The Homesteader: A Novel

by Oscar Micheaux

  CHAPTER IX

  ORLEAN RECEIVES A LETTER AND ADVICE

  "Jean!" called Orlean three months later, as she came out of the house,the house where Stewarts had lived, and which Jean Baptiste had rentedfor the season so as to be near all his land in the older opened county."I have something to tell you."

  "What is it, dear?" he replied, drawing his horses to a stop, while sheclimbed on the step of the spring wagon he was riding in. He could seeshe was excited, and he was apprehensive.

  She got up on the seat beside him, and placing her arms around him,began to cry. He petted her a moment and then, placing his hand underher chin, raised her head and said: "Well, now, my dear, what is thematter?" whereupon, he kissed her. Drawing his head down then, shewhispered something in his ear.

  "Oh!" he cried, his face suddenly aglow with an expression she had neverseen in it before. The next instant he caught and drew her closely tohim, and kissed her fondly. "I am so happy, dear; the happiest I havebeen since we married!"

  "But, Jean!" she started and then hesitated. He appeared to understand.

  "Now, my wife, you must not feel that way," he admonished. "That is theultimate of young married life--children. Of course," he added, slowly,"couples are not always ready they feel, but such does not wait. We arenot always ready to die, but old death comes when he gets ready andthere's no use trying to argue a delay. So now, instead of lookingdistressed, just fancy what a great thing, a beautiful and heavenlything after all it is, and be real nice." He kissed her again andassisted her from the buggy, and while he drove to his work she wentinto the house and picked up a letter.

  It was from Ethel, and ran:

  "_My dear sister_:

  "I am writing you to say that I am very unhappy. You cannot imagine how disagreeable, how very inconvenient it is to be as I am. Never did I want a child--or children; but that silly man I'm married to is so crazy for a family that he has given me no peace.

  "As a result I must sit around the house during these beautiful summer days and be satisfied to look out of the window and go nowhere. Oh, it is distressing, and I am so mad at times I can seem not to see! Can you sense it: Him so anxious for a family, when what he earns is hardly sufficient to keep us in comfort and maintain the payments on the home. I have tried to reason with him on the score, but it is no use at all. So while I sit around so angry I cannot see straight, he dances around gleefully, wondering whether it will be a girl or a boy!

  "Now, I thought I would write you in time so that you could protect yourself. I am, therefore, sending you certain receipts which have been given me--but too late! They will not be again, though--trust me to attend to that! Don't wait too long, and use them as per direction. Do it and run no chance of getting to be as I am.

  "I hope you are well and write me any time anything happens, and if these don't work, then tell me right quick and I will send you something that is sure. I depend on you taking care of yourself now, and don't let anybody put foolishness in your head.

  "Hoping to hear from you soon, and that you are safe as yet, believe me to be,

  "As ever your sister,

  "ETHEL."

  When she had completed the letter, she was thoughtful as her eyeswandered out to where her husband worked away in the field beyond. Shetried to see a few months ahead. It was then midsummer, and Ethel andher father and all the girls were writing her already that they supposedthey might as well not expect her until Xmas. But Jean had intimatedalready that he did not expect to go to Chicago Xmas. Still, that wasseveral months away, and the dry weather of which he was complaining atthe present, might be offset by rain soon. So she might get to see oldChicago Xmas after all. But she would be unable to go out if she did goto the city Xmas with what she knew now. She pondered, and while she didso, she read through certain receipts her sister had sent her. One wasvery simple, and she was tempted. It stated that the blossom of acertain weed was positive when made into a tea.

  She was thoughtful a moment, and her eyes wandered again toward whereher husband worked in the field. Finally they fell upon the creek thatran near the house, and she gave a start as she saw growing upon itsbanks, a peculiar weed with purple blossom. She wondered what kind ofweeds they were. She made a mental note of the same and decided thatwhen her husband came to luncheon she would ask him. She sighed then asshe thought of the months to come, and what was to come with it.Presently, having nothing else urgent to do, she picked up paper, penand ink and replied to Ethel's letter:

  "_My dear sister_:

  "Receipt of your recent letter is here acknowledged, and in reply, will say that I have read the same carefully, and made a note of what you said.

  "I hardly know how to reply to what you set forth in your letter, and I am not fully decided. But I might as well admit that I have just discovered that I also am to become a mother and, Jean, like Glavis, is tickled to death! I just told him this morning and he said it was the happiest moment he had experienced since we have been married.

  "I am entirely at a loss what to do; but I will consult him regarding it. I don't think I ought to do as you advise--not let him know anything--because that would hardly be fair. He is just as good to me as he can be, and considers my every need. Sometimes I do not think he loves me as much as I would wish, but what can I do! He is my husband and gives me all his attention. I am, therefore, afraid that he will object to the measures you suggest. I am very much afraid he will, but I will ask him.

  "He's a perfect dear, so jolly, so popular everywhere about, and, I repeat, so good to me that I hardly think my conscience would be clear if I did something in secret and something that he would not like.

  "In the meantime, thanking you for your suggestions, and begging you not to act foolish, I am,

  "Your affectionate sister,

  "ORLEAN."

  Jean Baptiste drove into the yard at noon singing cheerfully. He was metby his wife at the gate which she opened. The wind was blowing from thesouth, and the air was very hot. It had been blowing from that directionfor days. He stopped singing while he unhitched the horses and gazedanxiously toward the northwest.

  "What is it, dear?" she inquired, observing the old frown upon his face.He shook his head before replying, and tried to smile.

  "This wind."

  "The wind?"

  "Yes. It's terribly hot. It's awfully drying. The oats are suffering,the wheat is hurt. I wish it would rain, and rain soon," whereat heshook his head again and his frown grew deeper.

  He led the horses to the well to drink and while they were drinking shestood near, holding her hands and looking at the patch of strange weedsthat were in blossom near. Presently she observed him, and, seeing thathis mind was concerned with problems, she would satisfy her mind.

  "Jean!" she called.

  "Yes," he replied abstractedly.

  "What kind of weeds are those?" and she pointed to the wild blossoms.

  "Those!" he said, his mind struggling between what he was thinking aboutand the question. "Oh, those are evil weeds," he concluded, and turning,led his horses into the barn.

  "Evil weeds!" she echoed. Slowly she turned and looked again. She wasstrangely frightened. Then taking courage, she went playfully to wherethey grew, and, gathering a bunch in a sort of bouquet, carried theminto the house, laid them down, and began to place the meal upon thetable.

  "Why, Orlean," she heard, and turned to meet her husband. "What are youdoing with these old things in here! My dear, you could find somethingbetter for the table than these things! Just outside the fence in theroad roses are blooming everywhere, and the air is charged with theirsweet fragrance." He paused briefly and held them to his nose. "And,besides, they stink. Booh!" he cried, holding them away. "They make mesick! Now, if you'll agree I'll throw these things away and run out intothe r
oad and get you a big bunch of roses. Will that be all right,dear?"

  "Yes," she answered, and he did not understand why her eyes weredowncast.

  "Good!" he exclaimed, and she was glad to see that the frown upon hisface was gone, if only for a while. "I'll bring you some nice flowers.You know," he paused in the doorway and turned to her, "I never likedthis weed, anyhow. I have always connected them with all that's vile andevil." So saying, he turned and a few minutes later she heard his voicecoming cheerfully from the road where he picked the various shades ofroses.

  "Now, my dear," said he pleasantly, "I have brought you a real bouquet,"and he placed the vase containing the same in the center of the table,stood back and regarded the flowers admiringly.

  "Why," he suddenly exclaimed, his eyes widening, "what is the matter?"

  "Oh, nothing," she stammered more than spoke.

  "Now there must be something?" While standing where he was he caughtsight of Ethel's letter. Immediately she reached forth to snatch it frombeneath his gaze. He made no effort to take it, but regarded her in themeantime wonderingly. The receipt concerning the weed lay in plainsight, and he could hardly help reading it. She caught it up then, whilehe still looked after her wonderingly. He raised his hand to his headand was thoughtful, before saying:

  "Why were you so disturbed over me seeing the letter, Orlean? You havenever been so before. Of course," he said, and hesitated, and then wenton patiently, "I have no wish to pry into women's affairs or secrets,but I am curious to know why you acted as you did?"

  She was an emotional girl. Never in her life had she violated the rulesof her parents, and she had never thought of disobeying, or keepingsecrets from her husband. When she was confronted with the situation,she broke down thereupon, and crying on his breast, told him all theletter contained, and what the receipt meant.

  He listened patiently and when she was through he hesitated beforespeaking. After a moment he led her to the table, sat down, and fell toeating the luncheon.

  "When we have dined," he paused after a few minutes to remark, "and youhave washed the dishes, we will spare a few minutes for a talk, Orlean."

  "Now," he resumed at the appointed time, "when we married, Orlean, itwas my hope--and I feel sure 'twas yours, that we would live happily."

  "Of course, Jean," she agreed tremulously.

  "Then, dear, there are certain things we should come to an understandingthereto lest we find our lives at variance. To begin with, I wish yoursister would not write you such letters as the one you received today.But, if she must and offer--yes, criminal advice, I trust you will notincline toward such seriously. You and I, as well as those who have gonebefore us; and as those who must perforce come after us, did not comeinto this world altogether by ours or others' providence. And if theworld, and the people in the world are growing wicked, as yet, thankGod, race suicide has not come to rule!" He was meditatively silent thenfor a time, gazing as if into space off across the sunkist fields.

  "First," he resumed, "selfishness is a bad patient to nurse. Secondly,we must appreciate that ours--our lives have a duty to fulfill. Bringingchildren into the world and rearing them to clean and healthy man andwomanhood is that duty--our greatest duty. And now with regards to thatreceipt, or receipts.

  "I will not seek to deny that such practices are not in some measure acustom. Such very often are given thoughtlessly as to the infinite harm,ill health and unhappiness they might later bring. But the fact thatothers cultivate and heed such is no reason, dear, do you feel, that weshould?"

  "No, Jean," she admitted without hesitation and very humbly.

  "I feel more inspired to say this at this point in our new union,Orlean, because I cannot believe that it is your nature to be wicked; towilfully practice and condone the wrong."

  "Oh, Jean," she cried, moving toward him; laying her hands upon him, andseeking his eyes with her soul standing out in hers. "You are so nobleand so good," and in the next minute she was weeping silently upon hisshoulder.

  * * * * *

  The dry weather continued over all the West, and for two weeks the windremained in the south, and blew almost day and night. Heretofore, it hadbeen known to blow not more than a week at the most, before the heatwould be broken by a rain. And coincident with the heat and drought, thecrops began to fire, plants of all kinds to wither, and every one in thecountry of our story became ominous.

  But the Creator seemed to be with the struggling people of the newcountry, the drought was broken by rain before the crops were destroyed;the harvest was very good, and with the completion of the same, Orleanmet her husband one evening with a letter, announcing that her fatherwas coming to visit soon. And the next day they got another letter--no,a paper. It was a summons, and concerned Orlean.