Happiness Hill

by Grace Livingston Hill

  “Tom!” said Jane in dismay. “How utterly silly of you! It wasn’t true, not a word of it. There were two young men from the city who knew some of our crowd and they brought two girls with them. I suppose those were the two he saw. Rex Blodgett was the only one of us who had anything to do with them. Rex Blodgett does drink a little, sometimes, but he doesn’t ever seem to be under the influence of it, and those two girls he danced with last night he said were old acquaintances he had met down at the shore.”

  “Yes, I bet he did! This fella knows ’em. If they were old acquaintances it shows what he is. And anyhow, since when did you think it was all right to be around were the fellas in yer company were drinking? Does Dad know you do that? You made an awful fuss about me going with girls you didn’t like and coming home late, but you needn’t talk to me anymore.”

  Jane was distressed. “Tom, you’re utterly mistaken about me. I don’t enjoy going with people who drink, even a glass now and then—”

  “Well, you did, didn’t ya?” said Tom with his brows drawn down and his chin stuck out in an ugly way. “And I hadta fight for ya, and mebbe lose my job for it.”

  “But Tom, there wasn’t any sense in your fighting about that. That man in your office had nothing to do with me. I don’t even know him.”

  “Well, he knows who you are, and I’m not going to have my sister talked about. And anyhow, what call did ya haveta make a fuss about me going with a girl ya didn’t like if you do the same thing?”

  Jane was angry but silenced and felt no small distress. Was Tom going with that awful girl again, and had she unwittingly helped it on?

  She dressed frantically for she was late, but she could not get away from her worry about Tom. The thought of Sherwood troubled her, too. She had asked him to help her with her brother, and now in his absence she had dropped all the responsibility and run off with her own friends. She began to think of the evening’s entertainment with loathing. If it had not been that Lauderdale, at her suggestion, had got tickets for them all to see the pictures of the Byrd Expedition she would have telephoned Carol that it was impossible for her to come. Besides, she knew that dinner was already ordered for the crowd and it would make trouble about the couples. She couldn’t quite do that at this late hour, but—if she only could take Tom along to the pictures! If only Tom were not so absurdly prejudiced against Lauderdale. She would ask Lauderdale to get a couple more tickets for Tom and Betty Lou to go along. Surely Lauderdale could manage it if he tried. He was always boasting that he could get tickets anywhere if he wanted them bad enough.

  With the idea of proposing something of this sort, she tapped at Tom’s door.

  Tom flung his door wide open and stared at her. “Ugh! Going out again, are ya? Some sister you are!”

  Jane tried to control her temper and speak sweetly, but her voice must have showed a little irritation as she asked, “Tom, are you going out tonight?” because Tom bristled up at once.

  “Well if I am, what business is it of yours, I’d like ta know?”

  “But Tom, listen—” began Jane placatingly.

  “Aw, get out! Listen nothing. I’m disgusted with ya! I thought ya had more sense! A crowd of simps, that’s what ya go with! People who think your family and your home isn’t good enough for them! They wouldn’t come here on a bet! They make you come to them! Lemme by! I gotta date!” And he pushed by her and ran downstairs and out the door.

  If he had told her that he was going to the train to meet Sherwood and bring him home to dinner, she would have been relieved. She would have perhaps found a way to get out of her engagement and stay at home, for she knew that the death of this uncle meant much to Sherwood and she had thought of him sympathetically many times during the week, but as it was she went out to her engagement, with only a hasty call of good-bye to her mother and sister who were in the kitchen getting dinner.

  “Oh, Jinny! You’re not going out again!” she heard Betty Lou’s dismayed call as she shut the front door and hurried down the street. With remorse as she rushed toward the trolley, she sensed the disappointment there would be in the dear little face, her own face burning with Tom’s taunt about nobody ever coming for her and her always having to go to her friends.

  “I’m a selfish fool,” she said to herself bitterly. “They don’t really care for me, any of them except Carol, and perhaps Lew! I’m doing just what I did last summer, tagging after them all, and I don’t get any pleasure out of it, either. Why do I do it?”

  Then her thoughts turned anxiously to Tom again. What could she do for Tom? Was she losing all her influence over him?

  The dinner was a lovely affair, plenty to eat and drink. They were dining in a private dining room, and there was no restraint on the hilarity. Also there was a great deal more drinking than usual. There were present several people whom Jane had barely met before, and they seemed to bring in a new note of license. Jane turned her glass down and took little part in the party, but she was not happy. It all seemed vapid to her. She could not keep her mind from Tom. Where was he tonight? Wasn’t he going to be home to dinner, either? Saturday night dinner, always a rather quietly gala affair, everything just a little nicer because it was Saturday night! Mother would be worried, and Father and Betty Lou would be disappointed!

  Jane decided she was going home as soon as the pictures were over.

  Then the crowd got to talking about a new roadhouse that was opening that night. They said it wasn’t far, only fifteen miles, and one of the local guests proposed that they all go there. A wonderful dance floor! Why didn’t they cut the pictures and go there? Why waste time on pictures? Who proposed those pictures anyway? Jane?

  “Is that all right with you, Jane?” they all began to clamor.

  “Quite all right,” Jane said brightly, nodding with quick relief, and a sudden new cheerfulness in her voice. “I wasn’t going to be able to go anyway. Something came up just before I left that upset my plans, and I’ve got to get right back home. I didn’t tell you at once because I wanted to enjoy the dinner and not spoil the fun, but now since you’re going in another direction it won’t matter anyway.”

  They all exclaimed and tried to persuade her at once, of course, and Lauderdale demanded to know what was the reason she couldn’t go with them, but Jane was smiling and firm and gave no explanations. It seemed to her that a great reprieve had suddenly come to her.

  “Well, anyhow, you’ll be free all day tomorrow, won’t you?” said Carol. “We’ve made great plans. Vashti Estabrook called me up a little while ago and invited the whole bunch out to their country place tomorrow to spend the day and have a swimming meet. They have a glorious indoor swimming pool. It’s simply immense! And there are flowers and palms and tropical trees growing all around it, a regular garden all under glass! It’s going to be wonderful! And we’re to have dancing in the evening. You won’t let anything interfere with it, will you, dear? We’re meeting at half past eleven. It’s only about a forty-six-mile drive, but we want to get started early. You’ll be on time, won’t you, Jane?”

  In the little hush that followed Carol’s question, while they were all looking at her, Jane had a sudden strange feeling that God was standing in the shadow behind her chair waiting for her answer, and a strange new courage came to her.

  Her voice was quite steady and clear as she answered, “I can’t, Carol. I want to go to church tomorrow.”

  “To church?” said Carol, perplexed. “To church!” her face dimpling into laughter.

  And then they all suddenly began to laugh and scream, and Jane perceived that they thought she had been joking.

  She looked up and down the table, and not one of those summer friends but thought it was the greatest joke in the world that she should think of going to church! She had been with them for several weeks, more or less, and they were filled with merriment that she should suggest a church. The idea startled her more than anything she had ever experienced before.

  She watched them soberly, almost pathetical
ly, till they sobered down and then she raised her voice and spoke. “Listen,” she said, and there was something arresting in her tones. She didn’t mind the two strangers staring at her unpleasantly. She was more aware of that One who seemed to be standing behind her chair waiting for her to speak. “You think that I am joking. You do not believe that I always go to church on Sunday. But I do. I go to church in the morning and to Sunday school in the afternoon and to church in the evening. I was brought up to go, and I like to go. But even if I didn’t like it, I would go because I think it is right. I guess it’s been my fault that you are surprised at the way I have seemed not to care about things like that. I’ll have to think that out later. But anyhow, now I want you to know it. And now, if you’ll excuse me, Carol, I really must go home right away!”

  In the sudden awkward hush that followed her announcement, she got out of the room, followed at once by Carol.

  “You always were so good!” said Carol, putting soft arms around her and kissing her. “But I’m sorry you are not going with us tonight, and I do wish you wouldn’t take life quite so seriously, Jane! You miss so much!”

  “Do I, I wonder?” queried Jane as she left her friend and went down in the elevator. “Or was I missing everything really worth- while before?”

  In the lobby she came on Lauderdale waiting for her.

  “What’s the sudden idea, Jane? Have I offended you somehow?” he asked, taking possession of her and drawing her toward a secluded seat behind some palms.

  “Oh no, Lew,” she said, refusing to sit down. “I really must get home. Things at home have come up that make it necessary. I can’t explain now. Please, I must go.”

  “Then I’ll get a taxi and go with you, wait while you straighten things out and come back with you,” he said firmly, as if that settled it.

  “No,” said Jane decidedly, “I must be at home all the evening. There are things I have neglected, and Mother needs me. It really wouldn’t be worthwhile for you to keep them all waiting while you went back with me. Please don’t trouble.”

  She looked up at him with a sudden thought. “Of course, if you would like to come home with me and spend the evening, the family will be very glad to see you,” and perhaps he glimpsed the least bit of wistfulness in her glance.

  “Well, I couldn’t very well do that, you know,” he said. “Carol is expecting me to go with them, and of course I brought Travis and Hazenbrook here tonight. I couldn’t desert them.”

  “No, of course not,” said Jane with sudden coolness in her voice. “Now, don’t think of coming with me, no, not even to the door. I know my way perfectly well, and they will be waiting for you. Good night!”

  She flashed him a bright hard little smile and walked swiftly toward the door, while Lauderdale, taking a step after her, thought better of it and stood watching her out of sight, his eyes narrowing calculatingly.

  “Too much home influence!” he said to himself with a sneer on his lips. “Or else, it’s that cad with the Bible!” And he walked thoughtfully back to the elevator.

  Perhaps if he had gone home with her that night, Jane might have felt differently about several things. As it was she rode home in the trolley car, scorning the luxury of a taxicab, looking unseeingly out into the night across the heads of her fellow travelers, calling herself hard names, and beginning to realize that they were probably true.

  When the trolley stopped at Flora Street, she got out and fairly flew up the hill. Her cheeks were glowing and her eyes full of shamed eagerness as she burst into the house. The pleasant warm breath of home and a little feast smote her nostrils. They had had some kind of a surprise and she had failed them!

  All contrition, she threw off her hat and coat in the hall and hurried in where they were sitting around the dining room table. How late they were! Her father was just cutting a lovely roast, and Sherwood was sitting in the place of honor, next to Mother.

  “Oh!” she said, feeling suddenly like a naughty little girl who wanted to cry! “Oh, I haven’t missed it all, have I?”

  Betty Lou’s face brightened like sudden sunshine. “Oh goody, goody, goody!” she cried. “She’s come back! Now it’s just perfect!”

  Tom was there, too—not off with any girl! And Tom’s face brightened with a funny boyish relief.

  “Gee!” he said gruffly. “So you did get some sense at last, did ya?”

  “Sit right down, dear,” said Mother, “here beside John.” It all seemed so cozy. She did not tell them that she had just been eating—or trying to eat—a long and costly menu that included many items that never graced the home table. She suddenly felt hungry for home food. She had really only minced at that dinner, and it seemed so good to be at home with Sherwood here and all the dear faces happy, and Father, well and strong taking his place again looking like himself!

  “Gee! It’s good John’s train was late, isn’t it?” soliloquized Tom quite unusually. “Now we’re all here! And we can all eat in peace!”

  Jane, sitting down opposite her brother, feeling again that wonder that Tom seemed to care about her, had a sudden pre- monition like a rush of tears. She had to get up quickly and go and shut the kitchen door as an excuse to hide the mist that came across her vision.

  It was only a pot roast with gravy, but Mother had cooked it and it was delicate and tender as cheese. The fragrance of it filled the room with a satisfying odor. The mashed potatoes were like velvet.

  “Yes, that’s because I beat ’em,” boasted Tom with a grin. “Takes muscle to make mashed potatoes right.”

  Mother’s eyes answered him with that dear light in them she had for all her children. Oh, there were the tears again, right in Jane’s throat this time, and how was she to answer Sherwood? Jane turned a happy face on him and smiled, passed the dish of succotash, accepted the pickles he handed her and the quiver of Mother’s quince jelly that followed it, and was glad she had come back.

  “Yes, and whadda ya think, Jin?—John’s going to stay all night and bunk in my room with me!” declared Tom joyously. It was like a family reunion. Sherwood was one of them, and they were all glad to have him back again. Jane felt the glow of it in her heart and was glad, too.

  “Yes, and Jinny,” put in Betty Lou, “Father’s heard of a great preacher from London who is going to speak over at Bethayres tomorrow afternoon, and he says we might drive over and hear him. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?”

  “Lovely!” declared Jane.

  “It’s not more than half an hour’s ride across country,” said Father interestedly. “I thought it was an opportunity we ought not to miss. He isn’t speaking anywhere else around the city, I understand, and he only happens to be in Bethayres because he’s a special friend of the pastor there. I met Olcutt on the street today. He’s an elder at Bethayres church, and he told me about it. He said he knew I’d be interested. Would you like to go, John?”

  “By all means!” said Sherwood. “I’ve never heard many great preachers. In fact I haven’t heard many of any kind, I must confess. I guess I shall have to get busy and make up for lost time.”

  “Well, this man is worth hearing. I’ve read a lot of his books, and they are great!” said Arleth.

  “Gosh!” said Tom. “Do I have ta go in? Can’t I sit out in the car? One church is enough for me a day!”

  “Oh Tom, you wouldn’t spoil it all,” said Betty Lou with a quick disappointment in her eyes.

  “Of course Tom is going,” said Sherwood cheerfully. “He’s only kidding you, Betty Lou, don’t you know that? Tom wouldn’t miss it for anything!”

  “Your eye, I would!” mumbled Tom, but he grinned at Sherwood and said no more about it.

  After supper they played ping-pong on the old dining room table, and then, while Tom went down to fix the heater for the night, Jane and Sherwood took a brisk walk in the clear, crisp air, a great autumn moon looking down upon them silverly. Sherwood told her a little about the death of his uncle and how it was making him feel very much alone in the world. Jane
managed a few words of shy sympathy, to which his answer was a quick warm handshake just as they were going in the house again, and a fervent “Thank you,” spoken low.

  Jane fell asleep that night with a clean sweet feeling of peace upon her, and her last thought was “Oh, how glad I am that I came home tonight!”

  Sunday morning proved to be a gorgeous autumn day, the air like nectar, the sun warm and bright. Sherwood seemed like one of the family, and they had a cozy day together. He and Tom chummed together, sitting side by side in the morning church service. In the afternoon they went to Bethayres to hear the great English preacher, and strangely enough he preached on the very subject that they had studied down upon the sand, giving them great further enlightenment. Back and forth went knowing glances between them, as he answered the very questions about law and grace, assurance and judgment, that had perplexed them. Even Tom flashed a quick look at his sister and then at Sherwood when the noted man touched on judgment of believers, and they smiled together over some of his unusual ways of putting an idea.

  “Say, now, that was some preacher,” announced Tom when they were on the way out to their car after the service was over. “If you could always have sermons like that, I wouldn’t mind going to church twice a day.”

  Mrs. Arleth had ridden to the service with Sherwood in his flivver, but Jane rode back with him, and they went ahead of the others taking a new way around through a woods and by lovely estates.

  The trees were still a gala array of autumn tints, and the sunshine gleamed on flame and crimson and gold along the ridges of the hills. They had passed one lovely estate, surrounded by a stone wall and thickly screened by shrubbery, and came to a long stretch of wooded land fringed with thick hemlocks. Jane exclaimed over the beauty of coloring in the trees above the hemlock hedge, and extending up in groups to the brow of a lovely hill, a slightly place looking off across a wide bright valley where gleamed a little winding stream.