off after Amelia Fitch. Any man whowants a little chit o' eighteen wouldn't suit my taste much, 'n'anyhow I never thought of him; I only asked him to come in in afriendly way 'n' tell me how long he thinks 't father may live. Idon't see my way to makin' any sort o' plans with father so dreffleindefinite, 'n' a man who was fool enough to marry me, tied up like Iam now, would n't have s'fficient brains to be worth lookin' over.Mrs. Brown's son 's learnin' docterin', 'n' he's been at it longenough so 's to be able to see through anythin' 's simple 's father,_I_ sh'd think. 'T any rate, 'f he don't know nothin' yet, Heaven helpAmelia Fitch 'n' me, f'r he'll take u
s both in."
"Who was you thinkin' o'--" Mrs. Lathrop asked, resuming her formeroccupation.
"The minister," replied Miss Clegg. "I did n't stop to consider verymuch, but it struck me 's polite to begin with him. I c'd marry himwithout waitin' for father, too, 'cause a minister could n't in reasonfind fault over another man's bein' always to home. O' course he wouldn't be still like father is, but I ain't never been one to lookgift-horses in the mouth, 'n' I d'n' know 's I 'd ought to expectanother man _jus'_ like father in one life. Mother often said father'sadvantages was great, for you always knew where he was, 'n' 'f youdrew down the shade you c'd tell him it was rainin' 'n' he could n'tnever contradick."
Mrs. Lathrop nodded acquiescently but made no comment.
Miss Clegg withdrew somewhat from her confidentially inclinedattitude.
"I won't be out in the mornin'," she said. "I sh'll want to dustfather 'n' turn him out o' the window afore Mrs. Brown's son comes.After he's gone I'll wave my dish-towel, 'n' then you come out 'n' I'll tell you what he says."
They separated for the night, and Susan went to sleep with her ownversion of love's young dream.
Mrs. Brown's son arrived quite promptly the next morning. He drove upin Mr. Brown's buggy, and Amelia Fitch held the horse while he wentinside to inspect Mr. Clegg. The visit did not consume more than tenminutes, and then he hurried out to the gate and was off.
The buggy was hardly out of sight up the road when Miss Clegg emergedfrom her kitchen door, her face bearing an imprint of deep andthorough disgust.
"Well, Mrs. Lathrop, I don't think much o' _that_ young man," sheannounced in a tone of unmitigated disapproval; "'peared to me like hewas in a hurry to get done with father 's quick 's he could just so 'sto be back beside Amelia Fitch. I 'd venture a guess that 'f you wasto ask him this minute he 's forgot every word I said to him already.I asked him to set some sort of a figger on father, 'n' he would n'tso much 's set down himself. Stood on one leg 'n' backed towards thedoor every other word, 'n' me, father's only child, standin' there athis mercy. Said 't last 's he _might_ die to-morrow 'n' _might_ livetwenty years. I tell you my patience pretty near went at that. I don'tcall such a answer no answer a _tall_. I 've often thought both themthings myself, 'n' me no doctor. Particularly about the twenty years.Father's lived seventy-five years--I must say 't to my order o'thinkin' he's pretty well set a-goin', 'n' that the life he leadsain't drainin' his vitality near 's much 's it's drainin' mine."
Miss Clegg stopped and shook her head impatiently.
"I d'n' know when I 've felt as put out 's this. 'N' me with so muchfaith in doctors too. It's a pretty sad thing, Mrs. Lathrop, when allthe comfort you c'n get out of a man is the thinkin' 't perhaps God inhis mercy has made him a fool. I had a good mind to tell that verything to Mrs. Brown's son, but I thought maybe he'd learn betterlater. Anyway I 'm goin' right ahead with my marriage. It'll have tobe the minister now, 'n' I can't see what I 've ever done 't I sh'dhave two men around the house 't once like they 'll be, but that's allin the hands o' Fate, 'n' so I jus' took the first step 'n' told Billywhen he brought the milk to tell his father 't if he 'd come up hereto-night I 'd give him a quarter for the Mission fund. I know thequarter 'll bring him, 'n' I can't help kind o' hopin' 't to-morrow'll find the whole thing settled 'n' off my mind."
The next morning Mrs. Lathrop laid in an unusually large supply offodder and was very early at the fence. Her son--a placid littleinnocent of nine-and-twenty years--was still in bed and asleep. Susanwas up and washing her breakfast dishes, but the instant that shespied her friend she abruptly abandoned her task and hastened to therendezvous.
"Are you goin' t'--" Mrs. Lathrop called eagerly.
"No, I ain't," was the incisive reply.
Then they both adjusted their elbows comfortably on the top rail ofthe fence, and Miss Clegg began, her voice a trifle higher pitchedthan usual.
"Mrs. Lathrop, it's a awful thing for a Christian woman to feel forcedto say, 'n' Lord knows I would n't say it to no one but you, but it'strue 'n' beyond a question so, 'n' therefore I may 's well be frank'n' open 'n' remark 't our minister ain't no good a _tall_.--'N I d'n'know but I'll tell any one 's asks me the same thing, f'r it certainlyain't nothin' f'r me to weep over, 'n' the blood be on his head fromnow on."
Miss Clegg paused briefly, and her eyes became particularly wide open.Mrs. Lathrop was all attention.
"Mrs. Lathrop, you ain't lived next to me 'n' known me in 'n' out 'n'hind 'n' front all these years not to know 't I 'm pretty sharp. Iain't been cheated mor' 'n twice 'n my life, 'n' one o' them times wasn't my fault, for it was printed on the band 't it would wash. Suchbein' the case, 'n' takin' the minister into consideration, I doconsider 't _no_ man would 'a' supposed 't he could get the better o'me. It's a sad thing to have to own to, 'n' if I was anybody else inkingdom come I 'd never own to it till I got there; but my way is tolive open 'n' aboveboard, 'n' so to my shame be 't told 't theminister--with all 't he's got eight children 'n' I ain't evenmarried--is certainly as sharp as me. Last night when I see him comin'up the walk I never 'd 'a' believed 's he c'd get away again so easy,but it just goes to show what a world o' deceit this is, 'n' seein' 'sI have father to clean from his windows aroun' to-day, I 'll ask youto excuse me 'f I don't draw the subjeck out none, but jus' remarkflat 'n' plain 't there ain't no chance o' my _ever_ marryin' theminister. You may consider that a pretty strong statement, Mrs.Lathrop, 'n' I don't say myself but 't with any other man there mightbe a hereafter, but it was me 'n' not anybody else as see his facelast night, 'n' seein' his face 'n' bein' a woman o' more brains 'nfalls to the lot of yourself 'n' the majority, I may just as well sayonce for all that, 's far 's the minister's concerned, I sh'll neverbe married to _him_."
"What did he--" began Mrs. Lathrop.
"All 't was necessary 'n' more too. He did n't give me hardly time tostate 't I was single afore he come out strong 't we 'd both betterstay so. I spoke right out to his face then, 'n' told him 't myshingles was new last year 'n' it was a open question whether his 'dever be, but he piped up f'r all the world like some o' the talkin'was his to do, 'n' said 't he had a cistern 'n' I 'd only got a sunkhogshead under the spout. I did n't see no way to denyin' _that_, butI went right on 'n' asked him 'f he could in his conscience deny 'tthem eight children stood in vital need of a good mother, 'n' he spokeup 's quick 's scat 'n' said 't no child stood in absolute vital needof a mother after it was born. 'N' then he branched out 'n' give me tounderstand 't he had a wife till them eight children all gotthemselves launched 'n' 't it was n't his fault her dyin' o' RachelRebecca. When he said 'dyin',' I broke in 'n' said 't it wasBible-true 's there was 's good fish in the sea 's ever was caught outof it, 'n' he was impolite enough to interrupt 'n' tell me to my face'Yes, but when a man had been caught once he was n't easy caughtagain.' I will own 't I was more 'n put out 't that, for o' coursewhen I said _fish_ I meant his wife 'n' me, but when he pretended tothink 't I meant him I begin to doubt 's it was worth while to tacklehim further. One man can lead a horse to water, but a thousand can'tget him to stick his nose in 'f he don't want to, 'n' I thank my stars't I ain't got nothin' 'n me as craves to marry a man 's appearsdead-set ag'in' the idea. I asked him 'f he did n't think 's comin'into property was always a agreeable feelin', 'n' he said, 'Yes, butnot when with riches come a secret thorn in the flesh,' 'n' at that Iclean give up, 'n' I hope it was n't to my discredit, for no one onthe face of the earth could 'a' felt 't there 'd be any good inkeepin' on. But it was no use, 'n' you know 's well as I do 't I neverwas give to wastin' my breath, so I out 'n' told him 't I was n't giv'to wastin' my time either, 'n' then I stood up 'n' he did too. 'N'_then_ I got even with him, 'n' I c'n assure you 't I enjoyed it, f'rI out 'n' told him 't I 'd changed my mind about the quarter. So hehad all that long walk for nothin', 'n' I can't in conscience deny 'tI was more 'n rejoiced, for Lord knows I did n't consider 't he'dacted very obligin'."
Mrs. Lathrop ceased to chew and looked deeply sympathetic.
There
was a brief silence, and then she asked, "Was you thinkin' o'tryin' any--"
Miss Clegg stared at her in amazement.
"Mrs. Lathrop! Do you think I'd give up now, 'n' let the minister see't my marryin' depended on _his_ say-so? Well, I guess not! I'm moredead-set 'n' ever, 'n' I vow 'n' declare 't I'll never draw breathtill after I've stood up right in the face o' the minister 'n' thewhole congregation 'n' had 'n' held some man, no matter who nor whennor where. Marryin' was goin' to have been a pleasure, now it's abusiness. I'm goin' to get a horse 'n' buggy this afternoon 'n' driveout to Farmer Sperrit's. I've thought it all over, 'n' I c'n tellfather 't I'll be choppin' wood; then 'f he says afterwards 't hecalled 'n' called, I c'n say 't I was makin' so much noise 't I didn't hear him."
"You'll have to hire--" suggested Mrs. Lathrop.
"I know, but it won't cost but fifty cents, 'n' I saved a quarter onthe minister, you know. I'd like to ask you to drive out with me, Mrs.Lathrop, but if Mr. Sperrit's got it in him to talk like the ministerdid, I'm free to confess 't, I'd rather be alone to listen. 'N'really, Mrs. Lathrop, I must go in now. I've got bread a-risin' 'n'dishes to do, 'n', as I told you before, this is father's day to beall but scraped 'n' varnished."
Mrs. Lathrop withdrew her support from the fence, and Miss Clegg didlikewise. Each returned up her own path to her own domicile, and itwas long after that day's tea-time before the cord of friendship gotknotted up again.
"Did you go to the farm?" Mrs. Lathrop asked. "I was to the Sewin'So--"
"Yes, I went," said Miss Clegg, her air decidedly weary; "oh, yes, Iwent. I had a nice ride too, 'n' I do believe I saw the whole farm,from the pigs to the punkins."
There was a pause, and Mrs. Lathrop filled it to the brim withexpectancy until she could wait no longer.
"Are you--" she finally asked.
"No," said her friend, sharply, "I ain't. He wasn't a bit spry to hopat the chance, 'n' Lord knows there wa'n't no great urgin' on my part.I asked him why he ain't never married, 'n' he laughed like it was afunny subjeck, 'n' said 's long 's he never did it 't that was theleast o' _his_ troubles. I didn't call that a very encouragin'beginnin', but my mind was made up not to let it be _my_ fault 'f thehorse was a dead waste o' fifty cents, 'n' so I said to him 't if he'dmarry any woman with a little money he could easy buy the little Jonesfarm right next him, 'n' then 't 'd be 's clear 's day that it 'd behis own fault if he didn't soon stretch right from the brook to theroad. He laughed some more 't that, 'n' said 't I didn't seem to beaware 't he owned a mortgage on the Jones farm 'n' got all 't itraised now 'n' would get the whole thing in less 'n two years."
Mrs. Lathrop stopped chewing.
"They was sayin' in the Sewin' Society 's he's goin' to marry ElizaGr--" she said mildly.
Miss Clegg almost screamed.
"Eliza Gringer, as keeps house for him?"
Her friend nodded.
Miss Clegg drew in a sudden breath.
"Well! 'f I'd knowed _that_, I'd never 'a' paid fifty cents for thathorse 'n' buggy! Eliza Gringer! why, she's older 'n' I am,--she was to'Cat' when I was only to 'M.' 'N' he's goin' to marry her! Oh, well, Id'n' know 's it makes any difference to me. In my opinion a man as 'dbe fool enough to be willin' to marry a woman 's ain't got nothin' butherself to give him, 's likelier to be happier bein' her fool 'n heever would be bein' mine."
There was a pause.
"Your father's just the--" Mrs. Lathrop said at last.
"Same? Oh yes, he's just the same. Seems 't I can't remember when hewasn't just the same."
Then there was another pause.
"I ain't discouraged," Susan announced suddenly, almostaggressively,--"I ain't discouraged 'n' I won't give up. I'm goin' tosee Mr. Weskin, the lawyer, to-morrow. They say--'n' I never seenothin' to lead me to doubt 'em--'t he's stingy 'n' mean for all he'sforever makin' so merry at other folks' expense; but I believe 'tthere's good in everythin' 'f you're willin' to hunt for it 'n' Lordknows 't if this game keeps up much longer I 'll get so used tohuntin' 't huntin' the good in Lawyer Weskin 'll jus' be child's playto me."
"I was thinkin'--" began Mrs. Lathrop.
"It ain't no use if you are," said her neighbor; "the mosquitoes isgettin' too thick. We 'd better in."
And so they parted for the night.
* * * * *
The following evening was hot and breathless, the approach of Fourthof July appearing to hang heavily over all. Susan brought a palm-leaffan with her to the fence and fanned vigorously.
"It ain't goin' to be the lawyer, either," she informed the expectantMrs. Lathrop, "'n' I hav' n't no tears to shed over _that_. I wentthere the first thing after dinner, 'n' he give me a solid chair 'n'whirled aroun' in one 't twisted, 'n' I did n't fancy such mannersunder such circumstances a _tall_. I'd say suthin' real serious 'n'he'd brace himself ag'in his desk 'n' take a spin 's if I did n'tcount for sixpence. I could n't seem to bring him around to theseriousness of the thing nohow. 'N' I come right out square 'n' openin the very beginnin' too, for Lord knows I 'm dead sick o' beatin'around the bush o' men's natural shyness. He whirled himself cleanaround two times 'n' then said 's long 's I was so frank with him 'tit 'd be nothin' but a joy for him to be equally frank with me 'n'jus' say 's he'd rather not. I told him he 'd ought to remember 's he'd have a lot o' business when father died 'f he kept my good will,but he was lookin' over 'n' under himself to see how near to unscrewedhe was 'n' if it was safe to keep on turnin' the same way any longer,'n' upon my honor, Mrs. Lathrop, I was nigh to mad afore he got readyto remark 's father 'd left him a legacy on condition 't he did n'tcharge nothin' for probatin'."
Mrs. Lathrop chewed her clover.
"So I come away, 'n' I declare my patience is nigh to gin out. Thisgettin' married is harder 'n' house-paintin' in fly-time. I d'n' knowwhen I 've felt so tired. Here's three nights 't I 've had to make myideas all over new to suit a different husband each night. It made myvery bones ache to think o' pilin' them eight children 'n' theminister on top o' father, 'n' then the next night it was a good jumpout to that farm, f'r I never was one to know any species o'fellow-feelin' with pigs 'n' milkin'. 'N' last night!--well, you knowI never liked Mr. Weskin anyhow. But I d'n' know who I _can_ get now.There's Mrs. Healy's husband, o' course; but when a woman lookshappier in her coffin 'n she ever looked out of it it's more'n a hintto them's stays behind to fight shy o' her husband. They say he usedto throw dishes at her, 'n' I never could stand that--I'm too carefulo' my china to risk any such goin's on."
Mrs. Lathrop started to speak, but got no further.
"There's a new clerk in the drug-store,--I see him through the windowwhen I was comin' home to-day. He looked to be a nice kind o' man, butI can't help feelin' 't it 'd be kind o' awkward to go up to him 'n'have to begin by askin' him what my name 'd be 'f I married him. Maybethere's them 's could do such a thing, but I 've never had nothin'about me 's 'd lead me to throw myself at the head o' any man, 'n'it's too late in the day f'r me to start in now."
Mrs. Lathrop again attempted to get in a word and was againunsuccessful.
"I don't believe 't there's another free man in the town. I've thought'n' thought 'n' I can't think o' one." She stopped and sighed.
"There's Jathrop!" said Mrs. Lathrop, with sudden and completesuccess. Jathrop was her son, so baptized through a fearful slip ofthe tongue at a critical moment. He was meant to have been John.
Miss Clegg gave such a start that she dropped her fan over the fence.
"Well, Heaven forgive me!" she cried,--"'n' me 't never thought of himonce, 'n' him so handy right on the other side of the fence! Did Iever!"
"He ain't thir--" said Mrs. Lathrop, picking up the fan.
"I don't care. What's twelve years or so when it's the woman 's 'asgot the property? Well, Mrs. Lathrop, I certainly _am_ obliged to youfor mentionin' him, for I don't believe he ever would 'a' occurred tome in kingdom come. 'N' here I've been worryin' my head off ever sincesupper-time 'n' all for suthin' 's close 's Jathrop Lathrop. B
ut I hadgood cause to worry, 'n' now 't it's over I don't mind mentionin' thereason 'n' tellin' you frank 'n' plain 't I'd begun on my things. Icut out a pink nightgown last night, a real fussy one, 'n' I felt sickall over 't the thought 't perhaps I'd wasted all that cloth. Therewasn't nothin' foolish about cuttin' out the nightgown, for I'd madeup my mind 't if it looked too awful fancy on 't I'd just put it awayfor the oldest girl when she gets married, but o' course 'f I can'tget a husband stands to reason there'll be no oldest girl, 'n' allthat ten cent gingham 't Shores is sellin' off't five 'd be a deadwaste o' good stuff."
Mrs. Lathrop chewed her clover.
"Do you suppose there'll be any trouble with Jathrop? Do you supposeit'll matter any to him which side o' the fence he lives on?"
Mrs. Lathrop shook her head slowly.
"I sh'd think he ought to be only too pleased to marry me 'f I wanthim to, all the days 't I tended him when he was a baby! My, but he_was_ a cute little fellow! Everybody was lookin' for him to grow up areal credit to you _then_. Well, 's far 's that goes, it's a ill wind't blows no good, 'n' no one c'n deny 't he's been easy for you tomanage, 'n' what's sauce f'r the goose is sauce f'r the gander, so Ish'll look to be equally lucky."
Mrs. Lathrop looked proud and pleased.
"Why can't you ask him to-night 'n' let me know the first thing in themornin'? That'll save me havin' to come 'way aroun' by the gate, youknow."
Mrs. Lathrop assented to the obvious good sense of this propositionwith one emphatic nod of her head.
"'N' I'll come out jus' 's quick 's I can in the mornin' 'n' hear whathe said; I'll come 's soon 's ever I can get father 'n' the disheswashed up. I hope to Heaven father'll sleep more this night 'n he didlast. He was awful restless last night. He kept callin' f'r thingstill finally I had to take a pillow and go down on the dinin'-roomlounge to keep from bein' woke up any more."
"Do you think he's--"
"No, I don't think he's worse; not 'nless wakin' up 'n' askin' f'rthings jus' to be aggravatin' is worse. If it is, then he is too. But,lor, there ain't no manner o' use in talkin' o' father! A watched pot_never_ boils! Jathrop's more to the point right now."
Upon this hint Mrs. Lathrop de-fenced herself, so to speak, and thefriendly chat ended for that time.
The morning after, Miss Clegg was slow to appear at the summons of herneighbor. When she did approach the spot where the other stoodwaiting, her whole face and figure bore a weary and fretful air.
"Father jus' about kept me up this whole blessed night," she began assoon as she was within easy hearing. "I d'n' know what I want to getmarried f'r, when I'm bound to be man-free in twenty-five years 'f Ic'n jus' make out to live that long."
Mrs. Lathrop chewed and listened.
"If there was anythin' in the house 't father didn't ask f'r 'n' 't Ididn't get him last night, it must 'a' been the cook-stove in thekitchen. I come nigh to losin' a toe in the rat-trap the third time Iwas down cellar, 'n' I clum that ladder to the garret so many times 'tI do believe I dusted all overhead with my hair afore mornin'. My earsis full o' cobwebs too, 'n' you know 's well 's I do 't I never wasone to fancy cobwebs about me. They say 't every cloud has a silverlinin', but I can't see no silver linin' to a night like last night.When the rooster crowed f'r the first time this mornin', I had it inmy heart to march right out there 'n' hack off his head. If it 'd 'a'been Saturday, I'd 'a' done 't too, 'n' relished him good at Sundaydinner!"
Miss Clegg paused and compressed her lips firmly for a few seconds;then she gave herself a little shake and descended to the mainquestion of the day.
"Well, what did Jathrop say?"
Mrs. Lathrop looked very uncomfortable indeed, and in lieu of ananswer swallowed her clover.
"You asked him, didn't you?"
"Yes, I--"
"Well, what 'd he say?"
"He ain't very--"
"My soul 'n' body! What reason did he give?"
"He's afraid your father's livin' on a annu--"
"Well, he ain't." Susan's tone was more than a little displeased."Whatever else father may 'a' done, he never played no annuity tricks.He 's livin' on his own property, 'n' I'll take it very kindly o' you,Mrs. Lathrop, to make that piece o' news clear to your son. Myfather's got bank-stock, 'n' he owns them two cottages across thebridge, 'n' the blacksmith-shop belongs to him too. There! I declare Inever thought o' the blacksmith,--his wife died last winter."
"Jathrop asked me what I th--"
"Well, what 'd you tell him?"
"I said 't if your father was some older--"
Miss Clegg's eyebrows moved understandingly.
"How long is it since you've seen father?" she asked without waitingfor the other to end her sentence.
"Not since your mother died, I guess; I was--"
"I wish you c'd come over 'n' take a look at him now 'n' tell me youropinion. Why can't you?"
Mrs. Lathrop reflected.
"I don't see why I can't. I'll go in 'n' take off--"
"All right, 'n' when you've got it off, come right over 'n' you'llfind me in the kitchen waitin' for you."
Mrs. Lathrop returned to her own house to shed her apron and wash herhands, and then sallied over to view Mr. Clegg. The two friendsmounted the stair together, and entered the old man's room.
It was a scrupulously clean and bright and orderly room, and theinvalid in the big white bed bore evidence to the care and attentionso dutifully lavished on him. He was a very wizened little old man,and his features had been crossed and recrossed by the finger of Timeuntil their original characteristics were nearly obliterated. Theexpression upon his face resembled nothing so much as a sketch whichhas been done over so many times that its first design is altogetherlost, and if there was any answer to the riddle, it was not the mentalperception of Mrs. Lathrop that was about to seize upon it.
Instead, that kindly visitor stood lost in a species of helplesscontemplation, until at last a motion of Susan's, directed towards theordering of an unsightly fold in the wide smoothness of thecounterpane, led to her bending herself to do a similar kindness uponher side of the bed. The action resulted in a slight change in herexpression which Susan's watchfulness at once perceived.
"Was it a needle?" she asked quickly. "Sometimes I stick 'em in whileI'm sewin'. You see, his havin' been paralyzed so many years has gotme where I'm awful careless about leavin' needles in his bed."
"No," said Mrs. Lathrop; "it wasn't a--"
"Come on downstairs again," said the hostess; "we c'n talk there."
They went down into the kitchen, and there Mrs. Lathrop seated herselfand coughed solemnly.
"What is it, anyhow?" the younger woman demanded.
Mrs. Lathrop coughed again.
"Susan, did I feel a feather--"
"Yes," said Susan, in great surprise; "he likes one."
"I sh'd think it was too hot this--"
"He don't never complain o' the heat, 'n' he hates the chill o' rainydays."
Mrs. Lathrop coughed again.
Miss Clegg's interest bordered on impatience.
"Now, Susan, I ain't sayin' as it's noways true, but I _have_ heard asthere's them 's can't die on--"
"On feathers?" cried the daughter.
"Yes; they say they hold the life right in 'n'--"
Miss Clegg's eyes opened widely.
"But I couldn't take it away from him, anyhow," she said, with aspecies of determined resignation in her voice. "I'd have to wait'till he wanted it took."
Mrs. Lathrop was silent. Then she rose to go. Susan rose too. Theywent out the kitchen door together, and down the steps. There theypaused to part.
"Do you believe 't it 'd be any use me thinkin' o' Jathrop any more?"the maiden asked the matron.
"I believe I'd try the blacksmith if I was you; he looks mighty niceSundays."
Miss Clegg sighed heavily and turned to re-enter the house.
Mrs. Lathrop went "round by the gate" and became again an inmate ofher own kitchen. There the thought occurred to her that i
t was anexcellent morning to clean the high-shelf over the sink. For yearspast whenever she had had occasion to put anything up there, showersof dust and rolls of lint had come tumbling down upon her head. Undersuch circumstances it was but natural that a determination to some dayclean the shelf should have slowly but surely been developed.Accordingly she climbed up on the edge of the sink and undertook theinitiatory proceedings. The lowest stratum of dirt was found to restupon a newspaper containing an account of one day of Guiteau's trial.Upon the discovery of the paper Mrs. Lathrop suddenly abandoned heroriginal plan, got down from the sink, ensconced herself in herkitchen rocker, and plunged into bliss forthwith.
An hour passed pleasantly and placidly by. Bees buzzed outside thewindow, the kettle sizzled sweetly on the stove, the newspaper rustledless and less, Mrs. Lathrop's head sank sideways, and the calm ofperfect peace reigned in her immediate vicinity.
This state of things endured not long.
Its gentle Paradise was suddenly broken in upon and rent apart by asuccession of the most piercing shrieks that ever originated in thethroat of a human being. Mrs. Lathrop came to herself with a violentstart, sprang to her feet, ran to the door, and then stood still,completely dazed and at first unable to discern from which directionthe ear-splitting screams proceeded. Then, in a second, her sensesreturned to her, and she ran as fast as she could to the fence. As sheapproached the boundary, she saw Susan standing in one of her upstairswindows and yelling at the top of her voice. Mrs. Lathrop paused forno conventionalities of civilization. She hoisted herself over thefence in a fashion worthy a man or a monkey, ran across the Cleggyard, entered the kitchen door, stumbled breathlessly up the dark backstairs, and gasped, grabbing Susan hard by the elbow,--
"What _is_ it, for pity's--"
Susan was all colors and shaking as if with the ague.
"You never told me 's it 'd work so quick," she cried out.
"What would--"
"The feathers!"
"Whose feathers?"
"Father's feathers."
"Lord have mercy, Susan, you don't mean--"
"Yes, I do."
"He ain't never--"
"Yes, he is."
Mrs. Lathrop stood stricken.
Susan wiped her eyes with her apron and choked.
After a while the older woman spoke feebly.
"What did hap--"
Miss Clegg cut the question off in its prime.
"I don't know as I c'n ever tell you; it's too awful even to thinkof."
"But you--"
"I know, 'n' I'm goin' to. But I tell you once for all, Mrs. Lathrop,'t this'll be a lesson to me forever after 's to takin' the say-so o'other folks unto myself. 'N' I didn't really consider 't I was doin'so this time, f'r if I had, Lord knows I'd 'a' landed three beds atopo' him afore I'd 'a' ever--" She stopped and shook convulsively.
"Go on," said Mrs. Lathrop, her curiosity getting the better of hersympathy, and her impatience ranking both.
Susan ceased sobbing, and essayed explanation.
"You see, after you was gone, he said 't he _was_ pretty hot theselast nights, 'n' 't that was maybe what kept him so awfully awake. Iasked him if--if--maybe the feather-bed 'n'--well, Mrs. Lathrop, toput the whole in a nut-shell, we settled to move him, 'n' I moved him.I know I didn't hurt him one bit, for I'm 's handy with--at least, I_was_'s handy with him 's I am with a broom. 'N' I laid him on thelounge, 'n' dumped that bed out into the back hall. I thought I 'd sunit 'n' put it away this afternoon, f'r _you_ know 's I'm never no handto leave nothin' lyin' aroun'. Well, I come back 'n' got out somefresh sheets, 'n' jus' 's I was--"
The speaker halted, and there was a dramatic pause.
"Where is--" Mrs. Lathrop asked at last.
"Back in the feathers. My heaven alive! When I see what I'd done, Iwas that upset 't I just run 's quick 's ever I could, 'n' got thebed, 'n' dumped it right atop of him!"
There was another dramatic silence, finally broken by Mrs. Lathrop'ssaying slowly and gravely,--
"Susan, 'f I was you I wouldn't never say--"
"I ain't goin' to. I made up my mind to never tell a livin' soul thevery first thing. To think o' me doin' it! To think o' all these years't I've tended father night 'n' day, 'n' then to accidentally go 'n'do a thing like that! I declare, it fairly makes me sick all over!"
"Well, Susan, you know what a good daughter you've--"
"I know, 'n' I 've been thinkin' of it. But somehow nothin' don't seemto comfort me none. Perhaps you'd better make me some tea, 'n' whileI'm drinkin' it, Jathrop c'n go down town 'n'--"
"Yes," said Mrs. Lathrop, "'n' I'll go right 'n'--"
"That's right," said the bereaved, "'n' hurry."
It was a week later--a calm and lovely evening--and the two friendsstood by the fence. The orphan girl was talking, while Mrs. Lathropchewed her clover.
"It don't seem like only a week!--seems more like a month or even ayear. Well, they say sometimes, folks live a long ways ahead in a veryshort time, 'n' I must say 't, as far 's my observation 's extended,comin' into property always leads to experience, so I couldn't inreason complain 't not bein' no exception. This 's been the liveliestweek o' my life, 'n' I'm free to confess 't I haven't cried anywherenear 's much 's I looked to. My feelin's have been pretty agreeable,take it all in all, 'n' I'd be a born fool 'f I didn't take solidcomfort sleepin' nights, 'n' I never was a fool--never was 'n' neverwill be. The havin' somebody to sleep in the house 's been hard, 'n'Mrs. Macy's fallin' through the cellar-flap giv' me a bad turn, butshe's doin' nicely, 'n' the minister makes up f'r anythin'. I do wish't you'd seen him that afternoon, Mrs. Lathrop; he did look _so_ mostawful sheepish, 'n' his clean collar give him dead away afore he everopened his mouth. He set out by sayin' 't the consolations of religionwas mine f'r the askin', but I didn't take the hint, 'n' so he had tojus' come out flat 'n' say 't he'd been thinkin' it over 'n' he'dchanged his mind. I held my head good 'n' high 't that, I c'n assureyou, 'n' it was a pretty sorry look he give me when I said 't I'd beenthinkin' it over too, 'n' I'd changed my mind too. He could 'a' talkedto me till doomsday about his bein' a consolation, I'd know it wasnothin' 't changed him but me comin' into them government bonds. Noman alive could help wantin' me after them bonds was found, 'n' I hadthe great pleasure o' learnin' that fact out o' Lawyer Weskin himself.All his species o' fun-makin' 't nobody but hisself ever sees any funin, jus' died right out when we unlocked father's old desk 'n' come onthat bundle o' papers. He give one look 'n' then all his gayspinniness oozed right out o' him, 'n' he told me 's serious 's ajudge 't a woman 's rich 's I be needed a good lawyer to look out f'rher 'n' her property right straight along. Well, I was 's quick toreply 's he was to speak. 'N' I was to the point too. I jus' up 'n'said, Yes, I thought so myself, 'n' jus' 's soon 's I got things torights I was goin' to the city 'n' get me one."
Miss Clegg paused to frown reminiscently; Mrs. Lathrop's eyes neverquitted the other's face.
"There was Mr. Sperrit too. Come with a big basket o' fresh vegetables't he said he thought 'd maybe tempt my appetite. I d'n' know 's Iever enjoyed rappin' no one over the knuckles more 'n I did him. Ijus' stopped to take in plenty o' breath 'n' then I let myself out,'n' I says to him flat 'n' plain, I says, 'Thank you kindly, but Iguess no woman in these parts 's better able to tempt her own appetite'n' I be now, 'n' you'll be doin' me the only kindness 't it's in youto do me now if you'll jus' take your garden stuff 'n' give it to someone 's is poor 'n' needin'.' He looked so crestfallen 't I made up mymind 't it was then or never to settle my whole score with him, so Iup 'n' looked him right in the eye 'n' I says to him, I says, 'Mr.Sperrit, you didn't seem to jus' realize what it meant to me that day't I took that horse 'n' buggy 'n' drove 'way out to your farm to seeyou; you didn't seem to think what it meant to me to take that trip:but I c'n tell you 't it costs suthin' for a woman to do a thing likethat; it cost me a good deal--it cost me fifty cents.' He went awaythen, 'n' he can marry Eliza Gringer if he likes, 'n' I'll wish 'emboth joy 'n' consider myself
the luckiest o' the three."
Mrs. Lathrop chewed her clover.
"'N' then there's Jathrop!" continued the speaker, suddenlytransfixing her friend with a piercing glance,--"there's even Jathrop!under my feet night 'n' day. I declare to you 't upon my honor I ain'tturned around four times out o' five this week without almost fallin'over Jathrop wantin' me to give him a chance to explain his feelin's,I don't wish to hurt your feelin's, Mrs. Lathrop, 'n' it's natural 't,seein' you can't help yourself, you look upon him 's better 'n'nothin', but still I will remark 't Jathrop's the last straw on top o'my hump, 'n' this mornin' when I throwed out the dish-water 'n' hithim by accident jus' comin' in, my patience clean gin out. I didn'tfeel no manner o' sympathy over his soapy wetness, 'n' I spoke my mindright then 'n' there. 'Jathrop Lathrop,' I says to him, all forgettin'how big he'd got 'n' only rememberin' what a bother he's always been,'Jathrop Lathrop, you let that soakin' be a lesson to you 'n' marchright straight home this instant, 'n' 'f you want to think of me,think 't if I hear any more about your feelin's the feelin' you'llhave best cause to talk about 'll be the feelin' o' gettin' spanked.'"
Mrs. Lathrop sighed slightly.
Miss Clegg echoed the sigh.
"There never was a truer sayin' 'n' the one 't things goes bycontraries," she continued presently. "Here I've been figgerin' onbein' so happy married, 'n' instid o' that I find myself missin'father every few minutes. There was lots o' good about father,particular when he was asleep. I'd got so used to his stayin' where Iput him 't I don't know 's I c'd ever get used to a man 's could getabout. 'F I wanted to talk, father was always there to listen, 'n' 'fhe wanted to talk I c'd always go downstairs. He didn't never have butone button to keep sewed on 'n' no stockings to darn a _tall_. 'N' allthe time there was all them nice gover'ment bonds savin' up for me inhis desk! No, I sha'n't consider no more as to gettin' married. Whileit looked discouragin' I hung on 'n' never give up hope, but I sh'd beshowin' very little o' my natural share o' brains 'f I didn't know 'splain 's the moon above 't 'f I get to be eighty 'n' the fancy takesme I c'n easy get a husband any day with those bonds. While I couldn'tseem to lay hands on no man I was wild to have one--now 't I know Ic'n have any man 't I fancy, I don't want no man a _tall_. It'llalways be a pleasure to look back on my love-makin', 'n' I wouldn't beno woman 'f down in the bottom of my heart I wasn't some pleased overhavin' 's good 's had four offers inside o' the same week. But I mighto' married, Mrs. Lathrop, 'n' Heaven might o' seen fit to give me sucha son 's he give you, 'n' 'f I hadn't no other reason for remainin'single that alone 'd be s'fficient. After all, the Lord said 'It isnot good for man to be alone,' but He left a woman free to use hercommon sense 'n' I sh'll use mine right now. I've folded up the pinknightgown, 'n' I'm thinkin' very seriously o' givin' it to AmeliaFitch, 'n' I'll speak out frank 'n' open 'n' tell her 'n' everybodyelse 't I don't envy no woman--not now 'n' not never."
Mrs. Lathrop chewed her clover.