diff options
Diffstat (limited to '23132-h')
| -rw-r--r-- | 23132-h/23132-h.html | 14735 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 23132-h/images/image01.png | bin | 0 -> 273667 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 23132-h/images/image02.png | bin | 0 -> 229530 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 23132-h/images/image03.png | bin | 0 -> 256150 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 23132-h/images/image04.png | bin | 0 -> 278452 bytes |
5 files changed, 14735 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/23132-h/23132-h.html b/23132-h/23132-h.html new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e66b60c --- /dev/null +++ b/23132-h/23132-h.html @@ -0,0 +1,14735 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en" xml:lang="en"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /><link rel="schema.DC" href="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" /><meta name="DC.Creator" content="Grace Livingston Hill Lutz" /><meta name="DC.Title" content="Marcia Schuyler" /><meta name="DC.Date" content="August 2007" /><meta name="DC.Language" content="English" /><meta name="DC.Publisher" content="Project Gutenberg" /><meta name="DC.Identifier" content="http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/23132" /><meta name="DC.Rights" content="This text is in the public domain." /><title>The Project Gutenberg EBook of Marcia Schuyler by Grace Livingston Hill Lutz</title><style type="text/css">/* +The Gnutenberg Press - default CSS2 stylesheet + +Any generated element will have a class "tei" and a class "tei-elem" +where elem is the element name in TEI. +The order of statements is important !!! +*/ + +.tei { margin: 0; padding: 0; + font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal } + +.block { display: block; } +.inline { display: inline; } +.floatleft { float: left; margin: 1em 2em 1em 0; } +.floatright { float: right; margin: 1em 0 1em 2em; } +.shaded { margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + padding: 1em; background-color: #eee; } +.boxed { margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + padding: 1em; border: 1px solid black; } + +body.tei { margin: 4ex 10%; text-align: justify } +div.tei { margin: 2em 0em } +p.tei { margin: 0em 0em 1em 0em; text-indent: 0em; } +blockquote.tei { margin: 2em 4em } + +div.tei-lg { margin: 1em 0em; } +div.tei-l { margin: 0em; text-align: left; } +div.tei-tb { text-align: center; } +div.tei-epigraph { margin: 0em 0em 1em 10em; } +div.tei-dateline { margin: 1ex 0em; text-align: right } +div.tei-salute { margin: 1ex 0em; } +div.tei-signed { margin: 1ex 0em; text-align: right } +div.tei-byline { margin: 1ex 0em; } + + /* calculate from size of body = 80% */ +div.tei-marginnote { margin: 0em 0em 0em -12%; width: 11%; float: left; } + +div.tei-sp { margin: 1em 0em 1em 2em } +div.tei-speaker { margin: 0em 0em 1em -2em; + font-weight: bold; text-indent: 0em } +div.tei-stage { margin: 1em 0em; font-weight: normal; font-style: italic } +span.tei-stage { font-weight: normal; font-style: italic } + +div.tei-eg { padding: 1em; + color: black; background-color: #eee } + +hr.doublepage { margin: 4em 0em; height: 5px; } +hr.page { margin: 4em 0em; height: 2px; } + +ul.tei-index { list-style-type: none } + +dl.tei { margin: 1em 0em } + +dt.tei-notelabel { font-weight: normal; text-align: right; + float: left; width: 3em } +dd.tei-notetext { margin: 0em 0em 1ex 4em } + +span.tei-pb { position: absolute; left: 1%; width: 8%; + font-style: normal; } + +span.code { font-family: monospace; font-size: 110%; } + +ul.tei-castlist { margin: 0em; list-style-type: none } +li.tei-castitem { margin: 0em; } +table.tei-castgroup { margin: 0em; } +ul.tei-castgroup { margin: 0em; list-style-type: none; + padding-right: 2em; border-right: solid black 2px; } +*.tei-roledesc { font-style: italic } +*.tei-set { font-style: italic } + +table.rules { border-collapse: collapse; } +table.rules caption, +table.rules th, +table.rules td { border: 1px solid black; } + +table.tei { border-collapse: collapse; } +table.tei-list { width: 100% } + +th.tei-head-table { padding: 0.5ex 1em } + +th.tei-cell { padding: 0em 1em } +td.tei-cell { padding: 0em 1em } + +td.tei-item { padding: 0; font-weight: normal; + vertical-align: top; text-align: left; } +th.tei-label, +td.tei-label { width: 3em; padding: 0; font-weight: normal; + vertical-align: top; text-align: right; } + +th.tei-label-gloss, +td.tei-label-gloss { text-align: left } + +td.tei-item-gloss, +th.tei-headItem-gloss { padding-left: 4em; } + +img.tei-formula { vertical-align: middle; } + +</style></head><body class="tei"> + + +<div lang="en" class="tei tei-text" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em" xml:lang="en"> + +<div class="tei tei-front" style="margin-bottom: 6.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"> + <div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> + <div id="pgheader" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em"><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em">The Project Gutenberg EBook of Marcia Schuyler by Grace Livingston Hill Lutz</p></div><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em"><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost + and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, + give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project + Gutenberg License <a href="#pglicense" class="tei tei-ref">included with this + eBook</a> or online at <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/license" class="tei tei-xref">http://www.gutenberg.org/license</a></p></div><pre class="pre tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em">Title: Marcia Schuyler + +Author: Grace Livingston Hill Lutz + +Release Date: August 2007 [Ebook #23132] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MARCIA SCHUYLER*** +</pre></div> + </div> + + <div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> + + </div> + + <div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> + <div class="block tei tei-docTitle"><div class="block tei tei-titlePart" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Marcia Schuyler</span></div></div><div class="block tei tei-byline" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">by </span><span class="inline tei tei-docAuthor" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 173%">Grace Livingston Hill Lutz</span></span></div><div class="tei tei-div" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 5.76em; margin-top: 5.76em"><span class="tei tei-docEdition" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-edition" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 144%">Edition 1</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 144%">, (</span><span class="tei tei-docDate" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-date" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 144%">August 2007</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 144%">)</span></div> + </div> + + + + + + <hr class="doublepage" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> + <span class="tei tei-pb" id="page1"></span><a name="Pg1" id="Pg1" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.50em"><span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 150%; font-variant: small-caps">Marcia Schuyler</span></span><br /><br /></p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 75%">SIXTH EDITION</span></span></p> + </div> + + + + + + <hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> + <span class="tei tei-pb" id="page4"></span><a name="Pg4" id="Pg4" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em"> + </p><div class="tei tei-figure" style="width: 95%; text-align: center"><img src="images/image01.png" width="760" height="520" alt="Illustration: Copyright by C. Klackner“Oh, You Naughty Man!” She Exclaimed Prettily, “How Dare You!”" title="Copyright by C. Klackner “Oh, You Naughty Man!” She Exclaimed Prettily, “How Dare You!”" /><div class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 50%">Copyright by C. Klackner</span></span><br /> + <span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: center"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 63%; font-variant: small-caps">“</span><span style="font-size: 63%; font-variant: small-caps">Oh, You Naughty + Man!</span><span style="font-size: 63%; font-variant: small-caps">”</span></span><span style="font-size: 63%; font-variant: small-caps"> She Exclaimed Prettily, </span><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 63%; font-variant: small-caps">“</span><span style="font-size: 63%; font-variant: small-caps">How Dare You!</span><span style="font-size: 63%; font-variant: small-caps">”</span></span></span></div></div> + </div> + + <hr class="doublepage" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> + <span class="tei tei-pb" id="page5"></span><a name="Pg5" id="Pg5" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 2.50em"><span style="font-size: 250%">Marcia + Schuyler</span><br /><br /></p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 0.75em"><span style="font-size: 75%">by</span><br /><br /><span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 150%">Grace Livingston Hill + Lutz</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 75%">Author of </span><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 75%">“</span><span style="font-size: 75%">The Story of a Whim,</span><span style="font-size: 75%">”</span></span> <span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 75%">“</span><span style="font-size: 75%">According to + the</span><br /><span style="font-size: 75%">Pattern,</span><span style="font-size: 75%">”</span></span> <span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 75%">“</span><span style="font-size: 75%">An Unwilling Guest,</span><span style="font-size: 75%">”</span></span><span style="font-size: 75%"> etc.</span><br /><br /></p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 0.75em"><span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 75%; font-style: italic">Illustrations by</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 75%">E. L. HENRY, + N.A.</span><br /><br /></p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em">GROSSET + & DUNLAP<br /><span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 75%">PUBLISHERS · + NEW YORK</span></span></p> + </div> + + <hr class="page" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> + <span class="tei tei-pb" id="page6"></span><a name="Pg6" id="Pg6" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 0.50em"><span style="font-size: 50%">Copyright, + 1908</span><br /><span style="font-size: 50%">By J. B. Lippincott Company</span><br /><br /></p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 0.50em"><span style="font-size: 50%">Published + February, 1908</span><br /><br /></p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 0.50em"><span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 50%; font-style: italic">Electrotyped and printed by J. B. + Lippincott Company</span><br /><span style="font-size: 50%; font-style: italic">The Washington Square Press, Philadelphia, U. S. + A.</span></span></p> + </div> + + <hr class="doublepage" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> + <span class="tei tei-pb" id="page7"></span><a name="Pg7" id="Pg7" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 0.50em"><span style="font-size: 50%">TO</span><br /><span style="font-size: 50%">THE + DEAR MEMORY OF</span><br /><span style="font-size: 50%">MY FATHER</span><br /><span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 75%">The Rev. + CHARLES MONTGOMERY LIVINGSTON</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 50%">WHOSE COMPANIONSHIP AND + ENCOURAGEMENT</span><br /><span style="font-size: 50%">HAVE BEEN MY HELP THROUGH</span><br /><span style="font-size: 50%">THE YEARS</span></p> + </div> + + + + <hr class="doublepage" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> + <a name="pdf1" id="pdf1"></a> + <h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">CONTENTS</span></h1> + <ul class="tei tei-index tei-index-toc"><li><a href="#toc2"> + <span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER I</span> +</a></li><li><a href="#toc4"> + <span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER II</span> +</a></li><li><a href="#toc6"> + <span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER III</span> +</a></li><li><a href="#toc8"> + <span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER IV</span> +</a></li><li><a href="#toc10"> + <span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER V</span> +</a></li><li><a href="#toc12"> + <span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER VI</span> +</a></li><li><a href="#toc14"> + <span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER VII</span> +</a></li><li><a href="#toc16"> + <span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER VIII</span> +</a></li><li><a href="#toc18"> + <span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER IX</span> +</a></li><li><a href="#toc20"> + <span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER X</span> +</a></li><li><a href="#toc22"> + <span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER XI</span> +</a></li><li><a href="#toc24"> + <span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER XII</span> +</a></li><li><a href="#toc26"> + <span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER XIII</span> +</a></li><li><a href="#toc28"> + <span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER XIV</span> +</a></li><li><a href="#toc30"> + <span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER XV</span> +</a></li><li><a href="#toc32"> + <span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER XVI</span> +</a></li><li><a href="#toc34"> + <span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER XVII</span> +</a></li><li><a href="#toc36"> + <span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER XVIII</span> +</a></li><li><a href="#toc38"> + <span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER XIX</span> +</a></li><li><a href="#toc40"> + <span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER XX</span> +</a></li><li><a href="#toc42"> + <span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER XXI</span> +</a></li><li><a href="#toc44"> + <span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER XXII</span> +</a></li><li><a href="#toc46"> + <span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER XXIII</span> +</a></li><li><a href="#toc48"> + <span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER XXIV</span> +</a></li><li><a href="#toc50"> + <span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER XXV</span> +</a></li><li><a href="#toc52"> + <span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER XXVI</span> +</a></li><li><a href="#toc54"> + <span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER XXVII</span> +</a></li><li><a href="#toc56"> + <span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER XXVIII</span> +</a></li><li><a href="#toc58"> + <span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER XXIX</span> +</a></li><li><a href="#toc60"> + <span style="font-size: 100%">AD PAGES</span> + </a></li><li><a href="#toc62"> + <span style="font-size: 100%">ERRATA</span> + </a></li></ul> + </div> +</div> + +<div class="tei tei-body" style="margin-bottom: 6.00em; margin-top: 6.00em"> +<hr class="doublepage" /><div id="MS01" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page9"></span><a name="Pg9" id="Pg9" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<a name="toc2" id="toc2"></a> +<a name="pdf3" id="pdf3"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"> + <span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 183%">Marcia Schuyler</span></span> +</h1> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"> + <span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER I</span></span> +</h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The sun was already up and the grass blades were twinkling +with sparkles of dew, as Marcia stepped from the +kitchen door.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She wore a chocolate calico with little sprigs of red and +white scattered over it, her hair was in smooth brown braids +down her back, and there was a flush on her round cheeks that +might have been but the reflection of the rosy light in the +East. Her face was as untroubled as the summer morning, +in its freshness, and her eyes as dreamy as the soft clouds that +hovered upon the horizon uncertain where they were to be sent +for the day.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia walked lightly through the grass, and the way +behind her sparkled again like that of the girl in the +<span class="tei tei-corr"><a name="E1" id="E1" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><a href="#e1" class="tei tei-ref">fairy-tale</a></span> +who left jewels wherever she passed.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">A rail fence stopped her, which she mounted as though it +had been a steed to carry her onward, and sat a moment +looking at the beauty of the morning, her eyes taking on +that far-away look that annoyed her stepmother when she +wanted her to hurry with the dishes, or finish a long seam +before it was time to get supper.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She loitered but a moment, for her mind was full of +business, and she wished to accomplish much before the day +was done. Swinging easily down to the other side of the +fence she moved on through the meadow, over another fence, +and another meadow, skirting the edge of a cool little strip +of woods which lured her with its green mysterious shadows, +its whispering leaves, and twittering birds. One wistful +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page10"></span><a name="Pg10" id="Pg10" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +glance she gave into the sweet silence, seeing a clump of +maiden-hair ferns rippling their feathery locks in the breeze. +Then resolutely turning away she sped on to the slope of +Blackberry Hill.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It was not a long climb to where the blackberries grew, +and she was soon at work, the great luscious berries dropping +into her pail almost with a touch. But while she worked +the vision of the hills, the sheep meadow below, the river +winding between the neighboring farms, melted away, and +she did not even see the ripe fruit before her, because she +was planning the new frock she was to buy with these +berries she had come to pick.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Pink and white it was to be; she had seen it in the store +the last time she went for sugar and spice. There were +dainty sprigs of pink over the white ground, and every berry +that dropped into her bright pail was no longer a berry but a +sprig of pink chintz. While she worked she went over her +plans for the day.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There had been busy times at the old house during the past +weeks. Kate, her elder sister, was to be married. It was +only a few days now to the wedding.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There had been a whole year of preparation: spinning and +weaving and fine sewing. The smooth white linen lay ready, +packed between rose leaves and lavender. There had been +yards and yards of tatting and embroidery made by the two +girls for the trousseau, and the village dressmaker had spent +days at the house, cutting, fitting, shirring, till now there +was a goodly array of gorgeous apparel piled high upon bed, +and chairs, and hanging in the closets of the great spare bedroom. +The outfit was as fine as that made for Patience +Hartrandt six months before, and Mr. Hartrandt had given +his one daughter all she had asked for in the way of a <span class="tei tei-q">“setting +out.”</span> Kate had seen to it that her things were as fine as +Patience’s,—but, they were all for Kate!</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Of course, that was right! Kate was to be married, not +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page11"></span><a name="Pg11" id="Pg11" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Marcia, and everything must make way for that. Marcia +was scarcely more than a child as yet, barely seventeen. No +one thought of anything new for her just then, and she +did not expect it. But into her heart there had stolen a +longing for a new frock herself amid all this finery for +Kate. She had her best one of course. That was good, and +pretty, and quite nice enough to wear to the wedding, and +her stepmother had taken much relief in the thought that +Marcia would need nothing during the rush of getting Kate +ready.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But there were people coming to the house every day, +especially in the afternoons, friends of Kate, and of her stepmother, +to be shown Kate’s wardrobe, and to talk things over +curiously. Marcia could not wear her best dress all the +time. And <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">he</span></span> was coming! That was the way Marcia +always denominated the prospective bridegroom in her mind.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">His name was David Spafford, and Kate often called him +Dave, but Marcia, even to herself, could never bring herself +to breathe the name so familiarly. She held him in great +awe. He was so fine and strong and good, with a face like +a young saint in some old picture, she thought. She often +wondered how her wild, sparkling sister Kate dared to be so +familiar with him. She had ventured the thought once +when she watched Kate dressing to go out with some young +people and preening herself like a bird of Paradise before the +glass. It all came over her, the vanity and frivolousness of +the life that Kate loved, and she spoke out with conviction:</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Kate, you’ll have to be very different when you’re +married.”</span> Kate had faced about amusedly and asked why.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Because <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">he</span></span> is so good,”</span> Marcia had replied, unable to +explain further.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, is that all?”</span> said the daring sister, wheeling back to +the glass. <span class="tei tei-q">“Don’t you worry; I’ll soon take that out of him.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But Kate’s indifference had never lessened her young sister’s +awe of her prospective brother-in-law. She had listened +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page12"></span><a name="Pg12" id="Pg12" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +to his conversations with her father during the brief visits +he had made, and she had watched his face at church while +he and Kate sang together as the minister lined it out: +<span class="tei tei-q">“Rock of Ages cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee,”</span> +a new song which had just been written. And she had mused +upon the charmed life Kate would lead. It was wonderful +to be a woman and be loved as Kate was loved, thought +Marcia.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">So in all the hurry no one seemed to think much about +Marcia, and she was not satisfied with her brown delaine +afternoon dress. Truth to tell, it needed letting down, and +there was no more left to let down. It made her feel like +last year to go about in it with her slender ankles so plainly +revealed. So she set her heart upon the new chintz.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Now, with Marcia, to decide was to do. She did not speak +to her stepmother about it, for she knew it would be useless; +neither did she think it worth while to go to her father, for +she knew that both his wife and Kate would find it out and +charge her with useless expense just now when there were +so many other uses for money, and they were anxious to have +it all flow their way. She had an independent spirit, so she +took the time that belonged to herself, and went to the blackberry +patch which belonged to everybody.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia’s fingers were nimble and accustomed, and the sun +was not very high in the heavens when she had finished her +task and turned happily toward the village. The pails would +not hold another berry.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Her cheeks were glowing with the sun and exercise, and +little wisps of wavy curls had escaped about her brow, damp +with perspiration. Her eyes were shining with her purpose, +half fulfilled, as she hastened down the hill.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Crossing a field she met Hanford Weston with a rake over +his shoulder and a wide-brimmed straw hat like a small shed +over him. He was on his way to the South meadow. He +blushed and greeted her as she passed shyly by. When she +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page13"></span><a name="Pg13" id="Pg13" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +had passed he paused and looked admiringly after her. They +had been in the same classes at school all winter, the girl at +the head, the boy at the foot. But Hanford Weston’s father +owned the largest farm in all the country round about, and +he felt that did not so much matter. He would rather see +Marcia at the head anyway, though there never had been the +slightest danger that he would take her place. He felt a +sudden desire now to follow her. It would be a pleasure to +carry those pails that she bore as if they were mere featherweights.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He watched her long, elastic step for a moment, considered +the sun in the sky, and his father’s command about the South +meadow, and then strode after her.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It did not take long to reach her side, swiftly as she had +gone.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">As well as he could, with the sudden hotness in his face +and the tremor in his throat, he made out to ask if he might +carry her burden for her. Marcia stopped annoyed. She +had forgotten all about him, though he was an attractive +fellow, sometimes called by the girls <span class="tei tei-q">“handsome Hanford.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She had been planning exactly how that pink sprigged +chintz was to be made, and which parts she would cut first +in order to save time and material. She did not wish to be +interrupted. The importance of the matter was too great to +be marred by the appearance of just a schoolmate whom +she might meet every day, and whom she could so easily +<span class="tei tei-q">“spell down.”</span> She summoned her thoughts from the details +of mutton-leg sleeves and looked the boy over, to his great +confusion. She did not want him along, and she was considering +how best to get rid of him.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Weren’t you going somewhere else?”</span> she asked sweetly. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Wasn’t there a rake over your shoulder? What have you +done with it?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The culprit blushed deeper.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Where were you going?”</span> she demanded.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page14"></span><a name="Pg14" id="Pg14" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“To the South meadow,”</span> he stammered out.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, well, then you must go back. I shall do quite well, +thank you. Your father will not be pleased to have you +neglect your work for me, though I’m much obliged I’m +sure.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Was there some foreshadowing of her womanhood in the +decided way she spoke, and the quaint, prim set of her head +as she bowed him good morning and went on her way once +more? The boy did not understand. He only felt abashed, +and half angry that she had ordered him back to work; and, +too, in a tone that forbade him to take her memory with him +as he went. Nevertheless her image lingered by the way, and +haunted the South meadow all day long as he worked.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia, unconscious of the admiration she had stirred in +the boyish heart, went her way on fleet feet, her spirit one +with the sunny morning, her body light with anticipation, for +a new frock of her own choice was yet an event in her life.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She had thought many times, as she spent long hours +putting delicate stitches into her sister’s wedding garments, +how it would seem if they were being made for her. She +had whiled away many a dreary seam by thinking out, in a +sort of dream-story, how she would put on this or that at +will if it were her own, and go here or there, and have people +love and admire her as they did Kate. It would never come +true, of course. She never expected to be admired and loved +like Kate. Kate was beautiful, bright and gay. Everybody +loved her, no matter how she treated them. It was a matter +of course for Kate to have everything she wanted. Marcia +felt that she never could attain to such heights. In the first +place she considered her own sweet serious face with its pure +brown eyes as exceedingly plain. She could not catch the +lights that played at hide and seek in her eyes when she +talked with animation. Indeed few saw her at her best, +because she seldom talked freely. It was only with certain +people that she could forget herself.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page15"></span><a name="Pg15" id="Pg15" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She did not envy Kate. She was proud of her sister, and +loved her, though there was an element of anxiety in the love. +But she never thought of her many faults. She felt that +they were excusable because Kate was Kate. It was as if you +should find fault with a wild rose because it carried a thorn. +Kate was set about with many a thorn, but amid them all she +bloomed, her fragrant pink self, as apparently unconscious +of the many pricks she gave, and as unconcerned, as the flower +itself.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">So Marcia never thought to be jealous that Kate had so +many lovely things, and was going out into the world to do +just as she pleased, and lead a charmed life with a man who +was greater in the eyes of this girl than any prince that ever +walked in <span class="tei tei-corr"><a name="E2" id="E2" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><a href="#e2" class="tei tei-ref">fairy-tale</a></span>. But she saw no harm in playing a +delightful little dream-game of <span class="tei tei-q">“pretend”</span> now and then, +and letting her imagination make herself the beautiful, admired, +elder sister instead of the plain younger one.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But this morning on her way to the village store with her +berries she thought no more of her sister’s things, for her +mind was upon her own little frock which she would purchase +with the price of the berries, and then go home and +make.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">A whole long day she had to herself, for Kate and her +stepmother were gone up to the neighboring town on the +packet to make a few last purchases.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She had told no one of her plans, and was awake betimes +in the morning to see the travellers off, eager to have them +gone that she might begin to carry out her plan.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Just at the edge of the village Marcia put down the pails +of berries by a large flat stone and sat down for a moment +to tidy herself. The lacing of one shoe had come untied, and +her hair was rumpled by exercise. But she could not sit long +to rest, and taking up her burdens was soon upon the way +again.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Mary Ann Fothergill stepped from her own gate lingering +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page16"></span><a name="Pg16" id="Pg16" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +till Marcia should come up, and the two girls walked along +side by side. Mary Ann had stiff, straight, light hair, and +high cheek bones. Her eyes were light and her eyelashes +almost white. They did not show up well beneath her +checked sunbonnet. Her complexion was dull and tanned. +She was a contrast to Marcia with her clear red and white +skin. She was tall and awkward and wore a linsey-woolsey +frock as though it were a meal sack temporarily appropriated. +She had the air of always trying to hide her feet and hands. +Mary Ann had some fine qualities, but beauty was not one of +them. Beside her Marcia’s delicate features showed clear-cut +like a cameo, and her every movement spoke of patrician blood.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Mary Ann regarded Marcia’s smooth brown braids enviously. +Her own sparse hair barely reached to her shoulders, +and straggled about her neck helplessly and hopelessly, in +spite of her constant efforts.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“It must be lots of fun at your house these days,”</span> said +Mary Ann wistfully. <span class="tei tei-q">“Are you most ready for the wedding?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia nodded. Her eyes were bright. She could see the +sign of the village store just ahead and knew the bolts of +new chintz were displaying their charms in the window.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“My, but your cheeks do look pretty,”</span> admired Mary Ann +impulsively. <span class="tei tei-q">“Say, how many of each has your sister got?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Two dozens,”</span> said Marcia conscious of a little swelling +of pride in her breast. It was not every girl that had such a +setting out as her sister.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“My!”</span> sighed Mary Ann. <span class="tei tei-q">“And outside things, too. I +’spose she’s got one of every color. What are her frocks? +Tell me about them. I’ve been up to Dutchess county and +just got back last night, but Ma wrote Aunt Tilly that Mis’ +Hotchkiss said her frocks was the prettiest Miss Hancock’s +ever sewed on.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“We think they are pretty,”</span> admitted Marcia modestly. +<span class="tei tei-q">“There’s a sprigged chin—”</span> here she caught herself, remembering, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page17"></span><a name="Pg17" id="Pg17" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +and laughed. <span class="tei tei-q">“I mean muslin-de-laine, and a blue +delaine, and a blue silk——”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“My! silk!”</span> breathed Mary Ann in an ecstasy of wonder. +<span class="tei tei-q">“And what’s she going to be married in?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“White,”</span> answered Marcia, <span class="tei tei-q">“white satin. And the veil +was mother’s—our own mother’s, you know.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia spoke it reverently, her eyes shining with something +far away that made Mary Ann think she looked like +an angel.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, my! Don’t you just envy her?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“No,”</span> said Marcia slowly; <span class="tei tei-q">“I think not. At least—I hope +not. It wouldn’t be right, you know. And then she’s my +sister and I love her dearly, and it’s nearly as nice to have +one’s sister have nice things and a good time as to have them +one’s self.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“You’re good,”</span> said Mary Ann decidedly as if that were +a foregone conclusion. <span class="tei tei-q">“But I should envy her, I just should. +Mis’ Hotchkiss told Ma there wa’nt many lots in life so all +honey-and-dew-prepared like your sister’s. All the money +she wanted to spend on clo’es, and a nice set out, and a man +as handsome as you’ll find anywhere, and he’s well off too, +ain’t he? Ma said she heard he kept a horse and lived right +in the village too, not as how he needed to keep one to get +anywhere, either. That’s what I call luxury—a horse to ride +around with. And then Mr. What’s-his-name? I can’t remember. +Oh, yes, Spafford. He’s good, and everybody says +he won’t make a bit of fuss if Kate does go around and have +a good time. He’ll just let her do as she pleases. Only old +Grandma Doolittle says she doesn’t believe it. She thinks +every man, no matter how good he is, wants to manage his +wife, just for the name of it. She says your sister’ll have +to change her ways or else there’ll be trouble. But that’s +Grandma! Everybody knows her. She croaks! Ma says +Kate’s got her nest feathered well if ever a girl had. My! +I only wish I had the same chance!”</span></p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page18"></span><a name="Pg18" id="Pg18" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia held her head a trifle high when Mary Ann touched +upon her sister’s personal character, but they were nearing +the store, and everybody knew Mary Ann was blunt. Poor +Mary Ann! She meant no harm. She was but repeating the +village gossip. Besides, Marcia must give her mind to +sprigged chintz. There was no time for discussions if she +would accomplish her purpose before the folks came home +that night.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Mary Ann,”</span> she said in her sweet, prim way that always +made the other girl stand a little in awe of her, <span class="tei tei-q">“you mustn’t +listen to gossip. It isn’t worth while. I’m sure my sister +Kate will be very happy. I’m going in the store now, are +you?”</span> And the conversation was suddenly concluded.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Mary Ann followed meekly watching with wonder and envy +as Marcia made her bargain with the kindly merchant, and +selected her chintz. What a delicious swish the scissors +made as they went through the width of cloth, and how +delightfully the paper crackled as the bundle was being +wrapped! Mary Ann did not know whether Kate or Marcia +was more to be envied.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Did you say you were going to make it up yourself?”</span> +asked Mary Ann.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia nodded.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, my! Ain’t you afraid? I would be. It’s the +prettiest I ever saw. Don’t you go and cut both sleeves for +one arm. That’s what I did the only time Ma ever let me +try.”</span> And Mary Ann touched the package under Marcia’s +arm with wistful fingers.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">They had reached the turn of the road and Mary Ann +hoped that Marcia would ask her out to <span class="tei tei-q">“help,”</span> but Marcia +had no such purpose.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Well, good-bye! Will you wear it next Sunday?”</span> she +asked.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Perhaps,”</span> answered Marcia breathlessly, and sped on her +homeward way, her cheeks bright with excitement.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> + </p><div class="tei tei-figure" style="width: 100%; text-align: center"><img src="images/image02.png" width="760" height="435" alt="Illustration: Copyright by C. KlacknerKate and Her Stepmother were Gone Up to the Neighboring Town on the Packet." title="Copyright by C. Klackner Kate and Her Stepmother were Gone Up to the Neighboring Town on the Packet." /><div class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 50%">Copyright by C. Klackner</span></span><br /> + <span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 63%; font-variant: small-caps">Kate and Her + Stepmother were Gone Up to the Neighboring Town on the + Packet.</span></span></div></div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page19"></span><a name="Pg19" id="Pg19" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">In her own room she spread the chintz out upon the bed +and with trembling fingers set about her task. The bright +shears clipped the edge and tore off the lengths exultantly +as if in league with the girl. The bees hummed outside in +the clover, and now and again buzzed between the muslin +curtains of the open window, looked in and grumbled out +again. The birds sang across the meadows and the sun +mounted to the zenith and began its downward march, but +still the busy fingers worked on. Well for Marcia’s scheme +that the fashion of the day was simple, wherein were few +puckers and plaits and tucks, and little trimming required, +else her task would have been impossible.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Her heart beat high as she tried it on at last, the new chintz +that she had made. She went into the spare room and stood +before the long mirror in its wide gilt frame that rested on +two gilt knobs standing out from the wall like giant rosettes. +She had dared to make the skirt a little longer than that of +her best frock. It was almost as long as Kate’s, and for a +moment she lingered, sweeping backward and forward before +the glass and admiring herself in the long graceful folds. +She caught up her braids in the fashion that Kate wore her +hair and smiled at the reflection of herself in the mirror. +How funny it seemed to think she would soon be a woman +like Kate. When Kate was gone they would begin to call +her <span class="tei tei-q">“Miss”</span> sometimes. Somehow she did not care to look +ahead. The present seemed enough. She had so wrapped +her thoughts in her sister’s new life that her own seemed +flat and stale in comparison.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The sound of a distant hay wagon on the road reminded +her that the sun was near to setting. The family carryall +would soon be coming up the lane from the evening packet. +She must hurry and take off her frock and be dressed before +they arrived.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia was so tired that night after supper that she was +glad to slip away to bed, without waiting to hear Kate’s +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page20"></span><a name="pg20" id="pg20" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +voluble account of her day in town, the beauties she had seen +and the friends she had met.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She lay down and dreamed of the morrow, and of the next +day, and the next. In strange bewilderment she awoke in +the night and found the moonlight streaming full into her +face. Then she laughed and rubbed her eyes and tried to go +to sleep again; but she could not, for she had dreamed that she +was the bride herself, and the words of Mary Ann kept going +over and over in her mind. <span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, don’t you envy her?”</span> <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Did</span></span> +she envy her sister? But that was wicked. It troubled her +to think of it, and she tried to banish the dream, but it would +come again and again with a strange sweet pleasure.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She lay wondering if such a time of joy would ever come +to her as had come to Kate, and whether the spare bed would +ever be piled high with clothes and fittings for her new life. +What a wonderful thing it was anyway to be a woman and +be loved!</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Then her dreams blended again with the soft perfume of +the honeysuckle at the window, and the hooting of a young +owl.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The moon dropped lower, the bright stars paled, dawn stole +up through the edges of the woods far away and awakened a +day that was to bring a strange transformation over Marcia’s +life.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div id="MS02" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page21"></span><a name="pg21" id="pg21" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<a name="toc4" id="toc4"></a> +<a name="pdf5" id="pdf5"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"> + <span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER II</span></span> +</h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">As a natural consequence of her hard work and her midnight +awakening, Marcia overslept the next morning. Her +stepmother called her sharply and she dressed in haste, not +even taking time to glance toward the new folds of chintz +that drew her thoughts closetward. She dared not say anything +about it yet. There was much to be done, and not +even Kate had time for an idle word with her. Marcia was +called upon to run errands, to do odds and ends of things, to +fill in vacant places, to sew on lost buttons, to do everything +for which nobody else had time. The household had suddenly +become aware that there was now but one more intervening +day between them and the wedding.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It was not until late in the afternoon that Marcia ventured +to put on her frock. Even then she felt shy about appearing +in it.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Madam Schuyler was busy in the parlor with callers, and +Kate was locked in her own room whither she had gone to +rest. There was no one to notice if Marcia should <span class="tei tei-q">“dress +up,”</span> and it was not unlikely that she might escape much +notice even at the supper table, as everybody was so absorbed +in other things.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She lingered before her own little glass looking wistfully +at herself. She was pleased with the frock she had made and +liked her appearance in it, but yet there was something +disappointing about it. It had none of the style of her +sister’s garments, newly come from the hand of the village +mantua-maker. It was girlish, and showed her slip of a +form prettily in the fashion of the day, but she felt too +young. She wanted to look older. She searched her drawer +and found a bit of black velvet which she pinned about her +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page22"></span><a name="pg22" id="pg22" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +throat with a pin containing the miniature of her mother, +then with a second thought she drew the long braids up in +loops and fastened them about her head in older fashion. It +suited her well, and the change it made astonished her. She +decided to wear them so and see if others would notice. +Surely, some day she would be a young woman, and perhaps +then she would be allowed to have a will of her own occasionally.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She drew a quick breath as she descended the stairs and +found her stepmother and the visitor just coming into the +hall from the parlor.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">They both involuntarily ceased their talk and looked at +her in surprise. Over Madam Schuyler’s face there came a +look as if she had received a revelation. Marcia was no longer +a child, but had suddenly blossomed into young womanhood. +It was not the time she would have chosen for such an event. +There was enough going on, and Marcia was still in school. +She had no desire to steer another young soul through the +various dangers and follies that beset a pretty girl from the +time she puts up her hair until she is safely married to the +right man—or the wrong one. She had just begun to look +forward with relief to having Kate well settled in life. Kate +had been a hard one to manage. She had too much will of +her own and a pretty way of always having it. She had no +deep sense of reverence for old, staid manners and customs. +Many a long lecture had Madam Schuyler delivered to Kate +upon her unseemly ways. It did not please her to think of +having to go through it all so soon again, therefore upon her +usually complacent brow there came a look of dismay.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Why!”</span> exclaimed the visitor, <span class="tei tei-q">“is this the bride? How +tall she looks! No! Bless me! it isn’t, is it? Yes,—Well! +I’ll declare. It’s just Marsh! What have you got on, child? +How old you look!”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia flushed. It was not pleasant to have her young +womanhood questioned, and in a tone so familiar and patronizing. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page23"></span><a name="pg23" id="pg23" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +She disliked the name of <span class="tei tei-q">“Marsh”</span> exceedingly, +especially upon the lips of this woman, a sort of second cousin +of her stepmother’s. She would rather have chosen the new +frock to pass under inspection of her stepmother without +witnesses, but it was too late to turn back now. She must +face it.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Though Madam Schuyler’s equilibrium was a trifle disturbed, +she was not one to show it before a visitor. Instantly +she recovered her balance, and perhaps Marcia’s ordeal was +less trying than if there had been no third person present.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“That looks very well, child!”</span> she said critically with a +shade of complacence in her voice. It is true that Marcia +had gone beyond orders in purchasing and making garments +unknown to her, yet the neatness and fit could but reflect +well upon her training. It did no harm for cousin Maria +to see what a child of her training could do. It was, on the +whole, a very creditable piece of work, and Madam Schuyler +grew more reconciled to it as Marcia came down toward them.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Make it herself?”</span> asked cousin Maria. <span class="tei tei-q">“Why, Marsh, +you did real well. My Matilda does all her own clothes now. +It’s time you were learning. It’s a trifle longish to what +you’ve been wearing them, isn’t it? But you’ll grow into it, +I dare say. Got your hair a new way too. I thought you +were Kate when you first started down stairs. You’ll make a +good-looking young lady when you grow up; only don’t be +in too much hurry. Take your girlhood while you’ve got it, +is what I always tell Matilda.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Matilda was well on to thirty and showed no signs of taking +anything else.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Madam Schuyler smoothed an imaginary pucker across the +shoulders and again pronounced the work good.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“I picked berries and got the cloth,”</span> confessed Marcia.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Madam Schuyler smiled benevolently and patted Marcia’s +cheek.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“You needn’t have done that, child. Why didn’t you come +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page24"></span><a name="pg24" id="pg24" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +to me for money? You needed something new, and that is a +very good purchase, a little light, perhaps, but very pretty. +We’ve been so busy with Kate’s things you have been +neglected.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia smiled with pleasure and passed into the dining +room wondering what power the visitor had over her stepmother +to make her pass over this digression from her rules +so sweetly,—nay, even with praise.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">At supper they all rallied Marcia upon her changed appearance. +Her father jokingly said that when the bridegroom +arrived he would hardly know which sister to choose, and he +looked from one comely daughter to the other with fatherly +pride. He praised Marcia for doing the work so neatly, and +inwardly admired the courage and independence that +prompted her to get the money by her own unaided efforts +rather than to ask for it, and later, as he passed through the +room where she was helping to remove the dishes from the +table, he paused and handed her a crisp five-dollar note. It +had occurred to him that one daughter was getting all the +good things and the other was having nothing. There was +a pleasant tenderness in his eyes, a recognition of her rights +as a young woman, that made Marcia’s heart exceedingly +light. There was something strange about the influence this +little new frock seemed to have upon people.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Even Kate had taken a new tone with her. Much of the +time at supper she had sat staring at her sister. Marcia +wondered about it as she walked down toward the gate after +her work was done. Kate had never seemed so quiet. Was +she just beginning to realize that she was leaving home forever, +and was she thinking how the home would be after she +had left it? How she, Marcia, would take the place of elder +sister, with only little Harriet and the boys, their stepsister +and brothers, left? Was Kate sad over the thought of +going so far away from them, or was she feeling suddenly +the responsibility of the new position she was to occupy and +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page25"></span><a name="pg25" id="pg25" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +the duties that would be hers? No, that could not be it, for +surely that would bring a softening of expression, a sweetness +of anticipation, and Kate’s expression had been wondering, +perplexed, almost troubled. If she had not been her own +sister Marcia would have added, <span class="tei tei-q">“hard,”</span> but she stopped +short at that.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It was a lovely evening. The twilight was not yet over as +she stepped from the low piazza that ran the length of the +house bearing another above it on great white pillars. A +drapery of wistaria in full bloom festooned across one end +and half over the front. Marcia stepped back across the +stone flagging and driveway to look up the purple clusters +of graceful fairy-like shape that embowered the house, and +thought how beautiful it would look when the wedding +guests should arrive the day after the morrow. Then she +turned into the little gravel path, box-bordered, that led to +the gate. Here and there on either side luxuriant blooms of +dahlias, peonies and roses leaned over into the night and +peered at her. The yard had never looked so pretty. The +flowers truly had done their best for the occasion, and they +seemed to be asking some word of commendation from her.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">They nodded their dewy heads sleepily as she went on.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">To-morrow the children would be coming back from Aunt +Eliza’s, where they had been sent safely out of the way for a +few days, and the last things would arrive,—and <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">he</span></span> would +come. Not later than three in the afternoon he ought to +arrive, Kate had said, though there was a possibility that he +might come in the morning, but Kate was not counting upon +it. He was to drive from his home to Schenectady and, leaving +his own horse there to rest, come on by coach. Then he +and Kate would go back in fine style to Schenectady in a +coach and pair, with a colored coachman, and at Schenectady +take their own horse and drive on to their home, a long +beautiful ride, so thought Marcia half enviously. How beautiful +it would be! What endless delightful talks they might +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page26"></span><a name="pg26" id="pg26" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +have about the trees and birds and things they saw in passing +only Kate did not love to talk about such things. But then +she would be with David, and he talked beautifully about +nature or anything else. Kate would learn to love it if she +loved him. Did Kate love David? Of course she must or +why should she marry him? Marcia resented the thought +that Kate might have other objects in view, such as Mary Ann +Fothergill had suggested for instance. Of course Kate would +never marry any man unless she loved him. That would +be a dreadful thing to do. Love was the greatest thing in +the world. Marcia looked up to the stars, her young soul +thrilling with awe and reverence for the great mysteries of +life. She wondered again if life would open sometime for +her in some such great way, and if she would ever know +better than now what it meant. Would some one come and +love her? Some one whom she could love in return with +all the fervor of her nature?</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She had dreamed such dreams before many times, as girls +will, while lovers and future are all in one dreamy, sweet +blending of rosy tints and joyous mystery, but never had they +come to her with such vividness as that night. Perhaps it +was because the household had recognized the woman in her +for the first time that evening. Perhaps because the vision +she had seen reflected in her mirror before she left her room +that afternoon had opened the door of the future a little wider +than it had ever opened before.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She stood by the gate where the syringa and lilac bushes +leaned over and arched the way, and the honeysuckle climbed +about the fence in a wild pretty way of its own and flung +sweetness on the air in vivid, erratic whiffs.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The sidewalk outside was brick, and whenever she heard +footsteps coming she stepped back into the shadow of the +syringa and was hidden from view. She was in no mood +to talk with any one.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She could look out into the dusty road and see dimly the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page27"></span><a name="pg27" id="pg27" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +horses and carryalls as they passed, and recognize an occasional +laughing voice of some village maiden out with her +best young man for a ride. Others strolled along the sidewalk, +and fragments of talk floated back. Almost every one +had a word to say about the wedding as they neared the gate, +and if Marcia had been in another mood it would have been +interesting and gratifying to her pride. Every one had a +good word for Kate, though many disapproved of her in a +general way for principle’s sake.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Hanford Weston passed, with long, slouching gait, hands +in his trousers pockets, and a frightened, hasty, sideways +glance toward the lights of the house beyond. He would +have gone in boldly to call if he had dared, and told Marcia +that he had done her bidding and now wanted a reward, but +John Middleton had joined him at the corner and he dared +not make the attempt. John would have done it in a minute +if he had wished. He was brazen by nature, but Hanford +knew that he would as readily laugh at another for doing it. +Hanford shrank from a laugh more than from the cannon’s +mouth, so he slouched on, not knowing that his goddess held +her breath behind a lilac bush not three feet away, her heart +beating in annoyed taps to be again interrupted by him in her +pleasant thoughts.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Merry, laughing voices mingling with many footsteps came +sounding down the street and paused beside the gate. Marcia +knew the voices and again slid behind the shrubbery that +bordered all the way to the house, and not even a gleam of +her light frock was visible. They trooped in, three or four +girl friends of Kate’s and a couple of young men.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia watched them pass up the box-bordered path from +her shadowy retreat, and thought how they would miss Kate, +and wondered if the young men who had been coming there +so constantly to see her had no pangs of heart that their +friend and leader was about to leave them. Then she smiled +at herself in the dark. She seemed to be doing the retrospect +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page28"></span><a name="pg28" id="pg28" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +for Kate, taking leave of all the old friends, home, and +life, in Kate’s place. It was not her life anyway, and why +should she bother herself and sigh and feel this sadness +creeping over her for some one else? Was it that she was +going to lose her sister? No, for Kate had never been much +of a companion to her. She had always put her down as a +little girl and made distinct and clear the difference in their +ages. Marcia had been the little maid to fetch and carry, the +errand girl, and unselfish, devoted slave in Kate’s life. There +had been nothing protective and elder-sisterly in her manner +toward Marcia. At times Marcia had felt this keenly, but +no expression of this lack had ever crossed her lips, and afterwards +her devotion to her sister had been the greater, to in a +measure compensate for this reproachful thought.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But Marcia could not shake the sadness off. She stole in +further among the trees to think about it till the callers should +go away. She felt no desire to meet any of them.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She began again to wonder how she would feel if day after +to-morrow were her wedding day, and she were going away +from home and friends and all the scenes with which she had +been familiar since babyhood. Would she mind very much +leaving them all? Father? Yes, father had been good to +her, and loved her and was proud of her in a way. But one +does not lose one’s father no matter how far one goes. A +father is a father always; and Mr. Schuyler was not a demonstrative +man. Marcia felt that her father would not miss her +deeply, and she was not sure she would miss him so very +much. She had read to him a great deal and talked politics +with him whenever he had no one better by, but aside from +that her life had been lived much apart from him. Her stepmother? +Yes, she would miss her as one misses a perfect +mentor and guide. She had been used to looking to her for +direction. She was thoroughly conscious that she had a will +of her own and would like a chance to exercise it, still, she +knew that in many cases without her stepmother she would +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page29"></span><a name="pg29" id="pg29" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +be like a rudderless ship, a guideless traveller. And she loved +her stepmother too, as a young girl can love a good woman +who has been her guide and helper, even though there never +has been great tenderness between them. Yes, she would miss +her stepmother, but she would not feel so very sad over it. +Harriet and the little brothers? Oh, yes, she would miss +them, they were dear little things and devoted to her.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Then there were the neighbors, and the schoolmates, and +the people of the village. She would miss the minister,—the +dear old minister and his wife. Many a time she had gone +with her arms full of flowers to the parsonage down the +street, and spent the afternoon with the minister’s wife. Her +smooth white hair under its muslin cap, and her soft wrinkled +cheek were very dear to the young girl. She had talked to +this friend more freely about her innermost thoughts than +she had ever spoken to any living being. Oh, she would miss +the minister’s wife very much if she were to go away.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The names of her schoolmates came to her. Harriet Woodgate, +Eliza Buchanan, Margaret Fletcher, three girls who +were her intimates. She would miss them, of course, but how +much? She could scarcely tell. Margaret Fletcher more +than the other two. Mary Ann Fothergill? She almost +laughed at the thought of anybody missing Mary Ann. John +Middleton? Hanford Weston? There was not a boy in the +school she would miss for an instant, she told herself with +conviction. Not one of them realized her ideal. There was +much pairing off of boy and girl in school, but Marcia, like +the heroine of <span class="tei tei-q">“Comin’ thro’ the Rye,”</span> was good friends with +all the boys and intimate with none. They all counted it an +honor to wait upon her, and she cared not a farthing for any. +She felt herself too young, of course, to think of such things, +but when she dreamed her day dreams the lover and prince +who figured in them bore no familiar form or feature. He +was a prince and these were only schoolboys.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The merry chatter of the young people in the house floated +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page30"></span><a name="pg30" id="pg30" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +through the open windows, and Marcia could hear her sister’s +voice above them all. Chameleon-like she was all gaiety and +laughter now, since her gravity at supper.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">They were coming out the front door and down the walk. +Kate was with them. Marcia could catch glimpses of the +girls’ white frocks as they came nearer. She saw that her +sister was walking with Captain Leavenworth. He was a +handsome young man who made a fine appearance in his +uniform. He and Kate had been intimate for two years, +and it might have been more than friendship had not Kate’s +father interfered between them. He did not think so well +of the handsome young captain as did either his daughter +Kate or the United States Navy who had given him his position. +Squire Schuyler required deep integrity and strength +of moral character in the man who aspired to be his son-in-law. +The captain did not number much of either among his +virtues.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There had been a short, sharp contest which had ended in +the departure of young Leavenworth from the town some +three years before, and the temporary plunging of Kate +Schuyler into a season of tears and pouting. But it had not +been long before her gay laughter was ringing again, and her +father thought she had forgotten. About that time David +Spafford had appeared and promptly fallen in love with the +beautiful girl, and the Schuyler mind was relieved. So it +came about that, upon the reappearance of the handsome +young captain wearing the insignia of his first honors, the +Squire received him graciously. He even felt that he might +be more lenient about his moral character, and told himself +that perhaps he was not so bad after all, he must have something +in him or the United States government would not have +seen fit to honor him. It was easier to think so, now Kate +was safe.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia watched her sister and the captain go laughing +down to the gate, and out into the street. She wondered that +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page31"></span><a name="pg31" id="pg31" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Kate could care to go out to-night when it was to be almost +her last evening at home; wondered, too, that Kate would +walk with Captain Leavenworth when she belonged to David +now. She might have managed it to go with one of the girls. +But that was Kate’s way. Kate’s ways were not Marcia’s +ways.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia wondered if she would miss Kate, and was obliged +to acknowledge to herself that in many ways her sister’s +absence would be a relief to her. While she recognized the +power of her sister’s beauty and will over her, she felt +oppressed sometimes by the strain she was under to please, +and wearied of the constant, half-fretful, half playful fault-finding.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The gay footsteps and voices died away down the village +street, and Marcia ventured forth from her retreat. The +moon was just rising and came up a glorious burnished disk, +silhouetting her face as she stood a moment listening to the +stirring of a bird among the branches. It was her will +to-night to be alone and let her fancies wander where they +would. The beauty and the mystery of a wedding was upon +her, touching all her deeper feelings, and she wished to dream +it out and wonder over it. Again it came to her what if the +day after the morrow were her wedding day and she stood +alone thinking about it. She would not have gone off down +the street with a lot of giggling girls nor walked with another +young man. She would have stood here, or down by the +gate—and she moved on toward her favorite arch of lilac and +syringa—yes, down by the gate in the darkness looking out +and thinking how it would be when he should come. She felt +sure if it had been herself who expected David she would +have begun to watch for him a week before the time he had +set for coming, heralding it again and again to her heart in +joyous thrills of happiness, for who knew but he might come +sooner and surprise her? She would have rejoiced that to-night +she was alone, and would have excused herself from +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page32"></span><a name="pg32" id="pg32" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +everything else to come down there in the stillness and watch +for him, and think how it would be when he would really get +there. She would hear his step echoing down the street and +would recognize it as his. She would lean far over the gate +to listen and watch, and it would come nearer and nearer, +and her heart would beat faster and faster, and her breath +come quicker, until he was at last by her side, his beautiful +surprise for her in his eyes. But now, if David should really +try to surprise Kate by coming that way to-night he would +not find her waiting nor thinking of him at all, but off with +Captain Leavenworth.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">With a passing pity for David she went back to her own +dream. With one elbow on the gate and her cheek in her +hand she thought it all over. The delayed evening coach +rumbled up to the tavern not far away and halted. Real +footsteps came up the street, but Marcia did not notice them +only as they made more vivid her thoughts.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Her dream went on and the steps drew nearer until suddenly +they halted and some one appeared out of the shadow. +Her heart stood still, for form and face in the darkness seemed +unreal, and the dreams had been most vivid. Then with +tender masterfulness two strong arms were flung about her +and her face was drawn close to his across the vine-twined gate +until her lips touched his. One long clinging kiss of tenderness +he gave her and held her head close against his breast +for just a moment while he murmured: <span class="tei tei-q">“My darling! My +precious, precious Kate, I have you at last!”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The spell was broken! Marcia’s dream was shattered. +Her mind awoke. With a scream she sprang from him, horror +and a wild but holy joy mingling with her perplexity. She +put her hand upon her heart, marvelling over the sweetness +that lingered upon her lips, trying to recover her senses as +she faced the eager lover who opened the little gate and came +quickly toward her, as yet unaware that it was not Kate to +whom he had been talking.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div id="MS03" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page33"></span><a name="pg33" id="pg33" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<a name="toc6" id="toc6"></a> +<a name="pdf7" id="pdf7"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"> + <span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER III</span></span> +</h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia stood quivering, trembling. She comprehended all +in an instant. David Spafford had come a day earlier than +he had been expected, to surprise Kate, and Kate was off +having a good time with some one else. He had mistaken +her for Kate. Her long dress and her put-up hair had +deceived him in the moonlight. She tried to summon some +womanly courage, and in her earnestness to make things right +she forgot her natural timidity.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“It is not Kate,”</span> she said gently; <span class="tei tei-q">“it is only Marcia. +Kate did not know you were coming to-night. She did not +expect you till to-morrow. She had to go out,—that is—she +has gone with—”</span> the truthful, youthful, troubled sister +paused. To her mind it was a calamity that Kate was not +present to meet her lover. She should at least have been in +the house ready for a surprise like this. Would David not +feel the omission keenly? She must keep it from him if she +could about Captain Leavenworth. There was no reason why +he should feel badly about it, of course, and yet it might +annoy him. But he stepped back laughing at his mistake.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Why! Marcia, is it you, child? How you have grown! +I never should have known you!”</span> said the young man +pleasantly. He had always a grave tenderness for this little +sister of his love. <span class="tei tei-q">“Of course your sister did not know I +was coming,”</span> he went on, <span class="tei tei-q">“and doubtless she has many +things to attend to. I did not expect her to be out here +watching for me, though for a moment I did think she was +at the gate. You say she is gone out? Then we will go up +to the house and I will be there to surprise her when she +comes.”</span></p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page34"></span><a name="pg34" id="pg34" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia turned with relief. He had not asked where Kate +was gone, nor with whom.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The Squire and Madam Schuyler greeted the arrival with +elaborate welcome. The Squire like Marcia seemed much +annoyed that Kate had gone out. He kept fuming back and +forth from the window to the door and asking: <span class="tei tei-q">“What did +she go out for to-night? She ought to have stayed at home!”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But Madam Schuyler wore ample satisfaction upon her +smooth brow. The bridegroom had arrived. There could be +no further hitch in the ceremonies. He had arrived a day +before the time, it is true; but he had not found <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">her</span></span> unprepared. +So far as she was concerned, with a few extra touches +the wedding might proceed at once. She was always ready +for everything in time. No one could find a screw loose in +the machinery of her household.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She bustled about, giving orders and laying a bountiful +supper before the young man, while the Squire sat and talked +with him, and Marcia hovered watchfully, waiting upon the +table, noticing with admiring eyes the beautiful wave of his +abundant hair, tossed back from his forehead. She took a +kind of pride of possession in his handsome face,—the far-removed +possession of a sister-in-law. There was his sunny +smile, that seemed as though it could bring joy out of the +gloom of a bleak December day, and there were the two +dimples—not real dimples, of course, men never had dimples—but +hints, suggestions of dimples, that caught themselves +when he smiled, here and there like hidden mischief well kept +under control, but still merrily ready to come to the surface. +His hands were white and firm, the fingers long and shapely, +the hands of a brain worker. The vision of Hanford Weston’s +hands, red and bony, came up to her in contrast. She +had not known that she looked at them that day when he had +stood awkwardly asking if he might walk with her. Poor +Hanford! He would ill compare with this cultured scholarly +man who was his senior by ten years, though it is possible that +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page35"></span><a name="pg35" id="pg35" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +with the ten years added he would have been quite worthy +of the admiration of any of the village girls.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The fruit cake and raspberry preserves and doughnuts and +all the various viands that Madam Schuyler had ordered set +out for the delectation of her guest had been partaken of, and +David and the Squire sat talking of the news of the day, +touching on politics, with a bit of laughter from the Squire +at the man who thought he had invented a machine to draw +carriages by steam in place of horses.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“There’s a good deal in it, I believe,”</span> said the younger +man. <span class="tei tei-q">“His theory is all right if he can get some one to help +him carry it out.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Well, maybe, maybe,”</span> said the Squire shaking his head +dubiously, <span class="tei tei-q">“but it seems to me a very fanciful scheme. Horses +are good enough for me. I shouldn’t like to trust myself +to an unknown quantity like steam, but time will tell.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Yes, and the world is progressing. Something of the sort +is sure to come. It has come in England. It would make +a vast change in our country, binding city to city and practically +eradicating space.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Visionary schemes, David, visionary schemes, that’s what +I call them. You and I’ll never see them in our day, I’m +sure of that. Remember this is a new country and must go +slow.”</span> The Squire was half laughing, half in earnest.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Amid the talk Marcia had quietly slipped out. It had +occurred to her that perhaps the captain might return with +her sister.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She must watch for Kate and warn her. Like a shadow in +the moonlight she stepped softly down the gravel path once +more and waited at the gate. Did not that sacred kiss placed +upon her lips all by mistake bind her to this solemn duty? +Had it not been given to her to see as in a revelation, by +that kiss, the love of one man for one woman, deep and tender +and true?</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">In the fragrant darkness her soul stood still and wondered +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page36"></span><a name="pg36" id="pg36" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +over Love, the marvellous. With an insight such as few have +who have not tasted years of wedded joy, Marcia comprehended +the possibility and joy of sacrifice that made even +sad things bright because of Love. She saw like a flash how +Kate could give up her gay life, her home, her friends, everything +that life had heretofore held dear for her, that she +might be by the side of the man who loved her so. But with +this knowledge of David’s love for Kate came a troubled +doubt. Did Kate love David that way? If Kate had been +the one who received that kiss would she have returned it +with the same tenderness and warmth with which it was +given? Marcia dared not try to answer this. It was Kate’s +question, not hers, and she must never let it enter her mind +again. Of course she must love him that way or she would +never marry him.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The night crept slowly for the anxious little watcher at the +gate. Had she been sure where to look for her sister, and +not afraid of the tongues of a few interested neighbors who +had watched everything at the house for days that no item +about the wedding should escape them, she would have started +on a search at once. She knew if she just ran into old Miss +Pemberton’s, whose house stood out upon the street with two +straight-backed little, high, white seats each side of the stoop, +a most delightful post of observation, she could discover at +once in which direction Kate had gone, and perhaps a good +deal more of hints and suggestions besides. But Marcia had +no mind to make gossip. She must wait as patiently as she +could for Kate. Moreover Kate might be walking even now +in some secluded, rose-lined lane arm in arm with the captain, +saying a pleasant farewell. It was Kate’s way and no one +might gainsay her.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia’s dreams came back once more, the thoughts that +had been hers as she stood there an hour before. She thought +how the kiss had fitted into the dream. Then all at once +conscience told her it was Kate’s lover, not her own, whose +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page37"></span><a name="pg37" id="pg37" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +arms had encircled her. And now there was a strange unwillingness +to go back to the dreams at all, a lingering longing +for the joys into whose glory she had been for a moment +permitted to look. She drew back from all thoughts and +tried to close the door upon them. They seemed too sacred +to enter. Her maidenhood was but just begun and she had +much yet to learn of life. She was glad, glad for Kate that +such wonderfulness was coming to her. Kate would be +sweeter, softer in her ways now. She could not help it with +a love like that enfolding her life.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">At last there were footsteps! Hark! Two people—only +two! Just what Marcia had expected. The other girls and +boys had dropped into other streets or gone home. Kate and +her former lover were coming home alone. And, furthermore, +Kate would not be glad to see her sister at the gate. This +last thought came with sudden conviction, but Marcia did not +falter.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Kate, David has come!”</span> Marcia said it in low, almost +accusing tones, at least so it sounded to Kate, before the two +had hardly reached the gate. They had been loitering along +talking in low tones, and the young captain’s head was bent +over his companion in an earnest, pleading attitude. Marcia +could not bear to look, and did not wish to see more, so she +had spoken.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Kate, startled, sprang away from her companion, a white +angry look in her face.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“How you scared me, Marsh!”</span> she exclaimed pettishly. +<span class="tei tei-q">“What if he has come? That’s nothing. I guess he can wait +a few minutes. He had no business to come to-night anyway. +He knew we wouldn’t be ready for him till to-morrow.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Kate was recovering her self-possession in proportion as +she realized the situation. That she was vexed over her +bridegroom’s arrival neither of the two witnesses could doubt. +It stung her sister with a deep pity for David. He was not +getting as much in Kate as he was giving. But there was +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page38"></span><a name="pg38" id="pg38" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +no time for such thoughts, besides Marcia was trembling +from head to foot, partly with her own daring, partly with +wrath at her sister’s words.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“For shame, Kate!”</span> she cried. <span class="tei tei-q">“How can you talk so, +even in fun! David came to surprise you, and I think he +had a right to expect to find you here so near to the time of +your marriage.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There was a flash in the young eyes as she said it, and a +delicate lifting of her chin with the conviction of the truth +she was speaking, that gave her a new dignity even in the +moonlight. Captain Leavenworth looked at her in lazy +admiration and said:</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Why, Marsh, you’re developing into quite a spitfire. What +have you got on to-night that makes you look so tall and +handsome? Why didn’t you stay in and talk to your fine +gentleman? I’m sure he would have been just as well satisfied +with you as your sister.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia gave one withering glance at the young man and +then turned her back full upon him. He was not worth +noticing. Besides he was to be pitied, for he evidently cared +still for Kate.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But Kate was fairly white with anger. Perhaps her own +accusing conscience helped it on. Her voice was imperious +and cold. She drew herself up haughtily and pointed toward +the house.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Marcia Schuyler,”</span> she said coldly, facing her sister, <span class="tei tei-q">“go +into the house and attend to your own affairs. You’ll find +that you’ll get into serious trouble if you attempt to meddle +with mine. You’re nothing but a child yet and ought to be +punished for your impudence. Go! I tell you!”</span> she stamped +her foot, <span class="tei tei-q">“I will come in when I get ready.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia went. Not proudly as she might have gone the +moment before, but covered <span class="tei tei-corr"><a name="E3" id="E3" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><a href="#e3" class="tei tei-ref">with</a></span> confusion and shame, her +head drooping like some crushed lily on a bleeding stalk. +Through her soul rushed indignation, mighty and forceful; +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page39"></span><a name="pg39" id="pg39" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +indignation and shame, for her sister, for David, for herself. +She did not stop to analyze her various feelings, nor did she +stop to speak further with those in the house. She fled to +her own room, and burying her face in the pillow she wept +until she fell asleep.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The moon-shadows grew longer about the arbored gateway +where the two she had left stood talking in low tones, looking +furtively now and then toward the house, and withdrawing +into the covert of the bushes by the walk. But Kate dared +not linger long. She could see her father’s profile by the +candle light in the dining room. She did not wish to receive +further rebuke, and so in a very few minutes the two parted +and Kate ran up the box-edged path, beginning to hum a +sweet old love song in a gay light voice, as she tripped by +the dining-room windows, and thus announced her arrival. +She guessed that Marcia would have gone straight to her +room and told nothing. Kate intended to be fully surprised. +She paused in the hall to hang up the light shawl she had +worn, calling good-night to her stepmother and saying she +was very tired and was going straight to bed to be ready for +to-morrow. Then she ran lightly across the hall to the stairs.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She knew they would call her back, and that they would +all come into the hall with David to see the effect of his surprise +upon her. She had planned to a nicety just which stair +she could reach before they got there, and where she would +pause and turn and poise, and what pose she would take with +her round white arm stretched to the handrail, the sleeve +turned carelessly back. She had ready her countenances, a +sleepy indifference, then a pleased surprise, and a climax of +delight. She carried it all out, this little bit of impromptu +acting, as well as though she had rehearsed it for a month.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">They called her, and she turned <span class="tei tei-corr"><a name="E4" id="E4" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><a href="#e4" class="tei tei-ref">deliberately</a></span>, one dainty, +slippered foot, with its crossed black ribbons about the slender +ankle, just leaving the stair below, and showing the arch of +the aristocratic instep. Her gown was blue and she held it +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page40"></span><a name="pg40" id="pg40" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +back just enough for the stiff white frill of her petticoat to +peep below. Well she read the admiration in the eyes below +her. Admiration was Kate’s life: she thrived upon it. She +could not do without it.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David stood still, his love in his eyes, looking upon the +vision of his bride, and his heart swelled within him that so +great a treasure should be his. Then straightway they all +forgot to question where she had been or to rebuke her that +she had been at all. She had known they would. She ever +possessed the power to make others forget her wrong doings +when it was worth her while to try.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The next morning things were astir even earlier than usual. +There was the sound of the beating of eggs, the stirring of +cakes, the clatter of pots and pans from the wide, stone-flagged +kitchen.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia, fresh as a flower from its morning dew in spite +of her cry the night before, had arisen to new opportunities +for service. She was glad with the joyous forgetfulness of +youth when she looked at David’s happy face, and she thought +no more of Kate’s treatment of herself.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David followed Kate with a true lover’s eyes and was never +for more than a few moments out of her sight, though it +seemed to Marcia that Kate did not try very hard to stay with +him. When afternoon came she dismissed him for what she +called her <span class="tei tei-q">“beauty nap.”</span> Marcia was passing through the +hall at the time and she caught the tender look upon his face +as he touched her brow with reverent fingers and told her she +had no need for that. Her eyes met Kate’s as they were going +up the stairs, and in spite of what Kate had said the night +before Marcia could not refrain from saying: <span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, Kate! +how could you when he loves you so? You know you never +take a nap in the daytime!”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“You silly girl!”</span> said Kate pleasantly enough, <span class="tei tei-q">“don’t you +know the less a man sees of one the more he thinks of her?”</span> +With this remark she closed and fastened her door after her.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page41"></span><a name="pg41" id="pg41" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia pondered these words of wisdom for some time, +wondering whether Kate had really done it for that reason, +or whether she did not care for the company of her lover. +And why should it be so that a man loved you less because +he saw you more? In her straightforward code the more you +loved persons the more you desired to be in their company.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Kate had issued from her <span class="tei tei-q">“beauty nap”</span> with a feverish +restlessness in her eyes, an averted face, and ink upon one +finger. At supper she scarcely spoke, and when she did she +laughed excitedly over little things. Her lover watched her +with eyes of pride and ever increasing wonder over her beauty, +and Marcia, seeing the light in his face, watched for its +answer in her sister’s, and finding it not was troubled.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She watched them from her bedroom window as they +walked down the path where she had gone the evening before, +decorously side by side, Kate holding her light muslin frock +back from the dew on the hedges. She wondered if it was +because Kate had more respect for David than for Captain +Leavenworth that she never seemed to treat him with as +much familiarity. She did not take possession of him in +the same sweet imperious way.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia had not lighted her candle. The moon gave light +enough and she was very weary, so she undressed in the dim +chamber and pondered upon the ways of the great world. +Out there in the moonlight were those two who to-morrow +would be one, and here was she, alone. The world seemed +all circling about that white chamber of hers, and echoing +with her own consciousness of self, and a loneliness she had +never felt before. She wondered what it might be. Was it +all sadness at parting with Kate, or was it the sadness over +inevitable partings of all human relationships, and the all-aloneness +of every living spirit?</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She stood for a moment, white-robed, beside her window, +looking up into the full round moon, and wondering if God +knew the ache of loneliness in His little human creatures’ +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page42"></span><a name="pg42" id="pg42" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +souls that He had made, and whether He had ready something +wherewith to satisfy. Then her meek soul bowed before +the faith that was in her and she knelt for her shy but +reverent evening prayer.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She heard the two lovers come in early and go upstairs, and +she heard her father fastening up the doors and windows +for the night. Then stillness gradually settled down and she +fell asleep. Later, in her dreams, there echoed the sound of +hastening hoofs far down the deserted street and over the old +covered bridge, but she took no note of any sound, and the +weary household slept on.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div id="MS04" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page43"></span><a name="pg43" id="pg43" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<a name="toc8" id="toc8"></a> +<a name="pdf9" id="pdf9"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"> + <span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER IV</span></span> +</h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The wedding was set for ten o’clock in the morning, after +which there was to be a wedding breakfast and the married +couple were to start immediately for their new home.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David had driven the day before with his own horse and +chaise to a town some twenty miles away, and there left his +horse at a tavern to rest for the return trip, for Kate would +have it that they must leave the house in high style. So the +finest equipage the town afforded had been secured to bear +them on the first stage of their journey, with a portly negro +driver and everything according to the custom of the greatest +of the land. Nothing that Kate desired about the arrangements +had been left undone.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The household was fully astir by half past four, for the +family breakfast was to be at six promptly, that all might be +cleared away and in readiness for the early arrival of the +various aunts and uncles and cousins and friends who would +<span class="tei tei-q">“drive over”</span> from the country round about. It would have +been something Madam Schuyler would never have been able +to get over if aught had been awry when a single uncle or +aunt appeared upon the scene, or if there seemed to be the +least evidence of fluster and nervousness.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The rosy sunlight in the east was mixing the morning with +fresher air, and new odors for the new day that was dawning, +when Marcia awoke. The sharp click of spoons and dishes, +the voices of the maids, the sizzle, sputter, odor of frying +ham and eggs, mingled with the early chorus of the birds, +and calling to life of all living creatures, like an intrusion +upon nature. It seemed not right to steal the morning’s +<span class="tei tei-q">“quiet hour”</span> thus rudely. The thought flitted through the +girl’s mind, and in an instant more the whole panorama of +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page44"></span><a name="pg44" id="pg44" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +the day’s excitement was before her, and she sprang from her +bed. As if it had been her own wedding day instead of her +sister’s, she performed her dainty toilet, for though there was +need for haste, she knew she would have no further time +beyond a moment to slip on her best gown and smooth her +hair.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia hurried downstairs just as the bell rang for breakfast, +and David, coming down smiling behind her, patted her +cheek and greeted her with, <span class="tei tei-q">“Well, little sister, you look as +rested as if you had not done a thing all day yesterday.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She smiled shyly back at him, and her heart filled with +pleasure over his new name for her. It sounded pleasantly +from his happy lips. She was conscious of a gladness +that he was to be so nearly related to her. She fancied +how it would seem to say to Mary Ann: <span class="tei tei-q">“My brother-in-law +says so and so.”</span> It would be grand to call such a +man <span class="tei tei-q">“brother.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">They were all seated at the table but Kate, and Squire +Schuyler waited with pleasantly frowning brows to ask the +blessing on the morning food. Kate was often late. She +was the only member of the family who dared to be late to +breakfast, and being the bride and the centre of the occasion +more leniency was granted her this morning than ever before. +Madam Schuyler waited until every one at the table was +served to ham and eggs, coffee and bread-and-butter, and +steaming griddle cakes, before she said, looking anxiously at +the tall clock: <span class="tei tei-q">“Marcia, perhaps you better go up and see if +your sister needs any help. She ought to be down by now. +Uncle Joab and Aunt Polly will be sure to be here by eight. +She must have overslept, but we made so much noise she is +surely awake by this time.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia left her half-eaten breakfast and went slowly upstairs. +She knew her sister would not welcome her, for she +had often been sent on like errands before, and the brunt of +Kate’s anger had fallen upon the hapless messenger, wearing +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page45"></span><a name="pg45" id="pg45" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +itself out there so that she might descend all smiles to greet +father and mother and smooth off the situation in a most +harmonious manner.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia paused before the door to listen. Perhaps Kate was +nearly ready and her distasteful errand need not be performed. +But though she held her breath to listen, no sound +came from the closed door. Very softly she tried to lift the +latch and peep in. Kate must still be asleep. It was not the +first time Marcia had found that to be the case when sent +to bring her sister.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But the latch would not lift. The catch was firmly down +from the inside. Marcia applied her eye to the keyhole, but +could get no vision save a dim outline of the window on the +other side of the room. She tapped gently once or twice and +waited again, then called softly: <span class="tei tei-q">“Kate, Kate! Wake up. +Breakfast is ready and everybody is eating. Aunt Polly and +Uncle Joab will soon be here.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She repeated her tapping and calling, growing louder as she +received no answer. Kate would often keep still to tease her +thus. Surely though she would not do so upon her wedding +morning!</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She called and called and shook the door, not daring, however, +to make much of an uproar lest David should hear. +She could not bear he should know the shortcomings of his +bride.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But at last she grew alarmed. Perhaps Kate was ill. At +any rate, whatever it was, it was time she was up. She worked +for some minutes trying to loosen the catch that held the +latch, but all to no purpose. She was forced to go down +stairs and whisper to her stepmother the state of the case.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Madam Schuyler, excusing herself from the table, went upstairs, +purposeful decision in every line of her substantial +body, determination in every sound of her footfall. Bride +though she be, Kate would have meted out to her just dues +this time. Company and a lover and the nearness of the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page46"></span><a name="pg46" id="pg46" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +wedding hour were things not to be trifled with even by a +charming Kate.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But Madam Schuyler returned in a short space of time, +puffing and panting, somewhat short of breath, and color in +her face. She looked troubled, and she interrupted the Squire +without waiting for him to finish his sentence to David.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“I cannot understand what is the matter with Kate,”</span> she +said, looking at her husband. <span class="tei tei-q">“She does not seem to be awake, +and I cannot get her door open. She sleeps soundly, and I +suppose the unusual excitement has made her very tired. But +I should think she ought to hear my voice. Perhaps you +better see if you can open the door.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There was studied calm in her voice, but her face belied +her words. She was anxious lest Kate was playing one of her +pranks. She knew Kate’s careless, fun-loving ways. It was +more to her that all things should move decently and in order +than that Kate should even be perfectly well. But Marcia’s +white face behind her stepmother’s ample shoulder showed a +dread of something worse than a mere indisposition. David +Spafford took alarm at once. He put down the silver syrup +jug from which he had been pouring golden maple syrup on +his cakes, and pushed his chair back with a click.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Perhaps she has fainted!”</span> he said, and Marcia saw how +deeply he was concerned. Father and lover both started up +stairs, the father angry, the lover alarmed. The Squire +grumbled all the way up that Kate should sleep so late, but +David said nothing. He waited anxiously behind while the +Squire worked with the door. Madam Schuyler and Marcia +had followed them, and halting curiously just behind came +the two maids. They all loved Miss Kate and were deeply +interested in the day’s doings. They did not want anything +to interfere with the well-planned pageant.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The Squire fumbled nervously with the latch, all the time +calling upon his daughter to open the door; then wrathfully +placed his solid shoulder and knee in just the right place, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page47"></span><a name="pg47" id="pg47" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +and with a groan and wrench the latch gave way, and the +solid oak door swung open, precipitating the anxious group +somewhat suddenly into the room.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Almost immediately they all became aware that there was +no one there. David had stood with averted eyes at first, but +that second sense which makes us aware without sight when +others are near or absent, brought with it an unnamed anxiety. +He looked wildly about.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The bed had not been slept in; that they all saw at once. +The room was in confusion, but perhaps not more than might +have been expected when the occupant was about to leave +on the morrow. There were pieces of paper and string upon +the floor and one or two garments lying about as if carelessly +cast off in a hurry. David recognized the purple muslin +frock Kate had worn the night before, and put out his +hand to touch it as it lay across the foot of the bed, vainly +reaching after her who was not there.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">They stood in silence, father, mother, sister, and lover, +and took in every detail of the deserted room, then looked +blankly into one another’s white faces, and in the eyes of each +a terrible question began to dawn. Where was she?</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Madam Schuyler recovered her senses first. With her sharp +practical system she endeavored to find out the exact situation.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Who saw her last?”</span> she asked sharply looking from one +to the other. <span class="tei tei-q">“Who saw her last? Has she been down +stairs this morning?”</span> she looked straight at Marcia this time, +but the girl shook her head.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“I went to bed last night before they came in,”</span> she said, +looking questioningly at David, but a sudden remembrance +and fear seized her heart. She turned away to the window +to face it where they could not look at her.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“We came in early,”</span> said David, trying to keep the anxiety +out of his voice, as he remembered his well-beloved’s good-night. +Surely, surely, nothing very dreadful could have happened +just over night, and in her father’s own house. He +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page48"></span><a name="pg48" id="pg48" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +looked about again to see the natural, every-day, little things +that would help him drive away the thoughts of possible +tragedy.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Kate was tired. She said she was going to get up very +early this morning and wash her face in the dew on the +grass.”</span> He braved a smile and looked about on the troubled +group. <span class="tei tei-q">“She must be out somewhere upon the place,”</span> he +continued, gathering courage with the thought; <span class="tei tei-q">“she told me +it was an old superstition. She has maybe wandered further +than she intended, and perhaps got into some trouble. I’d +better go and search for her. Is there any place near here +where she would be likely to be?”</span> He turned to Marcia for +help.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“But Kate would never delay so long I’m sure,”</span> said the +stepmother severely. <span class="tei tei-q">“She’s not such a fool as to go traipsing +through the wet grass before daylight for any nonsense. If +it were Marcia now, you might expect anything, but Kate +would be satisfied with the dew on the grass by the kitchen +pump. I know Kate.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia’s face crimsoned at her stepmother’s words, but she +turned her troubled eyes to David and tried to answer him.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“There are plenty of places, but Kate has never cared to +go to them. I could go out and look everywhere.”</span> She +started to go down, but as she passed the wide mahogany +bureau she saw a bit of folded paper lying under the corner +of the pincushion. With a smothered exclamation she went +over and picked it up. It was addressed to David in Kate’s +handwriting, fine and even like copperplate. Without a word +Marcia handed it to him, and then stood back where the +wide draperies of the window would shadow her.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Madam Schuyler, with sudden keen prescience, took alarm. +Noticing the two maids standing wide-mouthed in the hallway, +she summoned her most commandatory tone, stepped +into the hall, half closing the door behind her, and cowed the +two handmaidens under her glance.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page49"></span><a name="pg49" id="pg49" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“It is all right!”</span> she said calmly. <span class="tei tei-q">“Miss Kate has left +a note, and will soon return. Go down and keep her breakfast +warm, and not a word to a soul! Dolly, Debby, do you +understand? Not a word of this! Now hurry and do all +that I told you before breakfast.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">They went with downcast eyes and disappointed droops to +their mouths, but she knew that not a word would pass their +lips. They knew that if they disobeyed that command they +need never hope for favor more from madam. Madam’s word +was law. She would be obeyed. Therefore with remarkable +discretion they masked their wondering looks and did as +they were bidden. So while the family stood in solemn +conclave in Kate’s room the preparations for the wedding +moved steadily forward below stairs, and only two solemn +maids, of all the helpers that morning, knew that a tragedy +was hovering in the air and might burst about them.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David had grasped for the letter eagerly, and fumbled it +open with trembling hand, but as he read, the smile of expectation +froze upon his lips and his face grew ashen. He +tottered and grasped for the mantel shelf to steady himself +as he read further, but he did not seem to take in the meaning +of what he read. The others waited breathless, a reasonable +length of time, Madam Schuyler impatiently patient. She +felt that long delay would be perilous to her arrangements. +She ought to know the whole truth at once and be put in +command of the situation. Marcia with sorrowful face and +drooping eyelashes stood quiet behind the curtain, while over +and over the echo of a horse’s hoofs in a silent street and +over a bridge sounded in her brain. She did not need to be +told, she knew intuitively what had happened, and she dared +not look at David.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Well, what has she done with herself?”</span> said the Squire +impatiently. He had not finished his plate of cakes, and +now that there was word he wanted to know it at once and +go back to his breakfast. The sight of his daughter’s handwriting +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page50"></span><a name="pg50" id="pg50" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +relieved and reassured him. Some crazy thing she +had done of course, but then Kate had always done queer +things, and probably would to the end of time. She was a +hussy to frighten them so, and he meant to tell her so when +she returned, if it was her wedding day. But then, Kate +would be Kate, and his breakfast was getting cold. He had +the horses to look after and orders to give to the hands +before the early guests arrived.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But David did not answer, and the sight of him was alarming. +He stood as one stricken dumb all in a moment. He +raised his eyes to the Squire’s—pleading, pitiful. His face +had grown strained and haggard.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Speak out, man, doesn’t the letter tell?”</span> said the Squire +imperiously. <span class="tei tei-q">“Where is the girl?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">And this time David managed to say brokenly: <span class="tei tei-q">“She’s +gone!”</span> and then his head dropped forward on his cold hand +that rested on the mantel. Great beads of perspiration stood +out upon his white forehead, and the letter fluttered gayly, +coquettishly to the floor, a reminder of the uncertain ways +of its writer.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The Squire reached for it impatiently, and wiping his +spectacles laboriously put them on and drew near to the +window to read, his heavy brows lowering in a frown. But +his wife did not need to read the letter, for she, like Marcia, +had divined its purport, and already her able faculties were +marshalled to face the predicament.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The Squire with deepening frown was studying his elder +daughter’s letter, scarce able to believe the evidence of his +senses that a girl of his could be so heartless.</p> + +<div class="block tei tei-quote" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"> + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span class="tei tei-q"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-variant: small-caps">Dear David</span></span><span style="font-size: 90%">,</span><span style="font-size: 90%">”</span></span><span style="font-size: 90%"> + the letter ran,—written as though in a hurry, done at the last + moment,—which indeed it was:—</span></p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span class="tei tei-q"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">I want you to forgive me for what I am + doing. I know you will feel bad about it, but really I never was the right + one for you. I’m sure you thought me all too good, and I never could + have stayed in a strait-jacket, it would have + </span><span class="tei tei-pb" id="page51"></span><a name="pg51" id="pg51" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><span style="font-size: 90%"> + killed me. I shall always consider you the best man in the world, and I + like you better than anyone else except Captain Leavenworth. I can’t + help it, you know, that I care more for him than anyone else, though + I’ve tried. So I am going away to-night and when you read this we + shall have been married. You are so very good that I know you will forgive + me, and be glad I am happy. Don’t think hardly of me for I always did + care a great deal for you.</span></span></p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: right; margin-bottom: 0.90em; margin-right: 4.50em"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: right"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">Your + loving</span></span></p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: right; margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: right"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: right"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-variant: small-caps">Kate.</span></span><span style="font-size: 90%">”</span></span></p> +</div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It was characteristic of Kate that she demanded the love +and loyalty of her betrayed lover to the bitter end, false and +heartless though she had been. The coquette in her played +with him even now in the midst of the bitter pain she must +have known she was inflicting. No word of contrition spoke +she, but took her deed as one of her prerogatives, just as she +had always taken everything she chose. She did not even +spare him the loving salutation that had been her custom in +her letters to him, but wrote herself down as she would have +done the day before when all was fair and dear between them. +She did not hint at any better day for David, or give him +permission to forget her, but held him for all time as her +own, as she had known she would by those words of hers, +<span class="tei tei-q">“I like you better than anyone else except!—”</span> Ah! That +fatal <span class="tei tei-q">“except!”</span> Could any knife cut deeper and more ways? +They sank into the young man’s heart as he stood there those +first few minutes and faced his trouble, his head bowed upon +the mantel-piece.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Meantime Madam Schuyler’s keen vision had spied another +folded paper beside the pincushion. Smaller it was than the +other, and evidently intended to be placed further out of +sight. It was addressed to Kate’s father, and her stepmother +opened it and read with hard pressure of her thin lips, slanted +down at the corners, and a steely look in her eyes. Was it +possible that the girl, even in the midst of her treachery, had +enjoyed with a sort of malicious glee the thought of her stepmother +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page52"></span><a name="pg52" id="pg52" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +reading that note and facing the horror of a wedding +party with no bride? Knowing her stepmother’s vast resources +did she not think that at last she had brought her to a +situation to which she was unequal? There had always been +this unseen, unspoken struggle for supremacy between them; +though it had been a friendly one, a sort of testing on the +girl’s part of the powers and expedients of the woman, with +a kind of vast admiration, mingled with amusement, but no +fear for the stepmother who had been uniformly kind and +loving toward her, and for whom she cared, perhaps as much +as she could have cared for her own mother. The other note +read:</p> + +<div class="block tei tei-quote" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"> + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span class="tei tei-q"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-variant: small-caps">Dear + Father</span></span><span style="font-size: 90%">:—I am going away to-night to marry Captain Leavenworth. + You wouldn’t let me have him in the right way, so I had to take this. + I tried very hard to forget him and get interested in David, but it was no + use. You couldn’t stop it. So now I hope you will see it the way we + do and forgive us. We are going to Washington and you can write us there + and say you forgive us, and then we will come home. I know you will forgive + us, Daddy dear. You know you always loved your little Kate and you + couldn’t really want me to be unhappy. Please send my trunks to + Washington. I’ve tacked the card with the address on the ends.</span></span></p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: right; margin-bottom: 0.90em; margin-right: 4.50em"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: right"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">Your + loving little girl,</span></span></p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: right; margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: right"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: right"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-variant: small-caps">Kate.</span></span><span style="font-size: 90%">”</span></span></p> +</div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There was a terrible stillness in the room, broken only by +the crackling of paper as the notes were turned in the hands +of their readers. Marcia felt as if centuries were passing. +David’s soul was pierced by one awful thought. He had no +room for others. She was gone! Life was a blank for him! +stretching out into interminable years. Of her treachery and +false-heartedness in doing what she had done in the way she +had done it, he had no time to take account. That would +come later. Now he was trying to understand this one awful +fact.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page53"></span><a name="pg53" id="pg53" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Madam Schuyler handed the second note to her husband, +and with set lips quickly skimmed through the other one. +As she read, indignation rose within her, and a great desire +to outwit everybody. If it had been possible to bring the +erring girl back and make her face her disgraced wedding +alone, Madam Schuyler would have been glad to do it. She +knew that upon her would likely rest all the re-arrangements, +and her ready brain was already taking account of her servants +and the number of messages that would have to be sent +out to stop the guests from arriving. She waited impatiently +for her husband to finish reading that she might consult +with him as to the best message to send, but she was scarcely +prepared for the burst of anger that came with the finish of +the letters. The old man crushed his daughter’s note in his +hand and flung it from him. He had great respect and love +for David, and the sight of him broken in grief, the deed of +his daughter, roused in him a mighty indignation. His voice +shook, but there was a deep note of command in it that made +Madam Schuyler step aside and wait. The Squire had arisen +to the situation, and she recognized her lord and master.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“She must be brought back at once at all costs!”</span> he +exclaimed. <span class="tei tei-q">“That rascal shall not outwit us. Fool that I +was to trust him in the house! Tell the men to saddle the +horses. They cannot have gone far yet, and there are not so +many roads to Washington. We may yet overtake them, and +married or unmarried the hussy shall be here for her wedding!”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But David raised his head from the mantel-shelf and +steadied his voice:</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“No, no, you must not do that—father—”</span> the appellative +came from his lips almost tenderly, as if he had long considered +the use of it with pleasure, and now he spoke it as a +tender bond meant to comfort.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The older man started and his face softened. A flash of +understanding and love passed between the two men.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page54"></span><a name="pg54" id="pg54" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Remember, she has said she loves some one else. She could +never be mine now.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There was terrible sadness in the words as David spoke +them, and his voice broke. Madam Schuyler turned away +and took out her handkerchief, an article of apparel for which +she seldom had use except as it belonged to every well ordered +toilet.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The father stood looking hopelessly at David and taking in +the thought. Then he too bowed his head and groaned.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“And my daughter, <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">my little Kate</span></span> has done it!”</span> Marcia +covered her face with the curtains and her tears fell fast.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David went and stood beside the Squire and touched his +arm.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Don’t!”</span> he said pleadingly. <span class="tei tei-q">“You could not help it. It +was not your fault. Do not take it so to heart!”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“But it is my disgrace. I have brought up a child who +could do it. I cannot escape from that. It is the most dishonorable +thing a woman can do. And look how she has done +it, brought shame upon us all! Here we have a wedding on +our hands, and little or no time to do anything! I have +lived in honor all my life, and now to be disgraced by my +own daughter!”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia shuddered at her father’s agony. She could not +bear it longer. With a soft cry she went to him, and nestled +her head against his breast unnoticed.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Father, father, don’t!”</span> she cried.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But her father went on without seeming to see her.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“To be disgraced and deserted and dishonored by my own +child! Something must be done. Send the servants! Let +the wedding be stopped!”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He looked at Madam and she started toward the door to +carry out his bidding, but he recalled her immediately.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“No, stay!”</span> he cried. <span class="tei tei-q">“It is too late to stop them all. +Let them come. Let them be told! Let the disgrace rest +upon the one to whom it belongs!”</span></p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page55"></span><a name="pg55" id="pg55" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Madam stopped in consternation! A wedding without a +bride! Yet she knew it was a serious thing to try to dispute +with her husband in that mood. She paused to consider.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, father!”</span> exclaimed Marcia, <span class="tei tei-q">“we couldn’t! Think +of David.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Her words seemed to touch the right chord, for he turned +toward the young man, intense, tender pity in his face.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Yes, David! We are forgetting David! We must do all +we can to make it easier for you. You will be wanting to get +away from us as quickly as possible. How can we manage it +for you? And where will you go? You will not want to go +home just yet?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He paused, a new agony of the knowledge of David’s part +coming to him.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“No, I cannot go home,”</span> said David hopelessly, a look of +keen pain darting across his face, <span class="tei tei-q">“for the house will be all +ready for her, and the table set. The friends will be coming +in, and we are invited to dinner and tea everywhere. They +will all be coming to the house, my friends, to welcome us. +No, I cannot go home.”</span> Then he passed his hand over his +forehead blindly, and added, in a stupefied tone, <span class="tei tei-q">“and yet I +must—sometime—I must—go—home!”</span></p> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div id="MS05" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page56"></span><a name="pg56" id="pg56" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<a name="toc10" id="toc10"></a> +<a name="pdf11" id="pdf11"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"> + <span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER V</span></span> +</h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The room was very still as he spoke. Madam Schuyler +forgot the coming guests and the preparations, in consternation +over the thought of David and his sorrow. Marcia +sobbed softly upon her father’s breast, and her father involuntarily +placed his arm about her as he stood in painful thought.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“It is terrible!”</span> he murmured, <span class="tei tei-q">“terrible! How could she +bear to inflict such sorrow! She might have saved us the +scorn of all of our friends. David, you must not go back +alone. It must not be. You must not bear that. There +are lovely girls in plenty elsewhere. Find another one and +marry her. Take your bride home with you, and no one in +your home need be the wiser. Don’t sorrow for that cruel +girl of mine. Give her not the satisfaction of feeling that your +life is broken. Take another. Any girl might be proud to +go with you for the asking. Had I a dozen other daughters +you should have your pick of them, and one should go with +you, if you would condescend to choose another from the +home where you have been so treacherously dealt with. But +I have only this one little girl. She is but a child as yet +and cannot compare with what you thought you had. I blame +you not if you do not wish to wed another Schuyler, but if +you will she is yours. And she is a good girl. David, though +she is but a child. Speak up, child, and say if you will make +amends for the wrong your sister has done!”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The room was so still one could almost hear the heartbeats. +David had raised his head once more and was looking +at Marcia. Sad and searching was his gaze, as if he fain +would find the features of Kate in her face, yet it seemed to +Marcia, as she raised wide tear-filled eyes from her father’s +breast where her head still lay, that he saw her not. He was +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page57"></span><a name="pg57" id="pg57" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +looking beyond her and facing the home-going alone, and the +empty life that would follow.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Her thoughts the last few days had matured her wonderfully. +She understood and pitied, and her woman-nature +longed to give comfort, yet she shrunk from going unasked. +It was all terrible, this sudden situation thrust upon her, yet +she felt a willing sacrifice if she but felt sure it was his wish.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But David did not seem to know that he must speak. He +waited, looking earnestly at her, through her, beyond her, to +see if Heaven would grant this small relief to his sufferings. +At last Marcia summoned her voice:</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“If David wishes I will go.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She spoke the words solemnly, her eyes lifted slightly above +him as if she were speaking to Another One higher than he. +It was like an answer to a call from God. It had come to +Marcia this way. It seemed to leave her no room for drawing +back, if indeed she had wished to do so. Other considerations +were not present. There was just the one great desire in her +heart to make amends in some measure for the wrong that had +been done. She felt almost responsible for it, a family responsibility. +She seemed to feel the shame and pain as her +father was feeling it. She would step into the empty place +that Kate had left and fill it as far as she could. Her only +fear was that she was not acceptable, not worthy to fill so high +a place. She trembled over it, yet she could not hold back +from the high calling. It was so she stood in a kind of +sorrowful exaltation waiting for David. Her eyes lowered +again, looking at him through the lashes and pleading for +recognition. She did not feel that she was pleading for anything +for herself, only for the chance to help him.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Her voice had broken the spell. David looked down upon +her kindly, a pleasant light of gratitude flashing through +the sternness and sorrow in his face. Here was comradeship +in trouble, and his voice recognized it as he said:</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Child, you are good to me, and I thank you. I will try +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page58"></span><a name="pg58" id="pg58" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +to make you happy if you will go with me, and I am sure your +going will be a comfort in many ways, but I would not have +you go unwillingly.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There was a dull ache in Marcia’s heart, its cause she could +not understand, but she was conscious of a gladness that she +was not counted unworthy to be accepted, young though she +was, and child though he called her. His tone had been +kindness itself, the gentle kindliness that had won her childish +sisterly love when first he began to visit her sister. She had +that answer of his to remember for many a long day, and to +live upon, when questionings and loneliness came upon her. +But she raised her face to her father now, and said: <span class="tei tei-q">“I will +go, father!”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The Squire stooped and kissed his little girl for the last +time. Perhaps he realized that from this time forth she +would be a little girl no longer, and that he would never look +into those child-eyes of hers again, unclouded with the sorrows +of life, and filled only with the wonder-pictures of a +rosy future. She seemed to him and to herself to be renouncing +her own life forever, and to be taking up one of +sacrificial penitence for her sister’s wrong doing.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The father then took Marcia’s hand and placed it in +David’s, and the betrothal was complete.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Madam Schuyler, whose reign for the time was set aside, +stood silent, half disapproving, yet not interfering. Her +conscience told her that this <span class="tei tei-corr"><a name="E5" id="E5" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><a href="#e5" class="tei tei-ref">wholesale</a></span> disposal of Marcia was +against nature. The new arrangement was a relief to her in +many ways, and would make the solution of the day less +trying for every one. But she was a woman and knew a +woman’s heart. Marcia was not having her chance in life as +her sister had had, as every woman had a right to have. Then +her face hardened. How had Kate used her chances? Perhaps +it was better for Marcia to be well placed in life before +she grew headstrong enough to make a fool of herself as Kate +had done. David would be good to her, that was certain. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page59"></span><a name="pg59" id="pg59" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +One could not look at the strong, pleasant lines of his well +cut mouth and chin and not be sure of that. Perhaps it was +all for the best. At least it was not her doing. And it was +only the night before that she had been looking at Marcia and +worrying because she was growing into a woman so fast. Now +she would be relieved of that care, and could take her ease and +enjoy life until her own children were grown up. But the +voice of her husband aroused her to the present.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Let the wedding go on as planned, Sarah, and no one need +know until the ceremony is over except the minister. I +myself will go and tell the minister. There will need to be +but a change of names.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“But,”</span> said the Madam, with housewifely alarm, as the +suddenness of the whole thing flashed over her, <span class="tei tei-q">“Marcia is +not ready. She has no suitable clothes for her wedding.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Not ready! No clothes!”</span> said the Squire, now thoroughly +irritated over this trivial objection, as a fly will sometimes +ruffle the temper of a man who has kept calm under fire +of an enemy. <span class="tei tei-q">“And where are all the clothes that have been +making these weeks and months past? What more preparation +does she need? Did the hussy take her wedding things +with her? What’s in this trunk?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“But those are Kate’s things, father,”</span> said Marcia in gentle +explanation. <span class="tei tei-q">“Kate would be very angry if I took her things. +They were made for her, you know.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“And what if they were made for her?”</span> answered the +father, very angry now at Kate. <span class="tei tei-q">“You are near of a size. +What will do for one is good enough for the other, and Kate +may be angry and get over it, for not one rag of it all will +she get, nor a penny of my money will ever go to her again. +She is no daughter of mine from henceforth. That rascal +has beaten me and stolen my daughter, but he gets a dowerless +lass. Not a penny will ever go from the Schuyler estate into +his pocket, and no trunk will ever travel from here to Washington +for that heartless girl. I forbid it. Let her feel some +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page60"></span><a name="pg60" id="pg60" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +of the sorrow she has inflicted upon others more innocent. I +forbid it, do you hear?”</span> He brought his fist down upon the +solid mahogany bureau until the prisms on a candle-stand in +front of the mirror jangled discordantly.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, father!”</span> gasped Marcia, and turned with terror to +her stepmother. But David stood with his back toward the +rest looking out of the window. He had forgotten them all.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Madam Schuyler was now in command again. For once +the Squire had anticipated his wife, and the next move +had been planned without her help, but it was as she would +have it. Her face had lost its consternation and beamed with +satisfaction beneath its mask of grave perplexity. She could +not help it that she was glad to have the terrible ordeal of a +wedding without a bride changed into something less formidable.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">At least the country round about could not pity, for who +was to say but that David was as well suited with one sister +as with the other? And Marcia was a good girl; doubtless she +would grow into a good wife. Far more suitable for so good +and steady a man as David than pretty, imperious Kate.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Madam Schuyler took her place of command once more and +began to issue her orders.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Come, then, Marcia, we have no time to waste. It is +all right, as your father has said. Kate’s things will fit you +nicely and you must go at once and put everything in readiness. +You will want all your time to dress, and pack a few +things, and get calm. Go to your room right away and pick +up anything you will want to take with you, and I’ll go down +and see that Phoebe takes your place and then come back.<span class="tei tei-corr"><a name="E6" id="E6" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><a href="#e6" class="tei tei-ref">”</a></span></span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David and the Squire went out like two men who had suddenly +grown old, and had not the strength to walk rapidly. +No one thought any more of breakfast. It was half-past seven +by the old tall clock that stood upon the stair-landing. It +would not be long before Aunt Polly and Uncle Joab would +be driving up to the door.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page61"></span><a name="pg61" id="pg61" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Straight ahead went the preparations, just as if nothing +had happened, and if Mistress Kate Leavenworth could have +looked into her old room an hour after the discovery of her +flight she would have been astonished beyond measure.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Up in her own room stood poor bewildered Marcia. She +looked about upon her little white bed, and thought she would +never likely sleep in it again. She looked out of the small-paned +window with its view of distant hill and river, and +thought she was bidding it good-bye forever. She went toward +her closet and put out her hand to choose what she +would take with her, and her heart sank. There hung the +faded old ginghams short and scant, and scorned but yesterday, +yet her heart wildly clung to them. Almost would she +have put one on and gone back to her happy care-free school +life. The thought of the new life frightened her. She must +give up her girlhood all at once. She might not keep a +vestige of it, for that would betray David. She must be Kate +from morning to evening. Like a sword thrust came the remembrance +that she had envied Kate, and God had given +her the punishment of being Kate in very truth. Only there +was this great difference. She was not the chosen one, and +Kate had been. She must bear about forever in her heart the +thought of Kate’s sin.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The voice of her stepmother drew nearer and warned her +that her time alone was almost over, and out on the lawn +she could hear the voices of Uncle Joab and Aunt Polly who +had just arrived.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She dropped upon her knees for one brief moment and let +her young soul pour itself out in one great cry of distress to +God, a cry without words borne only on the breath of a sob. +Then she arose, hastily dashed cold water in her face, and +dried away the traces of tears. There was no more time to +think. With hurried hand she began to gather a few trifles +together from closet and drawer.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">One last lingering look she took about her room as she left +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page62"></span><a name="pg62" id="pg62" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +it, her arms filled with the things she had hastily culled +from among her own. Then she shut the door quickly and +went down the hall to her sister’s room to enter upon her +new life. She was literally putting off herself and putting +on a new being as far as it was possible to do so outwardly.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There on the bed lay the bridal outfit. Madam Schuyler +had just brought it from the spare room that there might be +no more going back and forth through the halls to excite +suspicion. She was determined that there should be no +excitement or demonstration or opportunity for gossip among +the guests at least until the ceremony was over. She had +satisfied herself that not a soul outside the family save the +two maids suspected that aught was the matter, and she felt +sure of their silence.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Kate had taken very little with her, evidently fearing to +excite suspicion, and having no doubt that her father would +relent and send all her trousseau as she had requested in her +letter. For once Mistress Kate had forgotten her fineries and +made good her escape with but two frocks and a few other +necessaries in a small hand-bag.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Madam Schuyler was relieved to the point of genuine cheerfulness, +over this, despite the cloud of tragedy that hung over +the day. She began to talk to Marcia as if she had been Kate, +as she smoothed down this and that article and laid them back +in the trunk, telling how the blue gown would be the best for +church and the green silk for going out to very fine places, to +<span class="tei tei-corr"><a name="E7" id="E7" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><a href="#e7" class="tei tei-ref">tea-drinkings</a></span> +and the like, and how she must always be +sure to wear the cream undersleeves with the Irish point lace +with her silk gown as they set it off to perfection. She recalled, +too, how little experience Marcia had had in the ways +of the world, and all the while the girl was being dressed in +the dainty bridal garments she gave her careful instructions +in the art of being a success in society, until Marcia felt that +the green fields and the fences and trees to climb and the +excursions after blackberries, and all the joyful merry-makings +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page63"></span><a name="pg63" id="pg63" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +of the boys and girls were receding far from her. She +could even welcome Hanford Weston as a playfellow in her +new future, if thereby a little fresh air and freedom of her +girlhood might be left. Nevertheless there gradually came +over her an elation of excitement. The feel of the dainty garments, +the delicate embroidery, the excitement lest the white +slippers would not fit her, the difficulty of making her hair +stay up in just Kate’s style—for her stepmother insisted that +she must dress it exactly like Kate’s and make herself look as +nearly as possible as Kate would have looked,—all drove sadness +from her mind and she began to taste a little delight in +the pretty clothes, the great occasion, and her own importance. +The vision in the looking-glass, too, told her that her own +face was winsome, and the new array not unbecoming. Something +of this she had seen the night before when she put on +her new chintz; now the change was complete, as she stood in +the white satin and lace with the string of seed pearls that +had been her mother’s tied about her soft white throat. She +thought about the tradition of the pearls that Kate’s girl +friends had laughingly reminded her of a few days before +when they were looking at the bridal garments. They had +said that each pearl a bride wore meant a tear she would shed. +She wondered if Kate had escaped the tears with the pearls, +and left them for her.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She was ready at last, even to the veil that had been her +mother’s, and her mother’s mother’s before her. It fell in its +rich folds, yellowed by age, from her head to her feet, with its +creamy frost-work of rarest handiwork, transforming the girl +into a woman and a bride.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Madam Schuyler arranged and rearranged the folds, and +finally stood back to look with half-closed eyes at the effect, +deciding that very few would notice that the bride was other +than they had expected until the ceremony was over and the +veil thrown back. The sisters had never looked alike, yet there +was a general family resemblance that was now accentuated by +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page64"></span><a name="pg64" id="pg64" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +the dress; perhaps only those nearest would notice that it was +Marcia instead of Kate. At least the guests would have the +good grace to keep their wonderment to themselves until the +ceremony was over.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Then Marcia was left to herself with trembling hands and +wildly throbbing heart. What would Mary Ann think! What +would all the girls and boys think? Some of them would be +there, and others would be standing along the shady streets to +watch the progress of the carriage as it drove away. And +they would see her going away instead of Kate. Perhaps +they would think it all a great joke and that she had been +going to be married all the time and not Kate. But no; the +truth would soon come out. People would not be astonished +at anything Kate did. They would only say it was just what +they had all along expected of her, and pity her father, and +pity her perhaps. But they would look at her and admire her +and for once she would be the centre of attraction. The pink +of pride swelled up into her cheeks, and then realizing what +she was thinking she crushed the feeling down. How could +she think of such things when Kate had done such a dreadful +thing, and David was suffering so terribly? Here was she +actually enjoying, and delighting in the thought of being in +Kate’s place. Oh, she was wicked, wicked! She must not +be happy for a moment in what was Kate’s shame and David’s +sorrow. Of her future with David she did not now think. +It was of the pageant of the day that her thoughts were full. +If the days and weeks and months that were to follow came +into her mind at all between the other things it was always +that she was to care for David and to help him, and that she +would have to grow up quickly; and remember all the hard +housewifely things her stepmother had taught her; and try +to order his house well. But that troubled her not at all at +present. She was more concerned with the ceremony, and the +many eyes that would be turned upon her. It was a relief +when a tap came on the door and the dear old minister entered.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div id="MS06" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page65"></span><a name="pg65" id="pg65" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<a name="toc12" id="toc12"></a> +<a name="pdf13" id="pdf13"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"> + <span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER VI</span></span> +</h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He stood a moment by the door looking at her, half startled. +Then he came over beside her, put his hands upon her shoulders, +looking down into her upturned, veiled face.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“My child!”</span> he said tenderly, <span class="tei tei-q">“my little Marcia, is this +you? I did not know you in all this beautiful dress. You +look as your own mother looked when she was married. I +remember perfectly as if it were but yesterday, her face as +she stood by your father’s side. I was but a young man then, +you know, and it was my first wedding in my new church, so +you see I could not forget it. Your mother was a beautiful +woman, Marcia, and you are like her both in face and life.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The tears came into Marcia’s eyes and her lips trembled.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Are you sure, child,”</span> went on the gentle voice of the old +man, <span class="tei tei-q">“that you understand what a solemn thing you are +doing? It is not a light thing to give yourself in marriage +to any man. You are so young yet! Are you doing this +thing quite willingly, little girl? Are you sure? Your +father is a good man, and a dear old friend of mine, but I +know what has happened has been a terrible blow to him, and +a great humiliation. It has perhaps unnerved his judgment +for the time. No one should have brought pressure to bear +upon a child like you to make you marry against your will. +Are you sure it is all right, dear?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, yes, sir!”</span> Marcia raised her tear-filled eyes. <span class="tei tei-q">“I am +doing it quite of myself. No one has made me. I was glad +I might. It was so dreadful for David!”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“But child, do you love him?”</span> the old minister said, +searching her face closely.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia’s eyes shone out radiant and +<span class="tei tei-corr"><a name="E8" id="E8" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><a href="#e8" class="tei tei-ref">child-like</a></span> +through her tears.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page66"></span><a name="pg66" id="pg66" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, yes, sir! I love him of course. No one could help +loving David.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There was a tap at the door and the Squire entered. With +a sigh the minister turned away, but there was trouble in his +heart. The love of the girl had been all too frankly confessed. +It was not as he would have had things for a daughter +of his, but it could not be helped of course, and he had +no right to interfere. He would like to speak to David, but +David had not come out of his room yet. When he did there +was but a moment for them alone and all he had opportunity +to say was:</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Mr. Spafford, you will be good to the little girl, and remember +she is but a child. She has been dear to us all.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David looked at him wonderingly, earnestly, in reply:</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“I will do all in my power to make her happy,”</span> he said.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The hour had come, and all things, just as Madam Schuyler +had planned, were ready. The minister took his place, and +the impatient bridesmaids were in a flutter, wondering why +Kate did not call them in to see her. Slowly, with measured +step, as if she had practised many times, Marcia, the maiden, +walked down the hall on her father’s arm. He was bowed +with his trouble and his face bore marks of the sudden +calamity that had befallen his house, but the watching guests +thought it was for sorrow at giving up his lovely Kate, and +they said one to another, <span class="tei tei-q">“How much he loved her!”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The girl’s face drooped with gentle gravity. She scarcely +felt the presence of the guests she had so much dreaded, for +to her the ceremony was holy. She was giving herself as a +sacrifice for the sin of her sister. She was too young and +inexperienced to know all that would be thought and said as +soon as the company understood. She also felt secure behind +that film of lace. It seemed impossible that they could know +her, so softly and so mistily it shut her in from the world. +It was like a kind of moving house about her, a protection +from all eyes. So sheltered she might go through the ceremony +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page67"></span><a name="pg67" id="pg67" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +with composure. As yet she had not begun to dread +the afterward. The hall was wide through which she passed, +and the day was bright, but the windows were so shadowed +by the waiting bridesmaids that the light did not fall in full +glare upon her, and it was not strange they did not know +her at once. She heard their smothered exclamations of wonder +and admiration, and one, Kate’s dearest friend, whispered +softly behind her: <span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, Kate, why did you keep us waiting, +you sly girl! How lovely you are! You look like an angel +straight from heaven.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There were other whispered words which Marcia heard +sadly. They gave her no pleasure. The words were for Kate, +not her. What would they say when they knew all?</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There was David in the distance waiting for her. How +fine he looked in his wedding clothes! How proud Kate +might have been of him! How pitiful was his white face! +He had summoned his courage and put on a mask of happiness +for the eyes of those who saw him, but it could not +deceive the heart of Marcia. Surely not since the days when +Jacob served seven years for Rachel and then lifted the bridal +veil to look upon the face of her sister Leah, walked there +sadder bridegroom on this earth than David Spafford walked +that day.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Down the stairs and through the wide hall they came, +Marcia not daring to look up, yet seeing familiar glimpses +as she passed. That green plaid silk lap at one side of the +parlor door, in which lay two nervous little hands and a neatly +folded pocket handkerchief, belonged to Sabrina Bates, she +knew; and the round lace collar a little farther on, fastened +by the brooch with a colored daguerreotype encircled by a +braid of faded brown hair under glass, must be about the neck +of Aunt Polly. There was not another brooch like that in +New York state, Marcia felt sure. Beyond were Uncle Joab’s +small meek Sunday boots, toeing in, and next were little feet +covered by white stockings and slippers fastened with crossed +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page68"></span><a name="pg68" id="pg68" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +black ribbons, some child’s, not Harriet—Marcia dared not +raise her eyes to identify them now. She must fix her mind +upon the great things before her. She wondered at herself +for noticing such trivial things when she was walking up to +the presence of the great God, and there before her stood the +minister with his open book!</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Now, at last, with the most of the audience behind her, +shut in by the film of lace, she could raise her eyes to the +minister’s familiar face, take David’s arm without letting her +hand tremble much, and listen to the solemn words read out +to her. For her alone they seemed to be read. David’s heart +she knew was crushed, and it was only a form for him. She +must take double vows upon her for the sake of the wrong +done to him. So she listened:</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Dearly beloved, we are gathered together”</span>—how the +words thrilled her!—<span class="tei tei-q">“in the sight of God and in the presence +of this company to join together this man and woman +in the bonds of holy matrimony;”</span>—a deathly stillness rested +upon the room and the painful throbbing of her heart was all +the little bride could hear. She was glad she might look +straight into the dear face of the old minister. Had her +mother felt this way when she was being married? Did her +stepmother understand it? Yes, she must, in part at least, +for she had bent and kissed her most tenderly upon the brow +just before leaving her, a most unusually sentimental thing +for her to do. It touched Marcia deeply, though she was fond +of her stepmother at all times.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She waited breathless with drooped eyes while the minister +demanded, <span class="tei tei-q">“If any man can show just cause why they may +not be lawfully joined together, let him now declare it, or else +hereafter forever hold his peace.”</span> What if some one should +recognize her and, thinking she had usurped Kate’s place, speak +out and stop the marriage! How would David feel? And +she? She would sink to the floor. Oh, did they any of them +know? How she wished she dared raise her eyes to look about +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page69"></span><a name="pg69" id="pg69" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +and see. But she must not. She must listen. She must +shake off these worldly thoughts. She was not hearing for +idle thinking. It was a solemn, holy vow she was taking +upon herself for life. She brought herself sharply back to +the ceremony. It was to David the minister was talking +now:</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in +sickness and in health, and forsaking all other, keep thee +only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It was hard to make David promise that when his heart +belonged to Kate. She wondered that his voice could be so +steady when it said, <span class="tei tei-q">“I will,”</span> and the white glove of Kate’s +which was just a trifle large for her, trembled on David’s +arm as the minister next turned to her:</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Wilt thou, Marcia”</span>—Ah! It was out now! and the +sharp rustle of silk and stiff linen showed that all the company +were aware at last who was the bride; but the minister +went steadily on. He cared not what the listening assembly +thought. He was talking earnestly to his little friend, +Marcia,—<span class="tei tei-q">“have this man to be thy wedded husband, to live +together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? +Wilt thou obey him, and serve him, love, honor, and +keep him, in sickness and in health”</span>—the words of the pledge +went on. It was not hard. The girl felt she could do all +that. She was relieved to find it no more terrible, and to +know that she was no longer acting a lie. They all knew who +she was now. She held up her flower-like head and answered +in her clear voice, that made her few schoolmates present gasp +with admiration:</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“I will!”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">And the dear old minister’s wife, sitting sweet and dove-like +in her soft grey poplin, fine white kerchief, and cap of +book muslin, smiled to herself at the music in Marcia’s voice +and nodded approval. She felt that all was well with her +little friend.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page70"></span><a name="pg70" id="pg70" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">They waited, those astonished people, till the ceremony +was concluded and the prayer over, and then they broke forth. +There had been lifted brows and looks passing from one to +another, of question, of disclaiming any knowledge in the +matter, and just as soon as the minister turned and took the +bride’s hand to congratulate her the heads bent together +behind fans and the soft buzz of whispers began.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">What does it mean? Where is Kate? She isn’t in the +room! Did he change his mind at the last minute? How +old is Marcia? Mercy me! Nothing but a child! Are you +sure? Why, my Mary Ann is older than that by three months, +and she’s no more able to become mistress of a home than a +nine-days-old kitten. Are you sure it’s Marcia? Didn’t the +minister make a mistake in the name? It looked to me like +Kate. Look again. She’s put her veil back. No, it can’t +be! Yes, it is! No, it looks like Kate! Her hair’s done the +same, but, no, Kate never had such a sweet innocent look as +that. Why, when she was a child her face always had a +sharpness to it. Look at Marcia’s eyes, poor lamb! I don’t +see how her father could bear it, and she so young. But +Kate! Where can she be? What has happened? You don’t +say! Yes, I did see that captain about again last week or +so. Do you believe it? Surely she never would. Who told +you? Was he sure? But Maria and Janet are bridesmaids +and they didn’t see any signs of anything. They were over +here yesterday. Yes, Kate showed them everything and +planned how they would all walk in. No, she didn’t do anything +queer, for Janet would have mentioned it. Janet always +sees everything. Well, they say he’s a good man and Marcia’ll +be well provided for. Madam Schuyler’ll be relieved about +that. Marcia can’t ever lead her the dance Kate has among +the young men. How white he looks! Do you suppose he +loves her? What on earth can it all mean? Do you s’pose +Kate feels bad? Where is she anyway? Wouldn’t she come +down? Well, if ’twas his choosing it serves her right. She’s +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page71"></span><a name="pg71" id="pg71" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +too much of a flirt for a good man and maybe he found her +out. She’s probably got just what she deserves, and <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">I</span></span> think +Marcia’ll make a good little wife. She always was a quiet, +grown-up child and Madam Schuyler has trained her well! +But what will Kate do now? Hush! They are coming this +way. How do you suppose we can find out? Go ask Cousin +Janet, perhaps they’ve told her, or Aunt Polly. Surely she +knows.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But Aunt Polly sat with pursed lips of disapproval. She +had not been told, and it was her prerogative to know everything. +She always made a point of being on hand early at +all funerals and weddings, especially in the family circle, and +learning the utmost details, which she dispensed at her discretion +to late comers in fine sepulchral whispers.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Now she sat silent, disgraced, unable to explain a thing. +It was unhandsome of Sarah Schuyler, she felt, though no +more than she might have expected of her, she told herself. +She had never liked her. Well, wait until her opportunity +came. If they did not wish her to say the truth she must +say something. She could at least tell what she thought. +And what more natural than to let it be known that Sarah +Schuyler had always held a dislike for Marcia, and to suggest +that it was likely she was glad to get her off her hands. Aunt +Polly meant to find a trail somewhere, no matter how many +times they threw her off the scent.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Meantime for Marcia the sun seemed to have shined out +once more with something of its old brightness. The terrible +deed of self-renunciation was over, and familiar faces actually +were smiling upon her and wishing her joy. She felt the +flutter of her heart in her throat beneath the string of pearls, +and wondered if after all she might hope for a little happiness +of her own. She could climb no more fences nor wade in +gurgling brooks, but might there not be other happy things +as good? A little touch of the pride of life had settled upon +her. The relatives were coming with pleasant words and +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page72"></span><a name="pg72" id="pg72" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +kisses. The blushes upon her cheeks were growing deeper. +She almost forgot David in the pretty excitement. A few of +her girl friends ventured shyly near, as one might look at a +mate suddenly and unexpectedly translated into eternal bliss. +They put out cold fingers in salute with distant, stiff phrases +belonging to a grown-up world. Not one of them save Mary +Ann dared recognize their former bond of playmates. Mary +Ann leaned down and whispered with a giggle: <span class="tei tei-q">“Say, you +didn’t need to envy Kate, did you? My! Ain’t you in +clover! Say, Marsh,”</span> wistfully, <span class="tei tei-q">“do invite me fer a visit +sometime, won’t you?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Now Mary Ann was not quite on a par with the Schuylers +socially, and had it not been for a distant mutual relative +she would not have been asked to the wedding. Marcia never +liked her very much, but now, with the uncertain, dim future +it seemed pleasant and home-like to think of a visit from Mary +Ann and she nodded and said childishly: <span class="tei tei-q">“Sometime, Mary +Ann, if I can.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Mary Ann squeezed her hand, kissed her, blushed and +giggled herself out of the way of the next comer.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">They went out to the dining room and sat around the long +table. It was Marcia’s timid hand that cut the bridecake, +and all the room full watched her. Seeing the pretty color +come and go in her excited cheeks, they wondered that they +had never noticed before how beautiful Marcia was growing. +A handsome couple they would make! And they looked from +Marcia to David and back again, wondering and trying to +fathom the mystery.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It was gradually stealing about the company, the truth +about Kate and Captain Leavenworth. The minister had told +it in his sad and gentle way. Just the facts. No gossip. +Naturally every one was bristling with questions, but not much +could be got from the minister.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“I really do not know,”</span> he would say in his courteous, old-worldly +way, and few dared ask further. Perhaps the minister, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page73"></span><a name="pg73" id="pg73" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +wise by reason of much experience, had taken care to +ask as few questions as possible himself, and not to know too +much before undertaking this task for his old friend the +Squire.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">And so Kate’s marriage went into the annals of the village, +at least so far as that morning was concerned, quietly, and +with little exclamation before the family. The Squire and +his wife controlled their faces wonderfully. There was an +austerity about the Squire as he talked with his friends that +was new to his pleasant face, but Madam conversed with her +usual placid self-poise, and never gave cause for conjecture +as to her true feelings.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There were some who dared to offer their surprised condolences. +To such the stepmother replied that of course the +outcome of events had been a sore trial to the Squire, and all +of them, but they were delighted at the happy arrangement +that had been made. She glanced contentedly toward the +child-bride.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It was a revelation to the whole village that Marcia had +grown up and was so handsome.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Dismay filled the breasts of the village gossips. They had +been defrauded. Here was a fine scandal which they had +failed to discover in time and spread abroad in its due course.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Everybody was shy of speaking to the bride. She sat in +her lovely finery like some wild rose caught as a sacrifice. +Yet every one admitted that she might have done far worse. +David was a good man, with prospects far beyond most young +men of his time. Moreover he was known to have a brilliant +mind, and the career he had chosen, that of journalism, in +which he was already making his mark, was one that promised +to be lucrative as well as influential.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It was all very hurried at the last. Madam Schuyler and +Dolly the maid helped her off with the satin and lace +finery, and she was soon out of her bridal attire and struggling +with the intricacies of Kate’s travelling costume.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page74"></span><a name="pg74" id="pg74" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia was not Marcia any longer, but Mrs. David Spafford. +She had been made to feel the new name almost at +once, and it gave her a sense of masquerading pleasant enough +for the time being, but with a dim foreboding of nameless +dread and emptiness for the future, like all masquerading +which must end sometime. And when the mask is taken off +how sad if one is not to find one’s real self again: or worse +still if one may never remove the mask, but must grow to it +and be it from the soul.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">All this Marcia felt but dimly of course, for she was young +and light hearted naturally, and the excitement and pretty +things about her could not but be pleasant.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">To have Kate’s friends stand about her, half shyly trying +to joke with her as they might have done with Kate, to feel +their admiring glances, and half envious references to her +handsome husband, almost intoxicated her for the moment. +Her cheeks grew rosier as she tied on Kate’s pretty poke +bonnet whose nodding blue flowers had been brought over +from Paris by a friend of Kate’s. It seemed a shame that +Kate should not have her things after all. The pleasure died +out of Marcia’s eyes as she carefully looped the soft blue ribbons +under her round chin and drew on Kate’s long gloves. +There was no denying the fact that Kate’s outfit was becoming +to Marcia, for she had that complexion that looks well with +any color under the sun, though in blue she was not at her +best.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">When Marcia was ready she stood back from the little +looking-glass, with a frightened, half-childish gaze about the +room.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Now that the last minute was come, there was no one to +understand Marcia’s feelings nor help her. Even the girls +were merely standing there waiting to say the last formal farewell +that they might be free to burst into an astonished chatter +of exclamations over Kate’s romantic disappearance. They +were Kate’s friends, not Marcia’s, and they were bidding +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page75"></span><a name="pg75" id="pg75" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Kate’s clothes good-bye for want of the original bride. Marcia’s +friends were too young and too shy to do more than +stand back in awe and gaze at their mate so suddenly promoted +to a life which but yesterday had seemed years away +for any of them.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> + </p><div class="tei tei-figure" style="width: 100%; text-align: center"><img src="images/image03.png" width="760" height="455" alt="Illustration: Copyright by C. KlacknerThe Stepmother’s Arms were Around Her." title="Copyright by C. Klackner The Stepmother’s Arms were Around Her." /><div class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 50%">Copyright by C. Klackner</span></span><br /> + <span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 63%; font-variant: small-caps">The + Stepmother’s Arms were Around Her.</span></span></div></div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">So Marcia walked alone down the hall—yet, no, not all the +way alone. A little wrinkled hand was laid upon her gloved +one, and a little old lady, her true friend, the minister’s wife, +walked down the stairs with the bride arm in arm. Marcia’s +heart fluttered back to warmth again and was glad for her +friend, yet all she had said was: <span class="tei tei-q">“My dear!”</span> but there was +that in her touch and the tone of her gentle voice that comforted +Marcia.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She stood at the edge of the steps, with her white hair +shining in the morning, her kind-faced husband just behind +her during all the farewell, and Marcia felt happier because +of her motherly presence.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The guests were all out on the piazza in the gorgeousness +of the summer morning. David stood on the flagging below +the step beside the open coach door, a carriage lap-robe over +his arm and his hat on, ready. He was talking with the +Squire. Every one was looking at them, and they were entirely +conscious of the fact. They laughed and talked with studied +pleasantness, though there seemed to be an undertone of sadness +that the most obtuse guest could not fail to detect.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Harriet, as a small flower-girl, stood upon the broad low +step ready to fling posies before the bride as she stepped into +the coach.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The little boys, to whom a wedding merely meant a delightful +increase of opportunities, stood behind a pillar munching +cake, more of which protruded from their bulging pockets.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia, with a lump in her throat that threatened tears, +slipped behind the people, caught the two little step-brothers +in her arms and smothered them with kisses, amid their loud +protestations and the laughter of those who stood about. But +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page76"></span><a name="pg76" id="pg76" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +the little skirmish had served to hide the tears, and the bride +came back most decorously to where her stepmother stood +awaiting her with a smile of complacent—almost completed—duty +upon her face. She wore the sense of having carried off +a trying situation in a most creditable manner, and she knew +she had won the respect and awe of every matron present +thereby. That was a great deal to Madam Schuyler.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The stepmother’s arms were around her and Marcia remembered +how kindly they had felt when they first clasped her +little body years ago, and she had been kissed, and told to be +a good little girl. She had always liked her stepmother. +And now, as she came to say good-bye to the only mother she +had ever known, who had been a true mother to her in many +ways, her young heart almost gave way, and she longed to +hide in that ample bosom and stay under the wing of one who +had so ably led her thus far along the path of life.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Perhaps Madam Schuyler felt the clinging of the girl’s +arms about her, and perchance her heart rebuked her that she +had let so young and inexperienced a girl go out to the cares +of life all of a sudden in this way. At least she stooped and +kissed Marcia again and whispered: <span class="tei tei-q">“You have been a good +girl, Marcia.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Afterwards, Marcia cherished that sentence among memory’s +dearest treasures. It seemed as though it meant that +she had fulfilled her stepmother’s first command, given on +the night when her father brought home their new mother.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Then the flowers were thrown upon the pavement, to make +it bright for the bride. She was handed into the coach behind +the white-haired negro coachman, and by his side Kate’s fine +new hair trunk. Ah! That was a bitter touch! Kate’s +trunk! Kate’s things! Kate’s husband! If it had only +been her own little moth-eaten trunk that had belonged to +her mother, and filled with her own things—and if he had +only been her own husband! Yet she wanted no other than +David—only if he could have been <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">her</span></span> David!</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page77"></span><a name="pg77" id="pg77" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Then Madam Schuyler, her heart still troubled about +Marcia, stepped down and whispered:</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“David, you will remember she is young. You will deal +gently with her?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Gravely David bent his head and answered:</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“I will remember. She shall not be troubled. I will care +for her as I would care for my own sister.”</span> And Madam +Schuyler turned away half satisfied. After all, was that what +woman wanted? Would she have been satisfied to have been +cared for as a sister?</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Then gravely, with his eyes half unseeing her, the father +kissed his daughter good-bye, David got into the coach, the +door was slammed shut, and the white horses arched their +necks and stepped away, amid a shower of rice and slippers.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div id="MS07" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page78"></span><a name="pg78" id="pg78" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<a name="toc14" id="toc14"></a> +<a name="pdf15" id="pdf15"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"> + <span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER VII</span></span> +</h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">For some distance the way was lined with people they knew, +servants and negroes, standing about the driveway and outside +the fence, people of the village grouped along the sidewalk, +everybody out upon their doorsteps to watch the coach +go by, and to all the face of the bride was a puzzle and a +surprise. They half expected to see another coach coming +with the other bride behind.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia nodded brightly to those she knew, and threw +flowers from the great nosegay that had been put upon her lap +by Harriet. She felt for a few minutes like a girl in a fairy-tale +riding in this fine coach in grand attire. She stole a look +at David. He certainly looked like a prince, but gravity was +already settling about his mouth. Would he always look so +now, she wondered, would he never laugh and joke again as he +used to do? Could she manage to make him happy sometimes +for a little while and help him to forget?</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Down through the village they passed, in front of the store +and post-office where Marcia had bought her frock but three +days before, and they turned up the road she had come with +Mary Ann. How long ago that seemed! How light her +heart was then, and how young! All life was before her with +its delightful possibilities. Now it seemed to have closed for +her and she was some one else. A great ache came upon her +heart. For a moment she longed to jump down and run away +from the coach and David and the new clothes that were not +hers. Away from the new life that had been planned for +some one else which she must live now. She must always be a +woman, never a girl any more.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Out past Granny McVane’s they drove, the old lady sitting +upon her front porch knitting endless stockings. She stared +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page79"></span><a name="pg79" id="pg79" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +mildly, unrecognizingly at Marcia and paused in her rocking +to crane her neck after the coach.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The tall corn rustled and waved green arms to them as they +passed, and the cows looked up munching from the pasture in +mild surprise at the turnout. The little coach dog stepped +aside from the road to give them a bark as he passed, and +then pattered and pattered his tiny feet to catch up. The +old school house came in sight with its worn playground and +dejected summer air, and Marcia’s eyes searched out the window +where she used to sit to eat her lunch in winters, and the +tree under which she used to sit in summers, and the path by +which she and Mary Ann used to wander down to the brook, +or go in search of butternuts, even the old door knob that +her hand would probably never grasp again. She searched +them all out and bade them good-bye with her eyes. Then +once she turned a little to see if she could catch a glimpse of +the old blackboard through the window where she and +Susanna Brown and Miller Thompson used to do arithmetic +examples. The dust of the coach, or the bees in the sunshine, +or something in her eyes blurred her vision. She could only +see a long slant ray of a sunbeam crossing the wall where she +knew it must be. Then the road wound around through a +maple grove and the school was lost to view.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">They passed the South meadow belonging to the Westons, +and Hanford was plowing. Marcia could see him stop to +wipe the perspiration from his brow, and her heart warmed +even to this boy admirer now that she was going from him +forever.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Hanford had caught sight of the coach and he turned to +watch it thinking to see Kate sitting in the bride’s place. +He wondered if the bride would notice him, and turned a +deeper red under his heavy coat of tan.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">And the bride did notice him. She smiled the sweetest +smile the boy had ever seen upon her face, the smile he had +dreamed of as he thought of her, at night standing under the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page80"></span><a name="pg80" id="pg80" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +stars all alone by his father’s gate post whittling the cross +bar of the gate. For a moment he forgot that it was the +bridal party passing, forgot the stern-faced bridegroom, and +saw only Marcia—his girl love. His heart stood still, and a +bright light of response filled his eyes. He took off his wide +straw hat and bowed her reverence. He would have called +to her, and tried three times, but his dry throat gave forth +no utterance, and when he looked again the coach was passed +and only the flutter of a white handkerchief came back to him +and told him the beginning of the truth.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Then the poor boy’s face grew white, yes, white and stricken +under the tan, and he tottered to the roadside and sat down +with his face in his hands to try and comprehend what it +might mean, while the old horse dragged the plow whither +he would in search of a bite of tender grass.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">What could it mean? And why did Marcia occupy that +place beside the stranger, obviously the bridegroom? Was +she going on a visit? He had heard of no such plan. Where +was her sister? Would there be another coach presently, and +was this man then not the bridegroom but merely a friend +of the family? Of course, that must be it. He got up and +staggered to the fence to look down the road, but no one came +by save the jogging old gray and carryall, with Aunt Polly +grim and offended and Uncle Joab meek and depressed +beside her. Could he have missed the bridal carriage when +he was at the other end of the lot? Could they have gone +another way? He had a half a mind to call to Uncle Joab +to enquire only he was a timid boy and shrank back until it +was too late.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But why had Marcia as she rode away wafted that strange +farewell that had in it the familiarity of the final? And +why did he feel so strange and weak in his knees?</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia was to help his mother next week at the quilting +bee. She had not gone away to stay, of course. He got up +and tried to whistle and turn the furrows evenly as before, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page81"></span><a name="pg81" id="pg81" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +but his heart was heavy, and, try as he would, he could not +understand the feeling that kept telling him Marcia was gone +out of his life forever.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">At last his day’s work was done and he could hasten to +the house. Without waiting for his supper, he <span class="tei tei-q">“slicked up,”</span> +as he called it, and went at once to the village, where he +learned the bitter truth.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It was Mary Ann who told him.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Mary Ann, the plain, the awkward, who secretly admired +Hanford Weston as she might have admired an angel, and +who as little expected him to speak to her as if he had been +one. Mary Ann stood by her front gate in the dusk of the +summer evening, the halo of her unusual wedding finery upon +her, for she had taken advantage of being dressed up to make +two or three visits since the wedding, and so prolong the +holiday. The light of the sunset softened her plain features, +and gave her a gentler look than was her wont. Was it that, +and an air of lonesomeness akin to his own, that made Hanford +stop and speak to her?</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">And then she told him. She could not keep it in long. It +was the wonder of her life, and it filled her so that her thought +had no room for anything else. To think of Marcia taken +in a day, gone from their midst forever, gone to be a grown-up +woman in a new world! It was as strange as sudden death, +and almost as terrible and beautiful.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There were tears in her eyes, and in the eyes of the boy as +they spoke about the one who was gone, and the kind dusk +hid the sight so that neither knew, but each felt a subtle +sympathy with the other, and before Hanford started upon +his desolate way home under the burden of his first sorrow +he took Mary Ann’s slim bony hand in his and said quite +stiffly: <span class="tei tei-q">“Well, good night, Miss Mary Ann. I’m glad you +told me,”</span> and Mary Ann responded, with a deep blush under +her freckles in the dark, <span class="tei tei-q">“Good night, Mr. Weston, and—call +again!”</span></p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page82"></span><a name="pg82" id="pg82" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Something of the sympathy lingered with the boy as he +went on his way and he was not without a certain sort of +comfort, while Mary Ann climbed to her little chamber in +the loft with a new wonder to dream over.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Meanwhile the coach drove on, and Marcia passed from +her childhood’s home into the great world of men and women, +changes, heartbreakings, sorrows and joys.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David spoke to her kindly now and then; asked if she +was comfortable; if she would prefer to change seats with +him; if the cushions were right; and if she had forgotten +anything. He seemed nervous, and anxious to have this +part of the journey over and asked the coachman frequent +questions about the horses and the speed they could make. +Marcia thought she understood that he was longing to get +away from the painful reminder of what he had expected to +be a joyful trip, and her young heart pitied him, while yet it +felt an undertone of hurt for herself. She found so much +unadulterated joy in this charming ride with the beautiful +horses, in this luxurious coach, that she could not bear to have +it spoiled by the thought that only David’s sadness and pain +had made it possible for her.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Constantly as the scene changed, and new sights came +upon her view, she had to restrain herself from crying out +with happiness over the beauty and calling David’s attention. +Once she did point out a bird just leaving a stalk of goldenrod, +its light touch making the spray to bow and bend. +David had looked with unseeing eyes, and smiled with uncomprehending +assent. Marcia felt she might as well have +been talking to herself. He was not even the old friend and +brother he used to be. She drew a gentle little sigh and +wished this might have been only a happy ride with the ending +at home, and a longer girlhood uncrossed by this wall of +trouble that Kate had put up in a night for them all.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The coach came at last to the town where they were to stop +for dinner and a change of horses.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page83"></span><a name="pg83" id="pg83" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia looked about with interest at the houses, streets, and +people. There were two girls of about her own age with +long hair braided down their backs. They were walking with +arms about each other as she and Mary Ann had often done. +She wondered if any such sudden changes might be coming +to them as had come into her life. They turned and looked +at her curiously, enviously it seemed, as the coach drew up to +the tavern and she was helped out with ceremony. Doubtless +they thought of her as she had thought of Kate but last week.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She was shown into the dim parlor of the tavern and seated +in a stiff hair-cloth chair. It was all new and strange and +delightful.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Before a high gilt mirror set on great glass knobs like +rosettes, she smoothed her wind-blown hair, and looked back +at the reflection of her strange self with startled eyes. Even +her face seemed changed. She knew the bonnet and arrangement +of hair were becoming, but she felt unacquainted with +them, and wished for her own modest braids and plain bonnet. +Even a sunbonnet would have been welcome and have made +her feel more like herself.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David did not see how pretty she looked when he came to +take her to the dining room ten minutes later. His eyes were +looking into the hard future, and he was steeling himself +against the glances of others. He must be the model bridegroom +in the sight of all who knew him. His pride bore him +out in this. He had acquaintances all along the way home.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">They were expecting the bridal party, for David had arranged +that a fine dinner should be ready for his bride. Fine +it was, with the best cooking and table service the mistress of +the tavern could command, and with many a little touch +new and strange to Marcia, and therefore interesting. It was +all a lovely play till she looked at David.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David ate but little, and Marcia felt she must hurry through +the meal for his sake. Then when the carryall was ready he +put her in and they drove away.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page84"></span><a name="pg84" id="pg84" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia’s keen intuition told her how many little things had +been thought of and planned for, for the comfort of the one +who was to have taken this journey with David. Gradually +the thought of how terrible it was for him, and how dreadful +of Kate to have brought this sorrow upon him, overcame +all other thoughts.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Sitting thus quietly, with her hands folded tight in the +faded bunch of roses little Harriet had given her at parting, +the last remaining of the flowers she had carried with her, +Marcia let the tears come. Silently they flowed in gentle +rain, and had not David been borne down with the thought of +his own sorrow he must have noticed long before he did the +sadness of the sweet young face beside him. But she turned +away from him as much as possible that he might not see, +and so they must have driven for half an hour through a dim +sweet wood before he happened to catch a sight of the tear-wet +face, and knew suddenly that there were other troubles in +the world beside his own.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Why, child, what is the matter?”</span> he said, turning to her +with grave concern. <span class="tei tei-q">“Are you so tired? I’m afraid I have +been very dull company,”</span> with a sigh. <span class="tei tei-q">“You must forgive +me—child, to-day.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, David, don’t,”</span> said Marcia putting her face down +into her hands and crying now regardless of the roses. <span class="tei tei-q">“I do +not want you to think of me. It is dreadful, dreadful for +you. I am so sorry for you. I wish I could do something.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Dear child!”</span> he said, putting his hand upon hers. <span class="tei tei-q">“Bless +you for that. But do not let your heart be troubled about me. +Try to forget me and be happy. It is not for you to bear, +this trouble.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“But I must bear it,”</span> said Marcia, sitting up and trying +to stop crying. <span class="tei tei-q">“She was my sister and she did an awful +thing. I cannot forget it. How could she, how <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">could</span></span> she +do it? How could she leave a man like you that—”</span> Marcia +stopped, her brown eyes flashing fiercely as she thought of +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page85"></span><a name="pg85" id="pg85" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Captain Leavenworth’s hateful look at her that night in the +moonlight. She shuddered and hid her face in her hands +once more and cried with all the fervor of her young and +undisciplined soul.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David did not know what to do with a young woman in +tears. Had it been Kate his alarm would have vied with a +delicious sense of his own power to comfort, but even the +thought of comforting any one but Kate was now a bitter +thing. Was it always going to be so? Would he always have +to start and shrink with sudden remembrance of his pain at +every turn of his way? He drew a deep sigh and looked helplessly +at his companion. Then he did a hard thing. He +tried to justify Kate, just as he had been trying all the morning +to justify her to himself. The odd thing about it all was +that the very deepest sting of his sorrow was that Kate could +have done this thing! His peerless Kate!</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“She cared for him,”</span> he breathed the words as if they +hurt him.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“She should have told you so before then. She should +not have let you think she cared for you—<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">ever!</span></span>”</span> said Marcia +fiercely. Strangely enough the plain truth was bitter to the +man to hear, although he had been feeling it in his soul ever +since they had discovered the flight of the bride.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Perhaps there was too much pressure brought to bear +upon her,”</span> he said lamely. <span class="tei tei-q">“Looking back I can see times +when she did not second me with regard to hurrying the +marriage, so warmly as I could have wished. I laid it to her +shyness. Yet she seemed happy when we met. Did you—did +she—have you any idea she had been planning this for +long, or was it sudden?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The words were out now, the thing he longed to know. It +had been writing its fiery way through his soul. Had she +meant to torture him this way all along, or was it the yielding +to a sudden impulse that perhaps she had already repented? +He looked at Marcia with piteous, almost pleading eyes, and +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page86"></span><a name="pg86" id="pg86" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +her tortured young soul would have given anything to have +been able to tell him what he wanted to know. Yet she could +not help him. She knew no more than he. She steadied her +own nerves and tried to tell all she knew or surmised, tried her +best to reveal Kate in her true character before him. Not +that she wished to speak ill of her sister, only that she would +be true and give this lover a chance to escape some of the +pain if possible, by seeing the real Kate as she was at home +without varnish or furbelows. Yet she reflected that those +who knew Kate’s shallowness well, still loved her in spite of +it, and always bowed to her wishes.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Gradually their talk subsided into deep silence once more, +broken only by the jog-trot of the horse or the stray note of +some bird.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The road wound into the woods with its fragrant scents +of hemlock, spruce and wintergreen, and out into a broad, +hot, sunny way.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The bees hummed in the flowers, and the grasshoppers sang +hotly along the side of the dusty road. Over the whole +earth there seemed to be the sound of a soft simmering, as if +nature were boiling down her sweets, the better to keep them +during the winter.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The strain of the day’s excitement and hurry and the +weariness of sorrow were beginning to tell upon the two +travellers. The road was heavy with dust and the horse +plodded monotonously through it. With the drone of the +insects and the glare of the afternoon sun, it was not strange +that little by little a great drowsiness came over Marcia and +her head began to droop like a poor wilted flower until she was +fast asleep.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David noticed that she slept, and drew her head against +his shoulder that she might rest more comfortably. Then he +settled back to his own pain, a deeper pang coming as he +thought how different it would have been if the head resting +against his shoulder had been golden instead of brown. Then +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page87"></span><a name="pg87" id="pg87" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +soon he too fell asleep, and the old horse, going slow, and yet +more slowly, finding no urging voice behind her and seeing +no need to hurry herself, came at last on the way to the +shade of an apple tree, and halted, finding it a pleasant place +to remain and think until the heat of the afternoon was +passed. Awhile she ate the tender grass that grew beneath +the generous shade, and nipped daintily at an apple or two +that hung within tempting reach. Then she too drooped her +white lashes, and nodded and drooped, and took an afternoon +nap.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">A farmer, trundling by in his empty hay wagon, found +them so, looked curiously at them, then drew up his team and +came and prodded David in the chest with his long hickory +stick.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Wake up, there, stranger, and move on,”</span> he called, as he +jumped back into his wagon and took up the reins. <span class="tei tei-q">“We +don’t want no tipsy folks around these parts,”</span> and with a loud +clatter he rode on.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David, whose strong temperance principles had made him +somewhat marked in his own neighborhood, roused and flushed +over the insinuation, and started up the lazy horse, which flung +out guiltily upon the way as if to make up for lost time. The +driver, however, was soon lost in his own troubles, which returned +upon him with redoubled sharpness as new sorrow +always does after brief sleep.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But Marcia slept on.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div id="MS08" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page88"></span><a name="pg88" id="pg88" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<a name="toc16" id="toc16"></a> +<a name="pdf17" id="pdf17"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"> + <span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER VIII</span></span> +</h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Owing to the horse’s nap by the roadside, it was quite late +in the evening when they reached the town and David saw +the lights of his own neighborhood gleaming in the distance. +He was glad it was late, for now there would be no one to meet +them that night. His friends would think, perhaps, that +they had changed their plans and stopped over night on the +way, or met with some detention.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia still slept.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David as he drew near the house began to feel that perhaps +he had made a mistake in carrying out his marriage just as +if nothing had happened and everything was all right. It +would be too great a strain upon him to live there in that +house without Kate, and come home every night just as he had +planned it, and not to find her there to greet him as he had +hoped. Oh, if he might turn even now and flee from it, +out into the wilderness somewhere and hide himself from +human kind, where no one would know, and no one ever ask +him about his wife!</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He groaned in spirit as the horse drew up to the door, and +the heavy head of the sweet girl who was his wife reminded +him that he could not go away, but must stay and face the +responsibilities of life which he had taken upon himself, and +bear the pain that was his. It was not the fault of the girl +he had married. She sorrowed for him truly, and he felt +deeply grateful for the great thing she had done to save +his pride.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He leaned over and touched her shoulder gently to rouse +her, but her sleep was deep and healthy, the sleep of exhausted +youth. She did not rouse nor even open her eyes, but murmured +half audibly; <span class="tei tei-q">“David has come, Kate, hurry!”</span></p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page89"></span><a name="pg89" id="pg89" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Half guessing what had passed the night he arrived, David +stooped and tenderly gathered her up in his arms. He felt +a bond of kindliness far deeper than brotherly love. It was +a bond of common suffering, and by her own choice she had +made herself his comrade in his trouble. He would at least +save her what suffering he could.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She did not waken as he carried her into the house, nor +when he took her upstairs and laid her gently upon the white +bed that had been prepared for the bridal chamber.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The moonlight stole in at the small-paned windows and fell +across the floor, showing every object in the room plainly. +David lighted a candle and set it upon the high mahogany +chest of drawers. The light flickered and played over the +sweet face and Marcia slept on.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David went downstairs and put up the horse, and then +returned, but Marcia had not stirred. He stood a moment +looking at her helplessly. It did not seem right to leave her +this way, and yet it was a pity to disturb her sleep, she seemed +so weary. It had been a long ride and the day had been +filled with unwonted excitement. He felt it himself, and +what must it be for her? She was a woman.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David had the old-fashioned gallant idea of woman.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Clumsily he untied the gay blue ribbons and pulled the +jaunty poke bonnet out of her way. The luxuriant hair, unused +to the confinement of combs, fell rich about her sleep-flushed +face. Contentedly she nestled down, the bonnet out +of her way, her red lips parted the least bit with a half smile, +the black lashes lying long upon her rosy cheek, one childish +hand upon which gleamed the new wedding ring—that was +not hers,—lying relaxed and appealing upon her breast, rising +and falling with her breath. A lovely bride!</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David, stern, true, pained and appreciative, suddenly +awakened to what a dreadful thing he had done.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Here was this lovely woman, her womanhood not yet unfolded +from the bud, but lovely in promise even as her sister +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page90"></span><a name="pg90" id="pg90" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +had been in truth, her charms, her dreams, her woman’s +ways, her love, her very life, taken by him as ruthlessly and +as thoughtlessly as though she had been but a wax doll, and +put into a home where she could not possibly be what she +ought to be, because the place belonged to another. Thrown +away upon a man without a heart! That was what she was! +A sacrifice to his pride! There was no other way to put it.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It fairly frightened him to think of the promises he had +made. <span class="tei tei-q">“Love, honor, cherish,”</span> yes, all those he had promised, +and in a way he could perform, but not in the sense +that the wedding ceremony had meant, not in the way in +which he would have performed them had the bride been +Kate, the choice of his love. Oh, why, why had this awful +thing come upon him!</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">And now his conscience told him he had done wrong to take +this girl away from the possibilities of joy in the life that +might have been hers, and sacrifice her for the sake of saving +his own sufferings, and to keep his friends from knowing that +the girl he was to marry had jilted him.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">As he stood before the lovely, defenceless girl her very +beauty and innocence arraigned him. He felt that God would +hold him accountable for the act he had so thoughtlessly +committed that day, and a burden of responsibility settled +upon his weight of sorrow that made him groan aloud. For +a moment his soul cried out against it in rebellion. Why +could he not have loved this sweet self-sacrificing girl instead +of her fickle sister? Why? Why? She might perhaps have +loved him in return, but now nothing could ever be! Earth +was filled with a black sorrow, and life henceforth meant renunciation +and one long struggle to hide his trouble from the +world.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But the girl whom he had selfishly drawn into the darkness +of his sorrow with him, she must not be made to suffer more +than he could help. He must try to make her happy, and +keep her as much as possible from knowing what she had +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page91"></span><a name="pg91" id="pg91" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +missed by coming with him! His lips set in stern resolve, +and a purpose, half prayer, went up on record before God, +that he would save her as much as he knew how.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Lying helpless so, she appealed to him. Asking nothing +she yet demanded all from him in the name of true chivalry. +How readily had she given up all for him! How sweetly she +had said she would fill the place left vacant by her sister, just +to save him pain and humiliation!</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">A desire to stoop and kiss the fair face came to him, not +for affection’s sake, but reverently, as if to render to her +before God some fitting sign that he knew and understood her +act of self sacrifice, and would not presume upon it.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Slowly, as though he were performing a religious ceremony, +a sacred duty laid upon him on high, David stooped over her, +bringing his face to the gentle sleeping one. Her sweet +breath fanned his cheek like the almost imperceptible fragrance +of a bud not fully opened yet to give forth its sweetness +to the world. His soul, awake and keen through the thoughts +that had just come to him, gave homage to her sweetness, +sadly, wistfully, half wishing his spirit free to gather this +sweetness for his own.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">And so he brought his lips to hers, and kissed her, his +bride, yet not his bride. Kissed her for the second time. +That thought came to him with the touch of the warm lips +and startled him. Had there been something significant in +the fact that he had met Marcia first and kissed her instead +of Kate by mistake?</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It seemed as though the sleeping lips clung to his lingeringly, +and half responded to the kiss, as Marcia in her dreams +lived over again the kiss she had received by her father’s +gate in the moonlight. Only the dream lover was her own +and not another’s. David, as he lifted up his head and looked +at her gravely, saw a half smile illuminating her lips as if +the sleeping soul within had felt the touch and answered to +the call.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page92"></span><a name="pg92" id="pg92" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">With a deep sigh he turned away, blew out the candle, and +left her with the moonbeams in her chamber. He walked +sadly to a rear room of the house and lay down upon the +bed, his whole soul crying out in agony at his miserable state.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"></p><div class="tei tei-tb"> </div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Kate, the careless one, who had made all this heart-break +and misery, had quarreled with her husband already because +he did not further some expensive whim of hers. She had +told him she was sorry she had not stayed where she was and +carried on her marriage with David as she had planned to do. +Now she sat sulkily in her room alone, too angry to sleep; +while her husband smoked sullenly in the barroom below, and +drank frequent glasses of brandy to fortify himself against +Kate’s moods.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Kate was considering whether or not she had been a fool +in marrying the captain instead of David, though she called +herself by a much milder word than that. The romance +was already worn away. She wished for her trunk and her +pretty furbelows. Her father’s word of reconciliation would +doubtless come in a few days, also the trunks.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">After all there was intense satisfaction to Kate in having +broken all bounds and done as she pleased. Of course it +would have been a bit more comfortable if David had not been +so absurdly in earnest, and believed in her so thoroughly. +But it was nice to have some one believe in you no matter +what you did, and David would always do that. It began +to look doubtful if the captain would. But David would +never marry, she was sure, and perhaps, by and by, when +everything had been forgotten and forgiven, she might establish +a pleasant relationship with him again. It would be +charming to coquet with him. He made love so earnestly, +and his great eyes were so handsome when he looked at one +with his whole soul in them. Yes, she certainly must keep +in with him, for it would be good to have a friend like that +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page93"></span><a name="pg93" id="pg93" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +when her husband was off at sea with his ship. Now that she +was a married woman she would be free from all such childish +trammels as being guarded at home and never going anywhere +alone. She could go to New York, and she would let +David know where she was and he would come up on business +and perhaps take her to the theatre. To be sure, she had +heard David express views against theatre-going, and she knew +he was as much of a church man, almost, as her father, but +she was sure she could coax him to do anything for her, and +she had always wanted to go to the theatre. His scruples +might be strong, but she knew his love for her, and thought +it was stronger. She had read in his eyes that it would never +fail her. Yes, she thought, she would begin at once to make +a friend of David. She would write him a letter asking forgiveness, +and then she would keep him under her influence. +There was no telling what might happen with her husband +off at sea so much. It was well to be foresighted, besides, it +would be wholesome for the captain to know she had another +friend. He might be less stubborn. What a nuisance that the +marriage vows had to be taken for life! It would be much +nicer if they could be put off as easily as they were put on. +Rather hard on some women perhaps, but she could keep any +man as long as she chose, and then—she snapped her pretty +thumb and finger in the air to express her utter disdain for +the man whom she chose to cast off.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It seemed that Kate, in running away from her father’s +house and her betrothed bridegroom, and breaking the laws +of respectable society, had with that act given over all attempt +at any principle.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">So she set herself down to write her letter, with a pout +here and a dimple there, and as much pretty gentleness as if +she had been talking with her own bewitching face and eyes +quite near to his. She knew she could bewitch him if she +chose, and she was in the mood just now to choose very +much, for she was deeply angry with her husband.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page94"></span><a name="pg94" id="pg94" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She had ever been utterly heartless when she pleased, knowing +that it needed but her returning smile, sweet as a May +morning, to bring her much abused subjects fondly to her +feet once more. It did not strike her that this time she had +sinned not only against her friends, but against heaven, and +God-given love, and that a time of reckoning must come to +her,—had come, indeed.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She had never believed they would be angry with her, her +father least of all. She had no thought they would do anything +desperate. She had expected the wedding would be put +off indefinitely, that the servants would be sent out hither and +yon in hot haste to unbid the guests, upon some pretext of +accident or illness, and that it would be left to rest until the +village had ceased to wonder and her real marriage with +Captain Leavenworth could be announced.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She had counted upon David to stand up for her. She had +not understood how her father’s righteous soul would be +stirred to the depths of shame and utter disgrace over her +wanton action. Not that she would have been in the least +deterred from doing as she pleased had she understood, only +that she counted upon too great power with all of them.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">When the letter was written it sounded quite pathetic and +penitent, putting all the blame of her action upon her husband, +and making herself out a poor, helpless, sweet thing, bewildered +by so much love put upon her, and suggesting, just in +a hint, that perhaps after all she had made a mistake not to +have kept David’s love instead of the wilder, fiercer one. +She ended by begging David to be her friend forever, and +leaving an impression with him, though it was but slight, that +already shadows had crossed her path that made her feel his +friendship might be needed some day.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It was a letter calculated to drive such a lover as David +had been, half mad with anguish, even without the fact of his +hasty marriage added to the situation.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">And in due time, by coach, the letter came to David.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div id="MS09" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page95"></span><a name="pg95" id="pg95" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<a name="toc18" id="toc18"></a> +<a name="pdf19" id="pdf19"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"> + <span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER IX</span></span> +</h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The morning sunbeams fell across the floor when Marcia +awoke suddenly to a sense of her new surroundings. For a +moment she could not think where she was nor how she came +there. She looked about the unfamiliar walls, covered with +paper decorated in landscapes—a hill in the distance with a +tall castle among the trees, a blue lake in the foreground and +two maidens sitting pensively upon a green bank with their +arms about one another. Marcia liked it. She felt there +was a story in it. She would like to imagine about the lives +of those two girls when she had more time.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There were no pictures in the room to mar those upon the +paper, but the walls did not look bare. Everything was new +and stiff and needed a woman’s hand to bring the little homey +touches, but the newness was a delight to the girl. It was as +good as the time when she was a little girl and played house +with Mary Ann down on the old flat stone in the pasture, +with acorns for cups and saucers, and bits of broken china +carefully treasured upon the mossy shelves in among the roots +of the old elm tree that arched over the stone.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She was stiff from the long ride, but her sleep had wonderfully +refreshed her, and now she was ready to go to work. +She wondered as she rose how she got upon that bed, how the +blue bonnet got untied and laid upon the chair beside her. +Surely she could not have done it herself and have no memory +of it. Had she walked upstairs herself, or did some one carry +her? Did David perhaps? Good kind David! A bird +hopped upon the window seat and trilled a song, perked his +head knowingly at her and flitted away. Marcia went to the +window to look after him, and was held by the new sights +that met her gaze. She could catch glimpses of houses through +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page96"></span><a name="pg96" id="pg96" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +bowers of vines, and smoke rising from chimneys. She wondered +who lived near, and if there were girls who would prove +pleasant companions. Then she suddenly remembered that +she was a girl no longer and must associate with married +women hereafter.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But suddenly the clock on the church steeple across the way +warned her that it was late, and with a sense of deserving +reprimand she hurried downstairs.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The fire was already lighted and David had brought +in fresh water. So much his intuition had told him was +necessary. He had been brought up by three maiden aunts +who thought that a man in the kitchen was out of his sphere, +so the kitchen was an unknown quantity to him.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia entered the room as if she were not quite certain +of her welcome. She was coming into a kingdom she only +half understood.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Good morning,”</span> she said shyly, and a lovely color stole +into her cheeks. Once more David’s conscience smote him as +her waking beauty intensified the impression made the night +before.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Good morning,”</span> he said gravely, studying her face as +he might have studied some poor waif whom he had unknowingly +run over in the night and picked up to resuscitate. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Are you rested? You were very tired last night.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“What a baby I was!”</span> said Marcia deprecatingly, with a +soft little gurgle of a laugh like a merry brook. David was +amazed to find she had two dimples located about as Kate’s +were, only deeper, and more gentle in their expression.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Did I sleep all the afternoon after we left the canal? +And did you have hard work to get me into the house and +upstairs?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“You slept most soundly,”</span> said David, smiling in spite of +his heavy heart. <span class="tei tei-q">“It seemed a pity to waken you, so I did +the next best thing and put you to bed as well as I knew how.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“It was very good of you,”</span> said Marcia, coming over to +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page97"></span><a name="pg97" id="pg97" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +him with her hands clasped earnestly, <span class="tei tei-q">“and I don’t know +how to thank you.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There was something quaint and old-fashioned in her way +of speaking, and it struck David pitifully that she should be +thanking her husband, the man who had pledged himself to +care for her all his life. It seemed that everywhere he turned +his conscience would be continually reproaching him.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It was a dainty breakfast to which they presently sat down. +There was plenty of bread and fresh butter just from the hands +of the best butter-maker in the county; the eggs had been laid +the day before, and the bacon was browned just right. Marcia +well knew how to make coffee, there was cream rich and yellow +as ever came from the cows at home and there were blackberries +as large and fine every bit as those Marcia picked but +a few days before for the purchase of her pink sprigged chintz.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David watched her deft movements and all at once keen +smiting conscience came to remind him that Marcia was +defrauded of all the loving interchange of mirth that would +have been if Kate had been here. Also, keener still the +thought that Kate had not wanted it: that she had preferred +the love of another man to his, and that these joys +had not been held in dear anticipation with her as they had +with him. He had been a fool. All these months of waiting +for his marriage he had thought that he and Kate held feelings +in common, joys and hopes and tender thoughts of one +another; and, behold, he was having these feelings all to himself, +fool and blind that he was! A bitter sigh came to his +lips, and Marcia, eager in the excitement of getting her first +breakfast upon her own responsibility, heard and forgot to +smile over the completed work. She could hardly eat what +she had prepared, her heart felt David’s sadness so keenly.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Shyly she poured the amber coffee and passed it to David. +She was pleased that he drank it eagerly and passed his cup +back for more. He ate but little, but seemed to approve of +all she had done.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page98"></span><a name="pg98" id="pg98" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">After breakfast David went down to the office. He had +told Marcia that he would step over and tell his aunts of +their arrival, and they would probably come over in the course +of the day to greet her. He would be back to dinner at +twelve. He suggested that she spend her time in resting, as +she must be weary yet. Then hesitating, he went out and +closed the door behind him. He waited again on the door +stone outside and opened the door to ask:</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“You won’t be lonesome, will you, child?”</span> He had the +feeling of troubled responsibility upon him.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, no!”</span> said Marcia brightly, smiling back. She +thought it so kind of him to take the trouble to think of her. +She was quite anticipating a trip of investigation over her +new domain, and the pleasure of feeling that she was mistress +and might do as she pleased. Yet she stood by the window +after he was gone and watched his easy strides down the +street with a feeling of mingled pride and disappointment. +It was a very nice play she was going through, and David +was handsome, and her young heart swelled with pride to +belong to him, but after all there was something left out. A +great lack, a great unknown longing unsatisfied. What was +it? What made it? Was it David’s sorrow?</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She turned with a sigh as he disappeared around a curve +in the sidewalk and was lost to view. Then casting aside +the troubles which were trying to settle upon her, she gave +herself up to a morning of pure delight.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She flew about the kitchen putting things to rights, washing +the delicate sprigged china with its lavendar sprays and +buff bands, and putting it tenderly upon the shelves behind +the glass doors; shoving the table back against the wall +demurely with dropped leaves. It did not take long.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There was no need to worry about the dinner. There was +a leg of lamb beautifully cooked, half a dozen pies, their flaky +crusts bearing witness to the culinary skill of the aunts, a +fruit cake, a pound cake, a jar of delectable cookies and another +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page99"></span><a name="pg99" id="pg99" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +of fat sugary doughnuts, three loaves of bread, and a +sheet of puffy rusks with their shining tops dusted with sugar. +Besides the preserve closet was rich in all kinds of preserves, +jellies and pickles. No, it would not take long to get dinner.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It was into the great parlor that Marcia peeped first. It +had been toward that room that her hopes and fears had +turned while she washed the dishes.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The Schuylers were one of the few families in those days +that possessed a musical instrument, and it had been the +delight of Marcia’s heart. She seemed to have a natural +talent for music, and many an hour she spent at the old +spinet drawing tender tones from the yellowed keys. The +spinet had been in the family for a number of years and +very proud had the Schuyler girls been of it. Kate could +rattle off gay waltzes and merry, rollicking tunes that fairly +made the feet of the sedate village maidens flutter in time +to their melody, but Marcia’s music had always been more +tender and spiritual. Dear old hymns, she loved, and some +of the old classics. <span class="tei tei-q">“Stupid old things without any tune,”</span> +Kate called them. But Marcia persevered in playing them +until she could bring out the beautiful passages in a way +that at least satisfied herself. Her one great desire had been +to take lessons of a real musician and be able to play the +wonderful things that the old masters had composed. It is +true that very few of these had come in her way. One somewhat +mutilated copy of Handel’s <span class="tei tei-q">“Creation,”</span> a copy of +Haydn’s <span class="tei tei-q">“Messiah,”</span> and a few fragments of an old book of +Bach’s Fugues and Preludes. Many of these she could not +play at all, but others she had managed to pick out. A visit +from a cousin who lived in Boston and told of the concerts +given there by the Handel and Haydn Society had served to +strengthen her deeper interest in music. The one question +that had been going over in her mind ever since she awoke had +been whether there was a musical instrument in the house. +She felt that if there was not she would miss the old spinet +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page100"></span><a name="pg100" id="pg100" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +in her father’s house more than any other thing about her +childhood’s home.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">So with fear and trepidation she entered the darkened +room, where the careful aunts had drawn the thick green +shades. The furniture stood about in shadowed corners, and +every footfall seemed a fearsome thing.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia’s bright eyes hurried furtively about, noting the +great glass knobs that held the lace curtains with heavy silk +cords, the round mahogany table, with its china vase of +<span class="tei tei-q">“everlastings,”</span> the high, stiff-backed chairs all decked in +elaborate antimacassars of intricate pattern. Then, in the +furthest corner, shrouded in dark coverings she found what +she was searching for. With a cry she sprang to it, touched +its polished wood with gentle fingers, and lovingly felt for the +keyboard. It was closed. Marcia pushed up the shade to see +better, and opened the instrument cautiously.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It was a pianoforte of the latest pattern, and with exclamations +of delight she sat down and began to strike chords, +softly at first, as if half afraid, then more boldly. The tone +was sweeter than the old spinet, or the harpsichord owned +by Squire Hartrandt. Marcia marvelled at the volume of +sound. It filled the room and seemed to echo through the +empty halls.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She played soft little airs from memory, and her soul was +filled with joy. Now she knew she would never be lonely +in the new life, for she would always have this wonderful +instrument to flee to when she felt homesick.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Across the hall were two square rooms, the front one furnished +as a library. Here were rows of books behind glass +doors. Marcia looked at them with awe. Might she read +them all? She resolved to cultivate her mind that she might +be a fit companion for David. She knew he was wise beyond +his years for she had heard her father say so. She went +nearer and scanned the titles, and at once there looked out to +her from the rows of bindings a few familiar faces of books +she had read and re-read. <span class="tei tei-q">“Thaddeus of Warsaw,”</span> <span class="tei tei-q">“The +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page101"></span><a name="pg101" id="pg101" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Scottish Chiefs,”</span> <span class="tei tei-q">“Mysteries of Udolpho,”</span> <span class="tei tei-q">“Romance of the +Forest,”</span> <span class="tei tei-q">“Baker’s Livy,”</span> <span class="tei tei-q">“Rollin’s History,”</span> <span class="tei tei-q">“Pilgrim’s +Progress,”</span> and a whole row of Sir Walter Scott’s novels. She +caught her breath with delight. What pleasure was opening +before her! All of Scott! And she had read but one!</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It was with difficulty she tore herself away from the tempting +shelves and went on to the rest of the house.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Back of David’s library was a sunny sitting room, or breakfast +room,—or <span class="tei tei-q">“dining room”</span> as it would be called at the +present time. In Marcia’s time the family ate most of their +meals in one end of the large bright kitchen, that end furnished +with a comfortable lounge, a few bookshelves, a thick +ingrain carpet, and a blooming geranium in the wide window +seat. But there was always the other room for company, for +<span class="tei tei-q">“high days and holidays.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Out of this morning room the pantry opened with its spicy +odors of preserves and fruit cake.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia looked about her well pleased. The house itself +was a part of David’s inheritance, his mother’s family homestead. +Things were all on a grand scale for a bride. Most +brides began in a very simple way and climbed up year by +year. How Kate would have liked it all! David must have +had in mind her fastidious tastes, and spent a great deal of +money in trying to please her. That piano must have been +very expensive. Once more Marcia felt how David had loved +Kate and a pang went through her as she wondered however he +was to live without her. Her young soul had not yet awakened +to the question of how <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">she</span></span> was to live <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">with</span></span> him, while his heart +went continually mourning for one who was lost to him forever.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The rooms upstairs were all pleasant, spacious, and comfortably +furnished. There was no suggestion of bareness or +anything left unfinished. Much of the furniture was old, +having belonged to David’s mother, and was in a state of fine +preservation, a possession of which to be justly proud.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There were four rooms besides the one in which Marcia +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page102"></span><a name="pg102" id="pg102" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +had slept: a front and back on the opposite side of the hall, +a room just back of her own, and one at the end of the hall +over the large kitchen.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She entered them all and looked about. The three beside +her own in the front part of the house were all large and +airy, furnished with high four-posted bedsteads, and pretty +chintz hangings. Each was immaculate in its appointments. +Cautiously she lifted the latch of the back room. David had +not slept in any of the others, for the bedcoverings and +pillows were plump and undisturbed. Ah! It was here +in the back room that he had carried his heavy heart, as far +away from the rest of the house as possible!</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The bed was rumpled as if some one had thrown himself +heavily down without stopping to undress. There was water +in the washbowl and a towel lay carelessly across a chair as +if it had been hastily used. There was a newspaper on the +bureau and a handkerchief on the floor. Marcia looked sadly +about at these signs of occupancy, her eyes dwelling upon +each detail. It was here that David had suffered, and her +loving heart longed to help him in his suffering.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But there was nothing in the room to keep her, and remembering +the fire she had left upon the hearth, which must be +almost spent and need replenishing by this time, she turned +to go downstairs.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Just at the door something caught her eye under the edge +of the chintz valence round the bed. It was but the very +tip of the corner of an old daguerreotype, but for some reason +Marcia was moved to stoop and draw it from its concealment. +Then she saw it was her sister’s saucy, pretty face that laughed +back at her in defiance from the picture.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">As if she had touched something red hot Marcia dropped +it, and pushed it with her foot far back under the bed. Then +shutting the door quickly she went downstairs. Was it always +to be thus? Would Kate ever blight all her joy from this +time forth?</p> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div id="MS10" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page103"></span><a name="pg103" id="pg103" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<a name="toc20" id="toc20"></a> +<a name="pdf21" id="pdf21"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"> + <span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER X</span></span> +</h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia’s cheeks were flushed when David came home to +dinner, for at the last she had to hurry.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught +the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting +upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten +scarcely anything for breakfast.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Also, he felt a certain comfort from the sweet steady look +of wistful sympathy in Marcia’s eyes. Did he fancy it, or +was there a new look upon her face, a more reserved bearing, +less childish, more touched by sad knowledge of life and its +bitterness? It was mere fancy of course, something he had +just not noticed. He had seen so little of her before.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">In the heart of the maiden there stirred a something which +she did not quite understand, something brought to life by +the sight of her sister’s daguerreotype lying at the edge of +the valence, where it must have fallen from David’s pocket +without his knowledge as he lay asleep. It had seemed to +put into tangible form the solid wall of fact that hung between +her and any hope of future happiness as a wife, and for the +first time she too began to realize what she had sacrificed in +thus impetuously throwing her young life into the breach +that it might be healed. But she was not sorry,—not yet, +anyway,—only frightened, and filled with dreary forebodings.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The meal was a pleasant one, though constrained. David +roused himself to be cheerful for Marcia’s sake, as he would +have done with any other stranger, and the girl, suddenly +grown sensitive, felt it, and appreciated it, yet did not +understand why it made her unhappy.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She was anxious to please him, and kept asking if the +potatoes were seasoned right and if his corn were tender, and +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page104"></span><a name="pg104" id="pg104" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +if he wouldn’t have another cup of coffee. Her cheeks were +quite red with the effort at matronly dignity when David was +finally through his dinner and gone back to the office, and +two big tears came and sat in her eyes for a moment, but +were persuaded with a determined effort to sink back again +into those unfathomable wells that lie in the depths of a +woman’s eyes. She longed to get out of doors and run wild +and free in the old south pasture for relief. She did not +know how different it all was from the first dinner of the +ordinary young married couple; so stiff and formal, with no +gentle touches, no words of love, no glances that told more +than words. And yet, child as she was, she felt it, a lack +somewhere, she knew not what.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But training is a great thing. Marcia had been trained to +be on the alert for the next duty and to do it before she gave +herself time for any of her own thoughts. The dinner table +was awaiting her attention, and there was company coming.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She glanced at the tall clock in the hall and found she had +scarcely an hour before she might expect David’s aunts, for +David had brought her word that they would come and spend +the afternoon and stay to tea.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She shrank from the ordeal and wished David had seen fit +to stay and introduce her. It would have been a relief to +have had him for a shelter. Somehow she knew that he would +have stayed if it had been Kate, and that thought pained her, +with a quick sharpness like the sting of an insect. She wondered +if she were growing selfish, that it should hurt to find +herself of so little account. And, yet, it was to be expected, +and she must stop thinking about it. Of course, Kate was +the one he had chosen and Kate would always be the only +one to him.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It did not take her long to reduce the dinner table to +order and put all things in readiness for tea time; and in +doing her work Marcia’s thoughts flew to pleasanter themes. +She wondered what Dolly and Debby, the servants at home, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page105"></span><a name="pg105" id="pg105" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +would say if they could see her pretty china and the nice +kitchen. They had always been fond of her, and naturally +her new honors made her wish to have her old friends see her. +What would Mary Ann say? What fun it would be to have +Mary Ann there sometime. It would be almost like the days +when they had played house under the old elm on the big flat +stone, only this would be a real house with real sprigged china +instead of bits of broken things. Then she fell into a song, +one they sang in school,</p> + +<div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-left: 13.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> + <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: -1.00em">“Sister, thou wast mild and lovely,</div> + <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em">Gentle as the summer breeze,</div> + <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Pleasant as the air of evening</div> + <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em">When it floats among the trees.”</div> +</div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But the first words set her to thinking of her own +sister, and how little the song applied to her, and she thought with a sigh +how much better it would have been, how much less bitter, if +Kate had been that way and had lain down to die and they +could have laid her away in the little hilly graveyard under +the weeping willows, and felt about her as they did about the +girl for whom that song was written.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The work was done, and Marcia arrayed in one of the +simplest of Kate’s afternoon frocks, when the brass knocker +sounded through the house, startling her with its unfamiliar +sound.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Breathlessly she hurried downstairs. The crucial moment +had come when she must stand to meet her new relatives alone. +With her hand trembling she opened the door, but there was +only one person standing on the stoop, a girl of about her +own age, perhaps a few months younger. Her hair was red, +her face was freckled, and her blue eyes under the red lashes +danced with repressed mischief. Her dress was plain and +she wore a calico sunbonnet of chocolate color.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Let me in quick before Grandma sees me,”</span> she demanded +unceremoniously, entering at once before there was opportunity +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page106"></span><a name="pg106" id="pg106" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +for invitation. <span class="tei tei-q">“Grandma thinks I’ve gone to the +store, so she won’t expect me for a little while. I was jest +crazy to see how you looked. I’ve ben watchin’ out o’ the +window all the morning, but I couldn’t ketch a glimpse of +you. When David came out this morning I thought you’d +sure be at the kitchen door to kiss him good-bye, but you +wasn’t, and I watched every chance I could get, but I couldn’t +see you till you run out in the garden fer corn. Then I saw +you good, fer I was out hangin’ up dish towels. You didn’t +have a sunbonnet on, so I could see real well. And when I +saw how young you was I made up my mind I’d get acquainted +in spite of Grandma. You don’t mind my comin’ over this +way without bein’ dressed up, do you? There wouldn’t be +any way to get here without Grandma seeing me, you know, if +I put on my Sunday clo’es.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“I’m glad you came!”</span> said Marcia impulsively, feeling a +rush of something like tears in her throat at the relief of +delay from the aunts. <span class="tei tei-q">“Come in and sit down. Who are +you, and why wouldn’t your Grandmother like you to come?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The strange girl laughed a mirthless laugh.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Me? Oh, I’m Mirandy. Nobody ever calls me anything +but Mirandy. My pa left ma when I was a baby an’ never +come back, an’ ma died, and I live with Grandma Heath. +An’ Grandma’s mad ’cause David didn’t marry Hannah Heath. +She wanted him to an’ she did everything she could to make +him pay ’tention to Hannah, give her fine silk frocks, two of +’em, and a real pink parasol, but David he never seemed to +know the parasol was pink at all, fer he’d never offer to hold +it over Hannah even when Grandma made him walk with her +home from church ahead of us. So when it come out that +David was really going to marry, and wouldn’t take Hannah, +Grandma got as mad as could be and said we never any of us +should step over his door sill. But I’ve stepped, I have, and +Grandma can’t help herself.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“And who is Hannah Heath?”</span> questioned the dazed young +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page107"></span><a name="pg107" id="pg107" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +bride. It appeared there was more than a sister to be taken +into account.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Hannah? Oh, Hannah is my cousin, Uncle Jim’s oldest +daughter, and she’s getting on toward thirty somewhere. She +has whitey-yellow hair and light blue eyes and is tall and real +pretty. She held her head high fer a good many years waitin’ +fer David, and I guess she feels she made a mistake now. +I noticed she bowed real sweet to Hermon Worcester last +Sunday and let him hold her parasol all the way to Grandma’s +gate. Hannah was mad as hops when she heard that you had +gold hair and blue eyes, for it did seem hard to be beaten +by a girl of the same kind? but you haven’t, have you? Your +hair is almost black and your eyes are brownie-brown. You’re +years younger than Hannah, too. My! Won’t she be astonished +when she sees you! But I don’t understand how it got +around about your having gold hair. It was a man that +stopped at your father’s house once told it——”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“It was my sister!”</span> said Marcia, and then blushed crimson +to think how near she had come to revealing the truth which +must not be known.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Your sister? Have you got a sister with gold hair?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Yes, he must have seen her,”</span> said Marcia confusedly. +She was not used to evasion.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“How funny!”</span> said Miranda. <span class="tei tei-q">“Well, I’m glad he did, +for it made Hannah so jealous it was funny. But I guess +she’ll get a set-back when she sees how young you are. You’re +not as pretty as I thought you would be, but I believe I like +you better.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Miranda’s frank speech reminded Marcia of Mary Ann +and made her feel quite at home with her curious visitor. +She did not mind being told she was not up to the mark of +beauty. From her point of view she was not nearly so pretty +as Kate, and her only fear was that her lack of beauty might +reveal the secret and bring confusion to David. But she need +not have feared: no one watching the two girls, as they sat in +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page108"></span><a name="pg108" id="pg108" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +the large sunny room and faced each other, but would have +smiled to think the homely crude girl could suggest that the +other calm, cool bud of womanhood was not as near perfection +of beauty as a bud could be expected to come. There was +always something +<span class="tei tei-corr"><a name="E9" id="E9" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><a href="#e9" class="tei tei-ref">child-like</a></span> +about Marcia’s face, especially her +profile, something deep and other-world-like in her eyes, that +gave her an appearance so distinguished from other girls that +the word <span class="tei tei-q">“pretty”</span> did not apply, and surface observers might +have passed her by when searching for prettiness, but not so +those who saw soul beauties.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But Miranda’s time was limited, and she wanted to make +as much of it as possible.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Say, I heard you making music this morning. Won’t +you do it for me? I’d just love to hear you.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia’s face lit up with responsive enthusiasm, and she led +the way to the darkened parlor and folded back the covers of +the precious piano. She played some tender little airs she +loved as she would have played them for Mary Ann, and the +two young things stood there together, children in thought +and feeling, half a generation apart in position, and neither +recognized the difference.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“My land!”</span> said the visitor, <span class="tei tei-q">“’f I could play like that I +wouldn’t care ef I had freckles and no father and red hair,”</span> +and looking up Marcia saw tears in the light blue eyes, and +knew she had a kindred feeling in her heart for Miranda.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">They had been talking a minute or two when the knocker +suddenly sounded through the long hall again making both +girls start. Miranda boldly tiptoed over to the front window +and peeped between the green slats of the Venetian blind to +see who was at the door, while Marcia started guiltily and +quickly closed the instrument.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“It’s David’s aunts,”</span> announced Miranda in a stage whisper +hurriedly. <span class="tei tei-q">“I might ’a’ known they would come this afternoon. +Well, I had first try at you anyway, and I like you real +well. May I come again and hear you play? You go quick +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page109"></span><a name="pg109" id="pg109" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +to the door, and I’ll slip into the kitchen till they get in, and +then I’ll go out the kitchen door and round the house out the +little gate so Grandma won’t see me. I must hurry for I +ought to have been back ten minutes ago.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“But you haven’t been to the store,”</span> said Marcia in a dismayed +whisper.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, well, that don’t matter! I’ll tell her they didn’t +have what she sent me for. Good-bye. You better hurry.”</span> +So saying, she disappeared into the kitchen; and Marcia, +startled by such easy morality, stood dazed until the knocker +sounded forth again, this time a little more peremptorily, as +the elder aunt took her turn at it.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">And so at last Marcia was face to face with the Misses +Spafford.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">They came in, each with her knitting in a black silk bag +on her slim arm, and greeted the flushed, perturbed Marcia +with gentle, righteous, rigid inspection. She felt with the +first glance that she was being tried in the fire, and that it +was to be no easy ordeal through which she was to pass. They +had come determined to sift her to the depths and know at +once the worst of what their beloved nephew had brought upon +himself. If they found aught wrong with her they meant +to be kindly and loving with her, but they meant to take it +out of her. This had been the unspoken understanding between +them as they wended their dignified, determined way to +David’s house that afternoon, and this was what Marcia faced +as she opened the door for them.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She gasped a little, as any girl overwhelmed thus might +have done. She did not tilt her chin in defiance as Kate +would have done. The thought of David came to support her, +and she grasped for her own little part and tried to play it +creditably. She did not know whether the aunts knew of her +true identity or not, but she was not left long in doubt.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“My dear, we have long desired to know you, of whom we +have heard so much,”</span> recited Miss Amelia, with slightly +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page110"></span><a name="pg110" id="pg110" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +agitated mien, as she bestowed a cool kiss of duty upon +Marcia’s warm cheek. It chilled the girl, like the breath +from a funeral flower.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Yes, it is indeed a pleasure to us to at last look upon our +dear nephew’s wife,”</span> said Miss Hortense quite precisely, and +laid the sister kiss upon the other cheek. In spite of her there +flitted through Marcia’s brain the verse, <span class="tei tei-q">“Whosoever shall +smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.”</span> +Then she was shocked at her own irreverence and tried to put +away a hysterical desire to laugh.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The aunts, too, were somewhat taken aback. They had +not looked for so girlish a wife. She was not at all what they +had pictured. David had tried to describe Kate to them +once, and this young, sweet, disarming thing did not in the +least fit their preconceived ideas of her. What should they +do? How could they carry on a campaign planned against a +certain kind of enemy, when lo, as they came upon the field +of action the supposed enemy had taken another and more +bewildering form than the one for whom they had prepared. +They were for the moment silent, gathering their thoughts, +and trying to fit their intended tactics to the present situation.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">During this operation Marcia helped them to remove their +bonnets and silk capes and to lay them neatly on the parlor +sofa. She gave them chairs, suggested palm-leaf fans, and +looked about, for the moment forgetting that this was not her +old home +<span class="tei tei-corr"><a name="E10" id="E10" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><a href="#e10" class="tei tei-ref">plentifully</a></span> +supplied with those gracious breeze +wafters.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">They watched her graceful movements, those two angular +old ladies, and marvelled over her roundness and suppleness. +They saw with appalled hearts what a power youth and beauty +might have over a man. Perhaps she might be even worse +than they had feared, though if you could have heard them +talk about their nephew’s coming bride to their neighbors for +months beforehand, you would have supposed they knew her +to be a model in every required direction. But their stately +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page111"></span><a name="pg111" id="pg111" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +pride required that of them, an outward loyalty at least. Now +that loyalty was to be tried, and Marcia had two old, narrow +and well-fortified hearts to conquer ere her way would be +entirely smooth.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Well might Madam Schuyler have been proud of her pupil +as alone and unaided she faced the trying situation and +mastered it in a sweet and unassuming way.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">They began their inquisition at once, so soon as they were +seated, and the preliminary sentences uttered. The gleaming +knitting needles seemed to Marcia like so many swarming, +vindictive bees, menacing her peace of mind.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“You look young, child, to have the care of so large a +house as this,”</span> said Aunt Amelia, looking at Marcia over her +spectacles as if she were expected to take the first bite out of +her. <span class="tei tei-q">“It’s a great responsibility!”</span> she shut her thin lips +tightly and shook her head, as if she had said: <span class="tei tei-q">“It’s a great +<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">impossibility</span></span>.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Have you ever had the care of a house?”</span> asked Miss +Hortense, going in a little deeper. <span class="tei tei-q">“David likes everything +nice, you know, he has always been used to it.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There was something in the tone, and in the set of the bow +on Aunt Hortense’s purple-trimmed cap that roused the spirit +in Marcia.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“I think I rather enjoy housework,”</span> she responded coolly. +This unexpected statement somewhat mollified the aunts. +They had heard to the contrary from some one who had lived +in the same town with the Schuylers. Kate’s reputation was +widely known, as that of a spoiled beauty, who did not care +to work, and would do whatever she pleased. The aunts had +entertained many forebodings from the few stray hints an old +neighbor of Kate’s had dared to utter in their hearing.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The talk drifted at once into household matters, as though +that were the first division of the examination the young bride +was expected to undergo. Marcia took early opportunity to +still further mollify her visitors by her warmest praise of the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page112"></span><a name="pg112" id="pg112" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +good things with which the pantry and store-closet had been +filled. The expression that came upon the two old faces was +that of receiving but what is due. If the praise had not +been forthcoming they would have marked it down against +her, but it counted for very little with them, warm as it was.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Can you make good bread?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The question was flung out by Aunt Hortense like a challenge, +and the very set of her nostrils gave Marcia warning. +But it was in a relieved voice that ended almost in a ripple of +laugh that she answered quite assuredly: <span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, yes, indeed. +I can make beautiful bread. I just love to make it, too!”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“But how do you make it?”</span> quickly questioned Aunt +Amelia, like a repeating rifle. If the first shot had not struck +home, the second was likely to. <span class="tei tei-q">“Do you use hop yeast? +Potatoes? I thought so. Don’t know how to make salt-rising, +do you? It’s just what might have been expected.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“David has always been used to salt-rising bread,”</span> said +Aunt Hortense with a grim set of her lips as though she were +delivering a judgment. <span class="tei tei-q">“He was raised on it.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“If David does not like my bread,”</span> said Marcia with a +rising color and a nervous little laugh, <span class="tei tei-q">“then I shall try to +make some that he does like.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There was an assurance about the <span class="tei tei-q">“if”</span> that did not please +the oracle.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“David was raised on salt-rising bread,”</span> said Aunt Hortense +again as if that settled it. <span class="tei tei-q">“We can send you down a +loaf or two every time we bake until you learn how.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“I’m sure it’s very kind of you,”</span> said Marcia, not at all +pleased, <span class="tei tei-q">“but I do not think that will be necessary. David +has always seemed to like our bread when he visited at home. +Indeed he often praised it.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“David would not be impolite,”</span> said Aunt Amelia, after a +suitable pause in which Marcia felt disapprobation in the air. +<span class="tei tei-q">“It would be best for us to send it. David’s health might +suffer if he was not suitably nourished.”</span></p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page113"></span><a name="pg113" id="pg113" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia’s cheeks grew redder. Bread had been one of her +stepmother’s strong points, well infused into her young pupil. +Madam Schuyler had never been able to say enough to sufficiently +express her scorn of people who made salt-rising +bread.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“My stepmother made beautiful bread,”</span> she said quite +childishly; <span class="tei tei-q">“she did not think salt-rising was so healthy as +that made from hop yeast. She disliked the odor in the +house from salt-rising bread.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Now indeed the aunts exchanged glances of <span class="tei tei-q">“On to the +combat.”</span> Four red spots flamed giddily out in their four +sallow cheeks, and eight shining knitting needles suddenly +became idle. The moment was too momentous to work. It +was as they feared, even the worst. For, be it known, salt-rising +bread was one of their most tender points, and for it +they would fight to the bitter end. They looked at her with +four cold, forbidding, steely, spectacled eyes, and Marcia felt +that their looks said volumes: <span class="tei tei-q">“And she so young too! To +be so out of the way!”</span> was what they might have expressed to +one another. Marcia felt she had been unwise in uttering +her honest, indignant sentiments concerning salt-rising bread.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The pause was long and impressive, and the bride felt like +a naughty little four-year-old.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">At last Aunt Hortense took up her knitting again with the +air that all was over and an unrevokable verdict was passed +upon the culprit.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“People have never seemed to stay away from our house +on that account,”</span> she said dryly. <span class="tei tei-q">“I’m sure I hope it will +not be so disagreeable that it will affect your coming to see +us sometimes with David.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There was an iciness in her manner that seemed to suggest +a long line of offended family portraits of ancestors frowning +down upon her.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia’s cheeks flamed crimson and her heart fairly +stopped beating.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page114"></span><a name="pg114" id="pg114" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“I beg your pardon,”</span> she said quickly, <span class="tei tei-q">“I did not mean to +say anything disagreeable. I am sure I shall be glad to come +as often as you will let me.”</span> As she said it Marcia wondered +if that were quite true. Would she ever be glad to go to the +home of those two severe-looking aunts? There were three +of them. Perhaps the other one would be even more withered +and severe than these two. A slight shudder passed over +Marcia, and a sudden realization of a side of married life that +had never come into her thoughts before. For a moment she +longed with all the intensity of a child for her father’s house +and the shelter of his loving protection, amply supported by +her stepmother’s capable, self-sufficient, comforting countenance. +Her heart sank with the fear that she would never be +able to do justice to the position of David’s wife, and David +would be disappointed in her and sorry he had accepted her +sacrifice. She roused herself to do better, and bit her tongue +to remind it that it must make no more blunders. She praised +the garden, the house and the furnishings, in voluble, eager, +girlish language until the thin lines of lips relaxed and the +drawn muscles of the aunts’ cheeks took on a less severe +aspect. They liked to be appreciated, and they certainly had +taken a great deal of pains with the house—for David’s sake—not +for hers. They did not care to have her deluded by the +idea that they had done it for her sake. David was to them +a young god, and with this one supreme idea of his supremacy +they wished to impress his young wife. It was a foregone +conclusion in their minds that no mere pretty young girl was +capable of appreciating David, as could they, who had watched +him from babyhood, and pampered and petted and been severe +with him by turns, until if he had not had the temper of an +angel he would surely have been spoiled.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“We did our best to make the house just as David would +have wished to have it,”</span> said Aunt Amelia at last, a self-satisfied +shadow of what answered for a smile with her, passing +over her face for a moment.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page115"></span><a name="pg115" id="pg115" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“We did not at all approve of this big house, nor indeed of +David’s setting up in a separate establishment for himself,”</span> +said Aunt Hortense, taking up her knitting again. <span class="tei tei-q">“We +thought it utterly unnecessary and uneconomical, when he +might have brought his wife home to us, but he seemed to +think you would want a house to yourself, so we did the best +we could.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There was a martyr-like air in Aunt Hortense’s words that +made Marcia feel herself again a criminal, albeit she knew she +was suffering vicariously. But in her heart she felt a sudden +thankfulness that she was spared the trial of living daily +under the scrutiny of these two, and she blest David for his +thoughtfulness, even though it had not been meant for her. +She went into pleased ecstasies once more over the house, and +its furnishings, and ended by her pleasure over the piano.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There was grim stillness when she touched upon that subject. +The aunts did not approve of that musical instrument, +that was plain. Marcia wondered if they always paused so +long before speaking when they disapproved, in order to show +their displeasure. In fact, did they always disapprove of +everything?</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“You will want to be very careful of it,”</span> said Aunt Amelia, +looking at the disputed article over her glasses, <span class="tei tei-q">“it cost a good +deal of money. It was the most foolish thing I ever knew +David to do, buying that.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Yes,”</span> said Aunt Hortense, <span class="tei tei-q">“you will not want to use it +much, it might get scratched. It has a fine polish. I’d keep +it closed up only when I had company. You ought to be very +proud to have a husband who could buy a thing like that. +There’s not many has them. When I was a girl my grandfather +had a spinet, the only one for miles around, and it +was taken great care of. The case hadn’t a scratch on it.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia had started toward the piano intending to open it +and play for her new relatives, but she halted midway in the +room and came back to her seat after that speech, feeling +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page116"></span><a name="pg116" id="pg116" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +that she must just sit and hold her hands until it was time +to get supper, while these dreadful aunts picked her to pieces, +body, soul and spirit.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It was with great relief at last that she heard David’s step +and knew she might leave the room and put the tea things +upon the table.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div id="MS11" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page117"></span><a name="pg117" id="pg117" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<a name="toc22" id="toc22"></a> +<a name="pdf23" id="pdf23"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"> + <span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER XI</span></span> +</h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">They got through the supper without any trouble, and the +aunts went home in the early twilight, each with her bonnet +strings tied precisely, her lace mitts drawn smoothly over her +bony hands, and her little knitting bag over her right arm. +They walked decorously up the shaded, elm-domed street, each +mindful of her aristocratic instep, and trying to walk erect as +in the days when they were gazed upon with admiration, +knowing that still an air of former greatness hovered about +them wherever they went.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">They had brightened considerably at the supper table, under +the genial influence of David’s presence. They came as near +to worshiping David as one can possibly come to worshiping +a human being. David, desirous above all things of +blinding their keen, sure-to-say-<span class="tei tei-q">“I-told-you-so”</span> old eyes, +roused to be his former gay self with them, and pleased +them so that they did not notice how little lover-like reference +he made to his bride, who was decidedly in the background +for the time, the aunts, perhaps purposely, desiring to show +her a wife’s true place,—at least the true place of a wife of +a David.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">They had allowed her to bring their things and help them +on with capes and bonnets, and, when they were ready to +leave, Aunt Amelia put out a lifeless hand, that felt in its +silk mitt like a dead fish in a net, and said to Marcia:</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Our sister Clarinda is desirous of seeing David’s wife. +She wished us most particularly to give you her love and say +to you that she wishes you to come to her at the earliest possible +moment. You know she is lame and cannot easily get +about.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Young folks should always be ready to wait upon their +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page118"></span><a name="pg118" id="pg118" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +elders,”</span> said Aunt Hortense, grimly. <span class="tei tei-q">“Come as soon as you +can,—that is, if you think you can stand the smell of salt-rising.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia’s face flushed painfully, and she glanced quickly at +David to see if he had noticed what his aunt had said, but +David was already anticipating the moment when he would +be free to lay aside his mask and bury his face in his hands +and his thoughts in sadness.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia’s heart sank as she went about clearing off the +supper things. Was life always to be thus? Would she be +forever under the espionage of those two grim spectres of +women, who seemed, to her girlish imagination, to have nothing +about them warm or loving or woman-like?</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She seemed to herself to be standing outside of a married +life and looking on at it as one might gaze on a panorama. It +was all new and painful, and she was one of the central +figures expected to act on through all the pictures, taking +another’s place, yet doing it as if it were her own. She +glanced over at David’s pale, grave face, set in its sadness, and +a sharp pain went through her heart. Would he ever get +over it? Would life never be more cheerful than it now was?</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He spoke to her occasionally, in a pleasant abstracted way, +as to one who understood him and was kind not to trouble +his sadness, and he lighted a candle for her when the work +was done and said he hoped she would rest well, that she must +still be weary from the long journey. And so she went up +to her room again.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She did not go to bed at once, but sat down by the window +looking out on the moonlit street. There had been some sort +of a meeting at the church across the way, and the people were +filing out and taking their various ways home, calling pleasant +good nights, and speaking cheerily of the morrow. The moon, +though beginning to wane, was bright and cast sharp shadows. +Marcia longed to get out into the night. If she could have +got downstairs without being heard she would have slipped +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page119"></span><a name="pg119" id="pg119" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +out into the garden. But downstairs she could hear David +pacing back and forth like some hurt, caged thing. Steadily, +dully, he walked from the front hall back into the kitchen and +back again. There was no possibility of escaping his notice. +Marcia felt as if she might breathe freer in the open air, so +she leaned far out of her window and looked up and down +the street, and thought. Finally,—her heart swelled to +bursting, as young hearts with their first little troubles will +do,—she leaned down her dark head upon the window seat +and wept and wept, alone.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It was the next morning at breakfast that David told her +of the festivities that were planned in honor of their home +coming. He spoke as if they were a great trial through which +they both must pass in order to have any peace, and expressed +his gratitude once more that she had been willing to come +here with him and pass through it. Marcia had the impression, +after he was done speaking and had gone away to the +office, that he felt that she had come here merely for these +few days of ceremony and after they were passed she was dismissed, +her duty done, and she might go home. A great lump +arose in her throat and she suddenly wished very much indeed +that it were so. For if it were, how much, how very much +she would enjoy queening it for a few days—except for +David’s sadness. But already, there had begun to be an element +to her in that sadness which in spite of herself she +resented. It was a heavy burden which she began dimly to +see would be harder and harder to bear as the days went by. +She had not yet begun to think of the time before her in +years.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">They were to go to the aunts’ to tea that evening, and after +tea a company of David’s old friends—or rather the old +friends of David’s aunts—were coming in to meet them. This +the aunts had planned: but it seemed they had not counted her +worthy to be told of the plans, and had only divulged them to +David. Marcia had not thought that a little thing could annoy +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page120"></span><a name="pg120" id="pg120" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +her so much, but she found it vexed her more and more +as she thought upon it going about her work.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There was not so much to be done in the house that morning +after the breakfast things were cleared away. Dinners +and suppers would not be much of a problem for some days to +come, for the house was well stocked with good things.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The beds done and the rooms left in dainty order with the +sweet summer breeze blowing the green tassels on the window +shades, Marcia went softly down like some half guilty +creature to the piano. She opened it and was forthwith lost +in delight of the sounds her own fingers brought forth.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She had been playing perhaps half an hour when she became +conscious of another presence in the room. She looked up +with a start, feeling that some one had been there for some +time, she could not tell just how long. Peering into the +shadowy room lighted only from the window behind her, she +made out a head looking in at the door, the face almost hidden +by a capacious sunbonnet. She was not long in recognizing +her visitor of the day before. It was like a sudden dropping +from a lofty mountain height down into a valley of annoyance +to hear Miranda’s sharp metallic voice:</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Morning!”</span> she courtesied, coming in as soon as she perceived +that she was seen. <span class="tei tei-q">“At it again? I ben listening +sometime. It’s as pretty as Silas Drew’s harmonicker when +he comes home evenings behind the cows.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia drew her hands sharply from the keys as if she had +been struck. Somehow Miranda and music were inharmonious. +She scarcely knew what to say. She felt as if her +morning were spoiled. But Miranda was too full of her own +errand to notice the clouded face and cool welcome. <span class="tei tei-q">“Say, +you can’t guess how I got over here. I’ll tell you. You’re +going over to the Spafford house to-night, ain’t you? and +there’s going to be a lot of folks there. Of course we all know +all about it. It’s been planned for months. And my cousin +Hannah Heath has an invite. You can’t think how fond +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page121"></span><a name="pg121" id="pg121" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Miss Amelia and Miss Hortense are of her. They tried their +level best to make David pay attention to her, but it didn’t +work. Well, she was talking about what she’d wear. She’s +had three new frocks made last week, all frilled and fancy. +You see she don’t want to let folks think she is down in the +mouth the least bit about David. She’ll likely make up to +you, to your face, a whole lot, and pretend she’s the best +friend you’ve got in the world. But I’ve just got this to +say, don’t you be too sure of her friendship. She’s smooth +as butter, but she can give you a slap in the face if you don’t +serve her purpose. I don’t mind telling you for she’s given +me many a one,”</span> and the pale eyes snapped in unison with +the color of her hair. <span class="tei tei-q">“Well, you see I heard her talking to +Grandma, and she said she’d give anything to know what you +were going to wear to-night.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“How curious!”</span> said Marcia surprised. <span class="tei tei-q">“I’m sure I do +not see why she should care!”</span> There was the coolness born +of utter indifference in her reply which filled the younger +girl with admiration. Perhaps too there was the least mite +of haughtiness in her manner, born of the knowledge that she +belonged to an old and honored family, and that she had in +her possession a trunk full of clothes that could vie with any +that Hannah Heath could display. Miranda wished silently +that she could convey that cool manner and that wide-eyed +indifference to the sight of her cousin Hannah.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“H’m!”</span> giggled Miranda. <span class="tei tei-q">“Well, she does! If you +were going to wear blue you’d see she’d put on her green. +She’s got one that’ll kill any blue that’s in the same room +with it, no matter if it’s on the other side. Its just sick’ning +to see them together. And she looks real well in it too. So +when she said she wanted to know so bad, Grandma said she’d +send me over to know if you’d accept a jar of her fresh pickle-lily, +and mebbe I could find out about your clothes. The +pickle-lily’s on the kitchen table. I left it when I came +through. It’s good, but there ain’t any love in it.”</span> And +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page122"></span><a name="pg122" id="pg122" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Miranda laughed a hard mirthless laugh, and then settled +down to her subject again.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Now, you needn’t be a mite afraid to tell me about it. I +won’t tell it straight, you know. I’d just like to see what you +are going to wear so I could keep her out of her tricks for +once. Is your frock blue?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Now it is true that the trunk upstairs contained a goodly +amount of the color blue, for Kate Schuyler had been her +bonniest in blue, and the particular frock which had been +made with reference to this very first significant gathering was +blue. Marcia had accepted the fact as unalterable. The +garment was made for a purpose, and its mission must be fulfilled +however much she might wish to wear something else, +but suddenly as Miranda spoke there came to her mind the +thought of rebellion. Why should she be bound down to do +exactly as Kate would do in her place? If she had accepted +the sacrifice of living Kate’s life for her, she might at least +have the privilege of living it in the pleasantest possible way, +and surely the matter of dress was one she might be allowed +to settle for herself if she was old enough at all to be trusted +away from home. Among the pretty things that Kate had +made was a sweet rose-pink silk tissue. Madam Schuyler +had frowned upon it as frivolous, and besides she did not +think it becoming to Kate. She had a fixed theory that people +with blue eyes and gold hair should never wear pink or red, +but Kate as usual had her own way, and with her wild rose +complexion had succeeded in looking like the wild rose itself +in spite of blue eyes and golden hair. Marcia knew in her +heart, in fact she had known from the minute the lovely +pink thing had come into the house, that it was the very thing +to set her off. Her dark eyes and hair made a charming +contrast with the rose, and her complexion was even fresher +than Kate’s. Her heart grew suddenly eager to don this +dainty, frilley thing and outshine Hannah Heath beyond any +chance of further trying. There were other frocks, too, in +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page123"></span><a name="pg123" id="pg123" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +the trunk. Why should she be confined to the stately blue +one that had been marked out for this occasion? Marcia, +with sudden inspiration, answered calmly, just as though all +these tumultuous possibilities of clothes had not been whirling +through her brain in that half second’s hesitation:</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“I have not quite decided what I shall wear. It is not +an important matter, I’m sure. Let us go and see the piccalilli. +I’m very much obliged to your grandmother, I’m sure. +It was kind of her.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Somewhat awed, Miranda followed her hostess into the +kitchen. She could not reconcile this girl’s face with the +stately little airs that she wore, but she liked her and forthwith +she told her so.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“I like you,”</span> she said fervently. <span class="tei tei-q">“You remind me of one +of Grandma’s sturtions, bright and independent and lively, +with a spice and a color to ’em, and Hannah makes you +think of one of them tall spikes of gladiolus all fixed up +without any smell.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia tried to smile over the doubtful compliment. Somehow +there was something about Miranda that reminded her +of Mary Ann. Poor Mary Ann! <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Dear</span></span> Mary Ann! For +suddenly she realized that everything that reminded her of +the precious life of her childhood, left behind forever, was +dear. If she could see Mary Ann at this moment she would +throw her arms about her neck and call her <span class="tei tei-q">“Dear Mary +Ann,”</span> and say, <span class="tei tei-q">“I love you,”</span> to her. Perhaps this feeling +made her more gentle with the annoying Miranda than she +might have been.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">When Miranda was gone the precious play hour was gone +too. Marcia had only time to steal hurriedly into the parlor, +close the instrument, and then fly about getting her dinner +ready. But as she worked she had other thoughts to occupy +her mind. She was becoming adjusted to her new environment +and she found many unexpected things to make it hard. +Here, for instance, was Hannah Heath. Why did there have +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page124"></span><a name="pg124" id="pg124" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +to be a Hannah Heath? And what was Hannah Heath to +her? Kate might feel jealous, indeed, but not she, not the +unloved, unreal, wife of David. She should rather pity +Hannah that David had not loved her instead of Kate, or +pity David that he had not. But somehow she did not, somehow +she could not. Somehow Hannah Heath had become a +living, breathing enemy to be met and conquered. Marcia +felt her fighting blood rising, felt the Schuyler in her coming +to the front. However little there was in her wifehood, its +name at least was hers. The tale that Miranda had told was +enough, if it were true, to put any woman, however young +she might be, into battle array. Marcia was puzzling her +mind over the question that has been more or less of a weary +burden to every woman since the fatal day that Eve made her +great mistake.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David was silent and abstracted at the dinner table, and +Marcia absorbed in her own problems did not feel cut by it. +She was trying to determine whether to blossom out in pink, +or to be crushed and set aside into insignificance in blue, or +to choose a happy medium and wear neither. She ventured +a timid little question before David went away again: Did +he, would he,—that is, was there any thing,—any word he +would like to say to her? Would she have to do anything to-night?</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David looked at her in surprise. Why, no! He knew of +nothing. Just go and speak pleasantly to every one. He was +sure she knew what to do. He had always thought her very +well behaved. She had manners like any woman. She need +not feel shy. No one knew of her peculiar position, and +he felt reasonably sure that the story would not soon get +around. Her position would be thoroughly established before +it did, at least. She need not feel uncomfortable. He looked +down at her thinking he had said all that could be expected of +him, but somehow he felt the trouble in the girl’s eyes and +asked her gently if there was anything more.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page125"></span><a name="pg125" id="pg125" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“No,”</span> she said slowly, <span class="tei tei-q">“unless, perhaps—I don’t suppose +you know what it would be proper for me to wear.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, that does not matter in the least,”</span> he replied +promptly. <span class="tei tei-q">“Anything. You always look nice. Why, I’ll +tell you, wear the frock you had on the night I came.”</span> Then +he suddenly remembered the reason why that was a pleasant +memory to him, and that it was not for her sake at all, but +for the sake of one who was lost to him forever. His face +contracted with sudden pain, and Marcia, cut to the heart, +read the meaning, and felt sick and sore too.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, I could not wear that,”</span> she said sadly, <span class="tei tei-q">“it is only +chintz. It would not be nice enough, but thank you. I shall +be all right. Don’t trouble about me,”</span> and she forced a weak +smile to light him from the house, and shut from his pained +eyes the knowledge of how he had hurt her, for with those +words of his had come the vision of herself that happy night +as she stood at the gate in the stillness and moonlight looking +from the portal of her maidenhood into the vista of her +womanhood, which had seemed then so far away and bright, +and was now upon her in sad reality. Oh, if she could but +have caught that sentence of his about her little chintz frock +to her heart with the joy of possession, and known that he +said it because he too had a happy memory about her in it, +as she had always felt the coming, misty, dream-expected lover +would do!</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She spread the available frocks out upon the bed after the +other things were put neatly away in closet and drawer, and +sat down to decide the matter. David’s suggestion while +impossible had given her an idea, and she proceeded to carry +it out. There was a soft sheer white muslin, whereon Kate +had expended her daintiest embroidering, edged with the finest +of little lace frills. It was quaint and simple and girlish, the +sweetest, most simple affair in all of Kate’s elaborate wardrobe, +and yet, perhaps, from an artistic point of view, the most +elegant. Marcia soon made up her mind.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page126"></span><a name="pg126" id="pg126" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She dressed herself early, for David had said he would be +home by four o’clock and they would start as soon after as +he could get ready. His aunts wished to show her the old +garden before dark.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">When she came to the arrangement of her hair she paused. +Somehow her soul rebelled at the style of Kate. It did not +suit her face. It did not accord with her feeling. It made +her seem unlike herself, or unlike the self she would ever +wish to be. It suited Kate well, but not her. With sudden +determination she pulled it all down again from the top of +her head and loosened its rich waves about her face, then +loosely twisted it behind, low on her neck, falling over her +delicate ears, until her head looked like that of an old Greek +statue. It was not fashion, it was pure instinct the child +was following out, and there was enough conformity to one +of the fashionable modes of the day to keep her from looking +odd. It was lovely. Marcia could not help seeing herself +that it was much more becoming than the way she had arranged +it for her marriage, though then she had had the +wedding veil to soften the tightly drawn outlines of her head. +She put on the sheer white embroidered frock then, and as a +last touch pinned the bit of black velvet about her throat with +a single pearl that had been her mother’s. It was the bit of +black velvet she had worn the night David came. It gave her +pleasure to think that in so far she was conforming to his +suggestion.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She had just completed her toilet when she heard David’s +step coming up the walk.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David, coming in out of the sunshine and beholding this +beautiful girl in the coolness and shadow of the hall awaiting +him shyly, almost started back as he rubbed his eyes and +looked at her again. She was beautiful. He had to admit it +to himself, even in the midst of his sadness, and he smiled +at her, and felt another pang of condemnation that he had +taken this beauty from some other man’s lot perhaps, and +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page127"></span><a name="pg127" id="pg127" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +appropriated it to shield himself from the world’s exclamation +about his own lonely life.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“You have done it admirably. I do not see that there is +anything left to be desired,”</span> he said in his pleasant voice that +used to make her girl-heart flutter with pride that her new +brother-to-be was pleased with her. It fluttered now, but +there was a wider sweep to its wings, and a longer flight +ahead of the thought.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Quite demurely the young wife accepted her compliment, +and then she meekly folded her little white muslin cape with +its dainty frills about her pretty shoulders, drew on the new +lace mitts, and tied beneath her chin the white strings of a +shirred gauze bonnet with tiny rosebuds nestling in the +ruching of tulle about the face.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Once more the bride walked down the world the observed +of all observers, the gazed at of the town, only this time it was +brick pavement not oaken stairs she trod, and most of the eyes +that looked upon her were sheltered behind green jalousies. +None the less, however, was she conscious of them as she +made her way to the house of solemn feasting with David by +her side. Her eyes rested upon the ground, or glanced quietly +at things in the distance, when they were not lifted for a +moment in wifely humility to her husband’s face at some +word of his. Just as she imagined a hundred times in her +girlish thoughts that her sister Kate would do, so did she, +and after what seemed to her an interminable walk, though +in reality it was but four village blocks, they arrived at the +house of Spafford.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div id="MS12" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page128"></span><a name="pg128" id="pg128" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<a name="toc24" id="toc24"></a> +<a name="pdf25" id="pdf25"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"> + <span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER XII</span></span> +</h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“This is your Aunt Clarinda!”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There was challenge in the severely spoken pronoun Aunt +Hortense used. It seemed to Marcia that she wished to +remind her that all her old life and relations were passed away, +and she had nothing now but David’s, especially David’s +relatives. She shrank from lifting her eyes, expecting to +find the third aunt, who was older, as much sourer and sharper +in proportion to the other two, but she controlled herself and +lifted her flower face to meet a gentle, meek, old face set in +soft white frills of a cap, with white ribbons flying, and +though the old lady leaned upon a crutch she managed to give +the impression that she had fairly flown in her gladness to +welcome her new niece. There was the lighting of a repressed +nature let free in her kind old face as she looked with true +pleasure upon the lovely young one, and Marcia felt herself +folded in truly loving arms in an embrace which her own +passionate, much repressed, loving nature returned with +heartiness. At last she had found a friend!</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She felt it every time she spoke, more and more. They +walked out into the garden almost immediately, and Aunt +Clarinda insisted upon hobbling along by Marcia’s side, +though her sisters both protested that it would be too hard for +her that warm afternoon. Every time that Marcia spoke she +felt the kind old eyes upon her, and she knew that at least +one of the aunts was satisfied with her as a wife for David, +for her eyes would travel from David to Marcia and back +again to David, and when they met Marcia’s there was not a +shade of disparagement in them.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It was rather a tiresome walk through a tiresome old +garden, laid out in the ways of the past generation, and +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page129"></span><a name="pg129" id="pg129" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +bordered with much funereal box. The sisters, Amelia and +Hortense, took the new member of the family, conscientiously, +through every path, and faithfully told how each spot was +associated with some happening in the family history. Occasionally +there was a solemn pause for the purpose of properly +impressing the new member of the house, and Amelia wiped +her eyes with her carefully folded handkerchief. Marcia felt +extremely like laughing. She was sure that if Kate had been +obliged to pass through this ordeal she would have giggled +out at once and said some shockingly funny thing that would +have horrified the aunts beyond forgiveness. The thought of +this nerved her to keep a sober face. She wondered what +David thought of it all, but when she looked at him she wondered +no longer, for David stood as one waiting for a certain +ceremony to be over, a ceremony which he knew to be +inevitable, but which was wholly and familiarly uninteresting. +He did not even see how it must strike the girl who was going +through it all for him, for David’s thoughts were out on the +flood-tide of sorrow, drifting against the rocks of the might-have-been.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">They went in to tea presently, just when the garden was +growing loveliest with a tinge of the setting sun, and Marcia +longed to run up and down the little paths like a child and +call to them all to catch her if they could. The house was +dark and stately and gloomy.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“You are coming up to my room for a few minutes after +supper,”</span> whispered Aunt Clarinda encouragingly as they +passed into the dark hall. The supper table was alight with +a fine old silver candelabra whose many wavering lights cast +a solemn, grotesque shadow on the different faces.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Beside her plate the young bride saw an ostentatious plate +of puffy soda biscuits, and involuntarily her eyes searched the +table for the bread plate.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Aunt Clarinda almost immediately pounced upon the bread +plate and passed it with a smile to Marcia, and as Marcia +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page130"></span><a name="pg130" id="pg130" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +with an answering smile took a generous slice she heard the +other two aunts exclaim in chorus, <span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, don’t pass her the +bread, Clarinda; take it away sister, quick! She does not like +salt-rising! It is unpleasant to her!”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Then with blazing cheeks the girl protested that she wished +to keep the bread, that they were mistaken, she had not said +it was obnoxious to her, but had merely given them her stepmother’s +opinion when they asked. They must excuse her +for her seeming rudeness, for she had not intended to hurt +them. She presumed salt-rising bread was very nice; it +looked beautiful. This was a long speech for shy Marcia to +make before so many strangers, but David’s wondering, +troubled eyes were upon her, questioning what it all might +mean, and she felt she could do anything to save David from +more suffering or annoyance of any kind.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David said little. He seemed to perceive that there had +been an unpleasant prelude to this, and perhaps knew from +former experience that the best way to do was to change the +subject. He launched into a detailed account of their wedding +journey. Marcia on her part was grateful to him, for +when she took the first brave bite into the very puffy, very +white slice of bread she had taken, she perceived that it was +much worse than that which had been baked for their homecoming, +and not only justified all her stepmother’s execrations, +but in addition it was sour. For an instant, perceiving +down the horoscope of time whole calendars full of such +suppers with the aunts, and this bread, her soul shuddered +and shrank. Could she ever learn to like it? Impossible! +Could she ever tolerate it? Could she? She doubted. Then +she swallowed bravely and perceived that the impossible had +been accomplished once. It could be again, but she must go +slowly else she might have to eat two slices instead of one. +David was kind. He had roused himself to help his helper. +Perhaps something in her girlish beauty and helplessness, +helpless here for his sake, appealed to him. At least his eyes +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page131"></span><a name="pg131" id="pg131" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +sought hers often with a tender interest to see if she were +comfortable, and once, when Aunt Amelia asked if they +stopped nowhere for rest on their journey, his eyes sought +Marcia’s with a twinkling reminder of their roadside nap, +and he answered, <span class="tei tei-q">“Once, Aunt Amelia. No, it was not a +regular inn. It was quieter than that. Not many people +stopping there.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia’s merry laugh almost bubbled forth, but she suppressed +it just in time, horrified to think what Aunt Hortense +would say, but somehow after David had said that her heart +felt a trifle lighter and she took a big bite from the salt-rising +and smiled as she swallowed it. There were worse things in +the world, after all, than salt-rising, and, when one could +smother it in Aunt Amelia’s peach preserves, it was quite +bearable.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Aunt Clarinda slipped her off to her own room after +supper, and left the other two sisters with their beloved idol, +David. In their stately parlor lighted with many candles in +honor of the occasion, they sat and talked in low tones with +him, their voices suggesting condolence with his misfortune +of having married out of the family, and disapproval with +the married state in general. Poor souls! How their hard, +loving hearts would have been wrung could they but have +known the true state of the case! And, strange anomaly, how +much deeper would have been their antagonism toward poor, +self-sacrificing, loving Marcia! Just because she had dared +to think herself fit for David, belonging as she did to her +renegade sister Kate. But they did not know, and for this +fact David was profoundly thankful. Those were not the +days of rapid transit, of telegraph and telephone, nor even +of much letter writing, else the story would probably have +reached the aunts even before the bride and bridegroom +arrived at home. As it was, David had some hope of keeping +the tragedy of his life from the ears of his aunts forever. +Patiently he answered their questions concerning the wedding, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page132"></span><a name="pg132" id="pg132" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +questions that were intended to bring out facts showing +whether David had received his due amount of respect, and +whether the family he had so greatly honored felt the burden +of that honor sufficiently.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Upstairs in a quaint old-fashioned room Aunt Clarinda +was taking Marcia’s face in her two wrinkled hands and looking +lovingly into her eyes; then she kissed her on each rosy +cheek and said:</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Dear child! You look just as I did when I was young. +You wouldn’t think it from me now, would you? But it’s +true. I might not have grown to be such a dried-up old thing +if I had had somebody like David. I’m so glad you’ve got +David. He’ll take good care of you. He’s a dear boy. He’s +always been good to me. But you mustn’t let the others +crush those roses out of your cheeks. They crushed mine out. +They wouldn’t let me have my life the way I wanted it, and +the pink in my cheeks all went back into my heart and burst +it a good many years ago. But they can’t spoil your life, +for you’ve got David and that’s worth everything.<span class="tei tei-corr"><a name="E11" id="E11" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><a href="#e11" class="tei tei-ref">”</a></span></span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Then she kissed her on the lips and cheeks and eyes and +let her go. But that one moment had given Marcia a glimpse +into another life-story and put her in touch forever with Aunt +Clarinda, setting athrob the chord of loving sympathy.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">When they came into the parlor the other two aunts looked +up with a quick, suspicious glance from one to the other and +then fastened disapproving eyes upon Marcia. They rather +resented it that she was so pretty. Hannah had been their +favorite, and Hannah was beautiful in their eyes. They +wanted no other to outshine her. Albeit they would be proud +enough before their neighbors to have it said that their +nephew’s wife was beautiful.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">After a chilling pause in which David was wondering anew +at Marcia’s beauty, Aunt Hortense asked, as though it were +an omission from the former examination, <span class="tei tei-q">“Did you ever +make a shirt?”</span></p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page133"></span><a name="pg133" id="pg133" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, plenty of them!”</span> said Marcia, with a merry laugh, +so relieved that she fairly bubbled. <span class="tei tei-q">“I think I could make +a shirt with my eyes shut.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Aunt Clarinda beamed on her with delight. A shirt was +something she had never succeeded in making right. It was +one of the things which her sisters had against her that she +could not make good shirts. Any one who could not make a +shirt was deficient. Clarinda was deficient. She could not +make a shirt. Meekly had she tried year after year. Humbly +had she ripped out gusset and seam and band, having put +them on upside down or inside out. Never could she learn +the ins and outs of a shirt. But her old heart trembled with +delight that the new girl, who was going to take the place in +her heart of her old dead self and live out all the beautiful +things which had been lost to her, had mastered this one great +accomplishment in which she had failed so supremely.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But Aunt Hortense was not pleased. True, it was one of +the seven virtues in her mind which a young wife should +possess, and she had carefully instructed Hannah Heath for +a number of years back, while Hannah bungled out a couple +for her father occasionally, but Aunt Hortense had been sure +that if Hannah ever became David’s wife she might still +have the honor of making most of David’s shirts. That had +been her happy task ever since David had worn a shirt, and +she hoped to hold the position of shirt-maker to David until +she left this mortal clay. Therefore Aunt Hortense was not +pleased, even though David’s wife was not lacking, and, too, +even though she foreheard herself telling her neighbors next +day how many shirts David’s wife had made.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Well, David will not need any for some time,”</span> she said +grimly. <span class="tei tei-q">“I made him a dozen just before he was married.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia reflected that it seemed to be impossible to make +any headway into the good graces of either Aunt Hortense +or Aunt Amelia. Aunt Amelia then took her turn at a +question.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page134"></span><a name="pg134" id="pg134" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Hortense,”</span> said she, and there was an ominous inflection +in the word as if the question were portentous, <span class="tei tei-q">“have you +asked our new niece by what name she desires us to call her?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“I have not,”</span> said Miss Hortense solemnly, <span class="tei tei-q">“but I intend +to do so immediately,”</span> and then both pairs of steely eyes were +leveled at the girl. Marcia suddenly was face to face with a +question she had not considered, and David started upright +from his position on the +<span class="tei tei-corr"><a name="E12" id="E12" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><a href="#e12" class="tei tei-ref">hair-cloth</a></span> +sofa. But if a thunderbolt +had fallen from heaven and rendered him utterly unconscious +David would not have been more helpless than he +was for the time being. Marcia saw the mingled pain and +perplexity in David’s face, and her own courage gathered itself +to brave it out in some way. The color flew to her cheeks, +and rose slowly in David’s, through heavy veins that swelled +in his neck till he could feel their pulsation against his stock, +but his smooth shaven lips were white. He felt that a moment +had come which he could not bear to face.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Then with a hesitation that was but pardonable, and with +a shy sweet look, Marcia answered; and though her voice +trembled just the least bit, her true, dear eyes looked into +the battalion of steel ones bravely.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“I would like you to call me Marcia, if you please.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Marcia!”</span> Miss Hortense snipped the word out as if with +scissors of surprise.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But there was a distinct relaxation about Miss Amelia’s +mouth. She heaved a relieved sigh. Marcia was so much +better than Kate, so much more classical, so much more to be +compared with Hannah, for instance.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Well, I’m glad!”</span> she allowed herself to remark. <span class="tei tei-q">“David +has been calling you ‘Kate’ till it made me sick, such a +frivolous name and no sense in it either. Marcia sounds +quite sensible. I suppose Katharine is your middle name. +Do you spell it with a K or a C?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But the knocker sounded on the street door and Marcia was +spared the torture of a reply. She dared not look at David’s +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page135"></span><a name="pg135" id="pg135" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +face, for she knew there must be pain and mortification +mingling there, and she hoped that the trying subject would +not come up again for discussion.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The guests began to arrive. Old Mrs. Heath and her +daughter-in-law and grand-daughter came first.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Hannah’s features were handsome and she knew exactly +how to manage her shapely hands with their long white +fingers. The soft delicate undersleeves fell away from arms +white and well moulded, and she carried her height gracefully. +Her hair was elaborately stowed upon the top of her +head in many puffs, ending in little ringlets carelessly and +coquettishly straying over temple, or ears, or gracefully curved +neck. She wore a frock of green, and its color sent a pang +through the bride’s heart to realize that perhaps it had been +worn with an unkindly purpose. Nevertheless Hannah Heath +was beautiful and fascinated Marcia. She resolved to try to +think the best of her, and to make her a friend if possible. +Why, after all, should she be to blame for wanting David? +Was he not a man to be admired and desired? It was unwomanly, +of course, that she had let it be known, but perhaps +her relatives were more to blame than herself. At least +Marcia made up her mind to try and like her.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Hannah’s frock was of silk, not a common material in those +days, soft and shimmery and green enough to take away the +heart from anything blue that was ever made, but Hannah +was stately and her skin as white as the lily she resembled, in +her bright leaf green.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Hannah chose to be effusive and condescending to the bride, +giving the impression that she and David had been like +brother and sister all their lives and that she might have +been his choice if she had chosen, but as she had not chosen, +she was glad that David had found some one wherewith to +console himself. She did not say all this in so many words, +but Marcia found that impression left after the evening +was over.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page136"></span><a name="pg136" id="pg136" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">With sweet dignity Marcia received her introductions, given +in Miss Amelia’s most commanding tone, <span class="tei tei-q">“Our niece, +Marcia!”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Marshy! Marshy!”</span> the bride heard old Mrs. Heath +murmur to Miss Spafford. <span class="tei tei-q">“Why, I thought ’twas to be +Kate!”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Her name is Marcia,”</span> said Miss Amelia in a most satisfied +tone; <span class="tei tei-q">“you must have misunderstood.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia caught a look in Miss Heath’s eyes, alert, keen, +questioning, which flashed all over her like something searching +and bright but not friendly.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She felt a painful shyness stealing over her and wished that +David were by her side. She looked across the room at him. +His face had recovered its usual calmness, though he looked +pale. He was talking on his favorite theme with old Mr. +Heath: the newly invented steam engine and its possibilities. +He had forgotten everything else for the time, and his face +lighted with animation as he tried to answer William Heath’s +arguments against it.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Have you read what the Boston <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Courier</span></span> said, David? +’Long in June it was I think,”</span> Marcia heard Mr. Heath ask. +Indeed his voice was so large that it filled the room, and for +the moment Marcia had been left to herself while some new +people were being ushered in. <span class="tei tei-q">“It says, David, that ‘the project +of a railroad from Bawston to Albany is impracticable as +everybody knows who knows the simplest rule of arithmetic, +and the expense would be little less than the market value of +the whole territory of Massachusetts; and which, if practicable, +every person of common sense knows would be as useless as +a railroad from Bawston to the moon.’ There, David, what +do ye think o’ that?”</span> and William Heath slapped David on +the knee with his broad, fat fist and laughed heartily, as +though he had him in a tight corner.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia would have given a good deal to slip in beside David +on the sofa and listen to the discussion. She wanted with all +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page137"></span><a name="pg137" id="pg137" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +her heart to know how he would answer this man who +could be so insufferably wise, but there was other work for +her, and her attention was brought back to her own uncomfortable +part by Hannah Heath’s voice:</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Come right ovah heah, Mistah Skinnah, if you want to +meet the bride. You must speak verra nice to me or I sha’n’t +introduce you at all.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">A tall lanky man with stiff sandy hair and a rubicund +complexion was making his way around the room. He had +a small mouth puckered a little as if he might be going to +whistle, and his chin had the look of having been pushed +back out of the way, a stiff fuzz of sandy whiskers made a +hedge down either cheek, and but for that he was clean +shaven. The skin over his high cheek bones was stretched +smooth and tight as if it were a trifle too close a fit for the +genial cushion beneath. He did not look brilliant, and he +certainly was not handsome, but there was an inoffensive +desire to please about him. He was introduced as Mr. Lemuel +Skinner. He bowed low over Marcia’s hand, said a few embarrassed, +stiff sentences and turned to Hannah Heath with +relief. It was evident that Hannah was in his eyes a great +and shining light, to which he fluttered as naturally as does +the moth to the candle. But Hannah did not scruple to +singe his wings whenever she chose. Perhaps she knew, no +matter how badly he was burned he would only flutter back +again whenever she scintillated. She had turned her back +upon him now, and left him to Marcia’s tender mercies. +Hannah was engaged in talking to a younger man. <span class="tei tei-q">“Harry +Temple, from New York,”</span> Lemuel explained to Marcia.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The young man, Harry Temple, had large lazy eyes and +heavy dark hair. There was a discontented look in his face, +and a looseness about the set of his lips that Marcia did not +like, although she had to admit that he was handsome. Something +about him reminded her of Captain Leavenworth, and +she instinctively shrank from him. But Harry Temple had +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page138"></span><a name="pg138" id="pg138" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +no mind to talk to any one but Marcia that evening, and he +presently so managed it that he and she were ensconced in a +corner of the room away from others. Marcia felt perturbed. +She did not feel flattered by the man’s attentions, and she +wanted to be at the other end of the room listening to the +conversation.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She listened as intently as she might between sentences, +and her keen ears could catch a word or two of what David +was saying. After all, it was not so much the new railroad +project that she cared about, though that was strange and +interesting enough, but she wanted to watch and listen to +David.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Harry Temple said a great many pretty things to Marcia. +She did not half hear some of them at first, but after a time +she began to realize that she must have made a good impression, +and the pretty flush in her cheeks grew deeper. She +did little talking. Mr. Temple did it all. He told her of +New York. He asked if she were not dreadfully bored with +this little town and its doings, and bewailed her lot when he +learned that she had not had much experience there. Then +he asked if she had ever been to New York and began to +tell of some of its attractions. Among other things he mentioned +some concerts, and immediately Marcia was all attention. +Her dark eyes glowed and her speaking face gave +eager response to his words. Seeing he had interested her at +last, he kept on, for he was possessor of a glib tongue, and +what he did not know he could fabricate without the slightest +compunction. He had been about the world and gathered up +superficial knowledge enough to help him do this admirably, +therefore he was able to use a few musical terms, and to bring +before Marcia’s vivid imagination the scene of the performance +of Handel’s great <span class="tei tei-q">“Creation”</span> given in Boston, and +of certain musical events that were to be attempted soon in +New York. He admitted that he could play a little upon the +harpsichord, and, when he learned that Marcia could play also +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page139"></span><a name="pg139" id="pg139" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +and that she was the possessor of a piano, one of the latest +improved makes, he managed to invite himself to play upon +it. Marcia found to her dismay that she actually seemed to +have invited him to come some afternoon when her husband +was away. She had only said politely that she would like to +hear him play sometime, and expressed her great delight in +music, and he had done the rest, but in her inexperience somehow +it had happened and she did not know what to do.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It troubled her a good deal, and she turned again toward +the other end of the room, where the attention of most of +the company was riveted upon the group who were discussing +the railroad, its pros and cons. David was the centre of that +group.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Let us go over and hear what they are saying,”</span> she said, +turning to her companion eagerly.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, it is all stupid politics and arguments about that +ridiculous fairy-tale of a railroad scheme. You would not +enjoy it,”</span> answered the young man disappointedly. He saw +in Marcia a beautiful young soul, the only one who had really +attracted him since he had left New York, and he wished +to become intimate enough with her to enjoy himself.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It mattered not to him that she was married to another +man. He felt secure in his own attractions. He had ever +been able to while away the time with whom he chose, why +should a simple village maiden resist him? And this was an +unusual one, the contour of her head was like a Greek statue.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Nevertheless he was obliged to stroll after her. Once she +had spoken. She had suddenly become aware that they had +been in their corner together a long time, and that Aunt +Amelia’s cold eyes were fastened upon her in disapproval.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“The farmers would be ruined, man alive!”</span> Mr. Heath +was saying. <span class="tei tei-q">“Why, all the horses would have to be killed, +because they would be wholly useless if this new fandango +came in, and then where would be a market for the wheat +and oats?”</span></p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page140"></span><a name="pg140" id="pg140" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Yes, an’ I’ve heard some say the hens wouldn’t lay, on +account of the noise,”</span> ventured Lemuel Skinner in his high +voice. <span class="tei tei-q">“And think of the fires from the sparks of the +engine. I tell you it would be dangerous.”</span> He looked over +at Hannah triumphantly, but Hannah was endeavoring to +signal Harry Temple to her side and did not see nor hear.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“I tell you,”</span> put in Mr. Heath’s heavy voice again, <span class="tei tei-q">“I tell +you, Dave, it can’t be done. It’s impractical. Why, no car +could advance against the wind.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“They told Columbus he couldn’t sail around the earth, +but he did it!”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There was sudden stillness in the room, for it was Marcia’s +clear, grave voice that had answered Mr. Heath’s excited +tones, and she had not known she was going to speak aloud. +It came before she realized it. She had been used to speak +her mind sometimes with her father, but seldom when there +were others by, and now she was covered with confusion to +think what she had done. The aunts, Amelia and Hortense, +were shocked. It was so unladylike. A woman should not +speak on such subjects. She should be silent and leave such +topics to her husband.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Deah me, she’s strong minded, isn’t she?”</span> giggled Hannah +Heath to Lemuel, who had taken the signals to himself +and come to her side.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Quite so, quite so!”</span> murmured Lemuel, his lips looking +puffier and more cherry-fied than ever and his chin flattened +itself back till he looked like a frustrated old hen who did not +understand the perplexities of life and was clucking to find +out, after having been startled half out of its senses.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But Marcia was not wholly without consolation, for David +had flashed a look of approval at her and had made room +for her to sit down by his side on the sofa. It was almost +like belonging to him for a minute or two. Marcia felt her +heart glow with something new and pleasant.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Mr. William Heath drew his heavy grey brows together +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page141"></span><a name="pg141" id="pg141" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +and looked at her grimly over his spectacles, poking his bristly +under-lip out in astonishment, bewildered that he should have +been answered by a gentle, pretty woman, all frills and sparkle +like his own daughter. He had been wont to look upon a +woman as something like a kitten,—that is, a young woman,—and +suddenly the kitten had lifted a velvet paw and struck him +squarely in the face. He had felt there were claws in the +blow, too, for there had been a truth behind her words that +set the room a mocking him.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Well, Dave, you’ve got your wife well trained already!”</span> +he laughed, concluding it was best to put a smiling front +upon the defeat. <span class="tei tei-q">“She knows just when to come in and help +when your side’s getting weak!”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">They served cake and raspberry vinegar then, and a little +while after everybody went home. It was later than the hours +usually kept in the village, and the lights in most of the +houses were out, or burning dimly in upper stories. The +voices of the guests sounded subdued in the misty waning +moonlight air. Marcia could hear Hannah Heath’s voice +ahead giggling affectedly to Harry Temple and Lemuel Skinner, +as they walked one on either side of her, while her father +and mother and grandmother came more slowly.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David drew Marcia’s hand within his arm and walked with +her quietly down the street, making their steps hushed instinctively +that they might so seem more removed from the +others. They were both tired with the unusual excitement +and the strain they had been through, and each was glad +of the silence of the other.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But when they reached their own doorstep David said: +<span class="tei tei-q">“You spoke well, child. You must have thought about these +things.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia felt a sob rising in a tide of joy into her throat. +Then he was not angry with her, and he did not disapprove +as the two aunts had done. Aunt Clarinda had kissed her +good-night and murmured, <span class="tei tei-q">“You are a bright little girl, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page142"></span><a name="pg142" id="pg142" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Marcia, and you will make a good wife for David. You will +come soon to see me, won’t you?”</span> and that had made her +glad, but these words of David’s were so good and so unexpected +that Marcia could hardly hide her happy tears.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“I was afraid I had been forward,”</span> murmured Marcia in +the shadow of the front stoop.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Not at all, child, I like to hear a woman speak her +mind,—that is, allowing she has any mind to speak. That +can’t be said of all women. There’s Hannah Heath, for +instance. I don’t believe she would know a railroad project +from an essay on ancient art.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">After that the house seemed a pleasant place aglow as they +entered it, and Marcia went up to her rest with a lighter +heart.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But the child knew not that she had made a great impression +that night upon all who saw her as being beautiful and +wise.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The aunts would not express it even to each other,—for +they felt in duty bound to discountenance her boldness in +speaking out before the men and making herself so prominent, +joining in their discussions,—but each in spite of her +convictions felt a deep satisfaction that their neighbors had +seen what a beautiful and bright wife David had selected. +They even felt triumphant over their favorite Hannah, and +thought secretly that Marcia compared well with her in +every way, but they would not have told this even to themselves, +no, not for worlds.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">So the kindly gossipy town slept, and the young bride +became a part of its daily life.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div id="MS13" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page143"></span><a name="pg143" id="pg143" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<a name="toc26" id="toc26"></a> +<a name="pdf27" id="pdf27"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"> + <span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER XIII</span></span> +</h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Life began to take on a more familiar and interesting +aspect to Marcia after that. She had her daily round of +pleasant household duties and she enjoyed them.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There were many other gatherings in honor of the bride +and groom, tea-drinkings and evening calls, and a few called +in to a neighbor’s house to meet them. It was very pleasant +to Marcia as she became better acquainted with the people +and grew to like some of them, only there was the constant +drawback of feeling that it was all a pain and weariness to +David.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But Marcia was young, and it was only natural that she +should enjoy her sudden promotion to the privileges of a +matron, and the marked attention that was paid her. It was +a mercy that her head was not turned, living as she did to +herself, and with no one in whom she could confide. For +David had shrunk within himself to such an extent that she +did not like to trouble him with anything.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It was only two days after the evening at the old Spafford +house that David came home to tea with ashen face, haggard +eyes and white lips. He scarcely tasted his supper and said +he would go and lie down, that his head ached. Marcia heard +him sigh deeply as he went upstairs. It was that afternoon +that the post had brought him Kate’s letter.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Sadly Marcia put away the tea things, for she could not +eat anything either, though it was an unusually inviting +meal she had prepared. Slowly she went up to her room and +sat looking out into the quiet, darkening summer night, +wondering what additional sorrow had come to David.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David’s face looked like death the next morning when +he came down. He drank a cup of coffee feverishly, then took +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page144"></span><a name="pg144" id="pg144" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +his hat as if he would go to the office, but paused at the door +and came back saying he would not go if Marcia would not +mind taking a message for him. His head felt badly. She +need only tell the man to go on with things as they had +planned and say he was detained. Marcia was ready at once +to do his bidding with quiet sympathy in her manner.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She delivered her message with the frank straightforward +look of a school girl, mingled with a touch of matronly dignity +she was trying to assume, which added to her charm; and she +smiled her open smile of comradeship, such as she would +have dispensed about the old red school house at home, upon +boys and girls alike, leaving the clerk and type-setters in a +most subjected state, and ready to do anything in the service +of their master’s wife. It is to be feared that they almost +envied David. They watched her as she moved gracefully +down the street, and their eyes had a reverent look as they +turned away from the window to their work, as though they +had been looking upon something sacred.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Harry Temple watched her come out of the office.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She impressed him again as something fresh and different +from the common run of maidens in the village. He lazily +stepped from the store where he had been lounging and walked +down the street to intercept her as she crossed and turned the +corner.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Good morning, Mrs. Spafford,”</span> he said, with a courtly +grace that was certainly captivating, <span class="tei tei-q">“are you going to your +home? Then our ways lie together. May I walk beside +you?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia smiled and tried to seem gracious, though she would +rather have been alone just then, for she wanted to enjoy the +day and not be bothered with talking.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Harry Temple mentioned having a letter from a friend in +Boston who had lately heard a great chorus rendered. He +could not be quite sure of the name of the composer because +he had read the letter hurriedly and his friend was a blind-writer, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page145"></span><a name="pg145" id="pg145" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +but that made no difference to Harry. He could fill +in facts enough about the grandeur of the music from his +own imagination to make up for the lack of a little matter +like the name of a composer. He was keen enough to see +that Marcia was more interested in music than in anything +he said, therefore he racked his brains for all the music talk +he had ever heard, and made up what he did not know, +which was not hard to do, for Marcia was very ignorant on +the subject.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">At the door they paused. Marcia was eager to get in. She +began to wonder how David felt, and she longed to do something +for him. Harry Temple looked at her admiringly, noted +the dainty set of chin, the clear curve of cheek, the lovely +sweep of eyelashes, and resolved to get better acquainted with +this woman, so young and so lovely.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“I have not forgotten my promise to play for you,”</span> he said +lightly, watching to see if the flush of rose would steal into +her cheek, and that deep light into her expressive eyes. <span class="tei tei-q">“How +about this afternoon? Shall you be at home and disengaged?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But welcome did not flash into Marcia’s face as he had +hoped. Instead a troubled look came into her eyes.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“I am afraid it will not be possible this afternoon,”</span> said +Marcia, the trouble in her eyes creeping into her voice. <span class="tei tei-q">“That +is—I expect to be at home, but—I am not sure of being +disengaged.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Ah! I see!”</span> he raised his eyebrows archly, looking her +meanwhile straight in the eyes; <span class="tei tei-q">“some one else more fortunate +than I. Some one else coming?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Although Marcia did not in the least understand his insinuation, +the color flowed into her cheeks in a hurry now, +for she instinctively felt that there was something unpleasant +in his tone, something below her standard of morals or culture, +she did not quite know what. But she felt she must protect +herself at any cost. She drew up a little mantle of dignity.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page146"></span><a name="pg146" id="pg146" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, no,”</span> she said quickly, <span class="tei tei-q">“I’m not expecting any one at +all, but Mr. Spafford had a severe headache this morning, and +I am not sure but the sound of the piano would make it worse. +I think it would be better for you to come another time, although +he may be better by that time.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, I see! Your husband’s at home!”</span> said the young +man with relief. His manner implied that he had a perfect +understanding of something that Marcia did not mean nor +comprehend.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“I understand perfectly,”</span> he said, with another meaning +smile as though he and she had a secret together; <span class="tei tei-q">“I’ll come +some other time,”</span> and he took himself very quickly away, +much to Marcia’s relief. But the trouble did not go out of +her eyes as she saw him turn the corner. Instead she went in +and stood at the dining room window a long time looking +out on the Heaths’ hollyhocks beaming in the sun behind +the picket fence, and wondered what he could have meant, +and why he smiled in that hateful way. She decided she did +not like him, and she hoped he would never come. She +did not think she would care to hear him play. There was +something about him that reminded her of Captain Leavenworth, +and now that she saw it in him she would dislike to +have him about.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">With a sigh she turned to the getting of a dinner which +she feared would not be eaten. Nevertheless, she put more +dainty thought in it than usual, and when it was done and +steaming upon the table she went gently up and tapped on +David’s door. A voice hoarse with emotion and weariness +answered. Marcia scarcely heard the first time.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Dinner is ready. Isn’t your head any better,—David?”</span> +There was caressing in his name. It wrung David’s heart. +Oh, if it were but Kate, his Kate, his little bride that were +calling him, how his heart would leap with joy! How his +headache would disappear and he would be with her in an +instant.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page147"></span><a name="pg147" id="pg147" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">For Kate’s letter had had its desired effect. All her wrongdoings, +her crowning outrage of his noble intentions, had been +forgotten in the one little plaintive appeal she had managed +to breathe in a minor wail throughout that treacherous letter, +treacherous alike to her husband and to her lover. Just as +Kate had always been able to do with every one about her, +she had blinded him to her faults, and managed to put herself +in the light of an abused, troubled maiden, who was in a +predicament through no fault of her own, and sat in sorrow +and a baby-innocence that was bewilderingly sweet.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There had been times when David’s anger had been hot +enough to waft away this filmy mist of fancies that Kate had +woven about herself and let him see the true Kate as she really +was. At such times David would confess that she must be +wholly heartless. That bright as she was it was impossible +for her to have been so easily persuaded into running away +with a man she did not love. He had never found it so easy +to persuade her against her will. Did she love him? Had +she truly loved him, and was she suffering now? His very +soul writhed in agony to think of his bride the wife of another +against her will. If he might but go and rescue her. If he +might but kill that other man! Then his soul would be +confronted with the thought of murder. Never before had +he felt hate, such hate, for a human being. Then again +his heart would soften toward him as he felt how the other +must have loved her, Kate, his little wild rose! and there +was a fellow feeling between them too, for had she not let +him see that she did not half care aright for that other one? +Then his mind would stop in a whirl of mingled feeling and +he would pause, and pray for steadiness to think and know +what was right.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Around and around through this maze of arguing he had +gone through the long hours of the morning, always coming +sharp against the thought that there was nothing he could +possibly do in the matter but bear it, and that Kate, after all, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page148"></span><a name="pg148" id="pg148" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +the Kate he loved with his whole soul, had done it and must +therefore be to blame. Then he would read her letter over, +burning every word of it upon his brain, until the piteous +minor appeal would torture him once more and he would begin +again to try to get hold of some thread of thought that would +unravel this snarl and bring peace.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Like a sound from another world came Marcia’s sweet voice, +its very sweetness reminding him of that other lost voice, +whose tantalizing music floated about his imagination like a +string of phantom silver bells that all but sounded and then +vanished into silence.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">And while all this was going on, this spiritual torture, his +living, suffering, physical self was able to summon its thoughts, +to answer gently that he did not want any dinner; that his +head was no better; that he thanked her for her thought of +him; and that he would take the tea she offered if it was not +too much trouble.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Gladly, with hurried breath and fingers that almost trembled, +Marcia hastened to the kitchen once more and prepared +a dainty tray, not even glancing at the dinner table all +so fine and ready for its guest, and back again she went to +his door, an eager light in her eyes, as if she had obtained +audience to a king.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He opened the door this time and took the tray from her +with a smile. It was a smile of ashen hue, and fell like a pall +upon Marcia’s soul. It was as if she had been permitted for +a moment to gaze upon a martyred soul upon the rack. +Marcia fled from it and went to her own room, where she +flung herself on her knees beside her bed and buried her +face in the pillows. There she knelt, unmindful of the dinner +waiting downstairs, unmindful of the bright day that was +droning on its hours. Whether she prayed she knew not, +whether she was weeping she could not have told. Her heart +was crying out in one great longing to have this cloud of +sorrow that had settled upon David lifted.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page149"></span><a name="pg149" id="pg149" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She might have knelt there until night had there not come +the sound of a knock upon the front door. It startled her to +her feet in an instant, and she hastily smoothed her rumpled +hair, dashed some water on her eyes, and ran down.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It was the clerk from the office with a letter for her. The +post chaise had brought it that afternoon, and he had thought +perhaps she would like to have it at once as it was postmarked +from her home. Would she tell Mr. Spafford when he returned—he +seemed to take it for granted that David was out +of town for the day—that everything had been going on all +right at the office during his absence and the paper was ready +to send to press. He took his departure with a series of bows +and smiles, and Marcia flew up to her room to read her letter. +It was in the round unformed hand of Mary Ann. Marcia +tore it open eagerly. Never had Mary Ann’s +<span class="tei tei-corr"><a name="E13" id="E13" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><a href="#e13" class="tei tei-ref">handwriting</a></span> +looked so pleasant as at that moment. A letter in those days +was a rarity at all times, and this one to Marcia in her distress +of mind seemed little short of a miracle. It began in Mary +Ann’s abrupt way, and opened up to her the world of home +since she had left it. But a few short days had passed, +scarcely yet numbering into weeks, since she left, yet it +seemed half a +<span class="tei tei-corr"><a name="E14" id="E14" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><a href="#e14" class="tei tei-ref">lifetime</a></span> +to the girl promoted so suddenly into +womanhood without the accompanying joy of love and close +companionship that usually makes desolation impossible.</p> + +<div class="block tei tei-quote" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"> + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span class="tei tei-q"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-variant: small-caps">Dear Marsh</span></span><span style="font-size: 90%">,</span><span style="font-size: 90%">”</span></span><span style="font-size: 90%">—the + letter ran:—</span></p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span class="tei tei-q"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">I expect you think queer of me to write you so + soon. I ain’t much on writing you know, but something happened right + after you leaving and has kept right on happening that made me feel I + kinder like to tell you. Don’t you mind the mistakes I make. + I’m thankful to goodness you ain’t the school teacher or + I’d never write ‘slong s’ I’m living, but ennyhow + I’m going to tell you all about it.</span></span></p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span class="tei tei-q"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">The night you went away I was standing down by the + gate under the old elm. I had on my best things yet from the wedding, and I + hated to go in and have the day over and have to begin putting on my old + calico </span><span class="tei tei-corr"><a name="E15" id="E15" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><a href="#e15" class="tei tei-ref"><span style="font-size: 90%">to-morrow</span></a></span><span style="font-size: 90%"> morning + </span><span class="tei tei-pb" id="page150"></span><a name="pg150" id="pg150" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><span style="font-size: 90%"> + again, and washing dishes just the same. Seemed as if I couldn’t bear + to have the world just the same now you was gone away. Well, I heard + someone coming down the street, and who do you think it was? Why, Hanford + Weston. He came right up to the gate and stopped. I don’t + know’s he ever spoke two words to me in my life except that time he + stopped the big boys from snow-balling me and told me to run along quick + and git in the school-house while he fit ’em. Well, he stopped and + spoke, and he looked so sad, seemed like I knew just what he was feeling + sad about, and I told him all about you getting married instead of your + sister. He looked at me like he couldn’t move for a while and his + face was as white as that marble man in the cemetery over Squire + Hancock’s grave. He grabbed the gate real hard and I thought he was + going to fall. He couldn’t even move his lips for a while. I felt + just awful sorry for him. Something came in my throat like a big stone and + my eyes got all blurred with the moonlight. He looked real handsome. I just + couldn’t help thinking you ought to see him. Bimeby he got his voice + back again, and we talked a lot about you. He told me how he used to watch + you when you was a little girl wearing pantalettes. You used to sit in the + church pew across from his father’s and he could just see your big + eyes over the top of the door. He says he always thought to himself he would + marry you when he grew up. Then when you began to go to school and was so + bright he tried hard to study and keep up just to have you think him good + enough for you. He owned up he was a bad speller and he’d tried his + level best to do better but it didn’t seem to come natural, and he + thought maybe ef he was a good farmer you wouldn’t mind about the + spelling. He hired out to his father for the summer and he was trying with + all his might to get to be the kind of man t’would suit you, and then + when he was plowing and planning all what kind of a house with big + </span><span class="tei tei-corr"><a name="E16" id="E16" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><a href="#e16" class="tei tei-ref"><span style="font-size: 90%">columns</span></a></span><span style="font-size: 90%"> + to the front he would build here comes the + coach driving by and </span><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-style: italic">you</span></span><span style="font-size: 90%"> in it! He said + he thought the sky and fields was all mixed up and his heart was going out + of him. He couldn’t work any more and he started out after supper to + see what it all meant.</span></span></p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span class="tei tei-q"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">That wasn’t just the exact way he told it, + Marsh, it was + </span><span class="tei tei-pb" id="page151"></span><a name="pg151" id="pg151" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><span style="font-size: 90%"> + more like poetry, that kind in our reader about “Lord Ullin’s + daughter”—you know. We used to recite it on examination + exhibition. I didn’t know Hanford could talk like that. His words + were real pretty, kind of sorrowful you know. And it all come over me that + you ought to know about it. You’re married of course, and can’t + help it now, but ’taint every girl that has a boy care for her like + that from the time she’s a baby with a red hood on, and you ought to + know ’bout it, fer it wasn’t Hanford’s fault he + didn’t have time to tell you. He’s just been living fer you fer + a number of years, and its kind of hard on him. ’Course you may not + care, being you’re married and have a fine house and lots of + clo’es of your own and a good time, but it does seem hard for him. It + seems as if somebody ought to comfort him. I’d like to try if you + don’t mind. He does seem to like to talk about you to me, and I feel + so sorry for him I guess I could comfort him a little, for it seems as if + it would be the nicest thing in the world to have some one like you that + way for years, just as they do in books, only every time I think about + being a comfort to him I think he belongs to you and it ain’t right. + So Marsh, you just speak out and say if your willing I should try to + comfort him a little and make up to him fer what he lost in you, being as + you’re married and fixed so nice yourself.</span></span></p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span class="tei tei-q"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">Of course I know I aint pretty like you, nor + can’t hold my head proud and step high as you always did, even when + you was little, but I can feel, and perhaps that’s something. Anyhow + Hanford’s been down three times to talk about you to me, and ef you + don’t mind I’m going to let him come some more. But if you mind + the leastest little bit I want you should say so, for things are mixed in + this world and I don’t want to get to trampling on any other + person’s feelings, much less you who have always been my best friend + and always will be as long as I live I guess. ’Member how we used to + play house on the old flat stone in the orchard, and you give me all the + prettiest pieces of china with sprigs on ’em? I aint forgot that, and + never will. I shall always say you made the prettiest bride I ever saw, no + matter how many more I see, and I hope you won’t forget me. + It’s lonesome here without you. If it wasn’t for comforting + Hanford I shouldn’t care much for + </span><span class="tei tei-pb" id="page152"></span><a name="pg152" id="pg152" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><span style="font-size: 90%"> + anything. I can’t think of you a grown up woman. Do you feel any + different? I spose you wouldn’t climb a fence nor run through the + pasture lot for anything now. Have you got a lot of new friends? I wish I + could see you. And now Marsh, I want you to write right off and tell me + what to do about comforting Hanford, and if you’ve any message to + send to him I think it would be real nice. I hope you’ve got a good + husband and are happy.</span></span></p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: right; margin-bottom: 0.90em; margin-right: 4.50em"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: right"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">From your + devoted and loving school mate,</span></span></p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: right; margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: right"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: right"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-variant: small-caps">Mary Ann + Fothergill.</span></span><span style="font-size: 90%">”</span></span></p> +</div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia laid down the letter and buried her face in her +hands. To her too had come a thrust which must search her +life and change it. So while David wrestled with his sorrow +Marcia entered upon the knowledge of her own heart.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There was something in this revelation by Mary Ann of +Hanford Weston’s feelings toward her that touched her +immeasurably. Had it all happened before she left home, +had Hanford come to her and told her of his love, she would +have turned from him in dismay, almost disgust, and have +told him that they were both but children, how could they +talk of love. She could never have loved him. She would +have felt it instantly, and her mocking laugh might have done +a good deal toward saving him from sorrow. But now, with +miles between them, with the wall of the solemn marriage +vows to separate them forever, with her own youth locked +up as she supposed until the day of eternity should perhaps +set it free, with no hope of any bright dream of life such as +girls have, could she turn from even a school boy’s love without +a passing tenderness, such as she would never have felt if +she had not come away from it all? Told in Mary Ann’s +blunt way, with her crude attempts at pathos, it reached her +as it could not otherwise. With her own new view of life she +could sympathize better with another’s disappointments. Perhaps +her own loneliness gave her pity for another. Whatever +it was, Marcia’s heart suddenly turned toward Hanford Weston +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page153"></span><a name="pg153" id="pg153" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +with a great throb of gratitude. She felt that she had +been loved, even though it had been impossible for that love +to be returned, and that whatever happened she would not go +unloved down to the end of her days. Suddenly, out of the +midst of the perplexity of her thoughts, there formed a distinct +knowledge of what was lacking in her life, a lack she +had never felt before, and probably would not have felt now +had she not thus suddenly stepped into a place much beyond +her years. It seemed to the girl as she sat in the great chintz +chair and read and re-read that letter, as if she lived years +that afternoon, and all her life was to be changed henceforth. +It was not that she was sorry that she could not go back, and +live out her girlhood and have it crowned with Hanford +Weston’s love. Not at all. She knew, as well now as she +ever had known, that he could never be anything to her, but +she knew also, or thought she knew, that he could have given +her something, in his clumsy way, that now she could never +have from any man, seeing she was David’s and David could +not love her that way, of course.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Having come to this conclusion, she arose and wrote a letter +giving and bequeathing to Mary Ann Fothergill all right, +title, and claim to the affections of Hanford Weston, past, +present, and future—sending him a message calculated to +smooth his ruffled feelings, with her pretty thanks for his +youthful adoration; comfort his sorrow with the thought +that it must have been a hallucination, that some day he +would find his true ideal which he had only thought he had +found in her; and send him on his way rejoicing with her +blessings and good wishes for a happy life. As for Mary +Ann, for once she received her meed of Marcia’s love, for +homesick Marcia felt more tenderness for her than she had +ever been able to feel before; and Marcia’s loving messages +set Mary Ann in a flutter of delight, as she laid her plans for +comforting Hanford Weston.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div id="MS14" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page154"></span><a name="pg154" id="pg154" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<a name="toc28" id="toc28"></a> +<a name="pdf29" id="pdf29"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"> + <span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER XIV</span></span> +</h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David slowly recovered his poise. Faced by that terrible, +impenetrable wall of impossibility he stood helpless, +his misery eating in upon his soul, but there still remained +the fact that there was nothing, absolutely nothing, which +he could possibly do. At times the truth rose to the surface, +the wretched truth, that Kate was at fault, that having done +the deed she should abide by it, and not try to keep a hold +upon him, but it was not often he was able to think in this +way. Most of the time he mourned over and for the lovely +girl he had lost.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">As for Marcia, she came and went unobtrusively, making +quiet comfort for David which he scarcely noticed. At times +he roused himself to be polite to her, and made a labored +effort to do something to amuse her, just as if she had been +visiting him as a favor and he felt in duty bound to make +the time pass pleasantly, but she troubled him so little with +herself, that nearly always he forgot her. Whenever there +was any public function to which they were bidden he always +told her apologetically, as though it must be as much of a +bore to her as to him, and he regretted that it was necessary +to go in order to carry out their mutual agreement. Marcia, +hailing with delight every chance to go out in search of +something which would keep her from thinking the new +thoughts which had come to her, demurely covered her pleasure +and dressed herself dutifully in the robes made for her +sister, hating them secretly the while, and was always ready +when he came for her. David had nothing to complain of +in his wife, so far as outward duty was concerned, but he +was too busy with his own heart’s bitterness to even recognize +it.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page155"></span><a name="pg155" id="pg155" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">One afternoon, of a day when David had gone out of +town not expecting to return until late in the evening, there +came a knock at the door.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There was something womanish in the knock, Marcia +thought, as she hastened to answer it, and she wondered, +hurriedly smoothing her shining hair, if it could be the aunts +come to make their fortnightly-afternoon penance visit. She +gave a hasty glance into the parlor hoping all was right, and +was relieved to make sure she had closed the piano. The +aunts would consider it a great breach of housewifely +decorum to allow a moment’s dust to settle upon its sacred +keys.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But it was not the aunts who stood upon the stoop, smiling +and bowing with a handsome assurance of his own welcome. +It was Harry Temple.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia was not glad to see him. A sudden feeling of +unreasoning alarm took possession of her.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“You’re all alone this time, sweet lady, aren’t you?”</span> he +asked with easy nonchalance, as he lounged into the hall +without waiting her bidding.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Sir!”</span> said Marcia, half frightened, half wondering.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But he smiled reassuringly down upon her and took the +door knob in his own hands to close the door.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Your good man is out this time, isn’t he?”</span> he smiled +again most delightfully. His face was very handsome when +he smiled. He knew this fact well.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia did not smile. Why did he speak as if he knew +where David was, and seemed to be pleased that he was away?</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“My husband is not in at present,”</span> she said guardedly, +her innocent eyes searching his face, <span class="tei tei-q">“did you wish to see +him?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She was beautiful as she stood there in the wide hall, with +only the light from the high transom over the door, shedding +an afternoon glow through its pleated Swiss oval. She looked +more sweet and little-girlish than ever, and he felt a strong +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page156"></span><a name="pg156" id="pg156" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +desire to take her in his arms and tell her so, only he feared, +from something he saw in those wide, sweet eyes, that she +might take alarm and run away too soon, so he only smiled +and said that his business with her husband could wait until +another time, and meantime he had called to fulfil his +promise to play for her.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She took him into the darkened parlor, gave him the stiffest +and stateliest hair-cloth chair; but he walked straight over +to the instrument, and with not at all the reverence she liked +to treat it, flung back the coverings, threw the lid open, +and sat down.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He had white fingers, and he ran them over the keys with +an air of being at home among them, light little airs dripping +from his touch like dew from a glistening grass blade. Marcia +felt there were butterflies in the air, and buzzing bees, and +fairy flowers dancing on the slightest of stems, with a sky +so blue it seemed to be filled with the sound of lily bells. +The music he played was of the nature of what would be +styled to-day <span class="tei tei-q">“popular,”</span> for this man was master of nothing +but having a good time. Quick music with a jingle he played, +that to the puritanic-bred girl suggested nothing but a heart +bubbling over with gladness, but he meant it should make +her heart flutter and her foot beat time to the tripping +measure. In his world feet were attuned to gay music. But +Marcia stood with quiet dignity a little away from the instrument, +her lips parted, her eyes bright with the pleasure of +the melody, her hands clasped, and her breath coming quickly. +She was all absorbed with the music. All unknowingly +Marcia had placed herself where the light from the window +fell full across her face, and every flitting expression as she +followed the undulant sounds was visible. The young man +gazed, almost as much pleased with the lovely face as Marcia +was with the music.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">At last he drew a chair quite near his own seat.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Come and sit down,”</span> he said, <span class="tei tei-q">“and I will sing to you. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page157"></span><a name="pg157" id="pg157" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +You did not know I could sing, too, did you? Oh, I can. +But you must sit down for I couldn’t sing right when you +are standing.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He ended with his fascinating smile, and Marcia shyly +sat down, though she drew the chair a bit back from where +he had placed it and sat up quite straight and stiff with her +shoulders erect and her head up. She had forgotten her +distrust of the man in what seemed to her his wonderful +music. It was all new and strange to her, and she could not +know how little there really was to it. She had decided as he +played that she liked the kind best that made her think of +the birds and the sunny sky, rather than the wild whirlly kind +that seemed all a mad scramble. She meant to ask him to +play over again what he played at the beginning, but he +struck into a Scotch love ballad. The melody intoxicated +her fancy, and her face shone with pleasure. She had not +noticed the words particularly, save that they were of love, +and she thought with pain of David and Kate, and how the +pleading tenderness might have been his heart calling to +hers not to forget his love for her. But Harry Temple mistook +her expression for one of interest in himself. With his +eyes still upon hers, as a cat might mesmerize a bird, he +changed into a minor wail of heart-broken love, whose sadness +brought great tears to Marcia’s eyes, and deep color to +her already burning cheeks, while the music throbbed out her +own half-realized loneliness and sorrow. It was as if the +sounds painted for her a picture of what she had missed out +of love, and set her sorrow flowing tangibly.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The last note died away in an impressive diminuendo, and +the young man turned toward her. His eyes were languishing, +his voice gentle, persuasive, as though it had but been +the song come a little nearer.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“And that is the way I feel toward you, dear,”</span> he said, +and reached out his white hands to where hers lay forgotten +in her lap.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page158"></span><a name="pg158" id="pg158" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But his hands had scarcely touched hers, before Marcia +sprang back, in her haste knocking over the chair.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Erect, her hands snatched behind her, frightened, alert, +she stood a moment bewildered, all her fears to the front.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Ah! but he was used to shy maidens. He was not to be +baffled thus. A little coaxing, a little gentle persuasion, a +little boldness—that was all he needed. He had conquered +hearts before, why should he not this unsophisticated one?</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Don’t be afraid, dear; there is no one about. And surely +there is no harm in telling you I love you, and letting you +comfort my poor broken heart to think that I have found you +too late—”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He had arisen and with a passionate gesture put his arms +about Marcia and before she could know what was coming +had pressed a kiss upon her lips.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But she was aroused now. Every angry force within her +was fully awake. Every sense of right and justice inherited +and taught came flocking forward. Horror unspeakable +filled her, and wrath, that such a dreadful thing should come +to her. There was no time to think. She brought her +two strong supple hands up and beat him in the face, mouth, +cheeks, and eyes, with all her might, until he turned blinded; +and then she struggled away crying, <span class="tei tei-q">“You are a wicked +man!”</span> and fled from the room.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Out through the hall she sped to the kitchen, and flinging +wide the door before her, the nearest one at hand, she fairly +flew down the garden walk, past the nodding dahlias, past the +basking pumpkins, past the whispering corn, down through +the berry bushes, at the lower end of the lot, and behind the +currant bushes. She crouched a moment looking back to see +if she were pursued. Then imagining she heard a noise from +the open door, she scrambled over the low back fence, the +high comb with which her hair was fastened falling out +unheeded behind her, and all her dark waves of hair coming +about her shoulders in wild disarray.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page159"></span><a name="pg159" id="pg159" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She was in a field of wheat now, and the tall shocks were +like waves all about her, thick and close, kissing her as she +passed with their bended stalks. Ahead of her it looked like +an endless sea to cross before she could reach another fence, +and a bare field, and then another fence and the woods. She +knew not that in her wake she left a track as clear as if she +had set up signals all along the way. She felt that the kind +wheat would flow back like real waves and hide the way she +had passed over. She only sped on, to the woods. In all +the wide world there seemed no refuge but the woods. The +woods were home to her. She loved the tall shadows, the +whispering music in the upper branches, the quiet places +underneath, the hushed silence like a city of refuge with cool +wings whereunder to hide. And to it, as her only friend, she +was hastening. She went to the woods as she would have +flown to the minister’s wife at home, if she only had been +near, and buried her face in her lap and sobbed out her horror +and shame. Breathless she sped, without looking once behind +her, now over the next fence and still another. They +were nothing to her. She forgot that she was wearing Kate’s +special sprigged muslin, and that it might tear on the rough +fences. She forgot that she was a matron and must not run +wild through strange fields. She forgot that some one might +be watching her. She forgot everything save that she must +get away and hide her poor shamed face.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">At last she reached the shelter of the woods, and, with one +wild furtive look behind her to assure herself that she was not +pursued, she flung herself into the lap of mother earth, and +buried her face in the soft moss at the foot of a tree. There +she sobbed out her horror and sorrow and loneliness, sobbed +until it seemed to her that her heart had gone out with great +shudders. Sobbed and sobbed and sobbed! For a time +she could not even think clearly. Her brain was confused +with the magnitude of what had come to her. She +tried to go over the whole happening that afternoon and see +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page160"></span><a name="pg160" id="pg160" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +if she might have prevented anything. She blamed herself +most unmercifully for listening to the foolish music and, too, +after her own suspicions had been aroused, though how could +she dream any man in his senses would do a thing like that! +Not even Captain Leavenworth would stoop to that, she +thought. Poor child! She knew so little of the world, and +her world had been kept so sweet and pure and free from +contamination. She turned cold at the thought of her +father’s anger if he should hear about this strange young +man. She felt sure he would blame her for allowing it. +He had tried to teach his girls that they must exercise +judgment and discretion, and surely, surely, she must have +failed in both or this would not have happened. Oh, why +had not the aunts come that afternoon! Why had they +not arrived before this man came! And yet, oh, horror! +if they had come after he was there! How disgusting he +seemed to her with his smirky smile, and slim white fingers! +How utterly unfit beside David did he seem to breathe the +same air even. David, her David—no, Kate’s David! Oh, +pity! What a pain the world was!</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There was nowhere to turn that she might find a trace of +comfort. For what would David say, and how could she ever +tell him? Would he find it out if she did not? What would +he think of her? Would he blame her? Oh, the agony of +it all! What would the aunts think of her! Ah! that was +worse than all, for even now she could see the tilt of +Aunt Hortense’s head, and the purse of Aunt Amelia’s lips. +How dreadful if they should have to know of it. They +would not believe her, unless perhaps Aunt Clarinda might. +She did not look wise, but she seemed kind and loving. If +it had not been for the other two she might have fled to +Aunt Clarinda. Oh, if she might but flee home to her +father’s house! How could she ever go back to David’s +house! How could she ever play on that dreadful piano +again? She would always see that hateful, smiling face +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page161"></span><a name="pg161" id="pg161" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +sitting there and think how he had looked at her. Then she +shuddered and sobbed harder than ever. And mother earth, +true to all her children, received the poor child with open +arms. There she lay upon the resinous pine needles, at the +foot of the tall trees, and the trees looked down tenderly +upon her and consulted in whispers with their heads bent +together. The winds blew sweetness from the buckwheat +fields in the valley about her, murmuring delicious music in +the air above her, and even the birds hushed their loud voices +and peeped curiously at the tired, sorrowful creature of another +kind that had come among them.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia’s overwrought nerves were having their revenge. +Tears had their way until she was worn out, and then the +angel of sleep came down upon her. There upon the pine-needle +bed, with tear-wet cheeks she lay, and slept like a tired +child come home to its mother from the tumult of the world.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Harry Temple, recovering from his rebuff, and left alone in +the parlor, looked about him with surprise. Never before +in all his short and brilliant career as a heart breaker had he +met with the like, and this from a mere child! He could +not believe his senses! She must have been in play. He +would sit still and presently she would come back with eyes +full of mischief and beg his pardon. But even as he sat +down to wait her coming, something told him he was mistaken +and that she would not come. There had been something +beside mischief in the smart raps whose tingle even now his +cheeks and lips felt. The house, too, had grown strangely +hushed as though no one else besides himself were in it. She +must have gone out. Perhaps she had been really frightened +and would tell somebody! How awkward if she should presently +return with one of those grim aunts, or that solemn +puritan-like husband of hers. Perhaps he had better decamp +while the coast was still clear. She did not seem to be returning +and there was no telling what the little fool might do.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">With a deliberation which suddenly became feverish in his +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page162"></span><a name="pg162" id="pg162" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +haste to be away, he compelled himself to walk slowly, nonchalantly +out through the hall. Still as a thief he opened and +closed the front door and got himself down the front steps, +but not so still but that a quick ear caught the sound of the +latch as it flew back into place, and the scrape of a boot on +the path; and not so invisibly nor so quickly but that a pair +of keen eyes saw him.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">When Harry Temple had made his way toward the Spafford +house that afternoon, with his dauntless front and conceited +smile, Miranda had been sent out to pick raspberries along +the fence that separated the Heath garden from the Spafford +garden.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Harry Temple was too new in the town not to excite +comment among the young girls wherever he might go, and +Miranda was always having her eye out for anything new. +Not for herself! Bless you! no! Miranda never expected +anything from a young man for herself, but she was keenly +interested in what befell other girls.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">So Miranda, crouched behind the berry bushes, watched +Harry Temple saunter down the street and saw with surprise +that he stopped at the house of her new admiration. +Now, although Marcia was a married woman, Miranda felt +pleased that she should have the attention of others, and a +feeling of pride in her idol, and of triumph over her cousin +Hannah that he had not stopped to see her, swelled in her +brown calico breast.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She managed to bring her picking as near to the region +of the Spafford parlor windows as possible, and much did her +ravished ear delight itself in the music that tinkled through +the green shaded window, for Miranda had tastes that were +greatly appealed to by the gay dance music. She fancied +that her idol was the player. But then she heard a man’s +voice, and her picking stopped short insomuch that her grandmother’s +strident tones mingled with the liquid tenor of Mr. +Temple, calling to Miranda to <span class="tei tei-q">“be spry there or the sun’ll +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page163"></span><a name="pg163" id="pg163" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +catch you ’fore you get a quart.”</span> All at once the music +ceased, and then in a minute or two Miranda heard the Spafford +kitchen door thrown violently open and saw Marcia +rush forth.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She gazed in astonishment, too surprised to call out to her, +or to remember to keep on picking for a moment. She +watched her as she fairly flew down between the rows of +currant bushes, saw the comb fly from her hair, saw the glow +of excitement on her cheek, and the fire in her eye, saw her +mount the first fence. Then suddenly a feeling of protection +arose within her, and, with a hasty glance toward her grandmother’s +window to satisfy herself that no one else saw the +flying figure, she fell to picking with all her might, but what +went into her pail, whether raspberries or green leaves or +briars, she did not know. Her eyes were on the flying figure +through the wheat, and she progressed in her picking very +fast toward the lower end of the lot where nothing but runty +old sour berries ever grew, if any at all. Once hidden behind +the tall corn that grew between her and her grandmother’s +vigilant gaze, she hastened to the end of the lot and watched +Marcia; watched her as she climbed the fences, held her +breath at the daring leaps from the top rails, expecting to see +the delicate muslin catch on the rough fence and send the flying +figure to the ground senseless perhaps. It was like a +theatre to Miranda, this watching the beautiful girl in her +flight, the long dark hair in the wind, the graceful untrammeled +bounds. Miranda watched with unveiled admiration +until the dark of the green-blue wood had swallowed her up, +then slowly her eyes traveled back over the path which Marcia +had taken, back through the meadow and the wheat, to the +kitchen door left standing wide. Slowly, painfully, Miranda +set herself to understand it. Something had happened! +That was flight with fear behind it, fear that left everything +else forgotten. What had happened?</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Miranda was wiser in her generation than Marcia. She +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page164"></span><a name="pg164" id="pg164" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +began to put two and two together. Her brows darkened, +and a look of cunning came into her honest blue eyes. +Stealthily she crept with cat-like quickness along the fence +near to the front, and there she stood like a red-haired +Nemesis in a sunbonnet, with irate red face, confronting the +unsuspecting man as he sauntered forth from the unwelcoming +roof where he had whiled away a mistaken hour.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“What you ben sayin’ to her?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It was as if a serpent had stung him, so unexpected, so +direct. He jumped aside and turned deadly pale. She knew +her chance arrow had struck the truth. But he recovered +himself almost immediately when he saw what a harmless +looking creature had attacked him.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Why, my dear girl,”</span> he said patronizingly, <span class="tei tei-q">“you quite +startled me! I’m sure you must have made some mistake!”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“I ain’t your girl, thank goodness!”</span> snapped Miranda, +<span class="tei tei-q">“and I guess by your looks there ain’t anybody ‘dear’ to +you but yourself. But I ain’t made a mistake. It’s you I +was asking. <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">What you bin in there for?</span></span>”</span> There was a blaze +of defiance in Miranda’s eyes, and her stubby forefinger +pointed at him like a shotgun. Before her the bold black +eyes quailed for an instant. The young man’s hand sought +his pocket, brought out a piece of money and extended it.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Look here, my friend,”</span> he said trying another line, <span class="tei tei-q">“you +take this and say nothing more about it. That’s a good girl. +No harm’s been done.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Miranda looked him in the face with noble scorn, and with +a sudden motion of her brown hand sent the coin flying on +the stone pavement.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“I tell you I’m not your friend, and I don’t want your +money. I wouldn’t trust its goodness any more than your +face. As fer keepin’ still I’ll do as I see fit about it. I +intend to know what this means, and if you’ve made <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">her</span></span> +any trouble you’d better leave this town, for I’ll make it too +unpleasant fer you to stay here!”</span></p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page165"></span><a name="pg165" id="pg165" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">With a stealthy glance about him, cautious, concerned, the +young man suddenly hurried down the street. He wanted +no more parley with this loud-voiced avenging maiden. His +fear came back upon him in double force, and he was seen to +glance at his watch and quicken his pace almost to a run as +though a forgotten engagement had suddenly come to mind. +Miranda, scowling, stood and watched him disappear around +the corner, then she turned back and began to pick raspberries +with a diligence that would have astonished her grandmother +had she not been for the last hour engaged with a +calling neighbor in the room at the other side of the house, +where they were overhauling the character of a fellow church +member.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Miranda picked on, and thought on, and could not make up +her mind what she ought to do. From time to time she +glanced anxiously toward the woods, and then at the lowering +sun in the West, and half meditated going after Marcia, +but a wholesome fear of her grandmother held her hesitating.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">At length she heard a firm step coming down the street. +Could it be? Yes, it was David Spafford. How was it he +happened to come home so soon? Miranda had heard in a +round-about-way, as neighbors hear and know these things, +that David had taken the stage that morning, presumably on +business to New York, and was hardly expected to return for +several days. She had wondered if Marcia would stay all +night alone in the house or if she would go to the aunts. +But now here was David!</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Miranda looked again over the wheat, half expecting to +see the flying figure returning in haste, but the parted wheat +waved on and sang its song of the harvest, unmindful and +alone, with only a fluttering butterfly to give life to the landscape. +A little rusty-throated cricket piped a doleful sentence +now and then between the silences.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David Spafford let himself in at his own door, and went in +search of Marcia.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page166"></span><a name="pg166" id="pg166" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He wanted to find Marcia for a purpose. The business +which had taken him away in the morning, and which he had +hardly expected to accomplish before late that night, had been +partly transacted at a little tavern where the coach horses +had been changed that morning, and where he had met most +unexpectedly the two men whom he had been going to see, +who were coming straight to his town. So he turned him +back with them and came home, and they were at this minute +attending to some other business in the town, while he had +come home to announce to Marcia that they would take supper +with him and perhaps spend the night.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia was nowhere to be found. He went upstairs and +timidly knocked at her door, but no answer came. Then he +thought she might be asleep and knocked louder, but only the +humming-bird in the honeysuckle outside her window sent +back a little humming answer through the latch-hole. Finally +he ventured to open the door and peep in, but he saw that +quiet loneliness reigned there.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He went downstairs again and searched in the pantry and +kitchen and then stood still. The back door was stretched +open as though it had been thrown back in haste. He followed +its suggestion and went out, looking down the little +brick path that led to the garden. Ah! what was that? +Something gleamed in the sun with a spot of blue behind +it. The bit of blue ribbon she had worn at her throat, with +a tiny gold brooch unclasped sticking in.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Miranda caught sight of him coming, and crouched behind +the currants.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David came on searching the path on every side. A bit +of a branch had been torn from a succulent, tender plant that +leaned over the path and was lying in the way. It seemed +another blaze along the trail. Further down where the bushes +almost met a single fragment of a thread waved on a thorn +as though it had snatched for more in the passing and had +caught only this. David hardly knew whether he was following +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page167"></span><a name="pg167" id="pg167" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +these little things or not, but at any rate they were +apparently not leading him anywhere for he stopped abruptly +in front of the fence and looked both ways behind the bushes +that grew along in front of it. Then he turned to go back +again. Miranda held her breath. Something touched David’s +foot in turning, and, looking down, he saw Marcia’s large shell +comb lying there in the grass. Curiously he picked it up +and examined it. It was like finding fragments of a wreck +along the sand.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">All at once Miranda arose from her hiding place and confronted +him timidly. She was not the same Miranda who +came down upon Harry Temple, however.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“She ain’t in the house,”</span> she said hoarsely. <span class="tei tei-q">“She’s gone +over there!”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David Spafford turned surprised.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Is that you, Miranda? Oh, thank you! Where do you +say she has gone? Where?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Through there, don’t you see?”</span> and again the stubby +forefinger pointed to the rift in the wheat.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David gazed stupidly at the path in the wheat, but gradually +it began to dawn upon him that there was a distinct line +through it where some one must have gone.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Yes, I see,”</span> he said thinking aloud, <span class="tei tei-q">“but why should she +have gone there? There is nothing over there.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“She went on further, she went to the woods,”</span> said +Miranda, looking fearfully around lest even now her grandmother +might be upon her, <span class="tei tei-q">“and she was scared, I guess. +She looked it. Her hair all come tumblin’ down when she +clum the fence, an’ she just went flyin’ over like some bird, +didn’t care a feather if she did fall, an’ she never oncet looked +behind her till she come to the woods.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David’s bewilderment was growing uncomfortable. There +was a shade of alarm in his face and of the embarrassment +one feels when a neighbor divulges news about a member of +one’s own household.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page168"></span><a name="pg168" id="pg168" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Why, surely, Miranda, you must be mistaken. Maybe it +was some one else you saw. I do not think Mrs. Spafford +would be likely to run over there that way, and what in the +world would she have to be frightened at?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“No, I ain’t mistaken,”</span> said Miranda half sullenly, nettled +at his unbelief. <span class="tei tei-q">“It was her all right. She came flyin’ out +the kitchen door when I was picking raspberries, and down +that path to the fence, and never stopped fer fence ner wheat, +ner medder lot, but went into them woods there, right up to +the left of them tall pines, and she,—she looked plum scared +to death ’s if a whole circus menagerie was after her, lions +and ’nelefunts an’ all. An’ I guess she had plenty to be +scared at ef I ain’t mistaken. That dandy Temple feller +went there to call on her, an’ I heard him tinklin’ that music +box, and its my opinion he needs a wallupin’! You better +go after her! It’s gettin’ late and you’ll have hard times +finding her in the dark. Just you foller her path in the +wheat, and then make fer them pines. I’d a gone after her +myself only grandma’d make sech a fuss, and hev to know it +all. You needn’t be afraid o’ me. I’ll keep still.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">By this time David was thoroughly alive to the situation +and much alarmed. He mounted the fence with alacrity, gave +one glance with <span class="tei tei-q">“thank you”</span> at Miranda, and disappeared +through the wheat, Miranda watched him till she was sure +he was making for the right spot, then with a sigh of relief +she hastened into the house with her now brimming pail of +berries.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div id="MS15" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page169"></span><a name="pg169" id="pg169" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<a name="toc30" id="toc30"></a> +<a name="pdf31" id="pdf31"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"> + <span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER XV</span></span> +</h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">As David made his way with rapid strides through the +rippling wheat, he experienced a series of sensations. For +the first time since his wedding day he was aroused to entirely +forget himself and his pain. What did it mean? Marcia +frightened! What at? Harry Temple at their house! What +did he know of Harry Temple? Nothing beyond the mere +fact that Hannah Heath had introduced him and that he was +doing business in the town. But why had Mr. Temple +visited the house? He could have no possible business with +himself, David was sure; moreover he now remembered having +seen the young man standing near the stable that morning +when he took his seat in the coach, and knew that he must +have heard his remark that he would not return till the late +coach that night, or possibly not till the next day. He remembered +as he said it that he had unconsciously studied +Mr. Temple’s face and noted its weak points. Did the young +man then have a purpose in coming to the house during his +absence? A great anger rose within him at the thought.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There was one strange thing about David’s thoughts. For +the first time he looked at himself in the light of Marcia’s +natural protector—her husband. He suddenly saw a duty +from himself to her, aside from the mere feeding and clothing +her. He felt a personal responsibility, and an actual +interest in her. Out of the whole world, now, he was the +only one she could look to for help.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It gave him a feeling of possession that was new, and +almost seemed pleasant. He forgot entirely the errand that +had made him come to search for Marcia in the first place, +and the two men who were probably at that moment preparing +to go to his house according to their invitation. He forgot +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page170"></span><a name="pg170" id="pg170" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +everything but Marcia, and strode into the purply-blue +shadows of the wood and stopped to listen.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The hush there seemed intense. There were no echoes +lingering of flying feet down that pine-padded pathway of +the aisle of the woods. It was long since he had had time to +wander in the woods, and he wondered at their silence. So +much whispering above, the sky so far away, the breeze so +quiet, the bird notes so subdued, it seemed almost uncanny. +He had not remembered that it was thus in the woods. It +struck him in passing that here would be a good place to +bring his pain some day when he had time to face it again, +and wished to be alone with it.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He took his hat in his hand and stepped firmly into the +vast solemnity as if he had entered a great church when +the service was going on, on an errand of life and death that +gave excuse for profaning the holy silence. He went a few +paces and stopped again, listening. Was that a long-drawn +sighing breath he heard, or only the wind soughing through +the waving tassels overhead? He summoned his voice to call. +It seemed a great effort, and sounded weak and feeble under +the grandeur of the vaulted green dome. <span class="tei tei-q">“Marcia!”</span> he +called,—and <span class="tei tei-q">“Marcia!”</span> realizing as he did so that it was the +first time he had called her by her name, or sought after her +in any way. He had always said <span class="tei tei-q">“you”</span> to her, or <span class="tei tei-q">“child,”</span> +or spoken of her in company as <span class="tei tei-q">“Mrs. Spafford,”</span> a strange +and far-off mythical person whose very intangibility had +separated her from himself immeasurably.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He went further into the forest, called again, and yet again, +and stood to listen. All was still about him, but in the far +distance he heard the faint report of a gun. With a new +thought of danger coming to mind he hurried further into +the shadows. The gun sounded again more clearly. He +shuddered involuntarily and looked about in all directions, +hoping to see the gleam of her gown. It was not likely there +were any wild beasts about these parts, so near the town and +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page171"></span><a name="pg171" id="pg171" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +yet, they had been seen occasionally,—a stray fox, or even a +bear,—and the sun was certainly very low. He glanced back, +and the low line of the horizon gleamed the gold of intensified +shining that is the sun’s farewell for the night. The gun +again! Stray shots had been known to kill people wandering +in the forest. He was growing nervous as a woman now, and +went this way and that calling, but still no answer came. +He began to think he was not near the clump of pines of +which Miranda spoke, and went a little to the right and then +turned to look back to where he had entered the wood, and +there, almost at his feet, she lay!</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She slept as soundly as if she had been lying on a couch +of velvet, one round white arm under her cheek. Her face +was flushed with weeping, and her lashes still wet. Her tender, +sensitive mouth still quivered slightly as she gave a long-drawn +breath with a catch in it that seemed like a sob, and +all her lovely dark hair floated about her as if it were spread +upon a wave that upheld her. She was beautiful indeed as she +lay there sleeping, and the man, thus suddenly come upon +her, anxious and troubled and every nerve quivering, stopped, +awed with the beauty of her as if she had been some heavenly +being suddenly confronting him. He stepped softly to her +side and bending down observed her, first anxiously, to make +sure she was alive and safe, then searchingly, as though he +would know every detail of the picture there before him +because it was his, and he not only had a right but a duty to +possess it, and to care for it.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She might have been a statue or a painting as he looked +upon her and noted the lovely curve of her flushed cheek, +but when his eyes reached the firm little brown hand and the +slender finger on which gleamed the wedding ring that was +not really hers, something pathetic in the tear-wet lashes, +and the whole sorrowful, beautiful figure, touched him with a +great tenderness, and he stooped down gently and put his +arm about her.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page172"></span><a name="pg172" id="pg172" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Marcia,—child!”</span> he said in a low, almost crooning voice, +as one might wake a baby from its sleep, <span class="tei tei-q">“Marcia, open your +eyes, child, and tell me if you are all right.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">At first she only stirred uneasily and slept on, the sleep +of utter exhaustion; but he raised her, and, sitting down beside +her, put her head upon his shoulder, speaking gently. Then +Marcia opened her eyes bewildered, and with a start, sprang +back and looked at David, as though she would be sure it +was he and not that other dreadful man from whom she had +fled.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Why, child! What’s the matter?”</span> said David, brushing +her hair back from her face. Bewildered still, Marcia scarcely +knew him, his voice was so strangely sweet and sympathetic. +The tears were coming back, but she could not stop them. +She made one effort to control herself and speak, but her lips +quivered a moment, and then the flood-gates opened again, +and she covered her face with her hands and shook with sobs. +How could she tell David what a dreadful thing had happened, +now, when he was kinder to her than he had ever +thought of being before! He would grow grave and stern +when she had told him, and she could not bear that. He +would likely blame her too, and how could she endure more?</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But he drew her to him again and laid her head against his +coat, trying to smooth her hair with unaccustomed passes +of his hand. By and by the tears subsided and she could +control herself again. She hushed her sobs and drew back a +little from the comforting rough coat where she had lain.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Indeed, indeed, I could not help it, David,”</span>—she faltered, +trying to smile like a bit of rainbow through the rain.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“I know you couldn’t, child.”</span> His answer was wonderfully +kind and his eyes smiled at her as they had never done +before. Her heart gave a leap of astonishment and fluttered +with gladness over it. It was so good to have David care. +She had not known how much she wanted him to speak to her +as if he saw her and thought a little about her.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page173"></span><a name="pg173" id="pg173" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“And now what was it? Remember I do not know. Tell +me quick, for it is growing late and damp, and you will take +cold out here in the woods with that thin frock on. You +are chilly already.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“I better go at once,”</span> she said reservedly, willing to put +off the telling as long as possible, peradventure to avoid it +altogether.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“No, child,”</span> he said firmly drawing her back again beside +him, <span class="tei tei-q">“you must rest a minute yet before taking that long +walk. You are weary and excited, and besides it will do you +good to tell me. What made you run off up here? Are you +homesick?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He scanned her face anxiously. He began to fear with +sudden compunction that the sacrifice he had accepted so +easily had been too much for the victim, and it suddenly +began to be a great comfort to him to have Marcia with him, +to help him hide his sorrow from the world. He did not +know before that he cared.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“I was frightened,”</span> she said, with drooping lashes. She +was trying to keep her lips and fingers from trembling, for she +feared greatly to tell him all. But though the woods were +growing dusky he saw the fluttering little fingers and gathered +them firmly in his own.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Now, child,”</span> he said in that tone that even his aunts +obeyed, <span class="tei tei-q">“tell me all. What frightened you, and why did you +come up here away from everybody instead of calling for +help?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Brought to bay she lifted her beautiful eyes to his face +and told him briefly the story, beginning with the night when +she had first met Harry Temple. She said as little about +music as possible, because she feared that the mention of the +piano might be painful to David, but she made the whole +matter quite plain in a few words, so that David could readily +fill in between the lines.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Scoundrel!”</span> he murmured clenching his fists, <span class="tei tei-q">“he ought +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page174"></span><a name="pg174" id="pg174" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +to be strung up!”</span> Then quite gently again, <span class="tei tei-q">“Poor child! +How frightened you must have been! You did right to run +away, but it was a dangerous thing to run out here! Why, he +might have followed you!”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Oh!”</span> said Marcia, turning pale, <span class="tei tei-q">“I never thought of +that. I only wanted to get away from everybody. It seemed +so dreadful I did not want anybody to know. I did not want +you to know. I wanted to run away and hide, and never +come back!”</span> She covered her face with her hands and +shuddered. David thought the tears were coming back again.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Child, child!”</span> he said gently, <span class="tei tei-q">“you must not talk that +way. What would I do if you did that?”</span> and he laid his +hand softly upon the bowed head.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It was the first time that anything like a personal talk +had passed between them, and Marcia felt a thrill of delight +at his words. It was like heavenly comfort to her wounded +spirit.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She stole a shy look at him under her lashes, and wished +she dared say something, but no words came. They sat for a +moment in silence, each feeling a sort of comforting sense +of the other’s presence, and each clasping the hand of the +other with clinging pressure, yet neither fully aware of the +fact.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The last rays of the sun which had been lying for a while +at their feet upon the pine needles suddenly slipped away unperceived, +and behold! the world was in gloom, and the place +where the two sat was almost utterly dark. David became +aware of it first, and with sudden remembrance of his expected +guests he started in dismay.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Child!”</span> said he,—but he did not let go of her hand, +nor forget to put the tenderness in his voice, <span class="tei tei-q">“the sun has +gone down, and here have I been forgetting what I came to +tell you in the astonishment over what you had to tell me. +We must hurry and get back. We have guests to-night to +supper, two gentlemen, very distinguished in their lines of +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page175"></span><a name="pg175" id="pg175" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +work. We have business together, and I must make haste. +I doubt not they are at the house already, and what they think +of me I cannot tell; let us hurry as fast as possible.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, David!”</span> she said in dismay. <span class="tei tei-q">“And you had to +come out here after me, and have stayed so long! What a +foolish girl I have been and what a mess I have made! They +will perhaps be angry and go away, and I will be to blame. +I am afraid you can never forgive me.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Don’t worry, child,”</span> he said pleasantly. <span class="tei tei-q">“It couldn’t +be helped, you know, and is in no wise your fault. I am +only sorry that these two gentlemen will delay me in the +pleasure of hunting up that scoundrel of a Temple and suggesting +that he leave town by the early morning stage. I +should like to give him what Miranda suggested, a good +‘wallupin’,’ but perhaps that would be undignified.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He laughed as he said it, a hearty laugh with a ring to it +like his old self. Marcia felt happy at the sound. How +wonderful it would be if he would be like that to her all +the time! Her heart swelled with the great thought of it.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He helped her to her feet and taking her hand led her out +to the open field where they could walk faster. As he walked +he told her about Miranda waiting for him behind the currant +bushes. They laughed together and made the way seem +short.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It was quite dark now, with the faded moon trembling +feebly in the West as though it meant to retire early, and +wished they would hurry home while she held her light for +them. David had drawn Marcia’s arm within his, and then, +noticing that her dress was thin, he pulled off his coat +and put it firmly about her despite her protest that she did +not need it, and so, warmed, comforted, and cheered Marcia’s +feet hurried back over the path she had taken in such sorrow +and fright a few hours before.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">When they could see the lights of the village twinkling +close below them David began to tell her about the two men +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page176"></span><a name="pg176" id="pg176" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +who were to be their guests, if they were still waiting, and so +interesting was his brief story of each that Marcia hardly +knew they were at home before David was helping her over +their own back fence.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, David! There seems to be a light in the kitchen! +Do you suppose they have gone in and are getting their own +supper? What shall I do with my hair? I cannot go in +with it this way. How did that light get there?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Here!”</span> said David, fumbling in his pocket, <span class="tei tei-q">“will this +help you?”</span> and he brought out the shell comb he had picked +up in the garden.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">By the light of the feeble old moon David watched her +coil the long wavy hair and stood to pass his criticism upon +the effect before they should go in. They were just back of +the tall sunflowers, and talked in whispers. It was all so +cheery, and comradey, and merry, that Marcia hated to go +in and have it over, for she could not feel that this sweet evening +hour could last. Then they took hold of hands and +swiftly, cautiously, stole up to the kitchen window and looked +in. The door still stood open as both had left it that afternoon, +and there seemed to be no one in the kitchen. A candle +was burning on the high little shelf over the table, and the +<span class="tei tei-corr"><a name="E17" id="E17" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><a href="#e17" class="tei tei-ref">tea kettle</a></span> +was singing on the crane by the hearth, but the room +was without occupant. Cautiously, looking questioningly at +one another, they stole into the kitchen, each dreading lest +the aunts had come by chance and discovered their lapse. +There was a light in the front part of the house and they +could hear voices, two men were earnestly discussing politics. +They listened longer, but no other presence was revealed.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David in pantomime outlined the course of action, and +Marcia, understanding perfectly flew up the back stairs as +noiselessly as a mouse, to make her toilet after her nap in +the woods, while David with much show and to-do of opening +and shutting the wide-open kitchen door walked obviously +into the kitchen and hurried through to greet his guests +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page177"></span><a name="pg177" id="pg177" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +wondering,—not suspecting in the least,—what good angel +had been there to let them in.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Good fortune had favored Miranda. The neighbor had +<span class="tei tei-corr"><a name="E38" id="E38" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><a href="#e38" class="tei tei-ref">stayed</a></span> +longer than usual, perhaps in hopes of an invitation to +stay to tea and share in the gingerbread she could smell +being taken from the oven by Hannah, who occasionally +varied her occupations by a turn at the culinary art. Hannah +could make delicious gingerbread. Her grandmother had +taught her when she was but a child.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Miranda stole into the kitchen when Hannah’s back was +turned and picked over her berries so fast that when Hannah +came into the pantry to set her gingerbread to cool Miranda +had nearly all her berries in the big yellow bowl ready to +wash, and Hannah might conjecture if she pleased that +Miranda had been some time picking them over. It is not +stated just how thoroughly those berries were picked over. +But Miranda cared little for that. Her mind was upon other +things. The pantry window overlooked the hills and the +woods. She could see if David and Marcia were coming +back soon. She wanted to watch her play till the close, and +had no fancy for having the curtain fall in the middle of +the most exciting act, the rescue of the princess. But the +talk in the sitting room went on and on. By and by Hannah +Heath washed her hands, untied her apron, and taking her +sunbonnet slipped over to Ann Bertram’s for a pattern of +her new sleeve. Miranda took the opportunity to be off +again.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Swiftly down behind the currants she ran, and standing on +the fence behind the corn she looked off across the wheat, +but no sign of anybody yet coming out of the woods was +granted her. She stood so a long time. It was growing +dusk. She wondered if Harry Temple had shut the front +door when he went out. But then David went in that way, +and he would have closed it, of course. Still, he went away +in a hurry, maybe it would be as well to go and look. She +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page178"></span><a name="pg178" id="pg178" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +did not wish to be caught by her grandmother, so she stole +along like a cat close to the dark berry bushes, and the gathering +dusk hid her well. She thought she could see from the +front of the fence whether the door looked as if it were +closed. But there were people coming up the street. She +would wait till they had passed before she looked over the +fence.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">They were two men coming, slowly, and in earnest conversation +upon some deeply interesting theme. Each carried +a heavy carpet-bag, and they walked wearily, as if their business +were nearly over for the day and they were coming to +a place of rest.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“This must be the house, I think,”</span> said one. <span class="tei tei-q">“He said +it was exactly opposite the Seceder church. That’s the +church, I believe. I was here once before.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“There doesn’t seem to be a light in the house,”</span> said the +other, looking up to the windows over the street. <span class="tei tei-q">“Are you +sure? Brother Spafford said he was coming directly home to +let his wife know of our arrival.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“A little strange there’s no light yet, for it is quite dark +now, but I’m sure this must be the house. Maybe they are +all in the kitchen and not expecting us quite so soon. Let’s +try anyhow,”</span> said the other, setting down his carpet-bag on +the stoop and lifting the big brass knocker.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Miranda stood still debating but a moment. The situation +was made plain to her in an instant. Not for nothing had +she stood at Grandma Heath’s elbow for years watching the +movements of her neighbors and interpreting exactly what +they meant. Miranda’s wits were sharpened for situations +of all kinds. Miranda was ready and loyal to those she +adored. Without further ado she hastened to a sheltered +spot she knew and climbed the picket fence which separated +the Heath garden from the Spafford side yard. Before the +brass knocker had sounded through the empty house the +second time Miranda had crossed the side porch, thrown her +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page179"></span><a name="pg179" id="pg179" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +sunbonnet upon a chair in the dark kitchen, and was hastening +with noisy, encouraging steps to the front door.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She flung it wide open, saying in a breezy voice, <span class="tei tei-q">“Just +wait till I get a light, won’t you, the wind blew the candle +out.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There wasn’t a particle of wind about that soft September +night, but that made little difference to Miranda. She was +part of a play and she was acting her best. If her impromptu +part was a little irregular, it was at least well meant, boldly +and bravely presented.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Miranda found a candle on the shelf and, stooping to the +smouldering fire upon the hearth, blew and coaxed it into +flame enough to light it.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“This is Mr. Spafford’s home, is it not?”</span> questioned the +old gentleman whom Miranda had heard speak first on the +sidewalk.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, yes, indeed,”</span> said the girl glibly. <span class="tei tei-q">“Jest come in +and set down. Here, let me take your hats. Jest put your +bags right there on the floor.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“You are— Are you—Mrs. Spafford?”</span> hesitated the +courtly old gentleman.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, landy sakes, no, I ain’t her,”</span> laughed Miranda well +pleased. <span class="tei tei-q">“Mis’ Spafford had jest stepped out a bit when +her husband come home, an’ he’s gone after her. You see she +didn’t expect her husband home till late to-night. But you +set down. They’ll be home real soon now. They’d oughter +ben here before this. I ’spose she’d gone on further’n she +thought she’d go when she stepped out.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“It’s all right,”</span> said the other gentleman, <span class="tei tei-q">“no harm done, +I’m sure. I hope we shan’t inconvenience Mrs. Spafford any +coming so unexpectedly.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“No, indeedy!”</span> said quick-witted Miranda. <span class="tei tei-q">“You can’t +ketch Mis’ Spafford unprepared if you come in the middle o’ +the night. She’s allus ready fer comp’ny.”</span> Miranda’s eyes +shone. She felt she was getting on finely doing the honors.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page180"></span><a name="pg180" id="pg180" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Well, that’s very nice. I’m sure it makes one feel at +home. I wonder now if she would mind if we were to go +right up to our room and wash our hands. I feel so travel-stained. +I’d like to be more presentable before we meet her,”</span> +said the first gentleman, who looked very weary.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But Miranda was not dashed.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Why, that’s all right. ’Course you ken go right up. Jest +you set in the keepin’ room a minnit while I run up’n be +sure the water pitcher’s filled. I ain’t quite sure ’bout it. +I won’t be long.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Miranda seated them in the parlor with great gusto and +hastened up the back stairs to investigate. She was not at all +sure which room would be called the guest room and whether +the two strangers would have a room apiece or occupy the +same together. At least it would be safe to show them one +till the mistress of the house returned. She peeped into +Marcia’s room, and knew it instinctively before she caught +sight of a cameo brooch on the pin cushion, and a rose +colored ribbon neatly folded lying on the foot of the bed +where it had been forgotten. That question settled, she +thought any other room would do, and chose the large front +room across the hall with its high four-poster and the little +ball fringe on the valance and canopy. Having lighted the +candle which stood in a tall glass candlestick on the high +chest of drawers, she hurried down to bid her guests come up.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Then she hastened back into the kitchen and went to work +with swift skilful fingers. Her breath came quickly and her +cheeks grew red with the excitement of it all. It was like +playing fairy. She would get supper for them and have +everything all ready when the mistress came, so that there +would be no bad breaks. She raked the fire and filled the +tea kettle, swinging it from the crane. Then she searched +where she thought such things should be and found a table +cloth and set the table. Her hands trembled as she put out +the sprigged china that was kept in the corner cupboard. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page181"></span><a name="pg181" id="pg181" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Perhaps this was wrong, and she would be blamed for it, but +at least it was what she would have done, she thought, if she +were mistress of this house and had two nice gentlemen come +to stay to tea. It was not often that Grandmother Heath +allowed her to handle her sprigged china, to be sure, so +Miranda felt the joy and daring of it all the more. Once a +delicate cup slipped and rolled over on the table and almost +reached the edge. A little more and it would have rolled off +to the floor and been shivered into a dozen fragments, but +Miranda spread her apron in front and caught it fairly as +it started and then hugged it in fear and delight for a moment +as she might have done a baby that had been in danger. It +was a great pleasure to her to set that table. In the first +place she was not doing it to order but because she wanted +to please and surprise some one whom she adored, and in the +second place it was an adventure. Miranda had longed for +an adventure all her life and now she thought it had come +to her.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">When the table was set it looked very pretty. She slipped +into the pantry and searched out the stores. It was not hard +to find all that was needed; cold ham, cheese, pickles, seed +cakes, gingerbread, fruit cake, preserves and jelly, bread and +raised biscuit, then she went down cellar and found the milk +and cream and butter. She had just finished the table and +set out the tea pot and caddy of tea when she heard the two +gentlemen coming down the stairs. They went into the +parlor and sat down, remarking that their friend had a +pleasant home, and then Miranda heard them plunge into a +political discussion again and she felt that they were safe for +a while. She stole out into the dewy dark to see if there were +yet signs of the home-comers. A screech owl hooted across +the night. She stood a while by the back fence looking out +across the dark sea of whispering wheat. By and by she +thought she heard subdued voices above the soft swish of +the parting wheat, and by the light of the stars she saw +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page182"></span><a name="pg182" id="pg182" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +them coming. Quick as a wink she slid over the fence into +the Heath back-yard and crouched in her old place behind +the currant bushes. So she saw them come up together, saw +David help Marcia over the fence and watched them till they +had passed up the walk to the light of the kitchen door. Then +swiftly she turned and glided to her own home, well knowing +the reckoning that would be in store for her for this daring +bit of recreation. There was about her, however, an air of +triumphant joy as she entered.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Where have you ben to, Miranda Griscom, and what on +airth you ben up to now?”</span> was the greeting she received as +she lifted the latch of the old green kitchen door of her +grandmother’s house.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Miranda knew that the worst was to come now, for her +grandmother never mentioned the name of Griscom unless +she meant business. It was a hated name to her because of +the man who had broken the heart of her daughter. Grandma +Heath always felt that Miranda was an out and out Griscom +with not a streak of Heath about her. The Griscoms all had +red hair. But Miranda lifted her chin high and felt like a +princess in disguise.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Ben huntin’ hen’s eggs down in the grass,”</span> she said, +taking the first excuse that came into her head. <span class="tei tei-q">“Is it time +to get supper?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Hen’s eggs! This time o’ night an’ dark as pitch. +Miranda Griscom, you ken go up to your room an’ not come +down tell I call you!”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It was a dire punishment, or would have been if Miranda +had not had her head full of other things, for the neighbor +had been asked to tea and there would have been much to hear +at the table. Besides, it was apparent that her disgrace was +to be made public. However, Miranda did not care. She +hastened to her little attic window, which looked down, as +good fortune would have it, upon the dining-room windows +of the Spafford house. With joy Miranda observed that no +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page183"></span><a name="pg183" id="pg183" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +one had thought to draw down the shades and she might sit +and watch the supper served over the way,—the supper she +had prepared,—and might think how delectable the doughnuts +were, and let her mouth water over the currant jelly and +the quince preserves and pretend she was a guest, and forget +the supper downstairs she was missing.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div id="MS16" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page184"></span><a name="pg184" id="pg184" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<a name="toc32" id="toc32"></a> +<a name="pdf33" id="pdf33"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"> + <span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER XVI</span></span> +</h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David made what apology he could for his absence on the +arrival of his guests, and pondered in his heart who it could +have been that they referred to as <span class="tei tei-q">“the maid,”</span> until he suddenly +remembered Miranda, and inwardly blessed her for her +kindliness. It was more than he would have expected from +any member of the Heath household. Miranda’s honest face +among the currant bushes when she had said, <span class="tei tei-q">“You needn’t +be afraid of me, I’ll keep still,”</span> came to mind. Miranda had +evidently scented out the true state of the case and filled in +the breach, taking care not to divulge a word. He blest her +kindly heart and resolved to show his gratitude to her in +some way. Could poor Miranda, sitting supperless in the +dark, have but known his thought, her lonely heart would +have fluttered happily. But she did not, and virtue had to +bring its own reward in a sense of duty done. Then, too, +there was a spice of adventure to Miranda’s monotonous life +in what she had done, and she was not altogether sad as she +sat and let her imagination revel in what the Spaffords had +said and thought, when they found the house lighted and +supper ready. It was better than playing house down behind +the barn when she was a little girl.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia was the most astonished when she slipped down +from her hurried toilet and found the table decked out in all +the house afforded, fairly groaning under its weight of pickles, +preserves, doughnuts, and pie. In fact, everything that +Miranda had found she had put upon that table, and it is +safe to say that the result was not quite as it would have +been had the preparation of the supper been left to Marcia.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She stood before it and looked, and could not keep from +laughing softly to herself at the array of little dishes of +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page185"></span><a name="pg185" id="pg185" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +things. Marcia thought at first that one of the aunts must +be here, in the parlor, probably entertaining the guests, and +that the supper was a reproof to her for being away when +she should have been at home attending to her duties, but +still she was puzzled. It scarcely seemed like the aunts to +set a table in such a peculiar manner. The best china was +set out, it is true, but so many little bits of things were in +separate dishes. There was half a mould of currant jelly in +a large china plate, there was a fresh mould of quince jelly +quivering on a common dish. All over the table in every +available inch there was something. It would not do to call +the guests out to a table like that. What would David say? +And yet, if one of the aunts had set it and was going to stay +to tea, would she be hurt? She tiptoed to the door and +listened, but heard no sound save of men’s voices. If an +aunt had been here she was surely gone now and would be +none the wiser if a few dishes were removed.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">With swift fingers Marcia weeded out the things, and set +straight those that were to remain, and then made the tea. +She was so quick about it David had scarcely time to begin +to worry because supper was not announced before she stood +in the parlor door, shy and sweet, with a brilliant color in her +cheeks. His little comrade, David felt her to be, and again +it struck him that she was beautiful as he arose to introduce +her to the guests. He saw their open admiration as they +greeted her, and he found himself wondering what they would +have thought of Kate, wild-rose Kate with her graceful witching +ways. A tinge of sadness came into his face, but something +suggested to him the thought that Marcia was even +more beautiful than Kate, more like a half-blown bud of a +thing. He wondered that he had never noticed before how +her eyes shone. He gave her a pleasant smile as they passed +into the hall, which set the color flaming in her cheeks again. +David seemed different somehow, and that lonely, set-apart +feeling that she had had ever since she came here to live was +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page186"></span><a name="pg186" id="pg186" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +gone. David was there and he understood, at least a little +bit, and they had something,—just something, even though +it was but a few minutes in a lonely woods and some gentle +words of his,—to call their very own together. At least that +experience did not belong to Kate, never had been hers, and +could not have been borrowed from her. Marcia sighed a +happy sigh as she took her seat at the table.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The talk ran upon Andrew Jackson, and some utterances +of his in his last message to Congress. The elder of the two +gentlemen expressed grave fears that a mistake had been +made in policy and that the country would suffer.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Governor Clinton was mentioned and his policy discussed. +But all this talk was familiar to Marcia. Her father had +been interested in public affairs always, and she had been +brought up to listen to discussions deep and long, and to +think about such things for herself. When she was quite a +little girl her father had made her read the paper aloud to +him, from one end to the other, as he lay back in his big chair +with his eyes closed and his shaggy brows drawn thoughtfully +into a frown. Sometimes as she read he would burst forth +with a tirade against this or that man or set of men who +were in opposition to his own pronounced views, and he +would pour out a lengthy reply to little Marcia as she sat +patient, waiting for a chance to go on with her reading. As +she grew older she became proud of the distinction of being +her father’s <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">confidante</span></span> politically, and she was able to talk on +such matters as intelligently and as well if not better than most +of the men who came to the house. It was a position which no +one disputed with her. Kate had been much too full of her +own plans and Madam Schuyler too busy with household +affairs to bother with politics and newspapers, so Marcia had +always been the one called upon to read when her father’s +eyes were tired. As a consequence she was far beyond other +girls of her age in knowledge on public affairs. Well she +knew what Andrew Jackson thought about the tariff, and +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page187"></span><a name="pg187" id="pg187" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +about the system of canals, and about improvements in general. +She knew which men in Congress were opposed to and +which in favor of certain bills. All through the struggle for +improvements in New York state she had been an eager +observer. The minutest detail of the Erie canal project had +interested her, and she was never without her own little +private opinion in the matter, which, however, seldom found +voice except in her eager eyes, whose listening lights would +have been an inspiration to the most eloquent speaker.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Therefore, Marcia as she sat behind her sprigged china teacups +and demurely poured tea, was taking in all that had been +said, and she drew her breath quickly in a way she had when +she was deeply excited, as at last the conversation neared the +one great subject of interest which to her seemed of most +importance in the country at the present day, the project of +a railroad run by steam.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Nothing was too great for Marcia to believe. Her father +had been inclined to be conservative in great improvements. +He had favored the Erie canal, though had feared it would +be impossible to carry so great a project through, and Marcia +in her girlish mind had rejoiced with a joy that to her was +unspeakable when it had been completed and news had come +that many packets were travelling day and night upon the +wonderful new water way. There had been a kind of +triumph in her heart to think that men who could study +out these big schemes and plan it all, had been able against +so great odds to carry out their project and prove to all unbelievers +that it was not only possible but practicable.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia’s brain was throbbing with the desire for progress. +If she were a man with money and influence she felt she +would so much like to go out into the world and make stupid +people do the things for the country that ought to be done. +Progress had been the keynote of her upbringing, and she +was teeming with energy which she had no hope could ever +be used to help along that for which she felt her ambitions +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page188"></span><a name="pg188" id="pg188" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +rising. She wanted to see the world alive, and busy, the +great cities connected with one another. She longed to have +free access to cities, to great libraries, to pictures, to wonderful +music. She longed to meet great men and women, the +men and women who were making the history of the world, +writing, speaking, and doing things that were moulding +public opinion. Reforms of all sorts were what helped along +and made possible her desires. Why did not the people want +a steam railroad? Why were they so ready to say it could +never succeed, that it would be an impossibility; that the +roads could not be made strong enough to bear so great +weights and so constant wear and tear? Why did they interpose +objections to every suggestion made by inventors and +thinking men? Why did even her dear father who was so +far in advance of his times in many ways, why did even he +too shake his head and say that he feared it would never be +in this country, at least not in his day, that it was impracticable?</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The talk was very interesting to Marcia. She ate bits of +her biscuit without knowing, and she left her tea untasted +till it was cold. The younger of the two guests was talking. +His name was Jervis. Marcia thought she had heard the +name somewhere, but had not yet placed him in her mind:</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Yes,”</span> said he, with an eager look on his face, <span class="tei tei-q">“it is +coming, it is coming sooner than they think. Oliver Evans +said, you know, that good roads were all we could expect one +generation to do. The next must make canals, the next +might build a railroad which should run by horse power, and +perhaps the next would run a railroad by steam. But we +shall not have to wait so long. We shall have steam moving +railway carriages before another year.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“What!”</span> said David, <span class="tei tei-q">“you don’t mean it! Have you +really any foundation for such a statement?”</span> He leaned +forward, his eyes shining and his whole attitude one of deep +interest. Marcia watched him, and a great pride began to +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page189"></span><a name="pg189" id="pg189" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +glow within her that she belonged to him. She looked at the +other men. Their eyes were fixed upon David with heightening +pleasure and pride.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The older man watched the little tableau a moment and +then he explained:</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“The Mohawk and Hudson Company have just made an +engagement with Mr. Jervis as chief engineer of their road. +He expects to run that road by steam!”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He finished his fruit cake and preserves under the spell of +astonishment he had cast upon his host and hostess.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David and Marcia turned simultaneously toward Mr. Jervis +for a confirmation of this statement. Mr. Jervis smiled in +affirmation.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“But will it not be like all the rest, no funds?”</span> asked +David a trifle sadly. <span class="tei tei-q">“It may be years even yet before it is +really started.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But Mr. Jervis’ face was reassuring.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“The contract is let for the grading. In fact work has +already begun. I expect to begin laying the track by next +Spring, perhaps sooner. As soon as the track is laid we shall +show them.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David’s eyes shone and he reached out and grasped the +hand of the man who had the will and apparently the means +of accomplishing this great thing for the country.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“It will make a wonderful change in the whole land,”</span> said +David musingly. He had forgotten to eat. His face was +aglow and a side of his nature which Marcia did not know +was uppermost. Marcia saw the man, the thinker, the +writer, the former of public opinion, the idealist. Heretofore +David had been to her in the light of her sister’s lover, a young +man of promise, but that was all. Now she saw something +more earnest, and at once it was revealed to her what a man +he was, a man like her father. David’s eyes were suddenly +drawn to meet hers. He looked on Marcia and seemed to be +sharing his thought with her, and smiled a smile of comradeship. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page190"></span><a name="pg190" id="pg190" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +He felt all at once that she could and would understand +his feelings about this great new enterprise, and would +be glad too. It pleased him to feel this. It took a little of +his loneliness away. Kate would never have been interested +in these things. He had never expected such sympathy from +her. She had been something beautiful and apart from his +world, and as such he had adored her. But it was pleasant +to have some one who could understand and feel as he did. +Just then he was not thinking of his lost Kate. So he smiled +and Marcia felt the glow of warmth from his look and returned +it, and the two visitors knew that they were among +friends who understood and sympathized.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Yes, it will make a change,”</span> said the older man. <span class="tei tei-q">“I +hope I may live to see at least a part of it.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“If you succeed there will be many others to follow. The +land will soon be a network of railroads,”</span> went on David, +still musing.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“We shall succeed!”</span> said Mr. Jervis, closing his lips firmly +in a way that made one sure he knew whereof he spoke.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“And now tell me about it,”</span> said David, with his most +engaging smile, as a child will ask to have a story. David +could be most fascinating when he felt he was in a sympathetic +company. At other times he was wont to be grave, +almost to severity. But those who knew him best and had +seen him thus melted into +<span class="tei tei-corr"><a name="E18" id="E18" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><a href="#e18" class="tei tei-ref">child-like</a></span> +enthusiasm, felt his lovableness +as the others never dreamed.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The table talk launched into a description of the proposed +road, the road bed, the manner of laying the rails, their +thickness and width, and the way of bolting them down to the +heavy timbers that lay underneath. It was all intensely +fascinating to Marcia. Mr. Jervis took knives and forks to +illustrate and then showed by plates and spoons how they +were fastened down.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David asked a question now and then, took out his note +book and wrote down some things. The two guests were +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page191"></span><a name="pg191" id="pg191" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +eager and plain in their answers. They wanted David to +write it up. They wanted the information to be accurate +and full.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“The other day I saw a question in a Baltimore paper, sent +in by a subscriber, ‘What is a railroad?’”</span> said the old gentleman, +<span class="tei tei-q">“and the editor’s reply was, ‘Can any of our readers +answer this question and tell us what is a railroad?’”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There was a hearty laugh over the unenlightened unbelievers +who seemed to be only too willing to remain in ignorance +of the march of improvement.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David finally laid down his note book, feeling that he had +gained all the information he needed at present. <span class="tei tei-q">“I have +much faith in you and your skill, but I do not quite see how +you are going to overcome all the obstacles. How, for instance, +are you going to overcome the inequalities in the road? +Our country is not a flat even one like those abroad where +the railroad has been tried. There are sharp grades, and +many curves will be necessary,”</span> said he.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Mr. Jervis had shoved his chair back from the table, but +now he drew it up again sharply and began to move the +dishes back from his place, a look of eagerness gleaming in +his face.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Once again the dishes and cups were brought into requisition +as the engineer showed a crude model, in china and +cutlery, of an engine he proposed to have constructed, illustrating +his own idea about a truck for the forward wheels which +should move separately from the back wheels and enable the +engine to conform to curves more readily.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia sat with glowing cheeks watching the outline of +history that was to be, not knowing that the little model +before her, made from her own teacups and saucers, was to +be the model for all the coming engines of the many railroads +of the future.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Finally the chairs were pushed back, and yet the talk went +on. Marcia slipped silently about conveying the dishes away. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page192"></span><a name="pg192" id="pg192" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +And still the guests sat talking. She could hear all they said +even when she was in the kitchen washing the china, for she +did it very softly and never a clink hid a word. They talked +of Governor Clinton again and of his attitude toward the +railroad. They spoke of Thurlow Weed and a number of +others whose names were familiar to Marcia in the papers +she had read to her father. They told how lately on the +Baltimore and Ohio railroad Peter Cooper had experimented +with a little locomotive, and had beaten a gray horse attached +to another car.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia smiled brightly as she listened, and laid the delicate +china teapot down with care lest she should lose a word. But +ever with her interest in the march of civilization, there were +other thoughts mingling. Thoughts of David and of how he +would be connected with it all. He would write it up and be +identified with it. He was brave enough to face any new +movement.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David’s paper was a temperance paper. There were not +many temperance papers in those days. David was brave. He +had already faced a number of unpleasant circumstances in +consequence. He was not afraid of sneers or sarcasms, nor of +being called a fanatic. He had taken such a stand that even +those who were opposed had to respect him. Marcia felt the +joy of a great pride in David to-night.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She sang a happy little song at the bottom of her heart as +she worked. The new railroad was an assured thing, and +David was her comrade, that was the song, and the refrain +was, <span class="tei tei-q">“David, David, David!”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Later, after the guests had talked themselves out and taken +their candles to their rooms, David with another comrade’s +smile, and a look in his eyes that saw visions of the country’s +future, and for this one night at least promised not to dream +of the past, bade her good night.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She went up to her white chamber and lay down upon the +pillow, whose case was fragrant of lavendar blossoms, dreaming +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page193"></span><a name="pg193" id="pg193" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +with a smile of to-morrow. She thought she was riding +in a strange new railroad train with David’s arm about her +and Harry Temple running along at his very best pace to try +to catch them, but he could not.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Miranda, at her supperless window, watched the evening +hours and thought many thoughts. She wondered why they +stayed in the dining room so late, and why they did not go +into the parlor and make Marcia play the <span class="tei tei-q">“music box”</span> as +she called it; and why there was a light so long in that back +chamber over the kitchen. Could it be they had put one of +the guests there? Surely not. Perhaps that was David’s +study. Perhaps he was writing. Ah! She had guessed +aright. David was sitting up to write while the inspiration +was upon him.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But Miranda slept and ceased to wonder long before +David’s light was extinguished, and when he finally lay down +it was with a body healthily weary, and a mind for the time +free from any intruding thought of himself and his troubles.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He had written a most captivating article that would appear +in his paper in a few days, and which must convince +many doubters that a railroad was at last an established fact +among them.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There were one or two points which he must ask the skilled +engineer in the morning, but as he reviewed what he had +written he felt a sense of deep satisfaction, and a true delight +in his work. His soul thrilled with the power of his gift. +He loved it, exulted in it. It was pleasant to feel that delight +in his work once more. He had thought since his marriage +that it was gone forever, but perhaps by and by it would +return to console him, and he would be able to do greater +things in the world because of his suffering.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Just as he dropped to sleep there came a thought of +Marcia, pleasantly, as one remembers a flower. He felt that +there was a comfort about Marcia, a something helpful in her +smile. There was more to her than he had supposed. She +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page194"></span><a name="pg194" id="pg194" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +was not merely a child. How her face had glowed as the +men talked of the projected railroad, and almost she seemed +to understand as they described the proposed engine with its +movable trucks. She would be a companion who would be +interested in his pursuits. He had hoped to teach Kate to +understand his life work and perhaps help him some, but +Kate was by nature a butterfly, a bird of gay colors, always +on the wing. He would not have wanted her to be troubled +with deep thoughts. Marcia seemed to enjoy such things. +What if he should take pains to teach her, read with her, help +cultivate her mind? It would at least be an occupation for +leisure hours, something to interest him and keep away the +awful pall of sadness.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">How sweet she had looked as she lay asleep in the woods +with the tears on her cheek like the dew-drops upon a rose +petal! She was a dear little girl and he must take care of +her and protect her. That scoundrel Temple! What were +such men made for? He must settle him to-morrow.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">And so he fell asleep.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div id="MS17" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page195"></span><a name="pg195" id="pg195" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<a name="toc34" id="toc34"></a> +<a name="pdf35" id="pdf35"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"> + <span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER XVII</span></span> +</h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Harry Temple sat in his office the next morning with his +feet upon the table and his wooden armed chair tilted back +against the wall.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He had letters to write, a number of them, that should go +out with the afternoon coach, to reach the night packet. +There were at least three men he ought to go and see at once +if he would do the best for his employers, and the office he +sat in was by no means in the best of order. But his feet +were elevated comfortably on the table and he was deep in +the pages of a story of the French Court, its loves and hates +and intrigues.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It was therefore with annoyance that he looked up at the +opening of the office door.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But the frown changed to apprehension, as he saw who was +his visitor. He brought the chair legs suddenly to the floor +and his own legs followed them swiftly. David Spafford was +not a man before whom another would sit with his feet on a +table, even to transact business.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There was a look of startled enquiry on Harry Temple’s +face. For an instant his self-complacency was shaken. He +hesitated, wondering what tack to take. Perhaps after all +his alarm was unnecessary. Marcia likely had been too frightened +to tell of what had occurred. He noticed the broad +shoulder, the lean, active body, the keen eye, and the grave +poise of his visitor, and thought he would hardly care to +fight a duel with that man. It was natural for him to think +at once of a duel on account of the French court life from +which his mind had just emerged. A flash of wonder passed +through his mind whether it would be swords or pistols, and +then he set himself to face the other man.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page196"></span><a name="pg196" id="pg196" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David Spafford stood for a full minute and looked into the +face of the man he had come to shame. He looked at him +with a calm eye and brow, but with a growing contempt that +did not need words to express it. Harry Temple felt the +color rise in his cheek, and his soul quaked for an instant. +Then his habitual conceit arose and he tried to parry with his +eye that keen piercing gaze of the other. It must have lasted +a full minute, though it seemed to Mr. Temple it was five at +the least. He made an attempt to offer his visitor a chair, +but it was not noticed. David Spafford looked his man +through and through, and knew him for exactly what he was. +At last he spoke, quietly, in a tone that was too courteous to +be contemptuous, but it humiliated the listener more even +than contempt:</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“It would be well for you to leave town at once.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">That was all. The listener felt that it was a command. +His wrath arose hotly, and beat itself against the calm exterior +of his visitor’s gaze in a look that was brazen enough +to have faced a whole town of accusers. Harry Temple could +look innocent and handsome when he chose.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“I do not understand you, sir!”</span> he said. <span class="tei tei-q">“That is a +most extraordinary statement!”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“It would be well for you to leave town at once.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">This time the command was imperative. Harry’s eyes +blazed.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Why?”</span> He asked it with that impertinent tilt to his +chin which usually angered his opponent in any argument. +Once he could break that steady, iron, self-control he felt he +would have the best of things. He could easily persuade +David Spafford that everything was all right if he could get +him off his guard and make him angry. An angry man could +do little but bluster.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“You understand very well,”</span> replied David, his voice still, +steady and his gaze not swerving.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Indeed! Well, this is most extraordinary,”</span> said Harry, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page197"></span><a name="pg197" id="pg197" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +losing control of himself again. <span class="tei tei-q">“Of what do you accuse me, +may I enquire?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Of nothing that your own heart does not accuse you,”</span> +said David. And somehow there was more than human indignation +in the gaze now: there was pity, a sense of shame +for another soul who could lower himself to do unseemly +things. Before that look the blood crept into Harry’s cheek +again. An uncomfortable sensation entirely new was stealing +over him. A sense of sin—no, not that exactly,—a sense +that he had made a mistake, perhaps. He never was very +hard upon himself even when the evidence was clear against +him. It angered him to feel humiliated. What a fuss to +make about a little thing! What a tiresome old cad to care +about a little flirtation with his wife! He wished he had +let the pretty baby alone entirely. She was of no finer stuff +than many another who had accepted his advances with +pleasure. He stiffened his neck and replied with much +haughtiness:</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“My heart accuses me of nothing, sir. I assure you I +consider your words an insult! I demand satisfaction for +your insulting language, sir!”</span> Harry Temple had never +fought a duel, and had never been present when others fought, +but that was the language in which a challenge was usually +delivered in French novels.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“It is not a matter for discussion!”</span> said David Spafford, +utterly ignoring the other’s blustering words. <span class="tei tei-q">“I am fully +informed as to all that occurred yesterday afternoon, and I +tell you once more, it would be well for you to leave town at +once. I have nothing further to say.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David turned and walked toward the door, and Harry +stood, ignored, angry, crestfallen, and watched him until he +reached the door.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“You would better ask your informant further of her part +in the matter!”</span> he hissed, suddenly, an open sneer in his +voice and a covert implication of deep meaning.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page198"></span><a name="pg198" id="pg198" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David turned, his face flashing with righteous indignation. +The man who was withered by the scorn of that glance wished +heartily that he had not uttered the false sentence. He felt +the smallness of his own soul, during the instant of silence +in which his visitor stood looking at him.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Then David spoke deliberately:</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“I knew you were a knave,”</span> said he, <span class="tei tei-q">“but I did not suppose +you were also a coward. A man who is not a coward +will not try to put the blame upon a woman, especially upon +an innocent one. You, sir, will leave town this evening. +Any business further than you can settle between this and +that I will see properly attended to. I warn you, sir, it will +be unwise for you to remain longer than till the evening +coach.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Perfectly courteous were David’s tones, keen command was +in his eye and determination in every line of his face. Harry +could not recover himself to reply, could not master his +frenzy of anger and humiliation to face the righteous look of +his accuser. Before he realized it, David was gone.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He stood by the window and watched him go down the +street with rapid, firm tread and upright bearing. Every +line in that erect form spoke of determination. The conviction +grew within him that the last words of his visitor were +true, and that it would be wise for him to leave town. He +rebelled at the idea. He did not wish to leave, for business +matters were in such shape, or rather in such chaos, that it +would be extremely awkward for him to meet his employers +and explain his desertion at that time. Moreover there were +several homes in the town open to him whenever he chose, +where were many attractions. It was a lazy pleasant life he +had been leading here, fully trusted, and wholly disloyal to +the trust, troubled by no uneasy overseers, not even his own +conscience, dined and smiled upon with lovely languishing +eyes. He did not care to go, even though he had decried +the town as dull and monotonous.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page199"></span><a name="pg199" id="pg199" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But, on the other hand, things had occurred—not the +unfortunate little mistake of yesterday, of course, but others, +more serious things—that he would hardly care to have +brought to the light of day, especially through the keen sarcastic +columns of David Spafford’s paper. He had seen other +sinners brought to a bloodless retribution in those columns +by dauntless weapons of sarcasm and wit which in David +Spafford’s hands could be made to do valiant work. He +did not care to be humiliated in that way. He could not +brazen it out. He was convinced that the man meant what +he said, and from what he knew of his influence he felt that +he would leave no stone unturned till he had made the place +too hot to hold him. Only Harry Temple himself knew how +easy that would be to do, for no one else knew how many +<span class="tei tei-q">“mistakes”</span> (?) Harry had made, and he, unfortunately +for himself, did not know how many of them were not known, +by any who could harm him.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He stood a long time clinking some sixpences and shillings +together in his pocket, and scowling down the street after +David had disappeared from sight.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Blame that little pink-cheeked, baby-eyed fool!”</span> he said +at last, turning on his heel with a sigh. <span class="tei tei-q">“I might have +known she was too goody-goody. Such people ought to die +young before they grow up to make fools of other people. +Bah! Think of a wife like that with no spirit of her own. +A baby! Merely a baby!”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Nevertheless, in his secret heart, he knew he honored +Marcia and felt a true shame that she had looked into his +tarnished soul.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Then he looked round about upon his papers that represented +a whole week’s hard work and maybe more before they +were cleared away, and reflected how much easier after all +it would be to get up a good excuse and go away, leaving all +this to some poor drudge who should be sent here in his place. +He looked around again and his eyes lighted upon his book. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page200"></span><a name="pg200" id="pg200" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +He remembered the exciting crisis in which he had left the +heroine and down he sat to his story again. At least there +was nothing demanding attention this moment. He need not +decide what he would do. If he went there were few preparations +to make. He would toss some things into his carpet-bag +and pretend to have been summoned to see a sick and dying +relative, a long-lost brother or something. It would be easy +to invent one when the time came. Then he could leave +directions for the rest of his things to be packed if he did +not return, and get rid of the trouble of it all. As for the +letters, if he was going what use to bother with them? Let +them wait till his successor should come. It mattered little +to him whether his employers suffered for his negligence or +not so long as he finished his story. Besides, it would not do +to let that cad think he had frightened him. He would pretend +he was not going, at least during his hours of grace. +So he picked up his book and went on reading.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">At noon he sauntered back to his boarding house as usual +for his dinner, having professed an unusually busy morning +to those who came in to the office on business and made appointments +with them for the next day. This had brought +him much satisfaction as the morning wore away and he was +left free to his book, and so before dinner he had come to +within a very few pages of the end.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">After a leisurely dinner he sauntered back to the office +again, rejoicing in the fact that circumstances had so arranged +themselves that he had passed David Spafford in front +of the newspaper office and given him a most elaborate and +friendly bow in the presence of four or five bystanders. +David’s look in return had meant volumes, and decided Harry +Temple to do as he had been ordered, not, of course, because +he had been ordered to do so, but because it would be an +easier thing to do. In fact he made up his mind that he +was weary of this part of the country. He went back to his +book.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page201"></span><a name="pg201" id="pg201" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">About the middle of the afternoon he finished the last +pages. He rose up with alacrity then and began to think +what he should do. He glanced around the room, sought out +a few papers, took some daguerreotypes of girls from a drawer +of his desk, gave a farewell glance around the dismal little +room that had seen so much shirking for the past few +months, and then went out and locked the door.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He paused at the corner. Which way should he go? He +did not care to go back to the office, for his book was done, +and he scarcely needed to go to his room at his boarding +place yet either, for the afternoon was but half over and +he wished his departure to appear to be entirely unpremeditated. +A daring thought came into his head. He would +walk past David Spafford’s house. He would let Marcia see +him if possible. He would show them that he was not afraid +in the least. He even meditated going in and explaining to +Marcia that she had made a great mistake, that he had been +merely admiring her, and that there was no harm in anything +he had said or done yesterday, that he was exceedingly +grieved and mortified that she should have mistaken his +meaning for an insult, and so on and so on. He knew well +how to make such honeyed talk when he chose, but the audacity +of the thing was a trifle too much for even his bold +nature, so he satisfied himself by strolling in a leisurely +manner by the house.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">When he was directly opposite to it he raised his eyes +casually and bowed and smiled with his most graceful air. +True, he did not see any one, for Marcia had caught sight of +him as she was coming out upon the stoop and had fled into +her own room with the door buttoned, she was watching +unseen from behind the folds of her curtain, but he made the +bow as complete as though a whole family had been greeting +him from the windows. Marcia, poor child, thought he must +see her, and she felt frozen to the spot, and stared wildly +through the little fold of her curtain with trembling hands +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page202"></span><a name="pg202" id="pg202" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +and weak knees till he was passed. Well pleased at himself +the young man walked on, knowing that at least three prominent +citizens had seen him bow and smile, and that they would +be witnesses, against anything David might say to the contrary, +that he was on friendly terms with Mrs. Spafford.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Hannah Heath was sitting on the front stoop with her +knitting. She often sat there dressed daintily of an afternoon. +Her hands were white and looked well against the +blue yarn she was knitting. Besides there was something +domestic and sentimental in a stocking. It gave a cosy, +homey, air to a woman, Hannah considered. So she sat and +knitted and smiled at whomsoever passed by, luring many in to +sit and talk with her, so that the stockings never grew rapidly, +but always kept at about the same stage. If it had been +Miranda, Grandmother Heath would have made some sharp +remarks about the length of time it took to finish that blue +stocking, but as it was Hannah it was all right.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Hannah sat upon the stoop and knitted as Harry Temple +came by. Now, Hannah was not so great a favorite with +Harry as Harry was with Hannah. She was of the kind who +was conquered too easily, and he did not consider it worth his +while to waste time upon her simperings usually. But this +afternoon was different. He had nowhere to go for a little +while, and Hannah’s appearance on the stoop was opportune +and gave him an idea. He would lounge there with her. +Perchance fortune would favor him again and David Spafford +would pass by and see him. There would be one more +opportunity to stare insolently at him and defy him, before +he bent his neck to obey. David had given him the day in +which to do what he would, and he would make no move +until the time was over and the coach he had named departed, +but he knew that then he would bring down retribution. In +just what form that retribution would come he was not quite +certain, but he knew it would be severe.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">So when Hannah smiled upon him, Harry Temple stepped +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page203"></span><a name="pg203" id="pg203" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +daintily across the mud in the road, and came and sat down +beside her. He toyed with her knitting, caught one of her +plump white hands, the one on the side away from the +street, and held it, while Hannah pretended not to notice, +and drooped her long eyelashes in a telling way. Hannah +knew how. She had been at it a good many years.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">So he sat, toward five o’clock, when David came by, and +bowed gravely to Hannah, but seemed not to see Harry. +Harry let his eyes follow the tall figure in an insolent stare.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“What a dough-faced cad that man is!”</span> he said lazily, +<span class="tei tei-q">“no wonder his little pink-cheeked wife seeks other society. +Handsome baby, though, isn’t she?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Hannah pricked up her ears. Her loss of David was too +recent not to cause her extreme jealousy of his pretty young +wife. Already she fairly hated her. Her upbringing in +the atmosphere of Grandmother Heath’s sarcastic, ill-natured +gossip had prepared her to be quick to see meaning in any +insinuation.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She looked at him keenly, archly for a moment, then replied +with drooping gaze and coquettish manner:</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“You should not blame any one for enjoying your company.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Hannah stole sly glances to see how he took this, but Harry +was an old hand and proof against such scrutiny. He only +shrugged his shoulder carelessly, as though he dropped all +blame like a garment that he had no need for.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“And what’s the matter with David?”</span> asked Hannah, +watching David as he mounted his own steps, and thinking +how often she had watched that tall form go down the street, +and thought of him as destined to belong to her. The mortification +that he had chosen some one else was not yet forgotten. +It amounted almost to a desire for revenge.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Harry lingered longer than he intended. Hannah begged +him to remain to supper, but he declined, and when she +pressed him to do so he looked troubled and said he was +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page204"></span><a name="pg204" id="pg204" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +expecting a letter and must hurry back to see if it came in +the afternoon coach. He told her that a dear friend, a +beloved cousin, was lying very ill, and he might be summoned +at any moment to his bedside, and Hannah said some comforting +little things in a caressing voice, and hoped he would find +the letter saying the cousin was better. Then he hurried +away.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It was easy at his boarding house to say he had been called +away, and he rushed up to his room and threw some necessaries +into his carpet-bag, scattering things around the room +and helping out the impression that he was called away +in a great hurry. When he was ready he looked at his +watch. It was growing late. The evening coach left in +half an hour. He knew its route well. It started at the +village inn, and went down the old turnpike, stopping here +and there to pick up passengers. There was always a convocation +when it started. Perhaps David Spafford would be +there and witness his obedience to the command given him. +He set his lips and made up his mind to escape that at least. +He would cheat his adversary of that satisfaction.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It would involve a sacrifice. He would have to go without +his supper, and he could smell the frying bacon coming up the +stairs. But it would help the illusion and he could perhaps get +something on the way when the coach stopped to change horses.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He rushed downstairs and told his landlady that he must +start at once, as he must see a man before the coach went, and +she, poor lady, had no chance to suggest that he leave her a +little deposit on the sum of his board which he already owed +her. There was perhaps some method in his hurry for that +reason also. It always bothered him to pay his bills, he had +so many other ways of spending his money.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">So he hurried away and caught a ride in a farm wagon +going toward the Cross Roads. When it turned off he walked +a little way until another wagon came along; finally crossed +several fields at a breathless pace and caught the coach just as +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page205"></span><a name="pg205" id="pg205" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +it was leaving the Cross Roads, which was the last stopping +place anywhere near the village. He climbed up beside the +driver, still in a breathless condition, and detailed to him +how he had received word, just before the coach started, by a +messenger who came across-country on horseback, that his +cousin was dying.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">After he had answered the driver’s minutest questions, he +sat back and reflected upon his course with satisfaction. He +was off, and he had not been seen nor questioned by a single +citizen, and by to-morrow night his story as he had told it to +the driver would be fully known and circulated through the +place he had just left. The stage driver was one of the best +means of advertisement. It was well to give him full particulars.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The driver after he had satisfied his curiosity about the +young man by his side, and his reasons for leaving town so +hastily, began to wax eloquent upon the one theme which now +occupied his spare moments and his fluent tongue, the subject +of a projected railroad. Whether some of the sentiments +he uttered were his own, or whether he had but borrowed from +others, they were at least uttered with force and apparent +conviction, and many a traveller sat and listened as they were +retailed and viewed the subject from the standpoint of the +loud-mouthed coachman.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">A little later Tony Weller, called by some one <span class="tei tei-q">“the best +beloved of all coachmen,”</span> uttered much the same sentiments +in the following words:</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“I consider that the railroad is unconstitutional and +an invader o’ privileges. As to the comfort, as an old coachman I may +say it,—vere’s the comfort o’ sittin’ in a harm-chair +a lookin’ at brick walls, and heaps o’ mud, never comin’ +to a public ’ouse, never seein’ a glass o’ ale, never +goin’ +through a pike, never meetin’ a change o’ no kind (hosses or +otherwise), but always comin’ to a place, ven you comes to +vun at all, the werry picter o’ the last.</span></p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page206"></span><a name="pg206" id="pg206" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“As to the honor an’ dignity o’ travellin’ vere can that +be without a coachman, and vat’s the rail, to sich coachmen as +is sometimes forced to go by it, but an outrage and an hinsult? +As to the ingen, a nasty, wheezin’, gaspin’, puffin’, +bustin’ +monster always out o’ breath, with a shiny green and gold +back like an onpleasant beetle; as to the ingen as is always a +pourin’ out red ’ot coals at night an’ black smoke in the day, +the sensiblest thing it does, in my opinion, is ven there’s +somethin’ in the vay, it sets up that ’ere frightful scream +vich seems to say, ‘Now ’ere’s two ’undred an’ forty passengers +in the werry greatest extremity o’ danger, an’ ’ere’s +their two ’undred an’ forty screams in vun!’”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But such sentiments as these troubled Harry Temple not +one whit. He cared not whether the present century had a +railroad or whether it travelled by foot. He would not lift +a white finger to help it along or hinder. As the talk went +on he was considering how and where he might get his supper.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div id="MS18" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page207"></span><a name="pg207" id="pg207" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<a name="toc36" id="toc36"></a> +<a name="pdf37" id="pdf37"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"> + <span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER XVIII</span></span> +</h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The weather turned suddenly cold and raw that Fall, and +almost in one day, the trees that had been green, or yellowing +in the sunshine, put on their autumn garments of defeat, +flaunted them for a brief hour, and dropped them early in +despair. The pleasant woods, to which Marcia had fled in her +dismay, became a mass of finely penciled branches against a +wintry sky, save for the one group of tall pines that hung out +heavy above the rest, and seemed to defy even snowy blasts.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia could see those pines from her kitchen window, and +sometimes as she worked, if her heart was heavy, she would +look out and away to them, and think of the day she laid her +head down beneath them to sob out her trouble, and awoke to +find comfort. Somehow the memory of that little talk that +she and David had then grew into vast proportions in her +mind, and she loved to cherish it.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There had come letters from home. Her stepmother had +written, a stiff, not unloving letter, full of injunctions to be +sure to remember this, and not do that, and on no account to +let any relative or neighbor persuade her out of the ways in +which she had been brought up. She was attempting to do +as many mothers do, when they see the faults in the child +they have brought up, try to bring them up over again. At +some of the sentences a wild homesickness took possession of +her. Some little homely phrase about one of the servants, +or the mention of a pet hen or cow, would bring the longing +tears to her eyes, and she would feel that she must throw +away this new life and run back to the old one.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">School was begun at home. Mary Ann and Hanford +would be taking the long walk back and forth together twice +a day to the old school-house. She half envied them their +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page208"></span><a name="pg208" id="pg208" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +happy, care-free life. She liked to think of the shy courting +that she had often seen between scholars in the upper classes. +Her imagination pleased itself sometimes when she was going +to sleep, trying to picture out the school goings and home +comings, and their sober talk. Not that she ever looked back +to Hanford Weston with regret, not she. She knew always +that he was not for her, and perhaps, even so early as that +in her new life, if the choice had been given her whether she +would go back to her girlhood again and be as she was before +Kate had run away, or whether she would choose to stay here +in the new life with David, it is likely she would have chosen +to stay.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There were occasional letters from Squire Schuyler. He +wrote of politics, and sent many messages to his son-in-law +which Marcia handed over to David at the tea table to read, +and which always seemed to soften David and bring a sweet +sadness into his eyes. He loved and respected his father-in-law. +It was as if he were bound to him by the love of some +one who had died. Marcia thought of that every time she +handed David a letter, and sat and watched him read it.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Sometimes little Harriet or the boys printed out a few +words about the family cat, or the neighbors’ children, and +Marcia laughed and cried over the poor little attempts at +letters and longed to have the eager childish faces of the +writers to kiss.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But in all of them there was never a mention of the bright, +beautiful, selfish girl around whom the old home life used +to centre and who seemed now, judging from the home letters, +to be worse than dead to them all. But since the afternoon +upon the hill a new and pleasant intercourse had sprung up +between David and Marcia. True it was confined mainly to +discussions of the new railroad, the possibilities of its success, +and the construction of engines, tracks, etc. David was constantly +writing up the subject for his paper, and he fell into +the habit of reading his articles aloud to Marcia when they +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page209"></span><a name="pg209" id="pg209" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +were finished. She would listen with breathless admiration, +sometimes combating a point ably, with the old vim she had +used in her discussion over the newspaper with her father, +but mainly agreeing with every word he wrote, and always +eager to understand it down to the minutest detail.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He always seemed pleased at her praise, and wrote on +while she put away the tea-things with a contented expression +as though he had passed a high critic, and need not fear any +other. Once he looked up with a quizzical expression and +made a jocose remark about <span class="tei tei-q">“our article,”</span> taking her into a +sort of partnership with him in it, which set her heart to +beating happily, until it seemed as if she were really in some +part at least growing into his life.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But after all their companionship was a shy, distant one, +more like that of a brother and sister who had been separated +all their lives and were just beginning to get acquainted, +and ever there was a settled sadness about the lines of David’s +mouth and eyes. They sat around one table now, the evenings +when they were at home, for there were still occasional +tea-drinkings at their friends’ houses; and there was one +night a week held religiously for a formal supper with the +aunts, which David kindly acquiesced in—more for the sake +of his Aunt Clarinda than the others,—whenever he was not +detained by actual business. Then, too, there was the weekly +prayer meeting held at <span class="tei tei-q">“early candle light”</span> in the dim old +shadowed church. They always walked down the twilighted +streets together, and it seemed to Marcia there was a sweet +solemnity about that walk. They never said much to each +other on the way. David seemed preoccupied with holy +thoughts, and Marcia walked softly beside him as if he had +been the minister, looking at him proudly and reverently now +and then. David was often called upon to pray in meeting +and Marcia loved to listen to his words. He seemed to be +more intimate with God than the others, who were mostly +old men and prayed with long, rolling, solemn sentences that +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page210"></span><a name="pg210" id="pg210" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +put the whole community down into the dust and ashes before +their Creator.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia rather enjoyed the hour spent in the sombreness +of the church, with the flickering +<span class="tei tei-corr"><a name="E19" id="E19" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><a href="#e19" class="tei tei-ref">candle light</a></span> +making grotesque +forms of shadows on the wall and among the tall pews. +The old minister reminded her of the one she had left at +home, though he was more learned and scholarly, and when +he had read the Scripture passages he would take his spectacles +off and lay them across the great Bible where the +<span class="tei tei-corr"><a name="E20" id="E20" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><a href="#e20" class="tei tei-ref">candle light</a></span> +played at glances with the steel bows, and say: +<span class="tei tei-q">“Let us pray!”</span> Then would come that soft stir and hush +as the people took the attitude of prayer. Marcia sometimes +joined in the prayer in her heart, uttering shy little petitions +that were vague and indefinite, and had to do mostly with +the days when she was troubled and homesick, and felt that +David belonged wholly to Kate. Always her clear voice +joined in the slow hymns that quavered out now and again, +lined out to the worshippers.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia and David went out from that meeting down the +street to their home with the hush upon them that must have +been upon the Israelites of old after they had been to the +solemn congregation.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But once David had come in earlier than usual and had +caught Marcia reading the Scottish Chiefs, and while she +started guiltily to be found thus employed he smiled indulgently. +After supper he said: <span class="tei tei-q">“Get your book, child, and +sit down. I have some writing to do, and after it is done I +will read it to you.”</span> So after that, more and more often, +it was a book that Marcia held in her hands in the long evenings +when they sat together, instead of some useful employment, +and so her education progressed. Thus she read +Epictetus, Rasselas, The Deserted Village, The Vicar of +Wakefield, Paradise Lost, the Mysteries of the Human Heart, +Marshall’s Life of Columbus, The Spy, The Pioneers, and +The Last of the Mohicans.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page211"></span><a name="pg211" id="pg211" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She had been asked to sing in the village choir. David +sang a sweet high tenor there, and Marcia’s voice was clear +and strong as a blackbird’s, with the plaintive sweetness of +the wood-robin’s.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Hannah Heath was in the choir also, and jealously watched +her every move, but of this Marcia was unaware until informed +of it by Miranda. With her inherited sweetness of +nature she scarcely credited it, until one Sunday, a few weeks +after the departure of Harry Temple, Hannah leaned forward +from her seat among the altos and whispered quite +distinctly, so that those around could hear—it was just before +the service—<span class="tei tei-q">“I’ve just had a letter from your friend Mr. +Temple. I thought you might like to know that his cousin +got well and he has gone back to New York. He won’t be +returning here this year. On some accounts he thought it +was better not.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It was all said pointedly, with double emphasis upon the +<span class="tei tei-q">“your friend,”</span> and <span class="tei tei-q">“some accounts.”</span> Marcia felt her cheeks +glow, much to her vexation, and tried to control her whisper +to seem kindly as she answered indifferently enough.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, indeed! But you must have made a mistake. Mr. +Temple is a very slight acquaintance of mine. I have met +him only a few times, and I know nothing about his cousin. +I was not aware even that he had gone away.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Hannah raised her speaking eyebrows and replied, quite +loud now, for the choir leader had stood up already with his +tuning-fork in hand, and one could hear it faintly twang:</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Indeed!”</span>—using Marcia’s own word—and quite coldly, +<span class="tei tei-q">“I should have thought differently from what Harry himself +told me,”</span> and there was that in her tone which deepened +the color in Marcia’s cheeks and caused it to stay there during +the entire morning service as she sat puzzling over what +Hannah could have meant. It rankled in her mind during +the whole day. She longed to ask David about it, but could +not get up the courage.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page212"></span><a name="pg212" id="pg212" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She could not bear to revive the memory of what seemed to +be her shame. It was at the minister’s donation party that +Hannah planted another thorn in her heart,—Hannah, in a +green plaid silk with delicate undersleeves of lace, and a tiny +black velvet jacket.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She selected a time when Lemuel was near, and when Aunt +Amelia and Aunt Hortense, who believed that all the young +men in town were hovering about David’s wife, sat one on +either side of Marcia, as if to guard her for their beloved +nephew—who was discussing politics with Mr. Heath—and +who never seemed to notice, so blind he was in his trust of +her.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">So Hannah paused and posed before the three ladies, and +with Lemuel smiling just at her elbow, began in her affected +way:</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“I’ve had another letter from New York, from your friend +Mr. Temple,”</span> she said it with the slightest possible glance +over her shoulder to get the effect of her words upon the +faithful Lemuel, <span class="tei tei-q">“and he tells me he has met a sister of yours. +By the way, she told him that David used to be very fond +of her before she was married. I suppose she’ll be coming +to visit you now she’s so near as New York.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Two pairs of suspicious steely eyes flew like stinging insects +to gaze upon her, one on either side, and Marcia’s heart stood +still for just one instant, but she felt that here was her trying +time, and if she would help David and do the work for which +she had become his wife, she must protect him now from any +suspicions or disagreeable tongues. By very force of will she +controlled the trembling of her lips.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“My sister will not likely visit us this winter, I think,”</span> +she replied as coolly as if she had had a letter to that effect +that morning, and then she deliberately looked at Lemuel +Skinner and asked if he had heard of the offer of prizes of +four thousand dollars in cash that the Baltimore and Ohio +railroad had just made for the most approved engine delivered +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page213"></span><a name="pg213" id="pg213" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +for trial before June first, 1831, not to exceed three and +a half tons in weight and capable of drawing, day by day, +fifteen tons inclusive of weight of wagons, fifteen miles +per hour. Lemuel looked at her blankly and said he had not +heard of it. He was engaged in thinking over what Hannah +had said about a letter from Harry Temple. He cared nothing +about railroads.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“The second prize is thirty-five hundred dollars,”</span> stated +Marcia eagerly, as though it were of the utmost importance +to her.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Are you thinking of trying for one of the prizes?”</span> +sneered Hannah, piercing her with her eyes, and now indeed +the ready color flowed into Marcia’s face. Her ruse had been +detected.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“If I were a man and understood machinery I believe I +would. What a grand thing it would be to be able to invent +a thing like an engine that would be of so much use to the +world,”</span> she answered bravely.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“They are most dangerous machines,”</span> said Aunt Amelia +disapprovingly. <span class="tei tei-q">“No right-minded Christian who wishes to +live out the life his Creator has given him would ever ride +behind one. I have heard that boilers always explode.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“They are most unnecessary!”</span> said Aunt Hortense +severely, as if that settled the question for all time and all +railroad corporations.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But Marcia was glad for once of their disapproval and +entered most heartily into a discussion of the pros and cons +of engines and steam, quoting largely from David’s last +article for the paper on the subject, until Hannah and +Lemuel moved slowly away. The discussion served to keep +the aunts from inquiring further that evening about the sister +in New York.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia begged them to go with her into the kitchen and see +the store of good things that had been brought to the minister’s +house by his loving parishioners. Bags of flour and +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page214"></span><a name="pg214" id="pg214" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +meal, pumpkins, corn in the ear, eggs, and nice little pats +of butter. A great wooden tub of doughnuts, baskets of +apples and quinces, pounds of sugar and tea, barrels of +potatoes, whole hams, a side of pork, a quarter of beef, hanks +of yarn, and strings of onions. It was a goodly array. +Marcia felt that the minister must be beloved by his people. +She watched him and his wife as they greeted their people, +and wished she knew them better, and might come and see +them sometimes, and perhaps eventually feel as much at home +with them as with her own dear minister.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She avoided Hannah during the remainder of the evening. +When the evening was over and she went upstairs to get +her wraps from the high four-poster bedstead, she had almost +forgotten Hannah and her ill-natured, prying remarks. But +Hannah had not forgotten her. She came forth from behind +the bed curtains where she had been searching for a lost +glove, and remarked that she should think Marcia would be +lonely this first winter away from home and want her sister +with her a while.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But the presence of Hannah always seemed a mental +stimulus to the spirit of Marcia.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, I’m not in the least lonely,”</span> she laughed merrily. +<span class="tei tei-q">“I have a great many interesting things to do, and I love +music and books.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, yes, I forgot you are very fond of music. Harry +Temple told me about it,”</span> said Hannah. Again there was +that disagreeable hint of something more behind her words, +that aggravated Marcia almost beyond control. For an instant +a cutting reply was upon her lips and her eyes flashed +fire; then it came to her how futile it would be, and she +caught the words in time and walked swiftly down the stairs. +David watching her come down saw the admiring glances of +all who stood in the hall below, and took her under his protection +with a measure of pride in her youth and beauty that +he did not himself at all realize. All the way home he talked +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page215"></span><a name="pg215" id="pg215" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +with her about the new theory of railroad construction, quite +contented in her companionship, while she, poor child, much +perturbed in spirit, wondered how he would feel if he knew +what Hannah had said.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David fell into a deep study with a book and his papers +about him, after they had reached home. Marcia went up to +her quiet, lonely chamber, put her face in the pillow and +thought and wept and prayed. When at last she lay down to +rest she did not know anything she could do but just to go +on living day by day and helping David all she could. At +most there was nothing to fear for herself, save a kind of +shame that she had not been the first sister chosen, and she +found to her surprise that that was growing to be deeper than +she had supposed.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She wished as she fell asleep that her girl-dreams might +have been left to develop and bloom like other girls’, and that +she might have had a real lover,—like David in every way, +yet of course not David because he was Kate’s. But a real +lover who would meet her as David had done that night +when he thought she was Kate, and speak to her tenderly.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">One afternoon David, being wearied with an unusual round +of taxing cares, came home to rest and study up some question +in his library.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Finding the front door fastened, and remembering that +he had left his key in his other pocket, he came around to the +back door, and much preoccupied with thought went through +the kitchen and nearly to the hall before the unusual sounds +of melody penetrated to his ears. He stopped for an instant +amazed, forgetting the piano, then comprehending he wondered +who was playing. Perhaps some visitor was in the +parlor. He would listen and find out. He was weary and +dusty with the soil of the office upon his hands and clothes. +He did not care to meet a visitor, so under cover of the +music he slipped into the door of his library across the hall +from the parlor and dropped into his great arm-chair.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page216"></span><a name="pg216" id="pg216" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Softly and tenderly stole the music through the open door, +all about him, like the gentle dropping of some tender psalms +or comforting chapter in the Bible to an aching heart. It +touched his brow like a soft soothing hand, and seemed to +know and recognize all the agonies his heart had been passing +through, and all the weariness his body felt.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He put his head back and let it float over him and rest him. +Tinkling brooks and gentle zephyrs, waving of forest trees, +and twitterings of birds, calm lazy clouds floating by, a sweetness +in the atmosphere, bells far away, lowing herds, music +of the angels high in heaven, the soothing strain from each +extracted and brought to heal his broken heart. It fell like +dew upon his spirit. Then, like a fresh breeze with zest +and life borne on, came a new strain, grand and fine and high, +calling him to better things. He did not know it was a strain +of Handel’s music grown immortal, but his spirit recognized +the higher call, commanding him to follow, and straightway +he felt strengthened to go onward in the course he had been +pursuing. Old troubles seemed to grow less, anguish fell +away from him. He took new lease of life. Nothing seemed +impossible.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Then she played by ear one or two of the old tunes they +sang in church, touching the notes tenderly and almost +making them speak the words. It seemed a benediction. +Suddenly the playing ceased and Marcia remembered it was +nearly supper time.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He met her in the doorway with a new look in his eyes, a +look of high purpose and exultation. He smiled upon her +and said: <span class="tei tei-q">“That was good, child. I did not know you could +do it. You must give it to us often.”</span> Marcia felt a glow +of pleasure in his kindliness, albeit she felt that the look in +his eyes set him apart and above her, and made her feel the +child she was. She hurried out to get the supper between +pleasure and a nameless unrest. She was glad of this much, +but she wanted more, a something to meet her soul and satisfy.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div id="MS19" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page217"></span><a name="pg217" id="pg217" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<a name="toc38" id="toc38"></a> +<a name="pdf39" id="pdf39"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"> + <span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER XIX</span></span> +</h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The world had not gone well with Mistress Kate Leavenworth, +and she was ill-pleased. She had not succeeded in +turning her father’s heart toward herself as she had confidently +expected to do when she ran away with her sea captain. +She had written a gay letter home, taking for granted, in a +pretty way, the forgiveness she did not think it necessary to +ask, but there had come in return a brief harsh statement from +her father that she was no longer his daughter and must cease +from further communication with the family in any way; +that she should never enter his house again and not a penny +of his money should ever pass to her. He also informed her +plainly that the trousseau made for her had been given to her +sister who was now the wife of the man she had not seen fit +to marry.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Over this letter Mistress Kate at first stormed, then wept, +and finally sat down to frame epistle after epistle in petulant, +penitent language. These epistles following each other by +daily mail coaches still brought nothing further from her +irate parent, and my lady was at last forced to face the fact +that she must bear the penalty of her own misdeeds; a lesson +she should have learned much earlier in life.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The young captain, who had always made it appear that +he had plenty of money, had spent his salary, and most of +his mother’s fortune, which had been left in his keeping as +administrator of his father’s estate; so he had really very +little to offer the spoiled and petted beauty, who simply +would not settle down to the inevitable and accept the fate +she had brought upon herself and others. Day after day she +fretted and blamed her husband until he heartily wished her +back from whence he had taken her; wished her back with +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page218"></span><a name="pg218" id="pg218" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +her straitlaced lover from whom he had stolen her; wished +her anywhere save where she was. Her brightness and beauty +seemed all gone: she was a sulky child insisting upon the +moon or nothing. She waited to go to New York and be +established in a fine house with plenty of servants and a +carriage and horses, and the young captain had not the wherewithal +to furnish these accessories to an elegant and luxurious +life.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He had loved her so far as his shallow nature could love, +and perhaps she had returned it in the beginning. He +wanted to spend his furlough in quiet places where he might +have a honeymoon of his ideal, bantering Kate’s sparkling +sentences, looking into her beautiful eyes, touching her rosy +lips with his own as often as he chose. But Mistress Kate +had lost her sparkle. She would not be kissed until she had +gained her point, her lovely eyes were full of disfiguring +tears and angry flashes, and her speech scintillated with cutting +sarcasms, which were none the less hard to bear that +they pressed home some disagreeable truths to the easy, careless +spendthrift. The rose had lost its dew and was making +its thorns felt.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">And so they quarreled through their honeymoon, and +Captain Leavenworth was not sorry when a hasty and unexpected +end came to his furlough and he was ordered off with +his ship for an indefinite length of time.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Even then Kate thought to get her will before he left, and +held on her sullen ways and her angry, blameful talk until the +last minute, so that he hurried away without even one good-bye +kiss, and with her angry sentences sounding in his ears.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">True, he repented somewhat on board the ship and sent her +back more money than she could reasonably have expected +under the circumstances, but he sent it without one word of +gentleness, and Kate’s heart was hard toward her husband.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Then with bitterness and anguish,—that was new and +fairly astonishing that it had come to her who had always +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page219"></span><a name="pg219" id="pg219" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +had her way,—she sat down to think of the man she had +jilted. He would have been kind to her. He would have +given her all she asked and more. He would even have +moved his business to New York to please her, she felt sure. +Why had she been so foolish! And then, like many another +sinner who is made at last to see the error of his ways, she +cast hard thoughts at a Fate which had allowed her to make +so great a mistake, and pitied her poor little self out of all +recognition of the character she had formed.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But she took her money and went to New York, for she +felt that there only could she be at all happy, and have some +little taste of the delights of true living.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She took up her abode with an ancient relative of her +own mother’s, who lived in a quiet respectable part of the +city, and who was glad to piece out her small annuity with +the modest sum that Kate agreed to pay for her board.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It was not long before Mistress Kate, with her beautiful +face, and the pretty clothes which she took care to provide +at once for herself, spending lavishly out of the diminishing +sum her husband had sent her, and thinking not of the +morrow, nor the day when the board bills would be due, +became well known. The musty little parlor of the ancient +relative was daily filled with visitors, and every evening Kate +held court, with the old aunt nodding in her chair by the +fireside.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Neither did the poor old lady have a very easy time of it, +in spite of the promise of weekly pay. Kate laughed at the +old furniture and the old ways. She demanded new things, +and got them, too, until the old lady saw little hope of any +help from the board money when Kate was constantly saying: +<span class="tei tei-q">“I saw this in a shop down town, auntie, and as I knew you +needed it I just bought it. My board this week will just pay +for it.”</span> As always, Kate ruled. The little parlor took on an +air of brightness, and Kate became popular. A few women +of fashion took her up, and Kate launched herself upon a +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page220"></span><a name="pg220" id="pg220" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +gay life, her one object to have as good a time as possible, +regardless of what her husband or any one else might think.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">When Kate had been in New York about two months it +happened one day that she went out to drive with one of her +new acquaintances, a young married woman of about her own +age, who had been given all in a worldly way that had been +denied to Kate.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">They made some calls in Brooklyn, and returned on the +ferry-boat, carriage and all, just as the sun was setting.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The view was marvellous. The water a flood of pink and +green and gold; the sails of the vessels along the shore lit +up resplendently; the buildings of the city beyond sent back +occasional flashes of reflected light from window glass or +church spire. It was a picture worth looking upon, and +Kate’s companion was absorbed in it.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Not so Kate. She loved display above all things. She sat +up statelily, aware that she looked well in her new frock with +the fine lace collar she had extravagantly purchased the day +before, and her leghorn bonnet with its real ostrich feather, +which was becoming in the extreme. She enjoyed sitting +back of the colored coachman, her elegant friend by her side, +and being admired by the two ladies and the little girl who +sat in the ladies’ cabin and occasionally peeped curiously at +her from the window. She drew herself up haughtily and let +her soul <span class="tei tei-q">“delight itself in fatness”</span>—borrowed fatness, perhaps, +but still, the long desired. She told herself she had a +right to it, for was she not a Schuyler? That name was respected +everywhere.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She bore a grudge at a man and woman who stood by +the railing absorbed in watching the sunset haze that lay +over the river showing the white sails in gleams like +flashes of white birds here and there.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">A young man well set up, and fashionably attired, sauntered +up to the carriage. He spoke to Kate’s friend, and was +introduced. Kate felt in her heart it was because of her +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page221"></span><a name="pg221" id="pg221" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +presence there he came. His bold black eyes told her as much +and she was flattered.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">They fell to talking.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“You say you spent the summer near Albany, Mr. Temple,”</span> +said Kate presently, <span class="tei tei-q">“I wonder if you happen to know +any of my friends. Did you meet a Mr. Spafford? David +Spafford?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Of course I did, knew him well,”</span> said the young man +with guarded tone. But a quick flash of dislike, and perhaps +fear had crossed his face at the name. Kate was keen. She +analyzed that look. She parted her charming red lips and +showed her sharp little teeth like the treacherous pearls in a +white kitten’s pink mouth.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“He was once a lover of mine,”</span> said Kate carelessly, +wrinkling her piquant little nose as if the idea were comical, +and laughing out a sweet ripple of mirth that would have +cut David to the heart.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Indeed!”</span> said the ever ready Harry, <span class="tei tei-q">“and I do not +wonder. Is not every one that at once they see you, Madam +Leavenworth? How kind of your husband to stay away +at sea for so long a time and give us other poor fellows +a chance to say pleasant things.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Then Kate pouted her pretty lips in a way she had and +tapped the delighted Harry with her carriage parasol across +the fingers of his hand that had taken familiar hold of the +carriage beside her arm.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, you naughty man!”</span> she exclaimed prettily. <span class="tei tei-q">“How +dare you! Yes, David Spafford and I were quite good +friends. I almost gave in at one time and became Mrs. +Spafford, but he was too good for me!”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She uttered this truth in a mocking tone, and Harry saw +her lead and hastened to follow. Here was a possible chance +for revenge. He was ready for any. He studied the lady +before him keenly. Of what did that face remind him? +Had he ever seen her before?</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page222"></span><a name="pg222" id="pg222" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“I should judge him a little straitlaced for your merry +ways,”</span> he responded gallantly, <span class="tei tei-q">“but he’s like all the rest, +fickle, you know. He’s married. Have you heard?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Kate’s face darkened with something hard and cruel, but +her voice was soft as a cat’s purr:</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Yes,”</span> she sighed, <span class="tei tei-q">“I know. He married my sister. +Poor child! I am sorry for her. I think he did it out of +revenge, and she was too young to know her own mind. +But they, poor things, will have to bear the consequences of +what they have done. Isn’t it a pity that that has to be, +Mr. Temple? It is dreadful to have the innocent suffer. I +have been greatly anxious about my sister.”</span> She lifted her +large eyes swimming in tears, and he did not perceive the +insincerity in her purring voice just then. He was thanking +his lucky stars that he had been saved from any remarks +about young Mrs. Spafford, whom her sister seemed to love +so deeply. It had been on the tip of his tongue to suggest +that she might be able to lead her husband a gay little dance +if she chose. How lucky he had not spoken! He tried to +say some pleasant comforting nothings, and found it delightful +to see her face clear into smiles and her blue eyes look +into his so confidingly. By the time the boat touched the +New York side the two felt well acquainted, and Harry +Temple had promised to call soon, which promise he lost no +time in keeping.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Kate’s heart had grown bitter against the young sister who +had dared to take her place, and against the lover who had so +easily solaced himself. She could not understand it.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She resolved to learn all that Mr. Temple knew about +David, and to find out if possible whether he were happy. It +was Kate’s nature not to be able to give up anything even +though she did not want it. She desired the life-long devotion +of every man who came near her, and have it she would +or punish him.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Harry Temple, meanwhile, was reflecting upon his chance +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page223"></span><a name="pg223" id="pg223" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +meeting that afternoon and wondering if in some way he +might not yet have revenge upon the man who had humbled +him. Possibly this woman could help him.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">After some thought he sat down and penned a letter to +Hannah Heath, begemming it here and there with devoted +sentences which caused that young woman’s eyes to sparkle +and a smile of anticipation to wreathe her lips. When she +heard of the handsome sister in New York, and of her former +relations with David Spafford, her eyes narrowed speculatively, +and her fair brow drew into puzzled frowns. Harry Temple +had drawn a word picture of Mrs. Leavenworth. Harry +should have been a novelist. If he had not been too lazy he +would have been a success. Gold hair! Ah! Hannah had +heard of gold hair before, and in connection with David’s +promised wife. Here was a mystery and Hannah resolved +to look into it. It would at least be interesting to note the +effect of her knowledge upon the young bride next door. She +would try it.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Meantime, the acquaintance of Harry Temple and Kate +Leavenworth had progressed rapidly. The second sight of +the lady proved more interesting than the first, for now her +beautiful gold hair added to the charm of her handsome face. +Harry ever delighted in beauty of whatever type, and a blonde +was more fascinating to him than a brunette. Kate had +dressed herself bewitchingly, and her manner was charming. +She knew how to assume pretty child-like airs, but she was not +afraid to look him boldly in the eyes, and the light in her +own seemed to challenge him. Here was a delightful new +study. A woman fresh from the country, having all the +charm of innocence, almost as child-like as her sister, yet with +none of her prudishness. Kate’s eyes held latent wickedness +in them, or he was much mistaken. She did not droop her +lids and blush when he looked boldly and admiringly into +her face, but stared him back, smilingly, merrily, daringly, +as though she would go quite as far as he would. Moreover, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page224"></span><a name="pg224" id="pg224" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +with her he was sure he need feel none of the compunctions +he might have felt with her younger sister who was so +obviously innocent, for whether Kate’s boldness was from +lack of knowledge, or from lack of innocence, she was quite +able to protect herself, that was plain.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">So Harry settled into his chair with a smile of pleasant +anticipation upon his face. He not only had the prospect +before him of a possible ally in revenge against David Spafford, +but he had the promise of a most unusually delightful +flirtation with a woman who was worthy of his best efforts in +that line.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Almost at once it began, with pleasant banter, adorned +with personal compliments.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Lovelier than I thought, my lady,”</span> said Harry, bowing low +over the hand she gave him, in a courtly manner he had +acquired, perhaps from the old-world novels he had read, +and he brushed her pink finger tips with his lips in a way +that signified he was her abject slave.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Kate blushed and smiled, greatly pleased, for though +she had held her own little court in the village where she +was brought up, and queened it over the young men who had +flocked about her willingly, she had not been used to the +fulsome flattery that breathed from Harry Temple in every +word and glance.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He looked at her keenly as he stood back a moment, to see +if she were in any wise offended with his salutation, and +saw as he expected that she was pleased and flattered. Her +cheeks had grown rosier, and her eyes sparkled with pleasure +as she responded with a pretty, gracious speech.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Then they sat down and faced one another. A good woman +would have called his look impudent—insulting. Kate returned +it with a look that did not shrink, nor waver, but fearlessly, +recklessly accepted the challenge. Playing with fire, +were these two, and with no care for the fearful results which +might follow. Both knew it was dangerous, and liked it the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page225"></span><a name="pg225" id="pg225" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +better for that. There was a long silence. The game was +opening on a wider scale than either had ever played before.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Do you believe in affinities?”</span> asked the devil, through +the man’s voice.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The woman colored and showed she understood his deeper +meaning. Her eyes drooped for just the shade of an instant, +and then she looked up and faced him saucily, provokingly:</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Why?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He admired her with his gaze, and waited, lazily watching +the color play in her cheeks.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Do you need to ask why?”</span> he said at last, looking at +her significantly. <span class="tei tei-q">“I knew that you were my affinity the +moment I laid my eyes upon you, and I hoped you felt the +same. But perhaps I was mistaken.”</span> He searched her face.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She kept her eyes upon his, returning their full gaze, as +if to hold it from going too deep into her soul.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“I did not say you were mistaken, did I?”</span> said the rosy +lips coquettishly, and Kate drooped her long lashes till they +fell in becoming sweeps over her burning cheeks.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Something in the curve of cheek and chin, and sweep of +dark lash over velvet skin, reminded him of her sister. It was +so she had sat, though utterly unconscious, while he had been +singing, when there had come over him that overwhelming +desire to kiss her. If he should kiss this fair lady would +she slap him in the face and run into the garden? He +thought not. Still, she was brought up by the same father +and mother in all likelihood, and it was well to go slow. +He reached forward, drawing his chair a little nearer to her, +and then boldly took one of her small unresisting hands, +gently, that he might not frighten her, and smoothed it +thoughtfully between his own. He held it in a close grasp +and looked into her face again, she meanwhile watching her +hand amusedly, as though it were something apart from +herself, a sort of distant possession, for which she was in no +wise responsible.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page226"></span><a name="pg226" id="pg226" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“I feel that you belong to me,”</span> he said boldly looking into +her eyes with a languishing gaze. <span class="tei tei-q">“I have known it from +the first moment.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Kate let her hand lie in his as if she liked it, but she said:</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“And what makes you think that, most audacious sir? +Did you not know that I am married?”</span> Then she swept +her gaze up provokingly at him again and smiled, showing +her dainty, treacherous, little teeth. She was so bewitchingly +pretty and tempting then that he had a mind to kiss her on +the spot, but a thought came to him that he would rather +lead her further first. He was succeeding well. She had +no mind to be afraid. She did her part admirably.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“That makes no difference,”</span> said he smiling. <span class="tei tei-q">“That +another man has secured you first, and has the right to provide +for you, and be near you, is my misfortune of course, but it +makes no difference, you are mine? By all the power of +love you are mine. Can any other man keep my soul from +yours, can he keep my eyes from looking into yours, or my +thoughts from hovering over you, or—”</span> he hesitated and +looked at her keenly, while she furtively watched him, holding +her breath and half inviting him—<span class="tei tei-q">“or my lips from +drinking life from yours?”</span> He stooped quickly and pressed +his lips upon hers.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Kate gave a quick little gasp like a sob and drew back. +The aunt nodding over her Bible in the next room had not +heard,—she was very deaf,—but for an instant the young +woman felt that all the shades of her worthy patriarchal +ancestors were hurrying around and away from her in horror. +She had come of too good Puritan stock not to know that +she was treading in the path of unrighteousness. Nevertheless +it was a broad path, and easy. It tempted her. It was +exciting. It lured her with promise of satisfying some of +her untamed longings and impulses.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She did not look offended. She only drew back to get +breath and consider. The wild beating of her heart, the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page227"></span><a name="pg227" id="pg227" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +tumult of her cheeks and eyes were all a part of a new emotion. +Her vanity was excited, and she thrilled with a wild +pleasure. As a duck will take to swimming so she took to the +new game, with wonderful facility.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“But I didn’t say you might,”</span> she cried with a bewildering +smile.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“I beg your pardon, fair lady, may I have another?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">His bold, bad face was near her own, so that she did not +see the evil triumph that lurked there. She had come to +the turning of another way in her life, and just here she +might have drawn back if she would. Half she knew this, +yet she toyed with the opportunity, and it was gone. The +new way seemed so alluring.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“You will first have to prove your right!”</span> she said decidedly, +with that pretty commanding air that had conquered +so many times.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">And in like manner on they went through the evening, frittering +the time away at playing with edged tools.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">A friendship so begun—if so unworthy an intimacy may +be called by that sweet name—boded no good to either of the +two, and that evening marked a decided turn for the worse +in Kate Leavenworth’s career.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div id="MS20" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page228"></span><a name="pg228" id="pg228" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<a name="toc40" id="toc40"></a> +<a name="pdf41" id="pdf41"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"> + <span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER XX</span></span> +</h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David had found it necessary to take a journey which +might keep him away for several weeks.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He told Marcia in the evening when he came home from +the office. He told her as he would have told his clerk. It +meant nothing to him but an annoyance that he had to +start out in the early winter, leave his business in other’s +hands for an indefinite period, and go among strangers. He +did not see the whitening of Marcia’s lips, nor the quick little +movement of her hand to her heart. Even Marcia herself +did not realize all that it meant to her. She felt as if a +sudden shock had almost knocked her off her feet. This +quiet life in the big house, with only David at intervals to +watch and speak to occasionally, and no one to open her true +heart to, had been lonely; and many a time when she was +alone at night she had wept bitter tears upon her pillow,—why +she did not quite know. But now when she knew that +it was to cease, and David was going away from her for a +long time, perhaps weeks, her heart suddenly tightened +and she knew how sweet it had been growing. Almost +the tears came to her eyes, but she made a quick errand to +the hearth for the teapot, busying herself there till they were +under control again. When she returned to her place at the +table she was able to ask David some commonplace question +about the journey which kept her true feeling quite hidden +from him.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He was to start the next evening if possible. It appeared +that there was something important about railroading coming +up in Congress. It was necessary that he should be +present to hear the debate, and also that he should see and +interview influential men. It meant much to the success of +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page229"></span><a name="pg229" id="pg229" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +the great new enterprises that were just in their infancy +that he should go and find out all about them and write +them up as only he whose heart was in it could do. He +was pleased to have been selected for this; he was lifted for +the time above himself and his life troubles, and given to feel +that he had a work in the world that was worth while, a high +calling, a chance to give a push to the unrolling of the secret +possibilities of the universe and help them on their way.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia understood it all, and was proud and glad for him, +but her own heart which beat in such perfect sympathy with +the work felt lonely and left out. If only she could have +helped too!</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There was no time for David to take Marcia to her home +to stay during his absence. He spoke of it regretfully just +as he was about to leave, and asked if she would like him +to get some one to escort her by coach to her father’s house +until he could come for her; but she held back the tears by +main force and shook her head. She had canvassed that +question in the still hours of the night. She had met in +imagination the home village with its kindly and unkindly +curiosity, she had seen their hands lifted in suspicion; heard +their covert whispers as to why her husband did not come +with her; why he had left her so soon after the honeymoon; +why—a hundred things. She had even thought of Aunt +Polly and her acrid tongue and made up her mind that whatever +happened she did not want to go home to stay.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The only other alternative was to go to the aunts. David +expected it, and the aunts spoke of it as if nothing else were +possible. Marcia would have preferred to remain alone in +her own house, with her beloved piano, but David would not +consent, and the aunts were scandalized at the suggestion. So +to the aunts went Marcia, and they took her in with a hope +in their hearts that she might get the same good from the +visit that the sluggard in the Bible is bidden to find.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“We must do our duty by her for David’s sake,”</span> said +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page230"></span><a name="pg230" id="pg230" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Aunt Hortense, with pursed lips and capable, folded hands +that seemed fairly to ache to get at the work of reconstructing +the new niece.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Yes, it is our opportunity,”</span> said Aunt Amelia with a +snap as though she thoroughly enjoyed the prospect. <span class="tei tei-q">“Poor +David!”</span> and so they sat and laid out their plans for their +sweet young victim, who all unknowingly was coming to one +of those tests in her life whereby we are tried for greater +things and made perfect in patience and sweetness.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It began with the first breakfast—the night before she had +been company, at supper—but when the morning came they +felt she must be counted one of the family. They examined +her thoroughly on what she had been taught with regard to +housekeeping. They made her tell her recipes for pickling +and preserving. They put her through a catechism of culinary +lore, and always after her most animated account of the +careful way in which she had been trained in this or that +housewifely art she looked up with wistful eyes that longed +to please, only to be met by the hard set lips and steely +glances of the two mentors who regretted that she should not +have been taught their way which was so much better.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Aunt Hortense even went so far once as to suggest that +Marcia write to her stepmother and tell her how much +better it was to salt the water in which potatoes were to be +boiled before putting them in, and was much offended by +the clear girlish laugh that bubbled up involuntarily at the +thought of teaching her stepmother anything about cooking.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Excuse me,”</span> she said, instantly sobering as she saw the +grim look of the aunt, and felt frightened at what she had +done. <span class="tei tei-q">“I did not mean to laugh, indeed I did not; but +it seemed so funny to think of my telling mother how to do +anything.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“People are never too old to learn,”</span> remarked Aunt Hortense +with offended mien, <span class="tei tei-q">“and one ought never to be too +proud when there is a better way.”</span></p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page231"></span><a name="pg231" id="pg231" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“But mother thinks there is no better way I am sure. +She says that it makes potatoes soggy to boil them in salt. +All that grows below the ground should be salted after it +is cooked and all that grows above the ground should be +cooked in salted water, is her rule.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“I am surprised that your stepmother should uphold any +such superstitious ideas,”</span> said Aunt Amelia with a self-satisfied +expression.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“One should never be too proud to learn something better,”</span> +Aunt Hortense said grimly, and Marcia retreated in dire +consternation at the thought of what might follow if these +three notable housekeeping gentlewomen should come together. +Somehow she felt a wicked little triumph in the +thought that it would be hard to down her stepmother.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia was given a few light duties ostensibly to <span class="tei tei-q">“make +her feel at home,”</span> but in reality, she knew, because the aunts +felt she needed their instruction. She was asked if she +would like to wash the china and glass; and regularly after +each meal a small wooden tub and a mop were brought in +with hot water and soap, and she was expected to handle the +costly heirlooms under the careful scrutiny of their worshipping +owners, who evidently watched each process with +strained nerves lest any bit of treasured pottery should be +cracked or broken. It was a trying ordeal.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The girl would have been no girl if she had not chafed +under this treatment. To hold her temper steady and sweet +under it was almost more than she could bear.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There were long afternoons when it was decreed that they +should knit.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia had been used to take long walks at home, over +the smooth crust of the snow, going to her beloved woods, +where she delighted to wander among the bare and creaking +trees; fancying them whispering sadly to one another of the +summer that was gone and the leaves they had borne now +dead. But it would be a dreadful thing in the aunts’ opinion +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page232"></span><a name="pg232" id="pg232" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +for a woman, and especially a young one, to take a long walk +in the woods alone, in winter too, and with no object whatever +in view but a walk! What a waste of time!</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There were two places of refuge for Marcia during the +weeks that followed. There was home. How sweet that +word sounded to her! How she longed to go back there, with +David coming home to his quiet meals three times a day, and +with her own time to herself to do as she pleased. With +housewifely zeal that was commendable in the eyes of the +aunts, Marcia insisted upon going down to her own house +every morning to see that all was right, guiltily knowing that +in her heart she meant to hurry to her beloved books and +piano. To be sure it was cold and cheerless in the empty +house. She dared not make up fires and leave them, and +she dared not stay too long lest the aunts would feel hurt +at her absence, but she longed with an inexpressible longing +to be back there by herself, away from that terrible supervision +and able to live her own glad little life and think +her own thoughts untrammeled by primness.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Sometimes she would curl up in David’s big arm-chair +and have a good cry, after which she would take a book +and read until the creeping chills down her spine warned +her she must stop. Even then she would run up and down +the hall or take a broom and sweep vigorously to warm +herself and then go to the cold keys and play a sad little +tune. All her tunes seemed sad like a wail while David +was gone.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The other place of refuge was Aunt Clarinda’s room. +Thither she would betake herself after supper, to the delight +of the old lady. Then the other two occupants of the house +were left to themselves and might unbend from their rigid +surveillance for a little while. Marcia often wondered if +they ever did unbend.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There was a large padded rocking chair in Aunt Clarinda’s +room and Marcia would laughingly take the little old lady +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page233"></span><a name="pg233" id="pg233" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +in her arms and place her comfortably in it, after a pleasant +struggle on Miss Clarinda’s part to put her guest into it. +They had this same little play every evening, and it seemed to +please the old lady mightily. Then when she was conquered +she always sat meekly laughing, a fine pink color in her soft +peachy cheek, the candle light from the high shelf making +flickering sparkles in her old eyes that always seemed young; +and she would say: <span class="tei tei-q">“That’s just as David used to do.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Then Marcia drew up the little mahogany stool covered +with the worsted dog which Aunt Clarinda had worked when +she was ten years old, and snuggling down at the old lady’s +feet exclaimed delightedly: <span class="tei tei-q">“Tell me about it!”</span> and they +settled down to solid comfort.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There came a letter from David after he had been gone +a little over a week. Marcia had not expected to hear from +him. He had said nothing about writing, and their relations +were scarcely such as to make it necessary. Letters were an +expensive luxury in those days. But when the letter was +handed to her, Marcia’s heart went pounding against her +breast, the color flew into her cheeks, and she sped away +home on feet swift as the wings of a bird. The postmaster’s +daughter looked after her, and remarked to her father: +<span class="tei tei-q">“My, but don’t she think a lot of him!”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Straight to the cold, lonely house she flew, and sitting +down in his big chair read it.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It was a pleasant letter, beginning formally: <span class="tei tei-q">“My dear +Marcia,”</span> and asking after her health. It brought back a +little of the unacquaintedness she had felt when he was at +home, and which had been swept away in part by her knowledge +of his childhood. But it went on quite happily telling +all about his journey and describing minutely the places he +had passed through and the people he had met on the way; +detailing every little incident as only a born writer and +observer could do, until she felt as if he were talking to her. +He told her of the men whom he had met who were interested +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page234"></span><a name="pg234" id="pg234" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +in the new project. He told of new plans and described +minutely his visit to the foundry at West Point and +the machinery he had seen. Marcia read it all breathlessly, +in search of something, she knew not what, that was not there. +When she had finished and found it not, there was a sense of +aloofness, a sad little disappointment which welled up in her +throat. She sat back to think about it. He was having a +good time, and he was not lonely. He had no longing to be +back in the house and everything running as before he had +gone. He was out in the big glorious world having to do +with progress, and coming in contact with men who were +making history. Of course he did not dream how lonely +she was here, and how she longed, if for nothing else, +just to be back here alone and do as she pleased, and not to +be watched over. If only she might steal Aunt Clarinda +and bring her back to live here with her while David was +away! But that was not to be thought of, of course. By and +by she mustered courage to be glad of her letter, and to read +it over once more.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">That night she read the letter to Aunt Clarinda and together +they discussed the great inventions, and the changes +that were coming to pass in the land. Aunt Clarinda was +just a little beyond her depth in such a conversation, but +Marcia did most of the talking, and the dear old lady made +an excellent listener, with a pat here, and a <span class="tei tei-q">“Dearie me! +Now you don’t say so!”</span> there, and a <span class="tei tei-q">“Bless the boy! What +great things he does expect. And I hope he won’t be disappointed.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">That letter lasted them for many a day until another came, +this time from Washington, with many descriptions of public +men and public doings, and a word picture of the place which +made it appear much like any other place after all if it was +the capitol of the country. And once there was a sentence +which Marcia treasured. It was, <span class="tei tei-q">“I wish you could be here +and see everything. You would enjoy it I know.”</span></p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page235"></span><a name="pg235" id="pg235" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There came another letter later beginning, <span class="tei tei-q">“My dear little +girl.”</span> There was nothing else in it to make Marcia’s heart +throb, it was all about his work, but Marcia carried it many +days in her bosom. It gave her a thrill of delight to think of +those words at the beginning. Of course it meant no more +than that he thought of her as a girl, his little sister that was +to have been, but there was a kind of ownership in the words +that was sweet to Marcia’s lonely heart. It had come to her +that she was always looking for something that would make +her feel that she belonged to David.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div id="MS21" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page236"></span><a name="pg236" id="pg236" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<a name="toc42" id="toc42"></a> +<a name="pdf43" id="pdf43"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"> + <span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER XXI</span></span> +</h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">When David had been in New York about three weeks, +he happened one day to pass the house where Kate Leavenworth +was living.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Kate was standing listlessly by the window looking into +the street. She was cross and felt a great depression settling +over her. The flirtation with Harry Temple had begun to +pall upon her. She wanted new worlds to conquer. She +was restless and feverish. There was not excitement enough +in the life she was living. She would like to meet more +people, senators and statesmen—and to have plenty of money +to dress as became her beauty, and be admired publicly. She +half wished for the return of her husband, and meditated +making up with him for the sake of going to Washington to +have a good time in society there. What was the use of +running away with a naval officer if one could not have the +benefit of it? She had been a fool. Here she was almost to +the last penny, and so many things she wanted. No word +had come from her husband since he sent her the money at +sailing. She felt a bitter resentment toward him for urging +her to marry him. If she had only gone on and married +David she would be living a life of ease now—plenty of +money—nothing to do but what she pleased and no anxiety +whatever, for David would have done just what she wanted.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Then suddenly she looked up and David passed before her!</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He was walking with a tall splendid-looking man, with +whom he was engaged in most earnest conversation, and his +look was grave and deeply absorbed. He did not know of +Kate’s presence in New York, and passed the house in utter +unconsciousness of the eyes watching him.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Kate’s lips grew white, and her limbs seemed suddenly +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page237"></span><a name="pg237" id="pg237" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +weak, but she strained her face against the window to watch +the retreating figure of the man who had almost been her +husband. How well she knew the familiar outline. How +fine and handsome he appeared now! Why had she not +thought so before? Were her eyes blind, or had she been +under some strange enchantment? Why had she not known +that her happiness lay in the way that had been marked out +for her? Well, at least she knew it now.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She sat all day by that window and watched. She professed +to have no appetite when pressed to come to the table, +though she permitted herself to languidly consume the bountiful +tray of good things that was brought her, but her eyes +were on the street. She was watching to see if David would +pass that way again. But though she watched until the sun +went down and dusk sifted through the streets, she saw no +sign nor heard the sound of his footsteps. Then she hastened +up to her room, which faced upon the street also, and there, +wrapped in blankets she sat in the cold frosty air, waiting +and listening. And while she watched she was thinking bitter +feverish thoughts. She heard Harry Temple knock and +knew that he was told that she was not feeling well and had +retired early. She watched him pause on the stoop thoughtfully +as if considering what to do with the time thus unexpectedly +thrown upon his hands, then saw him saunter up +the street unconcernedly, and she wondered idly where he +would go, and what he would do.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It grew late, even for New York. One by one the lights +in the houses along the street went out, and all was quiet. +She drew back from the window at last, weary with excitement +and thinking, and lay down on the bed, but she could +not sleep. The window was open and her ears were on the +alert, and by and by there came the distant echo of feet ringing +on the pavement. Some one was coming. She sprang +up. She felt sure he was coming. Yes, there were two men. +They were coming back together. She could hear their voices. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page238"></span><a name="pg238" id="pg238" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +She fancied she heard David’s long before it was possible +to distinguish any words. She leaned far out of her upper +window till she could discern dim forms under the starlight, +and then just as they were under the window she distinctly +heard David say:</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“There is no doubt but we shall win. The right is on our +side, and it is the march of progress. Some of the best men +in Congress are with us, and now that we are to have your +influence I do not feel afraid of the issue.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">They had passed by rapidly, like men who had been on a +long day’s jaunt of some kind and were hastening home to +rest. There was little in the sentence that Kate could understand. +She had no more idea whether the subject of their +discourse was railroads or the last hay crop. The sentence +meant to her but one thing. It showed that David companioned +with the great men of the land, and his position +would have given her a standing that would have been above +the one she now occupied. Tears of defeat ran down her +cheeks. She had made a bad mistake and she saw no way +to rectify it. If her husband should die,—and it might be, +for the sea was often treacherous—of course there were all +sorts of possibilities,—but even then there was Marcia! She +set her sharp little teeth into her red lips till the blood came. +She could not get over her anger at Marcia. It would not +have been so bad if David had remained her lone lorn lover, +ready to fly to her if others failed. Her self-love was wounded +sorely, and she, poor silly soul, mistook it for love of David. +She began to fancy that after all she had loved him, and +that Fate had somehow played her a mad trick and tied her +to a husband she had not wanted.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Then out of the watchings of the day and the fancies of +the night, there grew a thought—and the thought widened +into a plan. She thought of her intimacy with Harry and +her new found power. Might she perhaps exercise it over +others as well as Harry Temple? Might she possibly lead +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page239"></span><a name="pg239" id="pg239" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +back this man who had once been her lover, to bow at her +feet again and worship her? If that might be she could bear +all the rest. She began to long with intense craving to see +David grovel at her feet, to hear him plead for a kiss from +her, and tell her once more how beautiful she was, and +how she fulfilled all his soul’s ideals. She sat by the open +window yet with the icy air of the night blowing upon her, +but her cheeks burned red in the darkness, and her eyes +glowed like coals of fire from the tawny framing of her fallen +hair. The blankets slipped away from her throat and still +she heeded not the cold, but sat with hot clenched hands +planning with the devil’s own strategy her shameless scheme.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">By and by she lighted a candle and drew her writing materials +toward her to write, but it was long she sat and thought +before she finally wrote the hastily scrawled note, signed and +sealed it, and blowing out her candle lay down to sleep.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The letter was addressed to David, and it ran thus:</p> + +<div class="block tei tei-quote" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"> + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span class="tei tei-q"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-variant: small-caps">Dear David</span></span><span style="font-size: 90%">:</span><span style="font-size: 90%">”</span></span></p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span class="tei tei-q"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">I have just heard that you are in New York. I am in + great distress and do not know where to turn for help. For the sake of + what we have been to each other in the past will you come to me?</span></span></p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: right; margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: right"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">Hastily, your loving </span><span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: right"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-variant: small-caps">Kate</span></span><span style="font-size: 90%">.</span><span style="font-size: 90%">”</span></span></p> +</div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She did not know where David was but she felt reasonably +sure she could find out his address in the morning. There +was a small boy living next door who was capable of ferreting +out almost anything for money. Kate had employed him +more than once as an amateur detective in cases of minor +importance. So, with a bit of silver and her letter she made +her way to his familiar haunts and explained most carefully +that the letter was to be delivered to no one but the man +to whom it was addressed, naming several stopping places +where he might be likely to be found, and hinting that there +was more silver to be forthcoming when he should bring her +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page240"></span><a name="pg240" id="pg240" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +an answer to the note. With a minute description of David +the keen-eyed urchin set out, while Kate betook herself to +her room to dress for David’s coming. She felt sure he would +be found, and confident that he would come at once.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The icy wind of the night before blowing on her exposed +throat and chest had given her a severe cold, but she paid no +heed to that. Her eyes and cheeks were shining with fever. +She knew she was entering upon a dangerous and unholy way. +The excitement of it stimulated her. She felt she did not +care for anything, right or wrong, sin or sorrow, only to win. +She wanted to see David at her feet again. It was the only +thing that would satisfy this insatiable longing in her, this +wounded pride of self.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">When she was dressed she stood before the mirror and surveyed +herself. She knew she was beautiful, and she defied +the glass to tell her anything else. She raised her chin in +haughty challenge to the unseen David to resist her charms. +She would bring him low before her. She would make him +forget Marcia, and his home and his staid Puritan notions, +and all else he held dear but herself. He should bend and +kiss her hand as Harry had done, only more warmly, for +instinctively she felt that his had been the purer life and +therefore his surrender would mean more. He should do +whatever she chose. And her eyes glowed with an unhallowed +light.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She had chosen to array herself regally, in velvet, but in +black, without a touch of color or of white. From her rich +frock her slender throat rose daintily, like a stem upon which +nodded the tempting flower of her face. No enameled complexion +could have been more striking in its vivid reds and +whites, and her mass of gold hair made her seem more lovely +than she really was, for in her face was love of self, alluring, +but heartless and cruel.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The boy found David, as Kate had thought he would, in +one of the quieter hostelries where men of letters were wont +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page241"></span><a name="pg241" id="pg241" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +to stop when in New York, and David read the letter and +came at once. She had known that he would do that, too. +His heart beat wildly, to the exclusion of all other thoughts +save that she was in trouble, his love, his dear one. He forgot +Marcia, and the young naval officer, and everything but +her trouble, and before he had reached her house the sorrow +had grown in his imagination into some great danger to +protect her from which he was hastening.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She received him alone in the room where Harry Temple +had first called, and a moment later Harry himself came to +knock and enquire for the health of Mistress Leavenworth, +and was told she was very much engaged at present with a +gentleman and could not see any one, whereupon Harry +scowled, and set himself at a suitable distance from the house +to watch who should come out.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David’s face was white as death as he entered, his eyes +shining like dark jewels blazing at her as if he would +<span class="tei tei-corr"><a name="E21" id="E21" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><a href="#e21" class="tei tei-ref">absorb</a></span> +the vision for the lonely future. She stood and posed,—not +by any means the picture of broken sorrow he had expected +to find from her note,—and let the sense of her beauty reach +him. There she stood with the look on her face he had +pictured to himself many a time when he had thought of +her as his wife. It was a look of love unutterable, bewildering, +alluring, compelling. It was so he had thought she +would meet him when he came home to her from his daily +business cares. And now she was there, looking that way, and +he stood here, so near her, and yet a great gulf fixed! It +was heaven and hell met together, and he had no power to +change either.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He did not come over to her and bow low to kiss the white +hand as Harry had done,—as she had thought she could +compel him to do. He only stood and looked at her with the +pain of an anguish beyond her comprehension, until the look +would have burned through to her heart—if she had had a +heart.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page242"></span><a name="pg242" id="pg242" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“You are in trouble,”</span> he spoke hoarsely, as if murmuring +an excuse for having come.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She melted at once into the loveliest sorrow, her mobile +features taking on a wan cast only enlivened by the glow of +her cheeks.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Sit down,”</span> she said, <span class="tei tei-q">“you were so good to come to me, +and so soon—”</span> and her voice was like lily-bells in a quiet +church-yard among the head-stones. She placed him a chair.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Yes, I am in trouble. But that is a slight thing compared +to my unhappiness. I think I am the most miserable +creature that breathes upon this earth.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">And with that she dropped into a low chair and hid her +glowing face in a dainty, lace bordered kerchief that suppressed +a well-timed sob.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Kate had wisely calculated how she could reach David’s +heart. If she had looked up then and seen his white, drawn +look, and the tense grasp of his hands that only the greatest +self-control kept quiet on his knee, perhaps even her mercilessness +would have been softened. But she did not look, +and she felt her part was well taken. She sobbed quietly, +and waited, and his hoarse voice asked once more, as gently +as a woman’s through his pain:</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Will you tell me what it is and how I can help you?”</span> +He longed to take her in his arms like a little child and comfort +her, but he might not. She was another’s. And perhaps +that other had been cruel to her! His clenched fists +showed how terrible was the thought. But still the bowed +figure in its piteous black sobbed and did not reply anything +except, <span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, I am so unhappy! I cannot bear it any longer.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Is—your—your—husband unkind to you?”</span> The words +tore themselves from his tense lips as though they were beyond +his control.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, no,—not exactly unkind—that is—he was not very +nice before he went away,”</span> wailed out a sad voice from behind +the linen cambric and lace, <span class="tei tei-q">“and he went away without a +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page243"></span><a name="pg243" id="pg243" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +kind word, and left me hardly any money—and he hasn’t +sent me any word since—and fa-father won’t have anything +to do with me any more—but—but—it’s not that I mind, +David. I don’t think about those things at all. I’m so unhappy +about you. I feel you do not forgive me, and I cannot +stand it any longer. I have made a fearful mistake, and +you are angry with me—I think about it at night”</span>—the +voice was growing lower now, and the sentences broken by +sobs that told better than words what distress the sufferer +would convey.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“I have been so wicked—and you were so good and kind—and +now you will never forgive me—I think it will kill me to +keep on thinking about it—”</span> her voice trailed off in tears +again.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David white with anguish sprang to his feet.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, Kate,”</span> he cried, <span class="tei tei-q">“my darling! Don’t talk that way. +You know I forgive you. Look up and tell me you know I +forgive you.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Almost she smiled her triumph beneath her sobs in the +little lace border, but she looked up with real tears on her face. +Even her tears obeyed her will. She was a good actress, also +she knew her power over David.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, David,”</span> she cried, standing up and clasping her hands +beseechingly, <span class="tei tei-q">“can it be true? Do you really forgive me? +Tell me again.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She came and stood temptingly near to the stern, suffering +man wild with the tumult that raged within him. Her +golden head was near his shoulder where it had rested more +than once in time gone by. He looked down at her from +his suffering height his arms folded tightly and said, as +though taking oath before a court of justice:</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“I do.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She looked up with her pleading blue eyes, like two jewels +of light now, questioning whether she might yet go one step +further. Her breath came quick and soft, he fancied it +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page244"></span><a name="pg244" id="pg244" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +touched his cheek, though she was not tall enough for that. +She lifted her tear-wet face like a flower after a storm, and +pleaded with her eyes once more, saying in a whisper very +soft and sweet:</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“If you really forgive me, then kiss me, just once, so I may +remember it always.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It was more than he could bear. He caught her to himself +and pressed his lips upon hers in one frenzied kiss of +torture. It was as if wrung from him against his will. Then +suddenly it came upon him what he had done, as he held her +in his arms, and he put her from him gently, as a mother +might put away the precious child she was sacrificing tenderly, +agonizingly, but finally. He put her from him thus +and stood a moment looking at her, while she almost sparkled +her pleasure at him through the tears. She felt that she had +won.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But gradually the silence grew ominous. She perceived he +was not smiling. His mien was like one who looks into an +open grave, and gazes for the last time at all that remains of +one who is dear. He did not seem like one who had yielded +a moral point and was ready now to serve her as she would. +She grew uneasy under his gaze. She moved forward and +put out her hands inviting, yielding, as only such a woman +could do, and the spell which bound him seemed to be broken. +He fumbled for a moment in his waistcoat pocket and +brought out a large roll of bills which he laid upon the +table, and taking up his hat turned toward the door. A cold +wave of weakness seemed to pass over her, stung here and +there by mortal pride that was in fear of being wounded +beyond recovery.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Where are you going?”</span> she asked weakly, and her voice +sounded to her from miles away, and strange.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He turned and looked at her again and she knew the look +meant farewell. He did not speak. Her whole being rose +for one more mighty effort.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page245"></span><a name="pg245" id="pg245" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“You are not going to leave me—now?”</span> There was +angelic sweetness in the voice, pleading, reproachful, piteous.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“I must!”</span> he said, and his voice sounded harsh. <span class="tei tei-q">“I have +just done that for which, were I your husband, I would feel +like killing any other man. I must protect you against yourself,—against +myself. You must be kept pure before God if +it kills us both. I would gladly die if that could help you, +but I am not even free to do that, for I belong to another.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Then he turned and was gone.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Kate’s hands fell to her sides, and seemed stiff and lifeless. +The bright color faded from her cheeks, and a cold frenzy +of horror took possession of her. <span class="tei tei-q">“Pure before God!”</span> She +shuddered at the name, and crimson shame rolled over forehead +and cheek. She sank in a little heap on the floor with +her face buried in the chair beside which she had been standing, +and the waters of humiliation rolled wave on wave above +her. She had failed, and for one brief moment she was +seeing her own sinful heart as it was.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But the devil was there also. He whispered to her now +the last sentence that David had spoken: <span class="tei tei-q">“I belong to another!”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Up to that moment Marcia had been a very negative factor +in the affair to Kate’s mind. She had been annoyed and +angry at her as one whose ignorance and impertinence had +brought her into an affair where she did not belong, but +now she suddenly faced the fact that Marcia must be +reckoned with. Marcia the child, who had for years been her +slave and done her bidding, had arisen in her way, and she +hated her with a sudden vindictive hate that would have killed +without flinching if the opportunity had presented at that +moment. Kate had no idea how utterly uncontrolled was +her whole nature. She was at the mercy of any passing passion. +Hate and revenge took possession of her now. With +flashing eyes she rose to her feet, brushing her tumbled hair +back and wiping away angry tears. She was too much agitated +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page246"></span><a name="pg246" id="pg246" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +to notice that some one had knocked at the front door +and been admitted, and when Harry Temple walked into the +room he found her standing so with hands clenched together, +and tears flowing down her cheeks unchecked.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Now a woman in tears, when the tears were not caused by +his own actions, was Harry’s opportunity. He had ways of +comforting which were as unscrupulous as they generally +proved effective, and so with affectionate tenderness he took +Kate’s hand and held it impressively, calling her <span class="tei tei-q">“dear.”</span> +He spoke soothing words, smoothed her hair, and kissed her +flushed cheeks and eyes. It was all very pleasant to Kate’s +hurt pride. She let Harry comfort her, and pet her a while, +and at last he said:</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Now tell me all about it, dear. I saw Lord Spafford +trail dejectedly away from here looking like death, and I +come here and find my lady in a fine fury. What has happened? +If I mistake not the insufferable cad has got badly +hurt, but it seems to have ruffled the lady also.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">This helped. It was something to feel that David was suffering. +She wanted him to suffer. He had brought shame +and humiliation upon her. She never realized that the thing +that shamed her was that he thought her better than she +was.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“He is offensively good. I <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">hate</span></span> him!”</span> she remarked as a +kitten might who had got hurt at playing with a mouse in a +trap.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The man’s face grew bland with satisfaction.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Not so good, my lady, but that he has been making love +to you, if I mistake not, and he with a wife at home.”</span> The +words were said quietly, but there was more of a question +in them than the tone conveyed. The man wished to have +evidence against his enemy.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Kate colored uneasily and drooped her lashes.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Harry studied her face keenly, and then went on cautiously:</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page247"></span><a name="pg247" id="pg247" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“If his wife were not your sister I should say that one +might punish him well through her.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Kate cast him a hard, scrutinizing look.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“You have some score against him yourself,”</span> she said +with conviction.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Perhaps I have, my lady. Perhaps I too hate him. He +is offensively good, you know.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There was silence in the room for a full minute while the +devil worked in both hearts.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“What did you mean by saying one might punish him +through his wife? He does not love his wife.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Are you sure?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Quite sure.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Perhaps he loves some one else, my lady.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“He does.”</span> She said it proudly.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Perhaps he loves you, my lady.”</span> He said it softly like +the suggestion from another world. The lady was silent, but +he needed no other answer.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Then indeed, the way would be even clearer,—were not +his wife your sister.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Kate looked at him, a half knowledge of his meaning beginning +to dawn in her eyes.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“How?”</span> she asked laconically.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“In case his wife should leave him do you think my lord +would hold his head so high?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Kate still looked puzzled.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“If some one else should win her affection, and should +persuade her to leave a husband who did not love her, and +who was bestowing his heart”</span>—he hesitated an instant and +his eye traveled significantly to the roll of bills still lying +where David had left them—<span class="tei tei-q">“and his gifts,”</span> he hazarded, +<span class="tei tei-q">“upon another woman——”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Kate grasped the thought at once and an evil glint of +eagerness showed in her eyes. She could see what an advantage +it would be to herself to have Marcia removed from the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page248"></span><a name="pg248" id="pg248" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +situation. It would break one more cord of honor that +bound David to a code which was hateful to her now, because +its existence shamed her. Nevertheless, unscrupulous as she +was she could not see how this was a possibility.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“But she is offensively good too,”</span> she said as if answering +her own thoughts.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“All goodness has its weak spot,”</span> sneered the man. <span class="tei tei-q">“If I +mistake not you have found my lord’s. It is possible I might +find his wife’s.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The two pairs of eyes met then, filled with evil light. It +was as if for an instant they were permitted to look into +the pit, and see the possibilities of wickedness, and exult in +it. The lurid glare of their thoughts played in their faces. +All the passion of hate and revenge rushed upon Kate in a +frenzy. With all her heart she wished this might be. She +looked her co-operation in the plan even before her hard voice +answered:</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“You need not stop because she is my sister.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He felt he had her permission, and he permitted himself a +glance of admiration for the depths to which she could go +without being daunted. Here was evil courage worthy of +his teaching. She seemed to him beautiful enough and daring +enough for Satan himself to admire.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“And may I have the pleasure of knowing that I would +by so doing serve my lady in some wise?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She drooped her shameless eyes and murmured guardedly, +<span class="tei tei-q">“Perhaps.”</span> Then she swept him a coquettish glance that +meant they understood one another.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Then I shall feel well rewarded,”</span> he said gallantly, and +bowing with more than his ordinary flattery of look bade her +good day and went out.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div id="MS22" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page249"></span><a name="pg249" id="pg249" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<a name="toc44" id="toc44"></a> +<a name="pdf45" id="pdf45"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"> + <span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER XXII</span></span> +</h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David stumbled blindly out the door and down the street. +His one thought was to get to his room at the tavern and +shut the door. He had an important appointment that morning, +but it passed completely from his mind. He met one +or two men whom he knew, but he did not see them, and +passed them swiftly without a glance of recognition. They +said one to another, <span class="tei tei-q">“How absorbed he is in the great +themes of the world!”</span> but David passed on in his pain and +misery and humiliation and never knew they were near him.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He went to the room that had been his since he had reached +New York, and fastening the door against all intrusion fell +upon his knees beside the bed, and let the +<span class="tei tei-corr"><a name="E22" id="E22" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><a href="#e22" class="tei tei-ref">flood-tide</a></span> +of his sorrow roll over him. Not even when Kate had played him +false on his wedding morning had he felt the pain that now +cut into his very soul. For now there was mingled with it +the agony of consciousness of sin. He had sinned against +heaven, against honor and love, and all that was pure and +good. He was just like any bad man. He had yielded to +sudden temptation and taken another man’s wife in his arms +and kissed her! That the woman had been his by first right, +and that he loved her: that she had invited the kiss, indeed +pleaded for it, his sensitive conscience told him in no wise +lessened the offense. He had also caused her whom he loved +to sin. He was a man and knew the world. He should have +shielded her against herself. And yet as he went over and +over the whole painful scene through which he had just passed +his soul cried out in agony and he felt his weakness more and +more. He had failed, failed most miserably. Acted like +any coward!</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The humiliation of it was unspeakable. Could any sorrow +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page250"></span><a name="pg250" id="pg250" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +be like unto his? Like a knife flashing through the gloom +of his own shame would come the echo of her words as she +pleaded with him to kiss her. It was a kiss of forgiveness +she had wanted, and she had put her heart into her eyes and +begged as for her very life. How could he have refused? +Then he would parley with himself for a long time trying +to prove to himself that the kiss and the embrace were +justified, that he had done no wrong in God’s sight. And +ever after this round of confused arguing he would end with +the terrible conviction that he had sinned.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Sometimes Marcia’s sweet face and troubled eyes would +appear to him as he wrestled all alone, and seemed to be longing +to help him, and again would come the piercing thought +that he had harmed this gentle girl also. He had tangled +her into his own spoiled web of life, and been disloyal to her. +She was pure and true and good. She had given up every +thing to help him and he had utterly forgotten her. He had +promised to love, cherish, and protect her! That was another +sin. He could not love and cherish her when his whole +heart was another’s. Then he thought of Kate’s husband, +that treacherous man who had stolen his bride and now gone +away and left her sorrowing—left her without money, penniless +in a strange city. Why had he not been more calm and +questioned her before he came away. Perhaps she was in +great need. It comforted him to think he had left her all the +money he had with him. There was enough to keep her from +want for a while. And yet, perhaps he had been wrong to +give it to her. He had no right to give it!</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He groaned aloud at the thought of his helplessness to help +her helplessness. Was there not some way he could find out +and help her without doing wrong?</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Over and over he went through the whole dreadful day, +until his brain was weary and his heart failed him. The +heavens seemed brass and no answer came to his cry,—the +appeal of a broken soul. It seemed that he could not get up +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page251"></span><a name="pg251" id="pg251" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +from his knees, could not go out into the world again and +face life. He had been tried and had failed, and yet though +he knew his sin he felt an intolerable longing to commit it +over again. He was frightened at his own weakness, and +with renewed vigor he began to pray for help. It was like +the prayer of Jacob of old, the crying out of a soul that +would not be denied. All day long the struggle continued, +and far into the night. At last a great peace began to settle +upon David’s soul. Things that had been confused by his +passionate longings grew clear as day. Self dropped away, +and sin, conquered, slunk out of sight. Right and Wrong were +once more clearly defined in his mind. However wrong it +might or might not be he was here in this situation. He had +married Marcia and promised to be true to her. He was +doubly cut off from Kate by her own act and by his. That +was his punishment,—and hers. He must not seek to lessen +it even for her, for it was God-sent. Henceforth his path +and hers must be apart. If she were to be helped in any way +from whatsoever trouble was hers, it was not permitted him +to be the instrument. He had shown his unfitness for it in +his interview that morning, even if in the eyes of the world +it could have been at all. It was his duty to cut himself +off from her forever. He must not even think of her any +more. He must be as true and good to Marcia as was possible. +He must do no more wrong. He must grow strong +and suffer.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The peace that came with conviction brought sleep to his +weary mind and body.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">When he awoke it was almost noon. He remembered the +missed appointment of the day before, and the journey to +Washington which he had planned for that day. With a start +of horror he looked at his watch and found he had but a few +hours in which to try to make up for the remissness of yesterday +before the evening coach left for Philadelphia. It +was as if some guardian angel had met his first waking +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page252"></span><a name="pg252" id="pg252" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +thoughts with business that could not be delayed and so +kept him from going over the painful events of the day +before. He arose and hastened out into the world once +more.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Late in the afternoon he found the man he was to have +met the day before, and succeeded in convincing him that he +ought to help the new enterprise. He was standing on the +corner saying the last few words as the two separated, when +Kate drove by in a friend’s carriage, surrounded by parcels. +She had been on a shopping tour spending the money that +David had given her, for silks and laces and jewelry, and +now she was returning in high glee with her booty. The +carriage passed quite near to David who stood with his back +to the street, and she could see his animated face as he +smiled at the other man, a fine looking man who looked as +if he might be some one of note. The momentary glance did +not show the haggard look of David’s face nor the lines that +his vigil of the night before had traced under his eyes, and +Kate was angered to see him so unconcerned and forgetful of +his pain of yesterday. Her face darkened with spite, and she +resolved to make him suffer yet, and to the utmost, for the +sin of forgetting her.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But David was in the way of duty, and he did not see her, +for his guardian angel was hovering close at hand.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"></p><div class="tei tei-tb"> </div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">As the Fall wore on and the winter set in Harry’s letters +became less frequent and less intimate. Hannah was +troubled, and after consultation with her grandmother, to +which Miranda listened at the latch hole, duly reporting quotations +to her adored Mrs. Spafford, Hannah decided upon an +immediate trip to the metropolis.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Hannah’s gone to New York to find out what’s become +of that nimshi Harry Temple. She thought she had him +fast, an’ she’s been holdin’ him over poor Lemuel Skinner’s +head like thet there sword hangin’ by a hair I heard the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page253"></span><a name="pg253" id="pg253" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +minister tell about last Sunday, till Lemuel, he don’t know +but every minute’s gone’ll be his last. You mark my words, +she’ll hev to take poor Lem after all, an’ be glad she’s got +him, too,—and she’s none too good for him neither. He’s +ben faithful to her ever since she wore pantalets, an’ she’s +ben keepin’ him off’n on an’ hopin’ an’ +<span class="tei tei-corr"><a name="E23" id="E23" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><a href="#e23" class="tei tei-ref">tryin’</a></span> +fer somebody bigger. It would jes’ serve her right ef she’d get +that fool of a Harry Temple, but she won’t. He’s too sharp for +that ef he <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">is</span></span> a fool. He don’t want +to tie himself up to no woman’s aprun strings. He rather dandle about +after ’em all an’ say pretty things, an’ keep his +earnin’s fer himself.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Hannah reached New York the week after David left for +Washington. She wrote beforehand to Harry to let him +know she was coming, and made plain that she expected his +attentions exclusively while there, and he smiled blandly as +he read the letter and read her intentions between the lines. +He told Kate a good deal about her that evening when he +went to call, told her how he had heard she was an old flame +of David’s, and Kate’s jealousy was immediately aroused. +She wished to meet Hannah Heath. There was a sort of +triumph in the thought that she had scorned and flung aside +the man whom this woman had <span class="tei tei-q">“set her cap”</span> for, even +though another woman was now in the place that neither had. +Hannah went to visit a cousin in New York who lived in a +quiet part of the city and did not go out much, but for reasons +best known to themselves, both Kate Leavenworth and +Harry Temple elected to see a good deal of her while she was +in the city. Harry was pleasant and attentive, but not more +to one woman than to the other. Hannah, watching him +jealously, decided that at least Kate was not her rival in his +affections, and so Hannah and Kate became quite friendly. +Kate had a way of making much of her women friends when +she chose, and she happened to choose in this case, for it +occurred to her it would be well to have a friend in the +town where lived her sister and her former lover. There +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page254"></span><a name="pg254" id="pg254" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +might be reasons why, sometime. She opened her heart of +hearts to Hannah, and Hannah, quite discreetly, and without +wasting much of her scanty store of love, entered, and the +friendship was sealed. They had not known each other many +days before Kate had confided to Hannah the story of her +own marriage and her sister’s, embellished of course as she +chose. Hannah, astonished, puzzled, wondering, curious, at +the tragedy that had been enacted at her very home door, +became more friendly than ever and hated more cordially +than ever the young and innocent wife who had stepped into +the vacant place and so made her own hopes and ambitions +impossible. She felt that she would like to put down the pert +young thing for daring to be there, and to be pretty, and now +she felt she had the secret which would help her to do so.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">As the visit went on and it became apparent to Hannah +Heath that she was not the one woman in all the world to +Harry Temple, she hinted to Kate that it was likely she would +be married soon. She even went so far as to say that she had +come away from home to decide the matter, and that she had +but to say the word and the ceremony would come off. Kate +questioned eagerly, and seeing her opportunity asked if she +might come to the wedding. Hannah, flattered, and seeing a +grand opportunity for a wholesale triumph and revenge, assented +with pleasure. Afterward as Hannah had hoped and +intended, Kate carried the news of the impending decision +and probable wedding to the ears of Harry Temple.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But Hannah’s hint had no further effect upon the redoubtable +Harry. Two days later he appeared, smiling, congratulatory, +deploring the fact that she would be lost in a certain +sense to his friendship, although he hoped always to be looked +upon as a little more than a friend.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Hannah covered her mortification under a calm and condescending +exterior. She blushed appropriately, said some +sentimental things about hoping their friendship would not +be affected by the change, told him how much she had enjoyed +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page255"></span><a name="pg255" id="pg255" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +their correspondence, but gave him to understand that it had +been mere friendship of course from her point of view, and +Harry indulgently allowed her to think that he had hoped for +more and was grieved but consolable over the outcome.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">They waxed a trifle sentimental at the parting, but when +Harry was gone, Hannah wrote a most touching letter to +Lemuel Skinner which raised him to the seventh heaven +of delight, causing him to feel that he was treading upon air +as he walked the prosaic streets of his native town where he +had been going about during Hannah’s absence like a lost +spirit without a guiding star.</p> + +<div class="block tei tei-quote" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"> + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span class="tei tei-q"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-variant: small-caps">Dear Lemuel</span></span><span style="font-size: 90%">:</span><span style="font-size: 90%">”</span></span><span style="font-size: 90%"> she + wrote:—</span></p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span class="tei tei-q"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">I am coming home. I wonder if you will be + glad?</span></span></p> +</div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">(Artful Hannah, as if she did not know!)</p> + +<div class="block tei tei-quote" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"> + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span class="tei tei-q"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">It is very delightful in New York and I have been + having a gay time since I came, and everybody has been most pleasant, + but—</span></span></p> + + <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em; margin-left: 1.80em; margin-top: 0.90em"> + <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">“’Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam,</span></div> + <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">Still, be it ever so humble, there’s no place like home.</span></div> + <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">A charm from the skies seems to hallow it there,</span></div> + <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 90%">Which, go through the world, you’ll not meet with elsewhere.</span></div> + <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 90%">Home, home, sweet home!</span></div> + <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 90%">There’s no place like + home.</span><span class="tei tei-corr" style="text-align: center"><a name="E24" id="E24" class="tei tei-anchor" style="text-align: center"></a><a href="#e24" class="tei tei-ref" style="text-align: center"> </a></span></div> + </div> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span class="tei tei-q"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">That is a new song, Lemuel, that everybody + here is singing. It is written by a young American named John Howard Payne + who is in London now acting in a great playhouse. Everybody is wild over + this song. I’ll sing it for you when I come home.</span></span></p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span class="tei tei-q"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">I shall be at home in time for singing school + next week, Lemuel. I wonder if you’ll come to see me at once and + welcome me. You cannot think how glad I shall be to get home again. It + seems as though I had been gone a year at least. Hoping to see you soon, I + remain</span></span></p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: right; margin-bottom: 0.90em; margin-right: 4.50em"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: right"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">Always + your sincere friend,</span></span></p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: right; margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: right"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: right"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-variant: small-caps">Hannah + Heath.</span></span><span style="font-size: 90%">”</span></span></p> +</div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page256"></span><a name="pg256" id="pg256" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">And thus did Hannah make smooth her path before her, +and very soon after inditing this epistle she bade good-bye +to New York and took her way home resolved to waste no +further time in chasing will-o-the-wisps.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">When Lemuel received that letter he took a good look at +himself in the glass. More than seven years had he served +for Hannah, and little hope had he had of a final reward. +He was older by ten years than she, and already his face +began to show it. He examined himself critically, and was +pleased to find with that light of hope in his eyes he was not +so bad looking as he feared. He betook himself to the village +tailor forthwith and ordered a new suit of clothes, though his +Sunday best was by no means shiny yet. He realized that if +he did not win now he never would, and he resolved to do +his best.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">On the way home, during all the joltings of the coach over +rough roads Hannah Heath was planning two campaigns, +one of love with Lemuel, and one of hate with Marcia Spafford. +She was possessed of knowledge which she felt would help +her in the latter, and often she smiled vindictively as she +laid her neat plans for the destruction of the bride’s complacency.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">That night the fire in the Heath parlor burned high and +glowed, and the candles in their silver holders flickered across +fair Hannah’s face as she dimpled and smiled and coquetted +with poor Lemuel. But Lemuel needed no pity. He was not +afraid of Hannah. Not for nothing had he served his seven +years, and he understood every fancy and foible of her shallow +nature. He knew his time had come at last, and he was getting +what he had wanted long, for Lemuel had admired and +loved Hannah in spite of the dance she had led him, and in +spite of the other lovers she had allowed to come between +them.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Hannah had not been at home many days before she called +upon Marcia.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page257"></span><a name="pg257" id="pg257" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia had just seated herself at the piano when Hannah +appeared to her from the hall, coming in unannounced +through the kitchen door according to old neighborly fashion.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia was vexed. She arose from the instrument and +led the way to the little morning room which was sunny and +cosy, and bare of music or books. She did not like to visit +with Hannah in the parlor. Somehow her presence reminded +her of the evil face of Harry Temple as he had stooped to +kiss her.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“You know how to play, too, don’t you?”</span> said Hannah +as they sat down. <span class="tei tei-q">“Your sister plays beautifully. Do you +know the new song, ‘Home, Sweet Home?’ She plays it +with so much feeling and sings it so that one would think +her heart was breaking for her home. You must have been a +united family.”</span> Hannah said it with sharp scrutiny in voice +and eyes.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Sit down, Miss Heath,”</span> said Marcia coolly, lowering the +yellow shades that her visitor’s eyes might not be troubled +by a broad sunbeam. <span class="tei tei-q">“Did you have a pleasant time in New +York?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Hannah could not be sure whether or not the question was +an evasion. The utterly child-like manner of Marcia disarmed +suspicion.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, delightful, of course. Could any one have anything +else in New York?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Hannah laughed disagreeably. She realized the limitations +of life in a town.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“I suppose,”</span> said Marcia, her eyes shining with the thought, +<span class="tei tei-q">“that you saw all the wonderful things of the city. I should +enjoy being in New York a little while. I have heard of so +many new things. Were there any ships in the harbor? I +have always wanted to go over a great ship. Did you have +opportunity of seeing one?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, dear me. No!”</span> said Hannah. <span class="tei tei-q">“I shouldn’t have +cared in the least for that. I’m sure I don’t know whether +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page258"></span><a name="pg258" id="pg258" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +there were any ships in or not. I suppose there were. I saw +a lot of sails on the water, but I did not ask about them. I’m +not interested in dirty boats. I liked visiting the shops best. +Your sister took me about everywhere. She is a most charming +creature. You must miss her greatly. You were a sly +little thing to cut her out.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia’s face flamed crimson with anger and amazement. +Hannah’s dart had hit the mark, and she was watching keenly +to see her victim quiver.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“I do not understand you,”</span> said Marcia with girlish +dignity.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, now don’t pretend to misunderstand. I’ve heard all +about it from headquarters,”</span> she said it archly, laughing. +<span class="tei tei-q">“But then I don’t blame you. David was worth it.”</span> Hannah +ended with a sigh. If she had ever cared for any one +besides herself that one was David Spafford.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“I do not understand you,”</span> said Marcia again, drawing +herself up with all the Schuyler haughtiness she could master, +till she quite resembled her father.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Now, Mrs. Spafford,”</span> said the visitor, looking straight into +her face and watching every expression as a cat would watch +a mouse, <span class="tei tei-q">“you don’t mean to tell me your sister was not at +one time very intimate with your husband.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Mr. Spafford has been intimate in our family for a number +of years,”</span> said Marcia proudly, her fighting fire up, <span class="tei tei-q">“but +as for my having ‘cut my sister out’ as you call it, you have +certainly been misinformed. Excuse me, I think I will close +the kitchen door. It seems to blow in here and make a +draft.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia left the room with her head up and her fine color +well under control, and when she came back her head was still +up and a distant expression was in her face. Somehow Hannah +felt she had not gained much after all. But Marcia, +after Hannah’s departure, went up to her cold room and wept +bitter tears on her pillow alone.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"> + </p><div class="tei tei-figure" style="width: 100%; text-align: center"><img src="images/image04.png" width="760" height="506" alt="Illustration: Copyright by C. KlacknerMarcia Passed From the Old Stone Church with the Two Aunts." title="Copyright by C. Klackner Marcia Passed From the Old Stone Church with the Two Aunts." /><div class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 50%">Copyright by C. Klackner</span></span><br /> + <span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 63%; font-variant: small-caps">Marcia Passed From + the Old Stone Church with the Two Aunts.</span></span></div></div> + +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page259"></span><a name="pg259" id="pg259" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">After that first visit Hannah never found the kitchen door +unlocked when she came to make a morning call, but she +improved every little opportunity to torment her gentle victim. +She had had a letter from Kate and had Marcia heard? How +often did Kate write her? Did Marcia know how fond Harry +Temple was of Kate? And where was Kate’s husband? +Would he likely be ordered home soon? These little annoyances +were almost unbearable sometimes and Marcia had much +ado to keep her sweetness of outward demeanor.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">People looked upon Lemuel with new respect. He had +finally won where they had considered him a fool for years +for hanging on. The added respect brought added self-respect. +He took on new manliness. Grandmother Heath +felt that he really was not so bad after all, and perhaps Hannah +might as well have taken him at first. Altogether the +Heath family were well pleased, and preparations began at +once for a wedding in the near future.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">And still David lingered, held here and there by a call +from first one man and then another, and by important doings +in Congress. He seemed to be rarely fitted for the work.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Once he was called back to New York for a day or two, +and Harry Temple happened to see him as he arrived. That +night he wrote to Hannah a friendly letter—Harry was by no +means through with Hannah yet—and casually remarked that +he saw David Spafford was in New York again. He supposed +now that Mrs. Leavenworth’s evenings would be fully occupied +and society would see little of her while he remained.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The day after Hannah received that letter was Sunday.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The weeks had gone by rapidly since David left his home, +and now the spring was coming on. The grass was already +green as summer and the willow tree by the graveyard gate +was tender and green like a spring-plume. All the foliage +was out and fluttering its new leaves in the sunshine as Marcia +passed from the old stone church with the two aunts and +opened her little green sunshade. Her motion made David’s +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page260"></span><a name="pg260" id="pg260" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +last letter rustle in her bosom. It thrilled her with pleasure +that not even the presence of Hannah Heath behind her could +cloud.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">However prim and fault-finding the two aunts might be in +the seclusion of their own home, in public no two could have +appeared more adoring than Amelia and Hortense Spafford. +They hovered near Marcia and delighted to show how very +close and intimate was the relationship between themselves +and their new and beautiful niece, of whom in their secret +hearts they were prouder than they would have cared to tell. +In their best black silks and their fine lace shawls they walked +beside her and talked almost eagerly, if those two stately +beings could have anything to do with a quality so frivolous +as eagerness. They wished it understood that David’s wife +was worthy of appreciation and they were more conscious +than she of the many glances of admiration in her direction.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Hannah Heath encountered some of those admiring glances +and saw jealously for whom they were meant. She hastened +to lean forward and greet Marcia, her spiteful tongue all +ready for a stab.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Good morning, Mrs. Spafford. Is that husband of yours +not home yet? Really! Why, he’s quite deserted you. I +call that hard for the first year, and your honeymoon scarcely +over yet.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“He’s been called back to New York again,”</span> said Marcia +annoyed over the spiteful little sentences. <span class="tei tei-q">“He says he may +be at home soon, but he cannot be sure. His business is rather +uncertain.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“New York!”</span> said Hannah, and her voice was annoyingly +loud. <span class="tei tei-q">“What! Not again! There must be some great +attraction there,”</span> and then with a meaning glance, <span class="tei tei-q">“I suppose +your sister is still there!”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia felt her face crimsoning, and the tears starting from +angry eyes. She felt a sudden impulse to slap Hannah. +What if she should! What would the aunts say? The +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page261"></span><a name="pg261" id="pg261" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +thought of the tumult she might make roused her sense of +humor and a laugh bubbled up instead of the tears, and +Hannah, watching, cat-like, could only see eyes dancing with +fun though the cheeks were charmingly red. By Hannah’s +expression Marcia knew she was baffled, but Marcia could not +get away from the disagreeable suggestion that had been made.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Yes, David was in New York, and Kate was there. Not +for an instant did she doubt her husband’s nobleness. She +knew David would be good and true. She knew little of the +world’s wickedness, and never thought of any blame, as other +women might, in such a suggestion. But a great jealousy +sprang into being that she never dreamed existed. Kate was +there, and he would perhaps see her, and all his old love and +disappointment would be brought to mind again. Had she, +Marcia, been hoping he would forget it? Had she been +claiming something of him in her heart for herself? She +could not tell. She did not know what all this tumult of +feeling meant. She longed to get away and think it over, +but the solemn Sunday must be observed. She must fold +away her church things, put on another frock and come down +to the oppressive Sunday dinner, hear Deacon Brown’s +rheumatism discussed, or listen to a long comparison of the +morning’s sermon with one preached twenty years ago by the +minister, now long dead upon the same text. It was all very +hard to keep her mind upon, with these other thoughts rushing +pell-mell through her brain; and when Aunt Amelia +asked her to pass the butter, she handed the sugar-bowl +instead. Miss Amelia looked as shocked as if she had broken +the great-grandmother’s china teapot.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Aunt Clarinda claimed her after dinner and carried her +off to her room to talk about David, so that Marcia had no +chance to think even then. Miss Clarinda looked into the +sweet shadowed eyes and wondered why the girl looked so +sad. She thought it was because David stayed away so long, +and so she kept her with her all the rest of the day.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page262"></span><a name="pg262" id="pg262" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">When Marcia went to her room that night she threw herself +on her knees beside the bed and tried to pray. She felt +more lonely and heartsick than she ever felt before in her +life. She did not know what the great hunger in her heart +meant. It was terrible to think David had loved Kate. Kate +never loved him in return in the right way. Marcia felt very +sure of that. She wished she might have had the chance in +Kate’s place, and then all of a sudden the revelation came +to her. She loved David herself with a great overwhelming +love. Not just a love that could come and keep house for +him and save him from the criticisms and comments of others; +but with a love that demanded to be loved in return; a love +that was mindful of every dear lineament of his countenance. +The knowledge thrilled through her with a great sweetness. +She did not seem to care for anything else just now, only to +know that she loved David. David could never love her of +course, not in that way, but she would love him. She would +try to shut out the thought of Kate from him forever.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">And so, dreaming, hovering on the edge of all that was +bitter and all that was sweet, she fell asleep with David’s +letter clasped close over her heart.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div id="MS23" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page263"></span><a name="pg263" id="pg263" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<a name="toc46" id="toc46"></a> +<a name="pdf47" id="pdf47"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"> + <span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER XXIII</span></span> +</h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia had gone down to her own house the next morning +very early. She had hoped for a letter but none had come. +Her soul was in torment between her attempt to keep out of +her mind the hateful things Hannah Heath had said, and +reproaching herself for what seemed to her her unseemly +feeling toward David, who loved another and could never love +her. It was not a part of her life-dream to love one who +belonged to another. Yet her heart was his and she was +beginning to know that everything belonging to him was +dear to her. She went and sat in his place at the table, she +touched with tenderness the books upon his desk that he had +used before he went away, she went up to his room and laid +her lips for one precious daring instant upon his pillow, and +then drew back with wildly beating heart ashamed of her +emotion. She knelt beside his bed and prayed: <span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, God, I +love him, I love him! I cannot help it!”</span> as if she would +apologize for herself, and then she hugged the thought of her +love to herself, feeling its sweet pain drift through her like +some delicious agony. Her love had come through sorrow +to her, and was not as she would have had it could she have +chosen. It brought no ray of happy hope for the future, +save just the happiness of loving in secret, and of doing for +the object loved, with no thought of a returned affection.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Then she went slowly down the stairs, trying to think how +it would seem when David came back. He had been so long +gone that it seemed as if perhaps he might never return. She +felt that it had been no part of the spirit of her contract with +David that she should render to him this wild sweet love that +he had expected Kate to give. He had not wanted it. He +had only wanted a wife in name.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page264"></span><a name="pg264" id="pg264" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Then the color would sweep over her face in a crimson drift +and leave it painfully white, and she would glide to the piano +like a ghost of her former self and play some sad sweet strain, +and sometimes sing.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She had no heart for her dear old woods in these days. +She had tried it one day in spring; slipped over the back +fence and away through the ploughed field where the sea of +silver oats had surged, and up to the hillside and the woods; +but she was so reminded of David that it only brought heart +aches and tears. She wondered if it was because she was +getting old that the hillside did not seem so joyous now, and +she did not care to look up into the sky just for the pure joy +of sky and air and clouds, nor to listen to the branches +whisper to the robins nesting. She stooped and picked a +great handful of spring beauties, but they did not seem to +give her pleasure, and by and by she dropped them from +listless fingers and walked sedately down to the house once +more.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">On this morning she did not even care to play. She +went into the parlor and touched a few notes, but her heart +was heavy and sad. Life was growing too complex.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Last week there had come a letter from Harry Temple. +It had startled her when it arrived. She feared it was some +ill-news about David, coming as it did from New York and +being written in a strange hand.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It had been a plea for forgiveness, representing that the +writer had experienced nothing but deep repentance and sorrow +since the time he had seen her last. He set forth his +case in a masterly way, with little touching facts of his childhood, +and lonely upbringing, with no mother to guide. He +told her that her noble action toward him had but made him +revere her the more, and that, in short, she had made a new +creature of him by refusing to return his kiss that day, and +leaving him alone with so severe a rebuke. He felt that if +all women were so good and true men would be a different +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page265"></span><a name="pg265" id="pg265" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +race, and now he looked up to her as one might look up to an +angel, and he felt he could never be happy again on this earth +until he had her written word of forgiveness. With that he +felt he could live a new life, and she must rest assured that +he would never offer other than reverence to any woman again. +He further added that his action had not intended any insult +to her, that he was merely expressing his natural admiration +for a spirit so good and true, and that his soul was innocent +of any intention of evil. With sophistry in the use of which +he was an adept, he closed his epistle, fully clearing himself, +and assuring her that he could have made her understand it +that day if she had not left so suddenly, and he had not been +almost immediately called away to the dying bed of his dear +cousin. This contradictory letter had troubled Marcia greatly. +She was keen enough to see that his logic was at fault, and +that the two pages of his letter did not hang together, but one +thing was plain, that he wished her forgiveness. The Bible +said that one must forgive, and surely it was right to let him +know that she did, though when she thought of the fright he +had given her it was hard to do. Still, it was right, and if +he was so unhappy, perhaps she had better let him know. +She would rather have waited until David returned to consult +him in the matter, but the letter seemed so insistent that she +had finally written a stiff little note, in formal language, +<span class="tei tei-q">“Mrs. Spafford sends herewith her full and free forgiveness +to Mr. Harry Temple, and promises to think no more of the +matter.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She would have liked to consult some one. She almost +thought of taking Aunt Clarinda into her confidence, but +decided that she might not understand. So she finally sent +off the brief missive, and let her troubled thoughts wander +after it more than once.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She was standing by the window looking out into the yard +perplexing herself over this again when there came a loud +knocking at the front door. She started, half frightened, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page266"></span><a name="pg266" id="pg266" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +for the knock sounded through the empty house so insistently. +It seemed like trouble coming. She felt nervous as she went +down the hall.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It was only a little urchin, barefoot, and tow-headed. He +had ridden an old mare to the door, and left her nosing at +the dusty grass. He brought her a letter. Again her heart +fluttered excitedly. Who could be writing to her? It was +not David. Why did the handwriting look familiar? It +could not be from any one at home. Father? Mother? No, +it was no one she knew. She tore it open, and the boy jumped +on his horse and was off down the street before she realized +that he was gone.</p> + +<div class="block tei tei-quote" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"> + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span class="tei tei-q"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-variant: small-caps">Dear Madam</span></span><span style="font-size: 90%">:</span><span style="font-size: 90%">”</span></span><span style="font-size: 90%"> the letter + read,</span></p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span class="tei tei-q"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">I bring you news of your husband, and having met + with an accident I am unable to come further. You will find me at the Green + Tavern two miles out on the corduroy road. As the business is private, + please come alone.</span></span></p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: right; margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: right"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: right"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-variant: small-caps">A + Messenger.</span></span><span style="font-size: 90%">”</span></span></p> +</div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia trembled so that she sat down on the stairs. A +sudden weakness went over her like a wave, and the hall grew +dark around her as though she were going to faint. But +she did not. She was strong and well and had never fainted +in her life. She rallied in a moment and tried to think. +Something had happened to David. Something dreadful, +perhaps, and she must go at once and find out. Still it must +be something mysterious, for the man had said it was private. +Of course that meant David would not want it known. David +had intended that the man would come to her and tell her +by herself. She must go. There was nothing else to be done. +She must go at once and get rid of this awful suspense. It +was a good day for the message to have come, for she had +brought her lunch expecting to do some spring cleaning. +David had been expected home soon, and she liked to make +a bustle of preparation as if he might come in any day, for +it kept up her good cheer.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page267"></span><a name="pg267" id="pg267" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Having resolved to go she got up at once, closed the doors +and windows, put on her bonnet and went out down the street +toward the old corduroy road. It frightened her to think +what might be at the end of her journey. Possibly David +himself, hurt or dying, and he had sent for her in this way +that she might break the news gently to his aunts. As she +walked along she conjured various forms of trouble that might +have come to him. Now and then she would try to take a +cheerful view, saying to herself that David might have needed +more important papers, papers which he would not like everyone +to know about, and had sent by special messenger to her +to get them. Then her face would brighten and her step +grow more brisk. But always would come the dull thud +of possibility of something more serious. Her heart beat so +fast sometimes that she was forced to lessen her speed to get +her breath, for though she was going through town, and must +necessarily walk somewhat soberly lest she call attention to +herself, she found that her nerves and imagination were fairly +running ahead, and waiting impatiently for her feet to catch +up at every turning place.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">At last she came to the corduroy road—a long stretch of +winding way overlaid with logs which made an unpleasant +path. Most of the way was swampy, and bordered in some +places by thick, dark woods. Marcia sped on from log to +log, with a nervous feeling that she must step on each one +or her errand would not be successful. She was not afraid +of the loneliness, only of what might be coming at the end +of her journey.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But suddenly, in the densest part of the wood, she became +conscious of footsteps echoing hers, and a chill laid hold +upon her. She turned her head and there, wildly gesticulating +and running after her, was Miranda!</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Annoyed, and impatient to be on her way, and wondering +what to do with Miranda, or what she could possibly want, +Marcia stopped to wait for her.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page268"></span><a name="pg268" id="pg268" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“I thought—as you was goin’ ’long my way”</span>—puffed +Miranda, <span class="tei tei-q">“I’d jes’ step along beside you. You don’t mind, +do you?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia looked troubled. If she should say she did then +Miranda would think it queer and perhaps suspect something.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She tried to smile and ask how far Miranda was going.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, I’m goin’ to hunt fer wild strawberries,”</span> said the +girl nonchalantly clattering a big tin pail.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Isn’t it early yet for strawberries?”</span> questioned Marcia.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Well, mebbe, an’ then ag’in mebbe ’tain’t. I know a place +I’m goin’ to look anyway. Are you goin’ ’s fur ’s the Green +Tavern?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Miranda’s bright eyes looked her through and through, +and Marcia’s truthful ones could not evade. Suddenly as she +looked into the girl’s homely face, filled with a kind of +blind adoration, her heart yearned for counsel in this trying +situation. She was reminded of Miranda’s helpfulness the +time she ran away to the woods, and the care with which she +had guarded the whole matter so that no one ever heard of it. +An impulse came to her to confide in Miranda. She was a +girl of sharp common sense, and would perhaps be able to +help with her advice. At least she could get comfort from +merely telling her trouble and anxiety.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Miranda,”</span> she said, <span class="tei tei-q">“can you keep a secret?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The girl nodded.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Well, I’m going to tell you something, just because I +am so troubled and I feel as if it would do me good to tell it.”</span> +She smiled and Miranda answered the smile with much satisfaction +and no surprise. Miranda had come for this, though +she did not expect her way to be so easy.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“I’ll be mum as an oyster,”</span> said Miranda. <span class="tei tei-q">“You jest tell +me anything you please. You needn’t be afraid Hannah +Heath’ll know a grain about it. She’n’ I are two people. I +know when to shut up.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Well, Miranda, I’m in great perplexity and anxiety. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page269"></span><a name="pg269" id="pg269" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +I’ve just had a note from a messenger my husband has sent +asking me to come out to that Green Tavern you were talking +about. He was sent to me with some message and has had +an accident so he couldn’t come. It kind of frightened me +to think what might be the matter. I’m glad you are going +this way because it keeps me from thinking about it. Are we +nearly there? I never went out this road so far before.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“It ain’t fur,”</span> said Miranda as if that were a minor matter. +<span class="tei tei-q">“I’ll go right along in with you, then you needn’t feel lonely. +I guess likely it’s business. Don’t you worry.”</span> The tone +was reassuring, but Marcia’s face looked troubled.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“No, I guess that won’t do, Miranda, for the note says it is +a private matter and I must come alone. You know Mr. +Spafford has matters to write about that are very important, +railroads, and such things, and sometimes he doesn’t care to +have any one get hold of his ideas before they appear in the +paper. His enemies might use them to stop the plans of the +great improvements he is writing about.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Let me see that note!”</span> demanded Miranda. <span class="tei tei-q">“Got it +with you?”</span> Marcia hesitated. Perhaps she ought not to +show it, and yet there was nothing in the note but what she +had already told the girl, and she felt sure she would not +breathe a word to a living soul after her promise. She +handed Miranda the letter, and they stopped a moment while +she slowly spelled it out. Miranda was no scholar. Marcia +watched her face eagerly, as if to gather a ray of hope from it, +but she was puzzled by Miranda’s look. A kind of satisfaction +had overspread her homely countenance.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Should you think from that that David was hurt—or ill—or—or—killed—or +anything?”</span> She asked the question as if +Miranda were a wizard, and hung anxiously upon her answer.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Naw, I don’t reckon so!”</span> said Miranda. <span class="tei tei-q">“Don’t you +worry. David’s all right somehow. I’ll take care o’ you. +You go ’long up and see what’s the business, an’ I’ll wait here +out o’ sight o’ the tavern. Likely’s not he might take a notion +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page270"></span><a name="pg270" id="pg270" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +not to tell you ef he see me come along with you. You jest +go ahead, and I’ll be on hand when you get through. If you +need me fer anything you jest holler out ‘Randy!’ good and +loud an’ I’ll hear you. Guess I’ll set on this log. The +tavern’s jest round that bend in the road. Naw, you needn’t +thank me. This is a real pretty mornin’ to set an’ rest. +Good-bye.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia hurried on, glancing back happily at her protector +in a calico sunbonnet seated stolidly on a log with her tin pail +beside her.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Poor stupid Miranda! Of course she could not understand +what a comfort it was to have confided her trouble. Marcia +went up to the tavern with almost a smile on her face, though +her heart began to beat wildly as a slatternly girl led her into +a big room at the right of the hall.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">As Marcia disappeared behind the bend in the road, +Miranda stealthily stole along the edge of the woods, till +she stood hidden behind a clump of alders where she could +peer out and watch Marcia until she reached the tavern and +passed safely by the row of lounging, smoking men, and on +into the doorway. Then Miranda waited just an instant to +look in all directions, and sped across the road, mounting the +fence and on through two meadows, and the barnyard to the +kitchen door of the tavern.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Mornin’! Mis’ Green,”</span> she said to the slovenly looking +woman who sat by the table peeling potatoes. <span class="tei tei-q">“Mind givin’ +me a drink o’ water? I’m terrible thirsty, and seemed like I +couldn’t find the spring. Didn’t thare used to be a spring +’tween here’n town?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Goodness sakes! Randy! Where’d you come from? +Water! Jes’ help yourself. There’s the bucket jes’ from the +spring five minutes since, an’ there’s the gourd hanging up +on the wall. I can’t get up, I’m that busy. Twelve to dinner +to-day, an’ only me to do the cookin’. ’Melia she’s got to +be upstairs helpin’ at the bar.”</span></p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page271"></span><a name="pg271" id="pg271" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Who all you got here?”</span> questioned Miranda as she took +a draught from the old gourd.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Well, got a gentleman from New York fur one. He’s +real pretty. Quite a beau. His clo’es are that nice you’d +think he was goin’ to court. He’s that particular ’bout his +eatin’ I feel flustered. Nothin’ would do but he hed to hev +a downstairs room. He said he didn’t like goin’ upstairs. +He don’t look sickly, neither.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Mebbe he’s had a accident an’ lamed himself,”</span> suggested +Miranda cunningly. <span class="tei tei-q">“Heard o’ any accidents? How’d he +come? Coach or horseback?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Coach,”</span> said Mrs. Green. <span class="tei tei-q">“Why do you ask? Got any +friends in New York?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Not many,”</span> responded Miranda importantly, <span class="tei tei-q">“but my +cousin Hannah Heath has. You know she’s ben up there for +a spell visitin’ an’ they say there was lots of gentlemen in +love with her. There’s one in particular used to come round +a good deal. It might be him come round to see ef it’s true +Hannah’s goin’ to get married to Lem Skinner. Know what +this fellow’s name is?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“You don’t say! Well now it might be. No, I don’t +rightly remember his name. Seems though it was something +like Church er Chapel. ’Melia could tell ye, but she’s busy.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Where’s he at? Mebbe I could get a glimpse o’ him. +I’d jest like to know ef he was comin’ to bother our Hannah.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Well now. Mebbe you could get a sight o’ him. There’s +a cupboard between his room an’ the room back. It has a door +both sides. Mebbe ef you was to slip in there you might see +him through the latch hole. I ain’t usin’ that back room fer +anythin’ but a store-room this spring, so look out you don’t +stumble over nothin’ when you go in fer it’s dark as a pocket. +You go right ’long in. I reckon you’ll find the way. Yes, it’s +on the right hand side o’ the hall. I’ve got to set here an’ +finish these potatoes er dinner’ll be late. I’d like to know real +well ef he’s one o’ Hannah Heath’s beaux.”</span></p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page272"></span><a name="pg272" id="pg272" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Miranda needed no second bidding. She slipped through +the hall and store room, and in a moment stood before the +door of the closet. Softly she opened it, and stepped in, lifting +her feet cautiously, for the closet floor seemed full of old +boots and shoes.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It was dark in there, very dark, and only one slat of light +stabbed the blackness coming through the irregular shape of +the latch hole. She could hear voices in low tones speaking +on the other side of the door. Gradually her eyes grew accustomed +to the light and one by one objects came out of the +shadows and looked at her. A white pitcher with a broken +nose, a row of bottles, a bunch of seed corn with the husks +braided together and hung on a nail, an old coat on another +nail.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Down on her knees beside the crack of light went Miranda. +First her eye and then her ear were applied to the small +aperture. She could see nothing but a table directly in front +of the door about a foot away on which were quills, paper, and +a large horn inkstand filled with ink. Some one evidently +had been writing, for a page was half done, and the pen was +laid down beside a word.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The limits of the latch hole made it impossible for Miranda +to make out any more. She applied her ear and could hear +a man’s voice talking in low insinuating tones, but she could +make little of what was said. It drove her fairly frantic to +think that she was losing time. Miranda had no mind to be +balked in her purpose. She meant to find out who was in +that room and what was going on. She felt a righteous +interest in it.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Her eyes could see quite plainly now in the dark closet. +There was a big button on the door. She no sooner discovered +it than she put up her hand and tried to turn it. It +was tight and made a slight squeak in turning. She stopped +but the noise seemed to have no effect upon the evenly modulated +tones inside. Cautiously she moved the button again, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page273"></span><a name="pg273" id="pg273" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +holding the latch firmly in her other hand lest the door +should suddenly fly open. It was an exciting moment when +at last the button was turned entirely away from the door +frame and the lifted latch swung free in Miranda’s hand. +The door opened outward. If it were allowed to go it would +probably strike against the table. Miranda only allowed it +to open a crack. She could hear words now, and the voice +reminded her of something unpleasant. The least little bit +more she dared open the door, and she could see, as she had +expected, Marcia’s bonnet and shoulder cape as she sat at the +other side of the room. This then was the room of the messenger +who had sent for Mrs. Spafford so peremptorily. The +next thing was to discover the identity of the messenger. +Miranda had suspicions.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The night before she had seen a man lurking near the +Spafford house when she went out in the garden to feed the +chickens. She had watched him from behind the lilac bush, +and when he had finally gone away she had followed him some +distance until he turned into the old corduroy road and was +lost in the gathering dusk. The man she had seen before, +and had reason to suspect. It was not for nothing that she +had braved her grandmother and gone hunting wild strawberries +out of season.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">With the caution of a creature of the forest Miranda opened +the door an inch further, and applied her eye to the latch +hole again. The man’s head was in full range of her eye +then, and her suspicion proved true.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">When Marcia entered the big room and the heavy oak door +closed behind her her heart seemed almost choking her, but +she tried with all her might to be calm. She was to know +the worst now.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">On the other side of the room in a large arm-chair, with his +feet extended on another and covered by a travelling shawl, +reclined a man. Marcia went toward him eagerly, and then +stopped:</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page274"></span><a name="pg274" id="pg274" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Mr. Temple!”</span> There was horror, fear, reproach in the +way she spoke it.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“I know you are astonished, Mrs. Spafford, that the +messenger should be one so unworthy, and let me say +at the beginning that I am more thankful than I can express +that your letter of forgiveness reached me before I was obliged +to start on my sorrowful commission. I beg you will sit down +and be as comfortable as you can while I explain further. +Pardon my not rising. I have met with a bad sprain caused +by falling from my horse on the way, and was barely able to +reach this stopping place. My ankle is swollen so badly that +I cannot step upon my foot.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia, with white face, moved to the chair he indicated +near him, and sat down. The one thought his speech had +conveyed to her had come through those words <span class="tei tei-q">“my sorrowful +commission.”</span> She felt the need of sitting down, for her +limbs would no longer bear her up, and she felt she must +immediately know what was the matter.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Mrs. Spafford, may I ask you once more to speak your +forgiveness? Before I begin to tell you what I have come for, +I long to hear you say the words ‘I forgive you.’ Will you +give me your hand and say them?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Mr. Temple, I beg you will tell me what is the matter. +Do not think any further about that other matter. I meant +what I said in the note. Tell me quick! Is my husband—has +anything happened to Mr. Spafford? Is he ill? Is he hurt?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“My poor child! How can I bear to tell you? It seems +terrible to put your love and trust upon another human +being and then suddenly find—— But wait. Let me tell +the story in my own way. No, your husband is not hurt, +physically. Illness, and death even, are not the worst things +that can happen to a mortal soul. It seems to me cruel, as I +see you sit there so young and tender and beautiful, that I +should have to hurt you by what I have to say. I come from +the purest of motives to tell you a sad truth about one who +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page275"></span><a name="pg275" id="pg275" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +should be nearest and dearest to you of all the earth. I beg +you will look upon me kindly and believe that it hurts me to +have to tell you these things. Before I begin I pray you will +tell me that you forgive me for all I have to say. Put your +hand in mine and say so.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia had listened to this torrent of words unable to stop +them, a choking sensation in her throat, fear gripping her +heart. Some terrible thing had happened. Her senses refused +to name the possibility. Would he never tell? What +ailed the man that he wanted her hand in forgiveness? Of +course she forgave him. She could not speak, and he kept +urging.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“I cannot talk until I have your hand as a pledge that +you will forgive me and think not unkindly of me for what +I am about to tell you.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He must have seen how powerfully he wrought upon her, for +he continued until wild with frantic fear she stumbled toward +him and laid her hand in his. He grasped it and thanked +her profusely. He looked at the little cold hand in his own, +and his lying tongue went on:</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Mrs. Spafford, you are good and true. You have saved +me from a life of uselessness, and your example and high +noble character have given me new inspiration. It seems a +poor gratitude that would turn and stab you to the heart. Ah! +I cannot do it, and yet I must.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">This was torture indeed! Marcia drew her hand sharply +away and held it to her heart. She felt her brain reeling with +the strain. Harry Temple saw he must go on at once or he +would lose what he had gained. He had meant to keep that +little hand and touch it gently with a comforting pressure as +his story went on, but it would not do to frighten her or she +might take sudden alarm.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Sit down,”</span> he begged, reaching out and drawing a chair +near to his own, but she stepped back and dropped into the +one which she had first taken.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page276"></span><a name="pg276" id="pg276" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“You know your husband has been in New York?”</span> he +began. She nodded. She could not speak.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Did you never suspect why he is there and why he stays so +long?”</span> A cold vise gripped Marcia’s heart, but though she +turned white she said nothing, only looked steadily into the +false eyes that glowed and burned at her like two hateful coals +of fire that would scorch her soul and David’s to a horrid +death.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Poor child, you cannot answer. You have trusted +perfectly. You thought he was there on business connected with +his writing, but did it never occur to you what a very long +time he has been away and that—that there might be some +other reason also which he has not told? But you must know +it now, my child. I am sorry to say it, but he has been keeping +it from you, and those who love you think you ought to +know. Let me explain. Very soon after he reached New +York he met a lady whom he used to know and admire. She +is a very beautiful woman, and though she is married is still +much sought after. Your husband, like the rest of her admirers, +soon lost his heart completely, and his head. Strange +that he could so easily forget the pearl of women he had left +behind! He went to see her. He showed his affection for +her in every possible way. He gave her large sums of money. +In fact, to make a long story short, he is lingering in New +York just to be near her. I hesitate to speak the whole +truth, but he has surely done that which you cannot forgive. +You with your lofty ideas—Mrs. Spafford—he has cut himself +off from any right to your respect or love.</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“And now I am here to-day to offer to do all in my +power to help you. From what I know of your husband’s movements, +he is likely to return to you soon. You cannot meet +him knowing that the lips that will salute you have been +pressed upon the lips of another woman, and that woman <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">your own sister</span></span>, dear Mrs. Spafford!</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Ah! Now you understand, poor child. Your lips +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page277"></span><a name="pg277" id="pg277" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +quiver! You have reason to understand. I know, I know +you cannot think what to do. Let me think for you.”</span> His +eyes were glowing and his face animated. He was using all +his persuasive power, and her gaze was fixed upon him as +though he had mesmerized her. She could not resist the +flood-tide of his eloquence. She could only look on and +seem to be gradually turning to stone—frozen with horror.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He felt he had almost won, and with demoniacal skill he +phrased his sentences.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“I am here for that purpose. I am here to help you and +for no other reason. In the stable are horses harnessed and a +comfortable carriage. My advice to you is to fly from here +as fast as these fleet horses can carry you. Where you go is +for you to say. I should advise going to your father’s house. +That I am sure is what will please him best. He is your +natural refuge at such a time as this. If, however, you shrink +from appearing before the eyes of the village gossips in your +native town, I will take you to the home of a dear old friend +of mine, hidden among the quiet hills, where you will be cared +for most royally and tenderly for my sake, and where you +can work out your life problem in the way that seems best to +you. It is there that I am planning to take you to-night. +We can easily reach there before evening if we start at once.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia started to her feet in horror.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“What do you mean?”</span> she stammered in a choking voice. +<span class="tei tei-q">“I could never go anywhere with you Mr. Temple. You are +a bad man! You have been telling me lies! I do not believe +one word of what you have said. My husband is noble and +good. If he did any of those things you say he did he had a +reason for it. I shall never distrust him.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia’s head was up grandly now and her voice had come +back. She looked the man in the eye until he quailed, but still +he sought to hold his power over her.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“You poor child!”</span> and his voice was gentleness and forbearance +itself. <span class="tei tei-q">“I do not wonder in your first horror and +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page278"></span><a name="pg278" id="pg278" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +surprise that you feel as you do. I anticipated this. Sit +down and calm yourself and let me tell you more about it. +I can prove everything that I have said. I have letters +here——”</span> and he swept his hand toward a pile of letters +lying on the table; Miranda in the closet marked well the +position of those letters. <span class="tei tei-q">“All that I have said is only too +true, I am sorry to say, and you must listen to me——”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia interrupted him, her eyes blazing, her face excited: +<span class="tei tei-q">“Mr. Temple, I shall not listen to another word you say. +You are a wicked man and I was wrong to come here at all. +You deceived me or I should not have come. I must go +home at once.”</span> With that she started toward the door.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Harry Temple flung aside the shawl that covered his sometime +sprained ankle and arose quickly, placing himself before +her, forgetful of his invalid rôle:</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Not so fast, my pretty lady,”</span> he said, grasping her wrists +fiercely in both his hands. <span class="tei tei-q">“You need not think to escape +so easily. You shall not leave this room except in my company. +Do you not know that you are in my power? You +have spent nearly an hour alone in my bedchamber, and what +will your precious husband have to do with you after this is +known?”</span></p> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div id="MS24" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page279"></span><a name="pg279" id="pg279" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<a name="toc48" id="toc48"></a> +<a name="pdf49" id="pdf49"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"> + <span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER XXIV</span></span> +</h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Miranda’s time had come. She had seen it coming and +was prepared.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">With a movement like a flash she pushed open the closet +door, seized the pot of ink from the table, and before the two +excited occupants of the room had time to even hear her or +realize that she was near, she hurled the ink pot full into +the insolent face of Harry Temple. The inkstand itself was +a light affair of horn and inflicted only a slight wound, but +the ink came into his eyes in a deluge blinding him completely, +as Miranda had meant it should do. She had seen +no other weapon of defense at hand.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Harry Temple dropped Marcia’s wrists and groaned in pain, +staggering back against the wall and sinking to the floor. +But Miranda would not stay to see the effect of her punishment. +She seized the frightened Marcia, dragged her toward +the cupboard door, sweeping as she passed the pile of letters, +finished and unfinished, into her apron, and closed the cupboard +doors carefully behind her. Then she guided Marcia +through the dark mazes of the store room to the hall, and +pushing her toward the front door, whispered: <span class="tei tei-q">“Go quick +’fore he gets his eyes open. I’ve got to go this way. Run +down the road fast as you can an’ I’ll be at the meetin’ place +first. Hurry, quick!”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia went with feet that shook so that every step seemed +like to slip, but with beating heart she finally traversed the +length of the piazza with a show of dignity, passed the loungers, +and was out in the road. Then indeed she took courage +and fairly flew.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Miranda, breathless, but triumphant, went back into the +kitchen: <span class="tei tei-q">“I guess ’tain’t him after all,”</span> she said to the interested +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page280"></span><a name="pg280" id="pg280" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +woman who was putting on the potatoes to boil. <span class="tei tei-q">“He’s +real interesting to look at though. I’d like to stop and watch +him longer but I must be goin’. I come out to hunt fer”</span>—Miranda +hesitated for a suitable object before this country-bred +woman who well knew that strawberries were not ripe +yet—<span class="tei tei-q">“wintergreens fer Grandma,”</span> she added cheerfully, not +quite sure whether they grew around these parts, <span class="tei tei-q">“and I +must be in a hurry. Good-bye! Thank you fer the drink.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Miranda whizzed out of the door breezily, calling a good +morning to one of the hostlers as she passed the barnyard, +and was off through the meadows and over the fence like a +bird, the package of letters rustling loud in her bosom where +she had tucked them before she entered the kitchen.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Neither of the two girls spoke for some minutes after they +met, but continued their rapid gait, until the end of the corduroy +road was in sight and they felt comparatively safe.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Wal, that feller certainly ought to be strung up an’ walluped, +now, fer sure,”</span> remarked Miranda, <span class="tei tei-q">“an I’d like to help +at the wallupin’.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia’s overstrung nerves suddenly dissolved into hysterical +laughter. The contrast from the tragic to the ridiculous +was too much for her. She laughed until the tears rolled +down her cheeks, and then she cried in earnest. Miranda +stopped and put her arms about her as gently as a mother +might have done, and smoothed her hair back from the hot +cheek, speaking tenderly:</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“There now, you poor pretty little flower. Jest you cry ’s +hard ’s you want to. I know how good it makes you feel to cry. +I’ve done it many a time up garret where nobody couldn’t +hear me. That old Satan, he won’t trouble you fer a good +long spell again. When he gets his evil eyes open, if he ever +does, he’ll be glad to get out o’ these parts or I miss my guess. +Now don’t you worry no more. He can’t hurt you one mite. +An’ don’t you think a thing about what he said. He’s a +great big liar, that’s what he is.”</span></p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page281"></span><a name="pg281" id="pg281" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Miranda, you saved me. Yes, you did. I never can thank +you enough. If you hadn’t come and helped me something +awful might have happened!”</span> Marcia shuddered and began +to sob convulsively again.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Nonsense!”</span> said Miranda, pleased. <span class="tei tei-q">“I didn’t do a +thing worth mentioning. Now you jest wipe your eyes and +chirk up. We’ve got to go through town an’ you don’t want +folks to wonder what’s up.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Miranda led Marcia up to the spring whose location had +been known to her all the time of course, and Marcia bathed +her eyes and was soon looking more like herself, though there +was a nervous tremor to her lips now and then. But her companion +talked gaily, and tried to keep her mind from going +over the events of the morning.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">When they reached the village Miranda suggested they go +home by the back street, slipping through a field of spring +wheat and climbing the garden fence. She had a mind to +keep out of her grandmother’s sight for a while longer.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“I might’s well be hung for a sheep’s a lamb,”</span> she remarked, +as she slid in at Marcia’s kitchen door in the shadow of +the morning-glory vines. <span class="tei tei-q">“I’m goin’ to stay here a spell +an’ +get you some dinner while you go upstairs an’ lie down. You +don’t need to go back to your aunt’s till near night, an’ you +can wait till dusk an’ I’ll go with you. Then you needn’t be +out alone at all. I know how you feel, but I don’t believe +you need worry. He’ll be done with you now forever, er I’ll +miss my guess. Now you go lie down till I make a cup o’ +tea.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia was glad to be alone, and soon fell asleep, worn out +with the excitement, her brain too weary to go over the awful +occurrences of the morning. That would come later. Now +her body demanded rest.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Miranda, coming upstairs with the tea, tiptoed in and +looked at her,—one round arm thrown over her head, +and her smooth peachy cheek resting against it. Miranda, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page282"></span><a name="pg282" id="pg282" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +homely, and with no hope of ever attaining any of the +beautiful things of life, loved unselfishly this girl who +had what she had not, and longed with all her heart to comfort +and protect the sweet young thing who seemed so ill-prepared +to protect herself. She stooped over the sleeper for +one yearning moment, and touched her hair lightly with her +lips. She felt a great desire to kiss the soft round cheek, +but was afraid of wakening her. Then she took the cup of +tea and tiptoed out again, her eyes shining with satisfaction. +She had a self-imposed task before her, and was well pleased +that Marcia slept, for it gave her plenty of opportunity to carry +out her plans.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She went quickly to David’s library, opened drawers and +doors in the desk until she found writing materials, and sat +down to work. She had a letter to write, and a letter, to +Miranda, was the achievement of a lifetime. She did not +much expect to ever have to write another. She plunged +into her subject at once.</p> + +<div class="block tei tei-quote" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"> + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span class="tei tei-q"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-variant: small-caps">Dear Mr. David</span></span><span style="font-size: 90%">:</span><span style="font-size: 90%">”</span></span><span style="font-size: 90%"> (she was + afraid that sounded a little stiff, but she felt it was almost too familiar + to say </span><span class="tei tei-q"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">David</span><span style="font-size: 90%">”</span></span><span style="font-size: 90%"> as he was always called.)</span></p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span class="tei tei-q"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">I ain’t much on letters, but this one has got + to be writ. Something happened and somebody’s got to tell you about + it. I’m most sure she wont, and nobody else knows cept me.</span></span></p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span class="tei tei-q"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">Last night ’bout dark I went out to feed the + chickens, an’ I see that nimshi Harry Temple skulkin round your + house. It was all dark there, an he walked in the side gate and tried to + peek in the winders, only the shades was down an he couldn’t see a + thing. I thought he was up to some mischief so I followed him down the + street a piece till he turned down the old corduroy road. It was dark by + then an I come home, but I was on the watchout this morning, and after + Mis’ Spafford come down to the house I heard a horse gallopin by an I + looked out an saw a boy get off an take a letter to the door an ride away, + an pretty soon all in a hurry your wife come out tyin her bonnet and + hurryin along lookin scared. I grabbed my sunbonnet an + </span><span class="tei tei-pb" id="page283"></span><a name="pg283" id="pg283" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><span style="font-size: 90%"> + clipped after her, but she went so fast I didn’t get up to her till + she got on the old corduroy road. She was awful scared lookin an she + didn’t want me much I see, but pretty soon she up an told me she had + a note sayin there was a messenger with news from you out to the old Green + Tavern. He had a accident an couldn’t come no further. He wanted her + to come alone cause the business was private, so I stayed down by the turn + of the road till she got in an then I went cross lots an round to the + kitchen an called on Mis’ Green a spell. She was tellin me about her + boarders an I told her I thought mebbe one of em was a friend o’ + Hannah Heath’s so she said I might peek through the key hole of the + cubberd an see. She was busy so I went alone.</span></span></p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span class="tei tei-q"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">Well sir, I jest wish you’d been there. That + lying nimshi was jest goin on the sweetest, as respectful an nice a thankin + your wife fer comin, an excusin himself fer sendin fer her, and sayin he + couldn’t bear to tell her what he’d come fer, an pretty soon + when she was scared ’s death he up an told her a awful fib bout you + an a woman called Kate, whoever she is, an he jest poured the words out + fast so she couldn’t speak, an he said things about you he + shouldn’t uv, an you could see he was makin it up as he went along, + an he said he had proof. So he pointed at a pile of letters on the table an + I eyed em good through the hole in the door. Pretty soon he ups and + perposes that he carry her off in a carriage he has all ready, and takes + her to a friend of his, so she wont be here when you come home, cause + you’re so bad, and she gets up looking like she wanted to scream only + she didn’t dare, and she says he dont tell the truth, it wasn’t + so any of it, and if it was it was all right anyway, that you had some + reason, an she wouldn’t go a step with him anywhere. An then he + forgets all about the lame ankle he had kept covered up on a chair + pertendin it was hurt fallin off his horse when the coach brought him all + the way fer I asked Mis’ Green—and he ketches her by the + wrists, and he says she can’t go without him, and she needn’t + be in such a hurry fer you wouldn’t have no more to do with her + anyway after her being shut up there with him so long, an then she looked + jest like she was going to faint, an I bust out through the door an + ketched up the ink pot, it want heavy enough to + </span><span class="tei tei-pb" id="page284"></span><a name="pg284" id="pg284" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><span style="font-size: 90%"> + kill him, an I slung it at him, an the ink went square in his eyes, an we + slipped through the closet an got away quick fore anybody knew a + thing.</span></span></p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span class="tei tei-q"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span><span style="font-size: 90%">I brought all the letters along so here they be. I + havn’t read a one, cause I thought mebbe you’d ruther not. She + aint seen em neither. She dont know I’ve got em. I hid em in my + dress. She’s all wore out with cryin and hurryin, and being scared, + so she’s upstairs now asleep, an she dont know I’m writing. + I’m goin to send this off fore she knows, fer I think she + wouldn’t tell you fear of worryin you. I’ll look after her es + well’s I can till you get back, but I think that feller ought to be + strung up. But you’ll know what to do, so no more at present from + your obedient servent,</span></span></p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: right; margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: right"><span class="tei tei-corr" style="text-align: right"><a name="E25" id="E25" class="tei tei-anchor" style="text-align: right"></a><a href="#e25" class="tei tei-ref" style="text-align: right"><span style="font-size: 90%">“</span></a></span><span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: right"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-variant: small-caps">Miranda Griscom.</span></span><span style="font-size: 90%">”</span></span></p> +</div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Having at last succeeded in sealing her packet to her satisfaction +and the diminishing of the stick of sealing wax she +had found in the drawer, Miranda slid out the front door, +and by a detour went to David Spafford’s office.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Good afternoon, Mr. Clark,”</span> she said to the clerk importantly. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Grandma sends her respecks and wants to know +ef you’d be so kind as to back this letter fer her to Mr. David +Spafford. She’s writin’ to him on business an’ she don’t +rightly know his street an’ number in New York.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Mr. Clark willingly wrote the address, and Miranda took +it to the post office, and sped back to Marcia, happy in the +accomplishment of her purpose.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"></p><div class="tei tei-tb"> </div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">In the same mail bag that brought Miranda’s package came +a letter from Aunt Clarinda. David’s face lit up with a pleased +smile. Her letters were so infrequent that they were a rare +pleasure. He put aside the thick package written in his clerk’s +hand. It was doubtless some business papers and could wait.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Aunt Clarinda wrote in a fine old script that in spite of +her eighty years was clear and legible. She told about the +beauty of the weather, and how Amelia and Hortense were +almost done with the house cleaning, and how Marcia had been +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page285"></span><a name="pg285" id="pg285" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +going to their house every day putting it in order. Then she +added a paragraph which David, knowing the old lady well, +understood to be the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">raison d’être</span></span> of the whole letter:</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“I think your wife misses you very much, Davie, she looks +sort of peeked and sad. It is hard on her being separated +from you so long this first year. Men don’t think of those +things, but it is lonely for a young thing like her here with +three old women, and you know Hortense and Amelia never +try to make it lively for anybody. I have been watching her, +and I think if I were you I would let the business finish itself +up as soon as possible and hurry back to put a bit of cheer +into that child. She’s whiter than she ought to be.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David read it over three times in astonishment with growing, +mingled feelings which he could not quite analyze.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Poor Aunt Clarinda! Of course she did not understand +the situation, and equally of course she was mistaken. Marcia +was not sighing for him, though it might be dull for her at +the old house. He ought to have thought of that; and a +great burden suddenly settled down upon him. He was not +doing right by Marcia. It could not be himself of course that +Marcia was missing, if indeed Aunt Clarinda was right and +she was worried about anything. Perhaps something had +occurred to trouble her. Could that snake of a Temple have +turned up again? No, he felt reasonably sure he would have +heard of that, besides he saw him not long ago on the street +at a distance. Could it be some boy-lover at home whose +memory came to trouble her? Or had she discovered what a +sacrifice she had made of her young life? Whatever it was, +it was careless and cruel in him to have left her alone with his +aunts all this time. He was a selfish man, he told himself, +to have accepted her quiet little sacrifice of all for him. He +read the letter over again, and suddenly there came to him a +wish that Marcia <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">was</span></span> missing him. It seemed a pleasant +thought to have her care. He had been trying to train himself +to the fact that no one would ever care for him again, +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page286"></span><a name="pg286" id="pg286" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +but now it seemed dear and desirable that his sweet young +companion should like to have him back. He had a vision +of home as it had been, so pleasant and restful, always the +food that he liked, always the thought for his wishes, and he +felt condemned. He had not noticed or cared. Had she +thought him ungrateful?</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He read the letter over again, noting every mention of his +wife in the account of the daily living at home. He was +searching for some clue that would give him more information +about her. And when he reached the last paragraph about +missing him, a little tingle of pleasure shot through him at +the thought. He did not understand it. After all she was +his, and if it was possible he must help to make up to her +for what she had lost in giving herself to him. If the thought +of doing so brought a sense of satisfaction to him that was +unexpected, he was not to blame in any wise.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Since his interview with Kate, and the terrible night of +agony through which he had passed, David had plunged into +his business with all his might. Whenever a thought of Kate +came he banished it if possible, and if it would not go he got +out his writing materials and went to work at an article, to +absorb his mind. He had several times arisen in the night +to write because he could not sleep, and must think.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">When he was obliged to be in New York he had steadily +kept away from the house where Kate lived, and never walked +through the streets without occupying his mind as fully as +possible so that he should not chance to see her. In this way +his sorrow was growing old without having been worn out, +and he was really regaining a large amount of his former +happiness and interest in life. Not so often now did the +vision of Kate come to trouble him. He thought she was still +his one ideal of womanly beauty and grace and perfection of +course, and always would be, but she was not for him to think +upon any more. A strong true man he was growing, out of +his sorrow. And now when the thought of Marcia came to +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page287"></span><a name="pg287" id="pg287" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +him with a certain sweetness he could be glad that it was so, +and not resent it. Of course no one could ever take the place +of Kate, that was impossible.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">So reflecting, with a pleasant smile upon his face, he opened +Miranda’s epistle.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Puzzled and surprised he began to read the strange chirography, +and as he read his face darkened and he drew his brows +in a heavy frown. <span class="tei tei-q">“The scoundrel!”</span> he muttered as he +turned the sheet. Then as he went on his look grew anxious. +He scanned the page quickly as if he would gather the meaning +from the crooked ill-spelled words without taking them one +by one. But he had to go slowly, for Miranda had not written +with as much plainness as haste. He fairly held his breath +when he thought of the gentle girl in the hands of the unscrupulous +man of the world. A terrible fear gripped his +heart, Marcia, little Marcia, so sweet and pure and good. A +vision of her face as she lay asleep in the woods came between +him and the paper. Why had he left her unprotected all these +months? Fool that he was! She was worth more than all +the railroads put together. As if his own life was in the +balance, he read on, growing sick with horror. Poor child! +what had she thought? And how had his own sin and weakness +been found out, or was it merely Harry Temple’s wicked +heart that had evolved these stories? The letter smote him +with terrible accusation, and all at once it was fearful to him +to think that Marcia had heard such things about him. When +he came to her trust in him he groaned aloud and buried his +face in the letter, and then raised it quickly to read to the end.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">When he had finished he rose with sudden determination +to pack his carpet-bag and go home at once. Marcia needed +him, and he felt a strong desire to be near her, to see her +and know she was safe. It was overwhelming. He had not +known he could ever feel strongly again. He must confess +his own weakness of course, and he would. She should know +all and know that she might trust his after all.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page288"></span><a name="pg288" id="pg288" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But the motion of rising had sent the other papers to the +floor, and in falling the bundle of letters that Miranda had +enclosed, scattered about him. He stooped to pick them up +and saw his own name written in Kate’s handwriting. Old +association held him, and wondering, fearful, not wholly glad +to see it, he picked up the letter. It was an epistle of Kate’s, +written in intimate style to Harry Temple and speaking of +himself in terms of the utmost contempt. She even stooped to +detail to Harry an account of her own triumph on that miserable +morning when he had taken her in his arms and kissed +her. There were expressions in the letter that showed her +own wicked heart, as nothing else could ever have done, to +David. As he read, his soul growing sick within him,—read +one letter after another, and saw how she had plotted with this +bad man to wreck the life of her young sister for her own +triumph and revenge,—the beautiful woman whom he had +loved, and whom he had thought beautiful within as well as +without, crumbled into dust before him. When he looked +up at last with white face and firmly set lips, he found that +his soul was free forever from the fetters that had bound him +to her.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He went to the fireplace and laid the pile of letters among +the embers, blowing them into a blaze, and watched them +until they were eaten up by the fire and nothing remained but +dead grey ashes. The thought came to him that that was +like his old love. It was burnt out. There had not been the +right kind of fuel to feed it. Kate was worthless, but his own +self was alive, and please God he would yet see better days. +He would go home at once to the child wife who needed him, +and whom now he might love as she should be loved. The +thought became wondrously sweet to him as he rapidly threw +the things into his travelling bag and went about arrangements +for his trip home. He determined that if he ever came +to New York again Marcia should come with him.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div id="MS25" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page289"></span><a name="pg289" id="pg289" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<a name="toc50" id="toc50"></a> +<a name="pdf51" id="pdf51"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"> + <span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER XXV</span></span> +</h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia hurried down to her own house early one morning. +The phantoms of her experiences in the old Green Tavern +were pursuing her.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Once there she could do nothing but go over and over the +dreadful things that Harry Temple had said. In vain did +she try to work. She went into the library and took up a +book, but her mind would wander to David.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She sat down at the piano and played a few tender chords +and sang an old Italian song which somebody had left at their +house several years before:</p> + +<div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-left: 17.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> + <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: -1.00em">“Dearest, believe,</div> + <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em">When e’er we part:</div> + <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Lonely I grieve,</div> + <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em">In my sad heart:—”</div> +</div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">With a sob her head dropped upon her hands in one sad +little crash of wailing tones, while the sound died away in +reverberation after reverberation of the strings till Marcia +felt as if a sea of sound were about her in soft ebbing, flowing +waves.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The sound covered the lifting of the side door latch and the +quiet step of a foot. Marcia was absorbed in her own +thoughts. Her smothered sobs were mingling with the dying +sounds of the music, still audible to her fine ear.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David had come by instinct to his own home first. He felt +that Marcia would be there, and now that he was come and the +morning sun flooded everything and made home look so good +he felt that he must find her first of all before his relationship +with home had been re-established. He passed through +kitchen, dining room and hall, and by the closed parlor door. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page290"></span><a name="pg290" id="pg290" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +He never thought of her being in there with the door closed. +He glanced into the library and saw the book lying in his +chair as she had left it, and it gave a touch of her presence +which pleased him. He went softly toward the stairs thinking +to find her. He had stopped at a shop the last thing and +bought a beautiful creamy shawl of China crêpe heavily embroidered, +and finished with long silken fringe. He had taken +it from his carpet-bag and was carrying it in its rice paper +wrappings lest it should be crushed. He was pleased as a +child at the present he had brought her, and felt strangely +shy about giving it to her.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Just then there came a sound from the parlor, sweet and +tender and plaintive. Marcia had conquered her sobs and was +singing again with her whole soul, singing as if she were singing +to David. The words drew him strangely, wonderingly +toward the parlor door, yet so softly that he heard every +syllable.</p> + +<div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-left: 17.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> + <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: -1.00em">“Dearest, believe,</div> + <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em">When e’er we part:</div> + <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Lonely I grieve,</div> + <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em">In my sad heart:—</div> + <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Thy faithful slave,</div> + <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em">Languishing sighs,</div> + <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Haste then and save—”</div> +</div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Here the words trailed away again into a half sob, and the +melody continued in broken, halting chords that flickered out +and faded into the shadows of the room.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David’s heart was pierced with a belief that Aunt Clarinda +was right and something was the matter with Marcia. A +great trouble and tenderness, and almost jealousy, leaped up +in his heart which were incomprehensible to him. Who was +Marcia singing this song for? That it was a true cry from +a lonely soul he could but believe. Was she feeling her prison-bars +here in the lonely old house with only a forlorn man +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page291"></span><a name="pg291" id="pg291" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +whose life and love had been thrown away upon another? +Poor child! Poor child! If he might but save her from +suffering, cover her with his own tenderness and make her +content with that. Would it be possible if he devoted himself +to it to make her forget the one for whom she was sighing; +to bring peace and a certain sort of sweet forgetfulness and +interest in other things into her life? He wanted to make +a new life for her, his little girl whom he had so unthinkingly +torn from the home nest and her future, and compelled to +take up his barren way with him. He would make it up to +her if such a thing were possible. Then he opened the door.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">In the soft green light of the noonday coming through the +shades Marcia’s color did not show as it flew into her cheeks. +Her hands grew weak and dropped upon the keys with a soft +little tinkle of surprise and joy. She sprang up and came a +step toward him, then clasped her hands against her breast +and stopped shyly. David coming into the room, questioning, +wondering, anxious, stopped midway too, and for an instant +they looked upon one another. David saw a new look in the +girl’s face. She seemed older, much older than when he had +left her. The sweet round cheeks were thinner, her mouth +drooped sadly, pathetically. For an instant he longed +to take her in his arms and kiss her. The longing startled +him. So many months he had thought of only Kate in that +way, and then had tried to teach himself never to think of +Kate or any woman as one to be caressed by him, that it +shocked him. He felt that he had been disloyal to himself, +to honor,—to Kate—no—not to Kate, he had no call to be +loyal to her. She had not been loyal to him ever. Perhaps +rather he would have put it loyalty to Love for Love’s sake, +love that is worthy to be crowned by a woman’s love.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">With all these mingling feelings David was embarrassed. +He came toward her slowly, trying to be natural, trying to +get back his former way with her. He put out his hand +stiffly to shake hands as he had done when he left, and timidly +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page292"></span><a name="pg292" id="pg292" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +she put hers into it, yet as their fingers closed there leaped +from one to the other a thrill of sweetness, that neither guessed +the other knew and each put by in memory for closer inspection +as to what it could mean. Their hands clung together +longer than either had meant, and there was something pleasant +to each in the fact that they were together again. David +thought it was just because it was home, rest, and peace, and +a relief from his anxiety about Marcia now that he saw she +was all right. Marcia knew it was better to have David standing +there with his strong fingers about her trembling ones, +than to have anything else in the world. But she would not +have told him so.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“That was a sweet song you were singing,”</span> said David. +<span class="tei tei-q">“I hope you were singing it for me, and that it was true! I +am glad I am come home, and you must sing it again for me +soon.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It was not in the least what he intended to say, and the +words tumbled themselves out so tumultuously that he was +almost ashamed and wondered if Marcia would think he had +lost his mind in New York. Marcia, dear child, treasured +them every word and hugged them to her heart, and carried +them in her prayers.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">They went out together and got dinner as if they had been +two children, with a wild excited kind of glee; and they tried +to get back their natural ways of doing and saying things, but +they could not.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Instead they were forever blundering and halting in what +they said; coming face to face and almost running over one +another as they tried to help each other; laughing and blushing +and blundering again.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">When they each tried to reach for the tea kettle to fill +the coffee pot and their fingers touched, each drew back and +pretended not to notice, but yet had felt the contact sweet.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">They were lingering over the dinner when Hannah Heath +came to the door. David had been telling of some of his +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page293"></span><a name="pg293" id="pg293" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +adventures in detail and was enjoying the play of expression +on Marcia’s face as she listened eagerly to every word. They +had pushed their chairs back a little and were sitting there +talking,—or rather David was talking, Marcia listening. +Hannah stood for one jealous instant and saw it all. This +was what she had dreamed for her own long years back, she and +David. She had questioned much just what feeling there +might be between him and Marcia, and now more than ever +she desired to bring him face to face with Kate and read for +herself what the truth had been. She hated Marcia for that +look of intense delight and sympathy upon her face; hated +her that she had the right to sit there and hear what David +had to say—some stupid stuff about railroads. She did not +see that she herself would have made an ill companion for +a man like David.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">As yet neither Marcia nor David had touched upon the +subjects which had troubled them. They did not realize it, +but they were so suddenly happy in each other’s company they +had forgotten for the moment. The pleasant converse was +broken up at once. Marcia’s face hardened into something +like alarm as she saw who stood in the doorway.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Why, David, have you got home at last?”</span> said Hannah. +<span class="tei tei-q">“I did not know it.”</span> That was an untruth. She had +watched him from behind Grandmother Heath’s rose bush. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Where did you come from last? New York? Oh, then +you saw Mrs. Leavenworth. How is she? I fell in love with +her when I was there.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Now David had never fully taken in Kate’s married name. +He knew it of course, but in his present state of happiness at +getting home, and his absorption in the work he had been +doing, the name <span class="tei tei-q">“Mrs. Leavenworth”</span> conveyed nothing whatever +to David’s mind. He looked blankly at Hannah and +replied indifferently enough with a cool air. <span class="tei tei-q">“No, Miss Hannah, +I had no time for social life. I was busy every minute +I was away.”</span></p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page294"></span><a name="pg294" id="pg294" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David never expected Hannah to say anything worth listening +to, and he was so full of his subject that he had not +noticed that she made no reply.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Hannah watched him curiously as he talked, his remarks +after all were directed more to Marcia than to her, and when +he paused she said with a contemptuous sneer in her voice, +<span class="tei tei-q">“I never could understand, David, how you who seem to have +so much sense in other things will take up with such fanciful, +impractical dreams as this railroad. Lemuel says it’ll never +run.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Hannah quoted her lover with a proud bridling of her head +as if the matter were settled once and for all. It was the +first time she had allowed the world to see that she acknowledged +her relation to Lemuel. She was not averse to having +David understand that she felt there were other men in the +world besides himself. But David turned merry eyes on her.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Lemuel says?”</span> he repeated, and he made a sudden movement +with his arm which sent a knife and spoon from the +table in a clatter upon the floor.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“And how much does Lemuel know about the matter?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Lemuel has good practical common sense,”</span> said Hannah, +vexed, <span class="tei tei-q">“and he knows what is possible and what is not. He +does not need to travel all over the country on a wild goose +chase to learn that.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Now that she had accepted him Hannah did not intend to +allow Lemuel to be discounted.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“He has not long to wait to be convinced,”</span> said David +thoughtfully and unaware of her tart tone. <span class="tei tei-q">“Before the +year is out it will be a settled fact that every one can see.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Well, it’s beyond comprehension what you care, anyway,”</span> +said Hannah contemptuously. <span class="tei tei-q">“Did you really spend all +your time in New York on such things? It seems incredible. +There certainly must have been other attractions?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There was insinuation in Hannah’s voice though it was +smooth as butter, but David had had long years of experience +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page295"></span><a name="pg295" id="pg295" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +in hearing Hannah Heath’s sharp tongue. He minded it no +more than he would have minded the buzzing of a fly. +Marcia’s color rose, however. She made a hasty errand to +the pantry to put away the bread, and her eyes flashed at Hannah +through the close drawn pantry door. But Hannah did +not give up so easily.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“It is strange you did not stay with Mrs. Leavenworth,”</span> +she said. <span class="tei tei-q">“She told me you were one of her dearest friends, +and you used to be quite fond of one another.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Then it suddenly dawned upon David who Mrs. Leavenworth +was, and a sternness overspread his face.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Mrs. Leavenworth, did you say? Ah! I did not understand. +I saw her but once and that for only a few minutes +soon after I first arrived. I did not see her again.”</span> His +voice was cool and steady. Marcia coming from the pantry +with set face, ready for defence if there was any she could +give, marvelled at his coolness. Her heart was gripped with +fear, and yet leaping with joy at David’s words. He had not +seen Kate but once. He had known she was there and yet +had kept away. Hannah’s insinuations were false. Mr. +Temple’s words were untrue. She had known it all the time, +yet what sorrow they had given her!</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“By the way, Marcia,”</span> said David, turning toward her +with a smile that seemed to erase the sternness in his voice +but a moment before. <span class="tei tei-q">“Did you not write me some news? +Miss Hannah, you are to be congratulated I believe. Lemuel +is a good man. I wish you much happiness.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">And thus did David, with a pleasant speech, turn aside Hannah +Heath’s dart. Yet while she went from the house with +a smile and a sound of pleasant wishes in her ears, she carried +with her a bitter heart and a revengeful one.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David was suddenly brought face to face with the thing +he had to tell Marcia. He sat watching her as she went back +and forth from pantry to kitchen, and at last he came and +stood beside her and took her hands in his looking down earnestly +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page296"></span><a name="pg296" id="pg296" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +into her face. It seemed terrible to him to tell this +thing to the innocent girl, now, just when he was growing +anxious to win her confidence, but it must be told, and better +now than later lest he might be tempted not to tell it at all.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Marcia!”</span> He said the name tenderly, with an inflection +he had never used before. It was not lover-like, nor passionate, +but it reached her heart and drew her eyes to his and the +color to her cheeks. She thought how different his clasp +was from Harry Temple’s hateful touch. She looked up at +him trustingly, and waited.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“You heard what I said to Hannah Heath just now, +about—your——”</span> He paused, dissatisfied—<span class="tei tei-q">“about Mrs. +Leavenworth”</span>—it was as if he would set the subject of his +words far from them. Marcia’s heart beat wildly, remembering +all that she had been told, yet she looked bravely, +trustingly into his eyes.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“It was true what I told her. I met Mrs. Leavenworth +but once while I was away. It was in her own home and she +sent for me saying she was in trouble. She told me that she +was in terrible anxiety lest I would not forgive her. She +begged me to say that I forgave her, and when I told her I did +she asked me to kiss her once to prove it. I was utterly overcome +and did so, but the moment my lips touched hers I knew +that I was doing wrong and I put her from me. She begged +me to remain, and I now know that she was utterly false from +the first. It was but a part she was playing when she touched +my heart until I yielded and sinned. I have only learned that +recently, within a few days, and from words written by her +own hand to another. I will tell you about it all sometime. +But I want to confess to you this wrong I have done, and to +let you know that I went away from her that day and have +never seen her since. She had said she was without money, +and I left her all I had with me. I know now that that too +was unwise,—perhaps wrong. I feel that all this was a sin +against you. I would like you to forgive me if you can, and +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page297"></span><a name="pg297" id="pg297" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +I want you to know that this other woman who was the cause +of our coming together, and yet has separated us ever since +we have been together, is no longer anything to me. Even +if she and I were both free as we were when we first met, we +could never be anything but strangers. Can you forgive me +now, Marcia, and can you ever trust me after what I have +told you?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia looked into his eyes, and loved him but the more +for his confession. She felt she could forgive him anything, +and her whole soul in her countenance answered with her +voice, as she said: <span class="tei tei-q">“I can.”</span> It made David think of their +wedding day, and suddenly it came over him with a thrill +that this sweet womanly woman belonged to him. He marvelled +at her sweet forgiveness. The joy of it surprised him +beyond measure.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“You have had some sad experiences yourself. Will you +tell me now all about it?”</span> He asked the question wistfully +still holding her hands in a firm close grasp, and she let them +lie nestling there feeling safe as birds in the nest.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Why, how did you know?”</span> questioned Marcia, her whole +face flooded with rosy light for joy at his kind ways and relief +that she did not have to open the story.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, a little bird, or a guardian angel whispered the tale,”</span> +he said pleasantly. <span class="tei tei-q">“Come into the room where we can be sure +no Hannah Heaths will trouble us,”</span> and he drew her into the +library and seated her beside him on the sofa.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“But, indeed, Marcia,”</span> and his face sobered, <span class="tei tei-q">“it is no +light matter to me, what has happened to you. I have been +in an agony all the way home lest I might not find you safe +and well after having escaped so terrible a danger.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He drew the whole story from her bit by bit, tenderly +questioning her, his face blazing with righteous wrath, and +darkening with his wider knowledge as she told on to the end, +and showed him plainly the black heart of the villain who had +dared so diabolical a conspiracy; and the inhumanity of the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page298"></span><a name="pg298" id="pg298" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +woman who had helped in the intrigue against her own sister,—nay +even instigated it. His feelings were too deep for utterance. +He was shaken to the depths. His new comprehension +of Kate’s character was confirmed at the worst. Marcia could +only guess his deep feelings from his shaken countenance and +the earnest way in which he folded his hands over hers and +said in low tones filled with emotion: <span class="tei tei-q">“We should be deeply +thankful to God for saving you, and I must be very careful of +you after this. That villain shall be searched out and punished +if it takes a lifetime, and Miranda,—what shall we do +for Miranda? Perhaps we can induce her grandmother to let +us have her sometime to help take care of us. We seem to be +unable to get on without her. We’ll see what we can do +sometime in return for the great service she has rendered.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But the old clock striking in the hall suddenly reminded +David that he should go at once to the office, so he hurried +away and Marcia set about her work with energy, a happy +song of praise in her heart.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There was much to be done. David had said he would +scarcely have time to go over to his aunts that night, so she +had decided to invite them to tea. She would far rather have +had David to herself this first evening, but it would please +them to come, especially Aunt Clarinda. There was not much +time to prepare supper to be sure, but she would stir up a +gingerbread, make some puffy cream biscuits, and there was +lovely white honey and fresh eggs and peach preserves.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">So she ran to Deacon Appleby’s to get some cream for her +biscuits and to ask Tommy Appleby to harness David’s horse +and drive over for Aunt Clarinda. Then she hurried down +to the aunts to give her invitation.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Aunt Clarinda sat down in her calico-covered rocking chair, +wiped her dear old eyes and her glasses, and said, over and +over again: <span class="tei tei-q">“Dear child! Bless her! Bless her!”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It was a happy gathering that evening. David was as +pleased as they could have desired, and looked about upon +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page299"></span><a name="pg299" id="pg299" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +the group in the dining-room with genuine boyish pleasure. +It did his heart good to see Aunt Clarinda there. It had +never occurred to him before that she could come. He turned +to Marcia with a light in his eyes that fully repaid her for +the little trouble she had had in carrying out her plan. He +began to feel that home meant something even though he had +lost the home of his long dreams and ideals.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He talked a great deal about his trip, and in between the +sentences, he caught himself watching Marcia, noting the +curve of her round chin, the dimple in her left cheek when +she smiled, the way her hair waved off from her forehead, +the pink curves of her well-shaped ears. He found a distinct +pleasure in noting these things and he wondered at himself. +It was as if he had suddenly been placed before some great +painting and become possessed of the knowledge wherewith to +appreciate art to its fullest. It was as if he had heard a +marvellous piece of music and had the eyes and ears of his +understanding opened to take in the gracious melodies and +majestic harmonies.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Aunt Clarinda watched his eyes, and Aunt Clarinda was +satisfied. Aunt Hortense watched his eyes, jealously and +sighed. Aunt Amelia watched his eyes and set her lips and +feared to herself. <span class="tei tei-q">“He will spoil her if he does like that. +She will think she can walk right over him.”</span> But Aunt +Clarinda knew better. She recognized the eternal right of +love.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">They took the three old ladies home in the rising of an early +moon, Marcia walking demurely on the sidewalk with Aunt +Amelia, while David drove the chaise with Aunt Clarinda +and Aunt Hortense.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">As he gently lifted Aunt Clarinda down and helped her to +her room David felt her old hands tremble and press his arm, +and when he had reached her door he stooped and kissed her.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Davie,”</span> she said in the voice that used to comfort his +little childish troubles, or tell him of some nice surprise she +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page300"></span><a name="pg300" id="pg300" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +had for him, <span class="tei tei-q">“Davie, she’s a dear child! She’s just as good +as gold. She’s the princess I used to put in all your fairy-tales. +David, she’s just the right one for you!”</span> and David +answered earnestly, solemnly, as if he were discovering a +truth which surprised him but yet was not unwelcome. <span class="tei tei-q">“I +believe she is, Aunt Clarinda.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">They drove to the barn and Marcia sat in the chaise in the +sweet hay-scented darkness while David put up the horse by +the cobwebby light of the lantern; then they walked quietly +back to the house. David had drawn Marcia’s hand through +his arm and it rested softly on his coat sleeve. She was +silently happy, she knew not why, afraid to think of it lest +to-morrow would show her there was nothing out of the ordinary +monotony to be happy about.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David was silent, wondering at himself. What was this +that had come to him? A new pleasure in life. A little +trembling rill of joy bubbling up in his heart; a rift in the +dark clouds of fate; a show of sunshine where he had expected +never to see the light again. Why was it so pleasant to have +that little hand resting upon his arm? Was it really pleasant +or was it only a part of the restfulness of getting home again +away from strange faces and uncomfortable beds, and poor +tables?</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">They let themselves into the house as if they were walking +into a new world together and both were glad to be there +again. When she got up to her room Marcia went and stood +before the glass and looked at herself by the flickering flame +of the candle. Her eyes were bright and her cheeks burned +red in the centre like two soft deep roses. She felt she hardly +knew herself. She tried to be critical. Was this person she +was examining a pretty person? Would she be called so in +comparison with Kate and Hannah Heath? Would a man,—would +David,—if his heart were not filled,—think so? She +decided not. She felt she was too immature. There was too +much shyness in her glance, too much babyishness about her +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page301"></span><a name="pg301" id="pg301" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +mouth. No, David could never have thought her beautiful, +even if he had seen her before he knew Kate. But perhaps, +if Kate had been married first and away and then he had +come to their home, perhaps if he knew no one else well +enough to love,—could he have cared for her?</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Oh, it was a dreadful, beautiful thought. It thrilled +through and through her till she hid her face from her own +gaze. She suddenly kissed the hand that had rested on his +sleeve, and then reproached herself for it. She loved him, but +was it right to do so?</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">As for David, he was sitting on the side of his bed with his +chin in his hands examining himself.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He had supposed that with the reading of those letters +which had come to him but two short days before all possibility +of love and happiness had died, but lo! he found himself +thrilling with pleasure over the look in a girl’s soft eyes, and +the touch of her hand. And that girl was his wife. It was +enough to keep him awake to try to understand himself.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div id="MS26" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page302"></span><a name="pg302" id="pg302" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<a name="toc52" id="toc52"></a> +<a name="pdf53" id="pdf53"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"> + <span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER XXVI</span></span> +</h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Hannah Heath’s wedding day dawned bright enough for +a less calculating bride.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David did not get home until half past three. He had +been obliged to drive out to the starting place of the new +railroad, near Albany, where it was important that he get a +few points correctly. On the morrow was to be the initial +trip, by the Mohawk and Hudson Railroad, of the first train +drawn by a steam engine in the state of New York.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">His article about it, bargained for by a New York paper, +must be on its way by special post as soon after the starting +of the train as possible. He must have all items accurate<span class="tei tei-corr"><a name="E26" id="E26" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><a href="#e26" class="tei tei-ref">;</a></span> +technicalities of preparation; description of engine and +coaches; details of arrangements, etc.; before he added the +final paragraphs describing the actual start of the train. His +article was practically done now, save for these few items. +He had started early that morning on his long drive, and, +being detained longer than he had expected, arrived at home +with barely time to put himself into wedding garments, and +hasten in at the last moment with Marcia who stood quietly +waiting for him in the front hall. They were the last guests +to arrive. It was time for the ceremony, but the bride, +true to her nature to the last, still kept Lemuel waiting; and +Lemuel, true to the end, stood smiling and patient awaiting +her pleasure.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David and Marcia entered the wide parlor and shook hands +here and there with those assembled, though for the most part +a hushed air pervaded the room, as it always does when something +is about to happen.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Soon after their arrival some one in purple silk came down +the stairs and seated herself in a vacant chair close to where +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page303"></span><a name="pg303" id="pg303" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +the bride was to stand. She had gold hair and eyes like +forget-me-nots. She was directly opposite to David and Marcia. +David was engrossed in a whispered conversation with Mr. +Brentwood about the events of the morrow, and did not notice +her entrance, though she paused in the doorway and searched +him directly from amongst the company before she took her +seat. Marcia, who was talking with Rose Brentwood, caught +the vision of purple and gold and turned to face for one brief +instant the scornful, half-merry glance of her sister. The +blood in her face fled back to her heart and left it white.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Then Marcia summoned all her courage and braced herself +to face what was to come. She forced herself to smile in +answer to Rose Brentwood’s question. But all the while she +was trying to understand what it was in her sister’s look that +had hurt her so. It was not the anger,—for that she was +prepared. It was not the scorn, for she had often faced that. +Was it the almost merriment? Yes, there was the sting. +She had felt it so keenly when as a little girl Kate had taken +to making fun of some whim of hers. She could not see why +Kate should find cause for fun just now. It was as if she +by her look ignored Marcia’s relation to David in scornful +laugh and appropriated him herself. Marcia’s inmost soul +rebelled. The color came back as if by force of her will. +She would show Kate,—or she would show David at least,—that +she could bear all things for him. She would play well +her part of wife this day. The happy two months that had +passed since David came back from New York had made her +almost feel as if she was really his and he hers. For this +hour she would forget that it was otherwise. She would look +at him and speak to him as if he had been her husband for +years, as if there were the truest understanding between them,—as +indeed, of a certain wistful, pleasant sort there was. +She would not let the dreadful thought of Kate cloud her face +for others to see. Bravely she faced the company, but her +heart under Kate’s blue frock sent up a swift and pleading +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page304"></span><a name="pg304" id="pg304" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +prayer demanding of a higher Power something she knew she +had not in herself, and must therefore find in Him who had +created her. It was the most trustful, and needy prayer that +Marcia ever uttered and yet there were no words, not even +the closing of an eyelid. Only her heart took the attitude +of prayer.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The door upstairs opened in a business-like way, and Hannah’s +composed voice was heard giving a direction. Hannah’s +silken tread began to be audible. Miranda told Marcia +afterward that she kept her standing at the window for an +hour beforehand to see when David arrived, and when they +started over to the house. Hannah kept herself posted on +what was going on in the room below as well as if she were +down there. She knew where David and Marcia stood, and +told Kate exactly where to go. It was like Hannah that in +the moment of her sacrifice of the long cherished hopes of her +life she should have planned a dramatic revenge to help carry +her through.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The bride’s rustle became at last so audible that even +David and Mr. Brentwood heard and turned from their +absorbing conversation to the business in hand.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Hannah was in the doorway when David looked up, very +cold and beautiful in her bridal array despite the years she +had waited, and almost at once David saw the vision in purple +and gold like a saucy pansy, standing near her.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Kate’s eyes were fixed upon him with their most bewitching, +dancing smile of recognition, like a naughty little child who +had been in hiding for a time and now peeps out laughing over +the discomfiture of its elders. So Kate encountered the +steadfast gaze of David’s astonished eyes.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But there was no light of love in those eyes as she had expected +to see. Instead there grew in his face such a blaze of +righteous indignation as the lord of the wedding feast might +have turned upon the person who came in without a wedding +garment. In spite of herself Kate was disconcerted. She +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page305"></span><a name="pg305" id="pg305" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +was astonished. She felt that David was challenging her +presence there. It seemed to her he was looking through her, +searching her, judging her, sentencing her, and casting her +out, and presently his eyes wandered beyond her through the +open hall door and out into God’s green world; and when +they came back and next rested upon her his look had frozen +into the glance of a stranger.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Angry, ashamed, baffled, she bit her lips in vexation, but +tried to keep the merry smile. In her heart she hated him, +and vowed to make him bow before her smiles once more.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David did not see the bride at all to notice her, but the +bride, unlike the one of the psalmist’s vision whose eyes were +upon <span class="tei tei-q">“her dear bridegroom’s face,”</span> was looking straight +across the room with evident intent to observe David.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The ceremony proceeded, and Hannah went through her +part correctly and calmly, aware that she was giving herself +to Lemuel Skinner irrevocably, yet perfectly aware also of +the discomfiture of the sweet-faced girl-wife who sat across +the room bravely watching the ceremony with white cheeks +and eyes that shone like righteous lights.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia did not look at David. She was with him in heart, +suffering with him, feeling for him, quivering in every nerve +for what he might be enduring. She had no need to look. +Her part was to ignore, and help to cover.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">They went through it all well. Not once did Aunt Amelia +or Aunt Hortense notice anything strange in the demeanor +of their nephew or his wife. Aunt Clarinda was not there. +She was not fond of Hannah.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">As soon as the service was over and the relatives had +broken the solemn hush by kissing the bride, David turned +and spoke to Rose Brentwood, making some smiling remark +about the occasion. Rose Brentwood was looking her very +prettiest in a rose-sprigged delaine and her wavy dark hair +in a beaded net tied round with a rose-colored lute-string +ribbon.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page306"></span><a name="pg306" id="pg306" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Kate flushed angrily at this. If it had been Marcia to +whom he had spoken she would have judged he did it out +of pique, but a pretty stranger coming upon the scene at this +critical moment was trying. And then, too, David’s manner +was so indifferent, so utterly natural. He did not seem in the +least troubled by the sight of herself.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David and Marcia did not go up to speak to the bride at +once. David stepped back into the deep window seat to talk +with Mr. Brentwood, and seemed to be in no hurry to follow +the procession who were filing past the calm bride to congratulate +her. Marcia remained quietly talking to Rose +Brentwood.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">At last David turned toward his wife with a smile as +though he had known she was there all the time, and had +felt her sympathy. Her heart leaped up with new strength +at that look, and her husband’s firm touch as he drew her +hand within his arm to lead her over to the bride gave her +courage. She felt that she could face the battle, and with a +bright smile that lit up her whole lovely face she marched +bravely to the front to do or to die.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“I had about given up expecting any congratulations from +you,”</span> said Hannah sharply as they came near. It was quite +evident she had been watching for them.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“I wish you much joy, Mrs. Skinner,”</span> said David mechanically, +scarcely feeling that she would have it for he knew +her unhappy, dissatisfied nature.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Yes,”</span> said Marcia, <span class="tei tei-q">“I wish you may be happy,—as happy +as I am!”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It was an impetuous, childish thing to say, and Marcia +scarcely realized what words she meant to speak until they +were out, and then she blushed rosy red. Was she happy? +Why was she happy? Yes, even in the present trying circumstances +she suddenly felt a great deep happiness bubbling +up in her heart. Was it David’s look and his strong arm +under her hand?</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page307"></span><a name="pg307" id="pg307" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Hannah darted a look at her. She was stung by the words. +But did the girl-bride before her mean to flaunt her own +triumphs in her face? Did she fully understand? Or was +she trying to act a part and make them believe she was happy? +Hannah was baffled once more as she had been before with +Marcia.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Kate turned upon Marcia for one piercing instant again, +that look of understanding, mocking merriment, which cut +through the soul of her sister.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But did Marcia imagine it, or was it true that at her words +to Hannah, David’s arm had pressed hers closer as they stood +there in the crowd? The thought thrilled through her and +gave her greater strength.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Hannah turned toward Kate.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“David,”</span> she said, as she had always called him, and it +is possible that she enjoyed the triumph of this touch of +intimacy before her guest, <span class="tei tei-q">“you knew my friend Mrs. +Leavenworth!”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David bowed gravely, but did not attempt to put out his +hand to take the one which Kate offered in greeting. Instead +he laid it over Marcia’s little trembling one on his arm as if +to steady it.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“We have met before,”</span> said David briefly in an impenetrable +tone, and turning passed out of the room to make way +for the Brentwoods who were behind him.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Hannah scarcely treated the Brentwoods with decency, so +vexed was she with the way things were turning out. To +think that David should so completely baffle her. She turned +an annoyed look at Kate, who flashed her blue eyes contemptuously +as if to blame Hannah.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Soon the whole little gathering were in the dining-room +and wide hall being served with Grandmother Heath’s fried +chicken and currant jelly, delicate soda biscuits, and fruit +cake baked months before and left to ripen.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The ordeal through which they were passing made David +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page308"></span><a name="pg308" id="pg308" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +and Marcia feel, as they sat down, that they would not be able +to swallow a mouthful, but strangely enough they found +themselves eating with relish, each to encourage the other +perhaps, but almost enjoying it, and feeling that they had not +yet met more than they would be able to withstand.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Kate was seated on the other side of the dining-room, by +Hannah, and she watched the two incessantly with that half +merry contemptuous look, toying with her own food, and +apparently waiting for their acting to cease and David +to put on his true character. She never doubted for an +instant that they were acting.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The wedding supper was over at last. The guests crowded +out to the front stoop to bid good-bye to the happy bridegroom +and cross-looking bride, who seemed as if she left the +gala scene reluctantly.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia, for the instant, was separated from David, who +stepped down upon the grass and stood to one side to let the +bridal party pass. The minister was at the other side. +Marcia had slipped into the shelter of Aunt Amelia’s black +silk presence and wished she might run out the back door +and away home.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Suddenly a shimmer of gold with the sunlight through it +caught her gaze, and a glimpse of sheeny purple. There, +close behind David, standing upon the top step, quite unseen +by him, stood her sister Kate.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia’s heart gave a quick thump and seemed to stop, then +went painfully laboring on. She stood quite still watching +for the moment to come when David would turn around and +see Kate that she might look into his face and read there +what was written.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Hannah had been put carefully into the carriage by the +adoring Lemuel, with many a pat, and a shaking of cushions, +and an adjustment of curtains to suit her whim. It pleased +Hannah, now in her last lingering moment of freedom, to be +exacting and show others what a slave her husband was.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page309"></span><a name="pg309" id="pg309" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">They all stood for an instant looking after the carriage, +but Marcia watched David. Then, just as the carriage +wound around the curve in the road and was lost from view, +she saw him turn, and at once knew she must not see his face +as he looked at Kate. Closing her eyes like a flash she turned +and fled upstairs to get her shawl and bonnet. There she +took refuge behind the great white curtains, and hid her face +for several minutes, praying wildly, she hardly knew what, +thankful she had been kept from the sight which yet she had +longed to behold.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">As David turned to go up the steps and search for Marcia +he was confronted by Kate’s beautiful, smiling face, radiant +as it used to be when it had first charmed him. He exulted, +as he looked into it, that it did not any longer charm.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“David, you don’t seem a bit glad to see me,”</span> blamed Kate +sweetly in her pretty, childish tones, looking into his face +with those blue eyes so like to liquid skies. Almost there was +a hint of tears in them. He had been wont to kiss them +when she looked like that. Now he felt only disgust as some +of the flippant sentences in her letters to Harry Temple +came to his mind.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">His face was stern and unrecognizing.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“David, you are angry with me yet! You said you would +forgive!”</span> The gentle reproach minimized the crime, and +enlarged the punishment. It was Kate’s way. The pretty +pout on the rosy lips was the same as it used to be when +she chided him for some trifling forgetfulness of her wishes.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The other guests had all gone into the house now. David +made no response, but, nothing daunted, Kate spoke again.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“I have something very important to consult you about. +I came here on purpose. Can you give me some time to-morrow +morning?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She wrinkled her pretty face into a thousand dimples and +looked her most bewitching like a naughty child who knew +she was loved in spite of anything, and coquettishly putting +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page310"></span><a name="pg310" id="pg310" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +her head on one side, added, in the tone she used of old to +cajole him:</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“You know you never could refuse me anything, David.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David did not smile. He did not answer the look. With a +voice that recognized her only as a stranger he said gravely:</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“I have an important engagement to-morrow morning.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“But you will put off the engagement.”</span> She said it +confidently.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“It is impossible!”</span> said David decidedly. <span class="tei tei-q">“I am starting +quite early to drive over to Albany. I am under obligation +to be present at the starting of the new steam railroad.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, how nice!”</span> said Kate, clapping her hands childishly, +<span class="tei tei-q">“I have wanted to be there, and now you will take me. Then +I—we—can talk on the way. How like old times that will +be!”</span> She flashed him a smile of molten sunshine, alluring +and transforming.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“That, too, is impossible, Mrs. Leavenworth. My wife +accompanies me!”</span> he answered her promptly and clearly and +with a curt bow left her and went into the house.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Kate Leavenworth was angry, and for Kate to be angry, +meant to visit it upon some one, the offender if possible, if +not the nearest to the offender. She had failed utterly in +her attempt to win back the friendship of her former lover. +She had hoped to enjoy his attention to a certain extent and +bathe her sad (?) heart in the wistful glances of the man +she had jilted; and incidentally perhaps be invited to spend +a little time in his house, by which she would contrive to have +a good many of her own ways. A rich brother-in-law who +adored one was not a bad thing to have, especially when his +wife was one’s own little sister whom one had always dominated. +She was tired of New York and at this season of +the year the country was much preferable. She could thus +contrive to hoard her small income, and save for the next +winter, as well as secure a possible entrance finally into her +father’s good graces again through the forgiveness of David +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page311"></span><a name="pg311" id="pg311" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +and Marcia. But she had failed. Could it be that he cared +for Marcia! That child! Scout the idea! She would +discover at once.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Hurriedly she searched through the rooms downstairs and +then went stealthily upstairs. Instinctively she went to the +room where Marcia had hidden herself.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia, with that strong upward breath of prayer had +grown steady again. She was standing with her back to the +door looking out of the window toward her own home when +Kate entered the room. Without turning about she felt +Kate’s presence and knew that it was she. The moment +had come. She turned around, her face calm and sweet, with +two red spots upon her cheeks, and her bonnet,—Kate’s bonnet +and shawl, Kate’s fine lace shawl sent from Paris—grasped +in her hands.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">They faced each other, the sisters, and much was understood +between them in a flash without a word spoken. Marcia +suddenly saw herself standing there in Kate’s rightful place, +Kate’s things in her hands, Kate’s garments upon her body, +Kate’s husband held by her. It was as if Kate charged her +with all these things, as she looked her through and over, +from her slipper tips to the ruffle around the neck. And oh, +the scorn that flamed from Kate’s eyes playing over her, and +scorching her cheeks into crimson, and burning her lips dry +and stiff! And yet when Kate’s eyes reached her face and +charged her with the supreme offense of taking David from +her, Marcia’s eyes looked bravely back, and were not burned +by the fire, and she felt that her soul was not even scorched +by it. Something about the thought of David like an angelic +presence seemed to save her.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The silence between them was so intense that nothing else +could be heard by the two. The voices below were drowned +by it, the footstep on the stair was as if it were not.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">At last Kate spoke, angered still more by her sister’s soft +eyes which gazed steadily back and did not droop before her +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page312"></span><a name="pg312" id="pg312" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +own flashing onslaught. Her voice was cold and cruel. +There was nothing sisterly in it, nothing to remind either that +the other had ever been beloved.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Fool!”</span> hissed Kate. <span class="tei tei-q">“Silly fool! Did you think you +could steal a husband as you stole your clothes? Did you +suppose marrying David would make him yours, as putting +on my clothes seemed to make them yours? Well I can tell +you he will never be a husband to you. He doesn’t love you +and he never can. He will always love me. He’s as much +mine as if I had married him, in spite of all your attempts +to take him. Oh, you needn’t put up your baby mouth and +pucker it as if you were going to cry. Cry away. It won’t +do any good. You can’t make a man yours, any more than +you can make somebody’s clothes yours. They don’t fit you +any more than he does. You look horrid in blue, and you +know it, in spite of all your prinking around and pretending. +I’d be ashamed to be tricked out that way and know that +every dud I had was made for somebody else. As for going +around and pretending you have a husband—it’s a lie. You +know he’s nothing to you. You know he never told you he +cared for you. I tell you he’s mine, and he always will be.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Kate, you’re married!”</span> cried Marcia in shocked tones. +<span class="tei tei-q">“How can you talk like that?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Married! Nonsense! What difference does that make? +It’s hearts that count, not marriages. Has your marriage +made you a wife? Answer me that! Has it? Does David +love you? Does he ever kiss you? Yet he came to see me +in New York this winter, and took me in his arms and kissed +me. He gave me money too. See this brooch?”</span>—she exhibited +a jeweled pin—<span class="tei tei-q">“that was bought with his money. You +see he loves me still. I could bring him to my feet with a +word to-day. He would kiss me if I asked him. He is +weak as water in my hands.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia’s cheeks burned with shame and anger. Almost +she felt at the limit of her strength. For the first time in +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page313"></span><a name="pg313" id="pg313" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +her life she felt like striking,—striking her own sister. Horrified +over her feelings, and the rage which was tearing her +soul, she looked up, and there stood David in the doorway, +like some tall avenging angel!</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Kate had her back that way and did not see at once, but +Marcia’s eyes rested on him hungrily, pleadingly, and his +answered hers. From her sudden calmness Kate saw there +was some one near, and turning, looked at David. But he +did not glance her way. How much or how little he had heard +of Kate’s tirade, which in her passion had been keyed in a +high voice, he never let them know and neither dared to ask +him, lest perhaps he had not heard anything. There was a +light of steel in his eyes toward everything but Marcia, and +his tone had in it kindness and a recognition of mutual +understanding as he said:</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“If you are ready we had better go now, dear, had we not?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Oh how gladly Marcia followed her husband down the stairs +and out the door! She scarcely knew how she went through +the formalities of getting away. It seemed as she looked +back upon them that David had sheltered her from it all, +and said everything needful for her, and all she had done +was to smile an assent. He talked calmly to her all the way +home; told her Mr. Brentwood’s opinion about the change +in the commerce of the country the new railroad was going +to make; told her though he must have known she could not +listen. Perhaps both were conscious of the bedroom window +over the way and a pair of blue eyes that might be watching +them as they passed into the house. David took hold of her +arm and helped her up the steps of their own home as if she +had been some great lady. Marcia wondered if Kate saw that. +In her heart she blessed David for this outward sign of their +relationship. It gave her shame a little cover at least. She +glanced up toward the next house as she passed in and felt +sure she saw a glimmer of purple move away from the window. +Then David shut the door behind them and led her gently in.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div id="MS27" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page314"></span><a name="pg314" id="pg314" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<a name="toc54" id="toc54"></a> +<a name="pdf55" id="pdf55"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"> + <span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER XXVII</span></span> +</h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He made her go into the parlor and sit down and she was +all unnerved by his gentle ways. The tears would come in +spite of her. He took his own fine wedding handkerchief +and wiped them softly off her hot cheeks. He untied the +bonnet that was not hers, and flung it far into a corner in the +room. Marcia thought he put force into the fling. Then +he unfolded the shawl from her shoulders and threw that into +another corner. Kate’s beautiful thread lace shawl. Marcia +felt a hysterical desire to laugh, but David’s voice was steady +and quiet when he spoke as one might speak to a little child +in trouble.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“There now, dear,”</span> he said. He had never called her +dear before. <span class="tei tei-q">“There, that was an ordeal, and I’m glad, it’s +over. It will never trouble us that way again. Let us put +it aside and never think about it any more. We have our +own lives to live. I want you to go with me to-morrow +morning to see the train start if you feel able. We must +start early and you must take a good rest. Would you like +to go?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia’s face like a radiant rainbow answered for her as she +smiled behind her tears, and all the while he talked David’s +hand, as tender as a woman’s, was passing back and forth on +Marcia’s hot forehead and smoothing the hair. He talked +on quietly to soothe her, and give her a chance to regain her +composure, speaking of a few necessary arrangements for the +morning’s ride. Then he said, still in his quiet voice: <span class="tei tei-q">“Now +dear, I want you to go to bed, for we must start rather early, +but first do you think you could sing me that little song you +were singing the day I came home? Don’t if you feel too +tired, you know.”</span></p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page315"></span><a name="pg315" id="pg315" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Then Marcia, an eager light in her eyes, sprang up and +went to the piano, and began to play softly and sing the tender +words she had sung once before when he was listening and +she knew it not.</p> + +<div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-left: 17.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> + <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: -1.00em">“Dearest, believe,</div> + <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em">When e’er we part:</div> + <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Lonely I grieve,</div> + <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em">In my sad heart:—”</div> +</div> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Kate, standing within the chintz curtains across the yard +shedding angry tears upon her purple silk, heard presently the +sweet tones of the piano, which might have been hers; heard +her sister’s voice singing, and began to understand that she +must bear the punishment of her own rash deeds.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The room had grown from a purple dusk into quiet darkness +while Marcia was singing, for the sun was almost down when +they walked home. When the song was finished David stood +half wistfully looking at Marcia for a moment. Her eyes +shone to his through the dusk like two bright stars. He hesitated +as though he wanted to say something more, and then +thought better of it. At last he stooped and lifted her hand +from the keys and led her toward the door.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“You must go to sleep at once,”</span> he said gently. <span class="tei tei-q">“You’ll need all the rest you can get.<span class="tei tei-corr"><a name="E27" id="E27" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><a href="#e27" class="tei tei-ref">”</a></span></span> He lighted a candle for +her and said good-night with his eyes as well as his lips. Marcia felt that +she was moving up the stairs under a spell of some gentle loving power that +surrounded her and would always guard her.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">And it was about this time that Miranda, having been +sent over to take a forgotten piece of bride’s cake to Marcia, +and having heard the piano, and stolen discreetly to the parlor +window for a moment, returned and detailed for the delectation +of that most unhappy guest Mrs. Leavenworth why she +could not get in and would have to take it over in the +morning:</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page316"></span><a name="pg316" id="pg316" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“The window was open in the parlor and they were in +there, them two, but they was so plum took up with their +two selves, as they always are, that there wasn’t no use +knockin’ fer they’d never hev heard.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Miranda enjoyed making those remarks to the guest. +Some keen instinct always told her where best to strike her +blows.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">When Marcia had reached the top stair she looked down and +there was David smiling up to her.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Marcia,”</span> said he in a tone that seemed half ashamed and half amused, +<span class="tei tei-q">“have you, any—that is—things—that you +had before—all your own I mean?<span class="tei tei-corr"><a name="E28" id="E28" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><a href="#e28" class="tei tei-ref">”</a></span></span> With quick intuition Marcia understood +and her own sweet shame about her clothes that were not her own came back +upon her with double force. She suddenly saw herself again standing before +the censure of her sister. She wondered if David had heard. If not, how then +did he know? Oh, the shame of it!</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She sat down weakly upon the stair.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Yes,”</span> said she, trying to think. <span class="tei tei-q">“Some old things, and +one frock.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Wear it then to-morrow, dear,”</span> said David, in a compelling +voice and with the sweet smile that took the hurt out of +his most severe words.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia smiled. <span class="tei tei-q">“It is very plain,”</span> she said, <span class="tei tei-q">“only chintz, +pink and white. I made it myself.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Charming!”</span> said David. <span class="tei tei-q">“Wear it, dear. Marcia, one +thing more. Don’t wear any more things that don’t belong to +you. Not a Dud. Promise me? Can you get along without it?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Why, I guess so,”</span> said Marcia laughing joyfully. <span class="tei tei-q">“I’ll try to manage. But I haven’t any bonnet. Nothing but a +pink sunbonnet.<span class="tei tei-corr"><a name="E29" id="E29" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><a href="#e29" class="tei tei-ref">”</a></span></span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“All right, wear that,”</span> said David.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“It will look a little queer, won’t it?”</span> said Marcia doubtfully, +and yet as if the idea expressed a certain freedom which +was grateful to her.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page317"></span><a name="pg317" id="pg317" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Never mind,”</span> said David. <span class="tei tei-q">“Wear it. Don’t wear any +more of those other things. Pack them all up and send them +where they belong, just as quick as we get home.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There was something masterful and delightful in David’s +voice, and Marcia with a happy laugh took her candle and got +up saying, with a ring of joy in her voice: <span class="tei tei-q">“All right!”</span> She +went to her room with David’s second good-night ringing in +her ears and her heart so light she wanted to sing.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Not at once did Marcia go to her bed. She set her candle +upon the bureau and began to search wildly in a little old +<span class="tei tei-corr"><a name="E30" id="E30" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><a href="#e30" class="tei tei-ref">hair-cloth</a></span> +trunk, her own special old trunk that had contained +her treasures and which had been sent her after she left home. +She had scarcely looked into it since she came to the new +home. It seemed as if her girlhood were shut up in it. Now +she pulled it out from the closet.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">What a flood of memories rushed over her as she opened it! +There were relics of her school days, and of her little childhood. +But she had no time for them now. She was in search +of something. She touched them tenderly, but laid them all +out one after another upon the floor until down in the lower +corner she found a roll of soft white cloth. It contained a +number of white garments, half a dozen perhaps in all, finished, +and several others cut out barely begun. They were her +own work, every stitch, the first begun when she was quite a +little girl, and her stepmother started to teach her to sew. +What pride she had taken in them! How pleased she had +been when allowed to put real tucks in some of them! She +had thought as she sewed upon them at different times that +they were to be a part of her own wedding trousseau. And +then her wedding had come upon her unawares, with the +trousseau ready-made, and everything belonged to some one +else. She had folded her own poor little garments away and +thought never to take them out again, for they seemed to +belong to her dead self.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But now that dead self had suddenly come to life again. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page318"></span><a name="pg318" id="pg318" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +These hated things that she had worn for a year that were not +hers were to be put away, and, pretty as they were, many of +them, she regretted not a thread of them.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She laid the white garments out upon a chair and decided +that she would put on what she needed of them on the morrow, +even though they were rumpled with long lying away. She +even searched out an old pair of her own stockings and laid +them on a chair with the other things. They were neatly +darned as all things had always been under her stepmother’s +supervision. Further search brought a pair of partly worn +prunella slippers to light, with narrow ankle ribbons.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Then Marcia took down the pink sprigged chintz that she +had made a year ago and laid it near the other things, with a +bit of black velvet and the quaint old brooch. She felt a little +dubious about appearing on such a great occasion, almost in +Albany, in a chintz dress and with no wrap. Stay! There +was the white crêpe shawl, all her own, that David had brought +her. She had not felt like wearing it to Hannah Heath’s +wedding, it seemed too precious to take near an unloving +person like Hannah. Before that she had never felt an +occasion great enough. Now she drew it forth breathlessly. +A white crêpe shawl and a pink calico sunbonnet! Marcia +laughed softly. But then, what matter! David had said +wear it.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">All things were ready for the morrow now. There were +even her white lace mitts that Aunt Polly in an unusual fit +of benevolence had given her.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Then, as if to make the change complete, she searched out +an old night robe, plain but smooth and clean and arrayed +herself in it, and so, thankful, happy, she lay down as she +had been bidden and fell asleep.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David in the room below pondered, strange to say, the subject +of dress. There was some pride beneath it all, of course; +there always is behind the great problem of dress. It was the +rejected bonnet lying in the corner with its blue ribbons limp +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page319"></span><a name="pg319" id="pg319" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +and its blue flowers crushed that made that subject paramount +among so many others he might have chosen for his night’s +meditation.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He was going over to close the parlor window, when he saw +the thing lying innocent and discarded in the corner. Though +it bore an injured look, it yet held enough of its original +aristocratic style to cause him to stop and think.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It was all well enough to suggest that Marcia wear a pink +sunbonnet. It sounded deliciously picturesque. She looked +lovely in pink and a sunbonnet was pretty and sensible on +any one; but the morrow was a great day. David would be +seen of many and his wife would come under strict scrutiny. +Moreover it was possible that Kate might be upon the scene +to jeer at her sister in a sunbonnet. In fact, when he considered +it he would not like to take his wife to Albany in a +sunbonnet. It behoved him to consider. The outrageous +words which he had heard Mistress Leavenworth speak to his +wife still burned in his brain like needles of torture: revelation +of the true character of the woman he had once longed to +call his own.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But that bonnet! He stood and examined it. What +was a bonnet like? The proper kind of a bonnet for a +woman in his wife’s position to wear. He had never noticed +a woman’s bonnet before except as he had absent-mindedly +observed them in front of him in meeting. Now he brought +his mind to bear upon that bonnet. It seemed to be made +up of three component parts—a foundation: a girdle apparently +to bind together and tie on the head; and a decoration. +Straw, silk and some kind of unreal flowers. Was that all? +He stooped down and picked the thing up with the tips of his +fingers, held it at arms length as though it were contaminating, +and examined the inside. Ah! There was another element +in its construction, a sort of frill of something thin,—hardly +lace,—more like the foam of a cloud. He touched the +tulle clumsily with his thumb and finger and then he dropped +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page320"></span><a name="pg320" id="pg320" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +the bonnet back into the corner again. He thought he understood +well enough to know one again. He stood pondering +a moment, and looked at his watch.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Yes, it was still early enough to try at least, though of +course the shop would be closed. But the village milliner +lived behind her little store. It would be easy enough to +rouse her, and he had known her all his life. He took his +hat as eagerly as he had done when +<span class="tei tei-corr"><a name="E31" id="E31" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><a href="#e31" class="tei tei-ref">as</a></span> +a boy Aunt Clarinda had +given him a penny to buy a top and permission to go to the +corner and buy it before Aunt Amelia woke up from her nap. +He went quietly out of the door, fastening it behind him +and walked rapidly down the street.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Yes, the milliner’s shop was closed, but a light in the side +windows shining through the veiling hop-vines guided him, +and he was presently tapping at Miss Mitchell’s side door. +She opened the door cautiously and peeped over her glasses at +him, and then a bright smile overspread her face. Who in +the whole village did not welcome David whenever he chanced +to come? Miss Mitchell was resting from her labors and +reading the village paper. She had finished the column of +gossip and was quite ready for a visitor.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Come right in, David,”</span> she said heartily, for she had +known him all the years, <span class="tei tei-q">“it does a body good to see you +though your visits are as few and far between as angels’ visits. +I’m right glad to see you! Sit down.”</span> But David was too +eager about his business.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“I haven’t any time to sit down to-night, Miss Susan,”</span> he +said eagerly, <span class="tei tei-q">“I’ve come to buy a bonnet. Have you got one? +I hope it isn’t too late because I want it very early in the +morning.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“A bonnet! Bless me! For yourself?”</span> said Miss Mitchell +from mere force of commercial habit. But neither of +them saw the joke, so intent upon business were they. <span class="tei tei-q">“For +my wife, Miss Mitchell. You see she is going with me over +to Albany to-morrow morning and we start quite early. We +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page321"></span><a name="pg321" id="pg321" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +are going to see the new railroad train start, you know, and she +seems to think she hasn’t a bonnet that’s suitable.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Going to see a steam engine start, are you! Well, take +care, David, you don’t get too near. They do say they’re terrible +dangerous things, and fer my part I can’t see what good +they’ll be, fer nobody’ll ever be willin’ to ride behind +’em, +but I’d like to see it start well enough. And that sweet little +wife of yours thinks she ain’t got a good enough bonnet. +Land sakes! What is the matter with her Dunstable straw, +and what’s become of that one trimmed with blue lutestrings, +and where’s the shirred silk one she wore last Sunday? +They’re every one fine bonnets and ought to last her a good +many years yet if she cares fer ’em. The mice haven’t got +into the house and et them, hev they?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“No, Miss Susan, those bonnets are all whole yet I believe, +but they don’t seem to be just the suitable thing. In fact, I +don’t think they’re over-becoming to her, do you? You see +they’re mostly blue——”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“That’s so!”</span> said Miss Mitchell. <span class="tei tei-q">“I think myself she’d +look better in pink. How’d you like white? I’ve got a pretty +thing that I made fer Hannah Heath an’ when it was done +Hannah thought it was too plain and wouldn’t have it. I +sent for the flowers to New York and they cost a high price. +Wait! I will show it to you.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She took a candle and he followed her to the dark front +room ghostly with bonnets in various stages of perfection.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It was a pretty thing. Its foundation was of fine Milan +braid, creamy white and smooth and even. He knew at a +glance it belonged to the higher order of things, and was +superior to most of the bonnets produced in the village.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It was trimmed with plain white taffeta ribbon, soft and +silky. That was all on the outside. Around the face was +a soft ruching of tulle, and clambering among it a vine of +delicate green leaves that looked as if they were just plucked +from a wild rose bank. David was delighted. Somehow the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page322"></span><a name="pg322" id="pg322" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +bonnet looked like Marcia. He paid the price at once, declining +to look at anything else. It was enough that he liked +it and that Hannah Heath had not. He had never admired +Hannah’s taste. He carried it home in triumph, letting himself +softly into the house, lighted three candles, took the +bonnet out and hung it upon a chair. Then he walked around +it surveying it critically, first from this side, then from that. +It pleased him exceedingly. He half wished Marcia would +hear him and come down. He wanted to see it on her, but +concluded that he was growing boyish and had better get himself +under control.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The bonnet approved, he walked back and forth through the +kitchen and dining-room thinking. He compelled himself to +go over the events of the afternoon and analyze most carefully +his own innermost feelings. In fact, after doing that he began +further back and tried to find out how he felt toward +Marcia. What was this something that had been growing in +him unaware through the months; that had made his homecoming +so sweet, and had brightened every succeeding day; +and had made this meeting with Kate a mere +<span class="tei tei-corr"><a name="E32" id="E32" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><a href="#e32" class="tei tei-ref">commonplace</a></span>? +What was this precious thing that nestled in his heart? +Might he, had he a right to call it love? Surely! Now all +at once his pulses thrilled with gladness. He loved her! It +was good to love her! She was the most precious being on +earth to him. What was Kate in comparison with her? Kate +who had shown herself cold and cruel and unloving in every +way?</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">His anger flamed anew as he thought of those cutting sentences +he had overheard, taunting her own sister about the +clothes she wore. Boasting that he still belonged to her! +She, a married woman! A woman who had of her own free +will left him at the last moment and gone away with another! +His whole nature recoiled against her. She had sinned +against her womanhood, and might no longer demand from +man the homage that a true woman had a right to claim.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page323"></span><a name="pg323" id="pg323" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Poor little bruised flower! His heart went out to Marcia. +He could not bear to think of her having to stand and listen +to that heartless tirade. And he had been the cause of all +this. He had allowed her to take a position which threw +her open to Kate’s vile taunts.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Up and down he paced till the torrent of his anger spent +itself, and he was able to think more calmly. Then he went +back in his thoughts to the time when he had first met Kate +and she had bewitched him. He could see now the heartlessness +of her. He had met her first at the house of a friend +where he was visiting, partly on pleasure, partly on business. +She had devoted herself to him during the time of her stay +in a most charming way, though now he recalled that she +had also been equally devoted to the son of the house whom +he was visiting. When she went home she had asked him +to come and call, for her home was but seven miles away. +He had been so charmed with her that he had accepted the +invitation, and, rashly he now saw, had engaged himself to +her, after having known her in all face to face but a few days. +To be sure he had known of her father for years, and he took +a good deal for granted on account of her fine family. They +had corresponded after their engagement which had lasted +for nearly a year, and in that time David had seen her but +twice, for a day or two at a time, and each time he had +thought her grown more lovely. Her letters had been marvels +of modesty, and shy admiration. It was easy for Kate to +maintain her character upon paper, though she had had little +trouble in making people love her under any circumstances. +Now as he looked back he could recall many instances when +she had shown a cruel, heartless nature.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Then, all at once, with a throb of joy, it came to him +to be thankful to God for the experience through which he +had passed. After all it had not been taken from him to +love with a love enduring, for though Kate had been snatched +from him just at the moment of his possession, Marcia had +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page324"></span><a name="pg324" id="pg324" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +been given him. Fool that he was! He had been blind to +his own salvation. Suppose he had been allowed to go on +and marry Kate! Suppose he had had her character revealed +to him suddenly as those letters of hers to Harry +Temple had revealed it—as it surely would have been revealed +in time, for such things cannot be hid,—and she had been +his <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">wife!</span></span> He shuddered. How he would have loathed her! +How he loathed her now!</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Strangely enough the realization of that fact gave him +joy. He sprang up and waved his hands about in silent +delight. He felt as if he must shout for gladness. Then +he gravely knelt beside his chair and uttered an audible +thanksgiving for his escape and the joy he had been given. +Nothing else seemed fitting expression of his feelings.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There was one other question to consider—Marcia’s feelings. +She had always been kind and gentle and loving to +him, just as a sister might have been. She was exceedingly +young yet. Did she know, could she understand what it +meant to be loved the way he was sure he could love a woman? +And would she ever be able to love him in that way? She +was so silent and shy he hardly knew whether she cared for +him or not. But there was one thought that gave him unbounded +joy and that was that she was his wife. At least +no one else could take her from him. He had felt condemned +that he had married her when his heart was heavy lest she +would lose the joy of life, but all that was changed now. +Unless she loved some one else surely such love as his could +compel hers and finally make her as happy as a woman could +be made.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">A twinge of misgiving crossed his mind as he admitted the +possibility that Marcia might love some one else. True, he +knew of no one, and she was so young it was scarcely likely +she had left any one back in her girlhood to whom her heart +had turned when she was out of his sight. Still there were +instances of strong union of hearts of those who had loved +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page325"></span><a name="pg325" id="pg325" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +from early childhood. It might be that Marcia’s sometime-sadness +was over a companion of her girlhood.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">A great longing took possession of him to rush up and +waken her and find out if she could ever care for him. He +scarcely knew himself. This was not his dignified contained +self that he had lived with for twenty-seven years.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It was very late before he finally went upstairs. He walked +softly lest he disturb Marcia. He paused before her door +listening to see if she was asleep, but there was only the sound +of the katydids in the branches outside her window, and +the distant tree-toads singing a fugue in an orchard not far +away. He tiptoed to his room but he did not light his candle, +therefore there was no light in the back room of the Spafford +house that night for any watching eyes to ponder over. He +threw himself upon the bed. He was weary in body yet his +soul seemed buoyant as a bird in the morning air. The moon +was casting long bars of silver across the rag carpet and white +counterpane. It was almost full moon. Yes, to-morrow +it would be entirely full. It was full moon the night he had +met Marcia down by the gate, and kissed her. It was the first +time he had thought of that kiss with anything but pain. It +used to hurt him that he had made the mistake and taken +her for Kate. It had seemed like an ill-omen of what was to +come. But now, it thrilled him with a great new joy. After +all he had given the kiss to the right one. It was Marcia +to whom his soul bowed in the homage that a man may give +to a woman. Did his good angel guide him to her that night? +And how was it he had not seen the sweetness of Marcia +sooner? How had he lived with her nearly a year, and +watched her dainty ways, and loving ministry and not known +that his heart was hers? How was it he had grieved so long +over Kate, and now since he had seen her once more, not a +regret was in his heart that she was not his; but a beautiful +revelation of his own love to Marcia had been wrought in +him? How came it?</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page326"></span><a name="pg326" id="pg326" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">And the importunate little songsters in the night answered +him a thousand times: <span class="tei tei-q">“Kate-did-it! Kate-she-did it! Yes +she did! I say she did. Kate did it!”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Had angel voices reached him through his dreams, and +suddenly given him the revelation which the little insects +had voiced in their ridiculous colloquy? It was Kate herself +who had shown him how he loved Marcia.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div id="MS28" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page327"></span><a name="pg327" id="pg327" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<a name="toc56" id="toc56"></a> +<a name="pdf57" id="pdf57"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"> + <span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER XXVIII</span></span> +</h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Slowly the moon rode over the house, and down toward +its way in the West, and after its vanishing chariot the night +stretched wistful arms. Softly the grey in the East tinged +into violet and glowed into rose and gold. The birds woke +up and told one another that the first of August was come +and life was good.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The breath that came in the early dawn savored of new-mown +hay, and the bird songs thrilled Marcia as if it were +the day of her dreams.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She forgot all her troubles; forgot even her wayward sister +next door; and rose with the song of the birds in her heart. +This was to be a great day. No matter what happened she +had now this day to date from. David had asked her to go +somewhere just because he wanted her to. She knew it from +the look in his eyes when he told her, and she knew it because +he might have asked a dozen men to go with him. There +was no reason why he need have taken her to-day, for it was +distinctly an affair for men, this great wonder of machinery. +It was a privilege for a woman to go. She felt it. She +understood the honor.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">With fingers trembling from joy she dressed. Not the +sight of her pink calico sunbonnet lying on the chair, nor the +thought of wearing it upon so grand an occasion, could spoil +the pleasure of the day. Among so large a company her +bonnet would hardly be noticed. If David was satisfied why +what difference did it make? She was glad it would be early +when they drove by the aunts, else they might be scandalized. +But never mind! Trill! She hummed a merry little +tune which melted into the melody of the song she had sung +last night.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page328"></span><a name="pg328" id="pg328" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Then she smiled at herself in the glass. She was fastening +the brooch in the bit of velvet round her neck, and she +thought of the day a year ago when she had fastened that +brooch. She had wondered then how she would feel if the +next day was to be her own wedding day. Now as she smiled +back at herself in the glass all at once she thought it seemed +as if this was her wedding day. Somehow last night had +seemed to realize her dreams. A wonderful joy had descended +upon her heart. Maybe she was foolish, but was she not +going to ride with David? She did not long for the green +fields and a chance to run wild through the wood now. This +was better than those childish pleasures. This was real +happiness. And to think it should have come through David!</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She hurried with the arrangement of her hair until her +fingers trembled with excitement. She wanted to get downstairs +and see if it were all really true or if she were dreaming +it. Would David look at her as he had done last night? +Would he speak that precious word <span class="tei tei-q">“dear”</span> to her again to-day? +Would he take her by the hand and lead her sometimes, +or was that a special gentleness because he knew she had +suffered from her sister’s words? She clasped her hands +with a quick, convulsive gesture over her heart and looking +back to the sweet face in the glass, said softly, <span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, I love +him, love him! And it cannot be wrong, for Kate is +married.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But though she was up early David had been down before +her. The fire was ready lighted and the kettle singing over +it on the crane. He had even pulled out the table and put +up the leaf, and made some attempt to put the dishes upon it +for breakfast. He was sitting by the hearth impatient for +her coming, with a bandbox by his side.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It was like another sunrise to watch their eyes light up as +they saw one another. Their glances rushed together as +though they had been a long time withholden from each other, +and a rosy glow came over Marcia’s face that made her long +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page329"></span><a name="pg329" id="pg329" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +to hide it for a moment from view. Then she knew in her +heart that her dream was not all a dream. David was the +same. It had lasted, whatever this wonderful thing was that +bound them together. She stood still in her happy bewilderment, +looking at him, and he, enjoying the radiant +morning vision of her, stood too.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David found that longing to take her in his arms overcoming +him again. He had made strict account with himself +and was resolved to be careful and not frighten her. He must +be sure it would not be unpleasant to her before he let her +know his great deep love. He must be careful. He must not +take advantage of the fact that she was his and could not run +away from him. If she dreaded his attentions, neither could +she any more say no.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">And so their two looks met, and longed to come closer, +but were held back, and a lovely shyness crept over Marcia’s +sweet face. Then David bethought himself of his bandbox.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He took up the box and untied it with unaccustomed fingers, +fumbling among the tissue paper for the handle end of the +thing. Where did they take hold of bonnets anyway? He +had no trouble with it the night before, but then he was not +thinking about it. Now he was half afraid she might not like +it. He remembered that Hannah Heath had pronounced +against it. It suddenly seemed impossible that he should +have bought a bonnet that a pretty woman had said was not +right. There must be something wrong with it after all.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia stood wondering.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“I thought maybe this would do instead of the sunbonnet,”</span> +he said at last, getting out the bonnet by one string and +holding it dangling before him.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia caught it with deft careful hands and an exclamation +of delight. He watched her anxiously. It had all the +requisite number of materials,—one, two, three, four,—like +the despised bonnet he threw on the floor—straw, silk, lace +and flowers. Would she like it? Her face showed that she +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page330"></span><a name="pg330" id="pg330" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +did. Her cheeks flushed with pleasure, and her eyes danced +with joy. Marcia’s face always showed it when she liked +anything. There was nothing half-way about her.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, it is beautiful!”</span> she said delightedly. <span class="tei tei-q">“It is so +sweet and white and cool with that green vine. Oh, I am +glad, glad, glad! I shall never wear that old blue bonnet +again.”</span> She went over to the glass and put it on. The +soft ruching settled about her brown hair, and made a lovely +setting for her face. The green vine twined and peeped in +and out under the round brim and the ribbon sat in a prim +bow beneath her pretty chin.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She gave one comprehensive glance at herself in the glass +and then turned to David. In that glance was revealed to +her just how much she had dreaded wearing her pink sunbonnet, +and just how relieved she was to have a substitute.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Her look was shy and sweet as she said with eyes that dared +and then drooped timidly:</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“You—are—very—good to me!”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Almost he forgot his vow of carefulness at that, but remembered +when he had got half across the room toward her, and +answered earnestly:</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Dear, <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">you</span></span> have been very good to <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">me</span></span>.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia’s eyes suddenly sobered and half the glow faded +from her face. Was it then only gratitude? She took off the +bonnet and touched the bows with wistful tenderness as she +laid it by till after breakfast. He watched her and misinterpreted +the look. Was she then disappointed in the bonnet? +Was it not right after all? Had Hannah known better than +he? He hesitated and then asked her:</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Is there—— Is it—— That is—perhaps you would +rather take it back and and choose another. You know how +to choose one better than I. There were others I think. +In fact, I forgot to look at any but this because I liked it, +but I’m only a man——”</span> he finished helplessly.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“No! No! No!”</span> said Marcia, her eyes sparkling emphatically +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page331"></span><a name="pg331" id="pg331" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +again. <span class="tei tei-q">“There couldn’t be a better one. This +is just exactly what I like. I do not want anything else. +And I—like it all the better because you selected it,”</span> she +added daringly, suddenly lifting her face to his with a spice +of her own childish freedom.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">His eyes admired her.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“She told me Hannah Heath thought it too plain,”</span> he +added honestly.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Then I’m sure I like it all the better for that,”</span> said +Marcia so emphatically that they both laughed.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It all at once became necessary to hurry, for the old clock +in the hall clanged out the hour and David became aware +that haste was imperative.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Early as Marcia had come down, David had been up long +before her, his heart too light to sleep. In a dream, or perchance +on the borders of the morning, an idea had come to +him. He told Marcia that he must go out now to see about +the horse, but he also made a hurried visit to the home of his +office clerk and another to the aunts, and when he returned +with the horse he had left things in such train that if he +did not return that evening he would not be greatly missed. +But he said nothing to Marcia about it. He laughed to himself +as he thought of the sleepy look on his clerk’s face, and +the offended dignity expressed in the ruffle of Aunt Hortense’s +night cap all awry as she had peered over the balusters to +receive his unprecedentedly early visit. The aunts were early +risers. They prided themselves upon it. It hurt their dignity +and their pride to have anything short of sudden serious +illness, or death, or a fire cause others to arise before them. +Therefore they did not receive the message that David was +meditating another trip away from the village for a few days +with good grace. Aunt Hortense asked Aunt Amelia if she +had ever feared that Marcia would have a bad effect upon +David by making him frivolous. Perhaps he would lose interest +in his business with all his careering around the country. +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page332"></span><a name="pg332" id="pg332" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +Aunt Amelia agreed that Marcia must be to blame in some +way, and then discovering they had a whole hour before their +usual rising time, the two good ladies settled themselves with +indignant composure to their interrupted repose.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Breakfast was ready when David returned. Marcia supposed +he had only been to harness the horse. She glanced +out happily through the window to where the horse stood tied +to the post in front of the house. She felt like waving her +hand to him, and he turned and seemed to see her; rolling +the whites of his eyes around, and tossing his head as if in +greeting.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia would scarcely have eaten anything in her excitement +if David had not urged her to do so. She hurried with +her clearing away, and then flew upstairs to arrange her +bonnet before the glass and don the lovely folds of the creamy +crêpe shawl, folding it demurely around her shoulders and +knotting it in front. She put on her mitts, took her handkerchief +folded primly, and came down ready.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But David no longer seemed in such haste. He made a +great fuss fastening up everything. She wondered at his +unusual care, for she thought everything quite safe for the +day.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She raised one shade toward the Heath house. It was the +first time she had permitted herself this morning to think +of Kate. Was she there yet? Probably, for no coach had left +since last night, and unless she had gone by private conveyance +there would have been no way to go. She looked up to +the front corner guest room where the windows were open +and the white muslin curtains swayed in the morning breeze. +No one seemed to be moving about in the room. Perhaps +Kate was not awake. Just then she caught the flutter of a +blue muslin down on the front stoop. Kate was up, early as +it was, and was coming out. A sudden misgiving seized +Marcia’s heart, as when a little child, she had seen her sister +coming to eat up the piece of cake or sweetmeat that had been +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page333"></span><a name="pg333" id="pg333" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +given to her. Many a time had that happened. Now, she +felt that in some mysterious way Kate would contrive to take +from her her new-found joy.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She could not resist her,—David could not resist her,—no +one could ever resist Kate. Her face turned white and her +hand began to tremble so that she dropped the curtain she +had been holding up.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Just then came David’s clear voice, louder than would have +been necessary, and pitched as if he were calling to some one +upstairs, though he knew she was just inside the parlor where +she had gone to make sure of the window fastening.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Come, dear! Aren’t you ready? It is more than time +we started.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There was a glad ring in David’s voice that somehow belied +the somewhat exacting words he had spoken, and Marcia’s +heart leaped up to meet him.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Yes, I’m all ready, dear!”</span> she called back with a hysterical +little laugh. Of course Kate could not hear so far, but +it gave her satisfaction to say it. The final word was unpremeditated. +It bubbled up out of the depths of her heart +and made the red rush back into her cheeks when she realized +what she had said. It was the first time she had ever used a +term of endearment toward David. She wondered if he +noticed it and if he would think her very—bold,—queer,—immodest, +to use it. She looked shyly up at him, enquiring +with her eyes, as she came out to him on the front stoop, and +he looked down with such a smile she felt as if it were a +caress. And yet neither was quite conscious of this little real +by-play they were enacting for the benefit of the audience of +one in blue muslin over the way. How much she heard, or +how little they could not tell, but it gave satisfaction to go +through with it inasmuch as it was real, and not acting at all.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David fastened the door and then helped Marcia into the +carriage. They were both laughing happily like two children +starting upon a picnic. Marcia was serenely conscious of her +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page334"></span><a name="pg334" id="pg334" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +new bonnet, and it was pleasant to have David tuck the linen +lap robe over her chintz frock so carefully. She was certain +Kate could not identify it now at that distance, thanks to the +lap robe and her crêpe shawl. At least Kate could not see +any of her own trousseau on her sister now.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Kate was sitting on the little white seat in the shelter of +the honeysuckle vine facing them on the stoop of the Heath +house. It was impossible for them to know whether she was +watching them or not. They did not look up to see. She +was talking with Mr. Heath who, in his milking garb, was +putting to rights some shrubs and plants near the walk that +had been trampled upon during the wedding festivities. But +Kate must have seen a good deal that went on.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David took up the reins, settled himself with a smile at +Marcia, touched the horse with the tip of the whip, which +caused him to spring forward in astonishment—that from +David! No horse in town would have expected it of him. +They had known him from babyhood, most of them, and he +was gentleness itself. It must have been a mistake. But the +impression lasted long enough to carry them a rod or two +past the Heath house at a swift pace, with only time for a +lifting of David’s hat, prolonged politely,—which might or +might not have included Kate, and they were out upon their +way together.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia could scarcely believe her senses that she was really +here beside David, riding with him swiftly through the village +and leaving Kate behind. She felt a passing pity for Kate. +Then she looked shyly up at David. Would his gaiety pass +when they were away, and would he grow grave and sad again +so soon as he was out of Kate’s sight? She had learned +enough of David’s principles to know that he would not think +it right to let his thoughts stray to Kate now, but did his +heart still turn that way in spite of him?</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Through the town they sped, glad with every roll of the +wheels that took them further away from Kate. Each was +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page335"></span><a name="pg335" id="pg335" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +conscious, as they rolled along, of that day one year ago when +they rode together thus, out through the fields into the country. +It was a day much as that other one, just as bright, +just as warm, yet oh, so much more radiant to both! Then +they were sad and fearful of the future. All their life seemed +in the past. Now the darkness had been led through, and +they had reached the brightness again. In fact, all the future +stretched out before them that fair morning and looked bright +as the day.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">They were conscious of the blueness of the sky, of the soft +clouds that hovered in haziness on the rim of the horizon, as +holding off far enough to spoil no moment of that perfect +day. They were conscious of the waving grains and of the +perfume of the buckwheat drifting like snow in the fields +beyond the wheat; conscious of the meadow-lark and the +wood-robin’s note; of the whirr of a locust; and the thud +of a frog in the cool green of a pool deep with brown shadows; +conscious of the circling of mated butterflies in the simmering +gold air; of the wild roses lifting fair pink petals from the +brambly banks beside the road; conscious of the whispering +pine needles in a wood they passed; the fluttering chatter of +leaves and silver flash of the lining of poplar leaves, where +tall trees stood like sentinels, apart and sad; conscious of a +little brook that tinkled under a log bridge they crossed, then +hurried on its way unmindful of their happy crossing; conscious +of the dusty daisy beside the road, closing with a +bumbling bee who wanted honey below the market price; +conscious of all these things; but most conscious of each +other, close, side by side.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">It was all so dear, that ride, and over so soon. Marcia was +just trying to get used to looking up into the dazzling light of +David’s eyes. She had to droop her own almost immediately +for the truth she read in his was overpowering. Could it be? +A fluttering thought came timidly to her heart and would not +be denied.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page336"></span><a name="pg336" id="pg336" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Can it be, can it be that he cares for me? He loves me. +He loves me!”</span> It sang its way in with thrill after thrill of +joy and more and more David’s eyes told the story which his +lips dared not risk yet. But eyes and hearts are not held by +the conventions that bind lips. They rushed into their inheritance +of each other and had that day ahead, a day so rare +and sweet that it would do to set among the jewels of fair +days for all time and for any one.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">All too soon they began to turn into roads where were +other vehicles, many of them, and all going in the same direction. +Men and women in gala day attire all laughing and +talking expectantly and looking at one another as the carriages +passed with a degree of familiar curiosity which betokens +a common errand. Family coaches, farm wagons, with +kitchen chairs for accommodation of the family; old one-horse +chaises, carryalls, and even a stage coach or two +wheeled into the old turnpike. David and Marcia settled +into subdued quiet, their joy not expressing itself in the ripples +of laughter that had rung out earlier in the morning when +they were alone. They sought each other’s eyes often and +often, and in one of these excursions that David’s eyes made +to Marcia’s face he noticed how extremely becoming the new +bonnet was. After thinking it over he decided to risk letting +her know. He was not shy about it now.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Do you know, dear,”</span> he said,—there had been a good +many <span class="tei tei-q">“dear’s”</span> slipping back and forth all unannounced during +that ride, and not openly acknowledged either. <span class="tei tei-q">“Do +you know how becoming your new bonnet is to you? You +look prettier than I ever saw you look but once before.”</span> He +kept his eyes upon her face and watched the sweet color steal +up to her drooping eyelashes.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“When was that?”</span> she asked coyly, to hide her embarrassment, +and sweeping him one laughing glance.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Why, that night, dear, at the gate, in the moonlight. +Don’t you remember?”</span></p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page337"></span><a name="pg337" id="pg337" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Oh-h-h-h!”</span> Marcia caught her breath and a thrill of joy +passed through her that made her close her eyes lest the glad +tears should come. Then the little bird in her heart set up +the song in earnest to the tune of Wonder: <span class="tei tei-q">“He loves me, +He loves me, He loves me!”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He leaned a little closer to her.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“If there were not so many people looking I think I should +have to kiss you now.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Oh-h-h-h!”</span> said Marcia drawing in her breath and looking +around frightened on the number of people that were +driving all about them, for they were come almost to the +railroad now, and could see the black smoke of the engine a +little beyond as it stood puffing and snorting upon its track +like some sulky animal that had been caught and chained +and harnessed and was longing to leap forward and upset its +load.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But though Marcia looked about in her happy fright, and +sat a trifle straighter in the chaise, she did not move her hand +away that lay next David’s, underneath the linen lap robe, +and he put his own hand over it and covered it close in his +firm hold. Marcia trembled and was so happy she was almost +faint with joy. She wondered if she were very foolish indeed +to feel so, and if all love had this terrible element of +solemn joy in it that made it seem too great to be real.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">They had to stop a number of times to speak to people. +Everybody knew David, it appeared. This man and that +had a word to speak with him, some bit of news that he must +not omit to notice in his article, some new development about +the attitude of a man of influence that was important; the +change of two or three of those who were to go in the coaches +on this trial trip.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">To all of them David introduced his wife, with a ring of +pride in his voice as he said the words <span class="tei tei-q">“My wife,”</span> and all +of them stopped whatever business they had in hand and +stepped back to bow most deferentially to the beautiful woman +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page338"></span><a name="pg338" id="pg338" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +who sat smiling by his side. They wondered why they had +not heard of her before, and they looked curiously, enviously +at David, and back in admiration at Marcia. It was quite +a little court she held sitting there in the chaise by David’s +side.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Men who have since won a mention in the pages of history +were there that day, and nearly all of them had a word for +David Spafford and his lovely wife. Many of them stood +for some time and talked with her. Mr. Thurlow Weed was +the last one to leave them before the train was actually ready +for starting, and he laid an urging hand upon David’s arm as +he went. <span class="tei tei-q">“Then you think you cannot go with us? Better +come. Mrs. Spafford will let you I am sure. You’re not +afraid are you, Mrs. Spafford? I am sure you are a brave +woman. Better come, Spafford.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But David laughingly thanked him again as he had thanked +others, and said that he would not be able to go, as he and +his wife had other plans, and he must go on to Albany as soon +as the train had started.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia looked up at him half worshipfully as he said this, +wondering what it was, instinctively knowing that it was for +her sake he was giving up this honor which they all wished +to put upon him. It would naturally have been an interesting +thing to him to have taken this first ride behind the +new engine <span class="tei tei-q">“Dewitt Clinton.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Then, suddenly, like a chill wind from a thunder cloud that +has stolen up unannounced and clutched the little wild flowers +before they have time to bind up their windy locks and duck +their heads under cover, there happened a thing that clutched +Marcia’s heart and froze all the joy in her veins.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="page" /><div id="MS29" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page339"></span><a name="pg339" id="pg339" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +<a name="toc58" id="toc58"></a> +<a name="pdf59" id="pdf59"></a> +<h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"> + <span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 100%">CHAPTER XXIX</span></span> +</h1> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">A coach was approaching filled with people, some of them +Marcia knew; they were friends and neighbors from their +own village, and behind it plodding along came a horse with +a strangely familiar gait drawing four people. The driver +was old Mr. Heath looking unbelievingly at the scene before +him. He did not believe that an engine would be able to haul +a train any appreciable distance whatever, and he believed +that he had come out here to witness this entire company of +fanatics circumvented by the ill-natured iron steed who stood +on the track ahead surrounded by gaping boys and a flock +of quacking ganders, living symbol of the people who had +come to see the thing start; so thought Mr. Heath. He told +himself he was as much of a goose as any of them to have let +this chit of a woman fool him into coming off out here when +he ought to have been in the hay field to-day.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">By his side in all the glory of shimmering blue with a wide +white lace bertha and a bonnet with a steeple crown wreathed +about heavily with roses sat Kate, a blue silk parasol shading +her eyes from the sun, those eyes that looked to conquer, and +seemed to pierce beyond and through her sister and ignore +her. Old Mrs. Heath and Miranda were along, but they did +not count, except to themselves. Miranda was all eyes, under +an ugly bonnet. She desired above all things to see that +wonderful engine in which David was so interested.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia shrunk and seemed to wither where she sat. All +her bright bloom faded in an instant and a kind of frenzy +seized her. She had a wild desire to get down out of the carriage +and run with all her might away from this hateful scene. +The sky seemed to have suddenly clouded over and the hum +and buzz of voices about seemed a babel that would never +cease.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page340"></span><a name="pg340" id="pg340" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David felt the arm beside his cringe, and shrink back, and +looking down saw the look upon her sweet frightened face; +following her glance his own face hardened into what might +have been termed righteous wrath. But not a word did he say, +and neither did he apparently notice the oncoming carriage. +He busied himself at once talking with a man who happened +to pass the carriage, and when Mr. Heath drove by to get a +better view of the engine he was so absorbed in his conversation +that he did not notice them, which seemed but natural.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But Kate was not to be thus easily foiled. She had +much at stake and she must win if possible. She worked +it about that Squire Heath should drive around to the end +of the line of coaches, quite out of sight of the engine and +where there was little chance of seeing the train and its +passengers,—the only thing Squire Heath cared about. But +there was an excellent view of David’s carriage and Kate +would be within hailing distance if it should transpire that +she had no further opportunity of speaking with David. It +seemed strange to Squire Heath, as he sat there behind the +last coach patiently, that he had done what she asked. She +did not look like a woman who was timid about horses, yet +she had professed a terrible fear that the screech of the engine +would frighten the staid old Heath horse. Miranda, at that, +had insisted upon changing seats, thereby getting herself +nearer the horse, and the scene of action. Miranda did not +like to miss seeing the engine start.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">At last word to start was given. A man ran along by the +train and mounted into his high seat with his horn in his +hand ready to blow. The fireman ceased his raking of the +glowing fire and every traveller sprang into his seat and +looked toward the crowd of spectators importantly. This +was a great moment for all interested. The little ones whose +fathers were in the train began to call good-bye and wave their +hands, and one old lady whose only son was going as one of the +train assistants began to sob aloud.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page341"></span><a name="pg341" id="pg341" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">A horse in the crowd began to act badly. Every snort of +the engine as the steam was let off made him start and rear. +He was directly behind Marcia, and she turned her head and +looked straight into his fiery frightened eyes, red with fear and +frenzy, and felt his hot breath upon her cheek. A man was +trying most ineffectually to hold him, but it seemed as if in +another minute he would come plunging into the seat with +them. Marcia uttered a frightened cry and clutched at +David’s arm. He turned, and seeing instantly what was the +matter, placed his arm protectingly about her and at once +guided his own horse out of the crowd, and around nearer to +the engine. Somehow that protecting arm gave Marcia a +steadiness once more and she was able to watch the wonderful +wheels begin to turn and the whole train slowly move and +start on its way. Her lips parted, her breath came quick, and +for the instant she forgot her trouble. David’s arm was still +about her, and there was a reassuring pressure in it. He +seemed to have forgotten that the crowd might see him—if +the crowd had not been too busy watching something more +wonderful. It is probable that only one person in that whole +company saw David sitting with his arm about his wife—for +he soon remembered and put it quietly on the back of the +seat, where it would call no one’s attention—and that person +was Kate. She had not come to this hot dusty place to watch +an engine creak along a track, she had come to watch +David, and she was vexed and angry at what she saw. Here +was Marcia flaunting her power over David directly in her +face. Spiteful thing! She would pay her back yet and let +her know that she could not touch the things that she, Kate, +had put her own sign and seal upon. For this reason it was +that at the last minute Kate allowed poor Squire Heath to +drive around near the front of the train, saying that as David +Spafford seemed to find it safe she supposed she ought not +to hold them back for her fears. It needed but the word +to send the vexed and curious Squire around through the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page342"></span><a name="pg342" id="pg342" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +crowd to a spot directly behind David’s carriage, and there +Miranda could see quite well, and Kate could sit and watch +David and frame her plans for immediate action so soon as +the curtain should fall upon this ridiculous engine play over +which everybody was wild.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">And so, amid shouts and cheers, and squawking of the geese +that attempted to precede the engine like a white frightened +body-guard down the track; amid the waving of handkerchiefs, +the shouts of excited little boys, and the neighing of +frightened horses, the first steam engine that ever drew a +train in New York state started upon its initial trip.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Then there came a great hush upon the spectators assembled. +The wheels were rolling, the carriages were moving, +the train was actually going by them, and what had been +so long talked about was an assured fact. They were seeing +it with their own eyes, and might be witnesses of it to all +their acquaintances. It was true. They dared not speak nor +breathe lest something should happen and the great miracle +should stop. They hushed simultaneously as though at the +passing of some great soul. They watched in silence until the +train went on between the meadows, grew smaller in the distance, +slipped into the shadow of the wood, flashed out into +the sunlight beyond again, and then was lost behind a hill. +A low murmur growing rapidly into a shout of cheer arose +as the crowd turned and faced one another and the fact of +what they had seen.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“By gum! She kin do it!”</span> ejaculated Squire Heath, who +had watched the melting of his skeptical opinions in speechless +amazement.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The words were the first intimation the Spaffords had of +the proximity of Kate. They made David smile, but Marcia +turned white with sudden fear again. Not for nothing had +she lived with her sister so many years. She knew that cruel +nature and dreaded it.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David looked at Marcia for sympathy in his smile at the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page343"></span><a name="pg343" id="pg343" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +old Squire, but when he saw her face he turned frowning +toward those behind him.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Kate saw her opportunity. She leaned forward with +honeyed smile, and wily as the serpent addressed her words +to Marcia, loud and clear enough for all those about them +to hear.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, Mrs. Spafford! I am going to ask a great favor +of you. I am sure you will grant it when you know I have +so little time. I am extremely anxious to get a word of advice +from your husband upon business matters that are very pressing. +Would you kindly change places with me during the +ride home, and give me a chance to talk with him about it? +I would not ask it but that I must leave for New York on the +evening coach and shall have no other opportunity to see +him.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Kate’s smile was roses and cream touched with frosty sunshine, +and to onlookers nothing could have been sweeter. +But her eyes were coldly cruel as sharpened steel, and they +said to her sister as plainly as words could have spoken: +<span class="tei tei-q">“Do you obey my wish, my lady, or I will freeze the heart +out of you.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia turned white and sick. She felt as if her lips had +suddenly stiffened and refused to obey her when they ought +to have smiled. What would all these people think of her, +and how was she behaving? For David’s sake she ought to do +something, say something, look something, but what—what +should she do?</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">While she was thinking this, with the freezing in her heart +creeping up into her throat, the great tears beating at the +portals of her eyes, and time standing suddenly still waiting +for her leaden tongue to speak, David answered:</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">All gracefully ’twas done, with not so much as a second’s +hesitation,—though it had seemed so long to Marcia,—nor +the shadow of a sign that he was angry:</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Mrs. Leavenworth,”</span> he said in his masterful voice, <span class="tei tei-q">“I +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page344"></span><a name="pg344" id="pg344" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +am sure my wife would not wish to seem ungracious, or unwilling +to comply with your request, but as it happens it is +impossible. We are not returning home for several days. +My wife has some shopping to do in Albany, and in fact we +are expecting to take a little trip. A sort of second honeymoon, +you know,”</span>—he added, smiling toward Mrs. Heath +and Miranda; <span class="tei tei-q">“it is the first time I have had leisure to +plan for it since we were married. I am sorry I have to +hurry away, but I am sure that my friend Squire Heath can +give as much help in a business way as I could, and furthermore, +Squire Schuyler is now in New York for a few days +as I learned in a letter from him which arrived last evening. +I am sure he can give you more and better advice than any +I could give. I wish you good morning. Good morning, +Mrs. Heath. Good morning, Miss Miranda!”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Lifting his hat David drove away from them and straight +over to the little wayside hostelry where he was to finish his +article to send by the messenger who was even then ready +mounted for the purpose.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“My! Don’t he think a lot of her though!”</span> said Miranda, +rolling the words as a sweet morsel under her tongue. <span class="tei tei-q">“It +must be nice to have a man so fond of you.”</span> This was one +of the occasions when Miranda wished she had eyes in the +back of her head. She was sharp and she had seen a thing +or two, also she had heard scraps of her cousin Hannah’s talk. +But she sat demurely in the recesses of her deep, ugly bonnet +and tried to imagine how the guest behind her looked.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">All trembling sat Marcia in the rusty parlor of the little +hostelry, while David at the table wrote with hurried hand, +glancing up at her to smile now and then, and passing over +the sheets as he finished them for her criticism. She thought +she had seen the Heath wagon drive away in the home direction, +but she was not sure. She half expected to see the +door open and Kate walk in. Her heart was thumping +so she could scarcely sit still and the brightness of the +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page345"></span><a name="pg345" id="pg345" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +world outside seemed to make her dizzy. She was glad to +have the sheets to look over, for it took her thoughts away +from herself and her nameless fears. She was not quite sure +what it was she feared, only that in some way Kate would have +power over David to take him away from her. As he wrote she +studied the dear lines of his face and knew, as well as human +heart may ever know, how dear another soul had grown to hers.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">David had not much to write and it was soon signed, +approved, and sealed. He sent his messenger on the way and +then coming back closed the door and went and stood before +Marcia.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">As though she felt some critical moment had come she +arose, trembling, and looked into his eyes questioningly.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Marcia,”</span> he said, and his tone was grave and earnest, +putting her upon an equality with him, not as if she were +a child any more. <span class="tei tei-q">“Marcia, I have come to ask your forgiveness +for the terrible thing I did to you in allowing you, +who scarcely knew what you were doing then, to give your +life away to a man who loved another woman.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia’s heart stood still with horror. It had come then, +the dreadful thing she had feared. The blow was going to +fall. He did not love her! What a fool she had been!</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">But the steady voice went on, though the blood in her neck +and temples throbbed in such loud waves that she could +scarcely hear the words to understand them.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“It was a crime, Marcia, and I have come to realize it +more and more during all the days of this year that you have +so uncomplainingly spent yourself for me. I know now, +as I did not think then in my careless, selfish sorrow, that +I was as cruel to you, with your sweet young life, as your +sister was cruel to me. You might already have given your +heart to some one else; I never stopped to inquire. You +might have had plans and hopes for your own future; I +never even thought of it. I was a brute. Can you forgive +me? Sometimes the thought of the responsibility I took upon +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page346"></span><a name="pg346" id="pg346" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +myself has been so terrible to me that I felt I could not stand +it. You did not realize what it was then that you were +giving, perhaps, but somehow I think you have begun to +realize now. Will you forgive me?”</span> He stopped and looked +at her anxiously. She was drooped and white as if a blast +had suddenly struck her and faded her sweet bloom. Her +throat was hot and dry and she had to try three times before +she could frame the words, <span class="tei tei-q">“Yes, I forgive.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">There was no hope, no joy in the words, and a sudden fear +descended upon David’s heart. Had he then done more +damage than he knew? Was the child’s heart broken by +him, and did she just realize it? What could he do? Must +he conceal his love from her? Perhaps this was no time to +tell it. But he must. He could not bear the burden of +having done her harm and not also tell her how he loved her. +He would be very careful, very considerate, he would not +press his love as a claim, but he must tell her.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“And Marcia, I must tell you the rest,”</span> he went on, his +own words seeming to stay upon his lips, and then tumble over +one another; <span class="tei tei-q">“I have learned to love you as I never loved +your sister. I love you more and better than I ever could +have loved her. I can see how God has led me away from her +and brought me to you. I can look back to that night when +I came to her and found you there waiting for me, and kissed +you,—darling. Do you remember?”</span> He took her cold +little trembling hands and held them firmly as he talked, +his whole soul in his face, as if his life depended upon the next +few moments. <span class="tei tei-q">“I was troubled at the time, dear, for having +kissed you, and given you the greeting that I thought belonged +to her. I have rebuked myself for thinking since how lovely +you looked as you stood there in the moonlight. But afterward +I knew that it was you after all that my love belonged +to, and to you rightfully the kiss should have gone. I am +glad it was so, glad that God overruled my foolish choosing. +Lately I have been looking back to that night I met you at +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page347"></span><a name="pg347" id="pg347" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> +the gate, and feeling jealous that that meeting was not all +ours; that it should be shadowed for us by the heartlessness +of another. It gives me much joy now to think how I took +you in my arms and kissed you. I cannot bear to think it +was a mistake. Yet glad as I am that God sent you down +to that gate to meet me, and much as I love you, I would +rather have died than feel that I have brought sorrow into +your life, and bound you to one whom you cannot love. +Marcia, tell me truly, never mind my feelings, tell me! Can +you ever love me?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Then did Marcia lift her +<span class="tei tei-corr"><a name="E33" id="E33" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><a href="#e33" class="tei tei-ref">flower-like</a></span> +face, all bright with +tears of joy and a flood of rosy smiles, the light of seven +stars in her eyes. But she could not speak, she could only +look, and after a little whisper, <span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, David, I think I have +always loved you! I think I was waiting for you that night, +though I did not know it. And look!”</span>—with sudden +thought——</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">She drew from the folds of her dress a little old-fashioned +locket hung by a chain about her neck out of sight. She +opened it and showed him a soft gold curl which she touched +gently with her lips, as though it were something very sacred.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“What is it, darling?”</span> asked David perplexed, half happy, +half afraid as he took the locket and touched the curl more +thrilled with the thought that she had carried it next her +heart than with the sight of it.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“It is yours,”</span> she said, disappointed that he did not understand. +<span class="tei tei-q">“Aunt Clarinda gave it to me while you were away. +I’ve worn it ever since. And she gave me other things, and +told me all about you. I know it all, about the tops and +marbles, and the spelling book, and I’ve cried with you over +your punishments, and—I—love it all!”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">He had fastened the door before he began to talk, but he +caught her in his arms now, regardless of the fact that the +shades were not drawn down, and that they swayed in the +summer breeze.</p> +<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page348"></span><a name="pg348" id="pg348" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Oh, my darling! My wife!”</span> he cried, and kissed her +lips for the third time.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The world was changed then for those two. They belonged +to each other they believed, as no two that ever walked +through Eden had ever belonged. When they thought of +the precious bond that bound them together their hearts +throbbed with a happiness that well-nigh overwhelmed them.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">A dinner of stewed chickens and little white soda biscuits +was served them, fit for a wedding breakfast, for the barmaid +whispered to the cook that she was sure there was a +bride and groom in the parlor they looked so happy and +seemed to forget anybody else was by. But it might have +been ham and eggs for all they knew what it was they ate, +these two who were so happy they could but look into each +other’s eyes.</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">When the dinner was over and they started on their way +again, with Albany shimmering in the hot sun in the distance, +and David’s arm sliding from the top of the seat to circle +Marcia’s waist, David whispered:</p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“This is our real wedding journey, dearest, and this is +our bridal day. We’ll go to Albany and buy you a trousseau, +and then we will go wherever you wish. I can stay a whole +week if you wish. Would you like to go home for a visit?”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Marcia, with shining eyes and glowing cheeks, looked her +love into his face and answered: <span class="tei tei-q">“Yes, <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">now</span></span> I would like to +go home,—just for a few days—and then back to our home.”</span></p> + +<p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">And David looking into her eyes understood why she had not +wanted to go before. She was taking her husband, <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">her</span></span> husband, +not Kate’s, with her now, and might be proud of his love. +She could go among her old comrades and be happy, for +he loved her. He looked a moment, comprehended, sympathized, +and then pressing her hand close—for he might not +kiss her, as there was a load of hay coming their way—he +said: <span class="tei tei-q">“Darling!”</span> But their eyes said more.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<div class="tei tei-back" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 6.00em"> + <hr class="doublepage" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> + <a name="toc60" id="toc60"></a> + <a name="pdf61" id="pdf61"></a> + <h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"> + <span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 100%">AD PAGES</span></span> + </h1> + + <div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 100%" /></div> + <span class="tei tei-pb" id="page349"></span><a name="Pg349" id="Pg349" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.50em"><span style="font-size: 150%">FAMOUS + COPYRIGHT BOOKS</span><br /><span style="font-size: 150%">IN POPULAR PRICED EDITIONS</span></p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Re-issues of the great literary successes of the time. Library size. + Printed on excellent paper—most of them with illustrations of + marked beauty—and handsomely bound in cloth. Price, 75 cents a + volume, postpaid.</p> + + <div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 100%" /></div> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">BEVERLY OF GRAUSTARK. By George Barr McCutcheon. + With Color Frontispiece and other illustrations by Harrison Fisher. + Beautiful inlay picture in colors of Beverly on the cover.</p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“The most fascinating, engrossing and picturesque of the + season’s novels.”</span>—<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Boston + Herald.</span></span> <span class="tei tei-q">“‘Beverly’ is altogether charming—almost + living flesh and blood.”</span>—<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Louisville Times.</span></span> <span class="tei tei-q">“Better than + ‘Graustark’.”</span>—<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Mail and + Express.</span></span> <span class="tei tei-q">“A sequel quite as impossible as ‘Graustark’ + and quite as entertaining.”</span>—<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Bookman.</span></span> <span class="tei tei-q">“A charming love story well told.”</span>—<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Boston Transcript</span></span><span class="tei tei-corr"><a name="E34" id="E34" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><a href="#e34" class="tei tei-ref">.</a></span><br /><br /></p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">HALF A ROGUE. By Harold MacGrath. With + illustrations and inlay cover picture by Harrison Fisher.</p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Here are dexterity of plot, glancing play at witty talk, characters + really human and humanly real, spirit and gladness, freshness and quick + movement. ‘Half a Rogue’ is as brisk as a horseback ride on a + glorious morning. It is as varied as an April day. It is as charming as + two most charming girls can make it. Love and honor and success and all + the great things worth fighting for and living for the involved in + ‘Half a Rogue.’”</span>—<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Phila. Press.</span></span><br /><br /></p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">THE GIRL FROM TIM’S PLACE. By Charles + Clark Munn. With illustrations by Frank T. Merrill.</p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Figuring in the pages of this story there are several strong + characters. Typical New England folk and an especially sturdy one, old Cy + Walker, through whose instrumentality Chip comes to happiness and + fortune. There is a chain of comedy, tragedy, pathos and love, which + makes a dramatic story.”</span>—<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Boston + Herald.</span></span><br /><br /></p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">THE LION AND THE MOUSE. A story of American + Life. By Charles Klein, and Arthur Hornblow. With illustrations by Stuart + Travis, and Scenes from the Play.</p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The novel duplicated the success of the play; in fact the book is + greater than the play. A portentous clash of dominant personalties that + form the essence of the play are necessarily touched upon but briefly in + the short space of four acts. All this is narrated in the novel with a + wealth of fascinating and absorbing detail, making it one of the most + powerfully written and exciting works of fiction given to the world in + years.</p> + + <div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 100%" /></div> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em">GROSSET & DUNLAP, - + NEW YORK</p> + + <div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 100%" /></div> + + <div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 100%" /></div> + <span class="tei tei-pb" id="page350"></span><a name="Pg350" id="Pg350" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.50em"><span style="font-size: 150%">FAMOUS + COPYRIGHT BOOKS</span><br /><span style="font-size: 150%">IN POPULAR PRICED EDITIONS</span></p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Re-issues of the great literary successes of the time. Library size. + Printed on excellent paper—most of them with illustrations of + marked beauty—and handsomely bound in cloth. Price, 75 cents a + volume, postpaid.</p> + + <div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 100%" /></div> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">BARBARA WINSLOW, REBEL. By Elizabeth Ellis. With + illustrations by John Rae, and colored inlay cover.</p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The following, taken from story, will best describe the heroine: A + TOAST: <span class="tei tei-q">“To the bravest comrade in misfortune, the sweetest companion in + peace and at all times the most courageous of women.”</span>—<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Barbara Winslow.</span></span> <span class="tei tei-q">“A romantic story, + buoyant, eventful, and in matters of love exactly what the heart could + desire.”</span>—<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">New York + Sun.</span></span><br /><br /></p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">SUSAN. By Ernest Oldmeadow. With a color + frontispiece by Frank Haviland. <span class="tei tei-corr"><a name="E35" id="E35" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><a href="#e35" class="tei tei-ref">Medallion</a></span> in color on front + cover.</p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Lord Ruddington falls helplessly in love with Miss Langley, whom he + sees in one of her walks accompanied by her maid, Susan. Through a + misapprehension of personalities his lordship addresses a love missive to + the maid. Susan accepts in perfect good faith, and an epistolary + love-making goes on till they are disillusioned. It naturally makes a + droll and delightful little comedy; and is a story that is particularly + clever in the telling.<br /><br /></p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">WHEN PATTY WENT TO COLLEGE. By Jean Webster. + With illustrations by C. D. Williams.</p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“The book is a treasure.”</span>—<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Chicago Daily News.</span></span> <span class="tei tei-q">“Bright, whimsical, and thoroughly + entertaining.”</span>—<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Buffalo + Express.</span></span> <span class="tei tei-q">“One of the best stories of life in a girl’s + college that has ever been written.”</span>—<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">N. Y. Press.</span></span> <span class="tei tei-q">“To any woman who has enjoyed the pleasures + of a college life this book cannot fail to bring back many sweet + recollections; and to those who have not been to college the wit, + lightness, and charm of Patty are sure to be no less + delightful.”</span>—<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Public + Opinion.</span></span><br /><br /></p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">THE MASQUERADER. By Katherine Cecil Thurston. + With illustrations by Clarence F. Underwood.</p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“You can’t drop it till you have turned the last + page.”</span>—<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Cleveland Leader.</span></span> + <span class="tei tei-q">“Its very audacity of motive, of execution, of solution, almost takes + one’s breath away. The boldness of its denouement is + sublime.”</span>—<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Boston Transcript.</span></span> + <span class="tei tei-q">“The literary hit of a generation. The best of it is the story deserves + all its success. A masterly story.”</span>—<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">St. Louis Dispatch.</span></span> <span class="tei tei-q">“The story is ingeniously told, and + cleverly constructed.”</span>—<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">The + Dial.</span></span><br /><br /></p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">THE GAMBLER. By Katherine Cecil Thurston. With + illustrations by John Campbell.</p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Tells of a high strung young Irish woman who has a passion for + gambling, inherited from a long line of sporting ancestors. She has a + high sense of honor, too, and that causes complications. She is a very + human, lovable character, and love saves her.”</span>—<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">N. Y. Times.</span></span></p> + + <div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 100%" /></div> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em">GROSSET & DUNLAP, - + NEW YORK</p> + + <div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 100%" /></div> + + <div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 100%" /></div> + <span class="tei tei-pb" id="page351"></span><a name="Pg351" id="Pg351" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.50em"><span style="font-size: 150%">FAMOUS + COPYRIGHT BOOKS</span><br /><span style="font-size: 150%">IN POPULAR PRICED EDITIONS</span></p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Re-issues of the great literary successes of the time. Library size. + Printed on excellent paper—most of them with illustrations of + marked beauty—and handsomely bound in cloth. Price, 75 cents a + volume, postpaid.</p> + + <div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 100%" /></div> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">THE AFFAIR AT THE INN. By Kate Douglas Wiggin. + With illustrations by Martin Justice.</p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“As superlatively clever in the writing as it is entertaining in the + reading. It is actual comedy of the most artistic sort, and it is handled + with a freshness and originality that is unquestionably + novel.”</span>—<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Boston Transcript.</span></span> + <span class="tei tei-q">“A feast of humor and good cheer, yet subtly pervaded by special shades + of feeling, fancy, tenderness, or whimsicality. A merry thing in + prose.”</span>—<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">St. Louis + Democrat.</span></span><br /><br /></p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">ROSE O’ THE RIVER. By Kate Douglas Wiggin. + With illustrations by George Wright.</p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“‘Rose o’ the River,’ a charming bit of sentiment, + gracefully written and deftly touched with a gentle humor. It is a dainty + book—daintily illustrated.”</span>—<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">New York Tribune.</span></span> <span class="tei tei-q">“A wholesome, bright, refreshing story, + an ideal book to give a young girl.”</span>—<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Chicago Record-Herald.</span></span> <span class="tei tei-q">“An idyllic story, replete with + pathos and inimitable humor. As story-telling it is perfection, and as + portrait-painting it is true to the life.”</span>—<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">London Mail.</span></span><br /><br /></p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">TILLIE: A Mennonite Maid. By Helen R. Martin. + With illustrations by Florence Scovel Shinn.</p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The little <span class="tei tei-q">“Mennonite Maid”</span> who wanders through these pages is + something quite new in fiction. Tillie is hungry for books and beauty and + love; and she comes into her inheritance at the end. <span class="tei tei-q">“Tillie is faulty, + sensitive, big-hearted, eminently human, and first, last and always + lovable. Her charm glows warmly, the story is well handled, the + characters skilfully developed.”</span>—<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">The Book Buyer.</span></span><br /><br /></p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">LADY ROSE’S DAUGHTER. By Mrs. Humphry Ward. + With illustrations by Howard Chandler Christy.</p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“The most marvellous work of its wonderful author.”</span>—<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">New York World.</span></span> <span class="tei tei-q">“We touch regions and + attain altitudes which it is not given to the ordinary novelist even to + approach.”</span>—<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">London Times.</span></span> + <span class="tei tei-q">“In no other story has Mrs. Ward approached the brilliancy and vivacity + of Lady Rose’s Daughter.”</span>—<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">North American Review.</span></span><br /><br /></p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">THE BANKER AND THE BEAR. By Henry K. Webster.</p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“An exciting and absorbing story.”</span>—<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">New York Times.</span></span> <span class="tei tei-q">“Intensely thrilling in parts, but an + unusually good story all through. There is a love affair of real charm + and most novel surroundings, there is a run on the bank which is almost + worth a year’s growth, and there is all manner of exhilarating men + and deeds which should bring the book into high and permanent + favor.”</span>—<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Chicago Evening + Post.</span></span></p> + + <div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 100%" /></div> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em">GROSSET & DUNLAP, - + NEW YORK</p> + + <div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 100%" /></div> + + <div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 100%" /></div> + <span class="tei tei-pb" id="page352"></span><a name="Pg352" id="Pg352" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.75em"><span style="font-size: 175%">NATURE + BOOKS</span></p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.25em"><span style="font-size: 125%">With + Colored Plates, and Photographs from Life.</span></p> + + <div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 100%" /></div> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">BIRD NEIGHBORS. An Introductory Acquaintance with 150 Birds Commonly + Found in the Woods, Fields and Gardens About Our Homes. By Neltje + Blanchan. With an Introduction by John Burroughs, and many plates of + birds in natural colors. Large Quarto, size 7-3/4 x 10-3/8, Cloth. + Formerly published at $2.00. Our special price, $1.00.</p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">As an aid to the elementary study of bird life nothing has ever been + published more satisfactory than this most successful of Nature Books. + This book makes the identification of our birds simple and positive, even + to the uninitiated, through certain unique features. I. All the birds are + grouped according to color, in the belief that a bird’s coloring is + the first and often the only characteristic noticed. II. By another + classification, the birds are grouped according to their season. III. All + the popular names by which a bird is known are given both in the + descriptions and the index. The colored plates are the most beautiful and + accurate ever given in a moderate-priced and popular book. The most + successful and widely sold Nature Book yet published.<br /><br /></p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">BIRDS THAT HUNT AND ARE HUNTED. Life Histories of 170 Birds of Prey, + Game Birds and Water-Fowls. By Neltje Blanchan. With Introduction by + G. O. Shields (Coquina). 24 photographic illustrations in color. + Large Quarto, size 7-3/4 x 10-3/8. Formerly published at $2.00. Our + special price, $1.00.</p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">No work of its class has ever been issued that contains so much + valuable information, presented with such felicity and charm. The colored + plates are true to nature. By their aid alone any bird illustrated may be + readily identified. Sportsmen will especially relish the twenty-four + color plates which show the more important birds in characteristic poses. + They are probably the most valuable and artistic pictures of the kind + available to-day.</p> + + <div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 100%" /></div> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em">GROSSET & DUNLAP, - + NEW YORK</p> + + <div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 100%" /></div> + + <div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 100%" /></div> + <span class="tei tei-pb" id="page353"></span><a name="Pg353" id="Pg353" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.75em"><span style="font-size: 175%">NATURE + BOOKS</span></p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.25em"><span style="font-size: 125%">With + Colored Plates, and Photographs from Life.</span></p> + + <div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 100%" /></div> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">NATURE’S GARDEN. An Aid to Knowledge of Our Wild Flowers and + Their Insect Visitors. 24 colored plates, and many other illustrations + photographed directly from nature. Text by Neltje Blanchan. Large Quarto, + size 7-3/4 x 10-3/8. Cloth. Formerly published at $3.00 net. Our special + price, $1.25.</p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-corr"><a name="E36" id="E36" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><a href="#e36" class="tei tei-ref">Superb</a></span> color portraits of many familiar flowers + in their living tints, and no less beautiful pictures in black and white + of others—each blossom photographed directly from nature—form + an unrivaled series. By their aid alone the novice can name the flowers + met afield.</p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Intimate life-histories of over five hundred species of wild flowers, + written in untechnical, vivid language, emphasize the marvelously + interesting and vital relationship existing between these flowers and the + special insect to which each is adapted.</p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The flowers are divided into five color groups, because by this + arrangement any one with no knowledge of botany whatever can readily + identify the specimens met during a walk. The various popular names by + which each species is known, its preferred dwelling-place, months of + blooming and geographical distribution follow its description. Lists of + berry-bearing and other plants most conspicuous after the flowering + season, of such as grow together in different kinds of soil, and finally + of family groups arranged by that method of scientific classification + adopted by the International Botanical Congress which has now superseded + all others, combine to make <span class="tei tei-q">“Nature’s Garden”</span> an indispensable + guide.</p> + + <div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 100%" /></div> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em">GROSSET & DUNLAP, - + NEW YORK</p> + + <div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 100%" /></div> + + <div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 100%" /></div> + <span class="tei tei-pb" id="page354"></span><a name="Pg354" id="Pg354" class="tei tei-anchor"></a> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.50em"><span style="font-size: 150%">FAMOUS + COPYRIGHT BOOKS</span><br /><span style="font-size: 150%">IN POPULAR PRICED EDITIONS</span></p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Re-issues of the great literary successes of the time. Library size. + Printed on excellent paper—most of them with illustrations of + marked beauty—and handsomely bound in cloth. Price, 75 cents a + volume, postpaid.</p> + + <div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 100%" /></div> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">THE SPIRIT OF THE SERVICE. By Edith Elmer Wood. + With illustrations by Rufus Zogbaum.</p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The standards and life of <span class="tei tei-q">“the new navy”</span> are breezily set forth + with a genuine ring impossible from the most gifted <span class="tei tei-q">“outsider.”</span> + <span class="tei tei-q">“The story of the destruction of the ‘Maine,’ and of the + Battle of Manila, are very dramatic. The author is the daughter of one + naval officer and the wife of another. Naval folks will find much to + interest them in ‘The Spirit of the Service.’”</span>—<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">The Book Buyer.</span></span><br /><br /></p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">A SPECTRE OF POWER. By Charles Egbert + Craddock.</p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Miss Murfree has pictured Tennessee mountains and the mountain people + in striking colors and with dramatic vividness, but goes back to the time + of the struggles of the French and English in the early eighteenth + century for possession of the Cherokee territory. The story abounds in + adventure, mystery, peril and suspense.<br /><br /></p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">THE STORM CENTRE. By Charles Egbert Craddock.</p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">A war story; but more of flirtation, love and courtship than of + fighting or history. The tale is thoroughly readable and takes its + readers again into golden Tennessee, into the atmosphere which has + distinguished all of Miss Murfree’s novels.<br /><br /></p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">THE ADVENTURESS. By Coralie Stanton. With color + frontispiece by Harrison Fisher, and attractive inlay cover in colors.</p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">As a penalty for her crimes, her evil nature, her flint-like + callousness, her more than inhuman cruelty, her contempt for the laws of + God and man, she was condemned to bury her magnificent <span class="tei tei-corr"><a name="E37" id="E37" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><a href="#e37" class="tei tei-ref">personality</a></span>, her transcendent beauty, her + superhuman charms, in gilded obscurity at a King’s left hand. A + powerful story powerfully told.<br /><br /></p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">THE GOLDEN GREYHOUND. A Novel by Dwight Tilton. + With illustrations by E. Pollak.</p> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">A thoroughly good story that keeps you guessing to the very end, and + never attempts to instruct or reform you. It is a strictly up-to-date + story of love and mystery with wireless telegraphy and all the modern + improvements. The events nearly all take place on a big Atlantic liner + and the romance of the deep is skilfully made to serve as a setting for + the romance, old as mankind, yet always new, involving our hero.</p> + + <div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 100%" /></div> + + <p class="tei tei-p" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 1.00em">GROSSET & DUNLAP, - + NEW YORK</p> + + <div class="tei tei-tb"><hr style="width: 100%" /></div> + + + + + </div> + + <hr class="doublepage" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> + <a name="toc62" id="toc62"></a> + <a name="pdf63" id="pdf63"></a> + <h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"> + <span class="tei tei-hi" style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 100%">ERRATA</span></span> + </h1> + + <a name="e1" id="e1" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">CHAPTER I</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">Changed: girl in the <a href="#E1" class="tei tei-ref"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">fairy tale</span></span></a> + who left jewels</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">To: girl in the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">fairy-tale</span></span> + who left jewels</td></tr></tbody></table> + + <a name="e2" id="e2" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">CHAPTER I</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">Changed: ever walked in <a href="#E2" class="tei tei-ref"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">fairy tale</span></span></a>. + But she saw</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">To: ever walked in <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">fairy-tale</span></span>. + But she saw</td></tr></tbody></table> + + <a name="e3" id="e3" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">CHAPTER III</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">Changed: before, but covered <a href="#E3" class="tei tei-ref"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">wth</span></span></a> + confusion and shame,</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">To: before, but covered <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">with</span></span> + confusion and shame,</td></tr></tbody></table> + + <a name="e4" id="e4" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">CHAPTER III</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">Changed: and she turned <a href="#E4" class="tei tei-ref"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">delberately</span></span></a>, + one dainty, slippered</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">To: and she turned <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">deliberately</span></span>, + one dainty, slippered</td></tr></tbody></table> + + <a name="e5" id="e5" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">CHAPTER V</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">Changed: her that this <a href="#E5" class="tei tei-ref"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">wholsale</span></span></a> + disposal of Marcia</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">To: her that this <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">wholesale</span></span> + disposal of Marcia</td></tr></tbody></table> + + <a name="e6" id="e6" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">CHAPTER V</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">Changed: Phoebe takes your place and then come back.<a href="#E6" class="tei tei-ref"><span class="tei tei-hi"> </span></a></td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">To: Phoebe takes your place and then come back.<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">”</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table> + + <a name="e7" id="e7" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">CHAPTER V</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">Changed: fine places, to <a href="#E7" class="tei tei-ref"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">tea drinkings</span></span></a> + and the like,</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">To: fine places, to <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">tea-drinkings</span></span> + and the like,</td></tr></tbody></table> + + <a name="e8" id="e8" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">CHAPTER VI</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">Changed: out radiant and <a href="#E8" class="tei tei-ref"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">childlike</span></span></a> + through her tears.</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">To: out radiant and <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">child-like</span></span> + through her tears.</td></tr></tbody></table> + + <a name="e9" id="e9" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">CHAPTER X</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">Changed: was always something <a href="#E9" class="tei tei-ref"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">childlike</span></span></a> + about Marcia’s</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">To: was always something <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">child-like</span></span> + about Marcia’s</td></tr></tbody></table> + + <a name="e10" id="e10" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">CHAPTER X</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">Changed: her old home <a href="#E10" class="tei tei-ref"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">plentfully</span></span></a> + supplied with those</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">To: her old home <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">plentifully</span></span> + supplied with those</td></tr></tbody></table> + + <a name="e11" id="e11" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">CHAPTER XII</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">Changed: got David that’s worth everything.<a href="#E11" class="tei tei-ref"><span class="tei tei-hi"> </span></a></td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">To: got David that’s worth everything.<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">”</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table> + + <a name="e12" id="e12" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">CHAPTER XII</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">Changed: position on the <a href="#E12" class="tei tei-ref"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">haircloth</span></span></a> + sofa. But if</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">To: position on the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">hair-cloth</span></span> + sofa. But if</td></tr></tbody></table> + + <a name="e13" id="e13" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">CHAPTER XIII</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">Changed: had Mary Ann’s <a href="#E13" class="tei tei-ref"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">hand-writing</span></span></a> + looked so pleasant</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">To: had Mary Ann’s <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">handwriting</span></span> + looked so pleasant</td></tr></tbody></table> + + <a name="e14" id="e14" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">CHAPTER XIII</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">Changed: seemed half a <a href="#E14" class="tei tei-ref"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">life-time</span></span></a> + to the girl</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">To: seemed half a <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">lifetime</span></span> + to the girl</td></tr></tbody></table> + + <a name="e15" id="e15" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">CHAPTER XIII</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">Changed: my old calico <a href="#E15" class="tei tei-ref"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">tomorrow</span></span></a> + morning again, and</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">To: my old calico <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">to-morrow</span></span> + morning again, and</td></tr></tbody></table> + + <a name="e16" id="e16" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">CHAPTER XIII</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">Changed: house with big <a href="#E16" class="tei tei-ref"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">collums</span></span></a> + to the front</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">To: house with big <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">columns</span></span> + to the front</td></tr></tbody></table> + + <a name="e17" id="e17" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">CHAPTER XV</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">Changed: table, and the <a href="#E17" class="tei tei-ref"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">tea-kettle</span></span></a> + was singing on</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">To: table, and the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">tea kettle</span></span> + was singing on</td></tr></tbody></table> + + <a name="e38" id="e38" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">CHAPTER XV</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">Changed: The neighbor had <a href="#E38" class="tei tei-ref"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">staid</span></span></a> + longer than usual,</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">To: The neighbor had <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">stayed</span></span> + longer than usual,</td></tr></tbody></table> + + <a name="e18" id="e18" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">CHAPTER XVI</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">Changed: thus melted into <a href="#E18" class="tei tei-ref"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">childlike</span></span></a> + enthusiasm, felt his</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">To: thus melted into <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">child-like</span></span> + enthusiasm, felt his</td></tr></tbody></table> + + <a name="e19" id="e19" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">CHAPTER XVIII</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">Changed: with the flickering <a href="#E19" class="tei tei-ref"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">candle-light</span></span></a> + making grotesque</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">To: with the flickering <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">candle light</span></span> + making grotesque</td></tr></tbody></table> + + <a name="e20" id="e20" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">CHAPTER XVIII</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">Changed: Bible where the <a href="#E20" class="tei tei-ref"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">candle-light</span></span></a> + played at glances</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">To: Bible where the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">candle light</span></span> + played at glances</td></tr></tbody></table> + + <a name="e21" id="e21" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">CHAPTER XXI</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">Changed: if he would <a href="#E21" class="tei tei-ref"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">absord</span></span></a> + the vision for</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">To: if he would <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">absorb</span></span> + the vision for</td></tr></tbody></table> + + <a name="e22" id="e22" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">CHAPTER XXII</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">Changed: and let the <a href="#E22" class="tei tei-ref"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">floodtide</span></span></a> + of his sorrow</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">To: and let the <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">flood-tide</span></span> + of his sorrow</td></tr></tbody></table> + + <a name="e23" id="e23" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">CHAPTER XXII</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">Changed: an’ hopin’ an’ <a href="#E23" class="tei tei-ref"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">tryin</span></span></a> + fer somebody bigger.</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">To: an’ hopin’ an’ <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">tryin’</span></span> + fer somebody bigger.</td></tr></tbody></table> + + <a name="e24" id="e24" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">CHAPTER XXII</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">Changed: There’s no place like home.<a href="#E24" class="tei tei-ref"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">’</span></span></a></td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">To: There’s no place like home.<span class="tei tei-hi"> </span></td></tr></tbody></table> + + <a name="e25" id="e25" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">CHAPTER XXIV</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">Changed: <a href="#E25" class="tei tei-ref"><span class="tei tei-hi"> </span></a><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-variant: small-caps">Miranda + Griscom.</span></span>”</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">To: <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">“</span></span><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-variant: small-caps">Miranda Griscom.</span></span>”</td></tr></tbody></table> + + <a name="e26" id="e26" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">CHAPTER XXVI</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">Changed: all items accurate<a href="#E26" class="tei tei-ref"><span class="tei tei-hi"> </span></a> + technicalities of preparation;</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">To: all items accurate<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">;</span></span> + technicalities of preparation;</td></tr></tbody></table> + + <a name="e27" id="e27" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">CHAPTER XXVII</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">Changed: need all the rest you can get.<a href="#E27" class="tei tei-ref"><span class="tei tei-hi"> </span></a></td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">To: need all the rest you can get.<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">”</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table> + + <a name="e28" id="e28" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">CHAPTER XXVII</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">Changed: had before—all your own I mean?<a href="#E28" class="tei tei-ref"><span class="tei tei-hi"> </span></a> + </td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">To: had before—all your own I mean?<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">”</span></span> + </td></tr></tbody></table> + + <a name="e29" id="e29" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">CHAPTER XXVII</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">Changed: any bonnet. Nothing but a pink sunbonnet.<a href="#E29" class="tei tei-ref"><span class="tei tei-hi"> </span></a></td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">To: any bonnet. Nothing but a pink sunbonnet.<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">”</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table> + + <a name="e30" id="e30" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">CHAPTER XXVII</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">Changed: a little old <a href="#E30" class="tei tei-ref"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">haircloth</span></span></a> + trunk, her own</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">To: a little old <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">hair-cloth</span></span> + trunk, her own</td></tr></tbody></table> + + <a name="e31" id="e31" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">CHAPTER XXVII</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">Changed: had done when<a href="#E31" class="tei tei-ref"><span class="tei tei-hi"> </span></a>a boy Aunt Clarinda</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">To: had done when<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700"> as </span></span>a boy Aunt Clarinda</td></tr></tbody></table> + + <a name="e32" id="e32" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">CHAPTER XXVII</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">Changed: Kate a mere <a href="#E32" class="tei tei-ref"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">common-place</span></span></a>? + What was this</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">To: Kate a mere <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">commonplace</span></span>? + What was this</td></tr></tbody></table> + + <a name="e33" id="e33" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">CHAPTER XXIX</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">Changed: Marcia lift her <a href="#E33" class="tei tei-ref"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">flowerlike</span></span></a> + face, all bright</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">To: Marcia lift her <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">flower-like</span></span> + face, all bright</td></tr></tbody></table> + + <a name="e34" id="e34" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">AD PAGES</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">Changed: love story well told.”—<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Boston Transcript</span></span><a href="#E34" class="tei tei-ref"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">,</span></span></a></td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">To: love story well told.”—<span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-style: italic">Boston Transcript</span></span><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">.</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table> + + <a name="e35" id="e35" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">AD PAGES</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">Changed: by Frank Haviland. <a href="#E35" class="tei tei-ref"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">Medalion</span></span></a> + in color on</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">To: by Frank Haviland. <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">Medallion</span></span> + in color on</td></tr></tbody></table> + + <a name="e36" id="e36" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">AD PAGES</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">Changed: <a href="#E36" class="tei tei-ref"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">Suberb</span></span></a> + color portraits of many familiar flowers</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">To: <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">Superb</span></span> + color portraits of many familiar flowers</td></tr></tbody></table> + + <a name="e37" id="e37" class="tei tei-anchor"></a><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">AD PAGES</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">Changed: her magnificent <a href="#E37" class="tei tei-ref"><span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">personalty</span></span></a>, + her transcendent</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">To: her magnificent <span class="tei tei-hi"><span style="font-weight: 700">personality</span></span>, + her transcendent</td></tr></tbody></table> + </div> + + <div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 5.00em; margin-top: 5.00em"> + <div id="pgfooter" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"><pre class="pre tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em">***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MARCIA SCHUYLER*** +</pre><hr class="doublepage" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em"><a name="rightpageheader64" id="rightpageheader64"></a><a name="pgtoc65" id="pgtoc65"></a><a name="pdf66" id="pdf66"></a><h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">Credits</span></h1><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr><th class="tei tei-label tei-label-gloss">October 20, 2007 </th></tr><tr><td class="tei tei-item"><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item">Project Gutenberg Edition</td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item"><span class="tei tei-respStmt"> + <span class="tei tei-name">Roland Schlenker and<br /></span> + <span class="tei tei-name">Online Distributed Proofreading Team</span> + </span></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></div><hr class="doublepage" /><div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em"><a name="rightpageheader67" id="rightpageheader67"></a><a name="pgtoc68" id="pgtoc68"></a><a name="pdf69" id="pdf69"></a><h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">A Word from Project Gutenberg</span></h1><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">This file should be named + 23132-h.html or + 23132-h.zip.</p><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">This and all associated files of various formats will be found + in: + + <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/3/1/3/23132/" class="block tei tei-xref" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"><span style="font-size: 90%">http://www.gutenberg.org</span><span style="font-size: 90%">/dirs/2/3/1/3/23132/</span></a></p><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Updated editions will replace the previous one — the old + editions will be renamed.</p><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Creating the works from public domain print editions means that + no one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the + Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United + States without permission and without paying copyright royalties. + Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this + license, apply to copying and distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works + to protect the Project Gutenberg™ concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered + trademark, and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, + unless you receive specific permission. If you do not charge + anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the rules is + very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as + creation of derivative works, reports, performances and research. + They may be modified and printed and given away — you may do + practically <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">anything</span></em> with public domain eBooks. + Redistribution is subject to the trademark license, especially + commercial redistribution.</p></div><hr class="page" /><div id="pglicense" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 3.00em; margin-top: 3.00em"><a name="rightpageheader70" id="rightpageheader70"></a><a name="pgtoc71" id="pgtoc71"></a><a name="pdf72" id="pdf72"></a><h1 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 3.46em; margin-top: 3.46em"><span style="font-size: 173%">The Full Project Gutenberg License</span></h1><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">Please read this before you distribute or use this + work.</span></em></p><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">To protect the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting the free + distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing + this work (or any other work associated in any way with the + phrase <span class="tei tei-q">“Project Gutenberg”</span>), you agree to comply with all the terms + of the Full Project Gutenberg™ License (<a href="#pglicense" class="tei tei-ref">available with this file</a> or online + at <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/license" class="tei tei-xref">http://www.gutenberg.org/license</a>).</p><div id="pglicense1" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"><h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Section 1.</span></h2><h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 2.40em; margin-top: 2.40em"><span style="font-size: 120%">General Terms of Use & Redistributing Project Gutenberg™ + electronic works</span></h2><div id="pglicense1A" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"><h3 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.40em; margin-top: 2.40em"><span style="font-size: 120%">1.A.</span></h3><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg™ electronic + work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to + and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual + property (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree + to abide by all the terms of this agreement, you must cease + using and return or destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic + works in your possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a + copy of or access to a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work and you do not + agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement, you may + obtain a refund from the person or entity to whom you paid the + fee as set forth in paragraph <a href="#pglicense1E8" class="tei tei-ref">1.E.8.</a></p></div><div id="pglicense1B" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"><h3 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.40em; margin-top: 2.40em"><span style="font-size: 120%">1.B.</span></h3><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-q">“Project Gutenberg”</span> is a registered trademark. It may only be used on or + associated in any way with an electronic work by people who agree to be + bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few things that you + can do with most Project Gutenberg™ electronic works even without complying with the + full terms of this agreement. See paragraph <a href="#pglicense1C" class="tei tei-ref">1.C</a> below. There are a lot of things you can + do with Project Gutenberg™ electronic works if you follow the terms of this + agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg™ electronic + works. See paragraph <a href="#pglicense1E" class="tei tei-ref">1.E</a> below.</p></div><div id="pglicense1C" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"><h3 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.40em; margin-top: 2.40em"><span style="font-size: 120%">1.C.</span></h3><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (<span class="tei tei-q">“the Foundation”</span> or PGLAF), owns a compilation + copyright in the collection of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works. Nearly all the + individual works in the collection are in the public domain in the + United States. If an individual work is in the public domain in the + United States and you are located in the United States, we do not claim + a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, + displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as all + references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support + the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting free access to electronic works by + freely sharing Project Gutenberg™ works in compliance with the terms of this + agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg™ name associated with the work. You can + easily comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in + the same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg™ License when you share it + without charge with others.</p></div><div id="pglicense1D" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"><h3 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.40em; margin-top: 2.40em"><span style="font-size: 120%">1.D.</span></h3><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern + what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in + a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check + the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement + before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or + creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project Gutenberg™ work. + The Foundation makes no representations concerning the copyright status + of any work in any country outside the United States.</p></div><div id="pglicense1E" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"><h3 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.40em; margin-top: 2.40em"><span style="font-size: 120%">1.E.</span></h3><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:</p><div id="pglicense1E1" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"><h4 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em">1.E.1.</h4><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate + access to, the full Project Gutenberg™ License must appear prominently whenever any + copy of a Project Gutenberg™ work (any work on which the phrase <span class="tei tei-q">“Project Gutenberg”</span> + appears, or with which the phrase <span class="tei tei-q">“Project Gutenberg”</span> is associated) is + accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, copied or distributed: + + </p><div class="block tei tei-q" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 0.90em"><span style="font-size: 90%">This eBook is for the use of + anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no + restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it + away or re-use it under the terms of the Project + Gutenberg License included with this eBook or + online at </span><a href="http://www.gutenberg.org" class="tei tei-xref"><span style="font-size: 90%">http://www.gutenberg.org</span></a></p></div></div><div id="pglicense1E2" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"><h4 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em">1.E.2.</h4><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is derived from the public + domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is posted with + permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied and + distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees or + charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work with + the phrase <span class="tei tei-q">“Project Gutenberg”</span> associated with or appearing on the work, you + must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs <a href="#pglicense1E1" class="tei tei-ref">1.E.1</a> through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for + the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg™ trademark as set forth in paragraphs + <a href="#pglicense1E8" class="tei tei-ref">1.E.8</a> or 1.E.9.</p></div><div id="pglicense1E3" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"><h4 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em">1.E.3.</h4><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is posted with the permission + of the copyright holder, your use and distribution must comply with both + paragraphs <a href="#pglicense1E1" class="tei tei-ref">1.E.1</a> through 1.E.7 and any + additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will + be linked to the Project Gutenberg™ License for all works posted with the permission + of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.</p></div><div id="pglicense1E4" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"><h4 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em">1.E.4.</h4><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg™ License terms from + this work, or any files containing a part of this work or any other work + associated with Project Gutenberg™.</p></div><div id="pglicense1E5" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"><h4 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em">1.E.5.</h4><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this + electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without + prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph <a href="#pglicense1E1" class="tei tei-ref">1.E.1</a> with active links or immediate access + to the full terms of the Project Gutenberg™ License.</p></div><div id="pglicense1E6" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"><h4 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em">1.E.6.</h4><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, + compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including + any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access + to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg™ work in a format other than + <span class="tei tei-q">“Plain Vanilla ASCII”</span> or other format used in the official + version posted on the official Project Gutenberg™ web site (http://www.gutenberg.org), you must, at + no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a copy, a + means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon + request, of the work in its original <span class="tei tei-q">“Plain Vanilla ASCII”</span> or + other form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg™ License + as specified in paragraph <a href="#pglicense1E1" class="tei tei-ref">1.E.1.</a></p></div><div id="pglicense1E7" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"><h4 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em">1.E.7.</h4><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, performing, + copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg™ works unless you comply with + paragraph <a href="#pglicense1E8" class="tei tei-ref">1.E.8</a> or 1.E.9.</p></div><div id="pglicense1E8" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"><h4 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em">1.E.8.</h4><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing access to + or distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works provided that</p><table summary="This is a list." class="tei tei-list" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"><tbody><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label">• </th><td class="tei tei-item"><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg™ works calculated using the method you already use to + calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed to the owner of the + Project Gutenberg™ trademark, but he has agreed to donate royalties under this + paragraph to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid within 60 days + following each date on which you prepare (or are legally required to + prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty payments should be clearly + marked as such and sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in <a href="#pglicense4" class="tei tei-ref">Section 4, <span class="tei tei-q">“Information about donations to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.”</span></a></p></td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item"><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he does + not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg™ License. You must require such + a user to return or destroy all copies of the works possessed in a + physical medium and discontinue all use of and all access to other + copies of Project Gutenberg™ works.</p></td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item"><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">You provide, in accordance with paragraph <a href="#pglicense1F3" class="tei tei-ref">1.F.3</a>, a full refund of any money paid for a + work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the electronic work is + discovered and reported to you within 90 days of receipt of the + work.</p></td></tr><tr class="tei tei-labelitem"><th class="tei tei-label"></th><td class="tei tei-item"><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg™ works.</p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div id="pglicense1E9" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"><h4 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em">1.E.9.</h4><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work or + group of works on different terms than are set forth in this agreement, + you must obtain permission in writing from both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael + Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark. Contact the Foundation as set + forth in <a href="#pglicense3" class="tei tei-ref">Section 3</a> below.</p></div></div><div id="pglicense1F" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"><h3 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.40em; margin-top: 2.40em"><span style="font-size: 120%">1.F.</span></h3><div id="pglicense1F1" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"><h4 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em">1.F.1.</h4><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable effort to identify, + do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread public domain works + in creating the Project Gutenberg™ collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg™ + electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may + contain <span class="tei tei-q">“Defects,”</span> such as, but not limited to, incomplete, + inaccurate or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other + intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other + medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be + read by your equipment.</p></div><div id="pglicense1F2" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"><h4 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em">1.F.2.</h4><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES — Except for the <span class="tei tei-q">“Right of + Replacement or Refund”</span> described in <a href="#pglicense1F3" class="tei tei-ref">paragraph + 1.F.3</a>, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark, and any + other party distributing a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work under this agreement, + disclaim all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including + legal fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT + LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE + PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE TRADEMARK + OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO + YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR INCIDENTAL + DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.</p></div><div id="pglicense1F3" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"><h4 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em">1.F.3.</h4><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND — If you discover a defect in + this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can receive a + refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a written + explanation to the person you received the work from. If you received + the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with your + written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with the + defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a + refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity + providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to + receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy + is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further + opportunities to fix the problem.</p></div><div id="pglicense1F4" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"><h4 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em">1.F.4.</h4><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth in + <a href="#pglicense1F3" class="tei tei-ref">paragraph 1.F.3</a>, this work is provided + to you 'AS-IS,' WITH NO OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR + IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR + FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.</p></div><div id="pglicense1F5" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"><h4 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em">1.F.5.</h4><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied warranties or + the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. If any + disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the law of + the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be + interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by + the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any + provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.</p></div><div id="pglicense1F6" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"><h4 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em">1.F.6.</h4><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">INDEMNITY — You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the + trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone + providing copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in accordance with this + agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, promotion + and distribution of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works, harmless from all + liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, that arise directly + or indirectly from any of the following which you do or cause to occur: + (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg™ work, (b) alteration, + modification, or additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg™ work, and (c) any + Defect you cause.</p></div></div></div><div id="pglicense2" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"><h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Section 2.</span></h2><h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 2.40em; margin-top: 2.40em"><span style="font-size: 120%">Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg™</span></h2><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Project Gutenberg™ is synonymous with the free distribution of electronic works + in formats readable by the widest variety of computers including + obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists because of the + efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from people in all walks + of life.</p><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the + assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg™'s goals and + ensuring that the Project Gutenberg™ collection will remain freely available for + generations to come. In 2001, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a + secure and permanent future for Project Gutenberg™ and future generations. To learn + more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see + Sections <a href="#pglicense3" class="tei tei-ref">3</a> and <a href="#pglicense4" class="tei tei-ref">4</a> and the Foundation web page at <a href="http://www.pglaf.org" class="tei tei-xref">http://www.pglaf.org</a>.</p></div><div id="pglicense3" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"><h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Section 3.</span></h2><h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 2.40em; margin-top: 2.40em"><span style="font-size: 120%">Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation</span></h2><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit 501(c)(3) educational corporation + organized under the laws of the state of Mississippi and granted tax + exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or + federal tax identification number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter + is posted at <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf" class="tei tei-xref">http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf</a>. Contributions + to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by U.S. + federal laws and your state's laws.</p><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. + S. Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are + scattered throughout numerous locations. Its business office is + located at 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) + 596-1887, email business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date + contact information can be found at the Foundation's web site and + official page at <a href="http://www.pglaf.org" class="tei tei-xref">http://www.pglaf.org</a></p><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">For additional contact information: + + </p><div class="block tei tei-address" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"><span class="tei tei-addrLine"><span style="font-size: 90%">Dr. Gregory B. Newby</span></span><br /><span class="tei tei-addrLine"><span style="font-size: 90%">Chief Executive and Director</span></span><br /><span class="tei tei-addrLine"><span style="font-size: 90%">gbnewby@pglaf.org</span></span><br /></div></div><div id="pglicense4" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"><h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Section 4.</span></h2><h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 2.40em; margin-top: 2.40em"><span style="font-size: 120%">Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation</span></h2><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Project Gutenberg™ depends upon and cannot survive without wide spread public + support and donations to carry out its mission of increasing the number + of public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed in + machine readable form accessible by the widest array of equipment + including outdated equipment. Many small donations ($1 to $5,000) are + particularly important to maintaining tax exempt status with the + IRS.</p><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating + charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United + States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a + considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up + with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations where + we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND + DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular state + visit <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate" class="tei tei-xref">http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate</a></p><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we + have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition + against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who + approach us with offers to donate.</p><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make + any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from + outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.</p><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation methods and + addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other ways including + checks, online payments and credit card donations. To donate, please + visit: <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate" class="tei tei-xref">http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate</a></p></div><div id="pglicense5" class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 2.00em; margin-top: 2.00em"><h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Section 5.</span></h2><h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 2.40em; margin-top: 2.40em"><span style="font-size: 120%">General Information About Project Gutenberg™ electronic + works.</span></h2><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em"><span class="tei tei-name">Professor Michael S. Hart</span> is the + originator of the Project Gutenberg™ concept of a library of electronic works that + could be freely shared with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and + distributed Project Gutenberg™ eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer + support.</p><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Project Gutenberg™ eBooks are often created from several printed editions, all of + which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. unless a copyright + notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily keep eBooks in + compliance with any particular paper edition.</p><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Each eBook is in a subdirectory of the same number as the eBook's + eBook number, often in several formats including plain vanilla ASCII, + compressed (zipped), HTML and others.</p><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Corrected <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">editions</span></em> of our eBooks replace the old file + and take over the old filename and etext number. The replaced older file + is renamed. <em class="tei tei-emph"><span style="font-style: italic">Versions</span></em> based on separate sources are treated + as new eBooks receiving new filenames and etext numbers.</p><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search + facility: + + <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org" class="block tei tei-xref" style="margin-bottom: 1.80em; margin-left: 3.60em; margin-top: 1.80em; margin-right: 3.60em"><span style="font-size: 90%">http://www.gutenberg.org</span></a></p><p class="tei tei-p" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em">This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg™, including how to + make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and + how to subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.</p></div></div></div> + </div> +</div> +</div> +</body></html> diff --git a/23132-h/images/image01.png b/23132-h/images/image01.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..496ab28 --- /dev/null +++ b/23132-h/images/image01.png diff --git a/23132-h/images/image02.png b/23132-h/images/image02.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1b2a5a0 --- /dev/null +++ b/23132-h/images/image02.png diff --git a/23132-h/images/image03.png b/23132-h/images/image03.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7d1c79f --- /dev/null +++ b/23132-h/images/image03.png diff --git a/23132-h/images/image04.png b/23132-h/images/image04.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..918c34b --- /dev/null +++ b/23132-h/images/image04.png |
