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+The Project Gutenberg eBook, Three Little Women, by Gabrielle E. Jackson
+
+
+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 www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+
+
+
+Title: Three Little Women
+       A Story for Girls
+
+
+Author: Gabrielle E. Jackson
+
+
+
+Release Date: November 15, 2011  [eBook #38029]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)
+
+
+***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THREE LITTLE WOMEN***
+
+
+E-text prepared by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed Proofreading
+Team (http://www.pgdp.net)
+
+
+
+Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this
+      file which includes the original illustration.
+      See 38029-h.htm or 38029-h.zip:
+      (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/38029/38029-h/38029-h.htm)
+      or
+      (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/38029/38029-h.zip)
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: "Good-bye, Baltie, dear"]
+
+
+THREE LITTLE WOMEN, A STORY FOR GIRLS
+
+by
+
+GABRIELLE E. JACKSON
+
+1913
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+    CHAPTER I--The Carruths
+    CHAPTER II--"Baltie"
+    CHAPTER III--The Spirit of Mad Anthony
+    CHAPTER IV--Baltie is Rescued
+    CHAPTER V--A New Member of the Family
+    CHAPTER VI--Blue Monday
+    CHAPTER VII--Mammy Generalissimo
+    CHAPTER VIII--Chemical Experiments
+    CHAPTER IX--Spontaneous Combustion
+    CHAPTER X--Readjustment
+    CHAPTER XI--First Ventures
+    CHAPTER XII--Another Shoulder is Added
+    CHAPTER XIII--The Battle of Town and Gown
+    CHAPTER XIV--The Candy Enterprise Grows
+    CHAPTER XV--The Reckoning
+    CHAPTER XVI--United We Stand, Divided We Fall
+    CHAPTER XVII--A Family Council
+    CHAPTER XVIII--"Save Me From My Friends"
+    CHAPTER XIX--"An Auction Extraordinary"
+    CHAPTER XX--Constance B.'s Venture
+    CHAPTER XXI--Constance B.'s Candies
+    CHAPTER XXII--First Steps
+    CHAPTER XXIII--Opening Day
+    CHAPTER XXIV--One Month Later
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+The Carruths
+
+
+The afternoon was a wild one. All day driving sheets of rain had swept
+along the streets of Riveredge, hurled against windowpanes by fierce
+gusts of wind, or dashed in miniature rivers across piazzas. At noon
+it seemed as though the wind meant to change to the westward and the
+clouds break, but the promise of better weather had failed, and
+although the rain now fell only fitfully in drenching showers, and one
+could "run between the drops" the wind still blustered and fumed,
+tossing the wayfarers about, and tearing from the trees what foliage
+the rain had spared, to hurl it to the ground in sodden masses. It was
+more like a late November than a late September day, and had a
+depressing effect upon everybody.
+
+"I want to go out; I want to go out; I want to go out, _out_, OUT!"
+cried little Jean Carruth, pressing her face against the window-pane
+until from the outside her nose appeared like a bit of white paper
+stuck fast to the glass.
+
+"If you do you'll get wet, _wet_, WET, as sop, _sop_, SOP, and then
+mother'll ask what _we_ were about to let you," said a laughing voice
+from the farther side of the room, where Constance, her sister, nearly
+five years her senior, was busily engaged in trimming a hat, holding
+it from her to get the effect of a fascinating bow she had just pinned
+upon one side.
+
+"But I haven't a single thing to do. All my lessons for Monday are
+finished; I'm tired of stories; I'm tired of fancy work, and I'm tired
+of--_everything_ and I want to go _out_," ended the woe-begone voice in
+rapid crescendo.
+
+"Do you think it would hurt her to go, Eleanor?" asked Constance,
+turning toward a girl who sat at a pretty desk, her elbows resting
+upon it and her hands propping her chin as she pored over a copy of
+the French Revolution, but who failed to take the least notice of the
+question.
+
+Constance made a funny face and repeated it. She might as well have
+kept silent for all the impression it made, and with a resigned nod
+toward Jean she resumed her millinery work.
+
+But too much depended upon the reply for Jean Carruth to accept the
+situation so mildly. Murmuring softly, "You wait a minute," she
+slipped noiselessly across the room and out into the broad hall
+beyond. Upon a deep window-seat stood a papier-mache megaphone.
+Placing it to her lips, her eyes dancing with mischief above its rim,
+she bellowed:
+
+"Eleanor Maxwell Carruth, do you think it would hurt me to go out
+now?"
+
+The effect was electrical. Bounding from her chair with sufficient
+alacrity to send the French Revolution crashing upon the floor,
+Eleanor Carruth clapped both hands over her ears, as she cried:
+
+"Jean, you little imp of mischief!"
+
+"Well, I wanted to make you hear me," answered that young lady
+complacently. "Constance had spoken to you twice but you'd gone to
+France and couldn't hear her, so I thought maybe the megaphone would
+reach across the Atlantic Ocean, and it _did_. Now can I go out?"
+
+"_Can_ you or may you? which do you mean," asked the eldest sister
+somewhat sententiously.
+
+Constance laughed softly in her corner.
+
+"O, fiddlesticks on your old English! I get enough of it five days in
+a week without having to take a dose of it Saturday afternoon too. I
+know well enough that I _can_ go out, but whether you'll say yes is
+another question, and I want to," and Jean puckered up her small
+pug-nose at her sister.
+
+"What a spunky little body it is," said the latter, laughing in spite
+of herself, for Jean, the ten-year-old baby of the family was already
+proving that she was likely to be a very lively offspring of the
+Carruth stock.
+
+"And where are you minded to stroll on this charming afternoon when
+everybody else is glad to sit in a snug room and take a Saturday
+rest?"
+
+"Mother isn't taking hers," was the prompt retort. "She's down helping
+pack the boxes that are to go to that girls' college out in Iowa. She
+went in all the rain right after luncheon, and I guess if _she_ can go
+out while it poured 'cats and dogs,' I can when--when--when--well it
+doesn't even pour _cats_. It's almost stopped raining."
+
+"Where _do_ you get hold of those awful expressions, Jean? Whoever
+heard of 'cats and dogs' pouring down? What _am_ I to do with you? I
+declare I feel responsible for your development and--"
+
+"Then let me go _out_. I need some fresh air to develop in: my lungs
+don't pump worth a cent in this stuffy place. It's hot enough to roast
+a pig with those logs blazing in the fire-place. I don't see how you
+stand it."
+
+"Go get your rubber boots and rain coat," said Eleanor resignedly.
+"You're half duck, I firmly believe, and never so happy as when you're
+splashing through puddles. Thank goodness your skirts are still short,
+and you can't very well get _them_ sloppy; and your boots will keep
+your legs dry unless you try wading up to your hips. But where are you
+going?"
+
+"I'm going down to Amy Fletcher's to see how Bunny is. He got hurt
+yesterday and it's made him dreadfully sick," answered Jean, as she
+struggled with her rubber boots, growing red in the face as she tugged
+at them. In five minutes she was equipped to do battle with almost any
+storm, and with a "Good bye! I'll be back pretty soon, and then I'll
+have enough fresh air to keep me in fine shape for the night," out she
+flew, banging the front door behind her.
+
+Eleanor watched the lively little figure as it went skipping down the
+street, a street which was always called a beautiful one, although now
+wet and sodden with the rain, for Mr. Carruth had built his home in a
+most attractive part of the delightful town of Riveredge. Maybe you
+won't find it on the map by that name, but it's _there_ just the same,
+and quite as attractive to-day as it was several years ago.
+
+Bernard Carruth had been a man of refined taste and possessed a keen
+appreciation of all that was beautiful, so it was not surprising that
+he should have chosen Riveredge when deciding upon a place for his
+home. Situated as it was on the banks of the splendid stream which had
+suggested its name, the town boasted unusual attractions, and drew to
+it an element which soon assured its development in the most
+satisfactory manner. It became noted for its beautiful homes, its
+cultured people and its delightful social life.
+
+Among the prettiest of its homes was Bernard Carruth's. It stood but a
+short way from the river's bank, was built almost entirely of
+cobble-stones, oiled shingles being used where the stones were not
+practicable.
+
+It was made up of quaint turns and unexpected corners, although not a
+single inch of space, or the shape of a room was sacrificed to the
+oddity of the architecture. It was not a very large house nor yet a
+very small one, but as Mr. Carruth said when all was completed, the
+house sensibly and artistically furnished, and his family comfortably
+installed therein:
+
+"It is big enough for the big girl, our three little girls and their
+old daddy, and so what more can be asked? Only that the good Lord will
+spare us to each other to enjoy it."
+
+This was when Jean was but a little more than two years of age, and
+for five years they _did_ enjoy it as only a closely united family can
+enjoy a charming home. Then one of Mr. Carruth's college chums got
+into serious financial difficulties and Bernard Carruth indorsed
+heavily for him.
+
+The sequel was the same wretched old story repeated: Ruin overtook the
+friend, and Bernard Carruth's substance was swept into the maelstrom
+which swallowed up everything. He never recovered from the blow, or
+false representations which led to it, learning unhappily, when the
+mischief was done, how sorely he had been betrayed, and within
+eighteen months from the date of indorsing his friend's paper he was
+laid away in pretty Brookside Cemetery, leaving his wife and three
+daughters to face the world upon a very limited income. This was a
+little more than two years before the opening of this story. Little
+Jean was now ten and a half, Constance fifteen and Eleanor, the
+eldest, nearly seventeen, although many judged her to be older, owing
+to her quiet, reserved manner and studious habits, for Eleanor was,
+undoubtedly, "the brainy member of the family," as Constance put it.
+
+She was a pupil in the Riveredge Seminary, and would graduate the
+following June; a privilege made possible by an aunt's generosity,
+since Mrs. Carruth had been left with little more than her home, which
+Mr. Carruth had given her as soon as it was completed, and the
+interest upon his life insurance which amounted to less than fifteen
+hundred a year; a small sum upon which to keep up the home, provide
+for and educate three daughters.
+
+Constance was now a pupil at the Riveredge High School and Jean at the
+grammar school. Both had been seminary pupils prior to Mr. Carruth's
+death, but expenses had to be curtailed at once.
+
+Constance was the domestic body of the household; prettiest of the
+three, sunshiny, happy, resourceful, she faced the family's altered
+position bravely, giving up the advantages and delights of the
+seminary without a murmur and contributing to her mother's peace of
+mind to a degree she little guessed by taking the most optimistic view
+of the situation and meeting altered conditions with a laugh and a
+song, and the assurance that "_some_ day she was going to make her
+fortune and set 'em all up in fine shape once more." She got her
+sanguine disposition from her mother who never looked upon the dull
+side of the clouds, although it was often a hard matter to win around
+to their shiny side.
+
+Eleanor was quite unlike her; indeed, Eleanor did not resemble either
+her father or mother, for Mr. Carruth had been a most genial,
+warm-hearted man, and unselfish to the last degree. Eleanor was very
+reserved, inclined to keep her affairs to herself, and extremely
+matured for her years, finding her relaxation and recreation in a
+manner which the average girl of her age would have considered tasks.
+
+Jean was a bunch of nervous impulses, and no one ever knew where the
+madcap would bounce up next. She was a beautiful child with a mop of
+wavy reddish-brown hair falling in the softest curls about face and
+shoulders; eyes that shone lustrous and lambent as twin stars beneath
+their delicately arched brows, and regarded you with a steadfast
+interest as though they meant to look straight through you, and
+separate truth from falsehood. A mouth that was a whimsical
+combination of fun and resolution. A nose that could pucker
+disdainfully on provocation, and it never needed a greater than its
+owner's doubt of the sincerity of the person addressing her.
+
+This is the small person skipping along the pretty Riveredge street
+toward the more sparsely settled northern end of the town, hopping
+_not from_ dry spot to dry spot _between_ the puddles, but _into_ and
+_into_ the deepest to be found. Amy Fletcher's home was one of the
+largest in the outskirts of Riveredge and its grounds the most
+beautiful. Between it and Riveredge stood an old stone house owned and
+occupied by a family named Raulsbury; a family noted for its parsimony
+and narrow outlook upon life in general. Broad open fields lay between
+this house and the Fletcher place which was some distance beyond. In
+many places the fences were broken; at one point the field was a good
+deal higher than the road it bordered and a deep gully lay between it
+and the sidewalk.
+
+When Jean reached that point of her moist, breezy walk she stopped
+short. In the mud of the gully, drenched, cold and shivering lay an
+old, blind bay horse. He had stumbled into it, and was too feeble to
+get out.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+"Baltie"
+
+
+  "When he's forsaken
+  Withered and shaken
+  What can an old _horse_
+  Do but die?"
+
+  (With apologies to Tom Hood.)
+
+For one moment Jean stood petrified, too overcome by the sight to stir
+or speak, then with a low, pitying cry of:
+
+"Oh, Baltie, Baltie! How came you there?" the child tossed her
+umbrella aside and scrambled down into the ditch, the water which
+stood in it splashing and flying all over her, as she hastened toward
+the prone horse.
+
+At the sound of her voice the poor creature raised his head which had
+been drooping forward upon his bent-up knees, turned his sightless
+eyes toward her and tried to nicker, but succeeded only in making a
+quavering, shivering sound.
+
+"Oh, Baltie, dear, dear Baltie, how did you get out of your stable and
+come way off here?" cried the girl taking the pathetic old head into
+her arms, and drawing it to her breast regardless of the mud with
+which it was thickly plastered. "You got out of the field through that
+broken place in the fence up there didn't you dear? And you must have
+tumbled right straight down the bank into this ditch, 'cause you're
+all splashed over with mud, poor, poor Baltie. And your legs are all
+cut and bleeding too. Oh, how long have you been here? You couldn't
+see where you were going, could you? You poor, dear thing. Oh, what
+shall I do for you? What shall I? If I could only help you up," and
+the dauntless little body tugged with all her might and main to raise
+the fallen animal. She might as well have striven to raise Gibraltar,
+for, even though the horse strove to get upon his feet, he was far too
+weak and exhausted to do so, and again dropped heavily to the ground,
+nearly over-setting his intrepid little friend as he sank down.
+
+Jean was in despair. What _should_ she do? To go on to her friend
+Amy's and leave the old horse to the chance of someone else's tender
+mercies never entered her head, and had any one been near at hand to
+suggest that solution of the problem he would have promptly found
+himself in the midst of a small tornado of righteous wrath. No, here
+lay misery incarnate right before her eyes and, of course, she must
+instantly set about relieving it. But how?
+
+"Baltie," or Old Baltimore, as the horse was called, belonged to the
+Raulsbury's. Everybody within a radius of twenty miles knew him; knew
+also that the family had brought him to the place when they came there
+from the suburbs of Baltimore more than twenty years ago. Brought him
+a high-stepping, fiery, thoroughbred colt which was the admiration and
+envy of all Riveredge. John Raulsbury, the grandfather, was his owner
+then, and drove him until his death, when "Baltimore" was seventeen
+years old; even that was an advanced age for a horse. From the moment
+of Grandfather Raulsbury's death Baltimore began to fail and lose his
+high spirits. Some people insisted that he was grieving for the friend
+of his colt-hood and the heyday of life, but Jabe Raulsbury, the son,
+said "the horse was gettin' played out. What could ye expect when he
+was more'n seventeen years old?"
+
+So Baltimore became "Old Baltie," and his fate the plow, the dirt
+cart, the farm wagon. His box-stall, fine grooming, and fine harness
+were things of the past. "The barn shed's good 'nough fer such an old
+skate's he's gettin' ter be," said Jabe, and Jabe's son, a shiftless
+nonentity, agreed with him.
+
+So that was blue-blooded Baltie's fate, but even such misfortune
+failed to break his spirit, and now and again, while plodding
+hopelessly along the road, dragging the heavy farm wagon, he would
+raise his head, prick up his ears, and plunge ahead, forgetful of his
+twenty years, when he heard a speedy step behind him. But, alas! his
+sudden sprint always came to a most humiliating end, for his strength
+had failed rapidly during the past few years, and the eyes, once so
+alert and full of fire, were sadly clouded, making steps very
+uncertain. An ugly stumble usually ended in a cruel jerk upon the
+still sensitive mouth and poor old Baltie was reduced to the
+humiliating plod once more.
+
+Yet, through it all he retained his sweet, high-bred disposition,
+accepting his altered circumstances like the gentleman he was, and
+never retaliating upon those who so misused him. During his
+twenty-third year he became totally blind, and when rheumatism, the
+outcome of the lack of proper stabling and care, added to his
+miseries, poor Baltie was almost turned adrift; the shed was there, to
+be sure, and when he had time to think about it, Jabe dumped some feed
+into the manger and threw a bundle of straw upon the floor. But for
+the greater part of the time Baltie had to shift for himself as best
+he could.
+
+During the past summer he had been the talk of an indignant town, and
+more than one threatening word had been spoken regarding the man's
+treatment of the poor old horse.
+
+For a moment the little girl stood in deep, perplexing thought, then
+suddenly her face lighted up and her expressive eyes sparkled with the
+thoughts which lay behind them.
+
+"I know what I'll do, Baltie: I'll go straight up to Jabe Raulsbury's
+and _make_ him come down and take care of you. Good-bye, dear; I won't
+be any time at all 'cause I'll go right across the fields," and giving
+the horse a final encouraging stroke, she caught up her umbrella which
+had meantime been resting handle uppermost up in a mud-puddle, and
+scrambling up the bank which had been poor Baltie's undoing,
+disappeared beneath the tumble-down fence and was off across the
+pasture heedless of all obstacles.
+
+Jabe Raulsbury's farm had once been part of Riveredge, but one by one
+his broad acres had been sold so that now only a small section of the
+original farmstead remained to him, and this was a constant eyesore to
+his neighbors, owing to its neglected condition, for beautiful homes
+had been erected all about it upon the acres he had sold at such a
+large profit. Several good offers had been made him for his property
+by those who would gladly have bought the land simply to have improved
+their own places and thus add to the attraction of that section of
+Riveredge. But no; not another foot of his farm would Jabe Raulsbury
+sell, and if ever dog-in-the-manger was fully demonstrated it was by
+this parsimonious irascible man whom no one respected and many
+heartily despised.
+
+This wild, wet afternoon he was seated upon a stool just within the
+shelter of his barn sorting over a pile of turnips which lay upon the
+floor near him. He was not an attractive figure, to say the least, as
+he bent over the work. Cadaverous, simply because he was too
+parsimonious to provide sufficient nourishing food to meet the demands
+of such a huge body. Unkempt, grizzled auburn hair and grizzled auburn
+beard, the latter sparse enough to disclose the sinister mouth. Eyes
+about the color of green gooseberries and with about as much
+expression.
+
+As he sat there tossing into the baskets before him the sorted-out
+turnips, he became aware of rapidly approaching footsteps, and raised
+his head just as a small figure came hurrying around the corner of the
+barn, for the scramble up the steep bank, and rapid walk across the
+wet pastures, had set Jean's heart a-beating, and that, coupled with
+her indignation, caused her to pant. She had gone first to the house,
+but had there learned from Mrs. Raulsbury, a timid, nervous,
+woefully-dominated individual, who looked and acted as though she
+scarcely dared call her soul her own, that "Jabe was down yonder in
+the far-barn sortin' turnips." So down to the "far-barn" went Jean.
+
+"Good afternoon, Mr. Raulsbury," she began, her heart, it must be
+confessed, adding, rather than lessening its number of beats, at
+confronting the forbidding expression of the individual with whom she
+was passing the time of day.
+
+"Huh!" grunted Jabe Raulsbury, giving her one searching look from
+between his narrowing eyelids, and then resuming his work. Most
+children would have been discouraged and dropped the conversation then
+and there. Jean's lips took on a firmer curve.
+
+"I guess after all it _isn't_ a good afternoon, is it? It is a pretty
+wet, horrid one, and not a very nice one to be out in, is it?"
+
+"Wul, why don't ye go home then?" was the gruff retort.
+
+"Because I have an important matter to 'tend to. I was on my way to
+visit Amy Fletcher; her cat is sick! he was hurt dreadfully yesterday;
+she thinks somebody must have tried to shoot him and missed him, for
+his shoulder is all torn. If anybody _did_ do such a thing to Bunny
+they'd ought to be ashamed of it, for he's a dear. If _I_ knew who had
+done it I'd--I'd--."
+
+"Wal, what _would_ ye do to 'em, heh?" and a wicked, tantalizing grin
+overspread Jabe Raulsbury's face.
+
+"Do? Do? I believe I'd scratch his eyes out; I'd hate him so, for
+being so cruel!" was the fiery, unexpected reply.
+
+"Do tell! Would ye now, really? Mebbe it's jist as well fer him that
+ye don't know the feller that did it then," remarked Raulsbury,
+although he gave a slight hitch to the stool upon which he was sitting
+as he said it, thus widening the space between them.
+
+"Well I believe I _would_, for I _despise_ a coward, and only a coward
+could do such a thing."
+
+"Huh," was the response to this statement. Then silence for a moment
+was broken by the man who asked:
+
+"Wal, why don't ye go along an' see if the cat's kilt. It aint
+_here_."
+
+"No, I know _that_, but I have found something more important to 'tend
+to, and that's why I came up here, and it's something you ought to
+know about too: Old Baltie has tumbled down the bank at the place in
+the pasture where the fence is broken, and is in the ditch. I don't
+know how long he's been there, but he's all wet, and muddy and shivery
+and he can't get up. I came up to tell you, so's you could get a man
+to help you and go right down and get him out. I tried, but I wasn't
+strong enough, but he'll die if you don't go quick."
+
+Jean's eyes shone and her cheeks were flushed from excitement as she
+described Baltie's plight, and paused only because breath failed her.
+
+"Wal, 'spose he does; what then? What good is he to anybody? He's most
+twenty-five year old an' clear played-out. He'd better die; it's the
+best thing could happen."
+
+The shifty eyes had not rested upon the child while the man was
+speaking, but some powerful magnetism drew and held them to her deep
+blazing ones as the last word fell from his lips. He tried to withdraw
+them, ejected a mouthful of tobacco juice at one particular spot which
+from appearances had been so favored many times before, drew his hand
+across his mouth and then gave a self-conscious, snickering laugh.
+
+"I don't believe you understood what I said, did you?" asked Jean
+quietly. "I'm sure you didn't."
+
+"Oh yis I did. Ye said old Baltie was down in the ditch yonder and
+like ter die if I didn't git him out. Wal, that's jist 'zactly what I
+want him _to_ do, an' jest 'zactly what I turned him out inter that
+field fer him ter do, an' jist 'zactly what I hope he _will_ do 'fore
+morning. He's got the last ounce o' fodder I'm ever a'goin' ter give
+him, an' I aint never a'goin' ter let him inter my barns agin. Now put
+_that_ in yer pipe an' smoke it, an' then git out durned quick."
+
+Jabe Raulsbury had partially risen from his stool as he concluded this
+creditable tirade, and one hand was raised threateningly toward the
+little figure standing with her dripping umbrella just within the
+threshold of the barn door.
+
+That the burly figure did not rise entirely, and that his hand
+remained suspended without the threatened blow falling can perhaps
+best be explained by the fact that the child before him never
+flinched, and that the scorn upon her face was so intense that it
+could be felt.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+The Spirit of Mad Anthony
+
+
+Jean Carruth stood thus for about one minute absolutely rigid, her
+face the color of chalk and her eyes blazing. Then several things
+happened with extreme expedition. The position of the closed umbrella
+in her hands reversed with lightning-like rapidity; one quick step
+_forward_, _not_ backward, was made, thus giving the intrepid little
+body a firmer foothold, and then crash! down came the gun-metal handle
+across Jabe Raulsbury's ample-sized nasal appendage.
+
+The blow, with such small arms to launch it, was not of necessity a
+very powerful one, but it was the suddenness of the onslaught which
+rendered it effective, for not one sound had issued from the child's
+set lips as she delivered it, and Jabe's position placed him at a
+decided disadvantage.
+
+He resumed his seat with considerable emphasis, and clapping his hand
+to his injured feature, bellowed in the voice of an injured bull:
+
+"You--you--you little devil! You--you, let me get hold of you!"
+
+But Jean did not obey the command or pause to learn the result of her
+deed. With a storm of the wildest sobs she turned and fled from the
+barnyard, down the driveway leading to the road, and back to the spot
+where she had left Baltie in his misery, her tears nearly blinding
+her, and her indignation almost strangling her; back to the poor old
+horse, so sorely in need of human pity and aid.
+
+This, all unknown to his little champion, had already reached him, for
+hardly had Jean disappeared beneath the tumble-down fence, than a
+vehicle came bowling along the highway driven by no less a personage
+than Hadyn Stuyvesant, lately elected president of the local branch of
+the S. P. C. A. Poor old Baltie's days of misery had come to an end,
+for here was the authority either to compel his care or to mercifully
+release him from his sufferings.
+
+Perhaps not more than twenty minutes had elapsed from the time Jean
+started across the fields, to the moment of her return to the old
+horse, but in those twenty minutes Mr. Stuyvesant had secured aid from
+Mr. Fletcher's place, and when Jean came hurrying upon the scene, her
+sobs still rendering breathing difficult, and her troubled little face
+bathed in tears, she found three men standing near Baltie.
+
+"Oh, Baltie, Baltie, Baltie, I'm so glad! So glad! So glad!" sobbed
+the overwrought little girl, as she flew to the old horse's head.
+
+Mr. Stuyvesant and the men stared at her in astonishment.
+
+"Why little girl," cried the former. "Where in this world have _you_
+sprung from? And what is the matter? Is this your horse?"
+
+"Oh, no--no; he isn't mine. It's old Baltie; don't you know him? I went
+to tell Jabe Raulsbury about him and he--he--" and Jean paused
+embarrassed.
+
+"Yes? Well? Is this his horse? Is he coming to get him? Did you find
+him?"
+
+"Yes, sir, I _found_ him," answered Jean, trembling from excitement
+and her exertions.
+
+"And is he coming right down?" persisted Mr. Stuyvesant, looking
+keenly, although not unkindly, at the child.
+
+"He--he--, oh, _please_ don't make me tell tales on anybody--it's so
+mean--but he--"
+
+"You might as well tell it right out an' done with it, little gal,"
+broke in one of the men. "It ain't no state secret; everybody knows
+that that old skinflint has been abusing this horse shameful, for
+months past, an' I'll bet my month's wages he said he wouldn't come
+down, an' he hoped the horse 'd die in the ditch. Come now, out with
+it--_didn't_ he?"
+
+Jean would not answer, but there was no need for words; her eyes told
+the truth.
+
+Just then the other man came up to her; he was one of Mr. Fletcher's
+grooms.
+
+"Aren't you Mrs. Carruth's little girl?" he asked.
+
+But before Jean had time to answer Jabe Raulsbury came running along
+the road, one hand holding a handkerchief to his nose, the other
+waving wildly as he shouted:
+
+"Just you wait 'till I lay my hands on you--you little wild cat!" He
+was too blinded by his rage to realize the situation into which he was
+hurrying.
+
+Again Anthony Wayne's spirit leaped into Jean's eyes, as the dauntless
+little creature whirled about to meet the enemy descending upon her.
+With head erect, and nostrils quivering she stood as though rooted to
+the ground.
+
+"Great guns! How's _that_ for a little thoroughbred?" murmured the
+groom, laughing softly.
+
+Reaching out a protecting hand, Mr. Stuyvesant gently pushed the
+little girl toward the man who stood behind him, and taking her place
+let Jabe Raulsbury come head-on to his fate. Had the man been less
+enraged he would have taken in the situation at once, but his nose
+still pained severely from the well-aimed blow, and had also bled
+pretty freely, so it is not surprising that he lost his presence of
+mind.
+
+"Go slow! Go slow! You are exactly the man I want to see," said Mr.
+Stuyvesant, laying a detaining hand upon Jabe's arm.
+
+"Who 'n thunder air you?" demanded the half-blinded man.
+
+"Someone you would probably rather not meet at this moment, but since
+you have appeared upon the scene so opportunely I think we might as
+well come to an understanding at once, and settle some scores."
+
+"I ain't got no scores to settle with you, but I have with _that_
+little demon, an' by gosh she'll know it, when I've done with her! Why
+that young 'un has just smashed me over the head with her umbril, I
+tell ye. _There_ it is, if ye don't believe what I'm a tellin' ye. I'm
+goin' ter have the _law_ on her and on her Ma, I tell ye, an' I call
+you three men ter witness the state I'm in. I'll bring suit agin' her
+fer big damages--that's what I'll do. Look at my _nose_!"
+
+As he ceased his tirade Jabe removed his handkerchief from the injured
+member. At the sight of it one of the men broke into a loud guffaw.
+Certainly, for a "weaker vessel" Jean had compassed considerable. That
+nose was about the size of two ordinary noses. Mr. Stuyvesant regarded
+it for a moment, his face perfectly sober, then asked with apparent
+concern:
+
+"And this little girl hit you such a blow as that?"
+
+Poor little Jean began to tremble in her boots. Were the tables about
+to turn upon her? Even Anthony Wayne's spirit, when harbored in such a
+tiny body could hardly brave _that_. The Fletcher's groom who stood
+just behind her watched her closely. Now and again he gave a nod
+indicative of his approval.
+
+"Yes she did. She drew off and struck me slam in the face with her
+umbril.," averred Jabe.
+
+"Had _you_ struck her? Did she strike in self-defense?" Mr. Stuyvesant
+gave a significant look over Jabe's head straight into the groom's
+eyes when he asked this question. The response was the slightest nod
+of comprehension.
+
+"Strike her? _No_," roared Jabe. "I hadn't teched her. I was a-sittin'
+there sortin' out my turnips 's peaceful 's any man in this town, when
+that little rip comes 'long and tells me I must go get an old horse
+out 'en a ditch: _that_ old skate there that's boun' ter die _any_
+how, an' ought ter a-died long ago. I told her ter clear out an' mind
+her own business that I hoped the horse _would_ die, an' that's what
+I'd turned him out _to_ do. Then she drew off an' whacked me."
+
+"Just because you stated in just so many words that you meant to get
+rid of the old horse and had turned him out to die on the roadside. Is
+_that_ why she struck you?"
+
+Had Jabe been a little calmer he might have been aware of a change in
+Hadyn Stuyvesant's expression and his tone of voice, but men wild with
+rage are rarely close observers.
+
+"Yis! Yis!" he snapped, sure now of his triumph.
+
+"Well I'm only sorry the blow was such a light one. I wish it had been
+struck by a man's arm and sufficiently powerful to have half killed
+you! Even _that_ would have been _too_ good for you, you merciless
+brute! I've had you under my eye for your treatment of that poor horse
+for some time, and now I have you under my _hand_, and convicted by
+your own words in the presence of two witnesses, of absolute cruelty.
+I arrest you in the name of the S. P. C. A."
+
+For one brief moment Jabe stood petrified with astonishment. Then the
+brute in him broke loose and he started to lay about him right and
+left. His aggressiveness was brought to a speedy termination, for at a
+slight motion from Mr. Stuyvesant the two men sprang upon him, his
+arms were held and the next second there was a slight click and Jabe
+Raulsbury's wrists were in handcuffs. That snap was the signal for his
+blustering to take flight for he was an arrant coward at heart.
+
+"Now step into my wagon and sit there until I am ready to settle your
+case, my man, and that will be when I have looked to this little girl
+and the animal which, but for her pluck and courage, might have died
+in this ditch," ordered Mr. Stuyvesant.
+
+No whipped cur could have slunk toward the wagon more cowed.
+
+"Now, little lassie, tell me your name and where you live," said Mr.
+Stuyvesant lifting Jean bodily into his arms despite her mortification
+at being "handled just like a baby," as she afterwards expressed it.
+
+"I am Jean Carruth. I live on Linden Avenue. I'm--I'm terribly ashamed
+to be here, and to have struck him," and she nodded toward the humbled
+figure in the wagon.
+
+"You need not be. You did not give him one-half he deserves," was the
+somewhat comforting assurance.
+
+"O, but what _will_ mother say? She'll be _so_ mortified when I tell
+her about it all. It seems as if I just _couldn't_," was the
+distressed reply.
+
+"Must you tell her?" asked Mr. Stuyvesant, an odd expression
+overspreading his kind, strong face as he looked into the little
+girl's eyes.
+
+Jean regarded him with undisguised amazement as she answered simply:
+
+"Why of _course_! That would be deceit if I _didn't_. I'll have to be
+punished, but I guess I _ought_ to be," was the naive conclusion.
+
+The fine face before her was transfigured as Hadyn Stuyvesant
+answered:
+
+"Good! _Your_ principles are all right. Stick to them and I'll want to
+know you when you are a woman. Now I must get you home for I've a word
+to say to your mother, to whom I mean to introduce myself under the
+circumstances," and carrying her to his two-seated depot wagon, he
+placed her upon the front seat. Jabe glowered at him from the rear
+one. His horse turned his head with an inquiring nicker.
+
+"Yes, Comet, I'll be ready pretty soon," he replied, pausing a second
+to give a stroke to the satiny neck. Then turning to the men he said:
+
+"Now, my men, let's on with this job which has been delayed too long
+already."
+
+He did not spare himself, and presently old Baltie was out of the
+ditch and upon his feet--a sufficiently pathetic object to touch any
+heart.
+
+"Shall I have the men lead him up to your barn?" asked Hadyn
+Stuyvesant, giving the surly object in his wagon a last chance to
+redeem himself.
+
+"No! I'm done with him; do your worst," was the gruff answer.
+
+"Very well," the words were ominously quiet, "then _I_ shall take him
+in charge."
+
+"Oh, _where_ are you going to take him, please?" asked Jean, her
+concern for the horse overcoming her embarrassment at her novel
+situation.
+
+"I'm afraid he will have to be sent to the pound, little one, for no
+one will claim him."
+
+"Is that the place where they _kill_ them? _Must_ Baltie be killed?"
+Her voice was full of tears.
+
+"Unless someone can be found who will care for him for the rest of his
+numbered days. I'm afraid it is the best and most merciful fate for
+him," was the gentle answer.
+
+"How long may he stay there without being killed? Until maybe somebody
+can be found to take him."
+
+"He may stay there one week. But now we must move along. Fasten the
+horse's halter to the back of my wagon, men, and I'll see to it that
+he is comfortable to-night anyway."
+
+The halter rope was tied, and the strange procession started slowly
+back toward Riveredge.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+Baltie is Rescued
+
+
+"How old are you, little lassie?" asked Hadyn Stuyvesant, looking down
+upon the little figure beside him, his fine eyes alive with interest
+and the smile which none could resist lighting his face, and
+displaying his white even teeth.
+
+"I'm just a little over ten," answered Jean, looking up and answering
+his smile with one equally frank and trustful, for little Jean Carruth
+did not understand the meaning of embarrassment.
+
+"Are you Mrs. Bernard Carruth's little daughter? I knew her nephew
+well when at college, although I've been away from Riveredge so long
+that I've lost track of her and her family."
+
+"Yes, she is my mother. Mr. Bernard Carruth was my father," and a
+little choke came into Jean's voice, for, although not yet eight years
+of age when her father passed out of her life, Jean's memory of him
+was a very tender one, and she sorely missed the kind, cheery,
+sympathetic companionship he had given his children. Hadyn Stuyvesant
+was quick to note the catch in the little girl's voice, and the tears
+which welled up to her eyes, and a strong arm was placed about her
+waist to draw her a little closer to his side, as, changing the
+subject, he said very tenderly:
+
+"You have had an exciting hour, little one. Sit close beside me and
+don't try to talk; just rest, and let _me_ do the talking. We must go
+slowly on Baltie's account; the poor old horse is badly knocked about
+and stiffened up. Suppose we go right to Mr. Pringle's livery stable
+and ask him to take care of him a few days any way. Don't you think
+that would be a good plan?"
+
+"But who will _pay_ for him? Don't you have to pay board for horses
+just like people pay their board?" broke in Jean anxiously.
+
+Hadyn Stuyvesant smiled at the practical little being his arm still so
+comfortingly encircled.
+
+"I guess the Society can stand the expense," he answered.
+
+"Has it got _lots_ of money to do such things with?" asked Jean, bound
+to get at the full facts.
+
+"I'm afraid it hasn't got 'lots of money'--I wish it had,--but I think
+it can pay a week's board for old Baltie in consideration of what you
+have done for him. It will make you happier to know he will be
+comfortable for a little while any way, won't it?"
+
+"Oh, yes! yes! And, and--perhaps _I_ could pay the next week's if we
+didn't find somebody the first week. I've got 'most five dollars in my
+Christmas bank. I've been saving ever since last January; I always
+begin to put in something on New Year's day, if it's only five cents,
+and then I never, never take any out 'till it's time to buy our next
+Christmas presents. And I really _have_ got 'most five dollars, and
+would _that_ be enough for another week?" and the bonny little face
+was raised eagerly to her companion's. Hadyn Stuyvesant then and there
+lost his heart to the little creature at his side. It is given to very
+few "grown-ups" to slip out of their own adult years and by some
+magical power pick up the years of their childhood once more, with all
+the experiences and view-points of that childhood, but Hadyn
+Stuyvesant was one of those few. He felt all the eagerness of Jean's
+words and his answer held all the confidence and enthusiasm of _her_
+ten years rather than his own twenty-three.
+
+"Fully enough. But we will hope that a home may be found for Baltie
+before the first week has come to an end. And here we are at Mr.
+Pringle's. Raulsbury I shall have to ask you to get out here," added
+Mr. Stuyvesant, as he, himself, sprang from the depot wagon to the
+sidewalk.
+
+Raulsbury made no reply but stepped to the sidewalk, where, at a
+slight signal from Hadyn Stuyvesant, an officer of the Society who had
+his office in the livery stable came forward and motioned to Raulsbury
+to follow him. As they disappeared within the stable, Mr. Stuyvesant
+said to the proprietor:
+
+"Pringle, I've got a boarder for you. Don't know just how long he will
+stay, but remember, nothing is too good for him while he does, for he
+is this little girl's protege, and I hold myself responsible for him."
+
+"All right, Mr. Stuyvesant. All right, sir. He shall have the best the
+stable affords. Come on, old stager; you look as if you wanted a
+curry-comb and a feed pretty bad," said Pringle, as he untied Baltie's
+halter. With all the gentleness of the blue-blooded old fellow he was,
+Baltie raised his mud-splashed head, sniffed at Mr. Pringle's coat and
+nickered softly, as though acknowledging his proffered hospitality.
+The man stroked the muddy neck encouragingly, as he said:
+
+"He don't look much as he did eighteen years ago, does he, Mr.
+Stuyvesant?"
+
+"I'm afraid I don't remember how he looked eighteen years ago,
+Pringle; there wasn't much of me to remember _with_ about that time.
+But I remember how he looked _eight_ years ago, before I went to
+Europe, and the contrast is enough to stir me up considerable. It's
+about time such conditions were made impossible, and I'm going to see
+what I can do to start a move in that direction," concluded Mr.
+Stuyvesant, with an ominous nod toward the stable door, through which
+Raulsbury had disappeared.
+
+"I'm glad to hear it, sir. We have had too much of this sort of thing
+in Riveredge for the past few years. I've been saying the Society
+needed a _live_ president and I'm glad it's got one at last."
+
+"Well, look out for old Baltie, and now I must take my little
+fellow-worker home," said Mr. Stuyvesant.
+
+"Oh, may I give him just _one_ pat before we go?" begged Jean, looking
+from Baltie to Mr. Stuyvesant.
+
+"Lead him up beside us, Pringle," ordered Mr. Stuyvesant smiling his
+consent to Jean.
+
+"Good-bye Baltie, dear. Good-bye. I won't forget you for a single
+minute; no, not for one," said the little girl earnestly, hugging the
+muddy old head and implanting a kiss upon the ear nearest her.
+
+"Baltie you are to be envied, old fellow," said Hadyn Stuyvesant,
+laughing softly, and nodding significantly to Pringle. "She was his
+first friend in his misery. I'll tell you about it later, but I must
+be off now or her family will have me up for a kidnapper. I'll be back
+in about an hour."
+
+Ten minutes' swift bowling along behind Hadyn Stuyvesant's beautiful
+"Comet" brought them to the Carruth home. Dusk was already beginning
+to fall as the short autumn day drew to its end, and Mrs.
+Carruth,--mother above all other things--stood at the window watching
+for this youngest daughter, regarding whom she never felt quite at
+ease when that young lady was out of her sight. When she saw a
+carriage turning in at her driveway and that same daughter perched
+upon the front seat beside a total stranger she began to believe that
+there had been some foundation for the misgivings which had made her
+so restless for the past hour. Opening the door she stepped out upon
+the piazza to meet the runaway, and was greeted with:
+
+"Oh mother, mother, I've had such an exciting experience! I started to
+see Amy Fletcher, but before I got there I found him in the ditch and
+lame and muddy and dirty, and I went up to tell Jabe he _must_ go get
+him out and then I got awful angry and banged him with my umbrella,
+and then I cried and _he_ found me," with a nod toward her companion,
+"and he got him out of the ditch and gave Jabe _such_ a scolding and
+took him to Mr. Pringle's and he's going to curry-comb him and get the
+mud all off of him and take care of him a week any way, and two weeks
+if I've got enough money in my bank and--and--"
+
+"Mercy! mercy! mercy!" cried Mrs. Carruth, breaking into a laugh and
+raising both hands as though to shield her head from the avalanche of
+words descending upon it. Hadyn Stuyvesant strove manfully to keep his
+countenance lest he wound the feelings of his little companion, but
+the situation was too much for him and his genial laugh echoed Mrs.
+Carruth's as he sprang from the depot wagon and raising his arms
+toward the surprised child said:
+
+"Let me lift you out little maid, and then I think perhaps you can
+give your mother a clearer idea as to whether it is Jabe Raulsbury, or
+old Baltie which is covered with mud and about to be curry-combed.
+Mrs. Carruth, let me introduce myself as Hadyn Stuyvesant. I knew your
+nephew when I was at college, and on the strength of my friendship for
+him, must beg you to pardon this intrusion. I came upon your little
+daughter not long since playing the part of the Good Samaritan to
+Raulsbury's poor old horse. She had tackled a job just a little too
+big for her, so I volunteered to lend a hand, and together we made it
+go."
+
+As he spoke Hadyn Stuyvesant removed his hat and ascended the piazza
+steps with hand outstretched to the sweet-faced woman who stood at the
+top. She took the extended hand, her face lighting with the winning
+smile which carried sunshine to all who knew her, and in the present
+instance fell with wonderful warmth upon the man before her, for
+barely a year had passed since his mother had been laid away in a
+beautiful cemetery in Switzerland, and the tie between that mother and
+son had been a singularly tender one.
+
+"I have often heard my nephew speak of you, Mr. Stuyvesant, and can
+not think of you as a stranger. I regret that we have not met before,
+but I understand you have lived abroad for several years. I am
+indebted to you for bringing Jean safely home, but quite at a loss to
+understand what has happened. Please come in and tell me. Will your
+horse stand?"
+
+"He will stand as long as I wish him to. But I fear I shall intrude
+upon you?" and a questioning tone came into his voice.
+
+"How could it be an intrusion under the circumstances? Come."
+
+"In a moment, then. I must throw the blanket over Comet," and running
+down the steps he took the blanket from the seat and quickly buckled
+it upon the horse which meanwhile nosed him and nickered.
+
+"Yes; it's all right, old man. Just you _stand_ till I want you," said
+his master, giving the pretty head an affectionate pat which the horse
+acknowledged by shaking it up and down two or three times. Hadyn
+Stuyvesant then mounted the steps once more and followed Mrs. Carruth
+and Jean into the house, across the broad hall into the cheerful
+living-room where logs blazed upon the andirons in the fire-place, and
+Constance was just lighting a large reading lamp which stood upon a
+table in the center of the room.
+
+"Constance, dear, this is Mr. Stuyvesant whom your cousin knew at
+Princeton. My daughter, Constance, Mr. Stuyvesant. And this is my
+eldest daughter, Eleanor," she added as Eleanor entered the room.
+Constance set the lamp shade upon its rest and advanced toward their
+guest with hand extended and a smile which was the perfect reflection
+of her mother's. Eleanor's greeting although graceful and dignified
+lacked her sister's cordiality.
+
+"Now," added Mrs. Carruth, "let us be seated and learn more definitely
+of Jean's escapade."
+
+"But it _wasn't_ an escapade _this_ time, mother. It was just an
+unhelpable experience, _wasn't_ it, Mr. Stuyvesant?" broke in Jean,
+walking over to Hadyn Stuyvesant's side and placing her hand
+confidingly upon his shoulder, as she peered into his kind eyes for
+his corroboration of this assertion.
+
+"_Entirely_ 'unhelpable,'" was the positive assurance as he put his
+arm about her and drew her upon his knee. "Suppose you let me explain
+it, and then your mother and sisters will understand the situation
+fully," and in as few words as possible he gave an account of the
+happenings of the past two hours, Jean now and again prompting him
+when he went a trifle astray regarding the incidents which occurred
+prior to his appearance upon the scene, and making a clean breast of
+her attack upon Jabe Raulsbury. When _that_ point in the narration was
+reached Mrs. Carruth let her hands drop resignedly into her lap;
+Constance laughed outright, and Eleanor cried: "Oh, Mr. Stuyvesant,
+what _must_ you think of Jean's training?"
+
+Jean's eyes were fixed upon his as though in his reply rested the
+verdict, and her fingers were clasped and unclasped nervously. It had
+been more than two years since a man had set judgment upon her. Hadyn
+Stuyvesant looked keenly into the big eyes looking so bravely and
+frankly into his own, drew the little girl close to him, rested his
+lips for a moment upon the silky curls and said:
+
+"Sometimes we can hardly be held accountable for what we do;
+especially when our sense of justice is sorely taxed. I believe I
+should have done the same. But since you love horses so dearly, won't
+you run and give Comet a lump of sugar? He has not had one to-day and
+will feel slighted unless he gets it. Hold it upon the palm of your
+hand and he will take it as gently as a kitten. Tell him I am coming
+right away," and placing Jean upon the floor, he gave an encouraging
+pat upon the brown curls.
+
+"I'll give it to him right away, quick," she cried delightedly as she
+ran from the room.
+
+"Good!" Then rising he extended his hand, saying, as he clasped Mrs.
+Carruth's:
+
+"She is a little trump, Mrs. Carruth. Jove! if you could have been
+there and seen her championship of that old horse, and her dauntless
+courage when that old rascal, Jabe, bore down upon her, you would be
+so set up that this house would have to expand to hold you. Please
+don't reprove her. I ask it as favor, although I have no right to do
+so. She has a fine spirit and a finer sense of duty, Mrs. Carruth, for
+she gave me a rare call-down when I tested it by hinting that she'd
+best keep mum on the subject if she was likely to come in for a
+wigging. She is a great little lassie and I am going to ask you to let
+me know her better."
+
+"Jean is about right, _I_ think, Mr. Stuyvesant," said Constance, as
+she shook hands good-bye. "She is peppery and impulsive, I know, but
+it would be a hard matter to make her tell an untruth, or go against
+what she considered her duty."
+
+"I'm _sure_ of it, Miss Constance," was the hearty answer. "And now
+good-bye. You will let me come again, Mrs. Carruth?"
+
+"We will be very pleased to welcome you," was the cordial reply.
+
+"Good! I'll come."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+A New Member of the Family
+
+
+"Has you-all done 'cided to do wid out yo' suppers dis yer night?
+'Cause if you _is_ I 'spec's I kin clar away," was the autocratic
+inquiry of Mammy Melviny as she stood in the doorway of the
+living-room, her ample proportions very nearly filling it.
+
+Hadyn Stuyvesant's call had been of longer duration than Mammy
+approved, for her hot corn cakes were being rapidly ruined by the
+delayed meal, and this was an outrage upon her skill in cooking. Mammy
+had been Mrs. Carruth's nurse "down souf" and still regarded that
+dignified lady as her "chile," and subject to her dictation. She was
+the only servant which Mrs. Carruth now kept, the others having been
+what Mammy stigmatized as "po' northern no 'count niggers" who gave
+the minimum of work for the maximum of pay, and were prompt to take
+their departure when adversity overtook their employer.
+
+Not so Mammy. When the crisis came Mrs. Carruth stated the case to her
+and advised her to seek another situation where she would receive the
+wages her ability commanded, and which Mrs. Carruth, in her reduced
+circumstances, could no longer afford to pay her. The storm which the
+suggestion produced was both alarming and amusing. Placing her arms
+upon her hips, and raising her head like a war-horse scenting battle,
+Mammy stamped her foot and cried:
+
+"Step down an' out? Get out 'en de fambly? Go wo'k fer some o' dese
+hyer strange folks what aint keer a cent fo' me, an' aint know who I
+_is_? _Me?_ a Blairsdale! Huh! What sort o' fool talk is _dat_, Baby?
+Yo' cyant _git_ me out. Yo' need 'n ter try, kase 'taint gwine be no
+good ter. I's hyer and hyer I's gwine _stay_, no matter _what_ come.
+'Taint no use fer ter talk ter _me_ 'bout money and wages an' sich
+truck. What I kerrin' fer dem? I'se got 'nough, an' ter spare. What
+yo' t'ink I'se been doin' all dese years o' freedom? Flingin' my
+earnin's 'way? Huh! You _know_ I aint done no sich foolishness. I'se
+got a pile--yis, an' a _good_ pile too,--put 'way. I need n't ter ever
+do a stroke mo' work long 's I live if I don't wantter. I'se _rich_, I
+is. But I _gwine_ ter work jist 's long's I'se mind ter. Ain't I free?
+Who gwine ter say I cyant wo'k? Now go long an' tend ter yo' business
+and lemme lone ter tend ter mine, and dat's right down wid de pots and
+de kettles, and de stew pans, an' de wash biler and de wash tubs, an'
+I reckon I kin do more 'n six o' dese yer Norf niggers put togedder
+when I set out ter good an' hard if I _is_ most sixty years old. Hush
+yo' talk chile, an' don't let me ketch you a interferin' wid _my_
+doin's agin. You heah _me_?" And at the end of this tirade, Mammy
+turned sharply about and marched off like a grenadier. Mrs. Carruth
+was deeply touched by the old woman's loyalty, but knowing the
+antebellum negro as she did, she realized how wounded Mammy had been
+by the suggestion that she seek a more lucrative situation among
+strangers. Mammy had been born and raised a slave on Mrs. Carruth's
+father's plantation in North Carolina, and would always consider
+herself a member of Mrs. Carruth's family. Alas for the days of such
+ties and such devotion!
+
+So Mammy was now the autocrat of the household and ruled with an iron
+hand, although woe to anyone who dared to overstep the bounds _she_
+had established as her "Miss Jinny's" rights, or the "chillen's"
+privileges as "old marster's gran'-chillern." "Old Marster" was
+Mammy's ideal of what a gentleman should be, and "de days befo' de
+gre't turmoil" were the only days "fitten for _folks_ (always to be
+written in italics) to live in."
+
+She was an interesting figure as she stood in the doorway, and snapped
+out her question, although her old face, surmounted by its gay
+bandanna turban was the personification of kindliness, and her keen
+eyes held only love for her "white folks."
+
+She was decidedly corpulent and her light print gown and beautifully
+ironed white apron stood out from her figure until they completely
+filled the doorway.
+
+Mrs. Carruth turned toward her and asked with a quizzical smile;
+
+"What is spoiling, Mammy?"
+
+"Huh! Ain't nuffin spilin's I knows on, but dat Miss Nornie done say
+she ain't had no co'n cakes 'n 'bout 'n age an' if she _want_ 'em so
+turrible she'd better come and _eat_ 'em,"--and with a decisive nod
+Mammy stalked off toward the dining-room.
+
+"Come, girls, unless you want to evoke the displeasure of the
+presiding genius of the household," said Mrs. Carruth smiling, as she
+led the way in Mammy's wake.
+
+It was a pleasant meal, for Mammy would not countenance the least
+lapse from the customs of earlier days, and the same pains were taken
+for the simple meals now served as had been taken with the more
+elaborate ones during Mr. Carruth's lifetime. The linen must be ironed
+with the same care; the silver must shine as brightly, and the glass
+sparkle as it had always done. Miss Jinny must not miss any of the
+luxuries to which she had been born if Mammy could help it.
+
+"Isn't he splendid, mother?" asked Jean, as she buttered her third
+corn cake. "He was _so_ good to Baltie and to me."
+
+"I am very glad to know him, dear, for Lyman was much attached to
+him."
+
+"Where has he been all these years, mother, that we have never met him
+in Riveredge?" asked Eleanor.
+
+"He has lived abroad when not at college. He took his degree last
+spring. His mother died there a little more than a year ago, I
+understand. She never recovered from the blow of his father's death
+when Hadyn was about fifteen years of age. She went abroad soon after
+for her health and never came back. He came over for his college
+course at Princeton, but always rejoined her during his holidays."
+
+"How old a man is he, mother? He seems both young and old," said
+Constance.
+
+"I am not sure, but think he must be about Lyman's age--nearly
+twenty-four. But the Society seems to have made a wise choice in
+electing him its president; he has certainly taken energetic measures
+in this case and I am glad that he has, for it is disgraceful to have
+such a thing occur in Riveredge. Poor old horse! It would have been
+more merciful to shoot him. How could Jabe Raulsbury have been so
+utterly heartless?"
+
+"But, mother, suppose no one will take old Baltie and give him a
+home?" persisted Jean, "will he _have_ to be shot then?"
+
+"Would it not be kinder to end such a hapless existence than to leave
+it to an uncertain fate, dear?" asked Mrs. Carruth gently.
+
+"Well, maybe, but _I_ don't want him killed. He _loves_ me," was
+Jean's answer and the little upraising of the head at the conclusion
+of the remark conveyed more to Constance than to the others. Constance
+understood Jean better than any other member of the family, and during
+the summer just passed Jean had many times gone to the field in which
+Baltie was pastured to carry some dainty to the poor old horse and her
+love for him and compassion for his wretchedness were deep.
+
+No more was said just then, but Constance knew that the subject had
+not passed from Jean's thoughts and one afternoon, exactly two weeks
+from that evening, this was verified.
+
+Mrs. Carruth had gone to sit with a sick friend. Eleanor was in her
+room lost to everything but a knotty problem for Monday's recitation,
+and Mammy was busily occupied with some dainty dish against her Miss
+Jinny's home-coming. Constance was laying the tea-table when the
+crunch-crunch, crunch-crunch, upon the gravel of the driveway caused
+her to look up, there to behold Jean with old Baltie in tow.
+
+"Merciful powers, what _has_ the child done now?" she exclaimed as she
+let fall with a clatter the knife and fork she was about to place upon
+the table and flew to the front door, crying as she hastily opened it:
+"Jean Carruth what in this world _have_ you been doing?"
+
+"I've brought him home. I _had_ to. I went down to ask Mr. Pringle if
+anybody had come to take him, but he wasn't there. There wasn't
+_any_body there but old deaf Mike who cleans the stable and I couldn't
+make _him_ understand a single thing I said. He just mumbled and
+wagged his head for all the world like that China mandarin in the
+library, and didn't do a thing though I yelled at him as hard as I
+could."
+
+"But _how_ did you get Baltie and, greater marvel, _how_ did you bring
+him all this way home?" persisted Constance, bound to get to the
+bottom of facts.
+
+"I went into the box-stall--it's close to the door you know--and got him
+and led him here."
+
+"But where was Mike, and what was he doing all that time to _let_ you
+do such a thing?"
+
+"O, he went poking off down the stable and didn't pay any attention to
+me. It wouldn't have made any difference if he _had_; I had gone there
+to rescue Baltie and save him from being shot, and I didn't mean to
+come away without doing it. The two weeks were up to-day and he was
+_there_. If any one had been found to take him he _wouldn't_ have been
+there yet, would he? So _that_ settled it, and I wasn't going to take
+any chances. If I'd let him stay one day longer they might have shot
+him. If I could have found Mr. Pringle I'd have told him, but I
+couldn't, and I didn't dare to wait. I left my bank money, almost five
+dollars, to pay for this week's board--Mr. Stuyvesant said it would be
+enough--and a little note to tell him it was for Baltie; I wrote it on
+a piece of paper in his office, and then I came home as fast as Baltie
+could walk, and here we are."
+
+Jean had talked very rapidly and Constance was too dumfounded for the
+time being, to interrupt the flow of words. Presently however, she
+recovered her speech and, resting one hand on Baltie's withers and the
+other on Jean's shoulder, asked resignedly:
+
+"And now that you've got him, may I ask what in this world you propose
+to _do_ with him?"
+
+"Take him out to the stable of course and take care of him as long as
+he lives," was the uncontrovertible reply.
+
+"Mother will _never_ let you do such a thing, Jean, and he must be
+taken back to Pringle's at once," said Constance, with more emphasis
+than usually entered her speech toward this mad-cap little sister.
+
+"I won't! I won't! I _won't_ let him go back!" broke out Jean, a storm
+of sobs ending the protest and bringing Mammy upon the scene hot-foot,
+for Mammy's ears were keen for notes of woe from her baby.
+
+"What's de matter, honey? What done happen ter yo'?" she cried as she
+came hurrying across the little porch upon which the dining-room
+opened. "Bress Gawd what yo' got dere, chile? Huccum dat old horse
+here?"
+
+"Oh Mammy, Mammy, its Baltie, and she says I can't keep him, and they
+are going to _kill_ him, 'cause he's old and blind and hasn't anyone
+to take care of him. And Mammy, Mammy, _please_ don't let 'em 'cause I
+_love_ him. I do, I do, Mammy," cried Jean as she cast Baltie's leader
+from her and rushed to Mammy, to fling herself into those protecting
+arms and sob out her woes.
+
+"Wha', wha', wha', yo' say, Baby?" stammered Mammy, whose tongue
+sometimes became unruly under great excitement. "Somebody gwine tek
+away dat old horse dat yo' love, an' breck yo' heart? Huh! Who gwine
+do dat when Mammy stan' by? I like 'er _see_ 'em do it! _Co'se_ I
+knows Baltie. Ain' I seen him dese many years? An' yo' gwine pertec'
+him an' keer fer him in his discrepancy? Well, ef yo' wantter yo'
+_shall_, an' dat's all 'bout it."
+
+"But Mammy, Mammy, she can't; she mustn't; what will mother say?"
+remonstrated Constance smiling in spite of herself at the ridiculous
+situation for Mammy had promptly put on her war-paint, and was a
+formidable champion to overcome.
+
+"An' what yo' _ma_ gotter say 'bout it if _I_ sets out ter tak' care
+of an' old horse? 'Taint _her_ horse. _She_ aint got nothin' 'tall ter
+_do wid_ him. He's been a lookin', an' a waitin'; and de Lawd knows
+but he's been _a-prayin'_ fer a pertecter----how _we-all_ gwine know he
+aint _prayed_ ter de Lawd fer ter raise one up fer him in his mis'ry?
+An' now he's _got_ one an' it's _me_ an' dis chile. Go 'long an' set
+yo' table an' let us 'lone. Come on honey; we'll take old Baltie out
+yonder ter de stable an' bed him _down_ an' feed him _up_ twell he so
+sot up he like 'nough bus' wid pride, an' I just like ter see who
+gwine _stop_ us. Hi yah-yah, yah," and Mammy's wrath ended in a
+melodious laugh as she caught hold of the leader and stalked off with
+this extraordinary addition to her already manifold duties, Jean
+holding her free hand and nodding exultingly over her shoulder at
+Constance who had collapsed upon the lower step.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+Blue Monday
+
+
+October, with its wealth of color, its mellow days, and soft haze was
+passing quickly and November was not far off: November with its
+"melancholy days" of "wailing winds and wintry woods."
+
+Baltie had now been a member of the Carruth family for nearly a month
+and had improved wonderfully under Mammy Melviny's care. How the old
+woman found time to care for him and the means to provide for him was
+a source of wonder not only to Mrs. Carruth, but to the entire
+neighborhood who regarded the whole thing as a huge joke, and enjoyed
+many a hearty laugh over it, for Mammy was considered a character by
+the neighbors, and nobody felt much surprised at any new departure in
+which she might elect to indulge. Two or three friends had begged Mrs.
+Carruth to let them relieve her of the care of the old horse, assuring
+her that they would gladly keep him in their stables as long as he
+needed a home, and ended in a hearty laugh at the thought of Mammy
+turning groom. But when Mrs. Carruth broached the subject to Mammy she
+was met with flat opposition:
+
+"Send dat ole horse off ter folks what was jist gwine tek keer of him
+fer cha'ity? _No_ I aint gwine do no sich t'ing. De Lawd sartin sent
+him ter me ter tek keer of an' I'se gwin ter _do_ it. Aint he mine?
+Didn't Jabe Raulsbury say dat anybody what would tek keer of him could
+_have_ him? Well I'se tekin' keer of him so _co'se_ he's _mine_. I
+aint never is own no live stock befo' an now I _got_ some. Go 'long,
+Miss Jinny; you'se got plenty ter tend ter 'thout studyin' 'bout my
+_horse_. Bimeby like 'nough I have him so fed up and spry I can sell
+him fer heap er cash--dough I don' believe anybody's got nigh 'nough
+fer ter buy him whilst Baby loves him."
+
+And so the discussion ended and Baltie lived upon the fat of the land
+and was sheltered in Mrs. Carruth's unused stable. Dry leaves which
+fell in red and yellow clouds from the maple, birch and oak trees made
+a far softer bed than the old horse had known in many a day. A bag of
+bran was delivered at Mrs. Carruth's house for "Mammy Melviny," with
+Hadyn Stuyvesant's compliments. Mammy herself, invested in a sack of
+oats and a bale of cut hay, to say nothing of saving all bits of bread
+and parings from her kitchen, and Baltic waxed sleek and fat thereon.
+Jean was his devoted slave and daily led him about the grounds for a
+constitutional. Up and down the driveway paced the little girl, the
+old horse plodding gently beside her, his ears pricked toward her for
+her faintest word, his head held in the pathetic, listening attitude
+of a blind horse. He knew her step afar off, and his soft nicker never
+failed to welcome her as she drew near. To no one else did he show
+such little affectionate ways, or manifest such gentleness. He seemed
+to understand that to this little child, which one stroke of his great
+hoofs could have crushed, he owed his rescue and present comforts.
+
+And so the weeks had slipped away. The money which Jean had left for
+Mr. Pringle had been promptly refunded with a note to explain that the
+Society had borne all the expenses for Baltie's board.
+
+Mrs. Carruth sat in her library wrinkling her usually serene brow over
+a business letter this chilly Monday morning, and hurrying to get it
+completed before the arrival of the letter carrier who always took any
+letters to be mailed. Her face wore a perplexed expression, and her
+eyes had tired lines about them, for the past year had been harder for
+her than anyone suspected. Her income, at best, was much too limited
+to conduct her home as it had always been conducted, and the general
+expenses of living in Riveredge were steadily increasing. True, Mammy
+was frugality itself in the matter of providing, and Mrs. Carruth
+often marveled at the small amounts of her weekly bills. But the
+demands in other directions were heavy, and the expenses of the place
+itself were large. More than once had she questioned the wisdom of
+striving to keep the home, believing that the tax upon her resources,
+and her anxiety, would be less if she gave it up and removed to town
+where she could live for far less than in Riveredge. Then arose the
+memory of the building of the home, the hopes, the plans, and the joys
+so inseparable from it, the children's well-being and their love for
+the house their father had built; their education, and the environment
+of a home in such a town as Riveredge.
+
+Now, however, new difficulties were confronting her, for some of her
+investments were not making the returns she had expected and her
+income was seriously affected. In spite of the utmost frugality and
+care the outlook was not encouraging, and just now she had to meet the
+demand of the fire insurance upon the home and its contents, and just
+how to do so was the question which was causing her brows to wrinkle.
+She had let the matter stand until the last moment, but dared to do so
+no longer for upon that point Mr. Carruth had always been most
+emphatic; the insurance upon his property must never lapse. He had
+always carried one, and since his death his wife had been careful to
+continue it. But _now_ how to meet the sum, and meet it at once, was
+the problem.
+
+She had completed her letter when Mammy came to the door.
+
+"Is yo' here, Miss Jinny? Is yo' busy? I wants to ax you sumpin'," she
+said as she gave a quick glance at Mrs. Carruth from her keen eyes.
+
+"Come in, Mammy. What is it?"
+
+The voice had a tired, anxious note in it which Mammy was quick to
+catch.
+
+"Wha' de matter, honey? Wha's plaguin' you dis mawnin'?" she asked as
+she hurried across the room to rest her hand on her mistress'
+shoulder.
+
+Like a weary child Mrs. Carruth let her head fall upon Mammy's bosom--a
+resting place that as long as she could remember had never failed
+her--as she said:
+
+"Mammy, your baby is very weary, and sorely disheartened this morning,
+and very, very lonely."
+
+The words ended in a sob.
+
+Instantly all Mammy's sympathies were aroused. Gathering the weary
+head in her arms she stroked back the hair with her work-hardened
+hand, as she said in the same tender tones she had used to soothe her
+baby more than forty years ago:
+
+"Dere, dere, honey, don' yo' fret; don' yo' fret. Tell Mammy jist
+what's pesterin' yo' an' she'll mak' it all right fer her baby. Hush!
+Hush. Mammy can tek keer of anythin'."
+
+"Oh, Mammy dear, dear old Mammy, you take care of so much as it is.
+What _would_ we do without you?"
+
+"Hush yo' talk chile! What I gwine do widout yo' all? Dat talk all
+foolishness. Don't I b'long ter de fambly? Now yo' mind yo' Mammy an'
+tell her right off what's a frettin' yo' dis day. Yo' heah _me_?"
+
+Mammy's voice was full of forty-five years of authority, but her eyes
+were full of sympathetic tears, for her love for her "Miss Jinny" was
+beyond the expression of words.
+
+"O Mammy, I am so foolish, and I fear so pitifully weak when it comes
+to conducting my business affairs wisely. You can't understand these
+vexatious business matters which I must attend to, but I sorely miss
+Mr. Carruth when they arise and _must_ be met."
+
+"Huccum I cyan't understand 'em? What Massa Bernard done tackle in his
+business dat I cyan't ef _yo'_ kin? Tell me dis minute just what you'
+gotter do, an' I bate yo' ten dollars I c'n _do_ it."
+
+"I know there isn't anything you would not try to do, Mammy, from
+taking care of an old horse, to moving the contents of the entire
+house if it became necessary," replied Mrs. Carruth, smiling in spite
+of herself, as she wiped her eyes, little realizing how near the truth
+was her concluding remark regarding Mammy's prowess.
+
+"I reckon I c'd move de hull house if I had _time_ enough, an' as fer
+de horse--huh! ain't he stanin' dere a livin' tes'imony of what a
+bran-smash an' elbow-grease kin do? 'Pears lak his hairs rise right up
+an' call me bres-sed, dey's tekin' ter shinin' so sense I done rub my
+hans ober 'em," and Mammy, true to her racial characteristics, broke
+into a hearty laugh; so close together lies the capacity for joy or
+sorrow in this child race. The next instant, however, Mammy was all
+seriousness as she demanded:
+
+"Now I want yo' ter tell me all 'bout dis bisness flummy-diddle what's
+frettin' yo'. Come now; out wid it, quick."
+
+Was it the old habit of obedience to Mammy's dictates, or the woman's
+longing for someone to confide in during these trying days of
+loneliness, that impelled Mrs. Carruth to explain in as simple
+language as possible the difficulties encompassing her?
+
+The burden of meeting even the ordinary every-day expenses upon the
+very limited income derived from Mr. Carruth's life insurance, which
+left no margin whatsoever for emergencies. Of the imperative necessity
+of continuing the fire insurance he had always carried upon the home
+and its contents, lest a few hours wipe out what it had required years
+to gather together, and his wife and children be left homeless. How,
+under their altered circumstances this seemed more than ever
+imperative, since in the event of losing the house and its contents
+there would be no possible way of replacing either unless they kept
+the insurance upon them paid up.
+
+Mammy listened intently, now and again nodding her old head and
+uttering a Um-uh! Um-uh! of comprehension.
+
+When Mrs. Carruth ceased speaking she asked:
+
+"An' how much has yo' gotter plank right out dis minit fer ter keep
+dis hyer as'sur'nce f'om collaps'in', honey?"
+
+"Nearly thirty dollars, Mammy, and that seems a very large sum to me
+now-a-days."
+
+"Hum-uh! Yas'm. So it do. Um. An' yo' aint got it?"
+
+"I have not got it to-day, Mammy. I shall have it next week, but the
+time expires day after to-morrow and I do not know whether the company
+will be willing to wait, or whether I should forfeit my claim by the
+delay. I have written to ask."
+
+"Huh! Wha' sort o' compiny is it dat wouldn't trus' a _Blairsdale_, I
+like ter know?" demanded Mammy indignantly.
+
+Mrs. Carruth smiled sadly as she answered:
+
+"These are not the old days, Mammy, and you know 'corporations have no
+souls.'"
+
+"No so'les? Huh, _I'se_ seen many a corpo'ration dat hatter have good
+thick _leather_ soles fer ter tote 'em round. Well, well, times is
+sho' 'nough changed an' dese hyer Norf ways don't set well on my bile;
+dey rises it, fer sure. So dey ain't gwine _trus'_ you, Baby? Where
+dey live at who has de sesso 'bout it all?"
+
+"The main office is in the city, Mammy, but they have, of course, a
+local agent here."
+
+"Wha' yo' mean by a locum agen', honey?"
+
+"A clerk who has an office at 60 State street, and who attends to any
+business the firm may have in Riveredge."
+
+"Is yo' writ yo' letter ter him? Who _is_ he?"
+
+"No, I have written to the New York office, because Mr. Carruth always
+transacted his business there. I thought it wiser to, for this Mr.
+Sniffins is a very young man, and would probably not be prepared to
+answer my question."
+
+"Wha' yo' call him? Yo' don' mean dat little swimbly, red-headed,
+white-eyed sumpin' nu'er what sets down in dat basemen' office wid his
+foots cocked up on de rail-fence in front ob him, an' a segyar mos' as
+big as his laig stuck in he's mouf all de time? I sees _him_ eve'y
+time I goes ter market, an' he lak' ter mek me sick. Is _he_ de
+agen'?"
+
+"Yes, Mammy, and I dare say he is capable enough, although I do not
+care to come in contact with him if I can avoid it."
+
+"If I ketches yo' in dat 'tater sprout's office I gwine smack yo'
+sure's yo' bo'n. Yo' heah _me_? Why _his_ ma keeps the _sody_-fountain
+on Main street. Wha-fo you gotter do wid such folks, Baby?"
+
+"But, Mammy, they are worthy, respectable people,"--protested Mrs.
+Carruth.
+
+"Hush yo' talk, chile. _I_ reckon I knows de diff'rence twixt quality
+an' de _yether_ kind. Dat's no place fer yo' to go at," cried Mammy,
+all her instincts rebelling against the experiences her baby was
+forced to meet in her altered circumstances. "Gimme dat letter. I'se
+gwine straight off ter markit dis minit and I'll see dat it get sont
+off ter de right pusson 'for I'se done anudder ting."
+
+"But what did you wish to ask me, Mammy?"
+
+"Nuffin'. 'Taint no 'count 'tall. I'll ax it when I comes back. Go
+'long up-stairs and mek yo' bed if yo pinin' for occerpation," and
+away Mammy flounced from the room, leaving Mrs. Carruth more or less
+bewildered. She would have been completely so could she have followed
+the old woman.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+Mammy Generalissimo
+
+
+Half an hour later a short, stout colored woman in neat, print gown,
+immaculate white apron, gorgeous headkerchief and gray plaid shawl,
+entered the office of the Red Star Fire Insurance Company, at No. 60
+State street, and walking up to the little railing which divided from
+the vulgar herd the sacred precincts of Mr. Elijah Sniffins,
+representative, rested her hand upon the small swinging gate as she
+nodded her head slightly and asked:
+
+"Is yo' Mister Sniffins, de locum agen' fer de Fire Insur'nce
+Comp'ny?"
+
+"I am," replied that gentleman,--without removing from between his
+teeth the huge cigar upon which he was puffing until he resembled a
+small-sized locomotive, or changing his position--"Mr. Elijah Sniffins,
+representative of the Red Star Insurance Company. Are you thinkin' of
+taking out a policy?" concluded that gentleman with a supercilious
+smirk.
+
+Mammy's eyes narrowed slightly and her lips were compressed for a
+moment.
+
+"No, sir, I don' reckon I is studyin' 'bout takin' out no pol'cy. I
+jist done come hyer on a little private bisness wid yo'."
+
+Mammy paused, somewhat at a loss how to proceed, for business affairs
+seemed very complicated to her. Mr. Elijah Sniffins was greatly amused
+and continued to eye her and smile. He was a dapper youth of probably
+twenty summers, with scant blond hair, pale blue, shifty eyes, a weak
+mouth surmounted by a cherished mustache of numerable hairs and a chin
+which stamped him the toy of stronger wills. Mammy knew the type and
+loathed it. His smirk enraged her, and rage restored her
+self-possession. Raising her head with a little sidewise jerk as
+befitted the assurance of a Blairsdale, she cried:
+
+"Yas--sir, I done come to ax yo' a question 'bout de 'surance on a
+place in Riveredge. I hears de time fer settlin' up gwine come day
+atter to-morrer an' if 'taint settled up de 'surance boun' ter
+collapse. Is dat so?"
+
+"Unless the policy is renewed it certainly _will_ 'collapse,'" replied
+Mr. Sniffins breaking into an amused laugh.
+
+"Huh! 'Pears like yo' find it mighty 'musin'," was Mammy's next remark
+and had Mr. Elijah Sniffins been a little better acquainted with his
+patron he would have been wise enough to take warning from her tone.
+
+"Well, you see I am not often favored with visits from ladies of your
+color who carry fire insurance policies. A good many carry _life_
+insurance, but as a rule they don't insure their estates against
+_fire_, an' the situation was so novel that it amused me a little. No
+offense meant."
+
+"An' none teken--from _your_ sort," retorted Mammy. "But how 'bout dis
+hyer pol'cy? What I gotter do fer ter keep it f'om collapsin' ef it
+aint paid by day atter to-morrer?"
+
+"Pay it _to-day, or_ to-morrow," was the suave reply accompanied by a
+wave of the hand to indicate the ultimatum.
+
+"'Spose dey ain't got de money fer ter pay right plank down, but kin
+pay de week atter? Could'n' de collapse be hild up twell den?"
+
+"Ha! Ha!" laughed Mr. Elijah. "I'm 'fraid not; I've heard of those
+'next week' settlements before, and experience tells me that 'next
+week' aint never arrived yet. Ha! Ha!"
+
+"Den yo' won't trus' de Ca-- de fambly?" Mammy had very nearly betrayed
+herself.
+
+"Well, if it was the Rogers, or the Wellmans, or the Stuyvesants, or
+some of them big bugs up yonder on the hill, that everybody knows has
+got piles of money, and that everybody knows might let the policy
+lapse just because it had slipped their memory--why, that 'd be a
+different matter. We'd know down in this here office that it was just
+an oversight, yer see; not a busted bank account. So, of course, we'd
+make concessions; just jog 'em up a little and a check 'd come 'long
+all O.K. and no fuss. But these small policies--why--well, I've got ter
+be more careful of the company's interests; I hold a responsible
+position here."
+
+"De good Lawd, yo' don' sesso!" exclaimed Mammy, turning around and
+around to scrutinize every corner of the tiny office, and then letting
+her eyes rest upon the being whose sense of responsibility was
+apparently crushing him down upon his chair, if one could judge from
+his semi-recumbent position. "Dat's shore 'nough a pity. Look lak it
+mought be mos' too much fer yo'. Don' seem right fer a comp'ny ter put
+sich a boy as yo' is in sich a 'sponsible 'sition, do it now?"
+
+Mammy's expression was solicitude personified. Mr. Elijah Sniffins'
+face became a delicate rose color, and his feet landed upon the floor
+with emphasis as he straightened in his chair, and dragged nervously
+at the infinitesimal mustache, meanwhile eying Mammy with some
+misgivings.
+
+Mammy continued to smile upon him benignly, and her smile proved as
+disconcerting as she meant it should. She resolved to have her innings
+with the smug youth who had begun by slighting her race and ended by
+doing far worse; failing to class the Carruths among those whom
+everyone trusted as a matter of course. The former slight might have
+been disregarded; the latter? _Never._ Consequently Mammy had
+instantly decided "ter mak' dat little no'count sumpin 'er ner'er
+squirm jist fer ter te'ch him what's due de quality," and the process
+had begun.
+
+Poor Mammy! She would never learn that in the northern world where her
+lot was now cast the almighty dollar was king, queen and court
+combined. That its possession could carry into high places bad
+manners, low birth, aye actual rascality and hold them up to the
+shallow as enviable things when veneered with golden luster. That "de
+quality" without that dazzling reflector were very liable to be cast
+aside as of no value, as the nugget of virgin gold might be tramped
+upon and its worth never suspected by the unenlightened in their
+eagerness to reach a shining bit of polished brass farther along the
+path.
+
+But Mammy's traditions were deeply rooted.
+
+"I think I can take care of the position. What can I do for you? My
+time is valuable," snapped Mr. Elijah Sniffins, rising from his chair
+and coming close to the dividing railing, as a hint to Mammy to
+conclude her business.
+
+"De Lawd er massy! Is dat so? Now I ain't never is 'spitioned dat f'om
+de looks ob t'ings. 'Pears lak yo' got a sight o' time on han'. Wal I
+'clar fo' it I do'n un'nerstan' dese hyer bisness places no how. Well!
+Well! So yo' want me fer ter state mine an' cl'ar long out, does yo'
+Mr. 'Lijah? 'Lijah; _'Lijah_. Was yo' ma a studyin' 'bout yo' doin's
+when she done giv' yo' dat name? Sort o' fits yo' pine blank, don' it
+now? Like 'nuf de cha'iot 'll come kitin' 'long one o' dese hyer days
+an' hike yo' inter de high places. Yah! Yah!" and Mammy's mellow laugh
+filled the office.
+
+"See here, old woman, if you've got some little picayune payment to
+make, _make_ it and clear out. I ain't got time ter stand here talkin'
+ter niggers," cried the agent, his temper taking final flight.
+
+Mammy eyed him steadily as she said:
+
+"Wall _dis yere_ time yo's gwine deal wid a nigger, an' yo's gwine do
+lak _she say_. Dis yere comp'ny 'sures de Carruth house an' eve'y last
+t'ing what's inside it, an' de policy yo' say 's gotter be settled up
+when it's gotter be, or de hul t'ing 'll collapse? Now Miss Jinny
+ain't never _is_ had no dealin's wid _yo'_, case I don' _let_ her have
+dealin's wid no white trash--_I_ handles _dat_ sort when it has ter be
+handled--an' I keeps jist as far f'om it as ever I kin _while_ I
+handles it. But I'se gotter settle up dis policy fer de fambly so what
+is it? How much is I gotter pay yo'?"
+
+The varying expressions passing over Mr. Sniffins' countenance during
+Mammy's speech would have delighted an artist.
+
+"What er? What er? What er you telling me?" he stammered.
+
+"De ain't no 'watter' 'bout it; it's _fire_, an' I done come ter
+settle up," asserted Mammy.
+
+"Have you brought the necessary papers with you? Have we a record in
+this office?"
+
+"Don' know nuffin' 'tall 'bout no papers nor no records. Jist knows
+dat Miss Jinny's insured fer $15,000," said Mammy, causing the youth
+confronting her to open his eyes. "Dis hyer letter what she done wrote
+dis mawn'in tells all 'bout it I 'spec'. She tol' me pos' it ter de
+comp'ny an' I reckons _yo'll_ do fer de comp'ny _dis_ time when de
+time's pressin' an' der ain't nuffin' _better_ ter han'."
+
+The contempt in Mammy's tone was tangible, as she held the letter as
+far from her as possible. Mr. Sniffins took it, noted the address and
+broke the seal. When he had read the letter he said with no little
+triumph in his voice:
+
+"But in this letter Mrs. Carruth says distinctly that she is not
+prepared to pay the sum which falls due day after to-morrow, and asks
+for an extension of time. I am not prepared to make this extension.
+_That's_ up to the company," and he held the letter toward Mammy as
+though he washed his hands of the whole affair.
+
+Mammy did not take it. Instead she said very much as she would have
+spoken to a refractory child who was not quite sure of what he could
+or could _not_ do: "La Honey, don' yo' 'spose I sensed _dat_ long go?
+Co'se I knows _yo'_ cyant do nuffin' much; yo's only a lil' boy, an'
+der cyant no boy do a man's wo'k. Yo's hyer fer ter tek in de _cash_,
+an' so _dat's_ what I done come ter pay. Miss Jinny she done mek up
+her mine dat she better pay dat policy dan use de money fer
+frolic'in'. I reckons yo' can tek cyer of it an' sen' it long down
+yonder whar de big comp'ny 's at. Dat's all I want _yo'_ ter do, so
+now go 'long an' git busy an' _do_ it. _Dere's_ thirty dollars; count
+it so's yo's suah. Den write it all out crost de back ob Miss Jinny's
+letter so's I have sumpin fer ter show dat it's done paid."
+
+"But I'll give you a regular receipt for the amount," said the clerk,
+now eager to serve a customer whose premium represented so large a
+policy.
+
+"Yo' kin give me dat too if yo' wantter, but I wants de sign on de
+letter too, an' yo' full name, Mr. Elijah Sniffins, ter boot, you
+knows what yo' jist done said 'bout trus'in' folks, an' _yo'_ don'
+berlong ter de Rogersers, ner de Wellmans, ner de Stuyvesants, but _I_
+berlongs ter de _Blairsdales_!"
+
+Mammy grew nearly three inches taller as she made this statement,
+while her hearer seemed to grow visibly shorter. The receipt was duly
+filled out, likewise an acknowledgment written upon the blank side of
+Mrs. Carruth's letter and Elijah Sniffins' name signed thereto. Mammy
+took them scrutinized both with great care (she could not read one
+word) nodded and said:
+
+"Huh, Um. Yas, sir. I reckon _dat_ all squar'. If de house burn down
+ter night _we_ all gwine git de 'surance sure 'nough. Yas--yas."
+
+"You certainly could collect whatever was comin' to you," Mr. Sniffins
+assured her, his late supercilious smile replaced by a most obsequious
+one for this representative of the possessors of the dollars he
+worshiped. Mr. Sniffins meant to have a good many dollars himself some
+day and the luxuries which dollars stand for.
+
+Mammy nodded, and placing the receipt and letter in her bag gave a
+slight nod and turned to leave the office. Mr. Sniffins hurried to
+open the door for her. As she was about to cross the threshold she
+paused, eyed him keenly from the crown of his smoothly brushed head to
+his patent-leather-shod feet and then asked:
+
+"Huccum yo' opens de do' fer niggers? Ef yo' b'longed ter de quality
+yo'd let de niggers open de do's fer _yo_. Yo' better run 'long an'
+ten' yo' ma's sody foun'in 'twell yo' learns de quality manners."
+
+An hour later Mammy was busy in her kitchen, the receipts safely
+pinned within her bodice and no one the wiser for the morning's
+business transaction.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+Chemical Experiments
+
+
+"Eleanor! Eleanor! where are you?" cried Constance at the foot of the
+third-story stairs the following day after luncheon.
+
+Blue Monday had passed with its dull gray clouds and chill winds to
+give place to one of those rare, warm days which sometimes come to us
+late in October, as though the glorious autumn were loath to depart
+and had turned back for a last smile upon the land it loved.
+
+The great river lay like shimmering liquid gold, the air was filled
+with the warm, pungent odors of the late autumn woods, and a soft haze
+rested upon the opposite hills.
+
+"Here in my room," answered Eleanor. "What is it? What do you want? I
+can't come just this minute. Come up if it's important." The voice was
+somewhat muffled as though the speaker's head were covered.
+
+Constance bounded up the stairs, hurried across the hall and entered
+the large third-story front room which Eleanor occupied. There was no
+sign of its occupant.
+
+"More experiments I dare say," she murmured as she entered, crossed
+the room and pushed open the door leading into a small adjoining room
+whereupon her nostrils were assailed by odors _not_ of Araby--the
+blessed.
+
+"Phew! Ugh! What an awful smell! What under the sun are you doing? If
+you don't blow yourself to glory some day I shall be thankful," she
+ended as she pinched her nostrils together.
+
+"Shut the door quick and don't let the smell get through the house or
+mother will go crazy when she gets home. Yes, it _is_ pretty bad, but
+tie your handkerchief over your nose and then you won't mind it so
+much. As for blowing myself to glory, perhaps that will be my only way
+of ever coming by any, so I ought to be willing to take that route.
+But what do you want?" concluded Eleanor, pouring one smelly chemical
+into a small glass which contained another, whereupon it instantly
+became a most exquisite shade of crimson.
+
+Constance watched her closely without speaking. Presently she said:
+
+"Well I dare say it is 'everyone to her fancy,' as the old lady said
+when she kissed her cow (Jean could appreciate that, couldn't she? She
+kisses Baltie often enough) but _I'd_ rather be excused when chemical
+experiments are in order. Don't for the life of me understand how you
+endure the smells and the mess. What is _that_ horrid looking thing
+over there?" and Constance pointed to a grewsome-looking object
+stretched upon a small glass table at the farther side of the room.
+
+"My rabbit. I got it at the school laboratory and I've been examining
+its respiratory organs. They're perfectly wonderful, Constance. Want
+to see them? I'll be done with this in just a minute."
+
+"_No I don't!_" was the empathic negative. "I dare say it's all very
+wonderful and interesting and I ought to know all about breathing
+apparatus----_es_, or apparatti, or whatever the plural of our wind-pump
+machine _is_, but if I've got to learn by hashing up animals I'll
+never, _never_ know, and that's all there is about it. I'll take my
+knowledge on theory or supposition or whatever you call it. But I've
+nearly forgotten to tell you the news. I've had a letter from Mrs.
+Hadyn, Mr. Stuyvesant's aunt, the one he is named for you know, asking
+me to help at the candy counter at the Memorial Hospital Fair, week
+after next, and, incidentally, contribute some of my 'delicious
+pralines and nut fudge'--that's in quotes remember,--and remain for the
+dance which will follow after ten-thirty on the closing evening. She
+will see that I reach home safely. How is _that_ for a frolic? I've
+been wild for a dance the past month."
+
+"Is mother willing? What will you wear?" was the essentially feminine
+inquiry which proved that Eleanor, even though absorbed in her
+sciences and isms, was a woman at heart.
+
+"What is the use of asking that? You know I've got to wear whatever is
+on hand to be utilized into gay and festive attire. I can't indulge in
+new frocks now-a-days when the finances are at such a low ebb. Need
+all we've got for necessities without thinking of spending money for
+notions. But I'll blossom out gloriously; see if I don't. That was one
+reason I came up to talk to you. Can you tear yourself away from your
+messes long enough to come up to the attic with me? I've been wanting
+to rummage for days, but haven't been able to get around to it. So
+tidy up, and come along. You've absorbed enough knowledge to last you
+for one while."
+
+Eleanor wavered a moment and then began to put aside her materials,
+and a few moments later the two girls were up in the attic.
+
+"Do you know what I believe I'll do?" said Constance, after a half
+hour's rummaging among several trunks had brought forth a perplexing
+array of old finery, winter garments and outgrown apparel. "I believe
+I'll just cart down every solitary dud we've got here and have them
+all aired. I heard mother say last week that they ought to be, and she
+would have it done the first clear, dry day, and this one is simply
+heavenly. Come on; take an armful and get busy. They smell almost as
+abominably from tar camphor as your laboratory smells of chemicals."
+
+"Think I'd rather have the chemicals if my choice were consulted,"
+laughed Eleanor as obedient to instructions, she gathered up an armful
+of clothing and prepared to descend the stairs.
+
+"Thanks, I'll take the tar. Go on; I'll follow."
+
+Little was to be seen of either girl as she moved slowly down the
+stairs. At the foot stood Mammy.
+
+"Fo' de Lawd sake wha' yo' chillen at _now_?" she demanded as she
+stood barring their progress.
+
+"Bringing out our winter wardrobes, Mammy. Good deal of it as to
+quantity; what it will turn out as to quality remains to be seen,"
+cried Constance cheerily.
+
+"Lak' 'nough mos' anyt'ing if yo' had de handlin' ob it. Yo' sartin'
+_is_ de banginest chile wid yo' han's," was Mammy's flattering reply.
+
+"Perhaps if I could 'bang' as well with my brains as with my hands I
+might amount to something, Mammy. But Nornie has all the brains of the
+family. _She_'ll make our fame and fortune some day; see if she
+doesn't."
+
+"Guess I'll have to do something clever then if I am to become famous
+in _this_ day and age," said Eleanor, as she made her way past Mammy.
+"Thus far I haven't given very noble promise."
+
+"Who sesso?" demanded Mammy. "Ain' yo' de fust and fo'most up dere
+whar de school's at? What fur ole Miss sendin' yo' dar fer den? Huh, I
+reckon _she_ know whar ter spen' her money, an' Gawd knows she ain'
+spendin' none what ain' gwine ter pintedly make up fer all she gin
+out. _She_ no fool, I tell yo'."
+
+The girls broke into peals of laughter, for Mammy's estimation of "ol'
+Miss," as she called Mr. Carruth's aunt by marriage, was a pretty
+accurate one, "Aunt Eleanor" being a lady who had very pronounced
+ideas and no hesitation whatever in giving expression to them, as well
+as a very strong will to back them up. She also had a pretty liberally
+supplied purse, the supply being drawn from a large estate which she
+had inherited from her father, a Central New York farmer, who had made
+a fortune in fruit-growing and ended his days in affluence, although
+he had begun them in poverty. She had no children, her only son having
+died when a child, and her husband soon afterward. Bernard Carruth had
+always been a favorite with her, although she never forgave him for
+what she pronounced his "utter and imbecilic folly." It was Aunt
+Eleanor who made the seminary possible for the niece who had been
+named for her; a compliment which flattered the old lady more than she
+chose to let others suspect, for the niece was manifesting a fine
+mind, and the aunt had secretly resolved to do not a little toward its
+development although she took pains to guard the fact.
+
+"Go along up-stairs and get an armful of things, Mammy. That will keep
+you from flattering me and making me conceited," cried Eleanor, when
+the laugh ended.
+
+"Huh! Mek a Blairsdale 'ceited?" retorted Mammy, as she started up to
+the attic. "Dey's got too much what dey _knows_ is de right stuff fer
+ter pester dey haids studyin' 'bout it; it's right dar all de endurin'
+time; dey ain' gotter chase atter it lessen dey loses it."
+
+"Was there ever such a philosopher as Mammy?" laughed Constance as
+they got beyond hearing.
+
+"Wish there were a few more with as much sound sense--black or white--"
+answered Eleanor as she shook out one of Jean's frocks and hung it
+across the clothes-line.
+
+A moment later Mammy joined them with more garments which cried aloud
+for the glorious fresh air and sunshine. She hung piece after piece
+upon the line, giving a shake here, a pat there, or almost a caress
+upon another, for each one recalled to her loving old heart the memory
+of more prosperous days, and each held its story for her. When all
+were swinging in the sunshine she stepped back and surveyed the array,
+her mouth pursed up quizzically, but her eyes full of kindness.
+
+"What are you thinking of Mammy?" asked Constance, slipping her
+fingers into Mammy's work-hardened hand very much as she had done when
+a little child.
+
+"Hum; Um: What's I t'inkin' of? I'se t'inkin' dat ar lot ob clo'se
+supin lak we-all here: De'y good stuff in um, an' I reckon dey c'n
+stan' 'spection, on'y dey sartin _do_ stan' in need ob jist a _leetle_
+spondulix fer ter put em in shape. Dar's _too much_ ob em spread all
+_ober_. What dey needs is ter rip off some o' dem _ruffles_ and jis
+hang ter de plain frocks ter tek keer ob. We spen's a heap ob time
+breshin' ruffles dat we better spen' tekin' keer ob de frocks in,"
+concluded Mammy with a sage nod as she turned and walked into the
+house.
+
+"Upon my word I believe Mammy's pretty near right Eleanor. We _have_
+got a good many _ruffles_ to take care of on this big place and I
+sometimes feel that mother is wearing herself out caring for them.
+Perhaps we would be wiser to give them up."
+
+"Perhaps we would," agreed Eleanor, "but where will we go if we give
+up the home? We have hardly known any other, for we were both too
+little to think much about homes or anything else when we came into
+this one. For my part, I am ready to do whatever is best and wisest,
+although I love every stick and stone here. Mother has looked terribly
+worried lately although she hasn't said one word to me. Has she to
+you?
+
+"No, nothing at all. But I know what you mean; her eyes look so tired.
+I wonder if anything new has arisen to make her anxious. She says so
+little at any time. I mean to have a talk with her this evening if I
+can get a chance. Do you get Jean out of the way. She is such an
+everlasting chatterbox that there is no hope of a quiet half hour
+while she is around. Now let's take an inventory of this array and
+plan my frivolity frock," and Constance drew Eleanor down upon a
+rustic seat at one side of the lawn to discuss the absorbing question
+of the new gown to be evolved from some of the old ones which were
+swaying in the wind.
+
+Perhaps a half hour passed, the girls were giving little heed to time,
+for the drowsy dreamy influence of the afternoon was impressing itself
+upon them. Constance had planned the gown to the minutest detail,
+Eleanor agreeing and secretly marveling at her ability to do so, when
+both became aware of a strong odor of smoke.
+
+"What is burning, I wonder?" said Constance, glancing in the direction
+of a patch of woodland not far off.
+
+"Leaves, most likely. The Henrys' gardener has burned piles and piles
+of them ever since they began falling. I shouldn't think there would
+be any left for him to burn," answered Eleanor, looking in the same
+direction.
+
+"It doesn't smell like leaves, it smells like wood, and--oh! Eleanor,
+Eleanor, look! look at your window! The smoke is just pouring from it!
+The house is a-fire! Run! Run! Quick! Quick!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+Spontaneous Combustion
+
+
+Had the ground opened and disgorged the town, men, women and children
+could hardly have appeared upon the scene with more startling
+promptitude than they appeared within five minutes after Constance's
+discovery of the smoke. How they got there only those who manage to
+get to every fire before the alarm ceases to sound can explain, and,
+as usual, there arrived with them the over-officious, and the
+over-zealous.
+
+As Constance and Eleanor rushed into the house, the multitude rushed
+across the grounds and followed them hotfoot, while one, more
+level-headed than his fellows, hastened to the nearest fire-box to
+turn in an alarm.
+
+Meanwhile Mammy had also smelt the smoke, and as the girls ran through
+the front hall she came through the back one crying:
+
+"Fo' de Lawd's sake wha' done happen? De house gwine burn down on top
+our haids?"
+
+"Quick, Mammy. It's Eleanor's room," cried Constance as she flew up
+the stairs.
+
+Mammy needed no urging. In one second she had grasped the situation
+and was up in Mrs. Carruth's room dragging forth such articles and
+treasures as she knew to be most valued and piling them into a
+blanket. There was little time to waste for the flames had made
+considerable headway when discovered and were roaring wildly through
+the upper floor when the fire apparatus arrived. Mrs. Carruth was out
+driving with a friend and Jean was off with her beloved Amy Fletcher.
+
+Only those who have witnessed such a scene can form any adequate idea
+of the confusion which followed that outburst of smoke from Eleanor's
+windows. Men ran hither and thither carrying from the burning house
+whatever articles they could lay their hands upon, to drop them from
+the windows to those waiting below to catch them. Firemen darted in
+and out, apparently impervious to either flames or smoke, directing
+their hose where the streams would prove most effectual and sending
+gallons of water upon the darting flames. The fact that the fire had
+started in the third-story saved many articles from destruction by the
+flames, although the deluge of water which flooded the house and
+poured down the stairways like miniature Niagaras speedily ruined what
+the flames spared.
+
+Eleanor rushed toward her room but was quickly driven back by a burst
+of flames and smoke that nearly suffocated her, while Constance flew
+to Jean's and her own room, meanwhile calling directions to Mammy.
+Five minutes, however, from the time they entered the house they were
+forced to beat a retreat, encountering as they ran Miss Jerusha Pike,
+a neighbor who never missed any form of excitement or interesting
+occurrence in her neighborhood.
+
+"What can I do? Have you saved your ma's clothes? Did you get out that
+mirror that belonged to your great-grandmother?" she cried, as she
+laid a detaining hand upon Constance's arm.
+
+"I don't know, Miss Pike. Come out quick. It isn't safe to stay here
+another second. We must let the men save what they can. Come."
+
+"No! No! I _must_ save your grandmother's mirror. I know just where it
+hangs. You get out quick. I won't be a second. Go!"
+
+"Never mind the mirror, there are other things more valuable than
+that," cried Eleanor as she tugged at the determined old lady's arm.
+But Miss Pike was not to be deterred and rushed away to the second
+story in spite of them.
+
+"She'll be burned to death! I _know_ she will," wailed Constance, as a
+man ran across the hall calling:
+
+"Miss Carruth, Miss Constance, where are you? You must get out of here
+instantly!"
+
+"Oh, Mr. Stuyvesant, Miss Pike has gone up to mother's room and I must
+go after her."
+
+"You must do nothing of the sort. Come out at once both of you. I'll
+see to her when I've got you to a place of safety," and without more
+ado Hadyn Stuyvesant hurried them both from the house to the lawn,
+where a motley crowd was gathered, and their household goods and
+chattels were lying about in the utmost confusion, while other
+articles, escorted by various neighbors, were being borne along the
+street to places of safety. One extremely proper and precise maiden
+lady was struggling along under an armful of Mr. Carruth's
+dress-shirts and pajamas brought forth from nobody knew where. A
+portly matron, with the tread of a general, followed her with a
+flatiron in one hand and a tiny doll in the other, while behind her a
+small boy of eight staggered beneath the weight of a wash boiler.
+
+"Where is Mammy? O _where_ is Mammy?" cried Eleanor, clasping her
+hands and looking toward the burning building.
+
+"Here me! Here me!" answered Mammy's voice as she hurried toward them
+with a great bundle of rescued articles. "I done drug dese yer t'ings
+f'om de burer in yo' ma's room an' do you keep tight fas' 'em 'twell I
+come back. Mind now what I'se telling' yo' kase dere's t'ings in dar
+dat she breck her heart ter lose. I'se gwine back fer sumpin' else."
+
+"O Mammy! Mammy, _don't go_. You'll be burned to death," cried
+Constance, laying her hand upon Mammy's arm to restrain her.
+
+"You mustn't Mammy! You mustn't," echoed Eleanor.
+
+"Stay here with the girls, Mammy, and let me get whatever it is you
+are bent upon saving," broke in Hadyn Stuyvesant.
+
+"Aint no time for argufying," cried Mammy, her temper rising at the
+opposition. "You chillun stan' _dar_ an' tek kere ob _dat_ bundle, lak
+I tell yo' an' yo', Massa Stuyv'sant, come 'long back wid me," was the
+ultimatum, and, laughing in spite of the gravity of the situation,
+Hadyn Stuyvesant followed Mammy whom he ever afterward called the
+General.
+
+As they hurried back to the kitchen entrance the one farthest removed
+from the burning portion of the building, Mammy's eyes were seemingly
+awake to every thing, and her tongue loosed of all bounds. As they
+neared the dining-room someone was dropping pieces of silver out of
+the window to someone else who stood just below it with skirts
+outspread to catch the articles.
+
+"Ain' dat de very las' bit an' grain o' nonsense?" panted Mammy.
+"Dey's a-heavin' de silver plate outen de winder, an' bangin' it all
+ter smash stidder totin' it froo' de back do', and fo' Gawd's sake
+look dar, Massa Stuyv'sant! Dar go de' lasses!" cried Mammy, her hands
+raised above her head as her words ended in a howl of derision, for,
+overcome with excitement the person who was dropping the pieces of
+silver had deliberately turned the syrup-jug bottom-side up and
+deluged the person below with the contents. Had he felt sure that it
+would have been his last Hadyn Stuyvesant could not have helped
+breaking into peals of laughter, nor was the situation rendered less
+absurd by the sudden reappearance of Miss Pike clasping the treasured
+mirror to her breast and crying:
+
+"Thank heaven! Thank heaven I'm alive and have _saved_ it. _Where_,
+where are those dear girls that I may deliver this priceless treasure
+into their hands?"
+
+"Out yonder near the hedge, Miss Pike. I'm thankful you escaped. They
+are much concerned about you. Better get along to them quick; I'm
+under Mammy's orders," answered Hadyn when he could speak.
+
+Off hurried the zealous female while Hadyn Stuyvesant followed Mammy
+who was fairly snorting with indignation.
+
+"Dat 'oman certain'y _do_ mak' me mad. Dat lookin' glass! Huh! I
+reckons when Miss Jinny git back an' find what happen she aint goin'
+ter study 'bout no lookin' glasses. No suh! She be studyin' 'bout whar
+we all gwine put our _haids_ dis yere night. An' dat's what _I_ done
+plan fer," concluded Mammy laying vigorous hold of a great roll of
+bedding which she had carried to a place of safety just outside the
+kitchen porch. "Please, suh, tek' holt here an' holp me get it out
+yander ter de stable, I'se done got a sight o' stuff out dere
+a-reddy," and sure enough Mammy, unaided, had carried enough
+furniture, bedding and such articles as were absolutely indispensable
+for living, out to the stable to enable the family to "camp out" for
+several days, and with these were piled the garments hastily snatched
+from the clothes-lines, Baltie mounting guard over all. Mrs. Carruth
+had not been so very far wrong when she told Mammy she believed she
+could move the house if necessity arose.
+
+Meanwhile Miss Pike and her rescued mirror had reached the hedge, the
+girls breathing a sigh of relief when they saw her bearing
+triumphantly down upon them.
+
+"There! There! If I never do another deed as long as I live I shall
+feel that I have _not_ lived in vain! What _would_ your poor mother
+have said had she returned to find this priceless heirloom destroyed,"
+she cried, as she rested the mirror against a tree trunk and clasped
+her hands in rapture at sight of it.
+
+"Perhaps mother _might_ ask first whether _we_ had been rescued,"
+whispered Constance, but added quickly, "_there_ is mother now. O I
+wonder who told her," for just then a carriage was driven rapidly to
+the front gate and as the girls ran toward it Mrs. Carruth stepped
+quickly from it. She was very white and asked almost breathlessly,
+"Girls, girls, is anyone hurt? Are you _all_ safe? Where's Mammy?"
+
+"We are all safe mother, Mammy is here. Don't be frightened. We have
+done everything possible and the fire is practically out now," said
+Constance, passing her arm about her mother who was trembling
+violently.
+
+"Don't be alarmed, mother. It isn't really so dreadful as it might
+have been; it truly isn't," said Eleanor soothingly. "Loads of things
+have been saved."
+
+"Yes, Mammy has outgeneraled us all, Mrs. Carruth," cried Hadyn
+Stuyvesant, who now came hurrying upon the scene. "I guess she has
+shown more sense than all the rest of us put together, for she's kept
+her head."
+
+"And oh, my dear! My dear, if all else were lost there is one
+invaluable treasure spared to you! Come with me. I saved it for you
+with my own hands. Come!" cried Miss Pike, as she slipped her arm
+through Mrs. Carruth's and hurried her willy-nilly across the lawn.
+
+There was the little round mirror in its quaint old-fashioned frame
+leaning against the tree and reflecting all the weird scene in its
+shining surface, and there, too, directly in front of it, strutted a
+lordly game cock which belonged to the Carruths' next door neighbor.
+How he happened to be there, in the midst of so much excitement and
+confusion no one paused to consider, but as Miss Pike hurried poor
+Mrs. Carruth toward the spot, Sir Chanticleer's burnished ruff began
+to rise and the next instant there was a defiant squawk, a frantic
+dash of brilliantly iridescent feathers, and the cherished heirloom
+lay shattered beneath the triumphant game-cock's feet as he voiced a
+long and very jubilant crow.
+
+It was the stroke needed, for in spite of the calamity which had
+overtaken her this was too much for Mrs. Carruth's sense of humor and
+she collapsed upon the piano stool which stood conveniently at hand,
+while Miss Pike bewailed Chanticleer's deed until one might have
+believed it had been her own revered ancestor's mirror which had been
+shattered by him.
+
+Just then Mammy came hurrying upon the scene and was quick enough to
+grasp the situation at a glance.
+
+"Bress de Lawd, Honey, ain' I allers tol' ye' chickens got secon'
+sight? Dat roos'er see double suah. He see himself in dat lookin'
+glass an' bus' it wide open, an' he see we-all need ter laf stidder
+cry, an' so he set out ter mek us."
+
+At sight of her Mrs. Carruth stretched forth both hands like an
+unhappy child and was gathered into her faithful old arms as she
+cried:
+
+"But oh, Mammy; Mammy, the insurance; the insurance. If I had _only_
+been able to pay it yesterday."
+
+"Huh! Don't you fret ober de 'surance. Jis clap yo' eyes on _dat_,"
+and Mammy thrust into her Miss Jinny's hands a paper which she hastily
+drew from the bosom of her frock.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+Readjustment
+
+
+It was all over. The excitement had subsided and all that remained to
+tell the story of the previous afternoon's commotion was a
+fire-scorched, water-soaked dwelling with a miscellaneous collection
+of articles decorating its lawn. When the early morning sunshine
+looked down upon the home which for eight years had sheltered the
+Carruths, it beheld desolation complete. Alas for Eleanor's chemicals!
+Her experiments had cost the family dear.
+
+The only living being in sight was a policeman mounting guard over the
+ruins. A staid and stolid son of the Vatterland who had spent the wee
+sma' hours upon the premises and now stood upon the piazza upright and
+rigid as the inanimate objects all about him. Beside him was a small,
+toy horse "saddled and bridled and ready to ride," and anything more
+absurd than the picture cut by this guardian of the law and his
+miniature charger it would be hard to imagine.
+
+Meanwhile the family was housed among friends who had been quick to
+offer them shelter, Mr. Stuyvesant insisting that Mrs. Carruth and
+Constance accept his aunt's hospitality through him, while the next
+door neighbor, Mr. Henry, harbored Eleanor, Jean and Mammy, who
+refused point blank to go beyond sight of the premises and her
+charge--Baltie.
+
+Mammy was the heroine of the hour; for what the old woman had not
+thought of when everyone else's wits were scattered was hardly worth
+thinking of. In the blanket which she had charged the girls to guard
+were all of Mrs. Carruth's greatest treasures, among them a beautiful
+miniature of Mr. Carruth of which no one but Mammy had thought.
+Jewelry which had belonged to her mother was there, valuable papers
+hastily snatched from her desk, and many of the girl's belongings
+which would never have been saved but for Mammy's forethought. At
+seven o'clock, when all was over, the crowd dispersed and the family
+gathered together in Mr. Henry's living-room to collect their wits and
+draw a long breath, Mrs. Carruth drew Mammy to one side to ask:
+
+"Mammy, what is the meaning of this receipt? I cannot understand it.
+Who has paid this sum and where was it paid?"
+
+"Baby, dere comes times when 'taint a mite er use ter tell what we
+gwine _do_. Dat 'surance hatter be squar'd up an' dat settled it. So
+_I_ squar'd it--."
+
+"Oh, Mammy! Mammy!" broke in Mrs. Carruth, almost in tears.
+
+"Hush, chile! Pay 'tention ter _me_. What would a come of we-all if I
+hadn't paid dat bill den an' dar? Bress de Lawd I had de cash an' don'
+pester me wid questions. Ain' I tole yo' I'se _rich_? Well den, dat
+settles it. When _yo_ is, yo' kin settle wid _me_. _Dat_ don' need no
+argufyin' do it? Now go long wid Miss Constance an' Massa Stuyvesant
+lak dey say an' git yo' sef ca'med down. Yo' all a shakin' an' a
+shiverin' lak yo' got de ager, an' dat won' never do in de roun'
+worl'. Yo'll be down sick on my han's."
+
+And that was all the old woman would ever hear about it. When the
+thirty dollars were returned to her in the course of a few days she
+took it with a chuckle saying:
+
+"Huh! Reckons _I_ knows wha' ter investigate _my_ money. Done git my
+intrus so quick it like ter scar me."
+
+After the first excitement was over came the question of where the
+family was to live, and it was Hadyn Stuyvesant who settled it
+forthwith by offering the home which had been his mother's; a pretty
+little dwelling in the heart of Riveredge which had been closed since
+his mother's death and his own residence with his aunt. So in the
+course of the next week the Carruths were installed therein and began
+to adjust themselves to the new conditions The first question to be
+answered was the one concerning their home. Should it be rebuilt with
+the money to be paid by the insurance company, or should it be sold?
+It was hard to decide, for sentiment was strongly in favor of
+returning to the home they all loved, while sound sense dictated
+selling the land and thus lessening expenses. Sound sense carried the
+day, and the little house on Hillside street became home, and in the
+course of a few weeks the machinery ran along with its accustomed
+smoothness, although it was some time before the family recovered from
+the shock of realizing how close they had come to losing all they
+possessed, and also keenly alive to the fact that what _had_ been
+saved must be carefully guarded. Fifteen thousand was not an alarming
+sum to fall back upon and the rent for the new home although modest,
+compared with what their own would have commanded, had to be
+considered.
+
+Meanwhile the girls had returned to their school duties, the older
+ones working harder than ever, especially Eleanor, whose conscience
+troubled her not a little at thought of her carelessness which had
+caused all the trouble, for well she realized that her failure to care
+properly for the powerful acids with which she had been experimenting
+when Constance appeared upon the scene had started the fire.
+
+Constance had immediately set to work to evolve from the apparel
+rescued a winter wardrobe for the family, and displayed such ingenuity
+in bringing about new gowns and headgear from the old ones that the
+family flourished like green bay trees. Still Constance was not
+satisfied, and one afternoon said to Eleanor, who now shared her room,
+but who had _not_ laid in a new supply of chemicals:
+
+"Nornie, put down that book and listen to me, for I'm simmering with
+words o' wisdom and if I don't find a vent I'll boil over presently."
+
+Eleanor laid aside the book she was poring over, laughing as she
+asked:
+
+"What is it--some new scheme for making a two-pound steak feed five
+hungry mouths, or a preparation to apply to the soles of shoes to keep
+them from wearing out?"
+
+"It has more to do with the stomach than the feet, but I'm not joking.
+I want to take account of stock and find out just where we are _at_
+and just what we _can_ do. Mother has her hands and head more than
+full just now, and I think _I_ ought to give a pull at the wheel too."
+
+"And what shall _I_ be about while you are doing the pulling? It seems
+to me a span can usually pull harder than a single horse. By-the-way,
+apropos of horses, what _has_ Mammy done to poor old Baltie? Do you
+realize that she has not yet had him two months, but no one would ever
+recognize the old horse for the decrepit creature Jean led home that
+afternoon."
+
+"I know it! Isn't she a marvel? I believe she is half witch. Why,
+blind and twenty-five years old as he is, old Baltie to-day would
+bring Jabe Raulsbury enough money to make the covetous old sinner
+smile, I believe; if anything on earth could make him smile. I thought
+I should have screamed when she started off with her steed the other
+day. That old phaeton and harness she found in the barn here were
+especially sent by Providence, I believe. I never expect to see a
+funnier sight if I live to be a hundred years old than Mammy driving
+off down the road with that great basket of apples by her side and
+Jean perched behind in the rumble. Mammy was simply superb and proud
+as the African princess she insists she is," and Constance laughed
+heartily at the picture she made.
+
+"What did she do with her apples? I wish I could have seen her," cried
+Eleanor.
+
+"She had them stored away in our cellar. She had gathered them herself
+from mother's pet tree and packed them carefully in a couple of
+barrels. How on earth she finds time to do all the things she manages
+to I can't understand. She took that basket out to Mrs. Fletcher. You
+remember Mrs. Fletcher once said there were no apples like ours and
+Mammy remembered it. Still, I am afraid Mrs. Fletcher would never have
+seen that basket of apples if her home had not adjoined the Raulsbury
+place. You know Jabe had to pay a large fine before he could get free.
+Such an hour of triumph rarely comes to two human beings as came to
+Mammy and Jean when they drove that old horse past Jabe's gateway and
+kind fate drew him to that very spot at the moment. Mammy is still
+chuckling over it, and Jean isn't to be lived with. But enough of
+Mammy and her charger, let's get to stock-taking."
+
+"Yes, do," said Eleanor.
+
+"I've been putting things down in black and white and here it is,"
+said practical Constance, opening a little memorandum book and seating
+herself beside her sister. "You see mother has barely fifteen hundred
+dollars a year from father's life insurance and even _that_ is
+somewhat lessened by the slump in those old stocks. Now comes the fire
+insurance settlement and the interest on that won't be over seven
+hundred at the outside, will it?"
+
+"I'm afraid not," said Eleanor with a doubtful shake of her head. "But
+suppose we are able to sell the old place?"
+
+"Yes, 'suppose.' If we _do_, well and good, but supposes aren't much
+account for immediate needs, and those are the things we've got to
+think about now."
+
+"Then let me think too," broke in Eleanor.
+
+"You may _think_ all you've a mind to; that's exactly what your brains
+are for, and some day you'll astonish us all. Meanwhile _I'll_ work."
+
+"Now, Constance, what are you planning? You know perfectly well that
+if you leave school and take up something that _I_ shall too. I
+_won't_ take all the advantages."
+
+"Who said I had any notion of leaving school? Not a bit of it. My plan
+won't affect my school work. But of that later. Now to our capital.
+Mother will have at the outside nineteen hundred a year, and out of
+that she will have to pay five hundred rent for this house. That
+leaves fourteen hundred wherewith to feed and clothe five people,
+doesn't it? Now, she can't possibly _feed_, let alone clothe, us for
+less than twenty dollars a week, can she? And out of that must come
+fuel which is no small matter now-a-days. That leaves only three
+hundred and sixty dollars for all the other expenses of the year, and,
+Nornie, it isn't enough. We _could_ live on less in town I dare say,
+but town is no place for Jean while she's so little. She'd give up the
+ghost without a place to romp in. Then, too, mother loves every stone
+in Riveredge, and she is going to _stay_ here if I can manage it. So
+listen: You know what a fuss everybody at the fair made over my
+nut-fudge and pralines. Well, I'm going to make candy to sell----."
+
+"Oh, Constance, you can't! You mustn't!" interrupted Eleanor whose
+instincts shrank from any member of her family launching upon a
+business enterprise.
+
+"I can and I _must_," contradicted Constance positively. "And what is
+more, I shall. So don't have a conniption fit right off, because I've
+thought it all out and I know just exactly what I can do."
+
+"Mother will _never consent_," said Eleanor firmly, and added, "and I
+hope she won't."
+
+"Now Nornie, see here," cried Constance with decided emphasis. "What
+_is_ the use of being so ridiculously high and mighty? We aren't the
+first people, by a long chalk, that have met with financial reverses
+and been forced to do something to earn a livelihood. The woods are
+full of them and they are none the less respected either. For my part,
+I'd rather hustle round and earn my own duddies than settle down and
+wish for them, and wail because I can't have them while mother strives
+and struggles to make both ends meet. I haven't _brains_ to do big
+things in the world, but I've got what Mammy calls 'de bangenest
+han's' and we'll see what they'll bang out!" concluded Constance
+resolutely.
+
+"Mammy will never let you," cried Eleanor, playing what she felt to be
+her trump card.
+
+"On the contrary, Mammy is going to _help_ me," announced Constance
+triumphantly.
+
+"_What_, Mammy consent to a Blairsdale going into trade?" cried
+Eleanor, feeling very much as though the foundations of the house were
+sinking.
+
+"Even so, Lady," answered Constance, laughing at her sister's look of
+dismay. "Old Baltie was not rescued for naught. His days of usefulness
+were not ended as you shall see. But don't look so horrified, and,
+above all else, don't say one word to mother. There is no use to worry
+her, and remember she _is_ a Blairsdale and it won't be so easy to
+bring her to my way of thinking as it has been to bring _you_; you're
+only half one, like myself, and remember we've got Carruth blood to
+give us mercantile instincts."
+
+"As though the Carruths were not every bit as good as the
+Blairsdales," brindled Eleanor indignantly.
+
+"Cock-a-doodle! See its feathers ruffle. You are as spunky as the
+Henry's game cock," cried Constance laughing and gathering Eleanor's
+head into her arms to maul it until her hair came down.
+
+"Well," retorted Eleanor, struggling to free herself from the
+tempestuous embrace, "so they are."
+
+"Yes, my beloved sister. I'll admit all that, but bear in mind that
+_their_ ancestors were born in Pennsylvania _not_ in 'ole Caroliny,
+and that's the difference 'twixt tweedle-dum and tweedle-dee. I don't
+believe Mad Anthony stopped to consider whether he was a patrician or
+a plebeian when he was storming old Stony Point, or getting fodder for
+Valley Forge, so I don't believe _I_ will, when I set out to hustle
+for frocks and footgear for his descendants. So put your pride in your
+pocket, Nornie, and watch me grow rich and the family blossom out in
+luxuries undreamed of. I'm going to _do_ it: you'll see," ended
+Constance in a tone so full of hope and courage that Eleanor then and
+there resolved not to argue the point further or discourage her.
+
+"When are you going to begin this enterprise?" she asked.
+
+"This very day. I'm only waiting for Mammy to come back from market
+with some things I need, and there she is now. Good-bye. Go look after
+the little Mumsie, or Jean; you'd find your hands full with the last
+undertaking, no doubt," and with a merry laugh Constance ran
+down-stairs to greet Mammy who was just entering the back door.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+First Ventures
+
+
+"Did you get all the things, Mammy?" cried Constance, as she flew into
+the kitchen where Mammy stood puffing and panting like a grampus, for
+the new home was at the top of a rather steep ascent and the climb
+took the old woman's breath.
+
+"Co'se Ise got 'em," panted Mammy, as she untied the strings of her
+bright purple worsted hood. "Dar dey is, all ob 'em, eve'y one, an yo'
+kin git busy jes' as fas' as yo's a mind ter. But, la, honey, don' yo'
+let yo' _ma_ know nothin' 'tall 'bout it, 'cause she lak 'nough frail
+me out fer lettin' yo' do hit. But sumpin 's gotter be done in dis
+yere fambly. What wid de rint fer _dis_ place, an' de taxes for de
+yether, an' de prices dey's teken' ter chargin', fer t'ings ter _eat_,
+I 'clar' ter goodness dar ain't gwine be nuffin 'tall lef' fer we-all
+ter fall back on ef we done teken sick, er bleeged ter do sumpin'
+extra," ended Mammy as she bustled about putting away her things and
+untying the packages as Constance lifted them from the basket.
+
+"Yes, you've got every single thing I need, Mammy, and now I'll begin
+right off. Which kettles and pans can you spare for my very own? I
+don't want to bother to ask every time and if I have my own set at the
+very beginning that saves bother in the end," cried Constance, as she
+slipped her arms through the shoulder straps of a big gingham apron
+and after many contortions succeeded in buttoning it back of her
+shoulders.
+
+"Dar you is!" said Mammy, taking from their hooks, above her range two
+immaculate porcelain saucepans, and standing them upon the
+well-scrubbed kitchen table with enough emphasis to give the transfer
+significance. "Dey's yours fer keeps, but don' yo' let me ketch yo'
+burnin' de bottoms of 'em."
+
+Mammy could not resist this authoritative warning. Then bustling
+across to her pantry she took out three shining pans and placed them
+beside the saucepans, asking:
+
+"Now is yo' fixed wid all de impert'nances ob de bisness?"
+
+"All but the fire, Mammy," laughed Constance, rolling up her sleeves
+to disclose two strong, well-rounded arms.
+
+"Well yo' fire's gwine ter be gas _dis_ time, chile'. Yo' kin do what
+yo's a-mind ter wid dat little gas refrig'rator, what yo' turns on an'
+off wid de spiggots; _I_ aint got er mite er use fer hit. It lak ter
+scare me mos' ter deaf de fust mawnin' I done try ter cook de breckfus
+on it,--sputterin' an' roarin' lak it gwine blow de hull house up.
+No-siree, I ain' gwine be pestered wid no sich doin's 's _dat_. Stoves
+an' wood 's good 'nough fer _dis_ 'oman," asserted Mammy with an
+empathic wag of her head, for she had never before seen a gas range,
+and was not in favor of innovations.
+
+"Then I'm in luck," cried Constance, as she struck a match to light up
+her "gas refrigerator," Mammy meanwhile eying her with not a little
+misgiving, and standing as far as possible from the fearsome thing.
+"Tek keer, honey! Yo' don' know what dem new-fangled mak'-believe
+stoves lak ter do. Fust t'ing yo' know it bus' wide open mebbe."
+
+"Don't be scared, Mammy. They are all right, and safe as can be if you
+know how to handle them, and lots less trouble than the stove."
+
+"Dat may be too," was Mammy's skeptical reply. "But _I'll_ tek de
+trouble stidder de chance of a busted haid."
+
+Before long the odor of boiling sugar filled the little kitchen, the
+confectioner growing warm and rosy as she wielded a huge wooden spoon
+in the boiling contents of her saucepans, and whistled like a song
+thrush. Constance Carruth's whistle had always been a marvel to the
+members of her family, and the subject of much comment to the few
+outsiders who had been fortunate enough to hear it, occasionally, for
+it was well worth hearing. It had a wonderful flute-like quality, with
+the softest, tenderest, low notes. Moreover, she whistled without any
+apparent effort, or the ordinary distortion of the mouth which
+whistling generally involves. The position of her lips seemed scarcely
+altered while the soft sounds fell from them. But she was very shy
+about her "one accomplishment," as she laughingly called it, and could
+rarely be induced to whistle for others, though she seldom worked
+without filling the house with that birdlike melody. As she grew more
+and more absorbed with her candy-making the clear, sweet notes rose
+higher and higher, their rapid _crescendo_ and increasing _tempo_
+indicating her successful progress toward a desired end.
+
+While apparently engaged in preparing a panful of apples, Mammy was
+covertly watching her, for, next to her baby, Jean, Constance was
+Mammy's pet.
+
+When the candy was done, Constance poured it into the pans.
+
+"Now in just about two jiffies that will be ready to cut. Keep one eye
+on it, won't you Mammy, while I run up-stairs for my paraffin paper,"
+she said, as she set the pans outside to cool and whisked from the
+kitchen, Mammy saying under her breath as she vanished:
+
+"If folks could once hear dat chile _whis'le_ dey'd hanker fef ter
+hear it agin, an' dey'd keep on a hankerin' twell dey'd _done_ hit.
+She beat der bu'ds, an' dat's a fac'."
+
+"Now I guess I can cut it," cried Constance, as she came hurrying
+back.
+
+The sudden chill of the keen November air had made the candy the exact
+consistency for cutting into little squares, and in the course of the
+next half hour they were all cut, carefully wrapped in bits of
+paraffin paper and neatly tied in small white paper packages with
+baby-ribbon of different colors. Four dozen as inviting parcels of
+delicious home-made candy as any one could desire, and all made and
+done up within an hour and a half.
+
+"There, Mammy! What do you think of _that_ for my initial venture?"
+asked Constance, looking with not a little satisfaction upon the
+packages as they lay in the large flat box into which she had
+carefully packed them.
+
+"Bate yo' dey hits de markit spang on de haid," chuckled Mammy. "An'
+now _I'se_ gwine tek holt. La, ain' I gwine cut a dash, dough! Yo' see
+_me_," and hastily donning her hood and shawl, and catching up an
+apple from her panful, off Mammy hurried to the little stable which
+stood in one corner of the small grounds, where Baltie had lived, and
+certainly flourished since the family came to dwell in this new home.
+
+Mammy never entered that stable without some tidbit for her pet, for
+she had grown to love the blind old horse as well as Jean did, and was
+secretly consumed with pride at his transformation. As she entered the
+stable, Baltie greeted her with his soft nicker.
+
+"Yas, honey, Mammy's comin'; comin' wid yo' lolly-pop, kase she want
+yo' ter step out spry. Yo's gwine enter a pa'tner-ship, yo' know
+_dat_, Baltie-hawse? Yo' sure _is_. Yo's de silen' pa'tner, yo' is,
+an' de bline one too. Jis as well ter hab one ob 'em bline mebbe," and
+Mammy chuckled delightedly at her own joke. "Now come 'long out an' be
+hitched up, kase we's gwine inter business, yo' an' me' an' we gotter
+do some hustlin'. Come 'long," and opening the door of the box-stall
+in which old Baltie now-a-days luxuriated, Mammy dragged him forth by
+his forelock and in less time than one could have believed it
+possible, had him harnessed to the old-fashioned basket phaeton which
+during Mrs. Stuyvesant's early married life had been a most up-to-date
+equipage, but which now looked as odd and antiquated as the old horse
+harnessed to it. But in Mammy's eyes they were tangible riches, for
+Hadyn Stuyvesant had presented her with both phaeton and harness.
+
+Opening wide the stable doors, Mammy clambered into her chariot, and
+taking up the reins, guided her steed gently forward. Baltie ambled
+sedately up to the back door where Constance was waiting to hand Mammy
+the box.
+
+"Mind de do' an' don' let my apples bake all ter cinders," warned
+Mammy.
+
+"I will. I won't. Good luck," contradicted Constance, as she ran back
+into the house, and Mammy drove off toward South Riveredge; a section
+of the town as completely given over to commercial interests as
+Riveredge proper was to its homes. There a large carpet factory throve
+and flourished giving employment to many hands. There, also, stood a
+large building called the Central Arcade in which many business men
+had their offices. It was about a mile from the heart of Riveredge
+proper and as Mammy jogged along toward her destination, she had ample
+time to think, and chuckle to herself at her astuteness in carrying
+out her own ideas of the fitness of things while apparently fully
+concurring with Constance's wishes. Mammy had no objections to
+Constance _making_ all the candy she chose to make; that could be done
+within the privacy of her own home and shock _no_ one's sensibilities.
+But when the girl had announced her intention of going among her
+friends to secure customers, Mammy had descended upon her with all her
+powers of opposition. The outcome had been the present compromise.
+Very few people in South Riveredge knew the Carruths or Mammy, and
+this was exactly what the old woman wished.
+
+Driving her "gallumping" steed to the very heart of the busy town she
+drew up at the curbstone in front of the Arcade just a few moments
+before the five o'clock whistles blew. Stepping from her vehicle she
+placed a campstool upon the sidewalk beside it, and lifting her box of
+candy from the seat established herself upon her stool with the open
+box upon her lap. Within two minutes of the blowing of the whistles
+the streets were alive with people who came hurrying from the
+buildings on every side. Mammy was a novelty and like most novelties
+took at once, so presently she was doing a thriving business, her
+tongue going as fast as her packages of candy. People are not unlike
+sheep; where one leads, all the others follow.
+
+"Home-made candy, sah! Fresh f'om de home-kitchen; jis done mek hit.
+Ain' hardly col'. Ten cents a package, sah. Yes _sah_, yo' better is
+bleeve hit's deleshus. Yo' ain' tas' no pralines lak dem in all yo'
+bo'n days," ran on Mammy handing out her packages of candy and
+dropping her dimes into the little bag at her side.
+
+"Here, Aunty, give me four of those packages of fudge," cried a
+genial, gray-haired, portly old gentleman with a military bearing.
+"Porter, here, has just given me some of his and they're simply great!
+Did you make 'em? They touch the spot."
+
+"La, suh, I ain' _got_ four left: I ain', fer a fac'. Tek some of de
+pralines; deys mighty good, suh," bustled Mammy, offering her
+dainties.
+
+"Take all you've got. Did _you_ make 'em?" persisted her customer.
+
+"My _pa'tner_ done mak 'em," said Mammy with dignity, as she handed
+over her last package.
+
+"Well you darkies _can_ cook," cried the gentleman as he took the
+candy.
+
+For a moment it seemed as though Mammy were about to fly at him, and
+her customer was not a little astounded at the transformation which
+came over her old face. Then he concluded that the term "darkie" had
+been the rock on which they had split, and smiled as he said:
+
+"Better set up business right here in the Arcade. Buy you and your
+_partner_ out every day. Good-bye, Auntie."
+
+"Good-bye, suh! Good-bye," responded Mammy, her equanimity quite
+restored, for her good sense told her that no reflections had been
+cast upon her "pa'tner" in Riveredge, or her identity suspected.
+Moreover, her late customer had put a new idea into her wise old head
+which she turned over again and again as she drove back home.
+
+Constance was waiting with the lantern, and hurried out to the stable
+as Mammy turned in at the gate.
+
+"Oh, Mammy, did you _sell_ some?" she asked eagerly.
+
+"Sell some! What I done druv dar fer? Co'se I sell some; I sell eve'y
+las' bit an' grain. Tek dat bag an' go count yo' riches, honey. _Sell
+some!_ Yah! Yah!" laughed Mammy as she descended from her chariot and
+began to unharness her steed, while Constance hugged the bag and
+hurried into the house.
+
+"What are you hiding under your cape?" demanded Jean as her sister ran
+through the hall, and up the stairs. Jean's eyes did not often miss
+anything.
+
+"My deed to future wealth and greatness," answered Constance merrily,
+as she slipped into her room and locked the door, where she dumped the
+contents of the bag, dimes, nickels, and pennies, into the middle of
+the bed.
+
+"Merciful sakes! Who would have believed it?" she gasped. "Four
+dollars and eighty cents for one afternoon's work, and at least
+three-eighty of it clear profit, and Mammy has _got_ to share some of
+it. Mumsie, dear, I think I can keep the family's feet covered at all
+events," she concluded in an ecstatic whisper.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+Another Shoulder is Added
+
+
+Thanksgiving and Christmas had come and passed. Constance's "candy
+business" as she called it, throve and flourished spasmodically. Could
+she have carried out her wishes concerning it, the venture might have
+been more profitable, but Mammy, the autocrat, insisted that it should
+be kept a secret, and the habit of obedience to the old woman's
+dictates was deeply rooted in the Carruth family, even Mrs. Carruth
+yielding to it far more than she realized.
+
+So Constance made her candy during her free hours after school and
+Mammy carried it into South Riveredge when opportunity offered. This
+was sometimes twice, but more often only once, a week, for the
+faithful old soul had manifold duties and was too conscientious to
+neglect one. Sometimes all the packages were sold off as quickly as
+they had been on that first red-letter day, but at other times a good
+many were left over. Could they again have been offered for sale upon
+the following day they might easily have been disposed of, but Mammy
+could not go to South Riveredge two days in succession and,
+consequently, the candy grew stale before another sale's day arrived,
+was a loss to its anxious manufacturer, and caused her profits to
+shrink very seriously. Things had been going on in this rather
+unsatisfactory manner for about six weeks when one Saturday morning
+little Miss Paulina Pry, as Constance sometimes called Jean, owing to
+her propensity to get to the bottom of things in spite of all efforts
+to circumvent her, came into her sister's room to ask in the most
+innocent manner imaginable:
+
+"Connie, who does Mammy know in South Riveredge?"
+
+"Nobody, that I know of," answered Constance unsuspectingly.
+
+"I thought she had a cousin living there," was the next leader.
+
+"A cousin, child! Why Mammy hasn't a relative this side of Raleigh and
+I don't believe she has two to her name down there. If she has, she
+hasn't seen them since mother brought her north before we were born."
+
+"I knew it!" was the triumphant retort, "and _now_ I'll get even with
+her for telling me fibs."
+
+"Jean, what do you mean?" cried Constance now fully alive to the fact
+that she had fallen into a trap.
+
+"I mean just this: I've been watching Mammy drive off to South
+Riveredge every solitary week since before Thanksgiving, and I've
+asked her ever so many times to take me with her; she lets me go
+everywhere else with her and Baltie. But she wouldn't take me there
+and when I asked her why not, she always said because she was going to
+visit with her cousins in-the-Lord, and 'twan't no fit place for white
+folks. I _knew_ she was telling a fib, and _now_ I'm going right down
+stairs to tell her so," and Jean whirled about to run from the room.
+Constance made a wild dive and caught her by her sleeve.
+
+"Jean, stop! Listen to me. You are not to bother Mammy with questions.
+She has a perfect right to do or go as she chooses," said Constance
+with some warmth, and instantly realized that she had taken the wrong
+tack, for the little pepper-pot began to liven up. Jerking herself
+free she struck an attitude, saying:
+
+"You are just as bad as Mammy! _You_ know where she goes, and what she
+goes for, but you won't tell me. Keep your old secrets if you want to,
+but I'll find out, see if I don't. And I'll get even too. You and
+Mammy think I'm nothing but a baby, but you'll see. I'm most eleven
+years old, and if I can't be told the truth about things now, I'd like
+to know why," and with a final vigorous wrench Jean freed herself from
+her sister's grasp and fled down the stairs, Constance murmuring to
+herself as the little whirlwind disappeared: "I wonder if it wouldn't
+be wiser to let her into the secret after all? In the first place it
+is all nonsense to _keep_ it a secret, and just one of Mammy's
+high-falutin ideas of what's right and proper for a Blairsdale.
+Fiddlesticks for the Blairsdales say I, when certain things should be
+done. I'm going to tell that child anyway. She is ten times easier to
+deal with when she knows the truth, and she can keep a secret far
+better than some older people I might mention. Jean; Jean; come back;
+I want to tell you something."
+
+But Jean had gone beyond hearing. "Never mind; I'll tell her
+by-and-by," resolved Constance and soon forgot all about the matter
+while completing her English theme for Monday. Could she have followed
+her small sister her state of mind would have been less serene.
+
+Jean's first reconnoiter was the dining-room. All serene; nothing
+doing; mother up in her room. Eleanor gone out. Mammy in the kitchen
+stirring quietly about. Jean slipped into the butler's pantry. There
+on a shelf stood a big white box marked "Lord & Taylor, Ladies' Suit
+Dept." Jean's nose rose a degree higher in the air as she drew near it
+and carefully raised the lid. "Ah-hah! Didn't I know it! I guess her
+cousins-in-the-Lord must like candy pretty well, for she has taken
+that box with her every single time she's gone to South Riveredge,"
+whispered this astute young person.
+
+Now it so happened that as Mammy had advanced in years, she had grown
+somewhat hard of hearing, and had also developed a habit quite common
+to her race; that of communing aloud with herself when alone.
+
+Jean was quite alive to this and more than once had caused the old
+woman to regard her with considerable awe by casually mentioning facts
+of which Mammy believed her to be entirely in ignorance, and, indeed,
+preferred she _should_ be, little guessing that her own monologues had
+given the child her cue.
+
+Clambering softly upon the broad shelf which ran along one side of the
+pantry, Jean gently pushed back the sliding door made to pass the
+dishes to and from the kitchen, and watched Mammy's movements. The
+kitchen was immaculate and Mammy was just preparing to set forth for
+her Saturday morning's marketing, a task she would not permit any one
+else to undertake, declaring that "dese hyer Norf butcher-men stood
+ready fer ter beat folks outen dey eyesight ef dey git er chance."
+
+As usual Mammy was indulging in a soliloquy.
+
+"Dar now. Dat's all fix an' right, an' de minit I gits back I kin clap
+it inter de oven," she murmured as she set her panfuls of bread over
+the range for their second rising. "I gotter git all dis hyer wo'k off
+my han's befo' free 'clock terday ef I gwine get ter Souf Riveredge in
+time fer ter sell all dat mes o' candy."
+
+Behind the window a small body's head gave a satisfied nod.
+
+"'Taint lak week days. De sto'es tu'n out mighty early on Sattidays.
+Hopes I kin sell eve'y bit and grain _dis_ time. I hates ter tote any
+home agin, an' dat chile tryin' so hard ter holp her ma."
+
+Over little Paulina Pry's face fell a shadow, and for a moment the big
+eyes grew suspiciously bright. Then wounded pride caused them to flash
+as their owner whispered to herself, "She _might_ have told me the
+truth."
+
+Then the kitchen door was shut, locked from the outside, and Mammy
+departed.
+
+Jean got down from her perch and stood for a few moments in the middle
+of the pantry floor in deep meditation. Then raising her head with a
+determined little nod she said under her breath, "_I'll_ show 'em."
+
+To hurry out to the hall closet where her everyday hat, coat and
+gloves were kept, took but a moment. In another she had put them on,
+and was on her way to the stable. To harness Baltie was somewhat of an
+undertaking, but by the aid of a box which raised her to the necessary
+height this was done, the old horse nickering softly and rubbing his
+head against her as she proceeded.
+
+"Yes Baltie, dear. _You_ and _I_ have a secret now and _don't_ you
+_tell_ it. If _they_ think they are so smart, _we'll_ show them that
+_we_ can do something too."
+
+At length the harnessing was done, and slipping back to the house Jean
+went into the pantry, lifted up the box so plainly labeled "Ladies'
+Suits" and sped away to the stable where she placed it carefully upon
+the bottom of the phaeton, tucking the carriage rug around and about
+it in such a manner that even the liveliest suspicion would have
+nothing to feed upon.
+
+Then opening the double doors she led Baltie through them, and out of
+the driveway to the side street on which it opened, and which could
+not be seen from the front of the house where the young lady knew her
+mother and sister to be at this critical moment. Only a second more
+was needed to run back and close the stable doors and the gates, and
+all tracks were covered.
+
+In that immediate vicinity the queer turnout was well-known by this
+time, so no curiosity was aroused by its appearance.
+
+As usual, Jean had not paused to mature her plans. Their inception was
+enough for the time being; details could follow later.
+
+Plod, plod, fell Baltie's hoofs upon the macadamized street as Jean
+guided him slowly along. The day was cold, but clear and crisp, with
+just a hint of wind or snow from the mare's tails overhead in the
+blue.
+
+Jean had no very clear idea of what her next step would be, and was
+rather trusting to fate to show her. Perhaps Baltie had a better one
+than his driver, or perhaps it was sense of direction and force of
+habit which was heading him toward South Riveredge; Baltie's
+intelligence did not appear to wane with his years. At all events, he
+was going his usual route when Jean spied Mammy far ahead and in a
+trice fate had stepped in to give things a twist. To pull Baltie
+around and guide him into a street which led to East instead of South
+Riveredge was the work of a second. Jean thought she could go back by
+another street which led diagonally into South Riveredge but when she
+reached it she found it closed for repairs. Turning around involved
+more or less danger and she had a thought for that which lay at her
+feet. So on she went, hoping to get into South Riveredge sooner or
+later.
+
+Like many suburban towns, Riveredge had certain sections which were
+given over to the poorer element, and in such sections could always be
+found enough idle, mischievous youngsters to make things interesting
+for other people, particularly on Saturdays when they were released
+from the restraint of school.
+
+Jean had proceeded well along upon her way when she was spied by two
+or three urchins upon whose hands time was hanging rather heavily, and
+to whom the novel sight of a handsome, neatly-clad child, perched in a
+phaeton which might have been designed for Noah, and driving a blind
+horse, was a vision of joy.
+
+"Hi, Billy, get on ter de swell rig," bawled one worthy son of McKim's
+Hollow.
+
+"Gee! Aint he a stunner! Say, where did yer git him?" yelled Billy,
+prompt to take up the ball, and give it a toss.
+
+"Mebbe he's de ghost av yer granfather's trotter," was the next
+salute.
+
+"Hi, what's his best time. Forty hours fer de mile?" asked a larger
+lad, hanging on to the back of the phaeton and winding his heels into
+the springs.
+
+"Get down! Go away!" commanded Jean.
+
+"Couldn't," politely replied her passenger.
+
+"Say yer oughter have a white hawse wid all dat red hair," yelled a
+new addition to the number already swarming after her.
+
+"Git a move on," was the next cry, as a youth armed with a long stick
+joined the crowd. Things were growing decidedly uncomfortable for Jean
+whose cheeks were blazing, and whose eyes were flashing ominously.
+Just then one urchin made a grab for the whip but she was too quick
+for him, and once having it in her hand was tempted to lay about
+vigorously. As though divining her thoughts, the smaller boys drew off
+but he of the stick scorned such an adversary, although discretion
+warned him not to lay it upon her. The old horse, however, was not so
+guarded by law and the stick descended upon his flanks with all the
+strength of the young rowdy's arms. He would better have struck Jean!
+
+Never since coming to live in his present home had Baltie felt a blow,
+but during all those four months had been petted, loved and cared for
+in a manner to make him forget former trials, and in spite of his age,
+renew his strength and spirits. True, he was never urged to do more
+than jog, jog, jog along, but under the spur of this indignity some of
+his old fire sprung up and with a wild snort of resentment he plunged
+forward. As he did so, down came the whip across his assailant's head,
+for Jean had forgotten all else in her wrath; she began to lay about
+her with vigor, and the battle was on in earnest.
+
+Perhaps John Gilpin cut a wilder dash yet it is doubtful.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+The Battle of Town and Gown
+
+
+Jean had come about a mile from Riveredge before encountering her
+unwelcome escort, and a mile for old Baltie was considered a good
+distance by Mammy who always blanketed him carefully and gave him a
+long rest after such exertion. The sight of the old woman's care for
+her horse had won her more than one feminine customer in South
+Riveredge and not infrequently they entered into conversation with her
+regarding him. Mammy needed no greater encouragement to talk, and
+Baltie's history became known to many of her customers.
+
+Could Mammy have witnessed Baltie's wild careerings as he pounded
+along to escape his tormentors, while Jean strove desperately to beat
+them off, she would probably have expired upon the spot.
+
+But Baltie's strength was not equal to any long-sustained effort and
+his breath soon became labored. The shouting cavalcade had gone about
+half a mile at its wild pace and Jean had done her valiant best, but
+the numbers against her had been steadily augmented as she proceeded,
+and the situation was becoming really dangerous. She stood up in the
+phaeton, hat hanging by its elastic band, hair flying and eyes
+flashing as she strove to beat off her pursuers. Most of them, it must
+be admitted, were good-natured, and were simply following up their
+prank from a spirit of mischief. But two or three had received
+stinging lashes from the whip and the sting had aroused their ire.
+
+Jean's strength as well as old Baltie's was giving out when from the
+opposite side of a high arbor-vitae hedge arose a cry of:
+
+"Gown to the rescue! Gown to the rescue!" and the next second the road
+seemed filled with lads who had apparently sprung from it, and a
+lively scrimmage was afoot. The boys who had so lately been making
+things interesting for Jean and Baltie, turned to flee precipitately,
+but were pretty badly hustled about before they could escape; he of
+the stick being captured red-handed as he launched a blow that came
+very near proving a serious one for Jean since it struck the whip from
+her hands and landed it in the road. The poor child collapsed upon the
+seat, and strove hard to suppress a sob, for she would have died
+sooner than cry before the boys of the "Irving Preparatory School."
+
+Baltie needed no second hint to make him understand that the time had
+come to let his friends take up the battle, and bracing his trembling
+old legs he stood panting in the middle of the road.
+
+"I say, what did this fellow do to you, little girl?" demanded a tall,
+fine-looking lad, whose dark gray eyes were flashing with indignation,
+and whose firm mouth gave his captive reason to know that he meant
+whatever he said. At any other time Jean would have resented the
+"little girl," but during the past fifteen minutes she had felt a very
+small girl indeed.
+
+"He's a coward! A great, hulking coward!" she blazed at the hapless
+youth whom her champion held so firmly by his collar as he stood by
+the phaeton. The other lads who had now completely routed Jean's
+tormentors were gathering about her, some with looks of concern for
+her welfare, some with barely restrained smiles at her plight and her
+turnout.
+
+"What'll I do to him? Punch his head?" demanded knight errant.
+
+"No, shake it most off!" commanded Jean. "He nearly made mine shake
+off," she concluded, as she pushed her hair from her eyes and jerked
+her hat back into place. "My goodness just look at the state I'm in
+and look at Baltie; I don't know what Mammy will say. Aren't you
+ashamed of yourself, you great big bully, to torment a girl and a poor
+old blind horse. Oh, I _wish_ I were a boy! If I wouldn't give you
+bally-whacks."
+
+A smile broke over knight errant's face, but his victim trembled in
+his boots.
+
+"All right then, here goes, since you won't let me punch it," and
+Jean's injunctions to shake her tormentor's head "most off" seemed in
+a fair way to be obeyed, for the next second its owner was being
+shaken very much as a rat is shaken by a terrier and the head was
+jerked about in a most startling manner.
+
+"Now get out! Skiddoo! And if we catch you and your gang out this way
+again you'll have a pretty lively time of it, and don't you forget it
+either," said knight errant with a final shake, and Long Stick was
+hustled upon his way toward his friends who had not paused to learn
+his fate.
+
+This boy who acted as spokesman, and who appeared to be a leader among
+his companions, then said:
+
+"I say, your old horse is pretty well knocked up, isn't she? How far
+have you come? Better drive into the school grounds and rest up a bit
+before you go back. Come on!" and going to Baltie's head the lad took
+hold of the rein to lead him through the gateway.
+
+Baltie never forgot his manners, however great the stress under which
+he was laboring, so turning his sightless eyes toward his new friend,
+he nickered softly, and rubbed his muzzle against him. The lad laughed
+and raising his hand stroked the warm neck as he said:
+
+"Found a friend at last, old boy? Well, come on then, for you needed
+one badly."
+
+"Guess he _did_!" said Jean. "My gracious, I don't know what we would
+have done if you boys hadn't come out to help us. How did you happen
+to hear us?"
+
+"We were out on the field with the ball. I guess it's lucky for you we
+were, too, for there's a tough gang up there near Riveredge. We're
+always on the lookout for some new outbreak, and we make it lively if
+they come up this way, you'd better believe. They don't try it very
+often, but you were too big a chance for 'em this time, and they
+sailed right in. But they sailed at the wrong time for we are never
+happier to exchange civilities with them than when we have on our
+togs," ended the lad, as he glanced at the foot-ball suits which he
+and a number of his chums were wearing.
+
+"Oh, are you playing foot-ball? I wish I could see you," cried Jean
+eagerly, all thoughts of her late plans flying straight out of her
+head.
+
+"Better come over to the field then," laughed her escort.
+
+"I'd love to but I guess I can't to-day. I'm on important business.
+I'm going to South Riveredge," she said, suddenly recalling her
+errand.
+
+"South Riveredge!" echoed a lad who walked at the other side of the
+phaeton. "Why it's nearly four miles from here. It's almost two to
+Riveredge itself. What brought you out this way if you were going to
+South Riveredge?"
+
+But to explain just why she had turned off the direct road to South
+Riveredge would be a trifle embarrassing, so Jean decided to give
+another reason:
+
+"I thought I knew my way but I guess I must have missed it, those boys
+tormented me so."
+
+"I guess you did miss it, but I don't wonder. Well, rest here a little
+while, and then we'll start you safely back. Guess one of us better go
+along with her hadn't we, Ned?" he asked of the gray-eyed boy.
+
+"If we want her to get back whole I guess we had," was the laughing
+answer, as Baltie's guide led him up to a carriage step and stopped.
+Baltie's coat was steaming. "Got a blanket? Better let me put it on
+your horse. He's pretty warm from his race and the day is snappy."
+
+Jean bounded up from the seat and pulled the blanket from it. It was
+not a very heavy blanket and when the boy had put it carefully upon
+the old horse, it seemed hardly thick enough to protect him. "Let me
+have the rug too," he ordered, and without a second's thought jerked
+up the rug and gave it a toss. Up came the box of candy with it, to
+balance a second upon one end as daintily as a tight-rope dancer
+balances upon a rope, then keel gracefully over and land
+bottom-side-up, upon the tan-bark of the driveway, the packages of
+candy flying in twenty different directions.
+
+Jean's cry of dismay was echoed by the boys' shouts as their eyes
+quickly grasped the significance of those dainty white parcels. A wild
+scramble to rescue her wares followed, as Jean was plied with
+questions.
+
+"Are they yours? What are you going to do with them?" "Are they for
+sale?" "Can we buy some?" "How much are they?" "Lend me some cash,
+Bob?"
+
+Never was an enterprising merchant so suddenly plunged into a rushing
+business. Jean's head whirled for a moment. How much were the packages
+of candy? She hadn't the vaguest idea, and circumstances had not made
+it convenient to ascertain before she set forth. However, her wits
+came to her rescue and she recalled the little packages which
+Constance had made for the fair, and which had sold for ten cents
+each. So ten cents _she_ would charge, and presently was doling out
+her rescued packages of fudge and dropping dimes into her box to take
+the place of the packages which were so quickly disappearing from it.
+Given four dozen packages of exceptionally delicious home-made candy,
+and twenty or thirty boys, after an hour's foot-ball exercise, upon a
+crisp January morning, each more or less supplied with pocket money,
+and it is a combination pretty sure to work to the advantage of the
+candy-maker.
+
+Jean's eyes danced, and her face was radiant. Her business was in its
+most flourishing stage when she became aware that another actor had
+appeared upon the scene, and was regarding her steadily through a pair
+of very large, very round, and very thick-lensed eye-glasses, and with
+the solemn expression of a meditative owl. How long he had been a
+silent observer of her financial operations Jean had no idea. His
+presence did not appear to embarrass the boys in any way; indeed, when
+they became aware of it two or three of them promptly urged him to
+partake of their toothsome dainties. This he did in the same grave,
+absorbed manner.
+
+"Great, aint they, Professor?" asked one lad.
+
+"Quite unusual. Who is the juvenile vender?" he asked.
+
+"We don't know. She was out yonder in the road with half McKim's
+Hollow after her when we fellows rallied to the rescue. She was as
+plucky as any thing, and was putting up a great standoff when we got
+in our licks."
+
+"Ah! Indeed! And how came she to have such a feast along with her.
+I'll take another, thank you, Ned. They are really excellent," and
+instead of "another" the last three of "Ned's" package were calmly
+appropriated and eaten in the same abstracted manner that the other
+pieces had been. Ned looked somewhat blank and turning toward one of
+his companions, winked and smiled slyly, then said to the Professor:
+
+"Better buy some quick. They are going like hot cakes."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+The Candy Enterprise Grows
+
+
+"I believe I shall," and drawing closer to the phaeton the Professor
+peered more closely at its occupant as he said:
+
+"I say, little girl, I think I'll take all you have there. They are
+exceedingly palatable. And I would really like to know how it happens
+that a child apparently so respectable as yourself should be peddling
+sweets. You--why you might really be a gentleman's daughter," he
+drawled.
+
+Now it had never for a moment occurred to Jean that appearances might
+prove misleading to those whose powers of observation were not of the
+keenest, or that a much disheveled child driving about the country in
+an antiquated phaeton, to which was harnessed a patriarchal horse,
+might seem to belong to a rather lower order in the social scale than
+her mother had a right to claim. So the near-sighted Professor's
+remark held anything but a pleasing suggestion. For a moment she
+hardly grasped its full significance, then drawing up her head like an
+insulted queen, she regarded the luckless man with blazing eyes as she
+answered:
+
+"I am a Carruth, thank you, and the Carruths do as they _please_. You
+need not buy these candies if you don't wish to. I can get plenty of
+customers among my friends--the boys."
+
+When did unconscious flattery prove sweeter? Those same "friends--the
+boys" would have then and there died for the small itinerant whose
+wares had so touched their palates, and who was openly choosing their
+patronage over and above that of an individual who had now and again
+caused more than one of them to pass an exceedingly bad quarter of an
+hour. A suppressed giggle sounded not far off, but the Professor's
+face retained its perfect solemnity as he bent his head toward Jean to
+get a closer view.
+
+"Hum; ah; yes. I dare say you are quite right. I was probably over
+hasty in drawing conclusions," was the calm response.
+
+"_Mammy_ says a _gentleman_ can always rec'o'nize a lady," flashed
+Jean, unconsciously falling into Mammy's vernacular.
+
+"And who is Mammy, may I inquire?" asked the imperturbable voice, its
+owner absently eating lumps of fudge and pralines at a rate calculated
+to speedily reduce the supply he had on hand, the lads meanwhile
+regarding the vanishing "lumps of delight" with longing eyes.
+
+"Why she's _Mammy_," replied Jean with considerable emphasis.
+
+"Mammy _what_?" was the very unprofessional question which followed.
+
+"Mammy Blairsdale, of course. _Our_ Mammy."
+
+There was no answer for a moment as the candy continued to melt from
+sight like dew before the morning sun. Then the Professor looked at
+her steadily as he slowly munched his sweets, causing Jean to think of
+the Henrys' cow when in a ruminative mood.
+
+"Little girl, are you from the South?"
+
+"Don't _call_ me 'little girl' again!" flared Jean, bringing her foot
+down upon the bottom of the phaeton with a stamp. "I just naturally
+despise to be called 'little girl.' I'm Jean, and I want to be called
+Jean."
+
+"Jean, Jean. Pretty name. Well _Miss_ Jean, are you from the South?"
+
+"My _mother is_. She was a _Blairsdale_," replied "Miss" Jean, much as
+she might have said she is the daughter of England's Queen, much
+mollified at having the cognomen added.
+
+"Do you happen to know which part of the South you come from?"
+
+"_I_ don't come from the South at all. I was born right here in
+Riveredge. My mother came from Forestvale, North Carolina."
+
+"I thought I knew the name. Yes, it is very familiar. Blairsdale. Yes.
+Quite so. Quite so. Rather curious, however. So many years. My
+grandmother was a Blairsdale too. Singular coincidence, _she_ had red
+hair, I'm told, Yes, really. Think I must follow it up. Very good,
+indeed. Did _you_ make them? I judge not. Who did? I must know where
+to get more when I have a fancy for some," and having eaten the last
+praline the Professor absent-mindedly put into his mouth the paper in
+which they had been wrapped, having unconsciously rolled it into a
+nice little wad while talking.
+
+A funny twinkle came into his eyes when his mistake dawned upon him
+and turning to the grinning boys he said:
+
+"I have heard of men putting the lighted end of a cigar into their
+mouths by mistake. This was less unpleasant at all events," and the
+wad was tossed to the driveway. The boys burst into shouts of laughter
+and the ice was broken. Crowding about the phaeton they asked:
+
+"Who makes the candy? Do you always sell it? When can we get some
+more? Say, Professor, do you really know her folks? Who _is_ she any
+how?"
+
+"I told you my name, and I live in Riveredge. My sister makes the
+candy, but she doesn't know I'm selling it. Maybe she'll let me bring
+you some more, and maybe she won't. I don't know. And maybe I'll catch
+Hail-Columbia-Happy-Land when I get back home," concluded the young
+lady, her lips coming together with decision and her head wagging
+between doubt and defiance. "But I don't care one bit if I do. I've
+sold _all_ the candy, and I've got just piles of money; so _that_
+proves that I _can_ help as well as the big girls even if _I_ am too
+little to be trusted with their old secrets. And now I've got to go
+straight back home or they'll all be scared half to death. Perhaps
+they won't want to scold so hard if they are good and scared."
+
+"One of us will go with you till you get past McKim's Hollow," cried
+the boys. "Ned can, can't he, Professor?"
+
+"I believe I'll go myself," was the unexpected reply. "I was about to
+walk over to Riveredge, but I think perhaps Miss Jean will allow me to
+ride with her," and without more ado Professor Forbes, B.A., B.C.,
+B.M., and half a dozen other Bachelors, gravely removed the coverings
+from old Baltie, folding and carefully placing the blanket upon the
+seat and laying the rug over Jean's knees. After he had tucked her
+snugly in, he took his seat beside her.
+
+"Now, Miss Jean, I think we are all ready to start."
+
+If anything could have been added to complete Jean's secret delight at
+the attention shown her, it was the dignified manner in which the
+Professor raised his hat, the boys as one followed his example, as
+Baltie ambled forth. "That is the way I _like_ to be treated. I _hate_
+to be snubbed because I'm only ten years old," thought she.
+
+As they turned into the road the distant whistles of South Riveredge
+blew twelve o'clock. Jean started slightly and glanced quickly up at
+her companion.
+
+"The air is very clear and still to-day," he remarked. "We hear the
+whistles a long distance."
+
+"It's twelve o'clock. I wonder what Mammy is thinking," was Jean's
+irrelevant answer.
+
+"Does Mammy think for the family?" asked the Professor, a funny smile
+lurking about the corners of his mouth.
+
+Jean's eyes twinkled as she answered:
+
+"She was _mother's_ Mammy too."
+
+"Ah! I think I understand. I lived South until I was fifteen."
+
+"Did you? How old are you now?" was the second startling question.
+
+"How old should you think?" was the essentially Yankee reply, which
+proved that the southern lad had learned a trick or two from his
+northern friends.
+
+Jean regarded him steadily for a few moments.
+
+"Well, when you raised your hat a few minutes ago your hair looked a
+little thin on _top_, so I guess you're going to be bald pretty soon.
+But your eyes, when you laugh, look just about like the boys'. Perhaps
+you aren't so very old though. Maybe you aren't much older than Mr.
+Stuyvesant. Do you know him?"
+
+"Yes, I know him. He is younger than I am though." The Professor did
+not add "exactly six months."
+
+"Yes, I thought you were lots older. He's the kind you _feel_ is young
+and you're the kind you feel is old, you know."
+
+"Oh, am I? Wherein lies the difference, may I inquire?" The voice
+sounded a trifle nettled.
+
+"Why I should think anyone could understand _that_," was the surprised
+reply. "Mr. Stuyvesant is the kind of a man who knows what children
+are thinking right down inside themselves all the time. They don't
+have to explain things to _him_ at all. Why the day I found Baltie he
+knew just as well how I felt about having him shot, and I knew just as
+well as anything that _he'd_ take care of him and make it all right.
+We're great friends. I love him dearly."
+
+"Whom? Baltie?"
+
+"Now there! What did I tell you? _That's_ why _you_ are _years_ and
+_years_ older than Mr. Stuyvesant. He _would'nt_ have had to say
+'Whom? Baltie?' He'd just know such things without having to ask." The
+tone was not calculated to inspire self-esteem.
+
+"Hum," answered the man who could easily have told anyone the distance
+of Mars from the earth and many another scientific fact. "I think I'm
+beginning to comprehend what constitutes age."
+
+"Yes," resumed Jean as she flapped the reins upon Baltie who seemed to
+be lapsing into a dreamy frame of mind. "You can't always tell _how_
+old a person is by just looking at 'em. Maybe you aren't nearly as old
+as I think you are, though I guess you can't be far from forty, and
+that's pretty bad. But if you'd sort of get gay and jolly, and try to
+think how you felt when you were little, or maybe even as big as the
+boys back yonder, you wouldn't seem any older to me than Mr.
+Stuyvesant."
+
+The big eyes were regarding him with the closest scrutiny as though
+their owner wished to avoid falling into any error concerning him.
+
+"Think perhaps I'll try it. It may prove worth while," and the
+Professor fell into a brown study while old Baltie plodded on and Jean
+let her thoughts outstrip his slow progress. At the other end of her
+commercial venture lay a reckoning as well she knew, and like most
+reckonings it held an element of doubt as well as of hope. It was
+nearly one o'clock when they came to the outskirts of Riveredge. The
+pretty town was quite deserted for it was luncheon hour. When they
+reached the foot of Hillside street, Jean said:
+
+"This is my street; I have to go up here," and drew up to the sidewalk
+for her passenger to descend. He seemed in no haste to take the hint,
+and Jean began to wonder if he would turn out a regular old man of the
+sea. Before she could frame a speech both positive and polite as a
+suggestion for his next move, her ears were assailed by:
+
+"Bress Gawd, ef dar aint dat pesterin' chile dis very minit! What I
+gwine _do_ wid yo'? Jis' tell me dat?" and Mammy came puffing and
+panting down the hill like a runaway steam-roller.
+
+Professor Forbes roused himself from the reverie in which he had
+apparently been indulging for several moments, and stepping from the
+phaeton to the sidewalk, advanced a step or two toward the formidable
+object bearing down upon him, and raising his hat as though saluting a
+royal personage, said:
+
+"I think I have the pleasure of addressing Mammy----_Blairsdale_."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+The Reckoning
+
+
+The descending steam-roller slowed down and finally came to a
+standstill within a few feet of the Professor, too non-plussed even to
+snort or pant, while that imperturbable being stood hat in hand in the
+sharp January air, and smiled upon it. There was something in the
+smile that caused the steam-roller to reconsider its plan of action,
+rapidly formed while descending the hill, for great had been the
+consternation throughout the dwelling which housed it, and the cause
+of all that consternation was now within reach of justice.
+
+"Mammy Blairsdale?" repeated the Professor suavely.
+
+"Mammy Blairsdale," echoed that worthy being, although the words were
+not quite so blandly spoken.
+
+"I am glad to make your acquaintance, Mammy. I have taken the liberty
+of escorting this young lady back home. She is very entertaining, and
+extremely practical, as well as enterprising. I am sure you will find
+her a successful cooperator. She has done a most flourishing business
+this morning."
+
+"B'isness! B'isness! For de Lawd's sake wha' dat chile been at now,
+an' we all cl'ar 'stracted 'bout her? Whar yo' bin at? Tell me dis
+minute. An' yo' ma, and Miss Constance and me jist plumb crazy 'bout
+you and dat hawse."
+
+The Professor attempted to put in a word of explanation, but a wave of
+Mammy's hand effectually silenced him and motioned him aside, as she
+stepped closer to the phaeton. Baltie had instantly recognized her
+voice and as she drew nearer, nickered.
+
+"Yas, Baltie hawse, what dat chile been doin' wid yo'?" she said
+softly as she laid her hand upon the old horse's neck. But the more
+resolute tone was resumed as she turned again to the phaeton, and
+demanded: "I wanter know wha' yo's been. You hear me? We's done chased
+de hull town ober fer yo' an' dat hawse, an' yo' ma done teken de
+trolley fer Souf Riveraige, kase someone done say dey seed yo' a gwine
+off dat-a-way. Now whar in de name o' man _is_ yo' been ter?"
+
+"I've been out to the Irving School selling your old _candy_, and your
+cousins-in-the-Lord, over in South Riveredge, can _wait_ a while for
+some. You and Connie thought you could fool me with your old talk but
+you couldn't; I found out _all_ about it. _She_ makes it and _you_
+sell it, and now _I've_ sold it--yes every single package--and there's
+your money; I don't want it, but I've proved that I _can_ help mother,
+so there now!" and, figuratively speaking, Jean hurled at Mammy's feet
+the gauntlet, in the shape of her handkerchief, in which she had
+carefully tied the proceeds of her morning's sale, a no mean sum, by
+the way. Then, bounding out of the old phaeton, tore up the hill like
+a small whirlwind, leaving Mammy and the Professor to stare after her
+open-mouthed. The latter was the first to recover his speech.
+
+"Well, really! Quite vehement! Good deal of force in a small body."
+
+"Fo'ce! Well yo' ain' know dat chile ten years lak _I_ is. She cl'ar
+break loose some times, an' dis hyre's one ob 'em. But I 'spicioned
+dat she's done teken dat box o' candy. Minit my back turned out she
+fly wid it. An' sell hit, too? What _yo'_ know 'bout it, sar? Is yo'
+see her?"
+
+"I certainly did, and I haven't seen such a sight in some time. She's
+a good bit of a metaphysician into the bargain," and in a few words
+Professor Forbes told of the morning's business venture, and the
+lively experiences of the young merchant, Mammy listening attentively,
+only now and again uttering an expressive "Um-m! Uh-h!" When he had
+finished she looked at him sharply and said:
+
+"You know what dat chile' oughter be named? Wal, suh,
+Scape-many-dangers would fit her pine blank. De Lawd on'y knows what
+she gwine tu'n out, but hits boun' ter be one ting or turrer; she
+gwine be de banginest one ob de hull lot, or she gwine be jist nothin'
+but a little debbil. Now, suh, who is _yo'_?"
+
+The concluding question was sprung upon the Professor so suddenly that
+he nearly jumped. He looked at the old woman a moment, the suggestion
+of a twinkle in the eyes behind the big glasses, then answered
+soberly:
+
+"I might be termed a knight errant I presume; I've been guarding a
+young lady from the perils of the highway."
+
+"Night errand? 'Tain't no night errand as _I_ kin see. Can't be much
+broader day dan tis dis minute," retorted Mammy, looking up at the
+blazing luminary directly over her head by way of proving her
+assertion. "If you's on a errand dat's yo' b'isness; 'taint mine. But
+I'd lak ter know yo' name suh, so's I kin tell Miss Jinny."
+
+"Is Miss Jinny the older sister who manufactures that delicious
+candy?" asked the Professor, as he drew his card case from his pocket
+and handed Mammy his card.
+
+"No, suh, she's _my_ Miss Jinny: Miss Jinny Blairsdale; I mean
+Carruth. My mistis. Dat chile's mother. Thank yo', suh. I'll han' her
+dis cyard. Is she know yo', suh?"
+
+"No, I haven't the pleasure of Mrs. Carruth's acquaintance though I
+hope to before long. (Mammy made a slight sound through her
+half-closed lips.) My grandmother was a Blairsdale."
+
+"Open sesame" was a trifling talisman compared with the name of
+Blairsdale.
+
+"Wha', wha', wha', yo say, suh?" demanded Mammy, stammering in her
+excitement. "Yo's a Blairsdale?"
+
+"No, I am Homer Forbes. My mother's mother was a Blairsdale. I cannot
+claim the honor."
+
+"Yo' kin claim de _blood_ dough, an' dat's all yo' hatter claim. Yo'
+don' need ter claim nuttin' else ef yo' got some ob _dat_. But I
+mustn't stan' here talkin' no longer. Yo' kin come an' see my Miss
+Jinny ef yo' wantter. If yo's kin ob de Blairsdales' she'll be
+pintedly glad fer ter know yo'," ended Mammy, courtesying to this
+branch of the blood royal, and turning to lead Baltie up the hill.
+
+"Thank you. I think I'll accept the invitation before very long. I'd
+like to know Miss Jean a little better. Good-day Mammy _Blairsdale_."
+
+"Good-day, suh! Good-day," answered Mammy, smiling benignly upon the
+favored being.
+
+As she drew near the house a perplexed expression overspread her old
+face. She still held the handkerchief with its weight of change;
+earnest of the morning's good intentions. Yet what a morning it had
+been for her and the others!
+
+"I clar ter goodness dat chile lak ter drive us all 'stracted. Fust
+she scare us nigh 'bout ter death, an' we ready fer ter frail her out
+fer her doin's. Den she come pa'radin' home wid a bagful ob cash kase
+she tryin' fer ter help we-all. _Den_ what yo' gwine 'do wid her?
+Smack her kase she done plague yo', or praise her kase she doin' her
+bes' fer ter mek t'ings go a little mite easier fer her ma?" ended
+Mammy, bringing her tongue against her teeth in a sound of irritation.
+
+Meanwhile the cause of all the commotion had gone tearing up the hill
+and into the house where she ran pell-mell into Eleanor who had just
+come home, and who knew nothing of the excitement of the past few
+hours. Constance had gone over to Amy Fletcher's to inquire for the
+runaway. Jean was on the border land between tears and anger, and
+Eleanor was greeted with:
+
+"Now I suppose _you_ are going to lecture me too, tell me I'd no
+business to go off. Well you just needn't do any such a thing, and I
+don't care if I _did_ scare you. It was all your own fault 'cause you
+wouldn't let me into your old secret, and I'm _glad_ I scared you. Yes
+I am!" the words ended in a storm of sobs.
+
+For a moment Eleanor stood dumfounded. Then realizing that something
+more lay behind the volley of words than she understood, she said:
+
+"Come up to my room with me, Jean. I don't know what you are talking
+about. If anything is wrong tell me about it, but don't bother mother.
+The little Mumsey has a lot to bother her as it is."
+
+Jean instantly stopped crying and looked at this older sister who
+sometimes seemed very old indeed to her.
+
+"_You_ don't know what all the fuss is about, and why Mammy is waiting
+to give me Hail Columbia?" she asked incredulously.
+
+"I have just this moment come in. I have been out at Aunt Eleanor's
+all the morning, as you know quite well if you will stop to think,"
+answered Eleanor calmly.
+
+"Then come up-stairs quick before Mammy gets in; I see her coming in
+the gate now. I did something that made her as mad as hops and scared
+mother. Come I'll tell you all about it," and Jean flew up the stairs
+ahead of Eleanor. Rushing into her sister's room she waited only for
+Eleanor to pass the threshold before slamming the door together and
+turning the key.
+
+Eleanor dropped her things upon the bed and sitting down upon a low
+chair, said:
+
+"Come here, Jean." Jean threw herself upon her sister's lap, and
+clasping her arms about her, nestled her head upon her shoulder.
+Eleanor held her a moment without speaking, feeling that it would be
+wiser to let her excitement subside a little. Then she said: "Now tell
+me the whole story, Jean."
+
+Jean told it from beginning to end, and ended by demanding:
+
+"Don't you really, truly, know anything about the candy Constance is
+making to sell?"
+
+"I know that she is making candy, and that she contrives somehow to
+sell a good deal of it, but she and Mammy have kept the secret as to
+_how_ it is sold. They did not tell me, and I wouldn't ask," said
+Eleanor looking straight into Jean's eyes.
+
+"Oh!" said Jean.
+
+"Mammy has rather high ideas of what we ought or ought not to do, you
+know, Jean," continued Eleanor, "and she was horrified at the idea of
+Constance making candy for money. And yet, Jean, both Constance and I
+_must_ do something to help mother. You say we keep you out of our
+secrets. We don't keep you _out_ of them, but we see no reason _why_
+you should be made to bear them. Constance and I are older, and it is
+right that we should share some of the burden which mother must bear,
+but you are only a little girl and ought to be quite care-free."
+
+Jean's head dropped a trifle lower.
+
+"But since you have discovered so much, let _me_ tell you a secret
+which only mother and I know, and then you will understand why she is
+so troubled now-a-days. Even Connie knows nothing of it. Can I trust
+you?"
+
+"I'd _die_ before I'd tell," was the vehement protest.
+
+"Very well then, listen: You know our house was insured for a good
+deal of money--fifteen thousand dollars. Well, mother felt quite safe
+and comfortable when she found that Mammy had paid the premium just
+before the house burned down, and we all thought we would soon have
+the amount settled up by the company and that the interest would be a
+big help--"
+
+"What is the interest?" demanded Jean.
+
+"I can't stop to explain it all now, but when people put money in a
+savings bank a certain sum is paid to them each year. The bank pays
+the people the smaller sum each year because it--the bank, I mean--has
+the use of the larger amount for the time being. Do you understand?"
+
+"Yes, it's just as if I gave you my five dollars to use and you gave
+me ten cents each week for lending you the five dollars till I wanted
+it, isn't it?"
+
+"Yes, exactly. Well mother thought she would have about six hundred
+dollars each year, and everything seemed all right, and so we came to
+live here because it was less expensive. But, oh, Jean, my miserable
+experiments! My dreadful chemicals! When the insurance company began
+to look into the cause of the fire and learned that I had gasoline,
+and those powerful acids in my room, and the box of excelsior in which
+they had been sent out from the city was in the room where the fire
+started, they--they would not settle the insurance, and _all_ the money
+we had paid out was lost, and we could hardly collect anything. And it
+was _all_ my fault. _All_ my fault. But I did not know it! I did not
+guess the harm I was doing. I only thought of what I could learn from
+my experiments. And _see_ what mischief I have done," and poor
+Eleanor's story ended in a burst of sobs, as she buried her head
+against the little sister whom she had just been comforting.
+
+Jean was speechless for a moment. Then all her sympathies were alert,
+and springing from Eleanor's lap she flung her arms about her crying:
+
+"Don't cry, Nornie; don't cry! You didn't _mean_ to. You didn't know.
+You were trying to be good and learn a lot. You didn't know about
+those hateful old companies."
+
+"But I _ought_ to have known! I ought to have understood," sobbed
+Eleanor.
+
+"How _could_ you? But don't you cry. I'm glad now I _did_ run away
+with the box, 'cause I've found a way to make some money every single
+Saturday and I'm going to _do it_, Mammy or no Mammy. Baltie is just
+as much my horse as hers, and if he can't help us work I'd like to
+know why. Now don't you cry any more, 'cause it isn't your fault, and
+I'm going right straight down stairs to talk with mother, and tell her
+I'm sorry I frightened her but _I'm not_ sorry I went," and ending
+with a tempestuous hug and an echoing kiss upon her sister's cheek,
+little Miss Determination whisked out of the room.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+United We Stand, Divided We Fall
+
+
+It need hardly be stated that Mrs. Carruth had passed anything but a
+tranquil morning. Indeed tranquillity of mind was almost unknown to
+her now-a-days, and her nights were filled with far from pleasant
+dreams.
+
+From the hour her old home had burned, disasters had crowded upon her.
+Her first alarm lest the insurance upon her property had lapsed, owing
+to her inability to meet the premium punctually, had been allayed by
+Mammy's prompt action and all seemed well. No one had given a thought
+to the conditions of the agreement, and, alas! no one had thought of
+Eleanor's laboratory. Indeed, had she done so, Mrs. Carruth was not
+sufficiently well informed upon such matters to have attached any
+importance to it. But one little clause in the policy had expressly
+prohibited the presence of "gasoline, excelsior or chemicals of any
+description upon the premises," and all three had been upon it when
+the house burned; and, fatal circumstance, had been the _cause_ of the
+fire.
+
+Such investigations move slowly, and weeks passed before these facts
+were brought to light and poor Mrs. Carruth learned the truth. She
+strove in every way to realize even a small proportion of the sum she
+could otherwise have claimed, and influential friends lent their aid
+to help her. But the terms of the contract had, unquestionably, been
+broken, even though done in ignorance--and the precautions taken for so
+many years ended in smoke.
+
+Mrs. Carruth had not meant to let the girls learn of it until, if
+worse came to worst, all hope of recovering something had to be given
+up.
+
+But, several days before, Eleanor had found her mother in a state of
+nervous collapse over the letter which brought the ultimatum, and had
+insisted upon knowing the truth. Mrs. Carruth confessed it only upon
+the condition of absolute secrecy on Eleanor's part, for Constance was
+in the midst of mid-year examinations and her mother would not have an
+extra care laid upon her just then. Eleanor had kept the secret until
+this morning when Jean's outbreak seemed to make it wiser to tell the
+truth, and, if the confession must be made, poor Eleanor could no
+longer conceal her remorse for the mischief her experiments had
+brought upon them all.
+
+She had gone that morning to her Aunt Eleanor's home to confess the
+situation to her, and to ask if she might leave school and seek some
+position. The interview had been a most unpleasant one, for Mrs.
+Eleanor Carruth, Senior, never hesitated to express her mind, and
+having exceptional business acumen herself, had little patience with
+those who had less.
+
+"Your mother has no more head for business than a child of ten. Not as
+much as _some_, I believe. And, your father wasn't much better. Good
+heavens and earth! the idea of a man in his sane senses agreeing to
+pay another man's debts. I don't believe he _was_ in his senses,"
+stormed Mrs. Eleanor.
+
+"Please, Aunt Eleanor, don't say such things to me about father and
+mother," said Eleanor, with a little break in her voice. "Perhaps
+mother doesn't know as much about business matters as she ought, and
+father's heart got the better of his good sense, but they are father
+and mother and have always been devoted to us. I don't want to be rude
+to you, but I _can't_ hear them unkindly spoken of," she ended with a
+little uprearing of the head, which suddenly recalled to the irate
+lady a similar mannerism of her late husband who had been a most
+forebearing man up to a certain point, but when that was reached his
+wife knew a halt had been called; the same sudden uplifting of the
+head now gave due warning.
+
+However, Eleanor was only a child in her aunt's eyes, and, fond as she
+was of her, in her own peculiar way, she could not resist a final
+word:
+
+"Well, I've no patience with such goin's on. And now here's a pretty
+kettle of fish and no mistake. You've taken Hadyn Stuyvesant's house
+for a year, and of course you've got to _keep_ it, yet every cent
+you've got in this world to live on is twelve hundred dollars a year.
+That means less than twenty-five dollars a week to house, clothe and
+feed five people. I 'spose it can be done--plenty do it--but they're not
+Carruths, with a Carruth's ideas. And now _you_ want to quit school
+and go to work? Well, I don't approve of it; no, not for a minute.
+You'll do ten times better to stay at school and then enter college
+next fall. _You've_ got the ability to do it, and it's flyin' in the
+face of Providence _not_ to."
+
+Aunt Eleanor might just as well have added, "I representing
+Providence," since her tone implied as much.
+
+"Now run along home and leave me to think out this snarl. I can think
+a sight better when I'm alone," and with that summary and rather
+unsatisfactory dismissal, Eleanor departed for her own home to be met
+by Jean with her trials and tribulations.
+
+Meanwhile Mrs. Carruth had gone in quest of that young lady, for upon
+Mammy's return from market, Jean, Baltie and the box of candy had been
+missed, and the old woman had raised a hue and cry. At first they
+believed it to be some prank, but as the hours slipped away and Jean
+failed to reappear, Mrs. Carruth grew alarmed and all three set forth
+in different directions to search for her. Constance going to Amy
+Fletcher's home. Mammy to their old home, or at least all that was
+left of it, for Jean frequently went there on one pretext or another,
+and Mrs. Carruth down town, as the marketing section of Riveredge was
+termed. While there, one of the shopkeepers told her that Jean had
+driven by, headed for South Riveredge.
+
+Upon the strength of this vague information Mrs. Carruth had 'phoned
+home that she was setting out for South Riveredge by the trolley and
+hoped to find the runaway.
+
+But the search, naturally, was unavailing and she was forced to return
+in a most anxious state of mind. As she turned into Hillside street
+and began to mount the steep ascent, her limbs were trembling, partly
+from physical and partly from nervous exhaustion. Before she reached
+the top she saw the object of her quest bearing down upon her with
+arms outstretched and burnished hair flying all about her.
+
+Jean had not paused for the hat or coat, which she had impatiently
+flung aside upon entering Eleanor's room. Her one impulse after
+learning of the calamity which had overtaken them was to offer
+consolation to her mother. The impact when she met that weary woman
+came very near landing them both in the gutter, and nothing but the
+little fly-away's agility saved them. Jean was wonderfully strong for
+her age, her outdoor life having developed her muscles to a most
+unusual degree.
+
+"Oh, mother, mother. I'm _so_ sorry I frightened you. I didn't mean
+to; truly I didn't. I only wanted to prove I _could_ help, and now I
+_can_, 'cause I've got a _lot_ of new customers and made most four
+dollars. I could have made more if some of the papers hadn't bursted
+and spilt the candy in the road. We got some of it up, but it was all
+dirty and I couldn't take any money for _that_, though the boys _ate_
+it after they'd washed if off at the hose faucet. It wasn't so very
+dirty, you know. And now I'm going out there every single Saturday
+morning, and Connie and I--"
+
+"Jean; Jean; stop for mercy's sake. What _are_ you talking about? Have
+you taken leave of your senses, child?" demanded poor Mrs. Carruth,
+wholly bewildered, for until this moment she had heard absolutely
+nothing of the candy-making, Mammy and Constance having guarded their
+secret well. It had never occurred to Jean that even her mother was in
+ignorance of the enterprise, and now she looked at her as though it
+had come her turn to question her mother's sanity. They had now
+reached the house and were ascending the steps, Jean assisting her
+mother by pushing vigorously upon her elbow.
+
+"Come right into the living-room with me, Jean, and let me learn where
+you've been this morning. You have alarmed me terribly, and Mammy has
+been nearly beside herself. She was sure you and Baltie were both
+killed."
+
+"Pooh! Fiddlesticks! She might have known better. She thinks Baltie is
+as fiery as Mr. Stuyvesant's Comet, and that nobody can drive him but
+herself. I've been to East Riveredge with the candy--"
+
+"_What_ candy, Jean? I do not know what you mean."
+
+"_Constance's_ candy!" emphasized Jean, and then and there told the
+whole story so far as she herself knew the facts regarding it. Mrs.
+Carruth sat quite speechless during the recitation, wondering what new
+development upon the part of her offspring the present order of things
+would bring to light.
+
+"And Mumsey, darling," continued Jean, winding her arms about her
+mother's neck and slipping upon her lap, "I'm going to help _now_; I
+really am, 'cause Nornie has told me about that horried old insurance
+and I know we haven't much money and--"
+
+"Nornie has told _you_ of the insurance trouble, Jean? How came she to
+do such a thing?" asked Mrs. Carruth, at a loss to understand why
+Eleanor had disobeyed her in the matter.
+
+"She told me 'cause I was so mad at her and Connie for having secrets,
+and treating me as if I hadn't the least little bit of sense, and
+couldn't be trusted. I am little, Mumsey, dear, but I can help. You
+see if I can't, and the boys were just splendid and want me to come
+every Saturday. Please, please say I may go," and Jean kissed her
+mother's forehead, cheeks and chin by way of persuasion.
+
+It must be confessed that Mrs. Carruth responded to these endearments
+in a rather abstracted manner, for she had had much to think of within
+the past few hours.
+
+"Please say yes," begged Jean.
+
+"Childie, I can not say yes or no just this moment. I am too
+overwhelmed by what I have heard. I must know _all_ now, and learn it
+from Mammy and Constance. I cannot realize that one of my children had
+actually entered upon such a venture. What _would_ your father say?"
+ended Mrs. Carruth, as though all the traditions of the Carruths, to
+say nothing of the Blairsdales, had been shattered to bits and thrown
+broadcast.
+
+"But you'll tell me before _next_ Saturday, won't you? You know the
+boys will be on the lookout for their candy and will be _so_
+disappointed if I don't take it."
+
+"I can not promise _anything_ now. The first thing to do is to eat our
+luncheon; it is long past two o'clock. _Then_ we will hold a family
+council and I hope I shall recover my senses; I declare I feel as
+though they were tottering."
+
+Mrs. Carruth rose from her chair and with Jean dancing beside her
+entered the dining-room to partake of a very indifferent meal, for
+Mammy had been too exercised to give her usual care and thought to its
+preparation.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+A Family Council
+
+
+Luncheon was over and Mrs. Carruth, the girls and Mammy were seated in
+the library; Mammy's face being full of solicitude for her Miss Jinny.
+Mammy could no more have been left out of this family council than
+could Eleanor.
+
+"An' you haint got dat 'surance money and cyant git hit, Baby?" she
+asked, when Mrs. Carruth had finished explaining the situation to
+them.
+
+"No, Mammy; it is impossible. I have hoped until the last moment, but
+now I must give up all hope."
+
+"But--but I done _paid_ de prem'ym ter dat little Sniffin's man, an'
+_he_ say we _git_ de money all right an' straight," argued Mammy,
+loath to give up _her_ hope.
+
+"I know that, Mammy. He told you so in all good faith. It is not his
+fault in the least. It would have been settled at once, had we not--had
+we not--" Mrs. Carruth hesitated. She was reluctant to lay the blame
+upon Eleanor.
+
+"Oh, it is _all_ my fault! All. If I had not brought those hateful
+acids into the house we would _never_ have had all this trouble. I
+shall never forgive myself, and I should think you'd all want to kill
+me," wailed the cause of the family's misfortune, springing to her
+feet to pace rapidly up and down the room, quite unconscious that a
+long feather boa which happened to have been upon the back of her
+chair, had caught upon her belt-pin and was trailing out behind in a
+manner to suggest Darwin's theory of the origin of man.
+
+"My child you need not reproach yourself. You were working for our
+mutual benefit. You knew nothing of the conditions--"
+
+"Knew nothing! Knew nothing!" broke in Eleanor. "That's just _it_. It
+was my business to know! And I tell you one thing, in future I _mean_
+to know, and not go blundering along in ignorance and wrecking
+everybody else as well as myself. I'm just no better than a fool with
+_all_ my poring over books and experimenting. After this I'll find out
+where my _feet_ are, even if my head _is_ stuck in the clouds. And
+now, mother, listen: Since I _am_ responsible for this mess it is
+certainly up to me to help you to pull out of it, and I'm going to
+_do_ it, I've spoken to Mr. Hillard, and asked him about coaching, and
+he says he can get me plenty of students who will be only too glad if
+I can give them the time. And I'm going to do it three afternoons a
+week. I shall have to do it between four and six, as those are my only
+free hours, and if I can't coach better than some I've known to
+undertake it, I'll quit altogether."
+
+As Eleanor talked, Mammy's expression became more and more horrified.
+When she ceased speaking the old woman rose from the hassock upon
+which she sat, and crossing the room to Mrs. Carruth's side laid her
+hand upon her shoulder as she asked in an awed voice:
+
+"Baby you won't _let_ her do no sich t'ing as dat? Cou'se you won't.
+Wimmin folks now-a-days has powerful strange ways, dat I kin see
+myse'f, but we-all don' do sich lak. Miss Nornie wouldn't never in de
+roun' worl' do _dat_, would she, honey? She jist a projectin', ain't
+she?"
+
+Mammy's old face was so troubled that Mrs. Carruth was much mystified.
+
+"Why Mammy, I don't know of anything that Eleanor is better qualified
+to do than coach. And Mammy, dear, we _must_ do something--every one of
+us, I fear. We can not all live on the small interest I now have, and
+I shall never touch the principal if I can possibly avoid doing so.
+Eleanor can materially help by entering upon this work, and Constance
+has already shown that she can aid also. Even Baby has helped," added
+Mrs. Carruth, laying her arm caressingly across Jean's shoulders, for
+Jean had stuck to her side like a burr.
+
+"Then you _will_ let me go to East Riveredge with the candy?" cried
+Jean, quick to place her entering wedge.
+
+"We will see," replied Mrs. Carruth, but Jean knew from the smile that
+the day was won.
+
+"I know all dat, honey," resumed Mammy, "but dis hyer coachin'
+bisness. I ain' got _dat_ settle in my mind. Hit just pure
+scandal'zation 'cordin' ter my thinkin'. Gawd bress my soul what
+we-all comin' to when a Blairsdale teken ter drive a nomnibus fer a
+livin'? Tck! Tck!" and Mammy collapsed upon a chair to clasp her hands
+and groan.
+
+Then light dawned upon the family.
+
+"Oh, Mammy! I don't intend to become a stage-coach driver," cried
+Eleanor, dropping upon her knees beside the perturbed old soul, and
+laying her own hands upon the clasped ones as she strove hard not to
+laugh outright. "You don't understand at _all_, Mammy. A coach is
+someone who helps other students who can't get on well with their
+studies. Who gives an hour or two each day to such work. And it is
+very well paid work, too, Mammy."
+
+Mammy looked at her incredulously as though she feared she was being
+made game of. Then she glanced at the others. Their faces puzzled her,
+as well they might, since the individuals were struggling to repress
+their mirth lest they wound the old woman's feelings, but still were
+anxious to reassure her.
+
+"Miss Jinny, is dat de solemn prar-book truf?"
+
+"It surely is Mammy. We are not quite so degenerate as you think us,"
+answered Mrs. Carruth soberly, although her eyes twinkled in spite of
+her.
+
+"Well! Well! Jes so; Jes so. I sutin'ly is behine de times. I speck I
+ain' unnerstan dese yer new-fangled wo'ds no mor'n I unnerstan de
+new-fangled stoves. If coachin' done tu'ned ter meanin' school marmin'
+I hatter give up. Now go on wid yo' talkin': I gwine tek a back seat
+an' listen twell I knows sumpin'," and, wagging her head doubtingly,
+Mammy went back to her hassock.
+
+"Well _two_ of us have settled upon our plan of action, now what are
+_you_ going to do, Connie? You said you were determined to make your
+venture a paying one. What is your plan?" asked Eleanor, turning to
+Constance, who thus far had said very little.
+
+"I can't tell you right now. I've had so many plans simmering since I
+began to make my candy, but Mammy has always set the kettle on the
+back part of the stove just as it began to boil nicely, haven't you
+Mammy?" asked Constance, smiling into Mammy's face.
+
+"'Specs I's 'sponsuble fer a heap o' unbiled kittles, dough hits kase
+I hates p'intedly ter see de Blairsdales fixin' ter bu'n dey han's,"
+was the good soul's answer.
+
+"Our hands can stand a few burns in a good cause, Mammy, so don't
+worry about it. We're healthy and they'll heal quickly," was
+Constance's cheerful reply.
+
+"Mebbe so," said Mammy skeptically.
+
+"Seriously, Constance, what have you thought of doing, dear?" asked
+Mrs. Carruth, a tender note coming into her voice for this daughter
+who had been the first to put her shoulder to the wheel for them all.
+
+"Well, you let me answer that question day after to-morrow, Mumsey?
+Or, perhaps, it may take even a little longer. But I'll tell you all
+about my simmering ideas when I have had time to make a few inquiries.
+Don't grow alarmed, Mammy; I'm not going to apply for a position as
+motor-girl on a trolley car," said Constance, as she laughingly nodded
+at Mammy.
+
+"Aint nothin' ever gwine 'larm me no mo', I reckons. Speck some day I
+fin' dat chile stanin' down yonder on de cawner sellin' candy an'
+stuff. Mought mos' anyt'ing happen," answered Mammy, as she rose from
+her hassock. "Well, if _yo'_-all gwine go inter bisness, I specs _I_
+gotter too, so don' be 'sprised ef yo' see me. Now I'se gwine ter get
+a supper dat's fitten fer ter _eat_; dat lunch weren't nothin' but a
+disgrace ter de hull fambly," and off she hurried to the kitchen to
+prepare a supper that many would have journeyed far to eat.
+
+"Children," said Mrs. Carruth, as Mammy disappeared, "whatever comes
+we must try to keep together. We can meet almost any difficulty if we
+are not separated, but _that_ would nearly break my heart, I believe;
+father so loved our home and the companionship of his family, that I
+shall do my utmost to keep it as he wished. We may be deprived of the
+major portion of our income, and find the path rather a stony one for
+a while, but we have each other, and the affection which began more
+than twenty years ago, when I came North to make my home has grown
+deeper as the years have passed. Each new little form in my arms made
+it stronger, and the fact that father is no longer here to share the
+joys or sorrows with us can never alter it. In one sense he is always
+with us. His love for us is manifested on every hand. We will face the
+situation bravely and try to remember that never mind what comes, we
+have each other, and his 'three little women,' as he used to love to
+call you, are worthy of that beautiful name. He was very proud of his
+girls and used to build beautiful 'castles in Spain' for them. If he
+could only have been spared to realize them." Mrs. Carruth could say
+no more. The day had been a trying one for her, and strength and voice
+failed together as she dropped upon a settee and the girls gathered
+about her. Jean with her head in her lap as she clasped her arms
+around her; Eleanor holding her hands, and Constance, who had slipped
+behind the settee, with the tired head clasped against her breast and
+her lips pressed upon the pretty hair with its streaks of gray.
+
+For a few moments there was no sound in the room save Mrs. Carruth's
+rapidly drawn breaths as she strove to control her feelings. She
+rarely gave way in the presence of her children, but they knew how
+hard it was for her to maintain such self-control. It was very sweet
+to feel the strength of the young arms about her, and the presence of
+the vigorous young lives so ready to be up and doing for her sake.
+
+"Come up-stairs and rest a while before supper," said Constance,
+softly. "Will you? Do, please. We'll be your handmaidens."
+
+"Yes do, Mumsey, dear. I'll tuck you all up 'snug as a bug in a rug,'"
+urged Jean.
+
+"And I'll go make you a cup of tea just as you love it," added Eleanor
+hurrying from the room. As Mrs. Carruth rose from the settee Constance
+slipped her strong arm about her to lead her up to her own room, Jean
+running on ahead to arrange the couch pillows comfortably. Presently
+Mrs. Carruth was settled in her nest with Jean upon a low hassock, at
+her feet, patting them to make her "go byelow," she said. In a few
+moments Eleanor came back with a dainty little tray and tea service,
+which she set upon the taborette Constance had placed for it, and
+proceeded to feed her mother as she would have fed an invalid.
+
+"Do you want to quite spoil me?" asked Mrs. Carruth, from her nest of
+pillows.
+
+"Not a bit of it! We only want to make you realize how precious you
+are, don't you understand?" said Eleanor, kissing her mother's
+forehead. "There! That is the last bite of cracker and the last drop
+of tea. Now take 'forty winks' and be as fresh as a daisy for supper.
+Come on, Jean, let Mumsey go to sleep."
+
+"Oh, please let me stay here cuddling her feet. I'll be just as quiet
+as a mouse," begged Jean.
+
+"Please _all_ stay; and Connie, darling, whistle me to the land o'
+nod," said Mrs. Carruth, slipping one hand into Constance's and
+holding the other to Eleanor, who dropped down upon the floor and
+rested her cheek against it as she nestled close to the couch.
+
+Only the flickering flames of the logs blazing upon the andirons,
+lighted the room as the birdlike notes began to issue from the girl's
+lips. She whistled an air from the Burgomeister, its pretty melody
+rippling through the room like a thrush's notes.
+
+Presently Mrs. Carruth's eyelids drooped and, utterly wearied by the
+day's exciting events, she slipped into dreamland upon the sweet
+melody.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+
+"Save Me From My Friends"
+
+
+"Miss Jinny! Miss Jinny! Wait a minit. Dar's a man yander at de back
+do' dat wants fer ter ax yo' sumpin' he say," called Mammy, as she
+hurried through the hall just as Mrs. Carruth was leaving the house
+upon the following Monday morning.
+
+"What is it, Mammy?" asked Mrs. Carruth, pausing.
+
+"He say he want ter see yo' pintedly."
+
+Mrs. Carruth retraced her steps and upon reaching the back porch found
+Mr. Pringle waiting to see her.
+
+"Hope I haven't delayed you, Mrs. Carruth, but I wanted to see you on
+a matter of business which might help both of us, you see. Ah, I
+thought--I thought mebbe you'd like to hear of it."
+
+"I certainly should like to if it is to my advantage, Mr. Pringle,"
+replied Mrs. Carruth, with a pleasant smile for the livery stable
+keeper, who stood self-consciously twirling his cap.
+
+"Yes, ma'am. I thought so, ma'am. Well it's this: Your stable, ma'am,
+up at the old place, are you usin' it at all?"
+
+"Not as a stable. It is more like a storehouse just now, for many
+things saved from the fire are stored there."
+
+"Could you put them somewhere else and rent the stable to me, ma'am?
+I'm much put to it to find room for my boarding horses, and the
+carriages; my place is not big, and I thought could I rent your stable
+I'd keep most of my boarding horses up there; it's nearer to their
+owners you see, ma'am."
+
+Mrs. Carruth thought a moment before replying.
+
+"I shall have to think over your proposal, Mr. Pringle. There is a
+great deal of stuff stored in the stable and I am at a loss to know
+what we could do with it. However, I will let you know in a day or two
+if that will answer."
+
+"Take your own time, ma'am. Take your own time. There's no hurry at
+all. I'll call round about Thursday and you can let me know. I'd be
+willing to pay twenty-five dollars a month for it, ma'am."
+
+Pringle did not add that the step had been suggested to him by Hadyn
+Stuyvesant, or that he had also set the figure.
+
+When they were all gathered in the pleasant living-room that evening,
+she spoke of the matter, ending with the question:
+
+"But _where_ can we put all that furniture? _This_ house will not hold
+another stick I'm afraid; we are crowded enough as it is."
+
+For a few moments no one had a suggestion to offer, then Constance
+cried:
+
+"Mother couldn't we _sell_ a good many of the things? People do that
+you know. The Boyntons did when they left Riveredge."
+
+"Yes, they had a private sale and disposed of many things. They
+advertised for weeks. I am afraid that would delay things too much."
+
+"Why not have an auction then? _That_ moves quickly enough. The things
+go or they _don't_ go, and that is the end of it."
+
+"Oh, I should dislike to do that. So many of those things hold very
+tender associations for me," hesitated Mrs. Carruth.
+
+"Yet I am sure there are many things there which can't possibly have,
+mother. That patent washing machine, for example, that is as big as a
+dining-room table, and Mammy 'pintedly scorns,'" laughed Eleanor.
+
+"And Jean's baby carriage. And the old cider-press, and that Noah's
+ark of a sideboard that we never _can_ use," added Constance.
+
+"And my express-wagon. I'll never play with _that_ again you know; I'm
+far too old," concluded Jean with much self-importance.
+
+"I dare say there are a hundred things there we will never use again,
+and which would better be sold than kept. Come down to the place with
+us to-morrow afternoon, Mumsey, and we will have a grand rummage,"
+said Eleanor. And so the confab ended.
+
+The following afternoon was given over to the undertaking, and as is
+invariably the case, they wondered more than once why so many
+perfectly useless articles had been so long and so carefully
+cherished.
+
+Among them, however, were many which held very dear memories for Mrs.
+Carruth, and with which she was reluctant to part. Among these was a
+small box of garden-tools, which had belonged to her husband, and with
+which he had spent many happy hours at work among his beloved flower
+beds. Also a reading lamp which they had bought when they were first
+married, and beneath whose rays many tender dreams had taken form and
+in many instances become realities. To be sure the lamp had not been
+used for more than ten years, as it had long since ceased to be
+regarded as either useful or ornamental, and neither it nor the garden
+tools were worth a dollar.
+
+But wives and mothers are strange creatures and recognize values which
+no one else can see. The girls appreciated their mother's love for
+every object which their father's hands had sanctified, and urged her
+to put aside the things she so valued, arguing that the proceeds could
+not possibly materially increase the sum they might receive for the
+general collection. But Mrs. Carruth insisted that if one thing was
+sold all should be, and that her personal feelings must not influence
+or enter into the matter. So in time all was definitely arranged; the
+auctioneer was engaged and the sale duly advertised for a certain
+Saturday morning. No sooner were the posters in evidence than Miss
+Jerusha Pike, likewise, became so. She swept in upon Mrs. Carruth one
+morning when the latter was endeavoring to complete a much-needed
+frock for Jean, as that young lady's elbows were as self-assertive as
+herself, and had a trick of appearing in public when it was most
+inconvenient to have them do so. Between letting down skirts and
+putting in new sleeves Mrs. Carruth's hands were usually kept well
+occupied.
+
+"Morning, Mammy," piped Miss Pike's high-pitched voice, as Mammy
+answered her ring at the front door. "What's the meaning of these
+signs I see about town. You don't mean to tell me you are going to
+sell _out_? I couldn't believe my own eyes, so I came right straight
+here to find out. _Where_ is that dear, dear woman?"
+
+"She up in her room busy wid some sewin'," stated Mammy, with
+considerable emphasis upon the last word as a hint to the visitor.
+
+"Well, tell her not to mind _me_; I'm an old friend, you know. I'll go
+right up to her room; I wouldn't have her come down for the world."
+
+"Hum! Yas'm," replied Mammy, moving slowly toward the stairs. Too
+slowly thought Miss Pike, for, bouncing up from the reception-room
+chair, upon which she had promptly seated herself, she hurried after
+the retreating figure saying:
+
+"Now don't you bother to go way up-stairs. I don't doubt you have a
+hundred things to do this morning, and I've never been up-stairs in
+this house, anyway. Go along out to your kitchen, Mammy, and I'll just
+announce myself." And brushing by the astonished old woman she rushed
+half way up the stairs before Mammy could recover herself. It was a
+master coup de main, for well Miss Pike knew that she would never be
+invited to ascend those stairs to the privacy of Mrs. Carruth's own
+room. Mammy knew this also, and the good soul's face was a study as
+she stared after her. Miss Pike disappeared around the curve of the
+stairs calling as she ascended:
+
+"It's only _me_, dear. Don't mind me in the least. Go right on with
+your work. I'll be charmed to lend you a hand; I'm a master helper at
+sewing." Mammy muttered:
+
+"Well ef yo' aint de banginest han' at pokin' dat snipe nose o' yours
+inter places whar 'taint no call ter be _I'd_ lak ter know who _is_.
+I'se jist a good min' ter go slap bang atter yo' an' hustle yo' froo'
+dat front door; I is fer a fac'."
+
+Meanwhile, aroused from her occupation by the high-pitched voice, Mrs.
+Carruth dropped her work and hurried into the hall. She could hardly
+believe that this busy-body of the town had actually forced herself
+upon her in this manner. She had often tried to do so, but as often
+been thwarted in her attempts.
+
+"Oh, _why did_ you get up to meet me? You shouldn't have done it, you
+dear thing. I know how valuable every moment of your time is
+now-a-days. Dear, dear, how times have changed, haven't they? Now go
+right back to your room and resume your sewing and let me help while I
+talk. I _felt I must_ come. Those awful signs have haunted me ever
+since I first set my eyes upon them. _Don't_ tell me you are going to
+sell anything! Surely you won't leave Riveredge? Why I said to Miss
+Doolittle on my way here, well, if the Carruths have met with _more_
+reverses and have got to sell out, _I'll_ clear give up. You haven't,
+have you? But this house must be an awful expense, ain't it? How much
+does Hadyn Stuyvesant ask you for it anyway? I'll bet he isn't
+_giving_ it away. His mother was rather near, you know, and I dare say
+he takes after her. _Do_ you pay as much as fifty a month for it? I
+said to Miss Doolittle I bet anything you didn't get it a cent less.
+Now do you? It's all between ourselves; you know I wouldn't breathe it
+to a soul for worlds."
+
+If you have ever suddenly had a great wave lift you from your feet,
+toss you thither and yonder for a moment, and then land you high and
+dry upon the beach when you have believed yourself to be enjoying a
+delightful little dip in an apparently calm ocean, you will have some
+idea of how Mrs. Carruth felt as this tornado of a woman caught her by
+her arm, hurried her back into her quiet, peaceful bedroom, forced her
+into her chair, and picking up her work laid it upon her lap, at the
+same time making a dive for an unfinished sleeve, as she continued the
+volley.
+
+"Oh, I see just _exactly_ what you're doing. I can be the greatest
+help to you. Go right on and don't give this a thought. I've been
+obliged to do so much piecing and patching for the family that I'm
+almost able to patch _shoes_. Now _what_ did you say Haydn Stuyvesant
+charged you for this house?"
+
+The sharp eyes were bent upon the sleeve.
+
+"I don't think I said, Miss Pike. And, thank you, it is not necessary
+to put a patch upon the elbow of that sleeve as you are preparing to
+do; I have already made an entire new one. As to our leaving Riveredge
+I am sorry you have given yourself so much concern about it. When we
+decide to do so I dare say _you_ will be the first to learn of our
+intention. Yes, the auction is to take place at our stable as the
+announcement states. You learned all the particulars regarding it from
+the bills, I am sure. If you are interested you may find time to be
+present that morning. And now, since I am strongly averse to receiving
+even my most intimate friends in a littered-up room I will ask you to
+return to the reception room with me," and rising from her chair this
+quiet, unruffled being moved toward the door.
+
+"But your work, my dear. Your work! You can't afford to let me
+interrupt it, I'm afraid. Your time must be so precious."
+
+"It seems to have been interrupted already, does it not? Sometimes we
+would rather sacrifice our time than our temper, don't you think so?"
+and a quizzical smile crept over Mrs. Carruth's face.
+
+"Well, now, I hate to have you make company of me. I really do. I
+thought I'd just run in for a little neighborly chat and I seem to
+have put a stop to everything. Dear me, I didn't think you'd mind _me_
+a mite. Are you going to sell this set of furniture? 'Taint so very
+much worn, is it? Only the edges are a little mite frayed. Some people
+mightn't notice it, but my eyesight's exceptional. Well, do tell me
+_what's_ goin'."
+
+As though fate had taken upon herself the responsibility of answering
+that question, the door-bell rang at the instant and when it was
+answered by Mammy, Mrs. Eleanor Carruth stalked into the hall. Mrs.
+Carruth rose to greet her. _Miss Pike rose to go._ If there was one
+person in this world of whom Jerusha Pike stood in wholesome awe it
+was Mrs. Eleanor Carruth, for the latter lady had absolutely no use
+for the former, and let her understand it. Madam Carruth, as she was
+often called, shook her niece's hand, looked at her keenly for a
+moment and then said:
+
+"My stars, Jenny, what ails you? You look as though you'd been blown
+about by a whirlwind. Oh, how do _you_ do, Miss Pike. Just going?
+You're under too high pressure, Jenny. We must ease it up a little, I
+guess. Good-bye, Miss Pike. My niece has always been considered a most
+amiable woman, hasn't she? I think she hasn't backbone enough at
+times. That is the reason I happen along unexpectedly to lend her
+some. Fine day, isn't it?"
+
+Two minutes later Miss Pike was in close confab with her friend Miss
+Doolittle.
+
+Aunt Eleanor was up in her niece's room putting in the neglected
+sleeve and saying:
+
+"If _I'd_ been in that front hall I'll guarantee she would never have
+clomb those stairs. Now tell me all about this auction."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX
+
+"An Auction Extraordinary"
+
+
+"My! Just look at them perfec'ly good, new window screens. It _does_
+seem a shame to sell 'em, don't it now? They might come in real handy
+sometime," cried one eager inspector of the collection of articles
+displayed for sale in the Carruths' barn the following Saturday
+morning. That the house for which those screens had been made lay
+almost in ashes not a hundred feet from her, and that the chances of
+their ever fitting any other house, unless it should be expressly
+built for them, did not enter that lady's calculations.
+
+"Yes, and just look at his elergant sideboard. My! it must have cost a
+heap o' money. Say, don't you think them Carruths were just a little
+mite extravagant? Seems ter me they wouldn't a been so put to it after
+Carruth's death if they hadn't a spent money fer such things as them.
+But I wonder what it'll bring? 'Tis elergant, aint it? I'm just goin'
+ter keep my eyes peeled, and maybe I c'n git it."
+
+"Why what in this world would you do with it if you _did_? You haven't
+a room it would stand in," cried the friend, looking first at the
+huge, old-fashioned, walnut sideboard, that Constance had called a
+Noah's Ark, and then at its prospective purchaser as though she
+questioned her sanity.
+
+"Yes, it _is_ big, that's so," agreed that lady, "but it's _so_
+elergant. Why it would give a real air to my dining-room, and I guess
+I could sell our table if both wouldn't stand in the room. We could
+eat in the kitchen fer a spell, you know, till maybe Jim's wagers were
+raised an' we could go into a bigger house. Anyway I'm goin' ter _bid_
+on it. It's too big a chanst ter let slip."
+
+"Yes, it _is_ pretty big," replied her friend, turning away to hide a
+slight sneer, for _she_ was a woman of discretion.
+
+"Now, ladies and gentlemen," called the auctioneer at that moment,
+"may I claim your attention for this most unusual sale; a sale of
+articles upon which you would never have had an opportunity to bid but
+for the 'calamity at your heels'--to quote the immortal William."
+
+The people massed in front of him, for Riveredge had turned out en
+masse, started and glanced quickly over their shoulders. "But for the
+tragedy of them ashes these elegant articles of furniture would never
+have been placed on sale; your opportunity would never have been.
+Alas! 'one man's meat is ever another man's poison.' Now what am I
+offered for this roll of fine Japanese matting? Yards and yards of it
+as you see; all perfectly new; a rare opportunity to secure a most
+superior floor covering for a low figure. What am I bid, ladies and
+gentlemen?"
+
+"One dollar," ventured a voice.
+
+"_One dollar!_ Did I hear right? Surely not. One dollar for at least
+fifteen yards of perfectly new Japanese matting? Never. Who will do
+better 'n that? Two? Two--two--"
+
+"Two-fifty!"
+
+"Good, that's better, but it's a wicked sacrifice Come
+now--two-fifty--two-fifty--"
+
+"Three. Three-fifty. Four," ran up the bids in rapid competition until
+seven dollars were bid for the roll. It was bought by the discreet
+lady. At that moment Jean, who had been everywhere, appeared upon the
+scene.
+
+"Oh, did you buy those pieces of matting?" she observed. "Mother told
+me to tell the auctioneer not to bother with them 'cause she didn't
+think there were two yards of any single pattern. I didn't get here in
+time though, I'm sorry, but I had to stop on my way."
+
+"Not two yards of any one pattern? Why there's yards and yards in this
+roll. Do you mean to tell me 'taint all alike?"
+
+"I guess not. It's pieces that were left from our house and all the
+rest was burned up."
+
+Just then Jean spied Constance and flew toward her leaving the
+discreet lady to discover just what she _had_ paid seven dollars for.
+On her way she ran into Jerusha Pike, who laid upon her a detaining
+hand. "Jean, you're exactly the child I want. Where is your sister
+Constance? I want to see her. Is your mother here?"
+
+"No, Miss Pike, mother didn't come. Connie is right yonder. See her?"
+
+Off hurried Miss Pike to the tree beneath which Constance stood
+watching the progress of the sale, which was now in full swing; the
+auctioneer feeling much elated at the returns of his initial venture,
+was warming up to his work. Eleanor, with her Aunt Eleanor, who was
+much in evidence this day, was seated behind the auctioneer's raised
+stand, and thus quite sheltered from observation.
+
+"Constance Carruth, you are the very girl I must see. _You_ can and
+will tell me what I wish to know, I am sure," cried Miss Pike, in a
+stage whisper.
+
+"If I can I will, Miss Pike," answered Constance with a mental
+reservation for the "can."
+
+"I want you to tell me what your poor dear mother most values among
+the things she has here. There _must_ be some treasures among them
+which she cherishes for sweet associations' sake. Name them, I implore
+you. I have never forgiven myself for the accident which befell that
+priceless mirror. If I can bid in something here for her let me do it,
+I beg of you. There is no one else to do it, and _you_ are far too
+young to be exposed to the idle gaze of these people."
+
+"But Miss Pike, Eleanor and----"
+
+"No! No! I cannot permit either of you to do this thing. Your dear
+mother would be shocked. _I'll_ attend to it for you, if you will only
+tell me."
+
+"But," began Constance, and was interrupted by the auctioneer's voice
+calling:
+
+"_Now_, ladies and gentlemen, here is a _fine_ set of garden tools in
+perfect order."
+
+"Oh, they were daddy's. That is the set mother felt so bad about
+selling, isn't it, Connie?" broke in Jean, who had not been paying
+much attention to the conversation between her sister and Miss Pike.
+
+"There! What did I say! I was confident of it! _Now_ is my opportunity
+to make reparation. _Nothing_ shall balk me."
+
+"But Miss Pike; Miss Pike; you must not. Aunt Eleanor----"
+
+But Miss Pike had rushed toward the auction stand.
+
+Meanwhile Eleanor had been saying: "I wish we had not offered that
+garden set at all. It was father's and mother really felt dreadful
+about selling it. I fully intended to have it put aside without saying
+anything to mother, but there was so much to attend to that I forgot
+it, and now it is too late."
+
+"Not in the least, _I'll_ bid it in," and rising from her chair, Madam
+Carruth prepared to do her duty by her niece. Just then Miss Pike
+appeared from the opposite direction.
+
+"How much am I bid for this garden set? All in perfect condition."
+
+"Ten cents," replied a strident voice.
+
+"Scandalous!" cried Miss Pike. "_I'll_ bid one dollar. It is
+sanctified by the touch of a vanished hand."
+
+"Indeed," murmured Madam Carruth, who could see Miss Pike, although
+that lady could not be seen by _her_. "Well, I guess _not_.
+One-fifty."
+
+Miss Pike was too intent upon securing the object to give heed to the
+speaker's voice or recognize it.
+
+"One-seventy-five! One-seventy-five! One-seventy-five! Going, going
+at one-seventy-five."
+
+"Two-seventy-five!"
+
+"Ah! That's better. It would be a shame to sacrifice this set for a
+song. It is no ordinary set of garden implements, but a most superior
+quality of steel. Two-seventy-five; two-seventy-five--"
+
+"Three! I must have them." The last words were spoken to a bystander,
+but Madam Carruth's ears were sharp.
+
+"Must you? Indeed! We'll see."
+
+One or two others, who began to believe that a rare article was about
+to slip from their possible grasp, now started in to bid, and in a few
+moments the price had bounded up to five dollars. The original cost of
+the set had been three. Then it went gayly skyward by leaps and bounds
+until in a reckless instant Miss Pike capped the climax with ten.
+
+"Well if she wants to be such a fool she may," exclaimed Madam
+Carruth. "I could buy four sets for that money and sometimes even
+sentiment comes too high. I'd save 'em for your mother if I could, but
+sound sense tells me she can make better use of a ten-dollar bill than
+of a half-dozen pieces of old ironmongery. That Pike woman always
+_was_ a fool."
+
+"Gone for ten dollars!" cried the auctioneer at that instant. Miss
+Pike's face was radiant. She was about to turn away when Jean made her
+way through the crowd to her side crying:
+
+"Did you really get them, Miss Pike? mother'll be so glad. When we
+were talking about selling these things she almost cried when she
+spoke about the garden tools and the lamp----"
+
+"_What_ lamp, child? Oh these heartrending changes! Tell me what the
+lamp is like. If it can be saved I'll save it for her. I can't
+understand _why_ your sisters permitted the objects, around which the
+tendrils of your mother's heart were so entwined, to be put up for
+sale. To me it seems a positive sacrilege."
+
+"But mother made them do it. She wouldn't let----and, oh, there's the
+lamp now. That one with the bronze bird on it, see?"
+
+"Oh, the tender memories that must cluster about it. I will hold them
+sacred for her. They shall not be desecrated. Stand beside me, child.
+I shall bid that in for your dear mother."
+
+Again the lively contest for possession was on, although the sums
+named did not mount by such startling bounds as in the case of the
+garden tools. Still, more than four dollars had been offered before
+Miss Pike, in flattering imitation of a large New York department
+store, offered $4.99, and became the triumphant owner of it. Miss Pike
+had a small income, but was by no means given to flinging her dollars
+to the winds. So it was not surprising that many who knew her marveled
+at the sums she was spending for her two purchases. Having paid her
+bill she promptly took possession of her lamp and her case of garden
+tools and stalked off through the throng of people in quest of
+Constance whom she found talking to a group of schoolmates near the
+ruins of the old home.
+
+"Congratulate me! Congratulate me! I've saved the treasures from the
+vandals! I've rescued them from sacrilegious hands. Behold! Take them
+to your mother with my dearest love. I had a struggle to get them, for
+some woman was determined to secure that garden set But _I_ came off
+victorious. I had to do battle royal, but I conquered. Now, my dear,
+when you go home take them with you. They _did_ come rather high; I
+had to pay ten dollars for the garden set, but I got the lamp for less
+than five!--four ninety-nine. But you need not pay me until it is
+_perfectly_ convenient. Don't let it worry you for a moment. I am
+repaid for the time being in the thought that I secured them for your
+mother. I knew she would rather pay twice the sum than see them fall
+into the hands of utter strangers. Good-bye, my dear, I must hurry
+home, for I have been absent too long already."
+
+As Miss Pike departed, Constance dropped upon the carriage step,
+which, being of stone, had survived flame and flood. Upon the ground
+before her lay their own garden set, and stood their own lamp for
+which her mother would have to return to Jerusha Pike, fourteen
+dollars and ninety-nine cents owing to that lady's unbridled zeal. She
+looked at them a moment, then glancing up at her friends whose faces
+were studies, the absurdity of the situation overcame her and them
+also, and peals of laughter echoed upon the wintry air.
+
+"Who was it that said 'Save me from my friends!' Connie?" asked a girl
+friend.
+
+Constance looked unspeakable things. Then bounding to her feet she
+cried:
+
+"Well, it's lucky we can return her own money to her, but that settles
+it. It might have been worse anyway. I've been on the fence for
+several days without knowing which way to jump. _Now_ I do know, and
+Miss Pike has given the push. It's been a case of:
+
+  'Our doubts are traitors
+  And make us lose the good we oft might win
+  By fearing to attempt.'
+
+"There, Belle, is a quotation to match yours, and bear in mind what I
+say: I'm going to live up to it. Now I'm going home. Come on, you
+people, and help me lug these treasures there," and off the laughing
+procession set, each girl or lad burdened with some article of the
+purchases, Constance leading the way with the lamp, and all singing:
+
+  'Doubt thou the stars are fire,
+    Doubt that the sun doth move;
+  Doubt truth to be a liar,
+    Doubt _not_ Jerusha's love.'
+
+"I don't think I ever shall, but perhaps she has helped in one way,
+since she has settled _my_ doubts, and the next thing you people hear
+of me may make you open your eyes. No, I won't tell you a single
+thing. Just wait until next week, then you'll see."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX
+
+Constance B.'s Venture
+
+
+Owing to the stirring events at home, Jean had not set forth that
+morning, but the first excitement, incident to the sale of their
+belongings over, she prepared to drive out to East Riveredge, with her
+box of candies. Mrs. Carruth entertained some misgivings regarding the
+wisdom of letting her again pass through McKim's Hollow, but a
+compromise was effected by Jean agreeing to take a different road. It
+made the trip a trifle longer, but was free from dangers, and Jean set
+forth in high feather and bursting with importance.
+
+Having seen her off, Constance flew to her room, and within half an
+hour emerged therefrom dressed all in soft brown. Little brown toque,
+with a modest brown quill stuck through the folds of the cloth. Brown
+kilted skirt and box coat, brown furs and brown gloves. She looked
+almost as sedate as a little Quakeress, although her cheeks were rosy
+from excitement and her eyes shone.
+
+"Mother, I have a little matter to attend to in South Riveredge. You
+won't feel anxious if I am not back before dark will you?" she asked
+as she paused at her mother's door, on her way down-stairs.
+
+Mrs. Carruth looked at her a moment before replying and wondered if
+the girl had any idea how attractive she was. Then she asked:
+
+"Am I to refrain from making inquiries?"
+
+"Please don't ask a single question, for even if I wanted to answer
+them I couldn't," said Constance, as she kissed her mother good-bye.
+
+Half an hour later she was at the Arcade in South Riveredge, asking
+the elevator man to direct her to the office of the superintendent of
+the building.
+
+"Room 16, fourth floor," directed the man. So to the fourth floor went
+Constance. Opening the door of No. 16, she entered, but stood for a
+second upon the threshold rather at a loss how to proceed. Seated at a
+large rolltop desk was a man wearing a brisk, wide-awake air which
+instantly reminded her of her father. Gaining confidence from that
+fact, so often are we swayed by trifles, she advanced into the room,
+saying: "Good afternoon. Are you the superintendent of the building?"
+
+"I am," answered the gentleman, smiling pleasantly, and rising from
+his chair. "What can I do for you, young lady?"
+
+Now that she had actually come to the point of stating her errand,
+Constance hardly knew where to begin. The superintendent noticing her
+hesitancy said kindly: "Won't you be seated? It is always easier to
+talk business when seated, don't you think so?" and placing a chair
+near his desk, he motioned her toward it.
+
+Mr. Porter did not often have calls from such youthful business women,
+and was somewhat at a loss to understand the meaning of this one.
+Constance was not aware that in placing the chair for her he had put
+it where the light from the window just back of him would fall full
+upon _her_ face.
+
+Taking the chair she looked at him smiling half-doubtfully, and
+half-confidently as she said:
+
+"Maybe you will think I am very silly and inexperienced, and I know I
+_am_, but I'd like to know whether you have any offices to rent in
+this building, and how much you charge for them?"
+
+The big eyes looked very childish as they were turned upon him, and
+Mr. Porter could not help showing some surprise at the question. He
+had a daughter about this girl's age, and wondered how he would feel
+if she were in her place.
+
+"Yes, we have one unoccupied office on the eighth floor, in the rear
+of the building. It is divided into two fair-sized rooms and the
+rental is four hundred dollars a year."
+
+Constance jumped. "Four hundred a year! Why that is almost as much as
+we pay for our _whole_ house! My goodness, isn't that a lot? I had no
+idea they cost so much. Dear me, I'm afraid I can never, never do it,"
+and her words ended with a doubtful shake of her head.
+
+"Do you object to telling me just what you wish to do and why you need
+an office?" asked Mr. Porter kindly. "Perhaps I could offer some
+suggestions. Sometimes our tenants like to rent desk room, and if you
+needed no more than a desk----why----."
+
+"But I couldn't use a desk for a counter, could I?" hesitated
+Constance.
+
+"That depends upon what the counter had to hold. Suppose you tell me.
+Then we will see." The deep blue eyes behind the glasses regarded her
+very encouragingly.
+
+Constance's eyebrows were raised doubtfully as she replied:
+
+"I'm afraid you will think me very foolish and unsophisticated, and of
+course I am, but I just _know_ I can succeed if I once get started
+right. Besides I _won't_ give up unless I _have_ to. Other girls do
+things and there is no reason _I_ shouldn't. I know my candy is good,
+'cause if it wasn't Mammy could not sell it so easily, and--"
+
+"Candy? Are you planning to sell candy? If it's half as good as the
+candy an old colored woman sells around here you'll sell all you can
+make. I buy some of her every time she comes here, and my girls ask
+every day if she has been around with it. It's great candy."
+
+As Mr. Porter talked Constance's cheeks grew rosier and rosier, and
+her eyes danced with fun. Of this he speedily became aware, and
+looking at her keenly he asked:
+
+"Have you ever eaten any of the old Auntie's candy? Does she make it
+herself? I've asked her a dozen times, but I can't get her to commit
+herself! She always gets off a queer rigmarole about her 'pa'tner,'"
+ended Mr. Porter, smiling as he recalled Mammy's clever fencing with
+words.
+
+"Yes, I've eaten it. No, she doesn't make it; she only sells it. _I_
+make it," confessed Constance, nervously toying with the ends of her
+fur collar.
+
+"You don't say so! Why it's the best candy I've ever tasted. Well,
+really! And you think of opening a _stand_?" concluded Mr. Porter, a
+little incredulously, for the girl before him did not seem to be one
+who would venture upon such an enterprise.
+
+"Well yes, and no. I want to have a place to sell it here in South
+Riveredge, but I can't exactly have a counter you see, because I am
+still in school the greater part of the day. So I thought up a plan
+and--and I want to try it. Would you mind if I told you about it?"
+
+The sweet voice and questioning look with which the words were spoken
+would have won the ear of a less interested man than Robert Porter.
+More than an hour passed before this plan which had been simmering in
+the girl's active brain, was laid before the practical business
+man, and he was amazed at what he afterwards pronounced its
+"level-headedness."
+
+When the conversation ended, Constance was wiser by many very sane
+suggestions made by her listener, and more than ever determined to
+carry her plan through.
+
+"Now, young lady, by-the-way, do you mind letting me know your name?
+We can talk better business if I do. Mine's Porter."
+
+"I am Constance Carruth," said Constance.
+
+"Carruth? Not Bernard Carruth's daughter?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"You don't say so! Why I knew your father well, little girl, and
+respected him more than any man I've ever known. He was a fine man.
+Bernard Carruth's daughter? Well I declare."
+
+Constance's cheeks glowed more than ever. Praise of her father was
+sweet to her ears.
+
+"Well, well, Bernard Carruth's daughter," repeated Mr. Porter, as
+though he could not quite make it true. "Well, come with me. I've an
+idea for this candy selling scheme and we'll see what we can do."
+
+Rising from his chair he led the way to the elevator. Upon reaching
+the main floor he walked to the rear of the building where the
+stairway was situated.
+
+In the alcove made by the box-stairs stood the public telephone switch
+board and two booths. At the right, close under the stairs, was an
+empty space too low for the booths, and yet of no use to the operator,
+since while she might be able to occupy it when sitting at a desk, she
+was very likely to encounter a cracked crown if she rose too quickly
+from her chair. All was enclosed with a little wooden railing and well
+lighted by the electric lights.
+
+"Now I am wondering if we couldn't rig up a tempting little booth in
+this unoccupied space. Good afternoon, Miss Willing. How would you
+like to share your quarters with this enterprising young lady? She has
+a mighty clever idea in that logical head of hers and I'm going to do
+my best to help her make it a success. How about _you_?" he ended,
+making a mental contrast between the strikingly handsome, dark-haired,
+dark-eyed girl at the telephone booth, whose glances flashed back at
+him so boldly, and whose toilet would have been better suited to an
+afternoon function than a telephone booth, and the modest,
+well-gowned, young girl beside him.
+
+"I guess I won't bother her, and I'm sure she won't bother _me_," was
+the reply which proved the speaker's fiber, and caused Constance to
+look at her and wonder that any one _could_ be so lacking in
+refinement. Little Connie had many things to learn in the business
+world into which she was venturing. But the knowledge would do her no
+harm. She was well equipped to stand the test.
+
+The girl saw the look of surprise and no rebuke could have been
+keener. With a little resentful toss of her head, for this girl who
+had so innocently made her aware of her shortcomings, she turned to
+answer a call upon the 'phone, and Constance to listen to Mr. Porter's
+words.
+
+"Now, Miss Carruth, my idea is this: Suppose we have this little space
+fitted up with attractive cases, and the necessary shelves. It is not
+very large, but neither is the venture--yet. When it grows bigger we
+will find a bigger cubby for it. The thing to do now is to find the
+_right_ one; one where you can make a good show, and be sure of
+catching your customers, and where the customers are likely to come to
+be _caught_. I don't know of any place where, in the long run, more
+are likely to come than to a 'phone booth. What do you think of it?"
+
+"It's just _splendid_!" cried Constance. "I couldn't have found a
+better place no matter how long I tried. I'm _so_ much obliged to you,
+Mr. Porter."
+
+"Better wait until you see how it pans out--the booth, not the candy. I
+can speak for the panning of that," laughed Mr. Porter, then added:
+"Well, that is step No. 1 taken. Now for No. 2, and that is stocking
+up. Have you thought about that?"
+
+"Yes, I've thought. My goodness! I've thought until my wits are fairly
+muddled with thinking, but that is the part that bothers me most. I
+can make the candy easily enough after school hours, and I can manage
+to send it here, but I'm dreadfully afraid I haven't as much capital
+on hand as I ought to have to get all the boxes I need. They are very
+expensive I find. I wrote to two firms who make them, but it seems to
+me they charged me dreadful prices. Perhaps they suspected from my
+letter that I wasn't much of a business woman," confessed Constance,
+looking frankly into the friendly eyes.
+
+Mr. Porter laughed in spite of himself, then sobering down again
+asked:
+
+"Have you time to come back to my office? I would like to make a
+proposition to you."
+
+"Why yes, Mr. Porter, I have time enough," hesitated Constance. "But I
+am afraid I am taking a good deal more of yours than I ought to."
+
+"Am I not working in the interests of the owner of this building? I'm
+trying to secure a new tenant for him. What more could I do?"
+
+"I don't believe their income will be materially increased by _this_
+tenant," answered Constance much amused at the thought.
+
+"Every one counts, you know. But now to business."
+
+Entering his office with a brisk air, he again motioned Constance to
+the chair by his desk, and asked:
+
+"Are you willing to discuss all the details with me? You know I do not
+ask from idle curiosity, I am sure. I am interested; very deeply
+interested. I want to see this thing succeed. You have outlined your
+plan and it is all right. All it needs now is a little capital to
+carry it through successfully. Now let us see if we can't _secure_
+that."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI
+
+Constance B.'s Candies
+
+
+"Now, Miss Carruth, tell me the prices quoted for the boxes, and how
+many you had thought of ordering," said Mr. Porter, in the voice so
+encouraging when used by older people to younger.
+
+"Well, if I order _any_ I suppose I ought to order a hundred," began
+Constance.
+
+"One hundred!" echoed Mr. Porter. "Why, little girl, that would not be
+a flea-bite. You ought to order five hundred at least."
+
+"_Five hundred!_" cried Constance, in dismay. "Why, Mr. Porter, I'm
+afraid I've hardly enough money to order one hundred at the rate they
+charge," and she named the sums asked by the firms to which she had
+written.
+
+"Bosh! Nonsense! That's downright robbery. You let _me_ write to a
+firm _I_ know of and we'll see what we'll see. And now I'm going to
+take some stock in this company right off. I'm going to invest one
+hundred dollars in it to be used as a working capital--there--don't say
+a word of protest," as Constance voiced an exclamation. "_I_ know what
+I'm up to, and--I love sweets. If you can't pay back in any other way
+you can keep me supplied for a year. Just now you've got to start out
+in good shape, and there is no use doing things half way. But you
+haven't asked me what I'm going to charge you for your booth?"
+concluded Mr. Porter, with a merry twinkle in his blue eyes.
+
+"Why I forgot all about the price," said Constance in confusion. "Oh,
+dear, how stupid I am."
+
+"Well, since it is a space we never thought to rent anyway, and
+couldn't use for anything else if we wished to, suppose we say five
+dollars a month? I think those are pretty good returns for a cubby. If
+I do as well in proportion with all the other offices I'll make the
+owners rich."
+
+"I'm afraid it is _very_ low. I think you are only letting me have it
+so cheap just because you liked father. Don't you think I ought really
+to pay more? I didn't think I could get _any_ sort of a place for
+_less_ than ten dollars a month," was Constance's most unbusinesslike
+speech.
+
+Mr. Porter looked at the earnest face regarding him so frankly and
+confidingly, and a very suspicious moisture came into his eyes. Rising
+from his chair he laid his hand kindly upon her shoulder as she arose
+and stood before him, and said very gently:
+
+"Don't worry yourself on _that_ score, little girl, and--don't mind it
+if I _do_ call you little girl; you seem that to me spite of your
+business aspirations. I am asking you a fair price because I know you
+would rather feel that you are _paying_ a fair price for what you get,
+and would prefer beginning your business venture on such a basis. I am
+also advancing this sum of money because I am confident you will
+succeed. It is purely a business speculation. I would do it for your
+father's sake, but I know you would rather I did it upon strictly
+business principles. I can not lose my money in any case, because if I
+do not get the actual cash, I know I shall get my sweets--a whole
+hundred dollars' worth. It fairly makes my mouth water to think of
+them, and my girls will go wild when I tell them. Keep up a brave
+heart, and, above all, keep that pretty modesty you have, for it will
+carry you farther than any amount of audacity. It is your best armor.
+There is nothing a man respects more than a brave and modest woman, my
+dear. Nothing in this world. Now, little woman, go home and think up
+the style and sizes of the boxes you will need and let me know at
+once. 'Phone me early Monday morning. Design something yourself if you
+can; it will take quicker. Next week I'll have your stall put into
+shape and you can make your candies and stock up as soon as your boxes
+come. _Then_ we will soon learn whether your faith in your
+fellow-beings is justified or misplaced. I believe you will find it
+justified; upon my soul I do; though I have never before seen such a
+scheme put to the test. Now good-bye; good-bye, and God bless you,"
+ended Mr. Porter, warmly shaking the small gloved hand.
+
+"Good-bye, Mr. Porter, and, oh, thank you _so_ much for your kind
+interest. I feel so brave and encouraged to begin now," cried
+Constance, her eyes confirming her words, and her cheeks glowing.
+
+Mr. Porter accompanied her to the elevator, and with another hearty
+farewell, sped her upon her way brimful of enthusiasm, and more than
+ever resolved to carry into effect the scheme which had entered her
+head many weeks before, and which was now taking definite form and
+shape.
+
+The trolley car seemed fairly to crawl along, so did her desire to
+reach home and tell of the afternoon's undertaking outstrip its
+progress. It was quite dark when she alighted and climbed the hill at
+her home, thinking, as she ascended the steps, how sweet and cheerful
+the little home looked, for her mother, in spite of the warnings
+volunteered by some of her friends that some day she would be robbed
+as the outcome of letting all the world look in upon her, would never
+have the shades drawn. Mrs. Carruth always replied:
+
+"For the sake of those to whom a glimpse of our cheery hearth gives
+pleasure, and there are more than you guess, as I have learned to my
+own surprise, I shall take my chances with the possible unscrupulous
+ones."
+
+And so the window shades remained raised after the lamps were lighted,
+and many a passer-by was cheered along his way by a peep at the sweet,
+home-like picture of a gentle-faced woman, and three bright-faced
+girls, gathered around the blazing hearth, and reading or sewing in
+the soft lamp-light.
+
+"Dear little Mumsey," said Constance, softly, as she paused a moment
+before crossing the piazza. "Your girlie is going to help you keep
+just such a sweet home forever and ever, and ever." Then giving the
+whistling bird-call by which the members of the family signaled to
+each other, she went close to the window and looked smilingly in.
+
+Up bounced Jean to fly to the door; Eleanor raised her head from the
+book over which she was, as usual, bent, and nodded; Mrs. Carruth
+waved her hand and wafted a kiss.
+
+"Oh, come in quick, and tell us where you have been, and what you have
+done," cried Jean, opening the door with a whirl.
+
+"Hello, baby! Give me a big hug first," cried Constance, and Jean
+bounded into her arms. Mrs. Carruth had crossed the room to welcome
+the tardy one, and as soon as she was released from Jean's tempestuous
+embrace, took the glowing face in both her hands gently to kiss the
+cheeks as she said:
+
+"What a bonny, bonny glow the cheeks wear, sweetheart. Something very
+lovely must have happened."
+
+"Oh, mother, I've had such a perfectly splendid afternoon and feel so
+brave and proud about it all. Let me get my things off and I'll tell
+you all about it. But is supper almost ready? I'm half-starved?
+Excitement sharpens one's appetite doesn't it? Heigh-ho. Nornie. What
+news of the ponies? If you're to be a coach-woman you've got to have
+some sort of an equine creature to hustle along, haven't you? Did you
+have time to go and see the prospective ones this afternoon? And oh,
+_how_ did the auction turn out, mother? Gracious, what stirring people
+the Carruths are getting to be compared with the common-place,
+slow-going ones they were."
+
+"Jean, dear, run out and tell Mammy that Constance is home, and we
+will have supper at once. You can tell us all the news at the table,
+dear."
+
+Jean flew for Mammy's quarters, quite as eager as Constance to have
+the supper served.
+
+"Mammy! Mammy! Connie's got back, and she's starved _dead_! Mother
+says have supper right off quick," burst out Jean, as she whisked
+through the butler's pantry.
+
+"Jes so. Whar dat chile been? Go 'long back an' tell 'em de supper
+'ready an' a waitin', as de hyme book say, an' I got sumpin' dat dat
+chile pintedly love."
+
+"What is it, Mammy? What is it?" cried Jean, eagerly, as she ran over
+to inspect the dishes upon the range.
+
+"Get out! Clear 'long! Yo' keep yo' little nose outen my dishes!"
+cried Mammy, with assumed wrath, as she pounced upon little
+Miss Inquisitive. "Yo' go right 'long an' tell her I'se got
+lay-over-catch-meddlers in hyer an' lessen yo' take keer you'll turn
+inter one."
+
+"Fiddlestick!" retorted Jean, as she flew back.
+
+A few moments later the family had gathered about the delightful
+supper table and Constance was relating the experiences of the
+afternoon, while first one and then another exclaimed over her
+venture, Mammy crying as she urged her to take another of the dainty
+waffles she had made especially for her. "Honey, what I tol' yo'? Ain'
+I perdic' dat yo' boun' ter hit de tack spang on de right en'? I say
+dat dem pralines and fudges de banginest candies I ever _is_ see, an'
+de folks what done buy 'em--huh! My lan' dey fair brek dey necks
+fallin' ober one an'ner ter git _at_ 'em de minit I sot myse'f on dat
+ar camp stool. An' now yo' gwine open a boof an' 'splay 'em fer sale?
+But yo' aint gwine stan' behin' de counter is yo'? Yo' better _not_
+set out ter do no sich t'ing as _dat_, chile, whilst _I'se yo'_ Mammy.
+No-siree! I ain' gwine stan' fer no sich gwines-on as dat--in a
+Blairsdale. Yo' kin hab yo' cubby, as yo' calls hit, an' take yo'
+chances wedder yo' gits cheated or wedder yo' meets up with hones'
+folks, but yo' cyant go behin' no counter, an' dats flat. When yo'
+gwine begin makin' all dat mess o' candy?"
+
+"Just as soon as I have some boxes to sell it in, Mammy, and those I
+must design. At least must suggest something pretty for the covers."
+
+"Have a picture of Baltie on the cover, Connie. He was the first one
+to take your candies to South Riveredge," cried Jean, with thoughts
+ever for the faithful old silent partner.
+
+"No, Baltie belongs to you and Mammy. By-the-way, how did you get on
+at the school to-day? You haven't told me yet."
+
+"Just _splendiferous_! The boys bought every bit I took; I mean every
+bit that was _left_ after Professor Forbes got all _he_ wanted. He was
+at the gate when I drove up, and what do you think he did? Made me
+stop until he had bought six packages of fudge and six packages of
+pralines, and then made me promise always to save them for him. My
+goodness if that man doesn't have _one_ stomachache," ended this sage
+young lady speaking from bitter experiences of her own.
+
+"Jean!" cried Eleanor.
+
+"Well, it's true. Twelve whole packages of candy all for _himself_,
+greedy old thing! And he asked me if I couldn't come _twice_ a week. I
+told him I guessed not, and if he wanted it oftener than once a week
+he'd have to come after it. And he said that was precisely what he
+_would_ do, and to ask my sister to please to have twelve packages for
+him on Wednesday afternoon. _That_ man's teeth will need a dentist
+just you see if they don't," ended Jean with an ominous wag of the
+head for the sweet-toothed professor, while the rest of the family
+shrieked with laughter.
+
+"What do _you_ suggest for my boxes, mother?" asked Constance, when
+the laugh had subsided.
+
+"How about little white moire paper boxes with some pretty flower on
+the cover?"
+
+"Pretty, but not very distinctive I'm afraid," said Constance,
+doubtfully.
+
+"How about those pretty Japanese boxes they have at Bailey's?"
+ventured Eleanor.
+
+"Still less distinctive. No; I must have some design that suggests
+_me_. Don't think me conceited, but I want people to know that the
+candy is made and sold by a school-girl, who cannot be there to look
+after her counter, and must trust to their honesty. I've got an idea
+about my _sign_, but, somehow, I don't seem to be able to get one that
+is worth a straw for the boxes, yet I've been thinking as hard as I
+could think."
+
+"Wait a minit, Baby," said Mammy, and hurried from the room. She came
+back in about ten minutes holding a small box in her hand. Placing it
+upon the table before Constance, she said: "Now, Honey, mebbe dis yere
+idee ob mine ain' nothin' in de worl' but foolishness, but seems ter
+me ef yo' want distincshumness you's got hit _dar_. I ain' half lak
+ter let yo' _do_ hit, but dey's _yo'_ candies, so I spec' yo' might as
+well let folks unnerstan' hit."
+
+The box was one which Jean had given Mammy the previous Christmas. It
+was made of white moire paper with a small medallion in gilt in the
+left-hand upper corner, the medallion being in the shape of a little
+gold frame formed of gold beads. Originally there had been a colored
+picture of Santa Claus's face within it, but over this Mammy had
+carefully pasted a small photo of Constance; one taken several years
+before. In the center of the box was written in gold script "Merry
+Christmas," and just beneath that the word "bonbons."
+
+"Couldn't you have yo' name whar de Merry Christmas stan' at an'
+'candies' whar de bong bongs is?" asked Mammy.
+
+"Mammy, you old dear!" cried Constance, springing to her feet to throw
+her arms about the wise old creature. "You've hit it exactly. Why I
+couldn't have anything better if I thought for a whole year. I'll have
+some pictures taken right off and the boxes shall be just exactly like
+this. Hurrah for 'Constance B.'s Candies!' Come on Mammy, we've got to
+celebrate the brilliant idea!" and catching the astonished old woman
+by the arms, Constance whirled her off on a lively two-step, whistling
+the accompaniment, while Mammy cried:
+
+"Gawd bress my soul, is yo' gone stark crazy, chile!" and at length
+broke away to vanish protesting within the privacy of her kitchen.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII
+
+First Steps
+
+
+During the ensuing week it would have been hard to find a busier
+household than the Carruths'. Instead of telephoning to Mr. Porter on
+Monday morning, as he had suggested, Constance wrote a long letter
+Saturday evening, giving accurate directions for the boxes, and
+enclosing a paper design to be sent to the manufacturers.
+
+The letter reached him by the early mail, causing him to exclaim:
+"George, what a level little head she _has_ got! She shall have those
+boxes before next Saturday, if I have to go after them myself. Why the
+idea is simply great!"
+
+Going to his 'phone he called up Mrs. Carruth's home. Constance had
+already gone to school, but Mrs. Carruth answered the 'phone. She was
+quite as delighted as Constance would have been, and promised to
+deliver the message to her upon her return. When she heard it
+Constance's cheeks glowed.
+
+"Isn't he a _dear_, mother, to take so much trouble for me? And now I
+must get _busy, busy, busy_. I've pounds and pounds of candy to make
+between this and Saturday, and I must make it afternoons."
+
+"I can not bear to think of you doing this, dear," said Mrs. Carruth,
+laying her hand tenderly upon the soft brown hair.
+
+"Why not, I'd like to know?" cried Constance.
+
+"Because it takes the time you should spend in outdoor exercise. You
+work hard in school, and that has always seemed to me to be quite
+enough for any girl to undertake. Yet here you and Eleanor are about
+to give up your afternoons for this work and the coaching."
+
+Mrs. Carruth sighed, for it was hard for her to adjust herself to the
+new order of things in her family. Raised upon a large plantation,
+where she, the only daughter, was her father's idol, for whom
+everything must be done, and whose every wish must be considered, she
+shrank from the thought of her girls laboring for their daily bread,
+or stepping out into the world beyond their own thresholds. Her father
+would have felt that the world was about to cease revolving had _she_
+been obliged to take such a step. Indeed it would have quite broken
+his heart, for never had any woman of _his_ household been forced to
+do aught toward her own maintenance. But times had changed since
+Reginald Blairsdale had been laid away in the little burial plot upon
+the plantation, where his wife had slept for so many years, and his
+daughter had lived to see many changes take place which would have
+outraged all his traditions.
+
+"Now, mother, _please_ listen to me," said Constance, earnestly, as
+she slipped her arm about her mother's waist. "I am _not_ going to
+give up all my afternoons, and neither is Eleanor. As to the exercise,
+we each have a pretty long walk to and from school mornings and
+afternoons, and, in addition to that, Eleanor will go to her pupils'
+houses to do her coaching. That gives her a good bit of exercise three
+afternoons each week, and she has _all_ her Saturdays free. I shall
+give little more than two hours a day to my candy making, and I know
+you and Jean will gladly help me do the packing and tying up. Just how
+I shall send it over, I haven't decided yet; that can be settled later
+when I send a ton or so each day," laughed Constance. "Meanwhile Mammy
+will take it over, or _I_ can. Only _please_ don't dampen my
+enthusiasm or worry because I am undertaking this step. I am perfectly
+well and strong, and I'll promise not to do anything to endanger that
+health and strength. So smile upon my venture, Mumsey, dear, and make
+up your mind that it _is_ going to be a _great_ success,--because it
+_is_," ended Constance, with a rapturous hug.
+
+"You are my brave, sweet girl!" said Mrs. Carruth, very tenderly.
+"Yes, I'll put my Blairsdale pride in my pocket--or rather my hand-bag,
+since pockets are no longer in fashion, and try to be a full-fledged,
+twentieth-century woman. Now what is the first step?"
+
+"The first step is to make my candies before I try to sell 'em. No,
+the first is to order the stuff sent home to make them of. I'll 'phone
+right down to Van Dorn's this minute. I've plenty on hand for this
+afternoon's candy, but I'll lay in a big supply ahead."
+
+The 'phoning was soon done, and then Constance hurried to the kitchen
+where for the two ensuing hours she worked like a beaver. At the end
+of that time several pounds of tempting sweets were made and ready to
+be wrapped in paraffin paper. When this was done all was packed
+carefully into tin boxes to await the arrival of the paper ones.
+
+Constance surveyed the candy with much satisfaction, as indeed she
+well might, for no daintier sweets could have been found. Turning to
+the others she cried:
+
+"I feel as self-satisfied and self-righteous as though I'd just put a
+new skirt braid on my skirt, and I don't know of anything that makes
+one feel more so. If I can make five pounds a day for six days I'd
+have a pretty good supply on hand for Saturday, my 'opening day.' My,
+doesn't that sound business-like? Nornie, don't you wish _you'd_ taken
+to a commercial rather than a professional life? Come on Jean, the
+others will die of envy when they see our candy booth spread and
+spread until it swallows up all the office space in the Arcade," and
+catching up the saucepan in which she had made her candy, Constance
+began to beat a lively tattoo upon the bottom of it, as an
+accompaniment to her whistling, as, still enveloped in her big apron,
+she pranced about the kitchen. Jean, also in gingham array, promptly
+joining in, for Jean's resentment had vanished since she had been
+taken into the girls' confidence and "entered the partnership" as she
+called it.
+
+In a day or two another message came over the 'phone to Constance,
+asking her to call at the Arcade, the following afternoon.
+
+Upon reaching there at three o'clock, she was met by Mr. Porter, who
+had been on the lookout for her.
+
+"Glad you've come, little girl! Glad to see you," he said heartily.
+"Come and look at your cubby and tell me what you think of it. _I_
+think it great." While he talked Mr. Porter led the way to the rear of
+the Arcade. As they drew near the stairway, Miss Willing glanced up,
+gave an indifferent nod in answer to Constance's "How do you do, Miss
+Willing?" and turned to her 'phone. Miss Willing much preferred being
+the center of attraction beneath the stairs, and was not enthusiastic
+over the thought of sharing her corner with "one of them big-bugs, as
+they think themselves." Could she have known it, this girl, whom she
+was so stigmatizing, felt herself a very tiny bug indeed in the world
+in which Miss Willing dwelt, and secretly stood in considerable awe of
+the young lady who could look with so much self-assurance into the
+eyes of the patrons of her 'phone booth, and smile and joke with old
+and young men alike. There were always several around the booth.
+Constance wondered why they seemed to have to wait so long to have
+their calls answered. Her own 'phone calls at home were answered so
+promptly. However, while these sub-conscious thoughts passed through
+her brain, the more wide-awake portion of it was taking in the changed
+appearance of her cubby's corner.
+
+Mr. Porter had lost no time and spared no trouble, and the Arcade's
+carpenter to whom he had given instructions to "do that job in shape
+and mighty quick," had followed those instructions to a dot. There was
+the cubby, the wood all carefully painted in white enamel, the
+portable shelves made of sheets of heavy glass. A high railing and
+gate shut off one end, giving ingress to the proprietor, and privacy
+if she wished at any time to stay at her counter for awhile. On the
+lower shelf of the counter stood a little cash box divided into two
+sections: One for bills the other for silver. Just above it was a
+small white sign upon which was plainly painted in dark blue letters:
+
+    "Constance B.'s Candies."
+      Take what you wish.
+    Leave cost of goods taken.
+ Make your change from my cash box.
+  Respecting my patrons' integrity,
+             Constance B. C.
+      Kindly close the door.
+
+Constance clasped her hands and gave a little cry of delight. All her
+ideas were so perfectly carried out.
+
+"Oh, Mr. Porter, it is perfectly fascinating! How good you are! How am
+I ever going to pay for it though? I had no idea you were going to so
+much trouble and expense."
+
+"But you don't _have_ to pay for it. Every office has to be fitted up
+for its tenant's needs you know, or he wouldn't rent it. So I had to
+have your cubby fitted up for yours. Now you can stock up as soon as
+you're a mind to. And, by-the-way, those boxes will be along to-morrow
+morning. I told them they must hustle, and they have. Are your photos
+ready to paste on 'em?"
+
+"Yes, they came home last evening; at least six dozen of them did, and
+the rest will come next week. I'll send them to the box manufacturers
+for the next lot and they can be put right on there. It will save our
+time."
+
+"Good! Twelve dozen boxes will be delivered this time, and the rest
+will be along pretty soon. Send your photos to them as quickly as you
+can. I'm glad you like your cubby."
+
+"Like it! Why I'd be the most ungrateful girl that ever lived if I
+didn't like it. It's just simply _splendid_! But a whole year's rent
+won't pay you back I'm afraid."
+
+"Don't care whether it does or not. Mean to make you sign a _five_
+years' lease next time. When will you stock up?"
+
+"Mammy is coming over with me early Saturday morning. Just think we
+have already made over twenty-five pounds of candy. I want to have
+fifty on hand to start with. Do you think I'll _ever_ sell it?" and
+the pretty girlish face was raised to Mr. Porter's with the most
+winning of smiles.
+
+"Little flirt! I wonder if she knows he has daughters as old as _she_
+is," muttered the girl at the 'phone. Constance was quite unconscious
+of either look or comment.
+
+"Of course you'll sell it. Mark my word it will go like hot cakes,"
+was the encouraging answer.
+
+"I hope so. And thank you again and again for _all_ you have done.
+Good-bye. Please tell your daughters what a proud girl you have made
+me," and the little gloved hand was held toward him. He shook it
+warmly and walked with her to the front door. As he turned to go back
+a man who occupied a cigar stand near the door nodded and said with a
+laugh:
+
+"Got a new tenant, Mr. Porter? Goin' to let us have another pretty
+girl to talk to?"
+
+"I've got a new tenant, yes, Breckel, but, unless I am very much
+mistaken, you will not talk to her a great deal, and when you _do_
+you'll take your hat off, and toss away your cigar. It's a pity we
+can't have a few more such girls in our business world. It would raise
+the standard considerably. Men would find a better occupation than
+making fool speeches to them then. Mark my word that little woman will
+succeed."
+
+"I'm sure I hope she will if she's the right stuff," answered Breckel,
+the laugh giving place to a more earnest expression and tone of voice,
+which proved that the man, like most of his stamp, had something good
+in him to be appealed to.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII
+
+Opening Day
+
+
+At last the eventful morning arrived. Constance and Mammy were astir
+long before the clock struck six, and the candy kettles were bubbling
+merrily. Constance was pulling her big lump of molasses candy when
+Jean came bounding into the kitchen arrayed in her little night toga.
+
+"Bress my soul!" cried Mammy. "Wha' yo' doin' down hyer? Kite long
+back dis minit. Does yer want ter kitch yo' deaf cold?"
+
+"But Connie didn't call me, and I said I'd help," protested Jean.
+
+"He'p! He'p! Yo' look lak yo' could he'p, don't yo'? stannin' dar
+dressed in nuffin in de worl' but yo' nightie an' yo' _skin_. Clar out
+dis minit befo' I smack yo' wid dis hyer gre't spoon," and Mammy made
+a dive for the culprit as she darted away.
+
+A few hours later the candy boxes were in the bottom of the phaeton,
+Constance mounting guard over them while Mammy acted as Jehu.
+
+When the Arcade was reached Mammy descended from the phaeton,
+blanketed Baltie, and then taking one of the large boxes in which the
+smaller ones were packed, said:
+
+"Now honey, yo' tek anodder--_No, not two_ of 'em--dey's too heavy fo'
+you; I'll come back fo' dose. Now walk 'long head ob me, kase I want
+dese hyer folks what's a-starin' at us lak dey aint neber _is_ seen
+anybody befo', ter unnerstan' dat I'se _yo' sarvint_, an' here fer ter
+pertec' yo'. _An' I ain' gwine stan' no nonsense needer._"
+
+"You need not be afraid Mammy. Everybody is just as kind and lovely as
+possible."
+
+"Huh! Dey'd _better_ be," retorted Mammy, with a warning snort.
+
+In a short time the little booth made a brave showing with its
+quarter-pound, half-pound, and pound boxes of candy, each tied with
+pretty ribbon, and each bearing upon its cover the smiling face of its
+young maker.
+
+When Miss Willing found a chance to take a sly peep at them she turned
+her head and sneered as she murmured: "Well, of all the conceit. My!
+Ain't she just stuck on that face of hers though."
+
+Scarcely was all arranged, when Mr. Porter appeared upon the scene.
+
+"Just in time to be the first customer," he cried gayly. "How are you
+this morning? How-de-do, Auntie? Ah, you see I know your partner now.
+What all have you got here anyhow?" he continued as he peered into the
+cases. "Pralines, plain fudge, nut fudge, molasses candy, cream
+walnuts, caramels, butter-scotch. I say! You've been working, little
+girl, haven't you?"
+
+"Lak ter wo'k her finges mos' off," asserted Mammy.
+
+"They're none of them missing, though," laughed Constance, holding up
+the pretty tapering fingers to prove her words.
+
+"Then give me my candies, quick! I can't wait another minute. You can
+almost see my mouth water like my old hunting dog's."
+
+"Which kind will you have Mr. Porter?"
+
+"_All_ kinds of course!"
+
+"Not really?"
+
+"Yes, _really_. Do you think I'm going to miss any of the treat?
+Biggest boxes, please."
+
+Constance lifted from the case a pound box of each variety.
+
+"How much?" asked Mr. Porter.
+
+"Why nothing to _you_? How _could_ I?" she asked, coloring at the
+thought of accepting more from him.
+
+"Now see here, young lady, that won't do. You can't begin _that_ way.
+Your business has got to be spot cash. Don't forget that, or you'll
+get into difficulties," said her customer with a warning nod of his
+head.
+
+"As near as I can make out Mr. Porter, it's just the other way about;
+I'm getting my cash in advance. Now please listen to me," said
+Constance very seriously, an appealing look in her expressive eyes.
+"You have done a great deal for me in arranging this booth so
+attractively, and encouraging me in every way. In addition to that you
+have 'taken stock,' as you call it, in the venture. Very well, _I_
+call it simply advancing capital. Now I shall never feel at ease until
+that sum is paid off, and one way for me to do it is to let you have
+all the candy you want. No--wait a minute; I haven't finished," as Mr.
+Porter raised his hand in protest. "If you will promise to come to the
+booth for all the candy you want, I will charge you just the same for
+it as I charge the others, but it must go toward canceling my
+obligation _so far as money_ can cancel it. Now, _please_, say yes,
+and make my opening day a very happy one for me. Otherwise I shall
+have to refuse to let you have _any_ candy until I have paid back the
+hundred dollars. Isn't that right and fair, Mammy?" she asked, turning
+to look into the kind old face beside her.
+
+"Hits jist de fa'r an' squar' livin' truf. Hit suah is, Massa Potah.
+Ain' no gittin' roun' dat. We-all cyant tek no mo' 'vestments 'dout we
+gibs somepin fer ter mak hit right. Miss Constance, know what she
+a-sayin'."
+
+The gay bandanna nodded vigorously to emphasize this statement.
+
+Mr. Porter looked at them for a moment, and then broke into a hearty
+laugh.
+
+"I give it up!" he cried. "Have it your own way, but if I eat sweets
+until I lose all my teeth, upon your heads be the blame. It isn't
+every man who has a hundred dollars worth to pick from as he chooses."
+
+"_You_ won't have very long, because I expect to pay back in more ways
+than just candies," cried Constance, merrily.
+
+"But you surely don't want _all_ that?" she added, laying her hands
+upon the seven boxes lying upon the counter.
+
+"Yes, I do! My soul, if she isn't trying to do me out of my own
+purchases. Here, young lady, give me those boxes. I want them right in
+my own hands before you have some new protest to put forth," and
+hastily piling his seven pounds of candy upon his arm, Mr. Porter fled
+for the elevator, leaving Mammy and Constance to laugh at his speedy
+departure.
+
+At length all was arranged, the booth with its array of dainty boxes
+making a brave display.
+
+Constance and Mammy stood for a moment looking at it before taking
+their departure, well pleased with the result of their undertaking.
+Then with a pleasant good morning to Miss Willing, whose eyes and ears
+had been more than busy during the past hour, they departed, leaving
+the little candy booth, its cash box, and its very unusual
+announcement upon the sign which swung above it, to prove or disprove
+the faith which one young girl felt in her fellow beings.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV
+
+One Month Later
+
+
+One month had passed since the eventful opening day. A month of hard,
+incessant work for Constance, Mammy and Jean, who insisted upon doing
+her share. It was nearly March, and the air already held a hint of
+spring. The pussy-willows were beginning to peep out upon the world,
+and in sheltered spots far away in the woodland the faint fragrance of
+arbutus could be detected.
+
+From her opening day, Constance's venture had prospered, and the
+little candy booth's popularity became a fact assured. Up betimes
+every morning, Constance had her kettles boiling merrily and by seven
+o'clock many pounds of candy were ready to be packed in the dainty
+boxes. Then came Jean's part of the work and never had she failed to
+come to time. True to her word to be a "sure-enough partner," she was
+up bright and early and had her candies wrapped and packed before her
+breakfast was touched. Mammy and Baltie, soon became familiar figures
+in South Riveredge, and many of Constance's patrons believed the old
+woman to be the real mover of the enterprise. How she found time to
+convey the candy boxes to the booth, arrange them with such care,
+collect the money deposited there the previous day by the rapidly
+increasing number of customers, and still reach home in time to
+prepare the mid-day meal with her usual care, was a source of wonder
+to all. Yet do it she did, and her pride and ambition for the success
+of the venture rivaled Constance's. Failure was not even to be dreamed
+of. No one ever guessed the hours stolen from her sleep by the good
+soul to make up for the hours stolen from her daily duties, but many a
+night after bidding the family an ostentatious "good-night, ladies,"
+and betaking herself to her bedroom above stairs, did she listen until
+every sound was hushed and then creep back to her kitchen and work
+softly until everything was completed to her satisfaction.
+
+Friday afternoons and Saturdays, Constance took matters into her own
+hands, and she soon discovered that another mode of transportation for
+her candy would be imperative, so rapidly was the demand for Constance
+B.'s Candies increasing. So after the first two weeks the local
+expressman was pressed into service, and the old colored man, who for
+years had run the elevator in the Arcade, received the boxes upon
+their delivery.
+
+The way in which the old man had scraped acquaintance with Mammy,
+caused Mr. Porter considerable amusement. Mammy's intercourse with the
+colored people she had met since coming North, had not been calculated
+to increase her respect for her race. Finding "Uncle Rastus" at the
+North, she instantly concluded that he had been born and raised there.
+That, like herself, he might have been transplanted, she did not stop
+to argue. But one day when Mammy was struggling with an unusually
+large consignment of candy, Uncle Rastus hurried to offer his services
+"to one ob de quality colored ladies," as he gallantly expressed it.
+This led to a better understanding between the two old people, and
+when Mammy discovered that Rastus had been born and raised in the
+county adjoining her own, and that his old master and hers had been
+warm friends, Rastus' claim to polite society was indisputable, and
+from that moment, Mammy and Rastus owned the Arcade, and the courtly
+old negro, and dignified old negress caused not a little amusement to
+Constance B.'s customers, and the people who frequented the Arcade. It
+would be hard to tell which grew to take the greater pride in the
+venture, for Rastus had all the old antebellum negro's love and
+respect for his white folks and Mammy lost no opportunity for singing
+the praises of hers. And thus another member was added to the firm and
+Constance's interests were well guarded.
+
+Not once since launching upon her venture had Constance met with any
+loss. The little cash box invariably held the correct amount to
+balance the number of boxes taken from the booth, and the returns
+surprised Constance more than anyone else.
+
+"I tell you I'm going to be a genuine business woman, see if I'm not,"
+she cried, after balancing her accounts one Saturday evening. "Why
+just think of it Mumsey, dear, here are fifteen dollars over and above
+_all_ expenses for the week. If I continue like this I'll be a
+million_nairess_ before I know what has happened. How are you
+flourishing, Nornie? Are your Pegasus Ponies as profitable?"
+
+"Not quite, but I'm hopeful," laughed Eleanor. "Some of them are
+spavined in their minds, I fear. At any rate they don't 'arrive' as
+quickly as I'd like to have them in spite of all my efforts. However,
+they are not going backward, and I dare say that ought to gratify me,
+especially when they are willing to pay me two dollars an hour for
+helping them to stand _still_. I can't make such a showing from
+driving my coach as you can make from wielding your big spoon, Connie
+dear, but ten dollars added to your fifteen will keep the wolf from
+the door, won't it little mother?" ended Eleanor, laying her hand upon
+her mother's shoulder.
+
+Mrs. Carruth rested her cheek upon it as she replied:
+
+"What should I do without my girls? I am _so_ proud of my girls! So
+proud!--yet I cannot realize it all."
+
+"You haven't got to do without us. We're here to be done _with_,
+aren't _we_, Nornie?" cried Constance, gayly.
+
+"We certainly _are_," was the hearty response.
+
+"Then why don't you add my part?" demanded Jean, who had faithfully
+made her journeys to the Irving School each Saturday morning, and upon
+each occasion returned triumphant with her candy box empty, but her
+little coin bag well filled with dimes, for her customers were always
+on the lookout for her.
+
+"I have, Honey. It is all included in the amounts set down here,"
+answered Constance.
+
+"Yes, but I want to know just which part of it is mine. How much did I
+sell last Saturday and how much to-day?" persisted Jean.
+
+"Twenty-five packages last Saturday and eighteen this. Forty-three in
+all. Four dollars and thirty cents in two weeks, and four dollars in
+your first two weeks. Eight dollars and thirty cents all told, little
+girl. Two dollars seven and a half cents a week. I call that pretty
+good for a ten-year-old business woman, don't you, Mumsey, dear?"
+
+"I call it truly wonderful," was Mrs. Carruth's warm reply.
+
+"What do _you_ think of it, Mammy?" cried Constance. "Aren't we here
+to be done with after that showing?"
+
+"Done wid _what_?" promptly demanded Mammy, who had no intention of
+committing herself before becoming fully informed of all the facts.
+
+"Done _everything_ with. Made use of. Worked for all there is in us.
+Made to pay for ourselves. Isn't that right, Mammy? Say 'yes' right
+off. Say 'yes' Mammy, because that's why we are big, and young, and
+strong, and happy, and anxious to prove that we are the 'banginest
+chillern' that _ever_ were. You've said so hundreds of times, you know
+you have, so don't try to go back on it now. Aren't we _just right_,
+Mammy? Successful business women and a firm of which you are proud to
+be a member? The Carruth Corporation, _bound_ to succeed because,
+unlike other corporations, it has a _soul_, yes, _four_ of 'em, and
+can prove that a corporation with four souls can outstrip any other
+ever associated. _Mine's_ as light as a feather this minute, so let's
+prance," ended Constance, springing toward Mammy, to catch her
+hardened hands in her own warm ones, and give a beckoning nod to Jean
+and Eleanor, who were quick to take her hint. The next instant a
+circle was formed around Mrs. Carruth's chair, the girls singing in
+voices that made the room ring.
+
+  "Mammy, dear,
+  Listen here,
+  Isn't this a lark?
+  Every day,
+  Work and play,
+  And each to do her part."
+
+While poor old Mammy sputtered and protested as she pounded around
+with them willy-nilly.
+
+"Bangin'est chillern! _Bangin'est_ chillern! Huh! I reckons you _is_!
+Huh! Let me go dis _minit_! Miss Jinny! Miss Jinny! Please ma'am, make
+'em quit. Make 'em let loose ob me! Dar! You hear dat? Eben Baltie
+heer yo'in' holler. Bres Gawd, I believes he's 'fronted kase he lef'
+outen de cop'ration. Dat's hit! He's sure _is_. Let me go dis minit, I
+say. He gotter be part ob it," and giving a final wrench from the
+detaining hands, Mammy rushed away crying in answer to old Baltie's
+neigh, which had reached her ears from his stable:
+
+"Yas, yas, Baltic hawse, Mammy done heard yo' a-callin' an' she's
+a-comin'; comin' to passify yo' hurt feelin's case you's been left
+outen de cop'ration. Comin', honey, comin'."
+
+
+
+
+About this book:
+
+    Original publication data:
+    Title: Three Little Women, A Story for Girls
+    Author: Gabrielle E. Jackson
+    Publisher: John C. Winston Company
+    Copyright: 1913, by  John C. Winston Company
+
+
+
+***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THREE LITTLE WOMEN***
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