Three Little Women's Success: A Story for Girls

by Gabrielle E. Jackson

  CHAPTER XVII

  CUPID IN SPECTACLES.

  If Constance had any suspicion that a most unusual scene had taken placein Arch Number One, she gave no sign of it.

  Within a few days after that occurrence Mr. Porter 'phoned down to hercounter one morning, and asked her if she could come up to his officebefore she returned to her home, giving as a reason his wish to talkover some plans he had in mind for the Arch. She went up immediately,and as simply as possible he told her of Katherine Sniffins' unfortunatedeception, her reason for taking the position under an assumed name, andher distress and remorse for having practiced such a deceit. He did hisbest to spare Katherine and to convince Constance that her only reasonfor such deceit had been her eagerness to secure the position, and herfear that she could not do so if Constance knew her to be ElijahSniffins' sister.

  At first Constance was strongly inclined to resent it all, and to severrelations with the victim of Elijah Sniffin's scheming, but gradually,as Mr. Porter talked, her sense of justice prevailed, and her resentmentchanged to pity, and with that the day was won.

  Perhaps Mr. Porter's casually dropped remark regarding Mr. ElijahSniffins' sudden departure from South Riveredge to take charge of one ofthe company's offices in the far West, and the added information that hewould not return to his former home, was the final straw which turnedthe balance in Katherine's favor. Constance was a generous-hearted girl,to whom petty resentment was impossible. And so that chapter in thelives of the girls, so utterly unlike in character, was closed, andConstance never knew what an exceedingly unpleasant one it might havebeen for her but for Mammy's ceaseless vigilance and Mr. Porter'swisdom. For a few days, it is true, she was somewhat disturbed, and itneeded all her self-control and dignity to help her through thehalf-hour's talk with Katherine, but once that ordeal was over shedismissed it all forever, and was the same sweet, gracious littleemployer whom Katherine had always known. If Katherine had admired herbefore, she openly adored her now, and confided to Mary Willing, whomshe met not long after, that she "didn't know there _could_ be girlslike Constance Carruth," and forthwith eulogized her until, hadConstance heard it, she might have been forgiven if she had begun tofeel around her own shoulder blades for sprouting wings.

  Mary let her talk on, secretly rejoicing in every word spoken in praiseof her idol, then with a most superior"why--anybody--could--have--told--you--that" air, she said:

  "It's all very well, I dare say, for people to work like everything toreform girls who have actually _done_ wrong and are in disgrace, butfrom my standpoint, if a few more people would do the things Mrs.Carruth and Miss Constance are doing as a matter of course every day oftheir lives, there wouldn't be so many girls in need of reforming,because they would be helped to have a little common sense and an ideaof the fitness of things before they went too far. Everybody knows whata silly little fool I used to be whenever a man came near me, and I'd beone yet if it hadn't been for those blessed people; but I tell you theymade me sit up and take notice, and they did it so beautifully, and withso much love and sweet fellowship thrown in, that I'd die to-morrow ifit could save just one hair of their dear heads. You may think I'm justtalking for effect, but I'm not. I mean every single word I say, and ifyou ever get to know them as Fanny and I do, you will feel exactly thesame way, you see if you don't."

  "I do already, though I can't talk as you do," answered Katherine,simply.

  "They have helped me that way, too," added Mary. "My goodness, how Iused to talk and what awful words I used before I knew them! But theyteach you without letting you ever guess they are teaching, and youlearn because you can't help it. Good-bye. Come down and see me sometime."

  "Can I come to see you down there?"

  "Why not? The little sitting-room up over the candy kitchen is just likeour own. Miss Constance told me to invite any of my girl friends tovisit me whenever I wished to, and we have lovely times up thereevenings when the work is done. Sometimes Mrs. Carruth or Miss Constancecome out to sit with us a little while. They always say they have comeout to welcome their guests, because Fanny's guests and mine are theirs,too. Isn't that a sweet way of putting it? We know, though, that they doit because they want our friends to feel at home, and there hasn't beena single evening when they haven't sent Mammy up with some cake, orlemonade, or something nice, and I can always take a pound of candy if Iwant to. Oh, there's no place in all the world like the 'Bee-hive,' Itell you!" And, with a happy smile, Mary went upon her way.

  Not long after this something else came up that filled the Carruthhousehold with subject for thought.

  Before leaving college, Eleanor had been offered a position in a girls'school. The school was one widely known, and prepared a great manypupils for Eleanor's alma mater. She had been highly recommended by itsfaculty, and had fully decided to accept the position. All that remainedto complete the arrangements was her final acceptance above her ownsignature and that of the school's principal. This she was on the pointof settling when she returned to Riveredge, then a trifle changed herdecision. Homer Forbes came home with her, and on the way she told himof her plans.

  He listened with great interest, although without comment, meanwhilegazing abstractedly out of the Pullman car window until Eleanor began towonder if he heard one word she said, and, if the truth must beconfessed, was not a little piqued at his seeming unconcern.

  As usual, when thinking deeply, he munched away upon something. Thistime it happened to be a long spiral of paper he had absently torn froma magazine and twisted into a lamplighter, and Eleanor found herselfsubconsciously wondering how much of it would disappear before herecovered his wits and spoke.

  About four inches of it had vanished, and, had Mammy been present, hertheory of the goat would surely have been substantiated, when he gavehis paper fodder a toss, and, turning toward her, said:

  "Don't sign that contract until you get home and have thought it over aweek. Then if you _do_ sign it, do so for six months--one term--only."

  "But," interrupted Eleanor, "that seems to me a most improvident step,for right in the dead of the winter it would leave me without occupationor the prospect of any."

  "No, it wouldn't, either. Do you think I would suggest such a step if Ididn't have something up my sleeve for you a mighty sight better--er,ahem! I mean if I hadn't been on the lookout for something desirable--or,or, at least, something I feel you would consider."

  "What is it?" was Eleanor's very natural and direct question.

  "Eh? Ah, well, er--a little enterprise, a scheme, a--er--What station isthis we're drawing into?" and this discussion was sidetracked instantly,leaving Eleanor to wonder if Forbes had lost his senses.

  She had been home a little more than a week when he asked her to take awalk with him, and had led her a wild scramble to the top of themountain to the plateau heretofore mentioned, where he unfolded a planwhich caused Eleanor to collapse upon a nearby rock and sit looking athim in a bewildered manner. Again and again during the ensuing weeks hadthey toiled up the mountain, and each time had returned grimy, gratifiedand garrulous, heads nodding, hands gesticulating and oblivious of anyother human being on top of the round world.

  Mrs. Carruth watched developments with resignation; Constance with openamusement; Mammy with a division between tolerance and contempt--thesaving grace in the cause being that Forbes could remotely claim kinshipwith the Blairsdales. But it was upon Jean that the effect was thefunniest. Jean had spent all her life with people older than herself.There had been no little children in her home, and her interests hadnaturally centered upon her older sisters and around their affairs. Shehad a wise little head upon her fourteen-year-old shoulders, and olderpeople would have been somewhat surprised could they have known the"long, long thoughts" which passed through it. More than once had sheseen Forbes and Eleanor start off and toil up the mountain, and morethan once had she been an unobserved follower. She never followed closeenough to overhear their conversation; that would have been contrary toher sense of honor. Still, she was dete
rmined to know where they went,and, if her eyes could inform her, why they went, and her deductionscame nearer the mark than the two would have believed possible.

  And so had passed the summer days, and now September was at hand, and ina very short time Eleanor would start for Forest Lodge--the school inwhich she had accepted a position for six months--_not longer_. Forbes'influence had prevailed.

  Early one morning the 'phone rang. Eleanor was wanted.

  "I know what it is," cried Jean, who happened to be near it and turnedto receive the message: "It's Mr. Forbes, and he wants Eleanor to playPilgrim's Progress with him again, I'll bet a cookie." The funnyone-sided conversation began only to be interrupted by Jean, whoexclaimed:

  "What makes you think you're talking to Eleanor? Are our voices so alikeas all that? Hold the wire while I call her, and don't waste all thosenice speeches on me," and with a chuckle Jean turned to call Eleanor.

  That afternoon Forbes called for Eleanor, and just as they were about tostart upon their pilgrimage Jean came tearing out upon the piazza withtwo gorgeously colored laundry bags, rose-flowered and highlydecorative, which she plumped down upon the piazza.

  "Jean!" expostulated Mrs. Carruth. "What in this world?"

  "Well, I don't see any sense in playing a game unless you have the'impurtenances,' as Mammy calls them: it must seem sort of half played.So I've filled these bags full of newspapers, and if you'll each slingone over your shoulders you'll be sure enough 'pilgrims,' and goodnessknows you climb up that mountain often enough to give 'Pilgrim'sProgress' to the life!"

  Then Jean fled, and so did Eleanor and Forbes.

  Panting and hot, in the course of time they reached the summit of themountain and the plateau, every square foot of which should have beenknown to them by this time. Seating themselves upon the log, which haddone duty many times before, Forbes at once began to unroll a greatblueprint which he held at arm's length, and said:

  "_Now_, I can show you the tangible evidence of my dreams. You see theplan is this:"

  But, alack! the best-_drawn_ plans, etc., and this plan was printed uponthe stiffest of architect's paper, and had been rolled tightly forseveral days: Forbes' fingers were a trifle shaky for some reason; oneedge of the outspread roll slipped from them and quick as a flash coiledup upon itself, sweeping his glasses from his nose and hurling them tenfeet away, where they crashed upon a rock and shivered to atoms.

  Now, if anyone reading this is solely and entirely dependent upon a pairof glasses to see anything ten inches beyond her own nose, she willunderstand how Forbes felt at that particular moment--maybe.

  They bounded to their feet and inanely rushed for the wrecked glasses,knowing perfectly well that only bits of scattered crystal lay upon thatmerciless rock. Eleanor dropped upon her knees and began frantically togather up the fragments, Forbes towering above her and blinking like anowl which has suddenly been routed out of a hollow tree into the glaringsunshine. A fragment, about two-thirds, of the lense of the right eyestill held to the nose-clip. Eleanor pounced upon this, crying:

  "Ah, here is a little piece, a very little piece! Do you think you cansee with that? See just a little, little bit? Enough to look over theplans? I'll read the specifications to you. I'll do anything, anythingto help you, I feel so terribly sorry. Let me be your eyes for just alittle while, for I know how disappointed you must be," and there wasalmost a sob in her voice as she rose to her feet and held the hopelessbit of eyeglass toward him.

  He took it, deliberately opened the patent clip and as deliberatelysnapped it upon his nose, Eleanor watching him as though worlds trembledin the balance.

  If half a loaf is better than no bread, I dare say two-thirds of aneyeglass are better than no eyeglass at all; and who in such a vitalmoment would have dared hint that Forbes looked slightly batty as hecocked one eye at the lady before him? Certainly not the lady, who wasthe very picture of Dolores at that instant. Then Forbes came to thefront splendidly. Indeed, he came with a rush and a promptitude which noone could have foreseen; he made one step forward, and the next instantheld the lady in his arms, as his words poured deliciously into the earso near his lips:

  "My eyes! My eyes! You shall be my eyes, my ears, my soul!--yes, my verybody and boots. No! no! I don't mean that! Oh, hang it all, what made mesay that foolish thing? I mean you _are_ my eyes and my very soul!Without your inspiration my very mind would be a blank. With you thedreams of my life will be crystallized into beautiful realities. Never,never shall I let you leave me! Never depart from your home until thisone we have pictured and planned stands ready to receive you within itswalls, to be its cherished, adored light; its inner shrine, at which Ishall be the chief worshipper, my goddess of sweetness, light andintellect! My inspiration to ideals beyond man's conception."

  But let us draw down that thick fir bough as a curtain.

  Off yonder, upon a moss-covered stone, sat a little figure, hugging hisknees and swaying backward and forward in an abandonment of hilariousmirth. At his feet lay a bow, beside him an empty quiver. On his weenose the wreck of a pair of thick-lensed eyeglasses.