The Little Gray Lady

by Francis Hopkinson Smith

  III

  It was not until Kate Dayton reached her father's gate that the spellwrought by the flickering firelight and the dim glow of the ghostlycandle wore off. The crisp air of the winter night--for it was now quitedark--had helped, but the sight of Mark's waiting figure striding alongthe snow-covered path to her home and his manly outspoken apology,"Please forgive me, Kate, I made an awful fool of myself," followed byher joyous refrain, "Oh, Mark! I've been so wretched!" had done more. Ithad all come just as Cousin Annie had said; there had been neither pridenor anger. Only the Little Gray Lady's timely word.

  But if the spell was broken the pathetic figure of the dear woman, hereyes fixed on the dying embers, still lingered in Kate's mind.

  "Oh, Mark, it is so pitiful to see her!--and I got so frightened; thewhole room seemed filled with ghosts. Christmas seems her loneliesttime. She won't have but one candle lighted, and she sits and mopes inthe dark. Oh, it's dreadful! I tried to cheer her up, but she says shelikes to sit in the dark, because then all the dead people she loves cancome to her. Can't we do something to make her happy? She is so lovely,and she is so little, and she is so dear!"

  They had entered the house, now a blaze of light. Kate's father wasstanding on the hearth rug, his back to a great fireplace filled withroaring logs.

  "Where have you two gadabouts been?" he laughed merrily. "What do youmean by staying out this late? Don't you know it's Christmas Eve?"

  "We've been to see Cousin Annie, daddy; and it would make your heartache to look at her! She's there all alone. Can't you go down and bringher up here?"

  "Yes, I could, but she wouldn't come, not on Christmas Eve. Did she haveher candle burning?"

  "Yes, just one poor little miserable candle that hardly gave any lightat all."

  "And it was in the corner on a little table?"

  "Yes, all by itself."

  "Poor dear, she always lights it. She's lighted it for almost twentyyears."

  "Is it for somebody she loved who died?"

  "No--it's for somebody she loved who is alive, but who never came backand won't."

  He studied them both for a moment, as if in doubt, then he added in adetermined voice, motioning them to a seat beside him:

  "It is about time you two children heard the story straight, for itconcerns you both, so I'll tell you. Your Uncle Harry, Mark, is the manwho never came back and won't. He was just your age at the time. He andAnnie were to be married in a few months, then everything went to smash.And it was your mother, Kate, who was the innocent cause of his exile.Harry, who was the best friend I had in the world, tried to put in agood word for me--this was before I and your mother were engaged--andAnnie, coming in and finding them, got it all crooked. Instead ofwaiting until Harry could explain, she flared up, and off he went. Herhair turned white in a week when she found out how she had misjudgedhim, but it was too late then--Harry wouldn't come back, and he neverwill. When he told you, Mark, last year in Rio that he was coming homeChristmas I knew he'd change his mind just as soon as you left him, andhe did. Queer boy, Harry. Once he gets an idea in his head it sticksthere. He was that way when he was a boy. He'll never come back as longas Annie lives, and that means never."

  He stopped a moment, spread his fingers to the blazing logs, andthen, with a smile on his face, said: "If ever I catch you two youngturtledoves making such fools of yourselves, I'll turn you bothoutdoors," and again his hearty laugh rang through the cheery room.

  The girl instinctively leaned closer to her lover. She had heard somepart of the story before--in fact, both of them had, but never in itsentirety. Her heart went out to the Little Gray Lady all the more.

  Mark now spoke up. He, too, had had an hour of his own with the LittleGray Lady, and the obligation still remained unsettled.

  "Well, if she won't come up here and have Christmas with us," he cried,"why can't we go down there and have Christmas with her? Let's surpriseher, Kate; let's clean out all those dead people. I know she sits in thedark and imagines they all come back, for I've seen her that way many atime when I drop in on her in the late afternoon. Let's show her they'realive."

  Kate started up and caught Mark's arm. "Oh, Mark! I have it!" shewhispered, "and we will--yes--that will be the very thing," and so withmore mumblings and mutterings, not one word of which could her fatherhear, the two raced up-stairs to the top of the house and the garret.

  IV

  Two hours later a group of young people led by Mark Dabney trooped outof Kate's gate and turned down the Little Gray Lady's street. Most ofthem wore long cloaks and were muffled in thick veils.

  They were talking in low tones, glancing from side to side, as iffearing to be seen. The moon had gone under a cloud, but the light ofthe stars, aided by an isolated street lamp, showed them the way. Socareful were they to conceal their identity that the whole party--therewere six in all--would dart into an open gate, crouching behind thesnow-laden hedge to avoid even a single passer-by. Only once were theyin any danger, and that was when a sleigh gliding by stopped in front ofthem, the driver calling out in a voice which sounded twice as loudin the white stillness: "Where's Mr. Dabney's new house?" (evidently astranger, for the town pump was not better known). No one else stoppedthem until they reached the Little Gray Lady's porch.

  Kate crept up first, followed by Mark, and peered in. So far as shecould see everything was just as she had left it.

  "The candle is still burning, Mark, and she's put more wood on the fire.But I can't find her. Oh, yes--there she is--in her big chair--youcan just see the top of her head and her hand. Hush! don't one of youbreathe. Now, listen, girls! Mark and I will tiptoe in first--the frontdoor is never fastened--and if she is asleep--and I think she is--wewill all crouch down behind her until she wakes up."

  "And another thing," whispered Mark from behind his hand--"everybodymust drop their coats and things in the hall, so we can surprise her allat once."

  The strange procession tiptoed in and arranged itself behind the LittleGray Lady's chair. Kate was dressed in her mother's wedding-gown,flaring poke bonnet, and long, faded gloves clear to her shoulder;Mark had on a blue coat with brass buttons, a buff waistcoat, and blackstock, the two points of the high collar pinching his ruddy cheeks--thesame dress his father and Uncle Harry had worn, and all the young bloodsof their day, for that matter. The others were in their grandmother'sor grandfather's short and long clothes, Tom Fields sporting atight-sleeved, high-collared coat, silk-embroidered waistcoat, andpumps.

  Kate crept up behind her chair, but Mark moved to the fireplace andrested his elbow on the mantel, so that he would be in full view whenthe Little Gray Lady awoke.

  At last her eyes opened, but she made no outcry, nor did she move,except to lift her head as does a fawn startled by some sudden light,her wondering eyes drinking in the apparition. Mark, hardly breathing,stood like a statue, but Kate, bending closer, heard her catch herbreath with a long, indrawn sigh, and next the half-audible words:"No--it isn't so--How foolish I am--" Then there came softly:"Harry"--and again in almost a whisper--as if hope had died in herheart--"Harry--"

  Kate, half frightened, sprang forward and flung her arms around theLittle Gray Lady.

  "Why, don't you know him? It's Mark, Cousin Annie, and here's Tomand Nanny Fields, and everybody, and we're going to light all thecandles--every one of them, and make an awful big fire--and have a real,real Christmas."

  The Little Gray Lady was awake now.

  "Oh! you scared me so!" she cried, rising to her feet, rubbing her eyes."You foolish Children! I must have been asleep--yes, I know I was!" Shegreeted them all, talking and entering into their fun, the spirit ofhospitality now hers, saying over and over again how glad she was theycame, kissing one and another; telling them how happy they made her;how since they had been kind enough to come, she would let them have a_real_ Christmas--"Only," she added quickly, "it will have to be by thelight of one candle; but that won't make any difference, because you canpile on just as much wood as you choose. Yes," she cont
inued, her voicerising in her effort to meet them on their own joyous plane--"pileon all the kindling, too, Mark; and Kate, dear, please run and tellMargaret to bring in every bit of cake she has in the pantry. Oh, howlike your mother you are, Kate! I remember that very dress. And you,Mark! Why, you've got on the same coat I saw your father wear at theGovernor's ball. And you, too, Tom. Oh, what a good time we will allhave!"

  Soon the lid of the old piano was raised, a spinet, really, and one ofthe girls began running her fingers over the keys; and later on it wasagreed that the first dance was to be the Virginia reel, with all thehospitable chairs and the fire screen and the gouty old sofa rolled backagainst the wall.

  This all arranged, Mark took his place with the Little Gray Lady for apartner. The music struck up a lively tune and as quickly ceased as thesound of bells rang through the night air. In the hush that followed asleigh was heard at the gate.

  Kate sprang up and clapped her hands.

  "Oh, they are just in time! There come the rest of them, Cousin Annie.Now we are going to have a great party! Let's be dancing when they comein; keep on playing!"

  At this instant the door opened and Margaret put in her head."Somebody," she said, with a low bow, "wants to see Mr. Mark onbusiness."

  Mark, looking like a gallant of the old school, excused himself with agreat flourish to the Little Gray Lady and strode out. In the hall, withhis back to the light, stood a broad-shouldered man muffled to the chinin a fur overcoat. The boy was about to apologize for his costume andthen ask the man's errand, when the stranger turned quickly and grippedhis wrist.

  "Hush--not a word! Where is she?" he cried.

  With a low whistle of surprise Mark pushed open the door. The strangerstepped in.

  The Little Gray Lady raised her head.

  "And who can this new guest be?" she asked--"and in what a queercostume, too!"

  The man drew himself up to his full height and threw wide his coat: "Andyou don't know me, Annie?"

  She did not take her eyes from his face, nor did she move except to turnher head appealingly to the room as if she feared they were playing heranother trick.

  He had reached her side and stood looking down at her. Again came thevoice--a strong, clear voice, with a note of infinite tenderness throughit:

  "How white your hair is, Annie; and your hand is so thin! Have I changedlike this?"

  She leaned forward, scanning him eagerly.

  There was a little cry, then all her soul went out in the one word:

  "Harry!"

  She was inside the big coat now, his strong arms around her, her headhidden on his breast, only the tips of her toes on the floor.

  When he had kissed her again and again--and he did and beforeeverybody--he crossed the room, picked up the ghostly candle, andsmothered its flame.

  "I saw it from the road," he laughed softly, "that's why I couldn'twait. But you'll never have to light it again, my darling!"

  I saw them both a few years later. Everything in the way of fading andwrinkling had stopped so far as the Little Gray Lady was concerned. Ifthere were any lines left in her forehead and around the corners of hereyes, I could not find them. Joy had planted a crop of dimples instead,and they had spread out, smoothing the care lines. Margaret even claimedthat her hair was turning brown gold once more, but then Margaret wasalways her loyal slave, and believed everything her mistress wished.

  And now, if you don't mind, dear reader, we will put everything back andshut the Little Gray Lady's bureau drawer.