feelings at themoment might be. But there had sprung into her mind, full-fledged, thesuspicion that Doctor Davison had been the donor of the frocks.Perhaps he had had a little girl sometime, who had died. For Ruth hadquite decided, from what Aunt Alvirah said, that the girl who hadformerly worn the frocks in question was no longer upon earth.
CHAPTER XVI
BEHIND THE GREEN LAMPS
Aunt Alvirah returned in a short time with such a pile of prettycolors over her arm that Ruth gasped with delight, she couldn't helpit The dresses were all nice ginghams, each of a different color,nicely trimmed and delightfully made. They were not too fancy forschool wear, and they were good, practical frocks.
Ruth had worn her little black and white frocks at school while shewas still in Darrowtown, and had she remained longer Miss True Pettiswould have helped her to make other frocks in colors. It is a sadthing to see a child in black, or black and white, and Ruth's fatherhad been dead now six months.
"Ye needn't be scart at the colors, child," said old Aunt Alviry."Here's this pretty lavender. We'll make that over first. 'Cretia Lockwill be here to-morrow and we'll make a big beginnin'."
"But what will uncle say?" gasped Ruth, almost bursting withquestions, but being debarred from asking the most important ones.
"Don't you fret about your Uncle Jabez. He ain't got nothin' ter dowith it," declared the little old woman, firmly. "Nor he won't saynothin'."
Which was very true. Uncle Jabez seldom spoke to his niece now. Hismoodiness grew upon him as time passed. And in the evening, as he satover his endless calculations at the kitchen table, the girl and theold woman scarcely dared speak to each other save in whispers.
Miss Lock worked three days, instead of two, at the Red Mill, helpingAunt Alvirah "dress-make." How she was paid, Ruth did not know; butshe feared that the pennies Aunt Alvirah saved from her egg andchicken money had done this. However, the shabby black frock was putaway and Ruth blossomed out into as pretty an appearance as any girlattending Miss Cramp's school.
But she did not make friends among her classmates. Julia Semple hadsuch influence that she seemed to have set all the girls of the higherclass in the district school against Ruth. Julia herself could notpass Ruth without tossing her head and staring at her haughtily; andsometimes she would whisper to her companions and look at the girlfrom the Red Mill in so scornful a way that Ruth could not helpfeeling uncomfortable.
Indeed, Ruth would have lacked almost all young company had it notbeen for Helen Cameron and Tom. Tom didn't think much of "playing withgirls;" but he could always be depended upon to do anything Ruth andHelen wanted him to. Helen was at the Red Mill often after Ruth'sschool hours, and seldom did a Saturday pass that the two chums didnot spend at least half the day together. Aunt Alvirah declared Ruthshould have Saturday afternoons to herself, and often Helen came inher little pony carriage and drove Ruth about the country. There was afat old pony named Tubby that drew the phaeton, and Tubby jogged alongthe pleasant country roads with them in a most delightfully gypsyishway.
One Saturday afternoon they went to town. Ruth had never seen Cheslowsave on the night of her arrival and on the following morning, whenshe had started directly after breakfast at the station master's houseto walk to the Red Mill.
"Why, you'll like Cheslow," declared Helen, in her enthusiastic way."It's just as pretty as it can be--you'll love it! I often drive into shop, and sometimes Mrs. Murchiston goes with me. Get up, Tubby!"
Tubby had to be urged incessantly; exertion was not loved by him. Hewould rather walk than trot; he would rather stand than walk; and healways had the appearance of being asleep--save when he was at hismanger.
Ruth remembered that she had been warned not to go past "the gate withthe green eyes" and she told Helen of her promise to Doctor Davison.
"Oh, splendid!" cried her chum. "I don't know anybody whom I like tocall upon in Cheslow ahead of Doctor Davison. It's almost as good ashaving him come to see you when you're sick."
"But I don't think," Ruth objected, "that it's any fun to have anydoctor come to see one on business."
"You don't half mind being ill when Doctor Davison calls," declaredHelen, with unabated enthusiasm. "And when you call there! Well,"concluded Helen, with a sigh of anticipation, "you'll soon know whatthat means. He's got a colored Mammy for cook who makes the mostwonderful jumbles and cakes that you ever tasted--they about melt inpour mouth!"
Ruth soon had the opportunity of judging Mammy 'Liza's goodies forherself, for the doctor was at home, and the girls had scarcely becomeseated in his consultation room when a little colored girl with herwool "done" in innumerable pigtails, like tiny horns, and sticking outall over her brown head in every direction, came in with a tray onwhich was a plate piled high with fancy cakes and two tall glasses ofyellow-gold beaten egg and milk with a dust of nutmeg floating uponthe surface of each glassful.
"'Liza done sez as how yo'-all might be hongry aftah yo' ride," saidthe child, timidly, and then darted out of the room before Ruth andHelen could thank her.
They were munching the goodies when Doctor Davison came smilingly in.
"That's Mammy 'Liza all over," he said, shaking his head, but with hisdark eyes twinkling. "I try to keep my young folk in good digestionand she is bound to make a patient of everybody who comes to see me.Cookies and cakes and sweets are what she believes girls live for; orelse she is trying to make customers for my nasty drugs."
Doctor Davison seemed to have plenty of time to give to the society ofyoung folk who called upon him. And he showed an interest in Ruth andher affairs which warmed our heroine's heart. He wanted to know howshe got along at school, and if it was true that she was trying to"make" the High by the opening of the fall term.
"Not that I want any of my young folk to travel the road to knowledgetoo steadily, or travel it when their bodily condition is not thebest. But you are strong and well, Ruthie, and you can do a deal thatother girls of your age would find irksome. I shall be proud if youprepare to enter the High at your age."
And this made Ruth feel more and more sure that Doctor Davison hadtaken interest enough in her career at school to supply the prettyfrocks, one of which she was then wearing. But Aunt Alvirah had warnedher that the frocks were to remain a mystery by the special request ofthe donor, and she could not ask the good old doctor anything aboutthem. His interest in her progress seemed to infer that he expectedRuth to accomplish a great deal in her school, and the girl from theRed Mill determined not to disappoint him.
When Helen told Doctor Davison where else they intended to call, henodded understandingly. "That is," he added, "Ruth will call on Mercywhile you do your shopping, Miss Cameron. Oh, yes! that is the betterplan. You know very well that Mercy Curtis won't want to see you,Helen."
"I don't know why not," said Helen, pouting. "I know she never treatsanyone nicely, but I don't mind. If it does her good to do what Tomcalls 'bully-ragging,' I can stand it as well as Ruth--better,perhaps."
"No," said the doctor, gravely. "I have told you before why youshouldn't call there. You have everything that Mercy can possiblydesire. Comparisons with poor Mercy certainly are odious. Ruth, sheknows, is not so fortunately placed in life as yourself. She is not sofortunately placed, indeed, as Mercy is. And Mercy is in an extremelynervous state just now, and I do not wish her to excite herself beyondreason."
"Well, I declare," exclaimed Helen, but good-naturedly after all. "Idon't like to be told I'm not wanted anywhere. But if you say so, I'llnot go with Ruth to the house."
Doctor Davison opened a new topic of conversation by asking after Tom.
"Oh, his head is all healed up--you can just barely see the scar,"Helen declared. "And his arm is only a little tender. We think he gotout of it very lucky indeed--thanks to Ruth here."
"Yes, thanks to Ruth," repeated the doctor, his eyes twinkling.
Ruth was "on pins and needles," as the saying is, for she very wellremembered what the injured boy had murmured, in his half consciousstate, when they brought h
im along the road on the stretcher. Had itbeen Jabez Potter who ran down Tom Cameron and forced him down theembankment with his motorcycle? This thought had been bobbing up inRuth's mind ever since she had come to the Red Mill.
She had seen her uncle driving his team of mules in one of hisreckless moods. She would never forget how the team tore down the longhill and was forced through the flood the day the Minturn dam hadburst. Had Jabez Potter been driving through the dark road where TomCameron was hurt, in any such way as that, he would have run down adozen cyclists without noticing them.
Fortunately Tom's injury had not been permanent. He was all right now.Ruth felt that she must be loyal to her uncle and say nothing abouther own suspicions; but as long as the matter was discussed betweenHelen and Doctor Davison she was anxious. Therefore she hurried theirdeparture from the kind physician's office, by rising and saying:
"I think we would better go, Helen. You know how slow Tubby is, andperhaps I can give the little Curtis girl some pleasure by calling onher."
"Without doubt she'll have pleasure," observed Helen, somewhatbitingly. "She is likely to scold and 'bullyrag' to her heart'scontent. You're such a meek thing that you'll let her."
"If that's what gives her pleasure, Helen," said Ruth, with a quietsmile, "why, I guess I can stand it for an hour."
Doctor Davison had risen likewise, and he went to the front door withthem, his hand resting lightly on Ruth's shoulder.
"You have the right idea of it, Ruthie," he said. "Let Mercy take herpleasure in that way if it's all the pleasure she can get. But perhapsa better mind as well as a better body may come to the poor child intime." Then to Ruth he added, more personally: "Remember you have afriend in here behind the green lamps. Don't forget to come to himwith any troubles you may have. Perhaps I do not look it, but I amsomething like a fairy godmother--I have a wonderful power oftransmogrification. I can often turn dark clouds inside out and showyou the silver on the other side."
"I believe that, Doctor Davison," she whispered, and squeezed his handhard, running after Helen the next moment down the walk.
CHAPTER XVII
TORMENTING MERCY
After they had awakened Tubby and urged him into something resemblinga trot they got into Cheslow proper by degrees. By the light of thevery sunshiny afternoon Ruth thought the town looked far prettier thanany place she had ever seen. This side of the railroad the houses weremostly old-fashioned, and there were few stores. There were many lawnsand pretty, old-time gardens, while the elms and maples met in greenarches overhead so that many of the streets were like rustic tunnels,the sun sifting through the thick branches to make only a fine,lacework pattern upon the walks and driveway.
They crossed the railroad near the station and struck into MarketStreet. Ruth would not allow Helen to drive her directly to the Curtiscottage. She had remembered Doctor Davison's words, and she thoughtthat perhaps Mercy Curtis might be looking from the window and see hervisitor arrive in the pony cart. So she got down at the corner,promising to meet her friend at that spot in an hour.
She could see the pretty cottage belonging to the railroad stationagent before she had walked far. Its garden on the side was already abower. But the rustic arbor on which the grape vines were trained wasnot yet sufficiently covered to yield any shelter from the street;therefore Ruth did not expect to find it occupied.
Just before she reached the cottage, however, she saw two little girlsahead of her, hesitating on the walk. They were talking seriouslytogether when Ruth approached within earshot, and she heard one say tothe other:
"Now, she'll be there in the window. We mustn't notice her, no matterwhat she does or says. You know what mamma said."
The other child was sobbing softly. "But she made me, oh, such a face!And she chopped her teeth at me just as though she'd bite me! I thinkshe's the very hatefulest thing--"
"Hush! she's greatly to be pitied," said the older sister, with an airand in a tone that showed she copied it from the "grown-ups" whom shehad heard discussing poor Mercy Curtis.
"I wish we'd gone 'round the other way," complained the other child.
"Now, come on. You needn't look into the window and smile. I'll dothat."
"No," said the little one, stubbornly. "I'll go by on the oppositeside of the way. And you must come, too, Anna. She--she'd bite me ifshe could get the chance."
"Oh, well! Come on, little silly!" said her sister, and the twocrossed over and Ruth, who watched them interestedly, saw them hurryby the cottage with scarcely a glance at the front windows.
But Ruth could see the outline of the lame girl's figure at one of thewindows and she saw a lean fist shaken in the air at the two childrengoing by. She could imagine the face Mercy Curtis "pulled," as well,and did not wonder that the two little ones took to their heels andran away as fast as ever they could.
But, thus prepared for an unpleasant greeting from, the unfortunateand much to be pitied Mercy, Ruth smiled happily herself and waved herhand at the lame girl's window. Mercy saw her and, for a moment, wasstricken with surprise so that she could neither greet her with frownor smile. She knew the girl from the Red Mill, although she had seenher so many weeks before; but Ruth ran into the yard and up the porchsteps at the side of the house, and knocked at the door before thelame girl recovered from her amazement.
The motherly Mrs. Curtis came to the door and, the moment she saw whoit was, received Ruth with open arms.
"You dear child! I am so glad you have come again. Did Doctor Davisontell you?" she whispered.
"He told me that Mercy would be glad to see me again; but I shouldhave come before, as I promised, if I could have gotten in," Ruthsaid. "Will she see me?"
"She is not so well to-day," sighed the harassed mother. "This is oneof her days of torment. I do not know how she will treat you, RuthFielding; but don't mind what she says to you, dear. Your being herewill take her mind off her pain and off her own self."
Ruth laid aside her hat and coat and went into the sitting room. Thecrippled girl was in her wheel chair by the window. The instant Ruthentered she seized the wheels on either side and propelled the chairacross the room in a sudden dash that threatened to run her visitordown. And her face was screwed up into such a mean look, and her eyesflashed so angrily, that Ruth was startled for a moment. But she stoodher ground and instead of colliding with her, the nervous handsbrought the chair to a sudden stop right before her.
"Thought you were going to be run down; didn't you?" snapped Mercy."I'd ought to break your legs--you run on them so fine. Showing off;wasn't you?"
She was offended because Ruth had run so lightly into the cottage andthe girl from the Red Mill made a decision there and then that shewould never come in to see Mercy again saving at a sedate walk. Butshe laughed lightly, and said:
"Do you want me to come on crutches, Mercy? That wouldn't help you abit."
She put out her hand to take the lame girl's, but Mercy struck itsmartly with her own, then whirled her chair around and returned toher former position by the window. She handled the wheel chair withremarkable dexterity, and Ruth, following her and taking a neighboringchair said:
"How quick you are! You get around your room so nicely. I think that'sfine."
"You do; do you?" snapped the cripple. "If you'd been tied to thischair like I have, you'd be quick, too. I suppose it's something forme to be grateful for; eh?"
"It must be a lot better than lying abed all the time," said Ruth,quietly.
"Oh, yes! I suppose so!" snapped Mercy. Her conversation was mostlymade up of snaps and snarls. "Everybody tells me all about how happy Iought to be because I'm not worse off than I am. That's theirtormenting ways--I know 'em! There!" she added, looking out of thewindow. "Here's another of those dratted young ones!"
Ruth glanced out, too. A lady was coming along the walk holding alittle boy by the hand. Before they reached the cottage the little boysaid something to his mother and then broke away from her hand andwent to the other side of her, nearest the curb
.
"There! he's hiding from me," said Mercy, bitterly.
The lady looked up and smiled pleasantly, but the cripple onlyreturned her pleasant salutation with a cold nod. The child peeped outfrom around his mother's skirt.
"There! go along, you nasty little thing!" muttered Mercy. "See himtrot on his little fat legs. I wish a dog would bite 'em!" It wasuseless, Ruth saw, to try and bring the cripple to a better mind. Butshe ignored her sallies at people who went by the window, and began totalk about the Red Mill and all that had happened to her since she hadcome to live with Uncle Jabez. Gradually she drew Mercy's attentionfrom the street. She told about the flood, and how she, with Helen andTom, had raced in the big automobile down the river road to warn thepeople that the water was coming. Mercy's eyes grew big with wonderand she listened with increasing interest.
"That's a nice place to live--that mill," the cripple finallyadmitted, grudgingly. "And it's right on the river, too!"
"I can look 'way up and down the river from my window the first thingwhen I get up in the morning," Ruth said. "It's very pretty
Ruth Fielding of the Red Mill; Or, Jasper Parloe's Secret Page 14