Jewel: A Chapter in Her Life

by Clara Louise Burnham

  CHAPTER VI

  JEWEL'S ARRIVAL

  When her grandfather had disappeared, Jewel placed Anna Belle onthe seat beside her, where she toed in, in a state of the utmostcomplacence.

  "I have my work to do, Anna Belle," she said, "and this will be a goodtime, so don't disturb me till the train starts." She put her hand overher eyes, and sat motionless as the people met and jostled in the aisle.

  Minutes passed, and then some one brushed the child's arm in takingthe seat beside her. "Oh, please don't sit on Anna Belle!" she criedsuddenly, and looked up into a pair of clear eyes that were regardingher with curiosity.

  They belonged to a man with a brown mustache and dark, short, pointedbeard, who carried a small square black case and had altogether a veryclean, fresh, agreeable appearance.

  "Do I look like a person who would sit on Anna Belle?" he asked gravely.

  The doll was enthroned upon his knee as he set down his case, and thetrain started.

  "If she annoys you I'll take her," said Jewel, with a little air ofmotherliness not lost upon her companion.

  "Thank you," he replied, "but I'm used to children. She looks like afine, healthy little girl," keeping his eyes fixed on the doll's rosycheeks.

  "Yes indeed. She's very healthy."

  "Not had measles, or chicken pox, or mumps, or any of those things yet?"pursued the pleasant voice.

  "Oh dear!" gasped Jewel. "Please let me take Anna Belle." She caught herdoll into her arms and met her companion's surprised gaze.

  "I haven't any of them," he returned, amused. "Don't be afraid."

  "I'm not afraid," answered the child promptly. "There is nothing to beafraid of."

  "I was only going to say," said the young man, "that if she was ailing Icould prescribe for her. I have my case right here."

  Jewel's startled look fell to the black case. "What's that! Medicine?"she asked softly.

  "It certainly is. So you see you have a doctor handy if anything ailsthe baby."

  The child gazed at him with grave scrutiny. "Do you believe in materiamedica?" she asked.

  The young doctor threw back his head and laughed heartily. "Well, yes,"he answered at last. "I am supposed to."

  To his surprise his neighbor returned to the attitude in which he hadfound her, with one hand over her eyes.

  He ceased laughing and looked at her in some discomfiture. Her mouth wasset seriously. There was no quiver of the rosy lips.

  To his relief, in a minute she dropped her hand and began to hum andarrange her doll's hat.

  The conductor approached, and as the doctor presented his ticket, hesaid, "This little girl's fare is paid, I believe." The conductor noddedand passed on.

  "I'm to get off at Bel-Air," said Jewel. "I hope he doesn't forget."

  "If he does, I shan't," said the doctor, "for I'm going to get off theremyself."

  The child's eyes brightened. "Isn't that nice!" she returned. Then shelifted Anna Belle and whispered something into her ear.

  "No secrets," said the doctor.

  "I was just reminding Anna belle how we are always taken care of,"returned Jewel.

  The young man regarded her with increasing interest and curiosity.

  "Don't you wonder how I knew that your fare was paid?" he asked.

  "How did you?"

  "I met Mr. Evringham hurrying through the station. He said hisgranddaughter was on this train and asked me to look out for a littlegirl with a doll."

  "Oh," returned the child, pleased, "then you know grandpa."

  "I've known him ever since I was no bigger than you are. But even then,"added the doctor mentally, "I hadn't supposed him capable of sendingthis baby out from the city alone."

  Jewel watched the kind eyes attentively. "So you see," he went on, "allI had to do was to look for Anna Belle."

  "And you nearly sat on her," declared the child.

  "I deny it," returned the doctor gravely. "I deny it. You weren'tlooking. For one second I was afraid you were crying."

  "Crying! What would I be crying for, coming to have a lovely visit atgrandpa's!"

  "I suppose you are in a hurry to see your aunt and cousin?" remarked thedoctor.

  "Yes, but I don't know them. You see," explanatorily, "they aren't myreal relations."

  "Indeed?"

  "No, aunt Madge is my uncle's wife and cousin Eloise is her little girl,but not uncle Lawrence's."

  The doctor thought a minute.

  "Really? She is a very charming little girl, is your cousin Eloise.Aren't you going to tell me your name?"

  "My name is Jewel."

  "And I am Dr. Ballard, so now we are properly introduced." He smiledupon her with merry eyes, and she responded politely:--

  "I'm very glad you found us."

  Arrived at Bel-Air, the doctor picked up his case and Jewel followed himfrom the train. He looked about expectantly for Mrs. Evringham or herdaughter. They were not there.

  The little girl's quick eyes discerned a light-haired driver and a brownhorse coming around a curve of the pretty landscape gardening whichbeautified the station. At the same moment Dr. Ballard recognized theequipage with relief.

  "They've sent for you. That is all right," he said, and 'Zekiel, withone side glance at the little stranger, drew up by the platform.

  "Good-morning, Zeke. Here is your passenger." He lifted Jewel to herplace beside the driver, whose smooth, stolid face did not changeexpression.

  "Do I wait for Mr. Evringham?" he asked, without turning his head in itsstiff collar.

  "No, Mr. Evringham remained in town."

  "Is there a trunk?" pursued Zeke immovably.

  "How about your trunk, little one?" asked the doctor.

  Jewel produced a paper check. "A man gave grandpa this for it at theboat place."

  "I'll see to having it sent up then." The doctor looked along theplatform. "It didn't come this trip." He took the child's hand in his."I shall see you again before long. Good-by."

  Jewel looked after his retreating figure with some regret. Her presentcompanion seemed carved out of wood. His plum-colored livery fittedwithout a wrinkle. His smooth, solemn face appeared incapable of speech.

  The swift horse trotted through the village street at a great pace, andthe visitor enjoyed the novel experience so intensely that she could notforbear stealing a look up at the driver's face.

  He caught it. "Ain't afraid, are you?" he asked.

  She looked doubtful. "Is it error for the horse to go so fast?" shereturned.

  "Error?"'Zekiel regarded the child curiously. "Well, I guess it'sconsidered one o' the biggest virtues a horse can have."

  "Then why did you ask me if I was afraid? You're the third person who'sasked me that this morning," returned Jewel, with wondering inflectionsin her soft voice. "Are New York people afraid of things?"

  "Well, not so's you'd notice it as a rule," returned Zeke. "I'm glad ifshe ain't one o' the scared kind," he pursued, as if to himself.

  "Oh, this is splendid," declared Jewel, relieved by her companion'ssmile; "I don't know as Anna Belle ever had such a good ride. See thetrees, dearie! How the leaves are coming out! They aren't nearly sofar out in Chicago; but oh," as the horse turned, "there's a big stormcoming! What a black cloud! We're just in time."

  "I don't see any cloud," said Zeke, staring about.

  "Why, right there in front of us," excitedly, pointing at the longopaque mass against the sky.

  "That? Why, that's hills." Zeke laughed. "The mountain they call ithere. Pretty sickly mountain we'd think it was up Berkshire way."

  "Oh, it's a mountain, Anna Belle," joyfully, "we're really seeing amountain!"

  "No you ain't," remarked Zeke emphatically. "Not by a large majority.Guess Chicago's some flat, ain't it?"

  "We don't have hills, no. So now we're going to see grandpa's park, andthe ravine, and the brook, and--and everything!"

  Zeke stole a furtive look at the owner of the joyous voice. Thevoluminous ribbon bows behind her ears wer
e mostly in evidence, as shebent her face over her doll in congratulation.

  "Left Mr. Evringham in town, did you?" he asked.

  "Yes, he was busy, and in a hurry to get to his office. Grandpa's suchan important man."

  "Is he?" asked Zeke.

  "Why ye--es! Didn't you know it?"

  "I surmised something of the kind. So Dr. Ballard looked after you."

  "Yes,--and I do hope my trunk will come."

  Jewel looked wistfully at the driver. In spite of his stiff and elegantappearance he had been surprisingly affable. "I have a checked silkdress," she added modestly.

  "You don't say so!" ejaculated Zeke, wholly won by the smile bent uponhim. "Well, now, if that trunk don't show up by noon, I'll have to dosomething about it."