CHAPTER XXXVII
The plan for a residence in Hyde Park was not long in taking shape.After several weeks had passed, and things had quieted down again,Lester invited Jennie to go with him to South Hyde Park to look for ahouse. On the first trip they found something which seemed to suitadmirably--an old-time home of eleven large rooms, set in a lawnfully two hundred feet square and shaded by trees which had beenplanted when the city was young. It was ornate, homelike, peaceful.Jennie was fascinated by the sense of space and country, althoughdepressed by the reflection that she was not entering her new homeunder the right auspices. She had vaguely hoped that in planning to goaway she was bringing about a condition under which Lester might havecome after her and married her. Now all that was over. She hadpromised to stay, and she would have to make the best of it. Shesuggested that they would never know what to do with so much room, buthe waved that aside. "We will very likely have people in now andthen," he said. "We can furnish it up anyhow, and see how it looks."He had the agent make out a five-year lease, with an option forrenewal, and set at once the forces to work to put the establishmentin order.
The house was painted and decorated, the lawn put in order, andeverything done to give the place a trim and satisfactory appearance.There was a large, comfortable library and sitting-room, a bigdining-room, a handsome reception-hall, a parlor, a large kitchen,serving-room, and in fact all the ground-floor essentials of acomfortable home. On the second floor were bedrooms, baths, and themaid's room. It was all very comfortable and harmonious, and Jennietook an immense pride and pleasure in getting things in order.
Immediately after moving in, Jennie, with Lester's permission,wrote to her father asking him to come to her. She did not say thatshe was married, but left it to be inferred. She descanted on thebeauty of the neighborhood, the size of the yard, and the manifoldconveniences of the establishment. "It is so very nice," she added,"you would like it, papa. Vesta is here and goes to school every day.Won't you come and stay with us? It's so much better than living in afactory. And I would like to have you so."
Gerhardt read this letter with a solemn countenance, Was it reallytrue? Would they be taking a larger house if they were not permanentlyunited? After all these years and all this lying? Could he have beenmistaken? Well, it was high time--but should he go? He had livedalone this long time now--should he go to Chicago and live withJennie? Her appeal did touch him, but somehow he decided against it.That would be too generous an acknowledgment of the fact that therehad been fault on his side as well as on hers.
Jennie was disappointed at Gerhardt's refusal. She talked it overwith Lester, and decided that she would go on to Cleveland and seehim. Accordingly, she made the trip, hunted up the factory, a greatrumbling furniture concern in one of the poorest sections of the city,and inquired at the office for her father. The clerk directed her to adistant warehouse, and Gerhardt was informed that a lady wished to seehim. He crawled out of his humble cot and came down, curious as to whoit could be. When Jennie saw him in his dusty, baggy clothes, his hairgray, his eye brows shaggy, coming out of the dark door, a keen senseof the pathetic moved her again. "Poor papa!" she thought. He cametoward her, his inquisitorial eye softened a little by hisconsciousness of the affection that had inspired her visit. "What areyou come for?" he asked cautiously.
"I want you to come home with me, papa," she pleaded yearningly. "Idon't want you to stay here any more. I can't think of you livingalone any longer."
"So," he said, nonplussed, "that brings you?"
"Yes," she replied; "Won't you? Don't stay here."
"I have a good bed," he explained by way of apology for hisstate.
"I know," she replied, "but we have a good home now and Vesta isthere. Won't you come? Lester wants you to."
"Tell me one thing," he demanded. "Are you married?"
"Yes," she replied, lying hopelessly. "I have been married a longtime. You can ask Lester when you come." She could scarcely look himin the face, but she managed somehow, and he believed her.
"Well," he said, "it is time."
"Won't you come, papa?" she pleaded.
He threw out his hands after his characteristic manner. The urgencyof her appeal touched him to the quick. "Yes, I come," he said, andturned; but she saw by his shoulders what was happening. He wascrying.
"Now, papa?" she pleaded.
For answer he walked back into the dark warehouse to get histhings.
Jennie Gerhardt: A Novel Page 37