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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/14863-8.txt b/14863-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1b156b7 --- /dev/null +++ b/14863-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5756 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Tinder-Box, by Maria Thompson Daviess + +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: The Tinder-Box + +Author: Maria Thompson Daviess + +Release Date: February 1, 2005 [EBook #14863] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TINDER-BOX *** + + + + +Produced by Kentuckiana Digital Library, David Garcia, Chuck Greif, Leonard +Johnson and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + + + + + + +THE TINDER-BOX + +[Illustration: "You don't need another vine," I answered mutinously.] + + + + +THE TINDER-BOX + +BY + +MARIA THOMPSON DAVIESS + +Author of + +"The Melting of Molly," "Miss Selina Lue," "Sue Jane," Etc. + +WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY JOHN EDWIN JACKSON + +NEW YORK THE CENTURY CO. + +_Published, November, 1913_ + + + + +I DEDICATE THIS BOOK TO HANNAH DAVIESS PITTMAN WHO BLAZED MY TRAIL AND +STILL DOES + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER PAGE + +I. THE LOAD 3 + +II. THE MAIDEN LANCE 26 + +III. A FLINT-SPARK 48 + +IV. SWEETER WHEN TAMED? 79 + +V. DEEPER THAN SHOULDERS OR RIBS 105 + +VI. MAN AND THE ASAFETIDA SPOON 136 + +VII. SOME SMOLDERINGS 173 + +VIII. AN ATTAINED TO-MORROW 211 + +IX. DYNAMITE 248 + +X. TOGETHER? 282 + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + +"You don't need another vine," I answered mutinously....._Frontispiece_ + +He stood calmly in the midst of Sallie's family and baggage, both +animate and inanimate 38 + +"Say, Polk, I let the Pup git hung by her apron to the wheel of your +car" 98 + +His gray eyes were positively mysterious with interrupted dreams 182 + +"We must not allow the men time to get sore over this matter of the +League" 218 + +"Is this right?" he asked 244 + +"She's our Mother," he said 276 + +Scrouged so close to his arm that it was difficult for both of them to +walk 280 + + + + + +THE TINDER BOX + +CHAPTER I + +THE LOAD + + +All love is a gas, and it takes either loneliness, strength of +character, or religion to liquefy it into a condition to be ladled out +of us, one to another. There is a certain dangerously volatile state of +it; and occasionally people, especially of opposite sexes, try to +administer it to each other in that form, with asphyxiation resulting to +both hearts. And I'm willing to confess that it is generally a woman's +fault when such an accident occurs. That is, it is a mistake of her +nature, not one of intent. But she is learning! + +Also when a woman is created, the winds have wooed star-dust, rose-dew, +peach-down, and a few flint-shavings into a whirlwind of deviltry, and +the world at large looks on in wonder and sore amazement, as well as +breathless interest. I know, because I am one, and have just been waked +up by the gyrations of the cyclone; and I'm deeply confounded. I don't +like it, and wish I could have slept longer, but Fate and Jane Mathers +decreed otherwise. At least Jane decreed, and Fate seems so far helpless +to controvert the decree. + +I might have known that when this jolly, easy-going old Fate of mine, +which I inherited from a lot of indolent, pleasure-loving Harpeth Valley +Tennesseans, let me pack up my graduating thesis, my B.S., and some +delicious frocks, and go off to Paris for a degree from the Beaux Arts +in Architecture, we would be caught up with by some kind of Nemesis or +other, and put in our place in the biological and ethnological scheme of +existence. Yes, Fate and I are placed, and Jane did it. + +Also, I am glad, now that I know what is going to happen to me, that I +had last week on shipboard, with Richard Hall bombarding my cardiac +regions with his honest eyes and booming voice discreetly muffled to +accord with the moonlight and the quiet places around the deck. I may +never get that sort of a joy-drink again, but it was so well done that +it will help me to administer the same to others when the awful occasion +arrives. + +"A woman is the spark that lights the flame on the altar of the inner +man, dear, and you'll have to sparkle when your time comes," he warned +me, as I hurried what might have been a very tender parting, the last +night at sea. + +"_Spark_"--she's a conflagration by this new plan of Jane's, but I'm +glad he didn't know about it then. He may have to suffer from it yet. It +is best for him to be as happy as he can as long as he can. + +"Evelina, dear," said Jane, as she and Mary Elizabeth Conners and I sat +in the suite of apartments in which our proud Alma Mater had lodged us +old grads, returned for our second degrees, "your success has been +remarkable, and I am not surprised at all that that positively creative +thesis of yours on the Twentieth Century Garden, to which I listened +to-night, procured you an honorable mention in your class at the Beaux +Arts. The French are a nation that quickly recognizes genius. I am very +happy to-night. All your honors and achievements make me only the more +certain that I have chosen the right person for the glorious mission I +am about to offer you." + +"Oh, no, Jane!" I exclaimed, from a sort of instinct for trouble to +come. I know that devoted, twenty-second century look in Jane's intense, +near-sighted eyes, and I always fend from it. She is a very dear person, +and I respectfully adore her. Indeed, I sometimes think she is the real +spine in my back that was left out of me, and of its own strength got +developed into another and a finer woman. She became captain of my +Freshman soul, at the same time she captured the captaincy of the boat +crew, on which I pulled stroke, and I'm still hitting the water when she +gives the word, though it now looks as if we are both adrift on the high +and uncharted seas--or sitting on the lid of a tinder-box, juggling +lighted torches. + +"You see, dear," she went on to say slowly, drawing Mary Elizabeth into +the spell-bound circle of our intensity, as we three sat together with +our newly-engraved sheepskins on our knees, "for these two years while +you have been growing and developing along all your natural lines in a +country which was not your own, in a little pool I should call it, out +of even sight and sound of the current of events, we have been here in +your own land engaged in the great work of the organization and +reorganization which is molding the destinies of the women of our +times, and those that come after us. That is what I want to talk to you +about, and devoutly have I been praying that your heart will be +receptive to the call that has claimed the life of Mary Elizabeth and +me. There is a particular work, for which you are fitted as no other +woman I have ever known is fitted, and I want to lay the case plainly +before you to-night. Will you give me a hearing?" + +And the hearing I gave that beloved and devout woman was the _reveille_ +that awakened me to this--this whirlwind that seems to be both inside me +and outside me, and everywhere else in the whole world. + +It's not woman's suffrage; it has gone way down past the road from votes +for women. I wish I could have stopped in that political field of +endeavor before Jane got to me. She might have left me there doing +little things like making speeches before the United States Senate and +running for Governor of Tennessee, after I had, single-handed, remade +the archaic constitution of that proud and bat-blind old State of my +birth; but such ease was not for me. + +Of course for years, as all women have been doing who are sensible +enough to use the brains God gave them and stop depending on their +centuries-seasoned intuitions and fascinations, I have been reading +about this feminist revolution that seems all of a sudden to have +revoluted from nobody knows where, and I have been generally indignant +over things whether I understood them or not, and I have felt that I was +being oppressed by the opposite sex, even if I could not locate the +exact spot of the pain produced. I have always felt that when I got to +it I would shake off the shackles of my queer fondness and of my +dependence upon my oppressors, and do something revengeful to them. + +When my father died in my Junior year and left me all alone in the +world, the first thing that made me feel life in my veins again was the +unholy rage I experienced when I found that he had left me bodaciously +and otherwise to my fifth cousin, James Hardin. + +Cousin James is a healthy reversion to the primitive type of Father +Abraham, and he has so much aristocratic moss on him that he reminds me +of that old gray crag that hangs over Silver Creek out on Providence +Road. Artistically he is perfectly beautiful in an Old-Testament +fashion. He lives in an ancient, rambling house across the road from my +home, and he is making a souvenir collection of derelict women. +Everybody that dies in Glendale leaves him a relict, and including his +mother, Cousin Martha, he now has either seven or nine female charges, +depending on the sex of Sallie Carruthers's twin babies, which I can't +exactly remember, but will wager is feminine. + +My being left to him was an insult to me, though of course Father did +not see it that way. He adored the Crag, as everybody else in Glendale +does, and wouldn't have considered not leaving him precious me. Wanting +to ignore Cousin James, because I was bound out to him until my +twenty-fifth year or marriage, which is worse, has kept me from Glendale +all these four years since father died suddenly while I was away at +college, laid up with the ankle which I broke in the gymnasium. Still, +as much as I resent him, I keep the letter the Crag wrote me the night +after Father died, right where I can put my hand on it if life suddenly +panics me for any reason. It covers all the circumstances I have yet +met. I wonder if I ought to burn it now! + +But, to be honest with myself, I will have to confess that the +explosively sentimental scene on the front porch, the night I left for +college, with Polk Hayes has had something to do with my cowardice in +lingering in foreign climes. I feel that it is something I will have to +go on with some day, and the devil will have to pick up the chips. Polk +is the kind of man that ought to be exterminated by the government in +sympathy for its women wards, if his clan didn't make such good citizens +when they do finally marry. He ought at least to be labeled "poison for +the very young." I was very young out on the porch that night. Still, I +don't resent him like I do the archaic Crag. + +And as Jane talked, my seasoned indignation of four years against my +keeper flared up, and while she paused at intervals for breath I hurled +out plans for his demolishment. I wish now I had been more +conservatively quiet, and left myself a loophole, but I didn't. I walked +into this situation and shut the door behind me. + +"Yes, Evelina, I think you will have to insist forcibly on assuming +charge of your own social and financial affairs in your own home. It may +not be easy, with such a man as you describe, but you will accomplish +it. However, many mediocre women have proved their ability to attend to +their own fortunes, and do good business for themselves; but your battle +is to be fought on still higher grounds. You are to rise and establish +with your fellow-man a plane of common citizenship. You do it for his +sake and your own, and for that of humanity." + +"Suppose, after I get up there on that plateau, I didn't find any man at +all," I ventured faint-heartedly, but with a ripple of my risibles; the +last in life I fear. + +"You must reach down your hands to them and draw them up to you," she +answered in a tone of tonic inspiration. "You are to claim the same +right to express your emotions that a man has. You are to offer your +friendship to both men and women on the same frank terms, with no +degrading hesitancy caused by an embarrassment on account of your sex. +It is his due and yours. No form of affection is to be withheld from +him. It is to be done frankly and impressively, and when the time +comes--" I can hardly write this, but the memory of the wonderful though +fanatic light in Jane's eyes makes me able to scrawl it--"that you feel +the mating instinct in you move towards any man, I charge you that you +are to consider it a sacred obligation to express it with the same +honesty that a man would express the same thing to you, in like case, +even if he has shown no sign of that impulse toward you. No contortions +and contemptible indirect method of attack, but a fearless one that is +yours by right, and his though he may not acknowledge it. The barbaric +and senseless old convention that denies women the right of selection, +for which God has given her the superior instinct, is to be broken down +by just such women as you. A woman less dowered by beauty and all +feminine charm could not do it just yet, but to you, to whom the +command of men is a natural gift, is granted the wonderful chance to +prove that it can be done, honestly and triumphantly, with no sacrifice +of the sacredness of womanhood." + +"Oh, Jane." I moaned into the arm of the chair on which I had bowed my +head. + +I am moaning; now just as much, down in the bottom of my heart. Where +are all my gentle foremothers that smiled behind their lace fans and had +their lily-white hands kissed by cavalier gentlemen in starched ruffles, +out under the stars that rise over Old Harpeth, that they don't claim me +in a calm and peaceful death? Still, as much as I would like to die, I +am interested in what is going to happen. + +"Yes, Evelina," she answered in an adamant tone of voice, "and when I +have the complete record of what, I know, will be your triumphant +vindication of the truth that it is possible and advisable for women to +assert their divine right to choose a mate for their sacred vocation of +bearing the race, I shall proceed, as I have told you, to choose five +other suitable young women to follow your example, and furnish them the +money, up to the sum of a hundred thousand dollars, after having been +convinced by your experience. Be careful to make the most minute +records, of even the most emotional phases of the question, in this book +for their guidance. Of course, they will never know the source of the +data, and I will help you elucidate and arrange the book, after it is +all accomplished." + +If Jane hadn't had two million dollars all this trouble would not be. + +"I can never do it!" I exclaimed with horror, "And the men will hate +it--and me. And if I did do it, I couldn't write it." + +I almost sobbed as a vision flashed before me of thus verbally +snap-shotting the scene with dear old Dickie as we stood against the +rail of the ship and watched the waves fling back silvery radiance at +the full moon, and I also wondered how I was to render in serviceable +written data his husky: + +"A woman is the flame that lights the spark--" + +Also, what would that interview with Polk Hayes look like reproduced +with high lights? + +"Now," she answered encouragingly, "don't fear the men, dear. They are +sensible and business-like creatures, and they will soon see how much to +their advantage it is to be married to women who have had an equal +privilege with themselves of showing their preferences. Then only can +they be sure that their unions are from real preferences and not +compromises, on the part of their wives, from lack of other choice. Of +course, a woman's pride will make her refrain from courtship, as does +her brother man, until she is financially independent, and +self-supporting, lest she be put in the position of a mendicant." Jane +has thought the whole thing out from Genesis to Revelation. + +Still, that last clause about the mendicant leaves hope for the +benighted man who still wants the cling of the vine. A true vine would +never want--or be able--to hustle enough to flower sordid dollars +instead of curls and blushes. + +"A woman would have to be--to be a good deal of a woman, not any less +one, to put such a thing across, Jane," I said, with a preflash of some +of the things that might happen in such a cruel crusade of reformation +and deprivation of rights. + +"That is the reason I have chosen you to collect the data, Evelina," +answered Jane, with another of those glorious tonic looks, issuing from +my backbone in her back. "The ultimate woman must be superb in body, +brain, and heart. You are that now more nearly than any one I have ever +seen. You are the woman!" + +I was silenced with awe. + +"Jane plans to choose five girls who would otherwise have to spend their +lives teaching in crowded cities after leaving college and to start them +in any profession they choose, with every chance of happiness, in the +smaller cities of the South and Middle West," said Mary Elizabeth +gently, and somehow the tears rose in my eyes, as I thought how the poor +dear had been teaching in the high school in Chicago the two glorious +years I had been frolicking abroad. No time, and no men to have good +times with. + +And there were hundreds like her, I knew, in all the crowded parts of +the United States. And as I had begun, I thought further. Just because I +was embarrassed at the idea of proposing to some foolish man, who is of +no importance to me, himself, or the world in general, down in Glendale, +where they have all known me all my life, and would expect anything of +me anyway after I have defied tradition and gone to college, five +lovely, lonely girls would have to go without any delightful suitors +like Richard--or Polk Hayes, forever. + +And, still further, I thought of the other girls, coming under the +influence of those five, who might be encouraged to hold up their heads +and look around, and at least help out their Richards in their +matrimonial quest, and as I sat there with Jane's compelling and Mary +Elizabeth's hungry eyes on me, I felt that I was being besought by all +the lovers of all the future generations to tear down some sort of awful +barrier and give them happiness. And it was the thought of the men that +was most appealing. It takes a woman who really likes them as I do, and +has their good really at heart, to see their side of the question as +Jane put it, poor dears. Suddenly, I felt that all the happiness of the +whole world was in one big, golden chalice, and that I had to hold it +steadily to give drink to all men and all women--with a vision of +little unborn kiddies in the future. + +Then, before I could stop myself, I decided--and I hope the dear Lord--I +say it devoutly--indeed I do!--will help that poor man in Glendale if I +pick out the wrong one. I'm going to do it. + +"I accept your appointment and terms, Jane," I said quietly, as I looked +both those devout, if fanatic, women in the face. "I pledge myself to go +back to Glendale, to live a happy, healthy, normal life, as useful as I +can make it. I had intended to do that anyway, for if I am to evolve the +real American garden. I can't do better than sketch and study those in +the Harpeth Valley, for at least two seasons all around. I shall work at +my profession whole-heartedly, take my allotted place in the community, +and refuse to recognize any difference in the obligations and +opportunities in my life and that of the men with whom I am thrown, and +to help all other women to take such a fearless and honest attitude--if +Glendale blows up in consequence. I will seek and claim marriage in +exactly the same fearless way a man does, and when I have found what I +want I shall expect you to put one hundred thousand dollars, twenty to +each, at the disposal of five other suitable young women, to follow my +example, as noted down in this book--if it has been successful. Shall I +give you some sort of written agreement?" + +"Just record the agreement as a note in the book, and I will sign it," +answered Jane, in her crispest and most business-like tone of voice, +though I could see she was trembling with excitement, and poor Mary +Elizabeth was both awe-struck and hopeful. + +I'll invite Mary Elizabeth down to Glendale, as soon as I stake out my +own claim, poor dear! + +And here I sit alone at midnight, with a huge, steel-bound, +lock-and-keyed book that Jane has had made for me, with my name and the +inscription, "In case of death, send unopened to Jane Mathers, Boston, +Massachusetts," on the back, committed to a cause as crazy and as +serious as anything since the Pilgrimages, or the Quest of the Knights +for the Grail. It also looks slightly like trying to produce a modern +Don Quixote, feminine edition, and my cheeks are flaming so that I +wouldn't look at them for worlds. And to write it all, too! I have +always had my opinion of women who spill their souls out of an +ink-bottle, but I ought to pardon a nihilist, that in the dead of night, +cold with terror, confides some awful appointment he has had made him, +to his nearest friend. I am the worst nihilist that ever existed, and +the bomb I am throwing may explode and destroy the human race. But, on +the other hand, the explosion might be of another kind. Suppose that +suddenly a real woman's entire nature should be revealed to the world, +might not the universe be enveloped in a rose glory and a love +symphony? We'll see! + +Also, could the time ever come when a woman wouldn't risk hanging over +the ragged edge of Heaven to hold on to the hand of some man? Never! +Then, as that is the case, I see we must all keep the same firm grip on +the creatures we have always had, and haul them over the edge, but we +must not do it any more without letting them know about it--it isn't +honest. Yes, women must solidify their love into such a concrete form +that men can weigh and measure it, and decide for themselves whether +they want to--to climb to Heaven for it, or remain comfortable old +bachelors. We mustn't any more lead them into marriage blinded by the +overpowering gaseous fragrance called romantic love. + +But, suppose I should lose all love for everybody in this queer quest +for enlightenment I have undertaken? Please, God, let a good man be in +Glendale, Tennessee, who will understand and protect me--no, that's the +wrong prayer! Protect him--no--both of us! + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE MAIDEN LANCE + + +A woman may shut her eyes, and put a man determinedly out of her heart, +and in two minutes she will wake up in an agony of fear that he isn't +there. Now, as I have decided that Glendale is to be the scene of this +bloodless revolution of mine--it would be awful to carry out such an +undertaking anywhere but under the protection of ancestral traditions--I +have operated Richard Hall out of my inmost being with the utmost +cruelty, on an average of every two hours, for this week Jane and I have +been in New York; and I have still got him with me. + +I, at last, became determined, and chose the roof-garden at the Astor to +tell him good-by, and perform the final operation. First I tried to +establish a plane of common citizenship with him, by telling him how +much his two years' friendship across the waters had meant to me, while +we studied the same profession under the same masters, drew at the same +drawing-boards and watched dear old Paris flame into her jeweled +night-fire from Montmarte, together. I was frankly affectionate, and it +made him suspicious of me. + +Then I tried to tell him just a little, only a hint, of my new attitude +towards his sex, and before he had had time even to grasp the idea he +exploded. + +"Don't talk to me as if you were an alienist trying to examine an +abstruse case, Evelina," he growled, with extreme temper. "Go on down +and rusticate with your relatives for the summer, and fly the bats in +your belfry at the old moss-backs, while I am getting this Cincinnati +and Gulf Stations commission under way. Then, when I can, I will come +for you. Let's don't discuss the matter, and it's time I took you back +to your hotel." + +Not a very encouraging tilt for my maiden lance. + +I've had a thought. If I should turn and woo Dickie, like he does me, I +suppose we would be going-so fast in opposite directions that we would +be in danger of passing each other without recognizing signals. I wonder +if that might get to be the case of humanity at large if women do +undertake the tactics I am to experiment with, and a dearth of any kind +of loving and claiming at all be the result. I will elucidate that idea +and shoot it into Jane. But I have no hope; she'll have the answer +ticketed away in the right pigeon-hole, statistics and all, ready to +fire back at me. + +I have a feeling that Jane won't expect such a diary as this locked cell +of a book is becoming, but I can select what looks like data for the +young from these soul squirmings, and only let her have those for The +Five. I don't know which are which now, and I'll have to put down the +whole drama. + +And my home-coming last night was a drama that had in it so much comedy, +dashed with tragedy, that I'm a little breathless over it yet. Jane, and +my mind is breathing unevenly still. + +Considering the situation, and my intentions, I was a bit frightened as +the huge engine rattled and roared its way along the steel rails that +were leading me back, down into the Harpeth Valley. But, when we crossed +the Kentucky line, I forgot the horrors of my mission, and I thrilled +gloriously at getting hack to my hills. Old Harpeth had just come into +sight, as we rounded into the valley and Providence Knob rested back +against it, in a pink glow that I knew came from the honeysuckle in +bloom all over it like a mantle. I traveled fast into the twilight, and +I saw all the stars smile out over the ridge, in answer to the hearth +stars in the valley, before I got across Silver Creek. I hadn't let any +one know that I was coming, so I couldn't expect any one to meet me at +the station at Glendale. There was nobody there I belonged to--just an +empty house. I suppose a man coming home like that would have whistled +and held up his head, but I couldn't. I'm a woman. + +Suddenly, that long glowworm of a train stopped just long enough at +Glendale to eject me and my five trunks, with such hurried emphasis that +I felt I was being planted in the valley forever, and I would have to +root myself here or die. I still feel that way. + +And as I stood just where my feet were planted, in the dust of the road, +instead of on the little ten-foot platform, that didn't quite reach to +my sleeper steps, I felt as small as I really am in comparison to the +universe. I looked after the train and groveled. + +Then, just as I was about to start running down the track, away from +nowhere and to nowhere, I was brought to my senses by a loud boohoo, and +then a snubby choke, which seemed to come out of my bag and +steamer-blanket that stood in a pile before me. + +"Train's gone, train's gone and left us! I knew it would, when Sallie +stopped to put the starch on her face all over again. And Cousin James, +he's as slow as molasses, and I couldn't dress two twins in not time to +button one baby. Oh, damn, oh, damn!" And the sobs rose to a perfect +storm of a wail. + +Just at that moment, down the short platform an electric light, that was +so feeble that it seemed to show a pine-knot influence in its heredity, +was turned on by the station-agent, who was so slow that I perceived the +influence of a descent from old Mr. Territt, who drove the stage that +came down from the city before the war, and my fellow-sufferer stood +revealed. + +She was a slim, red-haired bunch of galatea, stylish of cut as to +upturned nose and straight little skirt but wholly and defiantly unshod +save for a dusty white rag around one pink toe. A cunning little straw +bonnet, with an ecru lace jabot dangled in her hand, and her big brown +eyes reminded me of Jane's at her most inquisitive moments. + +"If you was on a train, what did you git offen it _here_ for?" she +demanded of me, with both scorn and curiosity in her positive young +voice. + +"I don't know why," I answered weakly, not at all in the tone of a +young-gallant-home-from-the-war mood I had intended to assume towards +the first inhabitant of my native town to whom I addressed a remark. + +"We was all a-goin' down to Hillsboro, to visit Aunt Bettie Pollard for +a whole week, to Cousin Tom's wedding, but my family is too slow for +nothing but a funeral. And Cousin James, he's worse. He corned for us +ten minutes behind the town clock, and Mammy Dilsie had phthisic, so I +had to fix the two twins, and we're done left. I wisht I didn't have no +family!" And with her bare feet the young rebel raised a cloud of dust +that rose and settled on my skirt. + +"There they come now," she continued, with the pained contempt still +rising in her voice. + +And around the corner of the station hurried the family party, with all +the haste they would have been expected to use if they had not, just two +minutes earlier, beheld their train go relentlessly on down the valley +to Hillsboro and the wedding celebration. I hadn't placed the kiddie, +but I might have known, from her own description of her family, to whom +she belonged. + +First came Sallie Carruthers, sailing along in the serene way that I +remembered to have always thought like a swan in no hurry, and in her +hands was a wet box from which rose sterns protruded. + +Next in the procession came Aunt Dilsie, huge and black and wheezing, +fanning herself with a genteel turkey-tail fan, and carrying a large +covered basket. + +But the tail-piece of the procession paralyzed all the home-coming +emotions that I had expected to be feeling, save that of pure hilarity. +James Hardin was carrying two bubbly, squirmy, tousle-headed babies, on +one arm, and a huge suitcase in the other hand, and his gray felt hat +set on the back of his shock of black hair at an angle of deep +desperation, though patience shone from every line of his strong, gaunt +body, and I could see in the half light that there were no lines of +irritation about his mouth, which Richard had said looked to him like +that of the prophet Hosea, when I had shown him the picture that Father +had had snapped of himself and the Crag, with their great string of +quail, on one of their hunting-trips, just before Father died. + +"Eve!" he exclaimed, when he suddenly caught sight of me, standing in +the middle of the dusty road, with my impedimenta around me, and as he +spoke he dropped both babies on the platform in a bunch, and the small +trunk on the other side. Then he just stood and looked, and I had to +straighten the roar that was arising in me at the sight of him into a +conventional smile of greeting, suitable to bestow on an enemy. + +But before the smile was well launched, Sallie bustled in and got the +full effect of it. + +"Why, Evelina Shelby, you darling thing, when did you come?" she fairly +bubbled, as she clasped me in the most hospitable of arms, and bestowed +a slightly powdery kiss on both my cheeks. I weakly and femininely +enjoyed the hug, not that a man might not have--Sallie is a dear, and I +always did like her gush, shamefacedly. + +"She got often that train that left us, and she ain't got a bit of +sense, or she wouldn't," answered the Blue Bunch for me, in a +matter-of-fact tone of voice. + +"What for did you all unpack outen the surrey, if you sawed the train go +by?" she further demanded, with accusing practicality. "Don't you know +when youse left?" + +"Oh, Henrietta," exclaimed Sallie, looking at the young-philosopher with +terrified helplessness. "Please don't mind her, Evelina. I don't +understand her being my child, and nobody does, unless it was Henry's +grandmother on his mother's side. You had heard of my loss?" + +If I hadn't heard of the death of Henry Carruthers, Sallie's elaborate +black draperies, relieved by the filmy exquisiteness of white crepe +ruches at the neck and wrists, would have proclaimed the fact. + +Suddenly, something made me look at Cousin James, as he stood calmly in +the midst of Sallie's family and baggage, both animate and inanimate, +and the laugh that had threatened for minutes fairly flared out into his +placid, young prophet face. + +"Oh, I am so sorry, Sallie, and so glad to see all of you that I'm +laughing at the same time," I exclaimed to save myself from the +awfulness of greeting a young widow's announcement of her sorrow in such +an unfeeling manner. To cover my embarrassment and still further +struggles with the laugh that never seemed to be able to have itself +out, I bent and hugged up one of the toddlers, who were balancing +against the Crag's legs, with truly feminine fervor. + +"I'm glad to see you, Evelina," said Cousin James gently, and I could +see that the billows of my mirth had got entirely past him. + +I was glad he had escaped, and I found myself able to look with +composure at his queer, long-tailed gray coat, which made me know that +little old Mr. Pinkus, who had been Father's orderly all through the +war, was still alive and tailoring in his tiny shop down by the +post-office, though now that Father is dead he probably only does it for +Cousin James. The two of them had been his only customers for years. And +as I looked, I saw that the locks that curled in an ante-bellum fashion +around the Crag's ears, were slightly sprinkled with gray, and +remembered how he had loved and stood by Father, even in the manner of +wearing Pinkus clothes; my heart grew very large all of a sudden, and I +held out my hand to him. + +[Illustration: He stood calmly in the midst of Sallie's family and +baggage, both animate and inanimate.] + +"I'm glad to be at home," I said, gazing straight into his eyes, with a +look of affection that you would have been proud of, Jane,--using +unconsciously, until after I had done it, the warmth I had tried +unsuccessfully on Richard Hall at the Astor, not forty-eight hours +ago, but two thousand miles away. And it got a response that puzzles me +to think of yet. It was just a look, but there was a thought of Father +in it, also a suggestion of the glance he bestowed on Sallie's twins. I +remembered that the Crag seldom speaks, and that's what makes you spend +your time breathlessly listening to him. + +"Well, come on, everybody, let's go home and undress, and forget about +the wedding," came in Henrietta's positive and executive tones. "Let's +go and take the strange lady with us. We can have company if we can't be +it. She can sleep other side of me, next the wall." + +I have never met anybody else at all like Henrietta Carruthers, and I +never shall unless Jane Mathers marries and--I sincerely hope that some +day she and Jane will meet. + +And the next ten minutes was one of the most strenuous periods of time I +ever put in, in all my life. I longed, really longed, to go home with +Sallie and Henrietta, and sleep next the wall at Widegables with the +rest of the Crag's collection. But I knew Glendale well enough to see +plainly that if I thus once give myself up to the conventions that by +Saturday night they would have me nicely settled with his relicts, or in +my home with probably two elderly widows and a maiden cousin or so to +look after me. And then, by the end of the next week, they would have +the most suitable person in town fairly hunted by both spoken and mental +influence, to the moonlight end of my front porch, with matrimonial +intentions in his pocket. I knew I had to take a positive stand, and +take it immediately. I must be masculinely firm. No feminine wiles would +serve in such a crisis as this. + +So, I let Cousin James pack me into his low, prehistoric old surrey, in +the front seat, at his side, while Sallie took Aunt Dilsie and one twin +with her on the back seat. Henrietta scrouged down at my feet, and I +fearingly, but accommodatingly, accepted the other twin. It was a +perfect kitten of a baby, and purred itself to sleep against my shoulder +as soon as anchored. + +The half-mile from the station, along the dusty, quiet village streets, +was accomplished in about the time it would take a modern vehicle to +traverse Manhattan lengthwise, and at last we stopped at the gate of +Widegables. The rambling, winged, wide-gabled, tall-columned old pile of +time-grayed brick and stone, sat back in the moonlight, in its tangle of +a garden, under its tall roof maples, with a dignity that went straight +to my heart. There is nothing better in France or England, and I feel +sure that there are not two hundred houses in America as good. I'll +paint it, just like I saw it to-night, for next Spring's Salon. A bright +light shone from the windows of the dining-room in the left wing, where +the collection of clinging vines were taking supper, unconscious of the +return of the left-behinds that threatened. + +And as I glanced at my own tall-pillared, dark old house, that stands +just opposite Widegables, and is of the same period and style, I knew +that if I did not escape into its emptiness before I got into Cousin +Martha's comfortable arms, surrounded by the rest of the Crag's family, +I would never have the courage to enter into the estate of freedom I had +planned. + +"Sallie," I said firmly, as I handed the limp Kitten down to Aunt +Dilsie, as Henrietta took the other one--"Puppy" I suppose I will have +to call the young animal,--from her mother and started on up the walk in +the lead of the return expedition, "I am going over to stay in my own +home to-night. I know it seems strange, but--I _must_. Please don't +worry about me." + +"Why, dear, you can't stay by yourself, with no man on the place," +exclaimed Sallie, in a tone of absolute panic. "I'll go tell Cousin +Martha you are here, while Cousin James unpacks your satchel and +things." And she hurried in her descent from the ark, and also hurried +in her quest for the reinforcement of Cousin Martha's authority. + +"I'm going to escape before any of them come back," I said determinedly +to the Crag, who stood there still, just looking at me. "I'm not up to +arguing the question to-night, for the trip has been a long one, and +this is the first time I have been home since--Just let me have to-night +to myself, please." I found myself pleading to him, as he held up his +arms to lift me clear of the wheels. + +His eyes were hurt and suffering for a second, then a strange light of +comprehension came from them into mine, like a benediction, as he gently +set me on my feet. + +"Must you, Eve?" + +"Yes," I answered, with a gulp that went all the way down to my +feminine toes, as I glanced across the road at the grim, dark old pile +that towered against the starlit sky. "I want to stay in my own house +to-night--and--and I'm not afraid." + +"You won't need to be frightened. I understand, I think--and here's your +key, I always carry it in my pocket. Your Father's candle is on the +mantel. You shall have to-night to yourself. Good-night, and bless your +home-coming, dear!" + +"Good-night," I answered as I turned away from his kind eyes quickly, to +keep from clinging-to him with might and main, and crossed the road to +my own gate. With my head up, and trying for the whistle, at least in my +heart, I went quickly along the front walk with its rows of blush +peonies, nodding along either edge. The two old purple lilacs beside the +front steps have grown so large they seemed to be barring my way into my +home with longing, sweet embraces, and a fragrant little climbing +rose, that has rioted across the front door, ever since I could +remember, bent down and left a kiss on my cheeks. + +The warm, mellow old moon flooded a glow in front of me, through the big +front door, as I opened it, and then hastened to pour into the wide +windows as I threw back the shutters. + +Logs lay ready for lighting in the wide fireplace at the end of the long +room, and Father's tobacco jar gleamed a reflected moonlight from its +pewter sides from the tall mantel-shelf. The old hooks melted into the +dusk of their cases along the wall, and the portrait of Grandfather +Shelby lost its fierce gaze and became benign from its place between the +windows. + +I was being welcomed to the home of my fathers, with a soft dusk that +was as still and sweet as the grave. Sweet for those that want it; but I +didn't. Suddenly, I thrilled as alive as any terror-stricken woman that +ever found herself alone anywhere on any other edge of the world, and +then as suddenly found myself in a complete condition of fright +prostration, crouched on my own threshold. I was frightened at the dark, +and could not even cry. Then almost immediately, while I crouched +quivering in every nerve I seemed to hear a man's voice say +comfortingly: + +"You don't need to be frightened." + +Courageously I lifted my eyes and looked down between the old lilac +bushes, and saw just what I expected I would, a tall, gray figure, +pacing slowly up and down the road. Then it was that fear came into me, +stiffened my muscles and strengthened my soul--fear of myself and my own +conclusions about destiny and all things pertaining thereto. + +I never want to go through such another hour as I spent putting things +in order in Father's room, which opens off the living-room, so I could +go to bed by candle-light in the bed in which he and I were both born. +I wanted to sleep there, and didn't even open any other part of the +grim old house. + +And when I put out the candle and lay in the high, old four-post bed, I +again felt as small as I really am, and I was in danger of a bad +collapse from self-depreciation when my humor came to the rescue. I +might just as well have gone on and slept between Henrietta and the +wall, as was becoming my feminine situation, for here my determination +to assert my masculine privileges was keeping a real man doing sentry +duty up and down a moonlight road all night--and I wanted it. + +"After this, James Hardin, you can consider yourself safe from any of my +attentions or intentions," I laughed to myself, as I turned my face into +the pillow, that was faintly scented from the lavender in which Mother +had always kept her linen. "I've been in Glendale two hours, and one man +is on the home base with his fingers crossed. James, you are free! Oh, +Jane!" + + + + +CHAPTER III + +A FLINT SPARK + + +The greatest upheavals of nature are those that arrive suddenly, without +notifying the world days beforehand of their intentions of splitting the +crust of the Universe wide open. One is coming to Glendale by degrees, +but the town hasn't found out about it yet. I'm the only one who sees +it, and I'm afraid to tell. + +When Old Harpeth, who has been looking down on a nice, peaceful, man +ordained, built, and protected world, woke Glendale up the morning after +my arrival and found me defiantly alone in the home of my fathers--also +of each of my foremothers, by the courtesy of dower--he muttered and +drew a veil of mist across his face. Slight showers ensued, but he had +to come out in less than an hour from pure curiosity. I found the old +garden heavenly in its riot of neglected buds, shoots, and blooms, wet +and welcoming with the soft odors of Heaven itself. + +It was well I was out early to enjoy it, for that was to be the day of +my temptation and sore trial. I am glad I have recorded it all, for I +might have forgotten some day how wonderfully my very pliant, feminine +attitude rubbed in my masculine intentions as to my life on the blind +side of all the forces brought to bear on me to put me back into my +predestined place in the scheme of the existence. + +"Your Cousin James's home is the place for you, Evelina, and until he +explained to me how you felt last night I was deeply hurt that you +hadn't come straight, with Sallie, to me and to him," said Cousin +Martha, in as severe a voice as was possible for such a placid +individual to produce. Cousin Martha is completely lovely, and the +Mossback gets his beauty from her. She is also such a perfect dear that +her influence is something terrific, even if negatively expressed. + +"I have come to help you get your things together, so you can move over +before dinner," she continued with gentle force. "Now, what shall we put +in the portmanteau first? I see you have unpacked very little, and I am +glad that it confirms me in my feeling that your coming over here for +the night was just a dutiful sentiment for your lost loved ones, and not +any unmaidenly sense of independence in the matter of choice where it is +best for you to live. Of course, such a question as that must be left to +your guardian, and of course James will put you under my care." + +"I--I really thought that perhaps Cousin James did not have room for me, +Cousin Martha," I answered meekly. "How many families has he with him +now?" I asked with a still further meekness that was the depths of +wiliness. + +"There are three of us widows, whom he sustains and comforts for the +loss of our husbands, and also the three Norton girls, cousins on his +father's side of the house, you remember. It is impossible for them to +look after their plantation since their father's death robbed them of a +protector, at least, even though he had been paralyzed since Gettysburg. +James is a most wonderful man, my dear--a most wonderful man. Though as +he is my son I ought to think it in silence." + +"Indeed he is," I answered from the heart. "But--but wouldn't it be a +little crowded for him to have another--another vine--that is, exactly +what would he do with me? I know Widegables is wide, but that is a +houseful, isn't it?" + +"Well, all of us did feel that it made the house uncomfortably full when +Sallie came with the three children, but you know Henry Carruthers left +James his executor and guardian of the children, and Sallie of course +couldn't live alone, so Mrs. Hargrove and I moved into the south room +together, and gave Sallie and the children my room. It is a large room, +and it would be such a comfort to Sallie to have you stay with her and +help her at night with the children. She doesn't really feel able to get +up with them at all. Then Dilsie could sleep in the cabin, as she ought +to on account of the jimsonweed in her phthisic pipe. It would be such a +beautiful influence in your lonely life, Evelina, to have the children +to care for." + +I wondered if Cousin Martha had ever heard that galatea bunch indulge in +such heartfelt oaths as had followed that train down the track last +night! + +"It would be lovely," I answered--and the reply was not all insincerity, +as I thought of the darkness of that long night, and the Bunch's offer +of a place at her sturdy little back "next the wall." + +"But I will be so busy with my own work, Cousin Martha, that I am afraid +I couldn't do justice to the situation and repay the children and Sallie +for crowding them." + +"Why, you couldn't crowd us, Evelina, honey," came in Sallie's rich +voice, as she sailed into the room, trailing the Pup and the Kit at her +skirts and flying lavender ribbons at loose ends. "We've come to help +you move over right away." + +"Well, not while I have a voice in the affairs of my own husband's +niece! How are you, Evelina, and are you crazy, Sallie Carruthers?" came +in a deep raven croak of a voice that sounded as if it had harked partly +from the tomb, as Aunt Augusta Shelby stood in the doorway, with reproof +on her lips and sternness on her brow. "Peter and I will have Evelina +move down immediately with us. James Hardin has as much in the way of a +family as he can very well stand up under now." + +And as she spoke, Aunt Augusta glared at Sallie with such ferocity that +even Sallie's sunshiny presence was slightly dimmed. + +"Are you ready, Evelina? Peter will send the surrey for your baggage," +she continued, and for a moment I quailed, for Aunt Augusta's +determination of mind is always formidable, but I summoned my woman's +wit and man's courage, and answered quickly before she fairly snatched +me from under my own roof-tree. + +"That would be lovely, Aunt Augusta, and how are you?" I answered and +asked in the same breath, as I drew near enough to her to receive a +business-like peck on my cheek. "I expect to have you and Uncle Peter to +look after me a lot, but somehow I feel that Father would have +liked--liked for me to live here and keep my home--his home--open. Some +way will arrange itself. I haven't talked with Cousin James yet," I +felt white feathers sprouting all over me, as I thus invoked the +masculine dominance I had come to lay. + +"You'll have to settle that matter with your Uncle Peter, then, for, +following his dictates of which I did not approve, I have done our duty +by the orphan. Now, Evelina, let me say in my own person, that I +thoroughly approve of your doing just as you plan." And as she uttered +this heresy, she looked so straight and militant and altogether +commanding, that both Cousin Martha and Sallie quailed. I felt elated, +as if my soul were about to get sight of a kindred personality. Or +rather a soul-relative of yours, Jane. + +"Oh, she would be so lonely, Mrs. Shelby, and she--" Sallie was +venturing to say with trepidation, when Aunt Augusta cut her short +without ceremony. + +"Lonely, nonsense! Such a busy woman as I now feel sure Evelina is going +to be, will not have time to be lonely. I wish I could stay and talk +with you further about your plans, but I must hurry back and straighten +out Peter's mind on that question of the town water-supply that is to +come up in the meeting of the City Council to-day. He let it be +presented all wrong last time, and they got things so muddled that it +was voted on incorrectly. I will have to write it out for him so he can +explain it to them. I will need you in many ways to help me help Peter +be Mayor of Glendale, Evelina. I am wearied after ten years of the +strain of his office. I shall call on you for assistance often in the +most important matters," with which promise, that sounded like a threat, +she proceeded to march down the front path, almost stepping on +Henrietta, who was coming up the same path, with almost the same +emphasis. There was some sort of an explosion, and I hope the kind of +words I heard hurled after the train were not used. + +"That old black crow is a-going to git in trouble with me some day, +Marfy," Henrietta remarked, as she settled herself on the arm of Cousin +Martha's chair, after bestowing a smudgy kiss on the little white curl +that wrapped around one of the dear old lady's pink little ears. I had +felt that way about Cousin Martha myself at the Bunch's age, and we +exchanged a sympathetic smile on the subject. + +"Well, what _are_ you going to do, Evelina?" asked Sallie, and she +turned such a young, helpless, wondering face up to me from the center +of her cluster of babies, that my heart almost failed me at the idea of +pouring what seemed to me at that moment the poison of modernity into +the calm waters of her and Cousin Martha's primitive placidity. + +"You'll have to live some place where there is a man," she continued, +with worried conviction. + +My time had come, and the fight was on. Oh, Jane! + +"I don't believe I really feel that way about it," I began in the +gentlest of manners, and slowly, so as to feel my way. "You see, Sallie +dear, and dearest Cousin Martha, I have had to be out in the world so +much--alone, that I am--used to it. I--I haven't had a man's protection +for so long that I don't need it, as I would if I were like you two +blessed sheltered women." + +"I know it has been hard, dear," said Cousin Martha gently looking her +sympathy at my lorn state, over her glasses. + +"I don't see how you have stood it at all," said Sallie, about to +dissolve in tears. "The love and protection and sympathy of a man are +the only things in life worth anything to a woman. Since my loss I don't +know what I would have done without Cousin James. You must come into his +kind care, Evelina." + +"I must learn to endure loneliness," I answered sadly, about to begin to +gulp from force of example, and the pressure of long hereditary +influence. + +I'm glad that I did not dissolve, however, before what followed +happened, for in the twinkling of two bare feet I was smothered in the +embrace of Henrietta, who in her rush brought either the Pup or the Kit, +I can't tell which yet, along to help her enfold me. + +"I'll come stay with you forever, and we don't need no men! Don't +like 'em no-how!" she was exclaiming down my back, when a drawl from the +doorway made us all turn in that direction. + +"Why, Henrietta, my own, can it be you who utter such cruel sentiments +in my absence?" and Polk Hayes lounged into the room, with the same +daring listlessness that he had used in trying to hold me in his arms +out on the porch the night I had said good-by to him and Glendale, four +years ago. + +Henrietta's chubby little body gave a wriggle of delight, and much +sentiment beamed in her rugged, small face, as she answered him with +enthusiasm, though not stopping to couch her reply in exactly +complimentary terms. + +"You don't count, Pokie," she exclaimed, as she made a good-natured face +at him. + +"That's what Evelina said four years ago--and she has proved it," he +answered her, looking at me just exactly as if he had never left off +doing it since that last dance. + +"How lovely to find you in the same exuberant spirits in which I left +you, Polk, dear," I exclaimed, as I got up to go and shake hands with +him, as he had sunk into the most comfortable chair in the room, without +troubling to bestow that attention upon me. + +Some men's hearts beat with such a strong rhythm that every feminine +heart which comes within hearing distance immediately catches step, and +goes to waltzing. It has been four years since mine swung around +against his, at that dance, but I'm glad Cousin Martha was there, and +interrupted, us enough to make me drag my eyes from his, as he looked up +and I looked down. + +"Please help us to persuade Evelina to come and live with James and me, +Polk, dear," she said, glancing at him with the deepest confidence and +affection in her eyes. There is no age-limit to Polk's victims, and +Cousin Martha had always adored him. + +"All women do, Evelina, why not you--live with James?" he asked, and I +thought I detected a mocking flicker in his big, hazel, dangerous eyes. + +"If I ever need protection it will be James--and Cousin Martha I will +run to for it--but I never will," I answered him, very simply, with not +a trace of the defiance I was fairly flinging at him in either my voice +or manner. + +Paris and London and New York are nice safe places to live in, in +comparison with Glendale, Tennessee, in some respects. I wonder why I +hadn't been more scared than I was last night, as the train whirled me +down into proximity to Polk Hayes. But then I had had four years of +forgetting him stored up as a bulwark. + +"But what _are_ you going to do, Evelina?" Sallie again began to +question, with positive alarm in her voice, and I saw that it was time +for me to produce some sort of a protector then and there--or +capitulate. + +And I record the fact that I wanted to go home with Sallie and Cousin +Martha and the babies and--and live under the roof of the Mossback +forever. All that citizenship-feeling I had got poured into me from Jane +and had tried on Dickie, good old Dickie, had spilled out of me at the +first encounter with Polk. + +There is a great big hunt going on in this world, and women are the ones +only a short lap ahead. Can we turn and make good the fight--or won't +we be torn to death? It has come to this it seems: women must either be +weak, and cling so close to man that she can't be struck, keep entirely +out of the range of his fists and arms,--or develop biceps equal to his. +Jane ought to have had me in training longer, for I'm discovering that +I'm weak--of biceps. + +"Are you coming--are you coming to live with us, Evelina? Are you +coming? Answer!" questioned the small Henrietta, as she stood +commandingly in front of me. + +"Please, Evelina," came in a coax from Sallie, while the Kit crawled +over and caught at my skirt as Cousin Martha raised her eyes to mine, +with a gentle echo of the combined wooings. + +Then suddenly into Polk's eyes flamed still another demand, that +something told me I would have to answer later. I had capitulated and +closed this book forever when the deliverance came. + +Jasper, a little older, but as black and pompous as ever, stood in the +doorway, and a portly figure, with yellow, shining face, on the step +behind him. + +"Why, Uncle Jasper, how did you know I was here?" I exclaimed, as I +fairly ran to hold out my hand to him. + +"Mas' James sont me word last night, and I woulder been here by +daybreak, Missie, 'cept I had to hunt dis yere suitable woman to bring +along with me. Make your 'beesence to Miss Evelina, Lucy Petunia," he +commanded. + +"You needn't to bother to show her anything, child," he continued +calmly, "I'll learn her all she needs to know to suit us. Then, if in a +week she have shown suitable ability to please us both, my word is out +to marry her next Sunday night. Ain't that the understanding, Tuny?" he +this time demanded. + +"Yes, sir," answered the Petunia with radiant but modest hope shining +from her comely yellow face. + +"I've kept everything ready for you child, since Old Mas' died, and I +ain't never stayed offen the place a week at a time--I was just visiting +out Petunia's way when I heard you'd come, and gittin' a wife to tend to +us and back to you quick was the only thing that concerned me. Now, we +can all settle down comf'table, while I has Tuny knock up some dinner, a +company one I hopes, if Miss Martha and the rest will stay with us." +Jasper's manner is an exact copy of my Father's courtly grace, done in +sepia, and my eyes misted for a second, as I reciprocated his +invitation, taking acceptance for granted. + +"Of course they will stay, Uncle Jasper." + +"Well," remarked Sallie with a gasp, "you've gone to housekeeping in two +minutes, Evelina." + +"Jasper has always been a very forceful personality," said Cousin +Martha. "He managed everything for your Father at the last, Evelina, +and I don't know how the whole town would have been easy about the +Colonel unless they had trusted Jasper." + +"I like the terms on which he takes unto himself a wife," drawled Polk, +as he lighted a cigarette without looking at me. "Good for Jasper!" + +"However, it does take a 'forceful personality' to capture a 'suitable +woman' in that manner," I answered with just as much unconcern, and then +we both roared, while even Sallie in all her anxiety joined in. + +The commanding, black old man, and the happy-faced, plump, little yellow +woman, had saved one situation--and forced another, perhaps? + +Jasper's home-coming dinner party was a large and successful one. Two of +the dear little old Horton lady-cousins got so impatient at Cousin +Martha's not bringing me back to Widegables that they came teetering +over to see about it, heavily accompanied by Mrs. Hargrove, whose son +had been Cousin James's best friend at the University of Virginia, and +died and left her to him since I had been at college. The ponderosity of +her mind was only equaled by that of her body. I must say Petunia made a +hit with the dear old soul, by the seasoning of her chicken gravy. + +Sallie wanted to send the children home, but Jasper wouldn't let her, +and altogether we had eleven at the table. + +Polk maneuvered for a seat at the head of my festive board, with a spark +of the devil in his eyes, but Jasper's sense of the proprieties did not +fail me, and he seated Cousin Martha in Father's chair, with great +ceremony. + +And as I looked down the long table, bright with all the old silver +Jasper had had time to polish, gay with roses from my garden, that he +had coaxed Henrietta into gathering for him, which nodded back and +forth with the bubbling babies, suddenly my heart filled to the very +brim with love of it all--and for mine own people. + +But, just as suddenly, a vision came into my mind of the long table +across the road at Widegables, with the Mossback seated at one end with +only two or three of his charges stretched along the empty sides to keep +him company. + +I wanted him to be here with us! I wanted him badly, and I went to get +him. I excused myself suddenly, telling them all just why. I didn't look +at Polk, but Cousin Martha's face was lovely, as she told me to run +quickly. + +I found him on the front porch, smoking his pipe alone, while the two +little relics, whom he had had left to dine with him, were taking their +two respective naps. Our dinner was late on account of the initiation of +Petunia, and he had finished before we began. + +"I stole most of your family to-day," I plunged headlong into my +errand, "but I want you, too, most of all." + +"You've got me, even if you do prefer to keep me across the road from +you," he answered, with the most solemn expression on his face, but with +a crinkle of a smile in the corners of his deep eyes. + +I can't remember when I didn't look with eagerness for that crinkle in +his eyes, even when I was a child and he what I at that time considered +a most glorious grownup individual, though he must have been the most +helpless hobbledehoy that ever existed. + +"You don't need another vine," I answered mutinously. + +"You know I want you, but Jasper's is the privilege of looking after +you," he answered calmly. "I want you to be happy, Evelina," and I knew +as I raised my eyes to his that I could consider myself settled in my +own home. + +"Well, then, come and have dinner number two with me," I answered with +a laugh that covered a little happy sigh that rose from my heart at the +look in the kind eyes bent on mine. + +I felt, Jane, you would have approved of that look! It was so human to +human. + +He came over with me, and that was one jolly party in the old +dining-room. They all stayed until almost sunset, and almost everybody +in town dropped in during the afternoon to welcome me home, and ask me +where I was going to live. Jasper and Petunia hovering in the +background, the tea-tray out on the porch set with the silver and damask +all of them knew of old, and the appearance of having been installed +with the full approval of Cousin Martha and James and the rest of the +family, stopped the questions on their lips, and they spent the +afternoon much enlivened but slightly puzzled. + +Time doesn't do much to people in a place like the Harpeth Valley, that +is out of the stream of modern progress; and most of my friends seem to +have just been sitting still, rocking their lives along in the greatest +ease and comfort. + +Still, Mamie Hall has three more kiddies, which, added to the four she +had when I left, makes a slightly high, if charming, set of stair-steps. +Mamie also looks decidedly worn, though pathetically sweet. Ned was with +her, and as fresh as any one of the buds. Maternity often wilts women, +but paternity is apt to make men bloom with the importance of it. Ned +showed off the bunch as if he had produced them all, while Mamie only +smiled like an angel in the background. + +A slight bit of temper rose in a flush to my cheeks, as I watched +Caroline Lellyett sit on the steps and feed cake to one twin and two +stair-steps with as much hunger in her eyes for them as there was in +theirs for the cake. Lee Greenfield is the responsible party in this +case, and she has been loving him hopelessly for fifteen years. Lots of +other folks wanted to marry her, but Lee has pinned her in the psychic +spot and is watching her flutter. + +Polk departed in the trail of Nell Kirkland's fluffy muslin skirts, +smoldering dangerously, I felt. Nell has grown up into a most lovely +individual, and I felt uneasy about her under Folk's ministrations. Her +eyes follow him rather persistently. On the whole, I am glad Jane +committed me to this woman's cause. I'll have to begin to exercise the +biceps of Nell's heart--as soon as I get some strength into my own. + +And after they had all gone, I sat for an hour out on the front steps of +my big, empty old house, and enjoyed my own loneliness, if it could be +called enjoying. I could hear the Petunia's happy giggle, answering +Jasper's guttural pleasantries, out on the cabin porch behind the row of +lilac bushes. I do hope that Petunia gets much and the right sort of +courting during this week that Jasper has allowed her! + +With the last rays of the sun, I had found time to read a long, dear +letter from Richard Hall, and though I had transferred it from my pocket +to my desk, while I dressed for the afternoon, its crackle was still in +my mind. I wondered what it all meant, this dissatisfied longing that +human beings send out across time and distance, one to and for another. + +If a woman's heart were really like a great big golden chalice, full to +the brim with the kind of love she is taught God wants her to have in it +for all mankind, both men and women, why shouldn't she offer drafts of +it to every one who is thirsty, brothers as well as sisters? I wonder +how that would solve Jane's problem of emotional equality! I do love +Dicky--and--and I do love Polk--with an inclination to dodge. Now, if +there were enough of the right sort of love in me, I ought to be able to +get them to see it, and drink it for their comforting, and have no +trouble at all with them about their wanting to seize the cup, drain +all the love there is in it, shut it away from the rest of the +world--and then neglect it. + +Yes, why can't I love Polk as I love you, Jane, and have him enjoy it? +Yes, why? + +I think if I had Dicky off to myself for a long time, and very gently +led him up to the question of loving him hard in this new way, he might +be induced to sip out of the cup just to see if he liked it--and it +might be just what he craved, for the time being; but I doubt it. He +would storm and bluster at the idea. + +Of course the Crag would let a woman love him in any old kind of new or +experimental way she wanted to, if it made her happy. He would take her +cup of tenderness and drink it as if it were sacramental wine, on his +knees. But he doesn't count. He has to be man to so many people that +there is danger of his becoming a kind of superman. Think of the old +Mossback being a progressive thing like that! I laughed out loud at the +idea--but the echo was dismal. + +I wonder if Sallie will marry him. + +And as I sat and thought and puzzled, the moonlight got richer and more +glowing, and it wooed open the throats of the thousand little +honeysuckle blossoms, clinging to the vine on the trellis, until they +poured out a perfect symphony of perfume to mingle in a hallelujah from +the lilacs and roses that ascended to the very stars themselves. + +I had dropped my head on my arms, and let my eyes go roaming out to the +dim hills that banked against the radiant sky, when somebody seated +himself beside me, and a whiff of tobacco blew across my face, sweet +with having joined in the honeysuckle chorus. Nobody said a word for a +long time, and then I looked up and laughed into the deep, gray eyes +looking tenderly down into mine. With a thrill I realized that there +was one man in the world I could offer the chalice to and _trust_ him to +drink--moderately. + +"Jamie," I said in a voice as young as it used to be when I trailed at +his heels, "thank you for letting me be contrary and independent and +puzzling. I have been busy adventuring with life, in queer places and +with people not like--like us. Now I want a little of real living and to +think--and feel. May I?" + +"You may, dear," the Crag answered in a big comfortable voice, that was +a benediction in itself. "I understood last night when you told me that +you wanted to come home alone. I can trust Jasper with you, and I am +going to sleep down at the lodge room, right across the road here, so I +can hear you if you even think out loud. No one shall worry you about it +any more. Now will you promise to be happy?" + +I could not answer him, I was so full of a deepness of peace. I just +laid my cheek against the sleeve of his queer old gray coat, to show +him what I could not say. + +He let me do it, and went on smoking without noticing me. + +Then, after a little while, he began to tell me all about Father and his +death, that had come so suddenly while he seemed as well as ever, and +how he had worried about my probably not wanting to be left to him, and +that he wanted me to feel independent, but to please let him do all that +I would to help me, and not to feel that I was alone with nobody to love +me. That he was always there, and would be forever and ever. + +And he did stay so late that Jasper had to send him home! + +There is such a thing as a man's being a father and mother and grown +sister and brother and a college-chum and a preacher of the Gospel and a +family physician to a woman--with no possibility of being her husband +either. She wouldn't so drag such a man from his high estate as to think +of such a worldly relation in connection with him. + +I have certainly collected some phenomena in the reaction of a woman's +heart this day. Did you choose me wisely for these experiments, Jane? + +It takes a woman of nerve to go to housekeeping in a tinder-box, when +she isn't sure she even knows what flint is when she sees it, and might +strike out a spark without intending it at all. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +SWEETER WHEN TAMED? + + +I wonder if men ever melt suddenly into little boys, and try to squirm +and run back to hide their heads in their mothers' skirts. It is an open +secret that starchy, modern women often long to wilt back into droopy +musk roses, that climb over gates and things, but they don't let each +other. When I feel myself getting soluble, I write it out to Jane and I +get a bracing cold wave of a letter in reply. The one this morning was +on the subject of love, or, at least, that is what Jane would have said +it was on. She wrote: + + +Yes, it is gratifying to know that Mary Elizabeth is so happily engaged +to the young teacher who has been in her work with her. She writes that +she was encouraged by our resolution, at last to be her best self while +in his presence as she had not had the courage to do last year. You see, +Evelina? And also, you are right in your conclusion that there is not +enough abstract love in this world of brotherhood and sisterhood; that +the doctrine of divine love calls us to give more and more of it. We +cannot give too much! But also, considerations for the advancement of +the world call for experiments by the more illumined women along more +definite and concrete lines. How old is this Mr. Hayes, on whom you have +chosen to note the reactions of sisterly affection? Are you sure that he +is not a fit subject for your consideration in the matter of a choice +for a mate? + +Remember to be as frank in your expressions of regard for him as he is +in his of regard for you. That is the crux of the whole matter. Be +frank, be courageous! Let a man look freely into your heart, and thus +encouraged he will open his to you. Then you will both have an +opportunity to judge each other with reference to a life-long union. It +is the only way; and remember what rests on you in this matter. The +destinies of many women are involved. + + * * * * * + +I don't say this in a spirit of levity, but I do wish Polk Hayes and +Jane Mathers were out on the front steps in the moonlight, after a good +supper that has made him comfortable, Jane to be attired in something +soft that would float against his arm, whether she wanted it to or not! +I believe it would be good for Jane, and make things easier for me. Be +frank with Polk as to how much he asphyxiates me? I know better than to +blow out the gas like that! No, Jane! + +But what is a woman going to do when she is young and hearty and husky, +with the blood running through her veins at a two-forty rate, when her +orchard is in bloom, the mocking-birds are singing the night through, +and she is not really in love with anybody? The loneliness does fill +her heart full of the solution of love, and she has got to pour off some +of it into somebody's life. There is plenty of me to be both abstract +and concrete, at the same time, and I thought of Uncle Peter. + +Uncle Peter Is the most explosive and crusty person that ever happened +in Glendale, and it takes all of Aunt Augusta's energy, common-sense and +force of character to keep him and the two chips he carries on his +shoulders, as a defiance to the world in general, from being in a +constant state of combustion. He has been ostensibly the Mayor of +Glendale for twenty-five years, and Aunt Augusta has done the work of +the office very well indeed, while he has blown up things in general +with great energy. He couldn't draw a long breath without her, but of +course he doesn't realize it. He thinks he is in a constant feud with +her and her sex. His ideas on the woman question are so terrific that I +have always run from them, but I concluded that it would be a good +thing for me to liquefy some of my vague humanitarianism, and help Aunt +Augusta with him, while she wrestles with the City Council on the water +question. Anyway, I have always had a guarded fondness for the old chap. + +I chose a time when I knew Aunt Augusta had to be busy with his report +of the disastrous concrete paving trade the whole town had been sold out +on, and I lay in wait to capture him and the chips. This morning I +waited behind the old purple lilac at the gate, which immediately got +into the game by sweeping its purple-plumed arms all around me, so that +not a tag of my dimity alarmed him as he came slowly down the street. + +"Uncle Peter," I said, as I stepped out in front of him suddenly, +"please, Uncle Peter, won't you come in and talk to me?" + +"Hey? Evelina?" + +"Yes, Uncle Peter, it's Evelina," and I hesitated with terror at the +snap in his dear old eyes, back under their white brows. Then I let my +eyes uncover my heart full of the elixir I had prepared for him, and +offered him as much as he could drink. + +"I'm lonely," I said, with a little catch in my voice. + +"Lonely--hey?" he grumbled, but his feet hesitated opposite my gate. + +In about two and a half minutes I had him seated in a cushioned rocker +on the south side of the porch. Jasper had given us both a mint julep, +and Uncle Peter was much Jess thirsty than he had been for a long time. +Aunt Augusta is as temperate in all things as a steel ramrod. + +"You see, Uncle Peter, I needed you so that I just had to kidnap you," I +said to him, as he wiped his lips with a pocket-handkerchief, as stiffly +starched as was his wife herself. + +"Why didn't you go over and live in James's hennery--live with James--hey?" +he snapped, with the precision of a pistol cap. + +To be just, I suppose Aunt Augusta's adamant disposition accounts, to +some extent, for Uncle Peter's explosive way of thinking and speaking. A +husband would have to knock Aunt Augusta's nature down to make any +impression whatever on it. Uncle Peter always has the air of firing an +idea and then ducking his head to avoid the return shot. + +"His house is so full, and I need a lot of space to carry on my work," I +answered him, with the words I have used so often in the last two weeks +that they start to come when the Petunia asks me if I want waffles or +batter-cakes for supper. + +"Well, Sallie Carruthers will get him, and then there'll be a dozen more +to run the measure over--children--hey? All girls! A woman like Sallie +would not be content with producing less than a dozen of her +kind--hey?" + +His chuckle was so contagious that I couldn't help but join him, though +I didn't like it so very much. But why shouldn't I? Sallie is such a +gorgeous woman that a dozen of her in the next generation will be of +value to the State. Still, I didn't like it. I didn't enjoy thinking of +Cousin James as so serving his country. + +"Carruthers left her to James--he'll have to take care of her. Henry +turned toes in good time. Piled rotten old business and big family on to +James's shoulders, and then died--good time--hey? Get a woman on your +hands, only thing to do is to marry or kill her. Poor James--hey?" He +peered at me with a twinkle in his eyes that demanded assent from me. + +"Why, Uncle Peter, I don't know that Sallie has any such idea. She +grieves dreadfully over Mr. Carruthers, and I don't believe she would +think of marrying again," I answered, trying to put enough warmth in my +defense to convince myself. + +"Most women are nothing but gourd-vines, grow all over a corn-stalk, +kill it, produce gourds until it frosts, and begin all over again in the +next generation. James has to do the hoeing around Sallie's roots, and +feed her. Might as well marry her--hey?" + +"Does--does Cousin James have to support Sallie and the children, Uncle +Peter?" I asked, coming with reluctance down to the rock-bed of the +discussion. + +"Thinks he does, and it serves him right--serves him right for starting +out to run a widow-ranch in the first place; it's like making a +collection of old shoes. He let Henry Carruthers persuade him to +mortgage everything and buy land on the river for the car-shops of the +new railroad, which just fooled the town out of a hundred thousand +dollars, and is going by on the other side of the river with the shops +up at Bolivar. If James didn't get all the lawing in Alton County they +would all starve to death--which would be hard on the constitution of +old lady Hargrove, and her two hundred-weight." + +"Oh, has Cousin James really lost all of his fortune?" I asked, and I +was surprised at the amount of sympathetic dismay that rose in me at the +information. + +"Everything but what he carries around under that old gray hat of +his--not so bad a fortune, at that!--hey?" + +I feel I am going to love Uncle Peter for the way he disdainfully +admires Cousin James. + +"And--and all of his--his guests are really dependent on him?" I asked +again, as the stupendous fact filtered into my mind. + +"All the flock, all the flock," answered Uncle Peter, with what seemed, +under the circumstances, a heartless chuckle. "They each one have little +dabs of property, about as big as a handful of chicken feed, and as they +have each one given it all to James to manage, they expect an income in +return--and get it--all they ask for. A lot of useless old live +stock--all but Sallie, and she's worse--worse, hey?" + +I agreed with his question--but I didn't say so. + +"Glad your money is safe in Public Town Bonds and City Securities, +Evelina. If James could, he might lose it, and you'd have to move over. +It would then be nip and tuck between you and Sallie which got +James--nip and tuck--hey?" + +"Oh, Uncle Peter!" I exclaimed with positive horror that was flavored +with a large dash of indignation. + +"Well, yes, a race between a widow and a girl for a man is about like +one between a young duck and a spring chicken, across a mill-pond--girl +and chicken lose--hey? But let Sallie have him, since you don't need +him. I've got to go home and listen to Augusta talk about my business, +that she knows nothing in the world about, or I won't be ready for town +meeting this afternoon. Women are all fools,--hey?" + +"Will you come again, Uncle Peter?" I asked eagerly. I had set out to +offer Uncle Peter a cup of niecely affection, and I had got a good, +stiff bracer to arouse me in return. + +"I will, whenever I can escape Augusta," he answered, and there was such +a kindly crackle in his voice that I felt that he had wanted and needed +what I had offered him. "I'll drop in often and analyze the annals of +the town with you. Glad to have you home, child, good young blood to +stir me up--hey?" + +And as I sat and watched the Mayor go saunteringly down the street, with +his crustiness carried like a child on his shoulder, which it delighted +him to have knocked off, so that he could philosophize in the restoring +of it to its position, suddenly a realization of the relation of +Glendale to the world in general was forced upon me--and I quailed. + +Glendale is like a dozen other small towns in the Harpeth Valley; they +are all drowsy princesses who have just waked up enough to be wondering +what did it. The tentative kiss has not yet disclosed the presence of +the Prince of Revolution, and they are likely to doze for another +century or two. I think I had better go back into the wide world and let +them sleep on. One live member is likely to irritate the repose of the +whole body. + +Their faint stirrings of progress are pathetic. + +They have an electric plant, but, as I have noted before, the lights +therefrom show a strong trace of their pine-knot heredity, and go out on +all important occasions, whether of festivity or tragedy. Kerosene lamps +have to be kept filled and cleaned if a baby or a revival or a lawn +festival is expected. + +They have a lovely, wide concrete pavement in front of six of the stores +around the public square, but no two stretches of the improvement join +each other, and it makes a shopping progression around the town somewhat +dangerous, on account of the sudden change of grade of the sidewalk, +about every sixty feet. Aunt Augusta wanted Uncle Peter to introduce a +bill in the City Council forcing all of the property owners on the +Square to put down the pavement in front of their houses, at small +payments per annum, the town assuming the contract at six per cent. +Uncle Peter refused, because he said that he felt a smooth walk around +the Square would call out what he called "a dimity parade" every +afternoon. + +They have a water system that is supplied by so much mud from the river +that it often happens that the town has to go unwashed for a week, while +the pipes are cleaned out. There is a wonderful spring that could be +used, with a pump to supply the town, Aunt Augusta says. + +The City Council tied up the town for a hundred thousand dollars' +subscription to the new railroad, and failed to tie the shops down in +the contract. They are to be built in Bolivar. A great many of the rich +men have lost a lot of money thereby, Cousin James the most of all, and +everybody is sitting up in bed blinking. + +There are still worse things happening in the emotional realm of +Glendale. + +Lee Greenfield has been in the state of going to ask Caroline Lellyett +to marry him for fifteen years, and has never done it. Caroline has been +beautiful all her life, but she is getting so thin and faded at thirty +that she is a tragedy. Lee goes to see her twice a week, and on Sunday +afternoon takes her out in his new and rakish runabout, that is as +modern as his behavior is obsolete. Caroline knows no better, and stands +it with sublime patience and lack of character. That is a situation I +won't be able to keep my hands off of much longer. + +Ned Hall's wife has seven children with the oldest one not twelve, and +she looks fifty. Ned goes to all the dances at the Glendale Hotel +dining-room and looks thirty. He dresses beautifully and Nell and all +the girls like to dance with him. Just ordinary torture wouldn't do for +him. + +Polk Hayes wouldn't be allowed to run loose in London society. + +Sallie Carruthers is a great big husky woman, with three children that +she is responsible for having had. She and her family must consume tons +of green groceries every month and a perfectly innocent man pays for +them. + +Mrs. Dodd, the carpenter-and-contractor's wife is a Boston woman who +came down here--Before I could write all about that Boston girl so that +Jane could understand perfectly the situation Polk came around from the +side street and seated himself on the railing of the porch so near the +arm of my chair that I couldn't rock without inconveniencing him. + +I am glad he found me in the mood I was in and I am glad to record the +strong-minded--it came near being the strong-armed--contest in which we +indulged. + +"Me for a woman that has a lot of spirit--she is so much sweeter when +tamed, Evelina," was one of the gentle remarks with which he +precipitated the riot. "I think it has been spunkily fascinating of you +to come and live by yourself in this old barn. It keeps me awake nights +just to think of you over here--alone. How long is the torture to go +on?" + +Jane, I tried, but if I had frankly and courageously shown Polk Hayes +what was in my heart for him at that moment, I couldn't have answered +for the results. + +From the time I was eighteen until I was twenty the same sort of assault +and battery had been handed out to me from him. He had beaten me with +his love. He didn't want me--he doesn't want any woman except so long as +he is uncertain that he can get her. Just because I had been firm with +him when even a child and denied him, he has been merciless. And now +that I am a woman and armed for the combat, it will be to the death. + +Shall I double and take refuge in a labyrinth of subterfuge or turn and +fight? So I temporized to-day. + +"It is lonely--but not quite 'torture' to me, with the family so close, +across the street," I answered him, and I went on whipping the lace on a +piece of fluff I am making, to discipline myself because I loathe a +needle so. "Please don't you worry over me, dear." I raised my eyes to +his and I tried the common citizenship look. It must have carried a +little way for he flushed, the first time I ever saw him do it, and his +hand with the cigarette in it shook. + +"Evelina, are you real or a--farce?" he asked, after a few minutes of +peace. + +"I'm trying to be real, Polk," I answered, and this time I raised my +eyes with perfect frankness. "If you could define a real woman, Polk, +in what terms would you express her?" I asked him straight out from the +shoulder. + +"Hell fire and a hallelujah chorus, if she's beautiful," he answered me +promptly. + +I laughed. I thought it was best under the circumstances. + +"I'll tell you, Evelina," he continued, stealthily. "A man just can't +generalize the creatures. Apparently they are craving nothing so much as +emotional excitement and when you offer it to them they want to go to +housekeeping with it. Love is a business with them and not an art." + +"Would you like to try a genuine friendship with one. Polk?" I asked, +and again struck from the shoulder--with my eyes. + +"Help! Not if you mean yourself, beautiful," he answered promptly and +with fervor. "I wouldn't trust myself with you one minute off-guard like +that." + +"You could safely." + +"But I won't!" + +"Will you try?" + +"No!" + +"Will you go over and sit in that chair while I tell you something +calmly, quietly, and seriously? It'll give you a new sensation and maybe +it will be good for you." I looked him straight in the face and the +battle of our eyes was something terrific. I had made up my mind to have +it out with him then and there. There was nothing else to do. I would be +frank and courageous and true to my vow--and accept the consequences. + +He slid along the railing of the porch and down into the chair in almost +a daze of bewilderment. + +"Polk," I began, concealing a gulp of terror, "I love you more than I +can possibly--" + +[Illustration: "Say, Polk, I let the Pup git hung by her apron to the +wheel of your car."] + +"Say, Polk, I let the Pup git hung by her apron to the wheel of your car +out in the road and her head is dangersome kinder upside down. It +might run away. Can you come and git her loose for me?" + +Henrietta's calmness under dire circumstances was a lesson to both Polk +and me, for with two gasps that sounded as one we both raced across the +porch, down the path and out to the road where Folk's Hupp runabout +stood by the worn old stone post that had tethered the horses of the +wooers of many generations of the maids of my house. + +But, prompt as our response to Henrietta's demand for rescue had been, +Cousin James was there before us. He stood in the middle of the dusty +road with the tousled mite in his arms, soothing her frightened sobs +against his cheek with the dearest tenderness and patting Sallie on the +back with the same comforting. + +"Oh, Henrietta, how could you nearly kill your little sister like this?" +Sallie sobbed. "Please say something positive to her, James!" + +"Henrietta," began Cousin James with a suspicion of embarrassment at +Polk's and my presence at the domestic scene. Polk choked a chuckle and +I could have murdered him. + +"Wait a minute," said Henrietta, in her most commanding voice. "Sallie, +didn't you ask me to take that Pup from Aunt Dilsie, 'cause of the +phthisic, and keep her quiet while the Kit got a nap, and didn't I ask +you if it would be all right if I got her back whole and clean?" + +"Yes, Henrietta, but you--" + +"Ain't she whole all over and clean?" + +"Yes, but--" + +"Couldn't nobody do any better than that with one of them twins. I won't +try. If I have to 'muse her it has to be in my own way." And with her +head in the air the Bunch marched up the walk to the house. + +At this Polk shouted and the rest of us laughed. + +"Polk, please don't encourage Henrietta in the way she treats me and her +little sisters," Sallie begged between her laughs and her half-swallowed +sobs. "I need my friends' help with my children, not to have them make +it hard for me. Henrietta is devoted to you and you could influence her +so for the best. Please try to help me make a real woman out of her and +not some sort of a terrible--terrible suffragette." + +Sallie is the most perfectly lovely woman I almost ever saw. She has +great violet eyes with black lashes that beg you for a piece of your +heart, and her mouth is as sweet as a blush rose with cheeks that almost +match it in rosiness. She and the babies always remind me of a cluster +rose and roses, flower and buds, and I don't see why every man that sees +her is not mad about her. They all used to be before she married, and I +suppose they will be again as soon as the crepe gets entirely worn off +her clothes. As she stood with the bubbly baby in her arms and looked +up at Polk I couldn't see how he could take it calmly. + +"Sallie," he answered seriously, with a glint in his eyes over at me, +"if you'll give me a few days longer, I will then have found out by +experience what a real woman is and I'll begin on Henrietta for you +accordingly." + +"Don't be too hard on the kiddie," Cousin James answered him with the +crinkle in the corner of his eyes that might have been called shrewd in +eyes less beautifully calm. "Let's trust a lot to Henrietta's powers of +observation of her mother and--her neighbors." He smiled suddenly, with +his whole face, over both Sallie and me, and went on down the street in +a way that made me sure he was forgetting all about all of us before he +reached the corner of the street. + +"Isn't that old mossback a treat for the sight of gods and men?" asked +Polk with a laugh as we all stood watching the old gray coat-tails +flapping in the warm breeze that was rollicking across the valley. + +"I don't know what I would do without him," said Sadie softly, with +tears suddenly misting the violets in her eyes as she turned away from +us with the baby in her arms and went slowly up the front walk of +Widegables. + +"Please come stay with me a little while, Evelina," she pleaded back +over her shoulder. "I feel faint." + +I hesitated, for, as we were on my side of the Road, Polk was still my +guest. + +"Go on with Sallie, sweetie," he answered my hesitating. "I don't want +the snapped-off fraction of a declaration like you were about to offer +me. I can bide my time--and get my own." With which he turned and got +into his car as I went across the street. + +Jane, I feel encouraged. I have done well to-day to get half way through +my declaration of independence--though he doesn't think that is what it +is going to be--to Polk. If I can just tell him how much I love him, +before he makes love to me we can get on such a sensible footing with +each other. I'll command the situation then. + +But suppose I do get Polk calmed down to a nice friendship after old +Plato's recipe, what if I want to marry him? + +Do I want to marry a friend? + +Yes, I do! + +No--no! + + + + +CHAPTER V + +DEEPER THAN SHOULDERS AND RIBS + + +There are many fundamental differences between men and women which +strike deeper than breadth of shoulders and number of ribs on the right +side. + +Men deliberately unearth matters of importance and women stumble on the +same things in the dark. It is then a question of the individual as to +the complications that result. One thing can be always counted on. A +woman likes to tangle life into a large mass and then straighten out the +threads at her leisure--and the man's leisure too. + +Glendale affairs interest me more every day. + +This has been a remarkable afternoon and I wish Jane had been in +Glendale to witness it. + +"Say, Evelina, all the folks over at our house have gone crazy, and I +wish you would come over and help Cousin James with 'em," Henrietta +demanded, as I sat on my side porch, calmly hemming a ruffle on a dress +for the Kitten. Everybody sews for the twins and, as much as I hate it, +I can't help doing it. + +"Why, Henrietta, what is the matter?" I demanded, as I hurried down the +front walk and across the road at her bare little heels. By the time I +got to the front gate I could hear sounds of lamentation. + +"A railroad train wants to run right through the middle of all their +dead people and Sallie started the crying. Dead's dead, and if Cousin +James wants 'em run over. I wants 'em run over too." She answered over +her shoulder as we hurried through the wide front hall. + +And a scene that beggars description met my eyes, as I stood in the +living-room door. I hope this account I am going to try and write will +get petrified by some kind of new element they will suddenly discover +some day and the manuscript be dug up from the ruins of Glendale to +interest the natives of the Argon age about 2800 A. D. + +Sallie sat in the large armchair in the middle of the room weeping in +the slow, regular way a woman has of starting out with tears, when she +means to let them flow for hours, maybe days, and there were just five +echoes to her grief, all done in different keys and characters. + +Cousin Martha knelt beside the chair and held Sallie's head on her ample +bosom, but I must say that the expression on her face was one of +bewilderment, as well as of grief. + +The three little Horton cousins sat close together in the middle of the +old hair-cloth sofa by the window and were weeping as modestly and +helplessly as they did everything else in life, while Mrs. Hargrove, in +her chair under her son's portrait, was just plainly out and out +howling. + +And on the hearth-rug, before the tiny fire of oak chips that the old +ladies liked to keep burning all summer, stood the master of the house +and, for once in my life, I have seen the personification of masculine +helplessness. He was a tragedy and I flew straight to him with arms wide +open, which clasped both his shoulders as I gave him a good shake to +arouse him from his paralyzation. + +"What's the matter?" I demanded, with the second shake. + +"I'm a brute, Evelina," he answered, and a sudden discouragement lined +every feature of his beautiful biblical face. I couldn't stand that and +I hugged him tight to my breast for an instant and then administered +another earthquake shake. + +"Tell me exactly what has happened," I demanded, looking straight into +his tragic eyes and letting my hands slip from his shoulders down his +arms until they held both of his hands tight and warm in mine. + +Jane, I was glad that I had offered the cup of my eyes to him full of +this curious inter-sex elixir of life that you have induced me to seek +so blindly, for he responded to the dose immediately and the color came +back into his face as he answered me just as sensibly as he would +another man. + +"The men who are surveying the new railroad from Cincinnati to the Gulf +have laid their experimental lines across the corner of Greenwood +Cemetery and they say it will have to run that way or go across the +river and parallel the lines of the other road. If they come on this +side of the river they will force the other road to come across, too, +and in that case we will get the shops. It just happens that such a line +will make necessary the removal of--of poor Henry's remains to another +lot. Sallie's is the only lot in the cemetery that is that high on the +bluff. Henry didn't like the situation when he bought it himself, and I +thought that, as there is another lot right next to her mother's for +sale, she would not--but, of course, I was brutal to mention it to her. +I hope you will find it in your heart to forgive me, Sallie." And as he +spoke he extracted himself from me and walked over and laid his hand on +Sallie's head. + +"It was such a shock to her--poor Henry," sobbed little Cousin Jasmine, +and the other two little sisters sniffed in chorus. + +"To have railroad trains running by Greenwood at all will be disturbing +to the peace of the dead," snorted Mrs. Hargrove. "We need no railroad +in Glendale. We have never had one, and that is my last word--no!" + +"Four miles to the railroad station across the river is just a pleasant +drive in good weather," said Cousin Martha, plaintively, as she cuddled +Sallie's sobs more comfortably down on her shoulder. + +"I feel that Henry would doubt my faithfulness to his memory, if I +consented to such a desecration," came in smothered tones from the +pillowing shoulder. + +And not one of all those six women had stopped to think for one minute +that the minor fact of the disturbing of the ashes of Henry Carruthers +would be followed by the major one of the restoration of the widow's +fortune and the lifting of a huge financial burden off the strong +shoulders they were all separately and collectively leaning upon. + +I exploded, but I am glad I drew the Crag out on the porch and did it to +him alone. + +"Evelina, you are refreshing if strenuous," he laughed, after I had +spent five minutes in stating my opinions of women in general and a few +in particular. "But I ought not to have hurt Sallie by telling her +about the lines until they are a certainty. It is so far only a +possibility. They may go across the river anyway." + +"And as for seeing Sallie swaddled in your consideration, and fed +yourself as a sacrifice from a spoon, I am tired of it," I flamed up +again. "It's not good for her. Feed and clothe her and her progeny,--men +in general have brought just such burdens as that upon you in particular +by their attitude towards us,--but do let her begin to exert just a +small area of her brain on the subject of the survival of the fit to +live. You don't swaddle or feed me!" + +"Eve," he said, softly under his breath as his wonderful gentle eyes +sank down way below the indignation and explosiveness to the quiet pool +that lies at the very bottom of my heart. + +Nobody ever found it before and I didn't know it was there myself, but I +felt as if it were being drained up into Heaven. + +"Eve!" He said again, and it is a wonder that I didn't answer: + +"Adam!" + +I don't know just what would have happened if Uncle Peter hadn't broken +in on the interview with his crustiest chips on both shoulders and so +much excitement bottled up that he had to let it fly like a double +reporter. + +"Dodson is down at the Hotel looking for you, James," he began as he +hurried up the steps. "Big scheme this--got him in a corner if the C. & +G. comes along this side of Old Harpeth--make him squeal--hey?" + +"Who's Dodson?" I asked with the greatest excitement. I was for the +first time getting a whiff of the schemes of the masculine mighty, but I +was squelched promptly by Uncle Peter. + +"We've no time for questions, Evelina, now--go back to your +tatting--hey?" He answered me as he began to buttonhole the Crag and +lead him down the steps. + +"Dodson is the man who is laying down and contracting for the line +across the river, Evelina," answered Cousin James without taking any +notice whatever of Uncle Peter's squelching of me. "If this other line +can just be secured he will have to come to our terms--and the situation +will be saved." As he spoke he took my hand in his and led me at his +side, down the front walk to the gate, talking as he went, for Uncle +Peter was chuckling on ahead like a steam tug in a hurry. + +"And the shades of Henry will again assume the maintenance of his +family," I hazarded with lack of respect of the dead, impudence to +Cousin James about his own affairs, and unkindness by implication to +Sallie, who loves me better than almost anybody in the world does. And I +got my just punishment by seeing a lovely look of tender concern rise in +Cousin James's eyes as he stopped short in the middle of the walk. + +"I want to go back a minute to speak to Sallie before I go on down +town," he said, quickly, and before Uncle Peter's remonstrances had +exploded, he had taken the steps two at a bound and disappeared in the +front door. + +"Sooner he marries that lazy lollypop the better," fumed Uncle Peter, as +he waited at the gate. "The way for a man to quench his thirst for +woman-sweets is to marry a pot of honey like that, and then come right +on back to the bread and butter game. Here's a letter Jasper gave me to +bring along for you from town. Go on and read it and do not disturb the +workings of my brain while I wait for James--workings of a great +brain--hey?" + +I took the letter and hurried across the street because I wanted anyway +to get to some place by myself and think. There was no earthly reason +for it but I felt like an animal that has been hurt and wants to go off +and lick its wounds. A womanly woman that lives a lovely appealing life +right in a man's own home has a perfect right to gain his love, +especially if she is beautifully unconscious of her appeal. Besides, why +should a man want to take an independent, explosive, impudent firebrand +with all sorts of dreadful plots in her mind to his heart? He wouldn't +and doesn't! + +There is no better sedative for a woman's disturbed and wounded emotions +than a little stiff brain work. Richard's letter braced my viny drooping +of mind at once and from thinking into the Crag's affairs of sentiment, +I turned with masculine vigor to begin to mix into his affairs of +finance. However, I wish that the first big business letter I ever got +in my life hadn't had to have a strain of love interest running through +it! Still Dickie is a trump card in the man pack. + +It seems that as his father is one of the most influential directors +and largest stockholders in this new branch of the Cincinnati and Gulf +railroad he has got the commission for making the plans for all the +stations along the road, and he wants to give me the commission for +drawing all the gardens for all the station-yards. It will be tremendous +for both of us so young in life, and I never dared hope for such a +thing. I had only hoped to get a few private gardens of some of my +friends to laze and pose over, but this is startling. My mind is +beginning to work on in terms of hedges and fountains already and Dickie +may be coming South any minute. + +And besides the hedges and gravel paths I have a feeling that Dickie's +father and the Crag and Sallie's girl-babies are fomenting around in my +mind getting ready to pop the cork of an idea soon. The combination +feels like some kind of a hunch--I sat still for a long time and let it +seethe, while I took stock of the situation. + +There is a strange, mysterious kind of peace that begins to creep across +the Harpeth Valley, just as soon as the sun sinks low enough to throw +the red glow over the head of Old Harpeth. I suppose it happens in other +hill-rimmed valleys in other parts of the Universe, but it does seem as +if God himself is looking down to brood over us, and that the valley is +the hollow of His hand into which he is gathering us to rest in the +darkness of His night. I felt buffeted and in need of Him as I sank down +under the rose-vine over the porch and looked out across my garden to +the blue and rose hills beyond. + +I have been in Glendale a whole month now, and I can't see that my +influence has revolutionized the town as yet. I don't seem to be of half +the importance that I thought I was going to be. I have tried, and I +have offered that bucket of love that I thought up to everybody, but +whether they have drunk of it to profit I am sure I can't say. In fact, +my loneliness has liquefied my gaseous affection into what almost looks +like officiousness. + +Still, I know Uncle Peter is happier than he ever was before, because he +has got me to come to as a refuge from Aunt Augusta, a confidante for +his views of life that he is not allowed to express at home, and also +the certainty of one of Jasper's juleps. + +Sallie has grown so dependent on me that my shoulders are assuming a +masculine squareness to support her weight. I am understudying Cousin +James to such an extent over at Widegables that I feel like the heir to +his house. Cousin Martha sends for me when the chimney smokes and the +cows get sick. I have twice changed five dollars for little Cousin +Jasmine, and sternly told the man from out on their farm on Providence +Road that he must not root up the lavender bushes to plant turnip-greens +in their places. I afterwards rented the patch from him to grow the +lavender because he said he couldn't lose the price that the greens +would bring him "for crotchets." + +Mrs. Hargrove has given me her will to keep for her, and the sealed +instructions for her burial. I hope when the time comes the two behests +will strike a balance, but I doubt it. + +Her ideas of a proper funeral seem to coincide with those of Queen +Victoria, whom she has admired through life and mourns sincerely. + +Henrietta has not been heard to indulge in profane language since I had +a long talk with her last week out in the garden, that ended in stubby +tears and the gift of a very lovely locket which I impressed upon her +was as chaste in design as I wished her speech to become. + +The twins have been provided with several very lovely pieces of wearing +apparel from my rapidly skill-acquiring needle. That's on the credit +side of my balance. But that is _all_--and it doesn't sound +revolutionary, does it, Jane? + +Petunia married Jasper according to his word of promise, and I have +taught her to cook about five French dishes that he couldn't concoct to +save his life, and which help her to keep him in his place. His +pomposity grows daily but he eyes me with suspicion when he sees me in +secret conclave with Petunia. + +"We needs a man around this place," I heard him mutter the other day as +I left the kitchen. + +I wonder! + +The garden has been weeded, replanted, trained, clipped and garnished, +and my arms are as husky and strong as a boy's and my nose badly +sunburned from my strenuosity with hoe and trimming scissors. + +All of which I have done and done well. But when I think of all those +five girls that are waiting for me to solve the emotional formula by +which they can work out and establish the fact that man equals woman, I +get weak in the knees. + +Jane's letters are just prods. + + * * * * * + +Your highly cultivated artistic nature ought to be a very beautiful +revelation to the spiritual character of the young Methodist divine you +wrote me of in your last letter. Encourage him in every way with +affectionate interest in his work, especially in the Epworth League on +his country circuit. I am enclosing fifty dollars' subscription to the +work and I hope you will give as much You have not mentioned Mr. Hayes +for several letters. I fear you are prejudiced against him. Seek to know +and weigh his character before you judge him as unfit for your love. + + * * * * * + +The highly spiritual Mr. Haley glared at Polk for an hour out here on my +porch, when he interrupted us in one of our Epworth League talks, in +such an unspiritual manner that Polk said he felt as if he had been +introduced to the Apostle Paul while he was still Saul of Tarsus. I had +to pet the Dominie decorously for a week before he regained his benign +manner. Of course, however, it was trying to even a highly spiritual +nature like his to have Polk insist on pinning a rose in my hair right +before his eyes. + +About Polk I feel that I am in the midst of one of those great calm, +oily stretches of ocean that a ship is rocked gently in for a few hours +before the storm tosses it first to Heaven and then to hell. He is so +psychic, and in a way attuned to me, that he partly understands my +purpose in declaring my love for him to put him at a disadvantage in his +love-making to me, and he hasn't let me do it yet, while his tacit suit +goes on. It is a drawn battle between us and is going to be fought to +the death. In the meantime Nell-- + +And while I was on the porch sitting with Richard Hall's letter in my +hand, still unread, Nell herself came down the front walk and sat down +beside me. + +"Why, I thought you had gone fishing with Polk," I said as I cuddled her +up to me a second. She laid her head on my shoulder and heaved such a +sigh that it shook us both. + +"I didn't quite like to go with him alone and Henrietta wouldn't go +because a bee had stung the red-headed twin, and she wanted to stay to +scold Sallie," she answered with both hesitation and depression in her +voice. + +"Polk is--is strenuous for a whole day's companionship," I answered, +experimentally, for I saw the time had come to exercise some of the +biceps in Nell's femininity in preparation for just what I knew she was +to get from Polk. My heart ached for what I knew she was suffering. I +had had exactly those growing pains for months following that experience +with him on the front porch after the dance four years ago. And I had +had change of scene and occupation to help. + +"I don't understand him at all," faltered Nell, and she raised her eyes +as she bared her wound to me. + +"Nell," I said with trepidation, as I began on this my first disciple, +"you aren't a bit ashamed or embarrassed or humiliated in showing me +that you love me, are you?" + +"You know I've adored you ever since I could toddle at your heels, +Evelina," she answered, and the love-message her great brown eyes +flashed into mine was as sweet as anything that ever happened to me. + +"Then, why should you wonder and suffer and restrain and be humiliated +at your love for Polk?" I asked, firing point blank at all of Nell's +traditions. "Why not tell him about it and ask him if he loves you?" + +The shot landed with such force that Nell gasped, but answered as +straight out from the shoulder as I had aimed. + +"I would rather die than have Polk Hayes know how he--he affects me," +she answered with her head held high. + +"Then, what you feel for him is not worthy love, but something entirely +unworthy," I answered loftily, with a very poor imitation of Jane's +impressiveness of speech. + +"I know it," she faltered into my shoulder, "if it were Mr. James Hardin +I loved, I wouldn't mind anybody's knowing it, but something must be +wrong with Polk or me or the way I feel. What is it?" + +For a moment I got so stiff all over that Nell raised her head from my +shoulder in surprise. Do all women feel about the Crag as I do? + +"I don't know," I answered weakly. + +And I don't know! Oh, Jane, your simple experiment proposition is about +to become compound quadratics. + +Then I got a still further surprise. + +"I wouldn't in the least mind telling Mr. James how I like him--if you +think it is all right," Nell mused, looking pensively at the first pale +star that was rising over Old Harpeth. "I would enjoy it, because I +have always adored him, and it would be so interesting to see what he'd +say." + +"Nell," I said suddenly with determination, "do it! Tell any man you +like how much you like him--and see what happens." + +"I feel as if--as if"--Nell faltered and I don't blame her; I wouldn't +have said as much to her--"I feel that to tell Mr. James I love _him_ +would ease the pain, the--pain--that I feel about Polk. It would be so +interesting to tell a man a thing like that." + +"Do it!" I gasped, and went foot in the class in romantics. + +If any jungle explorer thinks he has mapped and charted a woman's heart +he had better pack up his instruments of warfare and recorders and come +down to Glendale, Tennessee. + +Nell and I must have talked further along the same lines, but I don't +remember what we said. I have recorded the high lights on the +conversation, but long after I lost her I kept my whirlwind feeling of +amazement. It was like trying to balance calmly on the lid of the +tinder-box when you didn't know whether or not you had touched off the +fuse. + +Has honeysuckle-garbed Old Harpeth been seeing things like this go on +for centuries and not interrupted? I think I would have been sitting +there questioning him until now, if Lee and Caroline hadn't stopped at +the gate and called to me. + +I think Lee was giving Caroline this stroll home from the post-office in +the twilight as an extra treat in her week's allowance of him, and she +was so soft and glowing and sweet and pale that I wonder the Cherokee +roses on my hedge didn't droop their heads with humility before her. + +"What's a lovely lady doing sitting all by herself in the gloaming?" Lee +asked in his rich, warm voice. + +I hate him! + +"Come take a walk with us, Evelina, dear," Caroline begged softly, +though I knew what it would mean to her if I should intrude on this +precious hour with her near-lover. + +Please, God--if I seem to be calling You into a profane situation I +can't help it; I must have help!--show me some way to assist Caroline to +make Lee into a real man and then get him for herself. She must have him +and he needs her. And show me a way quick! Amen! + +Jane, I hope you will be able to pick the data out of this jumble, but I +doubt it. Anyway I'm grateful for the lock and key on this book. + +As I stood at the gate and watched Lee and Caroline saunter down the +moon-flecked street a mocking bird in the tallest of the oak twins that +are my roof shelter called wooingly from one of the top boughs and got +his answer from about the same place on the same limb. + +If a woman starts out to be a trained nurse to an epidemic of +love-making, she is in great danger of doing something foolish her own +self. I am even glad it is prayer-meeting night for Mr. Haley; he is +safe in performing his rituals. He might misunderstand this mood. + +I wonder if I ever was really over in sunny France being wooed and +happy! + +Of course, I decided the first night I was here that, as circumstances +over which I had no control had decreed that Cousin James should stand +in the position of enforced protector to me, decent, communistic +femino-masculine honor demands that I refrain from any manoeuvers in his +direction to attract his thoughts and attention to the feminine me. I +can only meet him on the ordinary grounds of fellowship. And I suppose +the glad-to-see him coming up the street was of the neuter gender, but +it was very interesting. + +"What did Dodson have to say--is he coming across?" I demanded of him +before he got quite to my gate. + +"Not if he can help it," he answered as he came close and leaned against +one of the tall stone posts, so that his grandly shaped head with its +ante-bellum squirls of hair was silhouetted against the white-starred +wistaria vine in a way that made me frantic for several buckets of +monochrome water-colors and a couple of brushes as big as those used for +white-washing. In about ten great splotches I could have done a +masterpiece of him that would have drawn artistic fits from the public +of gay Paris. I never see him that I don't long for a box of pastels or +get the ghost of the odor of oil-paint in my nose. + +"The whole thing will be settled in a month," he continued, with a sigh +that had a hint of depression in it and an astral shape of Sallie +manifested itself hanging on his shoulder. However, I controlled myself +and listened to him. "There is to be a meeting of the directors of both +roads over in Bolivar in a few weeks and they are to come to some +understanding. The line across the river is unquestionably the cheapest +and best grade and there is no chance of getting them to run along our +bluff--unless we can show them some advantage in doing so, and I can't +see what that will be." + +"What makes it of advantage for a railroad to run through any given +point in a rural community like this, Cousin James?" I asked, with a +glow of intellect mounting to my head, the like of which I hadn't felt +since I delivered my Junior thesis in Political Economy with Jane +looking on, consumed with pride. + +"Towns that have good stock or grain districts around them with good +roads for hauling do what is called 'feeding' a railroad," he answered. +"Bolivar can feed both roads with the whole of the Harpeth Valley on +that side of the river. They'll get the roads, I'm thinking. Poor old +Glendale!" + +"Isn't there anything to feed the monsters this side of the river?" I +demanded, indignant at the barrenness of the south side of the valley of +Old Harpeth. + +"Very little unless it's the scenery along the bluff," he replied, with +the depression sounding still more clearly in his voice and his +shoulders drooped against the unsympathetic old stone post in a way that +sent a pang to my heart. + +"Jamie, is all you've got tied up in the venture?" I asked softly, using +the name that a very small I had given him in a long ago when the world +was young and not full of problems. + +"That's not the worst, Evelina," he answered in a voice that was +positively haggard. "But what belongs to the rest of the family is all +in the same leaky craft. Carruthers put Sallie's in himself, but I +invested the mites belonging to the others. Of course, as far as the +old folks are concerned, I can more than take care of them, and if +anything happens there's enough life insurance and to spare for them. I +don't feel exactly responsible for Sallie's situation, but I do feel the +responsibility of their helplessness. Sallie is not fitted to cope with +the world and she ought to be well provided for. I feel that more and +more every day. Her helplessness is very beautiful and tender, but in a +way tragic, don't you think?" + +I wish I had dared tell him for the second time that day what I did +think on the subject but I denied myself such frankness. + +Anyway, men are just stupid, faithful children--some of them faithful, I +mean. + +I felt that if I stood there talking with the Crag any longer, I might +grow pedagogical and teach him a few things so I sent him home across +the road. I knew all six women would stay awake until they heard him +lock them in, come down to the lodge and lock his own door. + +It is very unworthy of me to enjoy his playing a watch-dog of tradition +across the road to an emancipated woman like myself. The situation both +keeps me awake and puts me to sleep--and it is sweet, though I don't +know why. + +God never made anything more wonderful than a good man,--even a stupid +one. Lights out! + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +MAX AND THE ASAFETIDA SPOON + + +I do wish the great man who is discovering how to put people into some +sort of metaphysical pickle that will suspend their animations until he +gets ready to wake them up, would hurry up with his investigations, so +he can catch Sallie before she begins to fade or wilt. Sallie, just as +she is, brought to life about five generations from now, would cause a +sensation. + +Some women are so feminine that they are sticky, unless well spiced with +deviltry. Sallie's loveliness hasn't much seasoning. Still, I do love +her dearly, and I am just as much her slave as are any of the others. I +can't get out of it. + +"Do you suppose we will ever get all of the clothes done for the twins?" +Nell sighed gently as we sat on my porch whipping yards of lace upon +white ruffles and whipping up our own spirits at the same time. +Everybody in Glendale sews for Sallie's children and it takes her all +her time to think up the clothes. + +"Never," I answered. + +"She's coming, and I do believe she has got more of this ruffling. I see +it floating down her skirt," Nell fairly groaned. + +Nell ought to like to sew. She isn't emancipated enough to hate a needle +as I do. But the leaven is working and she's rising slowly. It might be +well for some man to work the dough down a little before she runs over +the pan. That's a primitively feminine wish and not at all in accordance +with my own advanced ideas. + +I was becoming slightly snarled with my thread, and I was glad when +Sallie and her sweetness seated itself in the best rocker in the softest +breeze, which Nell had vacated for her. + +"Children are the greatest happiness in life and also the greatest +responsibility, girls," she said, in her lovely rich voice that always +melts me to a solution of sympathy whenever she uses it pensively on me. +"Of course, I should be desolate without mine, but what could I do with +them, if I didn't have all of you dear people to help me with them?" + +Her wistful dependence had charm. + +I looked at the twin with the yellow fuzz on the top of its head that +has hall-marked it as the Kitten in my mind, seated on Sallie's lap with +her head on Sallie's shoulder looking like a baby bud folded against the +full rose, and I couldn't help laughing. Kit had been undressed three +times after her bath this morning while Cousin Martha, Cousin Jasmine +and Mrs. Hargrove argued with each other whether she should or shouldn't +have a scrap of flannel put on over her fat little stomach. Henrietta +finally decided the matter by being impudent and sensible to them all +about the temperature. + +"Don't you all 'spose God made the sun some to heat up Kit's stomach?" +she demanded scornfully, as she grabbed the little roly-poly bone of +contention and marched off with her to finish dressing her on the front +porch in the direct rays of her instituted heater. + +The household at large at Widegables can never agree on the clothing of +the twins and Henrietta often has to finish their toilets thus, by +force. Aunt Dilsie being reduced by her phthisic to a position that is +almost entirely ornamental, Henrietta's strength of character is the +only thing that has made the existence of the twins bearable to +themselves or other people. + +As I have said before, I do wish that some day in the future you will +come under the direct rays of Henrietta's influence, Jane, dear! + +"Yes, Sallie, I should call them a responsibility," I answered her with +a laugh, as I reached up my arms for the Kitten. Then, as the little +yellow head snuggled in the hollow that was instituted in the beginning +between a woman's breast and arm for the purpose of just such nestlings, +I whispered as I laid my lips against her little ear, "and a happiness, +too, darling." + +And as Sallie rocked and recuperated her breath Nell eyed the ruffle +apprehensively. + +"Are you going to let us make another dress for the kiddies, Sallie, +dear?" she finally was forced by her uneasiness to ask, though with the +deepest sweetness and consideration in her voice. + +If I am ever a widow with young children I hope they will burn us all up +with the deceased rather than keep me wrapped in a cotton-wool of +sympathy, as all of us do Sallie. + +"It's lovely of you, Nell, to want to do more for the babies after all +the beautiful things you and Evelina have made them, and I may be able +to get another white dress apiece for them after I give Cousin James the +bills, that are awful already, but this is some ruffling that I just +forced Mamie Hall to let me bring up to you girls to do for her baby. +The poor little dear is two months old and Mamie is just beginning on +his little dress for him. He has been wearing the plainest little slips. +Mamie says Ned remarked on the fact that the baby was hardly presentable +when you girls stopped in with him to see it the other day, Nell. I +urged her to get right to work fixing him up. It is wrong for children +not to be kept as daintily as their father likes to see them." + +How any woman that is as spiritually-minded as I am, and who has so much +love for the whole world in her heart, and such a deep purpose always to +offer it to her fellowmen according to their need of it, can have the +vile temper I possess I cannot see. + +"And the sight that would please me better than anything else I have +even thought up to want to see," I found myself saying when I became +conscious--I hope I didn't use any of the oaths of my forefathers which +must have been tempting my refined foremothers for generations and which +I secretly admire Henrietta for indulging in on occasions of impatience +with Sallie--"would be Ned Hall left entirely alone with that squirming +baby, that looks exactly like him, when it is having a terrible spell of +colic and Ned is in the midst of a sick headache, with all the other +children cold, hungry, and cross, the cook gone to a funeral, and the +nurse in a grouch because she couldn't go and--and he knowing that Mamie +was attired in a lovely, cool muslin dress, sitting up here on the porch +with us sipping a mint julep and smoking a ten-cent cigar, resting and +getting up an appetite for supper. I want him to have about five years +of such days and then he would deserve the joys of parenthood that he +now does not appreciate." + +"Oh, Mamie wouldn't smoke a cigar!" was the exclamation that showed how +much Sallie got of the motif of my eruption. + +"Glorious!" exclaimed Nell, with shining eyes. + +I must be careful about Nell, she is going this new gait too fast for +one so young. Women must learn to fletcherize freedom if it is not to +give them indigestion of purpose. + +"Still Ned provides everything in the world he can think of to help +Mamie," said Caroline, who had come up the walk just in time to fan the +flame in me by her sweet wistfulness, with a soft judiciousness in her +voice and eyes. "And Mamie adores the children and him." + +If one man is unattainable to a woman all the other creatures take on +the hue of being valuable from the reflection. Caroline is pathetic! + +"It would be robbing a woman of a privilege not to let her trot the +colic out of her own baby," Sallie got near enough in sight of the +discussion to shout softly from the rear. + +I have often seen Cousin Martha on one side of the fire trotting the +Pup, and Cousin Jasmine on the other ministrating likewise to the Kit. +so Sallie could take a good nap, which she didn't at all need, on the +long sofa in the living-room at Widegables. + +"Ned is a delightful man and, of course, Mamie adores him." Nell agreed +with an attitude of mind like to the attitude of a body sustained on the +top rail of a shaky fence. + +"He doubtless would be just as delightful to Mamie standing by dropping +asafetida into a spoon to administer to the baby, as he is dancing with +you at the Assembly, Nell," I said, still frothy around the temper. + +"He'll never do it again," was the prompt result I got from my shot. + +"The trouble with you, Evelina," said Sallie, with ruminative +reflectiveness in her eyes, "is that you have never been married and do +not understand how noble a man can be under--" + +"Yes, I should say that you had hit Evelina's trouble exactly on the +head, Sallie," came in Polk's drawl as he came over the rose hedge from +the side street and seated himself beside Caroline on the steps. + +"Well, if I ever have a husband he'll prove his nobility by being +competent to make the correct connection between the asafetida spoon and +his own baby," was the answer that came with so much force that I +couldn't stop it after I fully realized Folk's presence and sex. + +"Help!" exclaimed Polk, weakly, while Nell blushed into the fold of her +ruffle, Caroline looked slightly shocked and Sallie wholly scandalized +at my lack of delicacy. + +I felt that the place had been reached, the audience provided, and the +time ripe for the first gun in my general revolution planned for +Glendale. I spoke calmly in a perfect panic of fear. + +"I am glad Polk is here to speak for the masculine side of the +question," I said, looking all the three astonished women straight in +the face. "Polk, do you or do you not think that a man with a wife and +seven children ought to assume at least some of the domestic strain +resulting therefrom, like dropping the asafetida in the spoon for her +while she is wrestling with the youngest-born's colic?" + +"Do I have to answer?" pleaded Polk, with desperation. + +"Yes!" + +"Then, under the circumstances I think the man ought to say: 'To hell +with the spoon,' grab a gun, go out and shoot up a bear and a couple of +wild turkeys for breakfast, throttle some coin out of some nearby +business corporation, send two to five trained nurses back to the +wigwam, stay down town to lunch and then go home with a tender little +kiss for the madame who meets him fluffy and smiling at the door. That's +my idea of true connubial bliss. Applications considered in the order of +their reception. Nell, you are sweet enough to eat in that blue muslin. +I'm glad I asked you to get one just that shade!" + +And the inane chorus of pleased laughs that followed Polk Hayes's +brainless disposal of the important question in hand made me ashamed of +being a woman--though it was funny. Still I bided my time and Polk saw +the biding, I could tell by the expression in the corners of his eyes +that he kept turned away from me. + +And in less than a half-hour he was left to my mercies, anything but +tender. Sallie took Nell and Caroline over home to help her decide how +wide a band of white it would be decorous for her to sew in the neck of +her new black meteor crepe. I see it coming that we will all have to +unite in getting Sallie out of mourning and into the trappings of +frivolity soon and I dread it. It takes so many opinions on any given +subject to satisfy Sallie that she ought to keep a tabulated +advice-book. + +"Evelina," said Polk, experimentally, after he had seen them safely +across the street, and he moved along the steps until he sat against my +skirts, "are your family subject to colic?" + +"No, they have strong brains instead," I answered icily. + +"Said brains subject to colic, though," he mused in an impudent +undertone. + +I laughed: I couldn't help it. One of the dangerous things about Polk is +that he gets you comfortable and warm of heart whenever he gets near +you. It wouldn't matter at all to him if you should freeze later for +lack of his warmth, just so he doesn't know about it. + +"Polk," I began to say in a lovely serious tone of voice, looking him +square in the eyes and determined that as we were now on the subject of +basic things, like infantile colic, I would have it out with him along +all lines, "there is an awful shock coming to you when you realize +that--" + +"That in the heat of this erudite and revolutionary discussion, which an +evil fate led me to drop in on, I have forgotten to give you this +telegram that came for you while I was down at the station shipping some +lumber. Be as easy as you can with me, Evelina, and remember that I am +your childhood's companion when you decide between us." With which he +handed me a blue telegram. + +I opened it hastily and found that it was from Richard: + + Am coming down to Bolivar with C. & G. Commission. Be deciding + about what I wrote you. Must. + + RICHARD. + +I sat perfectly still for several seconds because I felt that a good +strong hand had reached out of the distance and gently grabbed me. +Dickie had bossed me strenuously through two years of the time before I +had awakened to the fact that, for his good, I must take the direction +of the affairs of him and his kind on my and my kind's shoulders. + +I suppose a great many years of emancipation will have to pass over the +heads of women before they lose the gourd kind of feeling at the sight +of a particularly broad, strong pair of shoulders. My heart sparkled at +the idea of seeing Dickie again and being browbeaten in a good old, +methodical, tender way. I suppose the sparkle in my heart showed in my +eyes, for Polk sat up quickly and took notice of it very decidedly. + +"Wire especially impassioned?" he asked, with a smolder in his eyes. + +"Not especially." I answered serenely, "One of my friend's father is a +director in the C. & G. and he is coming down with him for the +conference over at Bolivar between the two roads next week." + +"Good," answered Polk, heartily, as the flare died out of his eyes. + +I was glad he didn't have to see the wire for I wanted to use Polk's +brain a while if I could get his emotions to sleep in my presence. It is +very exasperating for a woman to be offered flirtation when she is in +need of common sense from a man. There are so many times she needs the +one rather than the other, but the dear creatures refuse to realize it, +if she's under forty. + +"Polk, do you see any logical, honest or dishonest way to get that Road +to take the Glendale bluff line?" I asked, with trepidation, for that +was the first time I had ever even begun to discuss anything +intelligently with Polk. + +"None in the world, Evelina," he answered with a nice, straight, +intellectuality showing over his whole face and even his lazy, posing +figure. "I remonstrated with James and Henry Carruthers both when they +used their influence to have the bonds voted and I told James it was +madness to invest in all that field and swamp property with just a +chance of the shops. The trouble was that James had always left all his +business to Henry, along with the firm's business, for a man can't be +the kind of lawyer James is, and carry the details of the handling of +filthy lucre in the same mind that can make a speech like the one he +made down in Nashville last April, on the exchange of the Judiciary. +James can be the Governor of this good State any time he wants to, or +could, if Henry hadn't turned toes and left him such a bag to hold--no +reference to Sallie's figure intended, which is all to the good if you +like that kind of curves!" + +I took a moment to choose my words. + +"The C. & G. is going to take that bluff route," I answered calmly from +somewhere inside me that I had never used to speak from before. + +"Do you know anything of the character of Mrs. Joshua?" asked Polk, +admiringly, but slipping down from his intellectual attitude of mind and +body and edging an inch nearer. "Bet she had a strong mind or Joshua +never could have pulled off that sun and moon stunt." + +"Do you know, Polk, there is one woman in the world who could--could +handle you?" I said, as a sudden vision of what Jane would do, if Polk +sat on her skirts as he did on mine, flashed across my troubled brain. + +"I'd be mighty particular as to who handles me," he answered impudently, +"Want to try?" And with the greatest audacity he laid his head gently +against my knee. I let it rest there a second and then tipped it back +against the arm of the rocker. + +"It does hurt me to see a man like Cousin James fairly throttled by +women as he is being," I said as I looked across the street and noted +that the porch of Widegables was full to overflowing with the household +of women. + +"Evelina," said Polk, as he stood up suddenly in front of me, "that old +Mossback is the finest man in this commonwealth, but from his situation +nobody can extract him, unless it is a woman with the wiliness of the +devil himself. Poison the whole bunch and I'll back you. But we'll have +to plot it later on. I see his reverence coming tripping along with a +tract in his hand for you and I'll be considerate enough to sneak +through the kitchen, get a hot muffin-cake that has been tantalizing my +nose all this time you have been sentimentalizing over me, and return +anon when I can have you all to myself in the melting moonlight in the +small hours after all religious folk are in bed. Until then!" And as he +went back through the front hall Mr. Haley came down the front walk. + +"My dear Miss Shelby, how fortunate I am to find you alone," he +exclaimed with such genuine delight beaming from his nice, good, +friendly, gray eyes that I beamed up myself a bit out of pure +responsiveness. + +"I am so glad to see you, Mr. Haley. Hasn't it been a lovely day?" I +answered, as I offered him the large rocker Sallie had vacated. + +"It has, indeed, and I don't know when I have been as deeply happy. This +hour with you will be the very climax of the day's perfections, I feel +sure." + +I smiled. + +To follow you, Jane, I "let a man look freely into my heart and thus +encouraged he opened his to mine" and behold, I found Sallie and the +twins and Henrietta all squatting in the Dominie's cardiac regions, just +as comfortably as they do it at Widegables. + +"My sympathies have become so enlisted in the struggle which Mrs. +Carruthers is having to curb the eccentricities of her oldest daughter +that I feel I must lay definite plans to help her. It is very difficult +for a young and naturally yielding woman like Mrs. Carruthers to +discipline alone even so young a child as Henrietta. I know you will +help me all you can to help her. Believe me, my dear friend, even in the +short time you have been in Glendale you have become a tower of strength +to me. I feel that I can take my most difficult and sacred perplexities +to you." + +Now, what do you think of that, Jane? Be sure and rub this situation in +on all the waiting Five disciples. I defy any of them to do so well in +less than three months. This getting on a plane of common citizenship +with a fellow-man is easy. That is, with some men. + +Still while you are getting on the plane somebody else gets the man. +What about that? I didn't want Mr. Haley, but what if I had? + +"Yes, Henrietta is a handful, Mr. Haley," I answered with enthusiasm, +for even the mention of Henrietta enlivens me and somehow Mr. Haley's +getting in the game of "curbing" her stirred up my risibles. "But--but +Sallie already has a good many people to help her with the children. I +have been trying to--to influence Henrietta--and she does not swear +except on the most exasperating occasions now." + +"The dear little child created a slight consternation in her Sunday +School class last week when they were being taught the great dramatic +story of Jonah's three days' incarceration in the whale. To quote her +exactly, so that you may see how it must have affected the other +children, she said: 'I swallowed a live fly onct myself and I'm not damn +fool enough to believe that whale kept Jonah down three days, alive and +kicking, no matter who says so.' + +"She then marched out of the class and has not returned these two +succeeding Sabbaths. It was to talk over the matter I called on Mrs. +Carruthers this afternoon, and I have never had my sympathies so +stirred. We must help her, my dear friend!" + +I never enjoyed anything more in my life than the hour I spent helping +that dear, good, funny man plan first aids to the rearing of Sallie's +children. Besides my coöperation he has planned to enlist that of Aunt +Augusta, and I was wicked enough to let him do it. In a small village +where the inhabitants have no chance at diversions like Wagnerian operas +and collapsing skyscrapers I felt that I had no right to avert the +spectacle of Aunt Augusta's disciplining Henrietta. + +I'll write you all about it, Jane, in a special delivery letter. + +Jasper whipped Petunia with great apparent severity day before +yesterday, and we have been having the most heavenly waffles and broiled +chicken ever since. I dismissed Jasper for doing it, but Petunia came +into my room and cried about it a half-hour, so I had to go out where he +was rubbing the silver and forgive him and hire him over. + +"When a woman gits her mouth stuck out at a man and the world in general +three days hand running they ain't nothing to cure it but a stick," he +answered with lofty scorn. + +"Yes'm, dat's so," answered Petunia. "I never come outen a spell so easy +before." And her yellow face had a pink glow of happiness all over it as +she smiled lovably on the black brute. + +I went off into a corner and sat down for a quiet hour to think. Nobody +in the world knows everything. + +"Supper's on the table," Jasper announced, after having seen Mr. Haley +go down the front walk to-night. Jasper has such great respect for the +cloth that never in the world would he have asked Mr. Haley in to supper +without having at least a day to prepare for him. Any of my other +friends he would have asked, regardless of whether or not I wanted them. + +I somehow didn't feel that I could eat alone to-night, but it was too +late to go for Sallie or Cousin Jasmine, and besides it is weak-minded +to feel that way. Why shouldn't I want to eat by myself? + +This is a great big house for just one woman, and I don't see why I have +to be that one! I never was intended to be single. I seem to even think +double. Way down in me there is a place that all my life I have been +laying things aside in to tell some day to somebody that will +understand. I don't remember a single one of them now, but when the time +comes somebody is going to ask me a question very softly and it is going +to be the key that will unlock the treasures of all my life, and he will +take them out one by one, and look at them and love them and smile over +them and scold over them and be frightened even to swearing over them, +perhaps weep over them, and then--while I'm very close--pray over them. +I could feel the tears getting tangled in my lashes, but I forced them +back. + +Now, I don't see why I should have been sentimentalizing over myself +like that. Just such a longing, miserable, wait-until-he-comes--and +why-doesn't-he-hurry-or-I'll-take-the-wrong-man attitude of mind and +sentiment in women in general is what I have taken a vow on my soul, and +made a great big important wager to do away with. There are millions of +lovely men in the world and all I have to do is to go out and find the +right one, be gentle with him until he understands my mode of attack to +be a bit different from the usual crawfish one employed by women from +prehistoric times until now, but not later: and then domesticate him in +any way that suits me. + +Here I've been in Glendale almost three months and have let my time be +occupied keeping house for nobody but myself and to entertain my +friends, planting a flower garden that can't be used at all for +nourishment, and sewing on another woman's baby clothes. + +I've written millions of words in this book and there is as yet not one +word that will help the Five in the serious and important task of +proving that they have a right to choose their own mates, and certainly +nothing to help them perform the ceremonial. + +If I don't do better than this Jane will withdraw her offer and there is +no telling how many years the human race will be retarded by my lack of +strength of character. + +What do men do when they begin to see the gray hairs on their temples +and when they have been best-man at twenty-three weddings, and are tired +of being at christenings and buying rattles, and things at the club all +taste exactly alike, and they have purchased ten different kinds of +hair-tonic that it bores them to death to rub on the tops of their own +heads? + +I don't want any man I know! I might want Polk, if I let him have half a +chance to make me, but that would be dishonorable. + +I've got up so much nice warm sisterly love for Dickie and Mr. Haley +that I couldn't begin to love them in the right way now, I am afraid. +Still, I haven't seen Dickie for three months and maybe my desperation +will have the effect of enhancing his attractions. I hope so. + +Still I am disgusted deeply with myself. I believe if I could experiment +with mankind I could make some kind of creature that would be a lot +better than a woman for all purposes, and I would-- + +"Supper's ready and company come," Jasper came to the front door to +announce for the third time, but this time with the unctuous voice of +delight that a guest always inspires in him. I promptly went in to +welcome my materialized desire whoever it happened to be. + +The Crag was standing by the window in the half light that came, partly +from the candles in their tall old silver candlesticks that were +Grandmother Shelby's, and partly from the last glow of the sun down over +the ridge. That was what I needed! + +"I was coming in from the fields across your back yard and I saw the +table lighted and you on the front porch, star-gazing, and--and I got +Jasper to invite me." he said as he came over and drew out my chair on +one side of that wide square table, while Jasper stood waiting to seat +him at the other, about a mile away. + +"I wanted you," I answered him stupidly, as I sank into my place and +leaned my elbows on the table so I could drop my warm cheeks into my +hands comfortably. I didn't see why I should be blushing. + +"That's the reason I came then," he answered, as he looked at me across +the bowl of musk roses that were sending out waves of sweetness to meet +those that were coming in from the honeysuckle climbing over the window. +"If you were ever lonely and needed me, Evelina, you would tell me, +wouldn't you?" he asked, as he leaned towards me and regarded me still +more closely. + +And again those two treacherous tears rose and tangled themselves in my +lashes, though I did shake them away quickly as a smile quivered its way +to command of my mouth. But I was not quick enough and he saw them. + +And what he did was just what I wanted him to do! He rose, picked up his +chair and came around that huge old table and sat down at the corner +just as near to my elbow as the steaming coffee pot would let him. + +"If you wanted me any time, would you tell me, Evelina?" he insisted +from this closer range. + +"No, I wouldn't," I answered with a laugh. "I would expect you to know +it, and come just like you did to-night." + +"But--but it was I that wanted you badly in this case," he answered with +an echo of the laugh. + +But even under the laugh I saw signs of excitement in his deep eyes and +his long, lean hands shook as they handed me his cup to pour the coffee. +Jasper had laid his silver and napkin in front of him and retired to +admonish Petunia as to the exact crispness of her first waffle. + +"What is it?" I asked breathlessly, as I moved the coffee pot from +between us to the other side. + +"Just a letter that came to me from the Democratic Headquarters in the +City, that shook me up a bit and made me want to--to tell _you_ about +it. Nobody else can know--I have been out on Old Harpeth all afternoon +fighting that out, and telling you is the only thing I have allowed +myself." + +"They want you to be the next Governor," I said quickly. "And you will +be, too," I added, again using that queer place in my brain that seems +to know perfectly unknowable things and that only works in matters that +concern him. + +"No!" + +"Yes, Your Excellency," I hurled at him defiantly. + +"You witch, you," he answered me with a pleased, teasing whimsicality +coming into his eyes. "Of course, you guessed the letter and it was dear +to have you do it, but we both know it is impossible. Nobody must hear +of it, and the telling you has been the best I could get out of it +anyway. Jasper, take my compliments to Petunia, this chicken is +perfection!" + +That eighth wonder of the world which got lost was something even more +mysterious than the Sphinx. It was a marvel that could have been used +for women to compare men to. That man sat right there at my side and +ate four waffles, two large pieces of chicken and a liver-wing, drank +two cups of coffee, and then devoured a huge bowl of peaches and cream, +with three muffin-cakes, while enduring the tragedy of the realization +of having to decline the Governorship of his State. + +I watched him do it, first in awe and then with a dim understanding of +something, I wasn't sure what. Most women, under the circumstances, +would have gone to bed and cried it out or at least have refused food +for hours. We've got to get over those habits before we get to the point +of having to refuse to be Governors of the States and railroad +presidents and things like that. + +And while he ate, there I sat not able to more than nibble because I was +making up my mind to do something that scared me to death to think +about. That gaunt, craggy man in a shabby gray coat, cut ante-bellum +wise, with a cravat that wound itself around his collar, snowy and +dainty, but on the same lines as the coat and evidently of rural +manufacture in the style favored by the flower and chivalry of the day +of Henry Clay, had progressive me as completely overawed for several +minutes as any painted redskin ever dominated a squaw--or as Jasper did +Petunia in my own kitchen. + +But after we were left alone with the roses and the candles and his +cigar, with only Jasper's gratified voice mumbling over compliments to +Petunia in the distance, I took my courage in my hands and plunged. + +This can he used as data for the Five. + +"James." I said, with such cool determination in my voice that it almost +froze my own tongue, "I meant to tell you about it several weeks ago, I +have decided to adopt Sallie and all the children. I intend to legally +adopt the children and just nominally adopt Sallie, but it will amount +to the same thing. I don't have to have your consent but I think it is +courteous to ask for it." + +"What!" he exclaimed, as he sat up and looked at me with the expression +an alienist might use in an important examination. + +"Yes," I answered, gaining courage with time. "You see, I was crying out +here on the porch with loneliness when you found me. I can't stand this +any longer. I must have a family right away and Sallie's just suits me. +I have to take a great deal of interest in them anyway and it would be +easier if I had complete control of them. It will leave you with enough +family to keep you from being lonely and then we can all be happy +together down into old age." + +"Have you said anything about this to Sallie?" he asked weakly as he +dipped the end of his cigar into his glass of water and watched the +sputter with the greatest interest. + +"Not yet, but don't you feel sure that she will consent?" I asked, with +confidence in my plan at fever heat. "Sallie is so generous and she +can't want to see me live lonely always, without any family at all. Now, +will she?" + +"She would consent!" he answered slowly, and then he laid his head down +on the table right against my arm and shook so that the candlesticks +rattled against the candles. "But I don't," he gasped, and for the life +of me I couldn't tell whether he was crying or laughing, until he sat up +again. + +"Eve," he said, with his eyes fairly dancing into mine, "if women in +general mean to walk over political difficulties as you are planning to +walk away with this one of mine, I'm for feminine rule. Don't you dare +say one word about such a thing to Sallie. Of course, it is impossible +as it is funny." + +It was a tragedy to have such a lovely scheme as I had thought up on the +spur of the moment, knocked down suddenly by a half dozen positive words +from a mere man, and for a moment my eyes fought with his in open +rebellion. Then I rose haughtily and walked out on the front porch. + +"Dear," he said, as he followed me and took my hand in his and drew me +near him, "don't you know that your wanting to put your shoulder under +any burden I may be bearing lifts it completely? There are things in +this situation that you can't understand. If I seem to make sacrifices, +they come from the depths of my heart and are not sacrifices. Will you +believe me?" + +How can he help loving Sallie with her so emphatically there? + +I answered him I suppose to his liking and he went on across the road to +Widegables and left me alone in the cruel darkness. + +Please, God, when things seem to be drowning me like this make me swim +with head up. Amen! + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +SOME SMOLDERINGS + + +I'm a failure! Yes, Jane, I am! + +Polk Hayes is an up-to-date, bright man of the world, with lots of +brains and I should say about the average masculine nature, and a great +deal more than the average amount of human charm. However, he has got no +more brains than I have, has had really fewer advantages, and it ought +to be easy for me to hold my own against him. But I am about to fail on +him. + +For the last two weeks he has been constantly with Nell and has got her +in a dreamy state that shows in her face and every movement of her slim +body. And yet I know without the shadow of a doubt that he is just +biding his time to try me out and get me on his own terms. My heart +aches for Nell, and I just couldn't see him murder her girlhood, and it +will amount to that if he involves her heart any more than it is. I made +up my mind to have it out with him and accordingly let him come and sit +on my side steps with me late yesterday afternoon, when I have avoided +being alone with him for a month. + +"Polk," I asked him suddenly without giving him time to get the +situation into his own hands, skilled in their woman-handling, "do you +intend to marry Nell or just plain break her heart for the fun you get +out of it?" + +His dangerous eyes smoldered back at me for a long minute before he +answered me: + +"Men don't break women's hearts, Evelina." + +"I think you are right," I answered slowly, "they do just wring and +distort them and deform them for life. But I intend to see that Nell's +has no such torturous operation performed on it if I can appeal to you +or convince her." + +"When you argue with Nell be sure and don't tell her just exactly the +things _you_ have done to _me_ all this summer through, Evelina." he +answered coolly. + +"What do you mean?" I demanded, positively cold with a kind of +astonished fear. + +"I mean that I have never offered Nell one half of the torture you have +offered me, every day since you came home, with your damned affectionate +friendliness. When I laugh, you answer it before it gets articulate, and +when I gloom, you are as sympathetic as sympathy itself. I have held +your hand and kissed it, instituting and not quenching a raging thirst +thereby, as you are experienced enough to know. You have made yourself +everything for me that is responsive and desirable and beautiful and +worthy and have put me back every time I have reached out to grasp you. +You don't want me, you don't want to marry me at all, you just want +--excitement. You are as cold as ice that grinds and generates fire. +Very well, you don't have to take me--and I'll get what I can from +Nell--and others." + +"Oh, Polk, how could you have misunderstood me like this?" I moaned from +the depths of an almost broken heart. But as I moaned I understood--I +understood! + +I'm doing it all wrong! I had the most beautiful human love for him in +my heart and he thought it was all dastardly, cold coquetting. An awful +spark has been struck out of the flint. I'm not worthy to experiment +with this dreadful man-and-woman question. I just laid my head down on +my arms, resting on my knees and cowered at Polk's feet. + +"Don't--Evelina, I didn't mean it." he said quickly in a shaken voice. +But he did! + +I couldn't answer him and as I sat still and prayed in my heart for some +words to come that would do away with the horror I heard Sallie's voice +from my front walk, and she and Mr. Haley, each carrying a sleeping +twin, came around the corner of the porch. + +That interruption was a direct answer to prayer, for God knew that I +just must have time to think before having this out with Polk. I +sometimes feel ashamed of the catastrophes I have to pray quick about, +but what would I do if I couldn't? + +I don't know how I got through the rest of this evening, but I did--I +pray for sleep. Amen! + +Watching the seasons follow each other in the Harpeth Valley gives me +the agony of a dumb poet, who can feel though not sing. + +It was spring when I came down here four months ago, a young, tender, +mist-veiled, lilac-scented spring that nestled firmly in your heart and +made it ache with sweetness that you hardly understood yourself. + +But before I knew it the young darling, with her curls and buds and +apple-blooms had gone and summer was rioting over the gardens and fields +and hills, rich, lush colored, radiant, redolent, gorgeous, rose-scented +and pulsing with a life that made me breathless. Even the roads along +the valley were bordered with flowers that the sun had wooed to the +swooning point. + +But this week, early as it is, there has been a hint of autumn in the +air, and a haze is beginning to creep over the whole world, especially +in the early mornings, which are so dew-gemmed that they seem to be +hinting a warning of the near coming of frost and snow. + +My garden has grown into a perfect riot of blooms, but for the last two +weeks queer slugs have begun to eat the tender buds that are forming for +October blooming, and I have been mourning over it by day and by night +and to everybody who will listen. + +Aunt Augusta insists that the only thing to do is to get up with the +first crack of dawn and carefully search out each slug, remove it and +destroy it. She says if this is done for a week they will be +exterminated. + +I carefully explained it all to Jasper and when I came down to breakfast +he was coming in with three queer green things, also with an injured air +of having been kept up all night. I didn't feel equal to making him go +on with the combat and ignored the question for two days until I saw all +the buds on my largest Neron done for in one night. + +I have always been able to get up at the break of day to go +sketching--it was at daybreak that I made my sketch in the Defleury +gardens that captured the French art eye enough to get me my Salon +mention. If I could get up to splash water-colors at that hour, I surely +could rush to the protection of my own roses, so I went to bed with gray +dawn on my mind and the shutters wide open so the first light would get +full in my eyes. + +I am glad that it was a good bright ray that woke me and partly dazzled +me, for the sight I had, after I had been kneeling down in the rose bed +for fifteen minutes, was something of a shock to me, though no reason in +the world why it should have been. I can't remember that I ever +speculated as to whether the Crag wore pajamas or not, and I don't see +that I should have been surprised that he did instead of the night shirt +of our common ancestry. + +He came around the side of the house out of the sun-shot mist and was +half way down the garden path before I saw him or he saw me, and I must +say that his unconcern under the circumstances was rather remarkable. + +He was attired in a light blue silk pajama jacket that was open at the +throat and half way down his broad breast. He had on his usual gray +trousers, but tag's of blue trailed out and ruffled around his bare +ankles, and across his bare heels that protruded from his slippers. His +hair was in heavy tousled black curls all over his head and his gray +eyes were positively mysterious with interrupted dreams. In one hand he +carried a tin can and in the other a small pointed stick, which looked +murderously fitted for the extermination of the marauders. + +I was positively nervous over the prospect of his embarrassment when he +should catch sight of me, but there was none. + +"Eve!" he exclaimed, with surprise, and a ray of pure delight drove away +the dreams in his eyes. Nobody in the wide world calls me Eve but just +the Crag, and he does it in a queer, still way when he is surprised to +see me, or glad, or sorry, or moved with any kind of sudden emotion. + +And queer as it is I have to positively control the desire to answer him +with the correlated title--Adam! + +"I forgot to tell you yesterday that I was coming over to get the slugs +for you, dear," he said as he came down the row of roses next to mine, +squatted opposite to where I was kneeling by the bushy, suffering Neron +and began to examine the under side of each leaf carefully. He was the +most beautiful thing I have ever seen in the early light with his great +chest bare and the blue of the pajamas melting into the bronze of his +throat and calling out the gray in his eyes. I had to force myself into +being gardener rather than artist, as we laughed together over the glass +bowl and silver spoon I had brought out for the undoing of the slugs. +Some day I'm going to paint him like that! + +[Illustration: His gray eyes were positively mysterious with interrupted +dreams] + +I found out about the pajamas from questioning Aunt Martha discreetly. +They seemed so incongruous in relation to the usual old Henry Clay coat +and stock collar, that I had to know the reason why. Mrs. Hargrove's son +was a very worldly man, she says, and wore them. It comforts her to make +them for the Crag to wear in memoriam. He wears the collars Cousin +Martha makes him with her own fingers after the pattern she made his +father's by, for the same reason, and lets Cousin Jasmine cut his hair +because she always cut her father's, Colonel Horton's, until his death. +That accounts for the ante-bellum curls and the irregular tags in the +back. I almost laughed when Cousin Martha was telling me, but I +remembered how a glow rose in my heart when I saw that he still had +Father's little old Confederate comrade tailor cut his coats on the same +pattern on which he had cut Father's, since the days of reconstruction. +Sometimes it startles me to find that with all my emancipation I am very +like other women. + +But I wonder what I would do if Sallie attired him in any of the late +Henry's wearing apparel? + +"What do you suppose is the why of such useless things as slugs?" I +speculated to stop that thought off sharp as we crawled down the row +together, he searching one side of each bush and I the other. + +"Well, they brought on this nice companionable hunt for them, didn't +they?" he asked, looking over into my eyes with a laugh. + +"I wanted to see you early this morning anyway," he hastily resumed. +"Sallie and the Dominie sat talking to you so late last night that I +didn't feel it was fair to come across after they left. But I wanted you +so I could hardly get to sleep, and I was just half awake from a dream +of you, when I came into the garden." + +"My evenings don't belong to anybody, if you need them, Jamie, and you +don't have to be told that," I answered crossly when I thought what a +grand time I might have been having talking about real things with the +Crag, instead of wrestling with Polk's romantics or Sallie's and Mr. +Haley's gush. + +"Go on and tell me all about it, while I crawl after you like a worm +myself," I snapped still further. + +"Well, here goes! In the City Council meeting last night your Uncle +Peter told us about the plans that they have made up at Bolivar for +entertaining the C. & G. Commission, and the gloom of Polk and Lee, Ned +and the rest of them could have easily been cut in blocks and used for +cold storage purposes. They are just all down and out about it and no +fight left. Of course, they all lose by the bond issue, but I can't see +that it is bad enough to knock them all out like this. I got up in +mighty wrath and--and I have got myself into one job. My eloquence +landed me right into one large hole, and I am reaching out for a hand +from you." + +"Here it is," and I reached over and left a smear of loam across the +back of his hand, while I brought away a brown circle around my wrist +that the responsive grasp of his fingers left. "Do you want me +single-handed to get the bluff line chosen?" + +"Not quite, but almost," he answered with another laugh. "You would if +you tried. I haven't a doubt. Do you remember the talk we had the other +night about its seeming inhospitable of you not to invite the other +gentlemen in the Commission over to see you when you invite Hall and his +father? And you know you had partly planned some sort of entertainment +for the whole bunch. You had the right idea at the right place, as you +always do. As you said, we don't want Bolivar to see us with what looks +like a grouch on us at their good fortune, and I think that as the +Commission are all to be here as the guests of a private citizen, +Glendale ought to entertain them publicly. There is no hope to get the +line for us, but I would like those men at least to see what the beauty +of that bluff road would be. The line across the river runs through the +only ugly part of the valley, and while I know in the balance between +dollars and scenery, scenery will go down and out, still it would be +good for them to see it and at least get a vision of what might have +been, to haunt them when they take their first trip through the swamps +across the country there. Now, as you are to have them anyway, I want to +have the whole town entertain the whole Commission and Bolivar with what +is classically called among us a barbecue-rally, the countryside to be +invited. Bolivar is going to give them a banquet, to be as near like +what the Bolivarians imagine they have in New York as possible, and Mrs. +Doctor Henderson is to give them a pink tea reception to which carefully +chosen presentables, like you and me, are to be invited. You remember +that circus day in July?--a rally will be like that or more so. What do +you think?" + +"Oh, I think you are a genius to think about it," I gasped, as I sat +down on a very cruet Killarney branch and just as quickly sat up again, +receiving comforting expressions of sympathy from across the bush, to +which I paid no heed. "Those blasé city men will go crazy about it. We +can have the barbecue up on the bluff, where we have always had it for +the political rallies, and a fish-fry and the country people in their +wagons with children tumbling all over everything and--and you will make +a great speech with all of us looking on and being proud of you, because +nobody in New York or beyond can do as well. We can invite a lot of +people up from the City and over from Bolivar and Hillsboro and +Providence to hear you tell them all about Tennessee while things are +cooking and--" + +"This rally is to show off Glendale not--the Crag," he interrupted me +with a quizzical laugh. + +Now, how did he know I called him the Crag in my heart? I suppose I did +it to his face and never knew. I seem to think right out loud when I am +with him and feel out loud, too. I ignored his levity, that was out of +place when he saw how my brain was beginning to work well and rapidly. + +"You mean, don't you, Jamie, that you want to get Glendale past this +place that is--humiliating--swimming with her head up?" I asked softly +past a rose that drooped against my cheek. + +Perfectly justifiable tears came to my lashes as I thought what a +humiliation it all was to him and the rest of them, to be passed by an +opportunity like that and left to die in their gray moldiness off the +main line of life--shelved. + +"That is one of my prayers, to get past humiliations, swimming with my +head up," I added softly, though I blushed from my toes to my top curl +at the necessity that had called out the prayer the last time. It's +awful on a woman to feel herself growing up stiff and sturdy by a man's +side and then to get sight of a gourd-vine tangling itself up between +them. I'm the dryad out of one of my own twin oaks down by the gate, +and I want the other twin to be-- + +I wonder if his eyes really look to other women like deep gray pools +that you can look deeper and deeper into and never seem to get to the +bottom, no matter if the look does seem to last forever and you feel +yourself blushing and wanting to take your eyes away, or if it is just I +that get so drowned in them! + +"You've a gallant stroke, Evelina," he said softly, as I at last gained +possession of my own sight. "And here I am with a hand out to you for +assistance in carrying out your own plan that seems to be just the thing +to--" + +"Say, Cousin James. Aunt Marfy says for you to come home to breakfast +right away. Mis' Hargrove won't let nobody begin until you says the +blessing, and Cousin Jasmine have got the headache from waiting for her +coffee. What do you want to fool with Evelina this time of day for +anyway?" And with the delivery of which message and reproof Henrietta +stood on the edge of the path looking down upon us with great and +scornful interest. + +"You've got on your night shirt and haven't combed your hair or washed +your face," she continued sternly. "There'll be hell to pay with all the +breakfast getting cold, and I'm empty down to my feet. Come on, quick!" + +"Henrietta," I said, sternly, as I rose to my feet, "I've asked you once +not to say ugly words like that." + +"I'll go make the lightning toilet, Henrietta. Do run like a good girl +and ask Mrs. Hargrove to let Cousin Jasmine have her cup of coffee right +away. I'll be there before the rest are dead from hunger," and Cousin +James skilfully interrupted the threatened feminine clash as he emptied +my glass bowl into his tin can and stuck the sharp stick in the ground +for future reference. Even Henrietta's pointed allusion to his toilet +had not in the least ruffled his equanimity or brought a shade of +consciousness to his face. + +"Mis' Hargrove said that the Bible said not for any woman to say a +blessing at any table or at any place that anybody can hear her, when +Cousin Marfy wanted to be polite to the Lord by saying just a little one +and go on before we was all too hungry," answered Henrietta, in her most +scornfully tolerant voice. "If women eat out loud before everybody why +can't they pray their thank-you out loud like any man?" + +"Answer her, Evelina," laughed Cousin James, as he hurried down the walk +away from us. + +"Henrietta," I asked, in a calmly argumentative tone of voice as she and +I walked up the path to the house, "didn't Mr. Haley talk to you just +yesterday and tell you how wicked it is for you to use--use such strong +words as you do?" + +Mr. Haley had told me just a few days ago that he and Aunt Augusta had +agreed to open their campaign of reform on Henrietta by a pastoral +lecture from him, to be followed strongly by a neighborly one from her. + +"No, he never did any such thing," answered Henrietta, promptly--and +what Henrietta says is always the truth, because she isn't afraid of +anybody or anything enough to tell a lie---"he just telled me over and +over in a whole lot of words how I ought to love and be good to Sallie. +If I was to love Sallie that kind of way, he said, I would be so busy I +couldn't do none of the things Sallie don't like to do herself and makes +me do. 'Stid er saying, 'my precious mother, I love you and want to be +good because you want me to,' about every hour, I had better wipe the +twins' noses, and wash the dirt often them, and light Aunt Dilsie's +phthisic pipe, and get things upstairs for Sallie and Miss Jasmine and +everybody when they are downstairs. I'm too busy, I am, to be so +religious. And I'm too hungry to talk any more about it." With which she +departed. + +I sank on the side steps and laughed until a busy old bumble-bee came +down from a late honeysuckle blossom and buzzed around to see what it +was all about. Henrietta's statement of the case was a graphic and just +one. Sallie has got a tendril around Henrietta which grows by the day. +Poor tot, she does have a hard and hardening time--and how can I lecture +her for swearing? + +With a train of thought started by Henrietta I sat at my solitary +breakfast in a deeply contemplative mood. Life was going to press hard +on Henrietta. And reared in the fossilized atmosphere of Widegables, +which tried to draw all its six separate feminine breaths as one with a +lone, supporting man, how was she to develop the biceps of strength of +mind and soul, as well as body, to meet the conditions she was likely +to have to meet? Still her coming tussle with Aunt Augusta would be a +tonic at least. I was just breaking a last muffin and beginning to smile +when I saw a delegation coming down the street and turning into my front +gate; I rose to meet it with distinction. + +Aunt Augusta marched at the head and Nell and Caroline were on each side +of her, while Sallie and Mamie Hall brought up the rear, walking more +deliberately and each carrying a baby, comparing some sort of white tags +of sewing. Cousin Martha was crossing the Road in their wake with her +knitting bag and palm leaf fan. + +One thing I am proud of having accomplished this summer is the +establishing of friendly relations with Aunt Augusta. I made up my mind +that she probably needed to have some of my affection ladled out to her +more than anybody in Glendale, and I worked on all the volatile fear and +resentment and dislike I had ever had for her all my life, and I have +succeeded in liquefying it into a genuine liking for the martial old +personality. If Aunt Augusta had been a man she would have probably led +a regiment up San Juan Hill, died in the trenches, and covered herself +and family with glory. She is the newest woman in the Harpeth Valley, +and though sixty years old, she is lineally Sallie Carruthers's own +granddaughter. + +"Evelina," she began, as soon as she had martialed her forces into +rocking-chairs, though she had Jasper bring her the stiffest and +straightest-backed one in the house, "I have collected as many women as +I had time to, and have come up here to tell you, and them, that the men +in Glendale are so lacking in sense and judgment that the time has come +for women to stand forth and assume the responsibility of them and +Glendale in general. As the wife of the poor decrepit Mayor, I appoint +myself chairman of the meeting pro tem and ask you to take the first +minutes. If disgrace is threatening us we must at least face it in an +orderly and parliamentary way. And I--" + +"Oh, Mrs. Shelby, is it--is it smallpox?" and as Sallie spoke she hugged +up the Puppy baby, who happened to be the twin in her arms, so that she +bubbled and giggled, mistaking her embraces for those of frolicsome +affection. + +Mamie turned pale and held her baby tight and I could see that she was +having light spasms of alarm, one for each one of the children and one +for Ned. + +"Smallpox, fiddlesticks--I said disgrace, Sallie Carruthers, and the +worst kind of disgrace--municipal disgrace." And as Aunt Augusta named +the plague that was to come upon us, she looked as if she expected it to +wilt us all into sear and dried leaves. And in point of fact, we all did +rustle. + +"Tell us about it," said Nell, with sparkling eyes and sitting up in her +low rocker as straight as Aunt Augusta did in her uncompromising seat. +The rest of them just looked helpless and undecided as to whether to be +relieved or not. + +"Yes, municipal disgrace threatens the town, and the women must rise in +their strength and avert it," she declaimed majestically with her dark +eyes snapping. + +"Yesterday afternoon James Hardin, who is the only patriotic male in +Glendale, put before the Town Council a most reasonable and +pride-bestirring proposition originated by Evelina Shelby, one of +Glendale's leading citizens, though a woman. She wants to offer the +far-famed hospitality of Glendale--which is the oldest and most +aristocratic town in the Harpeth Valley, except perhaps Hillsboro, and +which is not in the class with a vulgarly rich, modern place like +Bolivar, that has a soap-factory and streetcars, and was a mud-hole in +the landscape when the first Shelby built this very house,--to the +Commission of magnates who are to come down about the railroad lines +that are to be laid near us. James agrees with her and urges that it is +fitting and dignified that, when they are through with their vulgar +trafficking over at insignificant Bolivar, they be asked to partake of +real southern hospitality at its fountain head, especially as Evelina is +obliged to invite two of them as personal friends. Do you not see it in +that light?" And Aunt Augusta looked at us with the martial mien of a +general commanding his army for a campaign. + +"It would be nice," answered Mamie, as she turned little Ned over on his +stomach across her knee and began to sway him and trot him at the same +time, which was his signal to get off into a nap. "But Ned said last +night that he had lost so much in the bond subscription, that he didn't +feel like spending any more money for an entertainment, that wouldn't do +one bit of good about the taxes or bonds or anything. The baby was +beginning to fret, so I don't think I understood it exactly." + +"I don't think you did," answered Aunt Augusta, witheringly, "That is +not the point at all, and--" + +"But Mr. Greenfield said last night, while he was discussing it with +Father, that it would do no good whatever and probably be an +embarrassment to the Commission, our putting in a pitiful bid like that. +He--" but Caroline got no further with the feminine echo of her +masculine opinion-former. + +"Peter Shelby put that objection much more picturesquely than Lee +Greenfield," Aunt Augusta snapped. "He said that licking those men's +hands would turn his stomach, after swallowing that bond issue. However, +all this has nothing to do with the case. I am trying to--" + +"Polk said last night that he thought it would be much more spectacular +for all the good looking women in town to go when we are invited to Mrs. +Henderson's tea for the big bugs, and dazzle 'em so that it would at +least put Glendale on the map," said Nell, with spirit. "He made me so +mad that I--" + +"Mr. Haley thinks that we should be very careful not to feel malice or +envy towards Bolivar, but to rejoice at their good fortune in getting +both roads and the shops, even if it does mean a loss to us. What is +material wealth in this world anyway when we can depend so on--" +Sallie's expression was so beautifully silly and like the Dominie's, +that it was all that I could do not to give vent to an unworthy shout. +Nell saw it as I did and I felt her smother a giggle. + +But before Aunt Augusta could get her breath to put the crux of the +matter straight before her feminine tribunal, Aunt Martha beat her to it +as she placidly rocked back and forth knitting lace for a petticoat for +Henrietta. + +"Of course, Glendale doesn't really care about the railroad; in fact, we +would much rather not have our seclusion broken in upon, especially as +they might choose the route they have prospected"--with a glance at +Sallie--"but it is to show them our friendliness, more Bolivar than the +actual Commission, and our desire to rejoice with them in their good +fortune. It would be very mean spirited of us to ignore them and not +assist them in entertaining their guests, especially as some of them +must be invited. We've never been in such an attitude as that to +Bolivar!" + +"Exactly, Martha," answered Aunt Augusta with relief. "The thought of +proud old Glendale putting herself in an attitude of municipal sulks +towards common Bolivar seemed an unbearable disgrace to me. Didn't we +invite them up for a great fish-fry on the river when they opened that +odious soap factory, and ask them to let us help take care of some of +their delegates when they had the Methodist Conference? They sent one of +the two bishops to you, you remember, Martha, and I am sure your +entertainment of him was so lavish that he went home ill. No man said +us nay in the exercising our right of religious hospitality, why should +they in our civic? We must not allow the town to put us in such an +attitude! Must Not! It was for this that I called this meeting at +Evelina's, as she was the one to propose this public-spirited and +creditable plan." + +"But what shall we do if they don't want to have it?" asked Mamie. + +"I have asked, when did the men of Glendale begin to dictate to the +women as to whom they should offer their hospitality?" answered Aunt +Augusta, as she arose to her feet. "Are we free women, and have we, or +have we not, command of our own storerooms and our own servants and our +own time and strength?" + +And as I looked up at the tall, fierce, white-haired old dame of high +degree, daughter of the women of the Colonies and the women of the +Wilderness days, I got exactly the same sensation I had when I saw the +Goddess of Liberty loom up out of the mist as I sailed into the harbor +of my own land from a foreign one. And what I was feeling I knew every +woman present was feeling in a greater or less degree, except perhaps +Sallie, for her face was a puzzle of sore amazement and a pleading +desire for further sleep. + +"Have we or have we not?" Aunt Augusta again demanded, and just then a +most wonderful thing happened! + +Jane stood in our midst! + +Oh, Jane, you were a miracle to me, but I must go on writing about it +all calmly for the sake of the Five! + +I made a mad rush from my rocker to throw myself into her arms, but she +stopped me with one glance of her cold, official eye that quelled me, +and stood attention before Aunt Augusta. + +"Madam President," she said in her grandest parliamentary voice, "it was +by accident that I interrupted the proceedings of what I take to be an +official meeting. Have I your permission to withdraw? I am Miss Shelby's +guest, Miss Mathers, and I can easily await her greetings until the +adjournment of this body." + +Oh, Jane, and my arms just hungry for you! + +"Madam," answered Aunt Augusta, in her grandest manner and a voice so +filled with cordiality that I hardly knew it, "it is the pleasure of the +chair to interrupt proceedings and to welcome you. Evelina, introduce us +all!" + +It was all just glorious! I never saw anybody get a more lovely ovation +than Jane did from my friends, for they had all heard about her, read +with awe clippings I showed them about her speeches and--were about +ready for her. + +Sallie kissed her on both cheeks, Mamie laid the baby in her arms with a +devout expression, and Nell clung to her with the rapture of the newly +proselyted in her face. Aunt Martha made her welcome in her dearest +manner and Caroline beamed on her with the return of a lot of the fire +and spirit of the youth that hanging on the doled-out affections of Lee +Greenfield had starved in her. + +And it was characteristic of Jane and her methods that it took much less +time than it takes me to write it, for her to get all the greetings over +with, explain that she had sent me a letter telling me that she was +coming that must have gone astray, get everybody named and ticketed in +her mind, and get us all back to business. + +Aunt Augusta explained the situation to her with so much feeling and +eloquence that she swept us all off our feet, and when she was ready to +put the question again to us as to our willingness to embark on our +defiance of our fellow-townsmen, the answer of enthusiastic acquiescence +was ready for her. + +"Of course, as none of you have any official municipal status, the +invitation will have to be given informally, in a social way, to the +Commission through Miss Shelby's friend, Mr. Richard Hall," said Jane, +when Aunt Augusta had called on her to give us her opinion of the +situation in general and the mode of procedure. "We find it best in all +women-questions of the present, to do things in a perfectly legal and +parliamentary way." + +"Must we tell them about it or not?" asked Mamie, in a wavering voice, +looking up devoutly at Jane, who had held young Ned against the stiff +white linen shirt of her traveling dress just as comfortably as if he +were her own seventh. + +"Did they consult you before deciding to refuse your suggestion?" asked +Jane, calmly and thoughtfully. + +"They did not," trumpeted Aunt Augusta. + +"Then wouldn't it be the most regular way to proceed to get an +acceptance of the invitation from the Commission and then extend them +one to be present?" pronounced Jane, coolly, seemingly totally +unconscious that she was exploding; a bomb shell. + +"It would, and we will consider it so settled," answered Aunt Augusta, +dominatingly. + +This quick and revolutionary decision gave me a shock. I could see that +a woman doesn't like to feel that there is a stick of dynamite +between her and a man, when she puts her head down under his chin or her +cheek to his, but advanced women must suffer that. Still I'm glad that +the Crag is on our side of the fence. I felt sorry for Mamie and +Caroline--and Sallie looked a tragedy. + +In fact, a shade of depression was about to steal over the spirits of +the meeting when Aunt Augusta luckily called for the discussion of plans +for the rally. + +Feeding other human beings is the natural, instituted, physiological, +pathological, metaphysical, and spiritual outlet for a woman's nature, +and that is why she is so happy when she gets out her family receipt +book for a called rehearsal for the functioning of her hospitality. The +revolution went home happy and excited over the martialing of their +flesh pots. + +I'm glad Jane is asleep across the hall to-night. If I had had to +shoulder all this outbreak by myself I would have compromised by +instituting a campaign of wheedling, the like of which this town never +suffered before, and then when this glorious rally was finally pulled +off, the cajoled masculine population would have fairly swelled with +pride over having done it! + +Of course, by every known test of conduct and economics, their attitude +in the matter is entirely right. Men work to all given points in +straight, clear-cut, logical lines only to find women at the point of +results waiting for them, with unforeseen culminations, which would +have been impossible to them. + +And I am also glad the Crag is partly responsible for starting, or at +least unconsciously aiding, this scheme in high finance of mine; and he +is also in reality the silent sponsor for this unhatched revolution. I +am deeply contented to go to sleep with that comforting; thought tucked +under my pillow. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +AN ATTAINED TO-MORROW + + +I've changed my mind about a woman's being like a whirlwind. The women +of now are the attained to-morrow that the world since the beginning has +been trying to catch up with. Jane is that, and then the day after, too, +and what she has done to Glendale in these two weeks has stunned the old +town into a trance of delight and amazement. She has recreated us, +breathed the breath of modernity into us, and started the machine up the +grade of civilization at a pace that makes me hold my breath for fear of +something jolting us. + +She and Aunt Augusta have organized an Equality League, and that wheel +came very near flying loose and being the finish of Uncle Peter. + +He came to see me the morning of the first meeting and, when I saw him +coming up the front walk, I got an astral vision of the chips on his +shoulder enlarged to twice their natural size, and called to Jasper to +mix the juleps very long and extra deep. But deep as they were, to the +very top of the longest glasses, he couldn't drown his wrath in his. + +"Women, women," he exploded from over the very mint sprig itself, "all +fools, all fools from the beginning of time; made that way on +purpose--on purpose--hey? World needs some sort of creature with no +better sense than to want to spend their lives fooling with babies and +the bread of life. Human young and religion are the only things in the +world men can't attend to for themselves and that's what they need women +for. Women with no brains--but all heart--all heart--hey?" + +"Why should just a little brain hurt their heart-action. Uncle Peter?" I +asked mildly. There is nothing in the world that I ever met that I enjoy +any more than one of Uncle Peter's rages, and I always try to be meekly +inflammatory. + +"They're never satisfied with using them to run church societies and +children's internal organs, but they want to use 'em on men and +civilization in general. Where'd you get that Yankee school-marm--hey? +Why don't she get a husband and a baby and settle down? Ten babies, +twenty babies if necessary--hey?" + +"You are entirely mistaken as to the plans that Jane and Aunt Augusta +have for the League they are forming this morning, Uncle Peter." I began +to say with delight as to what was likely to ensue. "If you would only +listen to Jane while she--" + +"Don't want to hear a word she has to say! All 'as the crackling of +thorns under a pot'--all the talk of fools." + +"But surely you are not afraid to listen to her, Uncle Peter," I dared +to say, and then stood away. + +"Afraid, afraid--never was afraid of anybody in my life, Augusta not +excepted!" he exclaimed, as he rose in his wrath. "The men of this town +will show the uprising hussies what we think of 'em, and put 'em back to +the heels of men, where they belong--belong--hey?" + +And before I could remonstrate with him he was marching down the street +like a whole regiment out on a charge that was to be one of +extermination, or complete surrender. + +The Crag told me that evening that the Mayor's office of Glendale had +reeked of brimstone, for hours, and the next Sunday Aunt Augusta sat in +their pew at church, militantly alone, while he occupied a seat in the +farthest limits of the amen corner, with equal militancy. + +But Uncle Peter's attitude during the time of Jane's campaign for +general Equality in Glendale was pathetically like that of an old log, +that has been drifting comfortably down the stream of life with the tide +that bore its comrades, and suddenly got its end stuck in the mud so +that it was forced to stem alone the very tide it had been floating on. + +Jane didn't throw any rocks at anybody's opinions or break the windows +of anybody's prejudices. She had the most lovely heart to heart talks +with the women separately, collectively, and in both small and large +bunches. I had them in to tea in the combinations that she wanted them, +and I must say that she was the loveliest thing with them that could be +imagined. She was just her stiff, ugly self, starchily clad in the most +beautifully tailored white linen, and they all went mad about her. The +Pup and the Kit clutched at her skirts until anybody else would have +been a mass of wrinkles, and the left breast of her linen blouse did +always bear a slight impress of little Ned's head. The congeniality of +Jane and that baby was a revelation to me and his colic ceased after the +first time she kneaded it out of his fat little stomach with her long, +slim, powerful hands according to a first-aid method she had learned in +her settlement work, with Mamie looking on in fear and adoration. It may +have been bloodless surgery but I suspect it of being partly hypnotism, +because the same sort of surgery was used on the minds of all my women +friends and with a like result. + +The subject of the rally was a fine one for everybody to get together on +from the start and, before any of them realized that they were doing +anything but plan out the details of a big spread, the like of which +they had been doing for hospitable generations, for the railroad +Commission, they were organized into a flourishing Equality League, with +officers and by-laws and a sinking fund in the treasury. + +"Now, Evelina," said Jane, as she sat on the edge of my bed braiding her +heavy, sleek, black braid that is as big as my wrist and that she +declares is her one beauty, though she ought to know that her straight, +strong-figure, ruddy complexion, aroma of strength and keen, +near-sighted eyes are--well, if not beauties, something very winning, +"we must not allow the men time to get sore over this matter of the +League. We must make them feel immediately that they are needed and +wanted intensely in the movement. They must be asked to take their +place, shoulder to shoulder, with us in this fight for better conditions +for the world and mankind in general. True to our theory we must offer +them our comradely affection and openly and honestly express our need of +them in our lives and in our activities. I was talking to Mrs. +Carruthers and Nell and Mrs. Hall and Caroline, as well as your Cousin +Martha, about it this afternoon and they all agreed with me that the men +would have cause to be aggrieved at us about seeming thus to be +organizing a life for ourselves apart from theirs, with no place in it +provided for them. Mrs. Carruthers said that she had felt that the +Reverend Mr. Haley had been deeply hurt already at not being masked to +open any of the meetings with prayer, and she volunteered to talk to him +and express for herself and us our need of him." + +"That will be easy for Sallie, for she has been expressing need of +people in her fife as long as she has been living it," I answered with a +good-natured laugh, though I would have liked to have that interview +with the Dominie myself. He is so enthusiastic that I like to bask in +him once in a while. + +[Illustration: "We must not allow the men to get sore over this matter +of the League"] + +"I asked young Mr. Hayes to take me fishing with him to-morrow in order +to have a whole quiet day with him alone so that we could get closely in +touch with each other. I have had very little opportunity to talk with +him, but I have felt his sympathy in several interested glances we +have exchanged with each other. I am looking forward to the +establishment of a perfect friendship with him." + +I told myself that I was mistaken in thinking that the expression in +Jane's eyes was softened to the verge of dreaminess and my inmost soul +shouted at the idea of Jane and Polk and their day alone in the woods. + +Since that night that Polk humiliated me as completely as a man can +humiliate a woman, he has looked at me like a whipped child, and I +haven't looked at him at all I have used Jane as a wide-spread fan +behind which to hide from him. How was I to know what was going on on +the other side of the fan? + +It is a relief to realize that in the world there are at least a few +women like Jane that don't have to be protected from Polk and his kind. +Jane is one of the hunted that has turned and has come back to meet the +pursuer with outstretched and disarming hand. This, I suspect, is to be +about her first real tussle; skoal to the victor! + +"I advised your Aunt Augusta to ask you to talk again to your Uncle +Peter, and Nell is to seek an interview with Mr. Hardin at her earliest +opportunity, though I think the only result will be instruction and +uplift for Nell, as a more illumined thing I never had said to me on the +subject of the relation of men and women than the one he uttered to me +last night, as he said good-by to me out on the porch in that glorious +moonlight that seems brighter here in Glendale than I have ever seen it +out in the world anywhere else." + +"What did he say?" I asked perfectly naturally, though a double-bladed +pain was twisted around in my solar plexus as the vision of Jane's last +night interview in the moonlight with the Crag, and Nell's +soon-to-be-one, hit me broadside at the same time. I haven't had one by +myself with him for a week. + +"Why, of course, women are the breath that men draw into their lungs of +life to supply eternal combustion," was what he said when I asked him +point-blank what he thought of the League. "Only let us breathe slowly +as we ascend to still greater elevations with their consequent rarefied +air," he added, with the most heavenly thoughtfulness in his fine face. +"Did it ever occur to you, Evelina, that your Cousin James is really a +radiantly beautiful man? How could you be so mistaken, as to both him +and his personal appearance, as to apply such a name as Crag to him?" + +Glendale is going to Jane's head! + +"Don't you think he looks scraggy in that long-tailed coat, shocks of +taggy hair and a collar big enough to fit Old Harpeth?" I asked +deceitfully. + +Why shouldn't I tell Jane what I really thought of Cousin James and +discuss him broadly and frankly? I don't know! Lately I don't want to +think about him or have anybody mention him in my presence. I've got a +consciousness of him way off in a corner of me somewhere and I'm just +brooding over it. Everybody in town has been in this house since Jane +has been here, all the time, and I haven't seen him alone for ages it +seems. Maybe that's why I have had to make a desert island inside myself +to take him to. + +"And I have been thinking since you told me of the situation in which he +and Mrs. Carruthers have been placed by this financial catastrophe, how +wonderful it will be if love really does come to them, when her grief is +healed by time. He will rear her interesting children into women that +will be invaluable to the commonwealth," Jane continued as she tied a +blue bow on the end of her long black plait. + +"Do you think that there--there are any signs of--of such a thing yet?" +I asked with pitiful weakness as I wilted down into my pillow. + +"Just a bit in his manner to her, though I may be influenced in my +judgment by the evident suitability of such a solution of the +situation," she answered as she settled herself back against one of the +posts of my high old bed and looked me clean through and through, even +unto the shores of that desert island itself. + +"I hope you have been noting these different emotional situations and +reactions among your friends carefully in your record, Evelina," she +continued in an interested and biological tone of voice and expression +of eye. "In a small community like this it is much easier to get at the +real underlying motive of such things than it is in a more complicated +civilization. I have seen you transcribing notes into our book. Since I +have come to Glendale I am more firmly determined than ever that the +attitude of emotional equality that we determined upon in the spring is +the true solution of most of the complicated man-and-woman problems. I +am anxious to see it tried out in five other different communities that +we will select. I would not seem to be indelicate, dear, but I do not +see any signs of your having been especially drawn emotionally towards +any of your friends, though your attitude of sisterly comradeship and +frankness with them is more beautiful than I thought it was possible for +such a thing to be. You are not being tempted to shirk any of your +duties of womanhood because of your interest in your art, are you? I +will confess to you that the thing that brought me down upon you was +your news of this commission for the series of station-gardens. I think +you will probably work better after this side of your nature is at rest. +Of course, a union with Mr. Hall would be ideal for you. You must +consider it seriously." + +The "must" in Jane's voice sounded exactly like that "must" looked in +Richard's telegram, which has been enforced with others just as +emphatic ever since. + +There are some men who are big enough to take a woman with a wound in +her heart and heal both it and her by their love. Richard is one of that +kind. What could any woman want more than her work and a man like that? + +After Jane had laid her strong-minded head on the hard pillow, that I +had had to have concocted out of bats of cotton for her, I laid my face +against my own made of the soft breast feathers of a white flock of +hovering hen-mothers and wept on their softness. + +A light was burning down in the lodge at the gate of Widegables. He +hasn't gone back to his room to sleep, even when I have Jane's +strong-mindedness in the house with me. I remember that I gave my word +of honor to myself that I wouldn't try any of my modern emotional +experiments on him the first night I slept in this house alone, with +only him over there to keep me from dying with primitive woman fright. I +shall keep my word to myself and propose to Richard if my contract with +Jane and the Five seems to call for it. In the meantime if I choose to +cry myself to sleep it is nobody's business. + +I wonder if a mist rises up to Heaven every night from all the +woman-tears in all the world, and if God sees it, as it clings damp +around the hem of His garment, and smiles with such warm understanding +that it vanishes in a soft glow of sleep that He sends down to us! + +Jane has arisen early several mornings and spent an hour before +breakfast composing a masterly and Machiavellian letter of invitation +from the Equality League to the inhabitants of Glendale and the +surrounding countryside to and beyond Bolivar to attend the rally given +by them in honor of the C. & G. Railroad Commission on Tuesday next. It +is to come out to-day in the weekly papers of Glendale, Bolivar, +Hillsboro, and Providence, and I hope there will not be so many cases of +heart-failure from rage that the gloom of many funerals will put out the +light of the rally. I hope no man will beat any woman in the Harpeth +Valley for it, and if he does, I hope he will do it so neither Jane nor +I will hear of it. + +It was Aunt Augusta who thought up the insulting and incendiary plan of +having the rally as an offering of hospitality from the League, and I +hope if Uncle Peter is going to die over it he will not have the final +explosion in my presence. + +Privately I spent a dollar and a half sending a night-letter to Richard +all about it and asking him if the Commissioners would be willing to +stand for this feminist plank in the barbecue deal. He had sent me the +nicest letter of acceptance from the Board when I had written the +invitation to them through him, as coming from the perfectly ladylike +feminine population of Glendale, and I didn't like to get them into a +woman-whirlwind without their own consent. I paid the boy at the +telegraph office five dollars not to talk about the matter to a human +soul, and threatened to have him dismissed if he did, so the bomb-shell +was kept in until this afternoon. + +Richard replied to the telegram with characteristic directness: + + Delighted to be in at the fight. Seven of us rabid suffragists, two + on the fence, and a half roast pig will convert the other. Found no + answer to my question in letter of last Tuesday. Must! + + RICHARD. + +It was nice of Jane to write out and get ready her bomb-shell and then +go off with Polk, so as not to see it explode. But I'm glad she did. +However, I did advise her to take a copy of it along with the reels and +the lunch-basket to read to him, as a starter of their day to be +devoted to the establishment of a perfect friendship between them. + +Polk didn't look at me even once as I helped pack them and their traps +into his Hupp, but Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like Polk in +his white flannels, and he and Jane made a picture of perfectly blended +tailored smartness as they got ready for the break-away. + +There are some men that acquire feminine obligations as rough cheviot +does lint and Henrietta is one of Polk's when it comes to the fishing +days. He takes her so often that she thinks she owns him and all the +trout in Little Harpeth, and she landed in the midst of the picnic with +her fighting clothes on. + +"Where are you and her going at,--fishing?" she asked in a calmly +controlled voice that both of them had heard before, and which made us +quail in our boots and metaphorically duck our heads. + +"Yes, we--er thought we would," he answered with an uncertainty of +voice and manner that bespoke abject fear. + +"I'll be d---- if you shall," came the explosion, hot and loud. "I want +to go fishing with you, Polk, my own self, and she ain't no good for +nothing any way. You can't take her!" + +"Henrietta!" I both beseeched and commanded in one breath. + +"No, she ain't no good at all," was reiterated in the stormy young voice +as Henrietta caught hold of the nose of the panting Hupp and stood +directly in the path of destruction, if Polk had turned the driving +wheel a hair's breadth. "Uncle Peter says that she is er going to turn +the devil loose in Glendale, so they won't be no more whisky and no more +babies borned and men will get they noses rubbed in their plates, if +they don't eat the awful truck she is er going to teach the women to +cook for their husbands. An' the men won't marry no more then at all, +and I'll have to be a old maid like her." + +Now, why did I write weeks ago that I would like to witness an encounter +between Jane and Henrietta! I didn't mean it, but I got it! + +Without ruffling a hair or changing color Jane stepped out of the Hupp +and faced the foe. Henrietta is a tiny scrap of a woman, intense in a +wild, beautiful, almost hunted kind of way, and she is so thin that it +makes my heart ache. She is being fairly crushed with the beautiful +depending weight of her mother and the responsibility of the twins, and +somehow she is most pathetic. I made a motion to step between her and +Jane, but one look in Jane's face stopped me. + +"Dear," she said, in her rich, throaty, strong voice as she looked +pleadingly at the militant midget facing her. Suddenly I was that +lonesome, homesick freshman by the waters of Lake Waban, with Jane's +awkward young arm around me, and I stood aside to let Henrietta come +into her heritage of Jane. "Don't you want to come with us?" was the +soft question that followed the commanding word of endearment. + +"No!" was the short, but slightly mollified answer as Henrietta dug her +toes into the dust and began to look fascinated. + +"I'm glad you don't want to come, because I've got some very important +business to ask you to attend to for me," answered Jane, in the brisk +tone of voice she uses in doing business with women, and which interests +them intensely by its very novelty and flatters them by seeming to endow +them with a kind of brain they didn't know they possessed. "I want you +to go upstairs and get my pocketbook. Be careful, for there is over a +hundred dollars in the roll of bills--Evelina will give you the key to +the desk--and go down to the drug store where they keep nice little +clocks and buy me the best one they have. Then please you wind it up +yourself and watch it all day to see if it keeps time with the clock in +your hall, and if it varies more than one minute, take it back and get +another. While you are in the drug store, if you have time, won't you +please select me a new tooth-brush and some nice kind of paste that you +think is good? Make them show you all they have. Pay for it out of one +of the bills." + +"Want any good, smelly soap?" I came out of my trance of absolute +admiration to hear Henrietta ask in the capable voice of a secretary to +a millionaire. Her thin little face was flushed with excitement and +importance, and she edged two feet nearer the charmer. + +"It would be a good thing to get about a half dozen cakes, wouldn't it?" +answered Jane, with slight uncertainty in her voice as if leaving the +decision of the matter partly to Henrietta. + +"Yes, I believe I would," Henrietta decided judicially. "The 'New Mown +Hay' is what Jasper got for Petunia because he hit her too hard last +week and swelled her eye. They is a perfumery that goes with it at one +quarter a bottle. That makes it all cheaper." + +"Exactly the thing, and we mustn't spend money unnecessarily," Jane +agreed. "But I don't want to trespass on your time, Henrietta, dear," +she added with the deference she would have used in speaking to the +President of the Nation League or the founder of Hull House. + +"No, ma'am, I'm glad to do it, and I'll go quick 'fore it gets any later +in the day for me to watch the clock," answered Henrietta in stately +tones that were very like Jane's and which I had never heard her employ +before. + +And before any of the three of us got our breath her bare little feet +were flashing up my front walk. + +"Help!" exclaimed Polk as he leaned back from his wheel and fanned +himself with his hat. "Do you use the same methods with grown beasts +that you do with cubs?" he added weakly. + +"It's the same she has always used on me, only this is more dramatic. +Beware!" I said with a laugh as I insisted on just one squeeze of Jane's +white linen arm as she was climbing back into the car. + +"That's a remarkably fine child and she should have good, dependable, +business-like habits put in the place of faulty and useless ones. Her +profanity will make no difference for the present and can be easily +corrected. Don't interfere with her attending to my commissions, +Evelina. Let's start, Mr. Hayes." And Jane settled herself calmly for +the spin out Providence Road. + +"All the hundred dollars all by herself, Jane?" I called after them. + +"Yes," floated back positively in the wake of the Hupp. + +For several hours I attended to the business of my life in a haze of +meditation. If Henrietta ticks off the same number of minutes on the +woman-clock from Jane's standpoint, that Jane has marked off from her +own mother's, high noon is going to strike before we are ready for it. + +But it was only an hour or two of high-minded communing with the future +that I got the time for, before I was involved in the whirl of dust that +swirled around the storm center, to darken and throw a shadow over +Glendale about the time of the publication of the Glendale News, which +occurs every Thursday near the hour of noon, so that all the subscribers +can take that enterprising sheet home to consume while waiting for +dinner, and can leave it for the women of their families to enjoy in the +afternoon. + +I suspect that the digestion of Jane's Equality rally invitation +interfered with the digestion of much fried chicken, corn, and sweet +potatoes, under the roof-trees of the town and I spent the afternoon in +hearing results and keeping up the spirits of the insurgents. + +Caroline came in with her head so high that she had difficulty in seeing +over her very slender and aristocratic nose, with a note from Lee +Greenfield which had just come to her, asking her to go with him in his +car over to Hillsboro to spend the day with Tom Pollard's wife, a visit +he knows she has been dying to make for two months, for she was one of +Pet's bridesmaids. He made casual and dastardly mention that there would +be a moon to come home by, but ignored completely the fact that Tuesday +was the day on which he had been invited by the League, of which he knew +she was a member, to meet and rally around the C. & G. Commission. + +I helped her compose the answer, and I must say we hit Lee only in high +spots. I could see she was scared to death, and so was I, but her dander +was up, and I backed mine up along side it for the purpose of support. +Besides I feel in my heart that that note will dynamite the rocky old +situation between them into something more easily handled. + +She had just gone to dispatch the missive by their negro gardener when +Mamie and Sallie came clucking in. Mamie's face was pink and +high-spirited, but Sallie was in one complete slump of mind and body. + +"Mr. Haley has just stopped by to say that he thinks no price is too +great to pay for peace, and fellowship, and good-will in a community," +she said, as she dropped into a rocker and looked pensively after the +retreating figure of the handsome young Dominie, who had accompanied +them to the gate but wisely no farther. He didn't know that Jane had +gone with Polk. + +"And women to pay the price," answered Mamie, spiritedly. "I have just +told Ned that as yet I do not know enough to argue the question of +woman's wrongs with him, but I have learned a few of her rights. One of +_mine_ is to have him accept any invitation I am responsible for having +my friends offer him, and to accompany me to the entertainment if I +desire to go. I reminded him that I had not troubled him often as an +escort since my marriage. He was so scared that he almost let little Ned +drop out of his arms, and he got in an awful hurry to go to town, but he +asked me to have his gray flannels pressed before Tuesday and to buy him +a blue tie to go with a new shirt he has. I never like to spank Ned or +the children, but I must say it does clear the atmosphere." + +"You don't think we could put it off or--or--" Sallie faltered. + +"No!" answered Mamie and I together, and as I spoke I called Jasper to +set out more rockers and have Petunia get the tea-tray ready, for I saw +Aunt Augusta go across the road to collect Cousin Martha and Mrs. +Hargrove and the rest, while Nell whirled by in her rakish little car on +her way to the Square and called that she would be back. + +When Nell used a thousand dollars of her own money, left her by her +grandmother, to buy that little Buick, Glendale promptly had a spell of +epilepsy that lasted for days. The whole town still dodges and swears +when it sees her coming, for she drives with a combination of feminine +recklessness and masculine speed that is to say the least alarming. To +see Aunt Augusta out for a spin with her is a delicious sight. + +And it was most interesting to listen to a minute description of the +composite fit thrown by the male population of Glendale, at their rally +invitation, but as time was limited I finally coaxed the conversation +around to the subject of the viands to be offered the lordly creatures +in the way of propitiation for the insult that we were forcing them to +swallow by taking matters in our own hands, and then we had a really +glorious time. + +I am glad I have had a year or more in Paris, months in Italy, weeks in +Berlin, and a sojourn in England, just so that I can be sure myself and +assure the others with authority that there are no such cooks in all the +world as the women in the Harpeth Valley of Tennessee, United States of +America. + +The afternoon wore away on the wings of magic, and the long, purple +shadows were falling across the street, a rustle of cool night wind was +stirring the tree-tops and the first star was coming timidly out into +the gloaming, before they all realized that it was time to hurry and +scurry under roof-trees. + +Lee Greenfield was waiting at the gate for Caroline. + +Just as Henrietta had taken a last peep at the clock on the hall table +and gone to answer Sallie's call to come and help Aunt Dilsie in the +bedding of the Kitten and the Pup, Polk's Hupp stopped at the gate, and +he and Jane came up the front walk in the twilight together. + +She had on his flannel coat over her linen one and his expression was +one of glorified and translucent daze. I didn't look at her--I felt as +if I couldn't. I was scared! For a second she held me in her arms and +kissed me, _really_--the first time she had ever done it in all my +life--and then went on upstairs with a nice, cool good-night and "thank +you" to Polk. + +"Evelina," he said, as he handed me the empty lunch-basket and also the +empty fish-bucket, the first he had ever in his life brought in from +Little Harpeth, "I was right about that Hallelujah chorus being the true +definition of the real woman--only they are more so. I have seen a +light, and you pointed the way. Will you forgive me for being what I +was--and trust me--with--with--good-night!" He was gone! + +Jane's kiss had been one of revelation--to me! + +For a long time I sat out there in the cool, hazy, windy autumn +twilight breeze, that was heavy with the scent of luscious wild grapes +and tasseled corn, fanning the flame of loneliness in me until I +couldn't have stood it any longer if a tall gray figure of relief had +not come up the street and called me down to my front gate. + +"Hail the instigator of a bloodless revolution," laughed the Crag as I +stopped myself with difficulty on the opposite side of the gate from +him. "The city fathers will have to capitulate, and now for the reign of +the mothers!" + +"And the same old route to subjection chosen, through their stomachs to +their civic hearts," I answered impudently. + +Overlooking my pertness he went on: + +"Mayor Shelby was at home with Mrs. Augusta for two hours after dinner +and, as I came by the post-office, I heard him telling Polk in +remarkably chastened, if not entirely chaste language, that it was +'better to let the women have their kick-up on a feeding proposition +than on something worse,' as he classically put it." + +"I know it is a great victory," I answered weakly, "but I'm too tired to +glory in it. I wish I was Sallie's Puppy being trotted across Aunt +Dilsie's knee, or Kit, getting a rocking in Cousin Martha's arms." + +"Would any other arms do for the rocking?" came in a queer, audacious +voice, with a note in it that stilled something in me and made all the +world seem to be holding its breath. + +"I'm tired of revoluting and it's--it's tenderness I want," I faltered +in a voice that hardly seemed strong enough to get so far up out of my +heart as to reach the ears of the Crag as he bent his head down close +over mine. He had come on my side of the gate at the first weak little +cry I had let myself make a minute or two before. + +[Illustration: "Is this right?" he asked] + +"Is this right?" he asked, as he gently took me in his arms, hollowed +his shoulder for a place for my head, and leaning against the old +gate he began to swing me gently to and fro, his cheek against my hair +and humming Aunt Dilsie's + +"Swing low sweet chariot, fer to carry me home." + +It was. + +I know now what I want and I am going to have it. I'll fight the whole +world with naked hands for him. And I'm also going to find some way to +get him with all his absurd niceties of honor intact, just because that +will make him happier. + +I'll begin at the beginning and some way unclasp those gourdy tendrils +that Sallie has been strangling him with. I will bunch all the rest of +his feminine collection and take them on my own hands. I'm going to make +a Governor out of him, and then a United States Senator and finally a +Supreme Judge. Help! Think of the old Mossback being a progressive, but +that's my party and Jane's. + +I know he is going to hate terribly to have me ask him to marry me, and +I hate to hurt him so, but it is my duty to get Jane's fifty thousand +dollars so the Five may be as happy as I am to-night; only there aren't +five other Crags. I know it will be a life-long mortification to him to +have me do it, but he lost his chance to-night grand-mothering me. Still, +I did turn my lips away. I was not quite ready then--I am now. + +If he wants to go on wearing clothes like that I'm going to let him, +even on the Senate floor, but I can't ever stand for Cousin Jasmine to +cut his hair any more. I want to do it myself, and I'm going to tell her +so, and why. She and I have cried over that miniature of the lost young +Confederate cousin of hers and she'll understand me. + +But as I think it over--it always is best to be kind, and I believe I'll +let him get through this rally--it's just four days--free and happy man. + +I don't know whether to go in and wake up Jane or not. I would like to +go to sleep with that kiss revelation between us, but maybe it is my +duty to the Five to extract some data from her while it is fresh, on the +foam. I am afraid it is going to go hard with her, but somehow I have a +newborn faith in Polk that makes me feel that he will make it as easy as +he can for her. + +Isn't it a glorious thing to realize that neither she nor I will have to +sit and be tortured by waiting to see what those men are going to do? + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +DYNAMITE + + +When a man injures a woman's feelings by any particular course of +conduct to which she objects, the maternal in her rises to the surface +and she treats and forgives him as she would a naughty child,--but a man +makes any kind of woman-affront into a lover's quarrel. That is what +masculine Glendale has been doing to its women folks for four days, and +I believe everybody has been secretly enjoying it. + +As to the rally, they have stood aside with their hands in their pockets +and their noses in the air, and if it hadn't been for Aunt Augusta and +Nell and Jane being natural-born carpenters and draymen, we might have +had to give it up and let them go on with it to their own glory. + +When Nell and Jane went to see Mr. Dodd about building the long tables +to serve the barbecue dinner on, he said he was too busy to do it and +hadn't even any lumber to sell. + +Then things happened in my back yard that it sounds like a romance to +write about. Jane sent me over to borrow the Crag's team and wagon and +Henrietta and Cousin Martha and any of the rest of his woman-impedimenta +that I could get. He was out of town, trying a case over at Bolivar, and +wouldn't get back until Monday night. + +I am glad he wasn't here, for it would have gone hard with me to treat +him in the manner that Jane decided it was best for all the women in +Glendale to treat all the men in this crisis. It sounded sweet and cold +as molasses dispenses itself to you in midwinter, and I could see it was +a strain on Mamie and Caroline and Mrs. Kirkland, Nell's mother, and +young Mrs. Dodd, the carpenter's wife,--the Boston girl that married him +before she realized him,--to keep it up from day to day. + +Besides that I'm going to be a politician's wife--though he doesn't know +it yet--and I want the Crag to be away from the necessity of taking any +sides in this civilized warfare. That's one reason I am such a +go-between for Uncle Peter and the League, I am making votes for my man, +so I consider it all right for me never to deliver any of their messages +to each other as they are given to me, but to twist them into +agreeability to suit myself. + +Sallie said the Dominie was entirely on our side and that was why she +went walking with him Sunday afternoon. All the other men were cool to +him and he is so sensitive. + +But to get back to the back yard. I glory in writing it and want the +Five to consider it as almost sacred data, though I hope they will never +have to do likewise. + +Jane and Nell and Aunt Augusta took the two axes and one large hammer +and tore down my back fence while I and the others loaded the planks on +the wagon. Jane appointed Henrietta to sit and hold the slow old horses +in case they should have got demoralized by the militant atmosphere +pervading Glendale and try to bolt. I never saw any human being enjoy +herself as Henrietta did, and it was worth it all just to look into her +radiant countenance. + +Jane took all the hard top blows to do herself and left the unloosening +of the lower nails to Aunt Augusta while Nell ripped off the planks that +stuck. I could almost hear Nell's long, polished finger nails go with a +rip every time she jerked a particularly tough old plank into +subjection, and Aunt Augusta dispensed encouraging axioms about pioneer +work as she banged along behind Jane. Jane herself looked as cool as a +cucumber, didn't get the least bit ruffled, and had the expression on +her face that the truly normal woman has while she is hemming a baby's +flannel petticoat. + +And though during the day many delightful crises were precipitated, the +most interesting were the expressions that devastated Polk Hayes's and +Lee Greenfield's faces as they came around the side of the house to see +what all that hammering was about. + +"Caroline!" exclaimed Lee, in perfect agony, as he beheld the lady of +his ardent, though long-restrained, affections poised across the wheel +of the wagon tugging at the middle of a heavy plank which Mrs. Dodd and +I were pushing up to her, while Mamie, the mother of seven, stood firmly +on top of the wagon guiding it into place. + +"Help!" gasped Polk, as he started to take the ax from Jane by force. + +Then we all stopped while Jane quietly gurgled the molasses of the +situation to them, and sent them on down the street sadder and wiser +men. I thought Polk was going to cry on her shoulder before he was +finally persuaded to go and leave us to our fate, and the expression on +Lee's face as he looked up at torn, dirty, perspiring Caroline, with a +smudge on her nose and blood on her hand from an absolutely +insignificant scratch, was such as ought to have been on Ned's face as +he ought to have been standing by Mamie with the asafetida bottle. +That's mixed up but the Five ought to catch the point. + +It took up all of Saturday afternoon and part of Monday morning, but we +built those tables, thereby disciplining masculine Glendale with a +severity that I didn't think could have been in us. + +We all rested on Sunday, that is, ostensibly. Jane put down all sorts of +things on paper that everybody had to do on Monday and on Tuesday. +Henrietta sat by her in a state of trance and it did me good to see +Sallie out in the hammock at Widegables taking care of both the Kit and +the Pup, laboriously assisted by panting Aunt Dilsie, because Jane +explained to her so beautifully that she needed a lot of Henrietta's +time, that Sallie acquiesced with good-natured bewilderment. Of course, +Cousin Jasmine helped her some, but she was busy aiding Cousin Martha to +beat up some mysterious eggs in the kitchen--with the shutters shut +because it was Sunday. It was something that takes two days to "set" and +was to be the _pièce de résistance_, after the barbecue. + +Mrs. Hargrove couldn't help Sallie at all with the kiddies, either, +because she was looking through all her boxes and bundles for a letter +from her son, which she thought said something about favoring woman's +rights, and if it is like she thinks it is, she is going to go to the +barbecue and get things nice and hot instead of having them brought to +her cold. + +I had hoped to get a few minutes Sunday afternoon to myself so I could +go up into the garret and look through one of the trunks I brought from +Paris with me to see how many sets of things I have got left. I am going +to need a trousseau pretty soon, and I might need it more suddenly than +I expect. I don't see any reason for people's not marrying immediately +when they make up their minds, and my half of ours is made up strong +enough to decidedly influence rapidity in his. But then I really don't +believe that the Crag would care very much about the high lights of a +trousseau, and it was just as well that Nell came in to get me to help +her write a letter to National Headquarters to know if she could have +any kind of assignment in the Campaign for the Convention to alter the +Constitution in Tennessee when it meets next winter. + +"Have you made up your mind fully to go in for public life, Nell?" I +asked mildly. "Some of your friends might not like it very much +and--and--" + +"If you mean Polk Hayes, Evelina," Nell answered with the positiveness +that only a very young person can get up the courage to use, "I have +forgot that I was ever influenced by his narrow-minded, primitive +personality at all. If I ever love and marry it will be a man who can +appreciate and further my real woman's destiny." + +"Well, then, that's all right," I answered with such relief in my heart +that it must have showed in my voice and face. I had worried about Nell +since I could see plainly, though she hasn't told me yet, and I am sure +he doesn't realize it, that Jane had decided Folk's destiny. Nell is not +twenty-one yet and she will find lots of men in the world that will be +fully capable of making her believe they feel that way about her +destiny, until they succeed in tying her up to using it for the real +utilitarian purposes they are sure such a pretty woman is created for. + +It will take men in general another hundred years yet, and lots of +suffering, to realize that a woman's destiny is anything but himself, +and get to housekeeping with her on that basis. + +Of course, I see the justice and need of perfect equality in all things +between the sexes, emotional equality especially, but I hope the time +will never come when men get as hungry to see their women folks as said +feminists get to see them, after they have been away about four days out +in the Harpeth Valley. It takes a woman's patience to stand the tug. + +The Crag didn't jog into Glendale on his raw-boned old horse until +one-thirty Monday night. I had been watching down Providence Road for +him from my pillow ever since I put out my light at eleven, because Jane +had decided that it was our duty to go to bed early so as to be as fresh +as possible for the rally in the morning. She had walked to the gate +with Polk at ten and hadn't come back until eleven, so, of course, she +was ready to turn in. It was just foolish, primitive old convention +that kept me from slipping on my slippers and dressing-gown--I've got +the prettiest ones that ever came across the Atlantic, Louise de +Mereton, Rue de Rivoli, Paris--and going down to the gate to see him for +just a minute. That second he stood undecided in the middle of the road +looking at my darkened house was agony that I'm not going to put up with +very much longer. + +Scientifically I feel that I'm thinking life with one lobe of my brain +and breathing with one lung. Still I made myself go to sleep. + +Everybody believes in God in a different kind of way, and mine satisfies +me entirely. I know that the hairs of my head are numbered and that not +a sparrow falls; and I don't stop at that. I feel sure that my tears are +measured and my smiles are rejoiced over, and when I want a good day to +come to me I ask for it and mostly get it. There never was another like +the one He sent me down this morning on the first slim ray of dawn that +slid over the side of Old Harpeth! + +The sun was warm and jolly and hospitable from the arrival of its first +rays, but the wind was deliciously cool and bracing and full of the wine +of October. It came racing across the fields laden with harvest scents, +blustering a bit now and then enough to bring down a shower of nuts or +to make the yellow corn in the shocks in the fields rustle ominously of +a winter soon to come. + +The maples on the bluff were garmented in royal crimson brocaded with +yellow, the buck-bushes that grew along the edges of the rocks were +strung with magenta berries and regiments of tall royal purple iron +weeds and yellow-plumed golden-rod were marshaled in squads and clumps +for a background for the long tables. + +Jane and I with Henrietta were out by the old gray moss rock at the +first break of day, installing Jasper and Petunia and a few of their +_confrères_. Jasper has always been king of all Glendale barbecue-pits +and he had had them dug the day before and filled with dry hickory fires +all night, and his mien was so haughty that I trembled for the slaves +under his command. His basket of "yarbs" was under the side of the rock +in hoodoo-like shadows and the wagons of poor, innocent, sacrificed +lambs and turkeys and sucking-pigs were backed up by the largest +infernal pit. Petunia was already elbow deep in a cedar tub of corn meal +for the pones, and another minion was shucking late roasting-ears and +washing the sweet potatoes to be packed down with the meat by eight +o-clock. A wagon was to collect the baked hams and sandwiches and +biscuits and confections of all variety and pedigree from the rest of +the League at ten o'clock. + +We didn't know it then but another wagon was already being loaded very +privately in town with ice and bottles, glasses and lemons and mint and +kegs and schooners. I am awfully glad that the Equality League had +forgotten all about the wetting up of the rally, because I don't believe +we would have been equal to the situation with Aunt Augusta and Jane +both prohibition enthusiasts, but it did so promote the sentiment of +peace and good cheer during the day for us to all feel that the men had +not failed us in a crisis, as well as in the natural qualities inherent +in their offering for the feast. There was a whole case of Uncle Peter's +private stock. Could human nature have done better than that? + +But if we did forget to provide the liquids, I am glad we had the +foresight to provide other viands enough to feed a regiment, because a +whole army came. + +"Evelina," gasped Jane, as we stood on the edge of the bluff that +commands a view of almost all the Harpeth Valley stretched out like the +very garden of Eden itself, crossed by silver creeks, lined with broad +roads and mantled in the richness of the harvest haze, "can all those +wagons full of people be coming to accept our invitation?" + +"Yes, they're our guests," I answered, with the elation of generations +of rally-givers rising in my breast, as I saw the stream of wagons and +carriages and buggies, with now and then a motor-car, all approaching +Glendale from all points of the compass. + +"Have we enough to feed them. Jasper?" she turned and asked in still +further alarm. + +"Nothing never give out in Glendale yit, since we took the cover offen +the pits for Old Hickory in my granddad's time," he answered, with a +trace of offense in his voice, as he stood over a half tub of butter +mixing in his yarbs with mutterings that sounded like incantations. I +drew Jane away for I felt that it was no time to disturb him, when the +basting of his baked meats was just about to begin. + +I was glad that about all the countryside had gathered, unhitched their +wagons, picketed their horses, and got down to the enjoyment of the day +before the motor-cars bringing the distinguished guests had even started +from Bolivar. It was great to watch the farmers slap neighbors on the +back, exchange news and tobacco plugs, while the rosy women folks +grouped and ungrouped in radiant good cheer with children squirming and +tangling over and under and around the rejoicings. + +"This, Evelina," remarked Jane, with controlled emotion in her voice and +a mist in her eyes behind their glasses, "is not only the bone and sinew +but also the rich red blood in the arteries of our nation. I feel +humbled and honored at being permitted to go among them." + +And the sight of dear old Jane "mixing" with those Harpeth Valley farmer +folk was one of the things I have put aside to remember for always. They +all knew me, of course, and I was a bit teary at their greetings. Big +motherly women took me in their arms and younger ones laid their babies +in my arms and laughed and cried over me, while every few minutes some +rugged old farmer would call out for Colonel Shelby's "little gal" and +look searchingly in my face for the likeness to my fire-eating, old +Confederate, politician father. + +But it was Jane that took them by storm and kept them, too, through the +crisis of the day. Jane is the _reveille_ the Harpeth Valley has been +waiting for for fifty years. I thought I was, but Jane is it. + +And it was into an atmosphere of almost hilarious enjoyment that the +distinguished Commission arrived a few minutes before noon, just as +Jasper's barbecue-pits were beginning to send forth absolutely maddening +aromas. + +Nell whirled up the hill first and turned her Buick across the road by +the bluff with that rakish skill of hers that always sends my heart into +my throat. And whom did she have sitting at her blue, embroidered linen +elbow but Richard Hall himself? Good old big, strong dandy Dickie, how +great it was to see him again, and if I had had my own heart in my +breast it would have leaped with delight at the sight of him! But even +the Crag's that I had exchanged mine for, though it was an entire +stranger to Dickie, beat fast enough in sympathy with the dance in my +eyes to send the color up to my face in good fashion as I hurried across +a clump of golden-rod to meet him. + +"Evelina, the Lovely!" he exclaimed in his big booming voice, as he took +me by both shoulders and shook me instead of shaking merely my hand. + +"Richard the Royal!" I answered in our old _Quartier Latin_ form of +greeting. I didn't look right into his eyes as I always had, however, +and something sent a keen pain through the exchanged heart in my breast +at the thought that I might be obliged to hurt the dandy old dear. + +But suddenly the sight of Nell's loveliness cheered me. She had had +Dick in that car with her ever since nine o'clock, almost three hours, +showing him the sights of that teeming heavy lush harvest countryside +around Bolivar and Glendale, all over which are low-roofed old country +houses which brood over families that cluster around the unit that one +man and a woman make in their commonwealth. Nell's eyes were sweet as +she looked at him. I'll wait and see if I need to worry over him. With +the fervor I felt I had a right to, I then avoided the issue of +Richard's eyes, put it up to God and Nell, and introduced him to Jane. + +And while the three of them stood waiting for Nell to back up the Buick +and put her spark-plug in her pocket,--only Richard calmly took it and +put it in his,--the rest of the cars came up the hill and turned into +the edge of the golden-rod. + +Aunt Augusta was in the first one with the Chairman of the Commission, +whose name even would have paralyzed anybody but Aunt Augusta; and +Mamie and Cousin Martha, Caroline and several more of the ladies made up +the rest of the Committee who had gone to escort the distinguished +guests to the rally. + +The Crag was in the last car with a perfectly delicious old gray-haired +edition of Dickie, and I almost fell on both their necks at once. What +saved them was Polk appearing between us with three long mint-topped +glasses. + +I'm glad old Dick immediately had his eyebrows well tangled in the mint +of his julep, for I got my own eyes farther down into Cousin James's +deep gray ones than I expected and it was hard to come up. I hadn't had +a plunge in them for three days and I went pretty deep. + +"Eve!" he said softly, as he raised his glass and smiled across his +green tuft. + +Yes, I know he knows that I know, there is an answer to that name when +he says it that way, but I'm not going to give it until I am ready and +the place is romantically secluded enough to suit me. He just dares me +when he says it to me before other people. That reminds me, the harvest +moon is full to-night and rises an hour later every evening from now on. +I don't want to wait another month before I propose to him. I've always +chosen moonlight for that catastrophe of my life. I wonder if men have +as good times planning the culmination of their suits as I am having +with mine? + +But I had to come down quickly to a little thing like the rally and give +the signal to feed all the five hundred people, who by that time were +nice, polite, ravening wolves, for Jasper had uncovered the turkey-pit +to keep them from getting too brown while the lambs caught up with them. + +Jane was the master of ceremonies, because I balked at the last minute. +I think I would be capable of managing even a National Convention in +Chicago--that far away from the Harpeth Valley,--but I couldn't do it +with my friends of pioneer generations looking on. A man or woman never +grows up at all to the woman who has knitted baby socks for them or the +man who has let them ride down the hill on the front of his saddle. + +And at the head of the center table Jane asked the Crag to sit beside +her, so that he would be in place to command attention for her when she +wanted to speak, and where everybody could hear him when he did. + +And while the table was piled high and emptied, and piled high again, so +many bouquets of oratory were culled, tied, and cast at the guests along +the table that I believe they would have been obliged to pay exclusive +attention to them if the things to eat had not been just as odoriferous +and substantial. Before dinner was over everybody had spoken that was of +a suitable age, and some that had heretofore in the Harpeth Valley been +considered of an unsuitable sex. + +Jane's speech of welcome made such an impression that it is no wonder +some of the old mothers in Israel got up to iterate it, as the dinner +progressed. + +She, as usual, refrained from prejudice-smashing and +stones-at-glass-houses throwing, and she hadn't said ten sentences +before she had the whole feeding multitude with her. + +She began on the way our pioneer mothers had to contrive to keep larders +stocked and good things ready for the households, and she tickled the +palate of every man present by mentioning every achievement in a +culinary way that every woman of his household had made in all the +generations that had gone over Harpeth Valley. She called all the +concoctions by their right names, too, and she always gave the name of +the originator, who was some dear old lady that was sleeping in the +Greenwood at the foot of the hill, or in some grave over at Providence +or Hillsboro or Bolivar, and who was grandmother or great-grandmother to +a hundred or more of the guests. I had wondered why Jane had been poring +over that old autograph manuscript receipt book in my desk for days, and +as she paid these modern resurrecting compliments to the long gone +cooks, tears and laughed literally deluged the table. + +And as she built up, achievement by achievement, the domestic +woman-history of the valley, Jane showed in the most insidious way +possible how the pioneer women had been really the warp on which had +been woven the woof of the whole history of their part of the Nation, +political, financial, and religious. I never heard anything like it in +all my life, and as I looked down those long tables at those aroused, +tense, farmer faces, I knew Jane had cracked the geological crust of the +Harpeth Valley, and built a brake that would stop any whirlwind on the +woman-question that might attempt to come in on us over the Ridge from +the outside world. They saw her point and were hard hit. When "Votes for +Women" gets to coming down Providence Road the farmers will hitch up a +wagon and take mother and the children with a well-packed lunch basket +to meet it half way. This is a prophecy! + +Then, after Jane sat down, I don't believe such a speechifying ever was +before as resounded out over the river, even in the time of Old Hickory. +Everybody had something to say and got to his feet to say it well, even +if some of them did brandish a turkey wing or a Iamb rib to emphasize +their points. + +And the women were the funniest things I ever beheld, as we were treated +to one maiden speech after another, issuing from the lips of plump +matrons anywhere from thirty to sixty. They had never done it before, +but liked it after they had tried. + +Mother Mayberry from Providence, who is the grand old woman of the whole +valley, having established her claim to the title thirty years ago by +taking up her dead doctor husband's practice and "riding saddlebags to +suffering ever since," as she puts it, broke the feminine ice by rising +from her seat by the side of one of the entranced Magnates,--who had +been so delighted with her and her philosophies that he could hardly do +his dinner justice,--and addressing the rally in her wonderful old voice +with her white curls flying and her cheeks as pink as a girl's. + +"Children," she said, after everybody had clapped and clapped so she +couldn't get a start for several minutes, "The Harpeth Valley women have +been a-marching along behind the men for many a day, because their +strong shoulders had to break undergrowth for both, but now husbands and +fathers and sons have got their feet up on the bluff of Paradise Ridge, +and it does look like they will be a-reaching down their hands to help +us up, in the break of a new day, to stand by their side; and I, for +one, say mount!--I'm ready!" + +A perfect war of applause answered her, and Dickie's father got up to go +down the whole length of the table to shake hands with her, but had to +wait until she came out of the embrace of Nell's fluffy arms, and got a +hand free from the Magnate on one side and Aunt Augusta on the other. + +Even Sallie began to look speechful, and I believe she would have got up +and spoken a few words on the subject of women, and how they need men to +look after them, but she said something to Mr. Haley, who shook his head +and then got up and prosed beautifully to us for ten minutes, and would +have gone on longer, if he hadn't seen Henrietta begin to look mutinous. + +The feast had begun at one o'clock, but by Jasper's skilful maneuvering +of one gorgeous viand after the other, into the right place, by having +relays of pones browned to the right turn and potatoes at the proper +bursting point, it had been prolonged until the shadows of late +afternoon were beginning to turn purple. + +"Don't nobody ever leave one of my barbecue tables until sundown begins +to tetch up the empty bones," has been his boast for years. And as he +had cleared away the last scrap from the last table, he leaned against a +tree, exhausted and triumphant, with alert, adoring eyes fixed on the +Crag, who had risen in his place at the head of the long central table. + +I had felt entirely too far away from him down at the other end with one +of the junior Magnates and Dickie, but I was glad then that I sat so I +could look straight into his face as the light from across the Harpeth +Valley illumined it without, while a wonderful glow lit it from within. + +All of the others had spoken of the achievements of their families and +forefathers and vaunted the human history of the valley, but he spoke +of the great hill-rimmed Earth Pocket itself. He gave the Earth credit +for the crops that she had yielded up for her children's sustenance. He +described how she had bred forest kings for the building of their homes, +granted stores of fuel from her mines for their warming, and nourished +great white cotton patches and flocks of sheep to clothe them from +frosts and winds. + +And as he spoke in a powerful voice that intoned up in the tree-tops +like a great deep bell, he turned and looked out over the valley with an +expression like what must have been on Moses's face when he saw into the +promised land. + +[Illustration: "She's our mother," he said] + +"She's our Mother," he said, as he flung back the long lock from across +his forehead and stretched out his strong arm and slender hand towards +the sun that was dropping fast down to the rim of Old Harpeth. "She has +bared her breasts to suckle us, covered us from sun and snow, and now +she expects something from us. If she has built us strong and ready, +then we are to answer when the world has need of us and her storehouses +and mines. We are to give out her invitations and welcome all who are +hungry and who come a-seeking. Gentlemen, her wealth and her fertility +are yours--and her beauty!" + +For a long, long minute every face in the assembly was turned to the +setting sun, and a perfect glory rose from the valley and burned the +call of its grandeur into their eyes. We seemed to be looking across +fields and forests and streams to the dim purple hills that might be the +ramparts of the Holy City itself, while just below us lay the little +quiet village of the dead whose souls must just have gone before. + +And after that everybody rose with one accord and began to hurry to +start out upon the long roads homeward, just as the great yellow moon +rose in the east to balance the red old sun that was sinking in the +west. Only the Magnate sat still in his place for several long minutes +looking out across to Old Harpeth, and I wondered whether he was +thinking about the Eternal City or how many rails it was going to take +to span the valley at his feet. + +And I--I just stood on the edge of the bluff by myself and let my soul +lift up its wings of rejoicing that my Crag had got his beautiful desire +for apostrophizing the Mother-Valley so all the world might hear. And +then suddenly it came over me in a great warm, uplifting, awe-inspiring +rush that a woman who takes on herself voluntarily the responsibility of +marrying a poet and an orator and a mystic, who is the complete edition +of a Mossback that all those qualities imply, must square her shoulders +for a long, steady, pioneer march through a strange country. + +Could such achievement be for me? + +"Please God!" I prayed right across into the sunset, "make me a full +cup that never fails him!" + +I don't know how long I stood talking with God that way about my man, +but when I turned and looked back under the maples everybody was gone, +and I could hear the last rattle and whirl going down the hill. For a +second I felt that there was nobody but Him and me left on the hill, but +even in that second my heart knew better. + +"Now?" I questioned myself softly, out over to the yellow moon that had +at last languidly and gracefully risen, putting the finishing touch to +the scene I had been planning for my proposal. + +"Evelina," said the Crag quietly from where he stood leaning against the +tallest maple, "shall we stay here forever and ever, or hurry down +through the cemetery by the short cut to the station to say good-by to +the railroaders as they expect us to do?" + +Nobody ever had a better opening than that, and I ought to have said, +"Be mine, be mine," with some sort of personal variation of the theme, +and have clapped him to my breast and been happy ever after. That is +what a courageous man would have done under the circumstances, with an +opportunity like that, but I got the worst kind of scare I ever +experienced, and answered: + +"How much time have we got? Do you think we can make it?" + +"Plenty," he answered comfortably as I began to quicken my pace to the +little gate that leads between the hedge into the little half-acre of +those who rest. Then as I tried to pass him, he caught my hand and made +me walk in the narrow path close at his side. + +[Illustration: Scrounged so close to his arm that it was difficult for +both of them to walk.] + +Now even a very strong-minded woman, who had to go through a little +graveyard with moonlight making the tombstones glower out from deep +shadows of cedar trees, in the depths of which strange birds croak, +while the wind rustles the dry leaves into piles as they fall, wouldn't +feel like honorably proposing to the man she intended to marry, even +if she was scrouged so close to his arm that it was difficult for both +of them to walk, would she? + +I excuse myself this time, but I must hold myself to the same standard +that I want to hold Lee Greenfield to. How do I know that he hasn't had +all sorts of cold, creepy feeling's keeping him from proposing to +Caroline? + +I hereby promise myself that I will ask Cousin James to marry me the +next favorable opportunity I get, if I die with fright the next minute, +or have to make the opportunity. + +Still, I can't help wondering what does keep him so composed under the +circumstances. Surely he wouldn't refuse me, but how do I know for sure? +How does a man even know if a woman is--? + + + + +CHAPTER X + +TOGETHER? + +When business and love crowd each other on a man's desk he calmly puts +love in a pigeon-hole to wait for a convenient time and attends strictly +to business, while a woman takes up and coddles the tender passion and +stands business over in the corner with its face to the wall to keep it +from intruding. + +Dickie has been here a whole week since the barbecue-rally, ostensibly +trying to get me down to making a few preliminary sketches for the +gardens to his C. & G. railroad stations, and, of course, I am going to +do them. I'm interested in them and I'm sensible of the honor it is to +get the chance of making them: but the moon didn't rise until after ten +o'clock last night and I'm getting nervous about that scene of sentiment +I'm planning. I can't think of gardens! + +Still, I am glad he stayed and that everybody has been giving him a +party and that Nell is always there, for he hasn't had time to notice +how I'm treating business and coddling-- + +Jane and Polk and Nell and Caroline and Lee and everybody else, +including Sallie and the Dominie, have been all over my house all day +and into the scandalous hours of the night, which in Glendale begin at +eleven o'clock and pass the limit at twelve, and I don't see how they +stand so much of not being alone with each other. It is wearing me out. + +I had positively decided on my own side steps for the scene of my +proposal to the Crag, under the honeysuckle vine that still has a few +brave and hearty blossoms to encourage me, with the harvest moon +looking on, but moons and honeysuckle blossoms wait for no man and no +woman especially. They are both fading, and I've never got the spot to +myself more than a minute at a time yet. The Crag, with absolutely no +knowledge of my intentions, except it may be a psychic one, sits there +every night and smokes and looks out at Old Harpeth and maddens me, +while some one of the others walks in and out and around and about and +sits down beside him, where I want to be. + +And as for the day time, I am so busy all day long, providing for this +perpetual house-party, that I am dead to even friendship by night. Jane +is doing over Glendale from city limits to the river, and I have to +spend my time keeping the dear town from finding out what is being done +to it. + +She is hunting out everybody's pet idea or ideal for some sort of change +or improvement to his, especially _his_, native town, and then leading +him gently up to accomplishing it so that he will think he has done it +entirely by himself, but will tell the next man he meets that there is +nothing in the world like a tine energetic woman with good horse sense. +In fact, Jane is courting the entire male population in a most +scandalous fashion, and they'll be won before they know it. + +"Now, that Confederate monument ought to have been built long ago out of +that boulder from the river instead of hauling in a slicked-up granite +slab that would er made the Glendale volunteers of '61 feel +uncomfortable like they would do in the beds in the city hotels. Great +idea of mine and that Yankee girl's--great idea--hey?" sputtered Uncle +Peter, after Jane had spent the evening down with him and Aunt Augusta. + +"It is a fine idea, Uncle Peter," I agreed with a concealed giggle. + +"I've subscribed the first five dollars of the fifty for hauling, +setting up and inscribing it, and we are going to let the women give +half of it out of the egg-money they have got in that Equality Quilting +Society--some kind of horse sense epidemic has broken out in this town, +horse sense, Evelina, hey?" And he went on down the street perfectly +delighted at having at last accomplished his pet scheme. He thought of +it as exclusively his own by now, of course. + +And the monument is just the beginning of what is going to begin in +Glendale. Jane says so. + +"There could be no better place than this rural community to try out a +number of theories I have had in political economy as related to the +activities of women, Evelina," she said to me to-day, looking at me in a +benign and slightly confused way from behind her glasses. "Mr. Hayes and +I were just talking some of them over to-night, and he seems so +interested in seeing me institute some of the most important ones. How +could you have ever thought such a man as he is lacking in seriousness +of purpose, dear?" + +"I feel sure that it was just my own frivolous streak that called out +the frivolous in Polk, Jane dear," I answered with trepidation, hoping +and praying that the inquisition would not go much further, and trying +to remember just what I had written her about Polk. + +"It may have been that," Jane answered, in a most naïvely relieved tone +of voice. "But you don't know how happy I am, dear, to see that that +streak is only an occasional charming vein that shows in you, but that +you are now settling down steadily to your profession. I feel sure that +when these garden drawings are done, you and Mr. Hall will have found +your correct places in each other's lives and it will be just a glorious +example of how superbly a man and woman can work together at the same +profession. Mr. Hardin and I were talking about it just last night out +on the side porch, and though he said very little I could see how +gratified he was at the honors that had come to you and how much he +likes Mr. Hall." + +That settled it, and I made up my mind that when the Harvest Lady left +us to-night to sink behind Old Harpeth, she wasn't going to leave me +weakly lonesome. She doesn't set until two o'clock, and I'm going to +take all the time I need. + +And as serious and solemn as I feel over taking such a step for two as I +am deciding on, I can't help looking forward to scribbling a terse and +impersonal account of my having proposed to the man of my choice in this +strong-minded book, adding a few words of sage advice for the Five, +locking it and handing it, key and all, to Jane with a dramatic demand +that she put her hundred thousand dollars in the Trust Company and begin +to choose the Five from those she has had in mind. + +Then before she has had time to read it, I am going to sneakily get it +back and blot or tear out some of the things I have written. I can +decide later what will be data and what will be dangerous to the cause. + +"And you will be glad to have me--come and live for a time in your home +life, dear?" Jane recalled me to the question in hand by saying +wistfully. "I feel that I have never had such good friends before, +anywhere, as these of yours are to me, Evelina," she added. + +That's one time I got Jane completely in my arms and showed her what a +really good hugging means south of Mason and Dixon's line. From later +developments I am glad she had that slight initiation. It must have been +serviceable to her New England disposition. + +Then just as I was going to ask some of the plans she--and Polk--had +made, over came Cousin Jasmine, with Cousin Annie and Mary, with Mrs. +Hargrove puffing along behind them. They had come to see Jane, but I +was allowed to stay and have my breath knocked out by their mission. + +It seems Jane had got a great big book from some firm in New York that +tells alt about herb-growing, and how difficult it is to get the ones +needed for condiments and perfumes, and offering to buy first-class +lavender and thyme and bergamot and sweet fern and things of that kind +in any quantities at a good price. She had shown it to the little old +ladies who had been secretly grieving at the separation from their +garden out on their poorly rented farm, and the leaven had worked--on +Mrs. Hargrove also. They go back to the farm and she with them! She had +decided on raising mint to both dry and ship fresh, because he of the +gay pajamas always liked to have it strong and fresh for the julep of +his ancestors. I hope she won't forget to take that pattern of Japanese +extraction with her and make some for the Crag now and then, for it will +save my time. Horrors! + +"We have fully decided on our course of action, Jane, and Evelina, +dears," said Cousin Jasmine in a positive little manner that she would +have been as incapable of a month ago, as is a pet kitten of barking at +the family dog, "but we do so dread to break it to dear James, because +we feel that he may think we are not happy under his roof and be +distressed. Do you believe we shall be able to make him see that we must +pursue our independent life, though always needing the support of his +affection and interest?" + +"I believe you will, Cousin Jasmine," I said, wanting to both laugh and +cry to see the Crag's burdens begin to roll off his shoulders like this. +And the tears that didn't rise would have been real ones, too, for I +found that, down in the corner of my heart, I had adored the picture of +my oak with the tender little old vines clinging around him. It was the +producing gourd I had most objected to and I couldn't see but she would +be there until I unclasped her tendrils. + +But I was forgetting that, in the modern theory of thought-waves, it is +the simplest minds that get the ripples first and hardest. Sallie came +over just as soon as the other delegation had got home to take the twins +off her hands. Jane had gone upstairs to make more calculations on our +reconstruction, and I was trying to get a large deep breath. + +"Evelina." she said, as she sank in a chair near me and fastened her +large, very young-in-soul, eyes on mine, "were you just joking Nell, or +did you mean it, when you said the other day that you thought it would +be cowardly of a woman not to show a man that she loved him, if he for +any reason was not willing to make the first advances to her?" Sallie is +perfectly lovely in the faint lavender and pink things that Jane made +her decide to get in one conversation, whereas while Nell and Caroline +and I had been looking up and bringing her surreptitious samples of all +colors from the store all summer. + +"Well, I don't know that I exactly meant Nell to take it all to heart," +I answered without the slightest suspicion of what was coming. "But I do +think, Sallie, it would be no more than honest, fearless, and within a +woman's own greater rights." + +"Mr. Haley was saying the other evening that a woman's sweet dependence +was a man's most precious heritage," Sallie gently mused out on the +atmosphere that was beginning to be pretty highly charged. + +"Doesn't a woman have to depend on her husband's tenderness and care all +of the time--time she is bearing a child, Sallie, even up to the +asafoetida spoon crisis?" I asked with my cheeks in a flame but +determined to stand my ground. "It does seem to me that nature puts her +in a position to demand so much support from him in those times that she +ought to rely on herself when she can. Especially as she is likely to +bring an indefinite number of such crises into their joint existence." + +Sallie laughed, for she remembered the high horse I had mounted on the +subject of Mamie and Ned Hall the day after the Assembly dance. + +And as I laughed suddenly a picture I had seen down at the Hall's +flashed across my mind. I had gone down to tell Mamie something Aunt +Augusta wanted her to propose next day at a meeting of the Equality +League about drinking water in the public school building. Mamie has +learned to make, with pink cheeks and shining eyes, the quaintest little +speeches that always carry the house--and even made one at a public +meeting when we invited the men to hand over our fifty dollars for the +monument. Ned's face was a picture as he held a ruffle of her muslin +gown between his fingers while she stood up to do it. + +But the picture that flashed through my mind was dearer than that and I +put it away in that jewel-box that I am going to open some day for my +own man. + +Both Mamie's nurse and cook had gone to the third funeral of the season +and Mamie was feeding the entire family in the back yard. The kiddies +were sitting in a row along the top of the back steps, eating cookies +and milk, with bibs around their necks,--from the twelve year old +Jennie, who had tied on hers for fun, down to the chubby-kins next to +the baby,--and Mamie was sitting flat on the grass in front of them +nursing little Ned, with big Ned sitting beside her with his arm around +both her and the baby. He was looking first down into her face, and then +at the industrious kiddie getting his supper from the maternal fount, +and then at the handsome bunch on the steps, as he alternately munched a +bite of his cookie and fed Mamie one, to the delight of the children. +The expression on his face as he looked at them, and her, and ate and +laughed, is what is back of all that goes to make the American nation +the greatest on earth. Amen! + +"Sallie," I said, as I reached out and took her plump white hand in +mine, "our men are the most wonderful in the world and they are ours any +way we get them. They don't care how it is done, and neither do we, just +so we belong in the right way." + +"Then you don't think it would be any harm for me to tell Mr. Haley I +think I could live on eighteen hundred dollars a year, until he gets +sent to a larger church?" was the bomb that, thus encouraged, Sallie +exploded in my face. + +I'm awfully glad that I didn't get a chance to answer, for I don't want +to be responsible for the future failure or success of Mr. Haley's +ministry. Just then Henrietta burst into the room with the Kitten in her +arms. + +"Keep her for me, Evelina, please, ma'am," she said, with the dearest +little chuckle, but not forgetting the polite "please," which Jane had +had to suggest to her just once. What you've done for that wayward +unmanageable genius of a child, Jane dear, makes you deserve ten of your +own. That is--help! + +"Cousin Augusta and Nell and Dickie and me is a going out to watch the +man put the dyn'mite in the hole to blow the creek right up and +Glendale, too, so they can see if they is enough clean water to put in +the waterworks," she continued to explain. "Nell is a-going to take +Dickie in her car, and Cousin Augusta is a-going to take me and Uncle +Peter in her buggy. Dilsie have got the Kit and Cousin Marfy is +a-watching to see she don't do nothing wrong with her. Oh, may I go, +Sallie? Jane said I must always ask you." + +"Yes, dearest," answered Sallie, immensely flattered by the deference +thus paid her. + +"How wonderful an influence the little talks Mr. Haley has had with +Henrietta have had on her," she said, with such a happy glow on her face +as the reformed one departed that I succeeded in suppressing the laugh +that rose in me at the memory of Henrietta's account of the first one of +the series. + +Men need not fear that the time will ever come when they will cease to +get the credit for making Earth's wheels go around, from the female +inhabitants thereof. So I smiled to myself and buried my face in the +fragrance under the bubbly Puppy girl's chin and coaxed her arms to clasp +around my neck. + +They are the holy throb of a woman's life--babies. Less than ten +wouldn't satisfy me unless well scattered in ages, Jane. On some +questions I am not modern. + +"Still I do feel so miserable leaving Cousin James so alone all winter," +Sallie continued with the most beautiful sympathy in her voice, as she +looked out of the window towards Widegables. "I wonder if I ought to +make up my mind to stay with him? He loves the children so, and you know +the plans of Cousin Jasmine and the others to go back to their farm." + +"But he'll have his mother left," I said quietly but very encouragingly. +I seemed to see the little green tendril that had unclasped from the oak +turning on its stem and winding tight again. + +"Miss Mathers was encouraging Cousin Martha to go to Colorado to see +Elizabeth and her family for a long visit this winter. She hasn't seen +Elizabeth since her mother died and she was so much interested in the +easy way of traveling these days, as Miss Mathers described it, that she +asked her to write for a time-table and what a ticket costs, just this +morning. I really ought not to desert Cousin James." + +"But think how lonely Mr. Haley is down in the parsonage and of his +influence on Henrietta," I urged. + +"Yes, I do feel drawn in both ways," sighed the poor tender gourd. "And +then you will be here by yourself, so you can watch over Cousin James, +as much as your work will allow you, can't you, Evelina?" + +"Yes, I'll try to keep him from being too much alone," I answered with +the most deceitful unconcern. + +"I see him coming to supper and I must go, for I want to be with him all +I can, if I am to leave him so soon. I may not make up my mind to it," +with which threat Sallie departed and left me alone in the gloaming, a +situation which seems to be becoming chronic with me now. + +If I had it, I'd give another hundred thousand dollars to the cause, to +hear that interview between Sallie and the Dominie. I wager he'll never +know what happened and would swear it didn't, if confronted with a +witness. + +And also I felt so nervous with all this asking-in-marriage surging in +the atmosphere that it was with difficulty that I sat through supper +and listened to Jane and Polk, who had come in with her, plan town +sewerage. To-morrow night I knew the moon wouldn't rise until eleven +o'clock, and how did I know anyway that Sallie's emancipation might not +get started on the wrong track and run into my Crag? His chivalry would +never let him refuse a woman who proposed to him and he'll be in danger +until I can do it and tell the town about it. + +Jane and Polk had promised Dickie and Nell to motor down Providence Road +as far as Cloverbend in the moonlight, and I think Caroline and Lee were +going too. Polk looked positively agonized with embarrassed sorrow at +leaving me all alone, and it was with difficulty that I got them off. I +pleaded the greatest fatigue and my impatience amounted to crossness. + +After they had gone I dismissed Jasper and Petunia and locked the back +doors, put out all the lights in the house and retired to the side +steps, determined to be invisible no matter who called--and wait! + +And for one mortal hour there I sat alone in that waning old moonlight, +that grew colder and paler by the minute, while the stiff breeze that +poured down from Old Harpeth began to be vicious and icy as it nipped my +ears and hands and nose and sent a chill down to my very toes. + +Nobody came and there I sat! + +Finally, with the tears tangling icily in my lashes, I got up and went +into the house and lighted the fat pine under the logs in the hall. They +had lain all ready for the torch for a whole year, just as I had lain +for a lifetime until a few weeks ago. Then suddenly they blazed--as I +had done. + +My condition was pitiable. I felt that all nature had deserted me, the +climate, Indian summer, the harvest moon and my own charm, but my head +was up and I was going to crackle pluckily along to my blaze, so I +turned towards the door to go across the road and put my fate to the +test, even if I took pneumonia standing begging at his front door. I +hoped I would find him in the lodge and-- + +"Evelina," he exclaimed as he burst open my door, flung himself into the +firelight and seized my arm like a robber baron of the Twelfth Century, +making a grab for his lady-love in the midst of her hostile kindred, "I +thought I would never get here! I ran all the way up from the office. +Here's a telegram from Mr. Hall that says that the two roads have merged +and will take the bluff route past Glendale, and give us the shops,--and +wants to appoint me the General Attorney for the Southern Section. They +want me to come on to New York by the first train. Can you marry me in +the morning so we can take the noon express from Bolivar? I won't go +without you. Please, dear, please," and as he stood and looked at me in +the firelight, all the relief and excitement over his news died out of +his lovely eyes and just the want of me filled them from their very +depths. + +For several interminable centuries of time I stood perfectly still and +looked into them daringly, drinking my fill for the first time and +offering him a like cup in my own. + +"Eve," he said so softly that I doubt if he really spoke the word. + +"Adam!" I let myself go, and at last pressed my answer against his lips +as he folded me tight and safe. + +It must have been some time after, I am sure I don't know how long, but +I was most beautifully adjusted against his shoulder and he had my hand +pressed to his cheek, when the awfulness of what had happened brought me +straight up on my own feet and almost out of his arms. + +"Oh, how could you have done it!" I fairly wailed, as I thought of what +this awful complication was going to lose for the Five to whom I felt +more tender in that second than I had ever felt before. + +"Done what?" he demanded in alarm, pressing both my hands against his +breast and drawing me towards him again. + +"Asked me to marry you when I--" + +"I have been fighting desperately to see some way to offer myself and +all my impedimenta to you all this time, and this has made it all right, +don't you see, dear?" he interrupted me to say, as he took possession of +me again and held me with a tender fierceness, which had more of +suffering in it than passion. "I have always wanted you, Eve, since +before you went away, but it didn't seem right to ask you to come into a +life so encumbered as mine was. Poverty made it seem impossible, but +now, if you will be just a little patient with them all, I can +arrange--" + +"I was going to arrange all that my own self, and now just see what you +have done to me and a whole lot of other women, besides making me +miserable all summer," and crowded so close under his chin that he +couldn't see my face, I told him all about the tinder-box Jane had +loaded and then set me on the lid to see that it exploded. + +I had just worked myself up to the point of how my incendiary mission +was about to touch off all the other love affairs in town, when he began +to shake so with disrespectful laughter that I felt that my dignity was +about to demand that I withdraw coldly from his arms, where I had just +got so warm and comfortable and at home; but with the first slight +intimation of my intention, which was conveyed by a very feeble indeed +loosening of my arms from around his Henry Clay collar, he held me +firmly against him and controlled his unseemly mirth, only I could still +feel it convulsing his left lung,--though as I had no business being +near enough to notice it, I felt it only fair not to. + +"Please don't worry about those other Five dear women," he begged, in +the nicest and most considerate voice possible so that I tightened my +arms again as I listened. "If Miss Mathers doesn't feel justified in +giving up the dowries by your--your failure to prove the proposition, we +can just invite them all down here and in Glendale and Bolivar and +Hillsboro and Providence, to say nothing of the countryside, we can +plant them all cozily. I can delicately explain to their choices exactly +how to let them manage circumstances like--" he illustrated his scheme +just here until it took time for me to get breath to listen to the rest +of his apology--"this and there is no telling, with such a start as the +cult has got in the Harpeth Valley already, how far ft will spread. +Please forgive me, dear!" + +"Yes," I answered doubtfully. Then I raised my head and looked him full +in the face as I made my declaration calmly but with the perfect +conviction that I still have and always will have, world without end. +"Yes, but don't you think for one minute I don't _know_ that what Jane +and I and all the most advanced women in the world are trying for is the +right and just and the only way for men and women to come logically into +the kind of heritage you and I have stumbled into. Absolute freedom and +equality between all human beings is going to be the price of Kingdom +Come. I shall always be humiliated that I got scared out in the +graveyard and didn't do it to you. It is going to be the regret of my +life." + +"Truly, I'm sorry, sweetheart," he answered most contritely. "If I were +to take my hat and go back to the gate and come in again properly and +let you do it, would that make you feel any better?" + +"No, it wouldn't," I answered quickly because why should I be separated +from him all the two and a half minutes it would take to play out that +farce, when I have been separated from him all the twenty-five years +that stretch from now back until the day of my birth? "I am going to +bear it bravely and hold up my head and tell Jane--" + +"I wouldn't bother to hold up my head to tell her, Evelina," came from +the doorway in Polk's delighted drawl as he and Jane stepped into the +room. "Pretty comfortably placed, that head, I should say." + +"Oh, Jane!" I positively wailed as I extracted myself from the Crag's +gray arms and buried myself in Jane's white serge ones that opened to +receive me. And the seconds that I rested silently there Polk spent in +shaking both of the Crag's hands and pounding him on the back so that I +grew alarmed. + +"I didn't do it, Jane, I didn't do it," I almost sobbed with fear of +what her disappointment was going to be. "He beat me to it!" + +"Truly. I'm sorry," Cousin James added to my apology as he stood with +his arm on Polk's shoulder. + +"I dare you, _dare_, you to tell 'em, Jane," Polk suddenly said, coming +over and putting a hand on one of my shoulders and one on Jane's. + +"Evelina and Mr. Hardin," Jane answered gallantly with her head assuming +its lovely independent pose, but with the most wonderful blush spreading +the beauty that always ought to have been hers all over her one-time +plain face, "the wager stands as won by Evelina Shelby. She had properly +prepared the ground and sowed the seed of justice and right thinking +that I--I harvested to-night. I had the honor of offering marriage to +Mr. Hayes just about fifteen minutes ago. I consider that mode of +procedure proved as feasible and as soon as I have received my answer, +whatever it is, I shall immediately proceed with making the endowment +and choosing the five young women according to the agreement." + +"Polk!" I exclaimed, turning to him in a perfect panic of alarm. Could +he be trifling with Jane? + +"Evelina," answered Polk, giving me a shake and a shove over in the +direction of the Crag, "you ought to know me better than to think I +would answer such a question as Jane put to me, while driving a cranky +car in waning moonlight. If you and James will just mercifully betake +yourselves out there on the porch in the cold for a few minutes I will +try and add my data to this equality experiment with due dignity. Go!" + +We went! + +"Love-woman," whispered the Crag, after I had broken it to him that we +were going to be a Governor of Tennessee, and not a railroad attorney, +and he had crooned his "Swing Low" over me and rocked me against his +breast for a century of seconds, down on my old front gate, "you are +right about the whole question. I see that, and I want to help--but if +I'm stupid about life, will you hold my hand in the dark?" + +"Yes," I answered with both generosity and courage. + +And truly if the world is in the dusk of the dawn of a new day, what can +men and women do but cling tight and feel their way--together? + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Tinder-Box, by Maria Thompson Daviess + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TINDER-BOX *** + +***** This file should be named 14863-8.txt or 14863-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/4/8/6/14863/ + +Produced by Kentuckiana Digital Library, David Garcia, Chuck Greif, Leonard +Johnson and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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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: The Tinder-Box + +Author: Maria Thompson Daviess + +Release Date: February 1, 2005 [EBook #14863] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TINDER-BOX *** + + + + +Produced by Kentuckiana Digital Library, David Garcia, Chuck Greif, Leonard +Johnson and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + + +</pre> + + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + <h1><a name="THE_TINDER_BOX" id="THE_TINDER_BOX"></a>THE TINDER-BOX</h1> + <h3>BY</h3> + <h2>MARIA THOMPSON DAVIESS</h2> + <h4>Author of</h4> + <h4>"The Melting of Molly," "Miss Selina Lue," "Sue Jane," Etc.</h4> + <h4>WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY JOHN EDWIN JACKSON</h4> + <h4>NEW YORK THE CENTURY CO.</h4> + <h4><i>Published, November, 1913</i></h4> + <h3>I DEDICATE THIS BOOK TO HANNAH DAVIESS PITTMAN WHO BLAZED MY TRAIL AND STILL + DOES</h3> + + <div class="figcenter" style="width: 350px;"><a id="one" name="one"></a> + <img src="images/image01.jpg" width="350" height="548" + alt=""You don't need another vine," I answered mutinously." + title=""You don't need another vine," I answered mutinously." /> + <b>"You don't need another vine," I answered mutinously.</b> + </div> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + <h2>CONTENTS</h2> + <div class="center"> + <ul> + <li><a href="#ILLUSTRATIONS"><b>ILLUSTRATIONS</b></a><br /> + </li> + <li><a href="#CHAPTER_I"><b>CHAPTER I....THE LOAD</b></a><br /> + </li> + <li><a href="#CHAPTER_II"><b>CHAPTER II....THE MAIDEN LANCE</b></a><br /> + </li> + <li><a href="#CHAPTER_III"><b>CHAPTER III....A FLINT-SPARK</b></a><br /> + </li> + <li><a href="#CHAPTER_IV"><b>CHAPTER IV....SWEETER THAN TAMED?</b></a><br /> + </li> + <li><a href="#CHAPTER_V"><b>CHAPTER V....DEEPER THAN SHOULDERS OR + RIBS</b></a><br /> + </li> + <li><a href="#CHAPTER_VI"><b>CHAPTER VI....MAN AND THE ASAFETIDA + SPOON</b></a><br /> + </li> + <li><a href="#CHAPTER_VII"><b>CHAPTER VII....SOME SMOLDERINGS</b></a><br /> + </li> + <li><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII"><b>CHAPTER VIII....AN ATTAINED + TO-MORROW</b></a><br /> + </li> + <li><a href="#CHAPTER_IX"><b>CHAPTER IX....DYNAMITE</b></a><br /> + </li> + <li><a href="#CHAPTER_X"><b>CHAPTER X....TOGETHER?</b></a><br /> + </li> + </ul> + </div> + <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page1" id="page1"></a>{1}</span></p> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + <h2><a name="ILLUSTRATIONS" id="ILLUSTRATIONS"></a>ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> + <div class="center"> + <a href="#one">"You don't need another vine," I answered mutinously</a><br /> + <a href="#two">"He stood calmly in the midst of Sallie's family and baggage, both + animate and inanimate</a><br /> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page2" id="page2"></a>{2}</span> <a + href="#three">"Say, Polk, I let the Pup git hung by her apron to the wheel of your + car"</a><br /> + <a href="#four">His gray eyes were positively mysterious with interrupted + dreams</a><br /> + <a href="#five">"We must not allow the men time to get sore over this matter of + the League"</a><br /> + <a href="#six">"Is this right?" he asked</a><br /> + <a href="#seven">"She's our Mother," he said</a><br /> + <a href="#eight">Scrouged so close to his arm that it was difficult for both of + them to walk</a><br /> + </div> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page3" id="page3"></a>{3}</span></p> + <h1>THE TINDER BOX</h1> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + <h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> + <p>THE LOAD</p> + <p>All love is a gas, and it takes either loneliness, strength of character, or + religion to liquefy it into a condition to be ladled out of us, one to another. There + is a certain dangerously volatile state of it; and occasionally people, especially of + opposite sexes, try to administer it to each other in that form, with asphyxiation + resulting to both hearts. And I'm willing to confess that it is generally a woman's + fault when such an accident occurs. That is, it is a mistake of her nature, not one + of intent. But she is learning!</p> + <p>Also when a woman is created, the winds have wooed star-dust, rose-dew, + peach-<span class="pagenum"><a name="page4" id="page4"></a>{4}</span> down, and a few + flint-shavings into a whirlwind of deviltry, and the world at large looks on in + wonder and sore amazement, as well as breathless interest. I know, because I am one, + and have just been waked up by the gyrations of the cyclone; and I'm deeply + confounded. I don't like it, and wish I could have slept longer, but Fate and Jane + Mathers decreed otherwise. At least Jane decreed, and Fate seems so far helpless to + controvert the decree.</p> + <p>I might have known that when this jolly, easy-going old Fate of mine, which I + inherited from a lot of indolent, pleasure-loving Harpeth Valley Tennesseans, let me + pack up my graduating thesis, my B.S., and some delicious frocks, and go off to Paris + for a degree from the Beaux Arts in Architecture, we would be caught up with by some + kind of Nemesis or other, and put in our place in the biological and ethnological + scheme of existence. Yes, Fate and I are placed, and Jane did it.<span + class="pagenum"><a name="page5" id="page5"></a>{5}</span></p> + <p>Also, I am glad, now that I know what is going to happen to me, that I had last + week on shipboard, with Richard Hall bombarding my cardiac regions with his honest + eyes and booming voice discreetly muffled to accord with the moonlight and the quiet + places around the deck. I may never get that sort of a joy-drink again, but it was so + well done that it will help me to administer the same to others when the awful + occasion arrives.</p> + <p>"A woman is the spark that lights the flame on the altar of the inner man, dear, + and you'll have to sparkle when your time comes," he warned me, as I hurried what + might have been a very tender parting, the last night at sea.</p> + <p>"<i>Spark</i>"—she's a conflagration by this new plan of Jane's, but I'm + glad he didn't know about it then. He may have to suffer from it yet. It is best for + him to be as happy as he can as long as he can.</p> + <p>"Evelina, dear," said Jane, as she and<span class="pagenum"><a name="page6" + id="page6"></a>{6}</span> Mary Elizabeth Conners and I sat in the suite of apartments + in which our proud Alma Mater had lodged us old grads, returned for our second + degrees, "your success has been remarkable, and I am not surprised at all that that + positively creative thesis of yours on the Twentieth Century Garden, to which I + listened to-night, procured you an honorable mention in your class at the Beaux Arts. + The French are a nation that quickly recognizes genius. I am very happy to-night. All + your honors and achievements make me only the more certain that I have chosen the + right person for the glorious mission I am about to offer you."</p> + <p>"Oh, no, Jane!" I exclaimed, from a sort of instinct for trouble to come. I know + that devoted, twenty-second century look in Jane's intense, near-sighted eyes, and I + always fend from it. She is a very dear person, and I respectfully adore her. Indeed, + I sometimes think she is the real spine <span class="pagenum"><a name="page7" + id="page7"></a>{7}</span> in my back that was left out of me, and of its own strength + got developed into another and a finer woman. She became captain of my Freshman soul, + at the same time she captured the captaincy of the boat crew, on which I pulled + stroke, and I'm still hitting the water when she gives the word, though it now looks + as if we are both adrift on the high and uncharted seas—or sitting on the lid + of a tinder-box, juggling lighted torches.</p> + <p>"You see, dear," she went on to say slowly, drawing Mary Elizabeth into the + spell-bound circle of our intensity, as we three sat together with our newly-engraved + sheepskins on our knees, "for these two years while you have been growing and + developing along all your natural lines in a country which was not your own, in a + little pool I should call it, out of even sight and sound of the current of events, + we have been here in your own land engaged in the great work of the organization and + reor<span class="pagenum"><a name="page8" id="page8"></a>{8}</span> ganization which + is molding the destinies of the women of our times, and those that come after us. + That is what I want to talk to you about, and devoutly have I been praying that your + heart will be receptive to the call that has claimed the life of Mary Elizabeth and + me. There is a particular work, for which you are fitted as no other woman I have + ever known is fitted, and I want to lay the case plainly before you to-night. Will + you give me a hearing?"</p> + <p>And the hearing I gave that beloved and devout woman was the <i>reveille</i> that + awakened me to this—this whirlwind that seems to be both inside me and outside + me, and everywhere else in the whole world.</p> + <p>It's not woman's suffrage; it has gone way down past the road from votes for + women. I wish I could have stopped in that political field of endeavor before Jane + got to me. She might have left me there doing little things like making speeches + before the United States Senate and running <span class="pagenum"><a name="page9" + id="page9"></a>{9}</span> for Governor of Tennessee, after I had, single-handed, + remade the archaic constitution of that proud and bat-blind old State of my birth; + but such ease was not for me.</p> + <p>Of course for years, as all women have been doing who are sensible enough to use + the brains God gave them and stop depending on their centuries-seasoned intuitions + and fascinations, I have been reading about this feminist revolution that seems all + of a sudden to have revoluted from nobody knows where, and I have been generally + indignant over things whether I understood them or not, and I have felt that I was + being oppressed by the opposite sex, even if I could not locate the exact spot of the + pain produced. I have always felt that when I got to it I would shake off the + shackles of my queer fondness and of my dependence upon my oppressors, and do + something revengeful to them.</p> + <p>When my father died in my Junior year and left me all alone in the world, the + first <span class="pagenum"><a name="page10" id="page10"></a>{10}</span> thing that + made me feel life in my veins again was the unholy rage I experienced when I found + that he had left me bodaciously and otherwise to my fifth cousin, James Hardin.</p> + <p>Cousin James is a healthy reversion to the primitive type of Father Abraham, and + he has so much aristocratic moss on him that he reminds me of that old gray crag that + hangs over Silver Creek out on Providence Road. Artistically he is perfectly + beautiful in an Old-Testament fashion. He lives in an ancient, rambling house across + the road from my home, and he is making a souvenir collection of derelict women. + Everybody that dies in Glendale leaves him a relict, and including his mother, Cousin + Martha, he now has either seven or nine female charges, depending on the sex of + Sallie Carruthers's twin babies, which I can't exactly remember, but will wager is + feminine.</p> + <p>My being left to him was an insult to me, <span class="pagenum"><a name="page11" + id="page11"></a>{11}</span> though of course Father did not see it that way. He + adored the Crag, as everybody else in Glendale does, and wouldn't have considered not + leaving him precious me. Wanting to ignore Cousin James, because I was bound out to + him until my twenty-fifth year or marriage, which is worse, has kept me from Glendale + all these four years since father died suddenly while I was away at college, laid up + with the ankle which I broke in the gymnasium. Still, as much as I resent him, I keep + the letter the Crag wrote me the night after Father died, right where I can put my + hand on it if life suddenly panics me for any reason. It covers all the circumstances + I have yet met. I wonder if I ought to burn it now!</p> + <p>But, to be honest with myself, I will have to confess that the explosively + sentimental scene on the front porch, the night I left for college, with Polk Hayes + has had something to do with my cowardice in lingering in foreign climes. I feel that + it is <span class="pagenum"><a name="page12" id="page12"></a>{12}</span> something I + will have to go on with some day, and the devil will have to pick up the chips. Polk + is the kind of man that ought to be exterminated by the government in sympathy for + its women wards, if his clan didn't make such good citizens when they do finally + marry. He ought at least to be labeled "poison for the very young." I was very young + out on the porch that night. Still, I don't resent him like I do the archaic + Crag.</p> + <p>And as Jane talked, my seasoned indignation of four years against my keeper flared + up, and while she paused at intervals for breath I hurled out plans for his + demolishment. I wish now I had been more conservatively quiet, and left myself a + loophole, but I didn't. I walked into this situation and shut the door behind me.</p> + <p>"Yes, Evelina, I think you will have to insist forcibly on assuming charge of your + own social and financial affairs in your own home. It may not be easy, with such a + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page13" id="page13"></a>{13}</span> man as you + describe, but you will accomplish it. However, many mediocre women have proved their + ability to attend to their own fortunes, and do good business for themselves; but + your battle is to be fought on still higher grounds. You are to rise and establish + with your fellow-man a plane of common citizenship. You do it for his sake and your + own, and for that of humanity."</p> + <p>"Suppose, after I get up there on that plateau, I didn't find any man at all," I + ventured faint-heartedly, but with a ripple of my risibles; the last in life I + fear.</p> + <p>"You must reach down your hands to them and draw them up to you," she answered in + a tone of tonic inspiration. "You are to claim the same right to express your + emotions that a man has. You are to offer your friendship to both men and women on + the same frank terms, with no degrading hesitancy caused by an embarrassment on + account of your sex. It is his <span class="pagenum"><a name="page14" + id="page14"></a>{14}</span> due and yours. No form of affection is to be withheld + from him. It is to be done frankly and impressively, and when the time comes—" I + can hardly write this, but the memory of the wonderful though fanatic light in + Jane's eyes makes me able to scrawl it—"that you feel the mating instinct in + you move towards any man, I charge you that you are to consider it a sacred + obligation to express it with the same honesty that a man would express the same + thing to you, in like case, even if he has shown no sign of that impulse toward you. + No contortions and contemptible indirect method of attack, but a fearless one that is + yours by right, and his though he may not acknowledge it. The barbaric and senseless + old convention that denies women the right of selection, for which God has given her + the superior instinct, is to be broken down by just such women as you. A woman less + dowered by beauty and all feminine charm could not do it just yet, but <span + class="pagenum"><a name="page15" id="page15"></a>{15}</span> to you, to whom the + command of men is a natural gift, is granted the wonderful chance to prove that it + can be done, honestly and triumphantly, with no sacrifice of the sacredness of + womanhood."</p> + <p>"Oh, Jane." I moaned into the arm of the chair on which I had bowed my head.</p> + <p>I am moaning; now just as much, down in the bottom of my heart. Where are all my + gentle foremothers that smiled behind their lace fans and had their lily-white hands + kissed by cavalier gentlemen in starched ruffles, out under the stars that rise over + Old Harpeth, that they don't claim me in a calm and peaceful death? Still, as much as + I would like to die, I am interested in what is going to happen.</p> + <p>"Yes, Evelina," she answered in an adamant tone of voice, "and when I have the + complete record of what, I know, will be your triumphant vindication of the truth + that it is possible and advisable for women to assert their divine right to choose a + mate <span class="pagenum"><a name="page16" id="page16"></a>{16}</span> for their + sacred vocation of bearing the race, I shall proceed, as I have told you, to choose + five other suitable young women to follow your example, and furnish them the money, + up to the sum of a hundred thousand dollars, after having been convinced by your + experience. Be careful to make the most minute records, of even the most emotional + phases of the question, in this book for their guidance. Of course, they will never + know the source of the data, and I will help you elucidate and arrange the book, + after it is all accomplished."</p> + <p>If Jane hadn't had two million dollars all this trouble would not be.</p> + <p>"I can never do it!" I exclaimed with horror, "And the men will hate it—and + me. And if I did do it, I couldn't write it."</p> + <p>I almost sobbed as a vision flashed before me of thus verbally snap-shotting the + scene with dear old Dickie as we stood against the rail of the ship and watched the + waves fling back silvery radiance at the full <span class="pagenum"><a name="page17" + id="page17"></a>{17}</span> moon, and I also wondered how I was to render in + serviceable written data his husky:</p> + <p>"A woman is the flame that lights the spark—"</p> + <p>Also, what would that interview with Polk Hayes look like reproduced with high + lights?</p> + <p>"Now," she answered encouragingly, "don't fear the men, dear. They are sensible + and business-like creatures, and they will soon see how much to their advantage it is + to be married to women who have had an equal privilege with themselves of showing + their preferences. Then only can they be sure that their unions are from real + preferences and not compromises, on the part of their wives, from lack of other + choice. Of course, a woman's pride will make her refrain from courtship, as does her + brother man, until she is financially independent, and self-supporting, lest she be + put in the position of a mendicant." Jane <span class="pagenum"><a name="page18" + id="page18"></a>{18}</span> has thought the whole thing out from Genesis to + Revelation.</p> + <p>Still, that last clause about the mendicant leaves hope for the benighted man who + still wants the cling of the vine. A true vine would never want—or be + able—to hustle enough to flower sordid dollars instead of curls and + blushes.</p> + <p>"A woman would have to be—to be a good deal of a woman, not any less one, to + put such a thing across, Jane," I said, with a preflash of some of the things that + might happen in such a cruel crusade of reformation and deprivation of rights.</p> + <p>"That is the reason I have chosen you to collect the data, Evelina," answered + Jane, with another of those glorious tonic looks, issuing from my backbone in her + back. "The ultimate woman must be superb in body, brain, and heart. You are that now + more nearly than any one I have ever seen. You are the woman!"</p> + <p>I was silenced with awe.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page19" + id="page19"></a>{19}</span></p> + <p>"Jane plans to choose five girls who would otherwise have to spend their lives + teaching in crowded cities after leaving college and to start them in any profession + they choose, with every chance of happiness, in the smaller cities of the South and + Middle West," said Mary Elizabeth gently, and somehow the tears rose in my eyes, as I + thought how the poor dear had been teaching in the high school in Chicago the two + glorious years I had been frolicking abroad. No time, and no men to have good times + with.</p> + <p>And there were hundreds like her, I knew, in all the crowded parts of the United + States. And as I had begun, I thought further. Just because I was embarrassed at the + idea of proposing to some foolish man, who is of no importance to me, himself, or the + world in general, down in Glendale, where they have all known me all my life, and + would expect anything of me anyway after I have defied tradition and <span + class="pagenum"><a name="page20" id="page20"></a>{20}</span> gone to college, five + lovely, lonely girls would have to go without any delightful suitors like + Richard—or Polk Hayes, forever.</p> + <p>And, still further, I thought of the other girls, coming under the influence of + those five, who might be encouraged to hold up their heads and look around, and at + least help out their Richards in their matrimonial quest, and as I sat there with + Jane's compelling and Mary Elizabeth's hungry eyes on me, I felt that I was being + besought by all the lovers of all the future generations to tear down some sort of + awful barrier and give them happiness. And it was the thought of the men that was + most appealing. It takes a woman who really likes them as I do, and has their good + really at heart, to see their side of the question as Jane put it, poor dears. + Suddenly, I felt that all the happiness of the whole world was in one big, golden + chalice, and that I had to hold it steadily to give drink to all <span + class="pagenum"><a name="page21" id="page21"></a>{21}</span> men and all + women—with a vision of little unborn kiddies in the future.</p> + <p>Then, before I could stop myself, I decided—and I hope the dear Lord—I + say it devoutly—indeed I do!—will help that poor man in Glendale if I + pick out the wrong one. I'm going to do it.</p> + <p>"I accept your appointment and terms, Jane," I said quietly, as I looked both + those devout, if fanatic, women in the face. "I pledge myself to go back to Glendale, + to live a happy, healthy, normal life, as useful as I can make it. I had intended to + do that anyway, for if I am to evolve the real American garden. I can't do better + than sketch and study those in the Harpeth Valley, for at least two seasons all + around. I shall work at my profession whole-heartedly, take my allotted place in the + community, and refuse to recognize any difference in the obligations and + opportunities in my life and that of the men with whom I am thrown, and to help all + other <span class="pagenum"><a name="page22" id="page22"></a>{22}</span> women to + take such a fearless and honest attitude—if Glendale blows up in consequence. I + will seek and claim marriage in exactly the same fearless way a man does, and when I + have found what I want I shall expect you to put one hundred thousand dollars, twenty + to each, at the disposal of five other suitable young women, to follow my example, as + noted down in this book—if it has been successful. Shall I give you some sort + of written agreement?"</p> + <p>"Just record the agreement as a note in the book, and I will sign it," answered + Jane, in her crispest and most business-like tone of voice, though I could see she + was trembling with excitement, and poor Mary Elizabeth was both awe-struck and + hopeful.</p> + <p>I'll invite Mary Elizabeth down to Glendale, as soon as I stake out my own claim, + poor dear!</p> + <p>And here I sit alone at midnight, with a huge, steel-bound, lock-and-keyed book + that Jane has had made for me, with my <span class="pagenum"><a name="page23" + id="page23"></a>{23}</span> name and the inscription, "In case of death, send + unopened to Jane Mathers, Boston, Massachusetts," on the back, committed to a cause + as crazy and as serious as anything since the Pilgrimages, or the Quest of the + Knights for the Grail. It also looks slightly like trying to produce a modern Don + Quixote, feminine edition, and my cheeks are flaming so that I wouldn't look at them + for worlds. And to write it all, too! I have always had my opinion of women who spill + their souls out of an ink-bottle, but I ought to pardon a nihilist, that in the dead + of night, cold with terror, confides some awful appointment he has had made him, to + his nearest friend. I am the worst nihilist that ever existed, and the bomb I am + throwing may explode and destroy the human race. But, on the other hand, the + explosion might be of another kind. Suppose that suddenly a real woman's entire + nature should be revealed to the world, might not the universe be enveloped <span + class="pagenum"><a name="page24" id="page24"></a>{24}</span> in a rose glory and a + love symphony? We'll see!</p> + <p>Also, could the time ever come when a woman wouldn't risk hanging over the ragged + edge of Heaven to hold on to the hand of some man? Never! Then, as that is the case, + I see we must all keep the same firm grip on the creatures we have always had, and + haul them over the edge, but we must not do it any more without letting them know + about it—it isn't honest. Yes, women must solidify their love into such a + concrete form that men can weigh and measure it, and decide for themselves whether + they want to—to climb to Heaven for it, or remain comfortable old bachelors. We + mustn't any more lead them into marriage blinded by the overpowering gaseous + fragrance called romantic love.</p> + <p>But, suppose I should lose all love for everybody in this queer quest for + enlightenment I have undertaken? Please, God, <span class="pagenum"><a name="page25" + id="page25"></a>{25}</span> let a good man be in Glendale, Tennessee, who will + understand and protect me—no, that's the wrong prayer! Protect + him—no—both of us!</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page26" id="page26"></a>{26}</span></p> + <h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> + <p>THE MAIDEN LANCE</p> + <p>A woman may shut her eyes, and put a man determinedly out of her heart, and in two + minutes she will wake up in an agony of fear that he isn't there. Now, as I have + decided that Glendale is to be the scene of this bloodless revolution of + mine—it would be awful to carry out such an undertaking anywhere but under the + protection of ancestral traditions—I have operated Richard Hall out of my + inmost being with the utmost cruelty, on an average of every two hours, for this week + Jane and I have been in New York; and I have still got him with me.</p> + <p>I, at last, became determined, and chose the roof-garden at the Astor to tell him + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page27" id="page27"></a>{27}</span> good-by, and + perform the final operation. First I tried to establish a plane of common citizenship + with him, by telling him how much his two years' friendship across the waters had + meant to me, while we studied the same profession under the same masters, drew at the + same drawing-boards and watched dear old Paris flame into her jeweled night-fire from + Montmarte, together. I was frankly affectionate, and it made him suspicious of + me.</p> + <p>Then I tried to tell him just a little, only a hint, of my new attitude towards + his sex, and before he had had time even to grasp the idea he exploded.</p> + <p>"Don't talk to me as if you were an alienist trying to examine an abstruse case, + Evelina," he growled, with extreme temper. "Go on down and rusticate with your + relatives for the summer, and fly the bats in your belfry at the old moss-backs, + while I am getting this Cincinnati and Gulf Stations commission under way. Then, + when<span class="pagenum"><a name="page28" id="page28"></a>{28}</span> I can, I will + come for you. Let's don't discuss the matter, and it's time I took you back to your + hotel."</p> + <p>Not a very encouraging tilt for my maiden lance.</p> + <p>I've had a thought. If I should turn and woo Dickie, like he does me, I suppose we + would be going-so fast in opposite directions that we would be in danger of passing + each other without recognizing signals. I wonder if that might get to be the case of + humanity at large if women do undertake the tactics I am to experiment with, and a + dearth of any kind of loving and claiming at all be the result. I will elucidate that + idea and shoot it into Jane. But I have no hope; she'll have the answer ticketed away + in the right pigeon-hole, statistics and all, ready to fire back at me.</p> + <p>I have a feeling that Jane won't expect such a diary as this locked cell of a book + is becoming, but I can select what looks <span class="pagenum"><a name="page29" + id="page29"></a>{29}</span> like data for the young from these soul squirmings, and + only let her have those for The Five. I don't know which are which now, and I'll have + to put down the whole drama.</p> + <p>And my home-coming last night was a drama that had in it so much comedy, dashed + with tragedy, that I'm a little breathless over it yet. Jane, and my mind is + breathing unevenly still.</p> + <p>Considering the situation, and my intentions, I was a bit frightened as the huge + engine rattled and roared its way along the steel rails that were leading me back, + down into the Harpeth Valley. But, when we crossed the Kentucky line, I forgot the + horrors of my mission, and I thrilled gloriously at getting hack to my hills. Old + Harpeth had just come into sight, as we rounded into the valley and Providence Knob + rested back against it, in a pink glow that I knew came from the honeysuckle in bloom + all over it like a mantle. I traveled <span class="pagenum"><a name="page30" + id="page30"></a>{30}</span> fast into the twilight, and I saw all the stars smile out + over the ridge, in answer to the hearth stars in the valley, before I got across + Silver Creek. I hadn't let any one know that I was coming, so I couldn't expect any + one to meet me at the station at Glendale. There was nobody there I belonged + to—just an empty house. I suppose a man coming home like that would have + whistled and held up his head, but I couldn't. I'm a woman.</p> + <p>Suddenly, that long glowworm of a train stopped just long enough at Glendale to + eject me and my five trunks, with such hurried emphasis that I felt I was being + planted in the valley forever, and I would have to root myself here or die. I still + feel that way.</p> + <p>And as I stood just where my feet were planted, in the dust of the road, instead + of on the little ten-foot platform, that didn't quite reach to my sleeper steps, I + felt as small as I really am in comparison to the <span class="pagenum"><a + name="page31" id="page31"></a>{31}</span> universe. I looked after the train and + groveled.</p> + <p>Then, just as I was about to start running down the track, away from nowhere and + to nowhere, I was brought to my senses by a loud boohoo, and then a snubby choke, + which seemed to come out of my bag and steamer-blanket that stood in a pile before + me.</p> + <p>"Train's gone, train's gone and left us! I knew it would, when Sallie stopped to + put the starch on her face all over again. And Cousin James, he's as slow as + molasses, and I couldn't dress two twins in not time to button one baby. Oh, damn, + oh, damn!" And the sobs rose to a perfect storm of a wail.</p> + <p>Just at that moment, down the short platform an electric light, that was so feeble + that it seemed to show a pine-knot influence in its heredity, was turned on by the + station-agent, who was so slow that I perceived the influence of a descent from + old<span class="pagenum"><a name="page32" id="page32"></a>{32}</span> Mr. Territt, + who drove the stage that came down from the city before the war, and my + fellow-sufferer stood revealed.</p> + <p>She was a slim, red-haired bunch of galatea, stylish of cut as to upturned nose + and straight little skirt but wholly and defiantly unshod save for a dusty white rag + around one pink toe. A cunning little straw bonnet, with an ecru lace jabot dangled + in her hand, and her big brown eyes reminded me of Jane's at her most inquisitive + moments.</p> + <p>"If you was on a train, what did you git offen it <i>here</i> for?" she demanded + of me, with both scorn and curiosity in her positive young voice.</p> + <p>"I don't know why," I answered weakly, not at all in the tone of a + young-gallant-home-from-the-war mood I had intended to assume towards the first + inhabitant of my native town to whom I addressed a remark.</p> + <p>"We was all a-goin' down to Hillsboro, to visit Aunt Bettie Pollard for a whole + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page33" id="page33"></a>{33}</span> week, to Cousin + Tom's wedding, but my family is too slow for nothing but a funeral. And Cousin James, + he's worse. He corned for us ten minutes behind the town clock, and Mammy Dilsie had + phthisic, so I had to fix the two twins, and we're done left. I wisht I didn't have + no family!" And with her bare feet the young rebel raised a cloud of dust that rose + and settled on my skirt.</p> + <p>"There they come now," she continued, with the pained contempt still rising in her + voice.</p> + <p>And around the corner of the station hurried the family party, with all the haste + they would have been expected to use if they had not, just two minutes earlier, + beheld their train go relentlessly on down the valley to Hillsboro and the wedding + celebration. I hadn't placed the kiddie, but I might have known, from her own + description of her family, to whom she belonged.</p> + <p>First came Sallie Carruthers, sailing <span class="pagenum"><a name="page34" + id="page34"></a>{34}</span> along in the serene way that I remembered to have always + thought like a swan in no hurry, and in her hands was a wet box from which rose + sterns protruded.</p> + <p>Next in the procession came Aunt Dilsie, huge and black and wheezing, fanning + herself with a genteel turkey-tail fan, and carrying a large covered basket.</p> + <p>But the tail-piece of the procession paralyzed all the home-coming emotions that I + had expected to be feeling, save that of pure hilarity. James Hardin was carrying two + bubbly, squirmy, tousle-headed babies, on one arm, and a huge suitcase in the other + hand, and his gray felt hat set on the back of his shock of black hair at an angle of + deep desperation, though patience shone from every line of his strong, gaunt body, + and I could see in the half light that there were no lines of irritation about his + mouth, which Richard had said looked to him like that of the prophet Hosea, when I + had shown him the picture that Father had had <span class="pagenum"><a name="page35" + id="page35"></a>{35}</span> snapped of himself and the Crag, with their great string + of quail, on one of their hunting-trips, just before Father died.</p> + <p>"Eve!" he exclaimed, when he suddenly caught sight of me, standing in the middle + of the dusty road, with my impedimenta around me, and as he spoke he dropped both + babies on the platform in a bunch, and the small trunk on the other side. Then he + just stood and looked, and I had to straighten the roar that was arising in me at the + sight of him into a conventional smile of greeting, suitable to bestow on an + enemy.</p> + <p>But before the smile was well launched, Sallie bustled in and got the full effect + of it.</p> + <p>"Why, Evelina Shelby, you darling thing, when did you come?" she fairly bubbled, + as she clasped me in the most hospitable of arms, and bestowed a slightly powdery + kiss on both my cheeks. I weakly and femininely enjoyed the hug, not that a <span + class="pagenum"><a name="page36" id="page36"></a>{36}</span> man might not + have—Sallie is a dear, and I always did like her gush, shamefacedly.</p> + <p>"She got often that train that left us, and she ain't got a bit of sense, or she + wouldn't," answered the Blue Bunch for me, in a matter-of-fact tone of voice.</p> + <p>"What for did you all unpack outen the surrey, if you sawed the train go by?" she + further demanded, with accusing practicality. "Don't you know when youse left?"</p> + <p>"Oh, Henrietta," exclaimed Sallie, looking at the young-philosopher with terrified + helplessness. "Please don't mind her, Evelina. I don't understand her being my child, + and nobody does, unless it was Henry's grandmother on his mother's side. You had + heard of my loss?"</p> + <p>If I hadn't heard of the death of Henry Carruthers, Sallie's elaborate black + draperies, relieved by the filmy exquisiteness of white crepe ruches at the neck and + wrists, would have proclaimed the fact.</p> + <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page37" id="page37"></a>{37}</span> Suddenly, + something made me look at Cousin James, as he stood calmly in the midst of Sallie's + family and baggage, both animate and inanimate, and the laugh that had threatened for + minutes fairly flared out into his placid, young prophet face.</p> + <p>"Oh, I am so sorry, Sallie, and so glad to see all of you that I'm laughing at the + same time," I exclaimed to save myself from the awfulness of greeting a young widow's + announcement of her sorrow in such an unfeeling manner. To cover my embarrassment and + still further struggles with the laugh that never seemed to be able to have itself + out, I bent and hugged up one of the toddlers, who were balancing against the Crag's + legs, with truly feminine fervor.</p> + <p>"I'm glad to see you, Evelina," said Cousin James gently, and I could see that the + billows of my mirth had got entirely past him.</p> + <p>I was glad he had escaped, and I found <span class="pagenum"><a name="page38" + id="page38"></a>{38}</span> myself able to look with composure at his queer, + long-tailed gray coat, which made me know that little old Mr. Pinkus, who had been + Father's orderly all through the war, was still alive and tailoring in his tiny shop + down by the post-office, though now that Father is dead he probably only does it for + Cousin James. The two of them had been his only customers for years. And as I looked, + I saw that the locks that curled in an ante-bellum fashion around the Crag's ears, + were slightly sprinkled with gray, and remembered how he had loved and stood by + Father, even in the manner of wearing Pinkus clothes; my heart grew very large all of + a sudden, and I held out my hand to him.</p> + + <div class="figcenter" style="width: 350px;"><a id="two" name="two"></a> + <img src="images/image02.jpg" width="350" height="444" + alt="He stood calmly in the midst of Sallie's family and baggage, both animate and inanimate." + title="He stood calmly in the midst of Sallie's family and baggage, both animate and inanimate." /> + <b>He stood calmly in the midst of Sallie's + family and baggage, both animate and inanimate.</b> + </div> + <p>"I'm glad to be at home," I said, gazing straight into his eyes, with a look of + affection that you would have been proud of, Jane,—using unconsciously, until + after I had done it, the warmth I had tried unsuccessfully on Richard Hall at the + Astor, not <span class="pagenum"><a name="page39" id="page39"></a>{39}</span> + forty-eight hours ago, but two thousand miles away. And it got a response that + puzzles me to think of yet. It was just a look, but there was a thought of Father in + it, also a suggestion of the glance he bestowed on Sallie's twins. I remembered that + the Crag seldom speaks, and that's what makes you spend your time breathlessly + listening to him.</p> + <p>"Well, come on, everybody, let's go home and undress, and forget about the + wedding," came in Henrietta's positive and executive tones. "Let's go and take the + strange lady with us. We can have company if we can't be it. She can sleep other side + of me, next the wall."</p> + <p>I have never met anybody else at all like Henrietta Carruthers, and I never shall + unless Jane Mathers marries and—I sincerely hope that some day she and Jane + will meet.</p> + <p>And the next ten minutes was one of the most strenuous periods of time I ever put + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page40" id="page40"></a>{40}</span> in, in all my + life. I longed, really longed, to go home with Sallie and Henrietta, and sleep next + the wall at Widegables with the rest of the Crag's collection. But I knew Glendale + well enough to see plainly that if I thus once give myself up to the conventions that + by Saturday night they would have me nicely settled with his relicts, or in my home + with probably two elderly widows and a maiden cousin or so to look after me. And + then, by the end of the next week, they would have the most suitable person in town + fairly hunted by both spoken and mental influence, to the moonlight end of my front + porch, with matrimonial intentions in his pocket. I knew I had to take a positive + stand, and take it immediately. I must be masculinely firm. No feminine wiles would + serve in such a crisis as this.</p> + <p>So, I let Cousin James pack me into his low, prehistoric old surrey, in the front + seat, at his side, while Sallie took Aunt Dilsie <span class="pagenum"><a + name="page41" id="page41"></a>{41}</span> and one twin with her on the back seat. + Henrietta scrouged down at my feet, and I fearingly, but accommodatingly, accepted + the other twin. It was a perfect kitten of a baby, and purred itself to sleep against + my shoulder as soon as anchored.</p> + <p>The half-mile from the station, along the dusty, quiet village streets, was + accomplished in about the time it would take a modern vehicle to traverse Manhattan + lengthwise, and at last we stopped at the gate of Widegables. The rambling, winged, + wide-gabled, tall-columned old pile of time-grayed brick and stone, sat back in the + moonlight, in its tangle of a garden, under its tall roof maples, with a dignity that + went straight to my heart. There is nothing better in France or England, and I feel + sure that there are not two hundred houses in America as good. I'll paint it, just + like I saw it to-night, for next Spring's Salon. A bright light shone from the + windows of the dining-room in the left wing, where the col<span class="pagenum"><a + name="page42" id="page42"></a>{42}</span> lection of clinging vines were taking + supper, unconscious of the return of the left-behinds that threatened.</p> + <p>And as I glanced at my own tall-pillared, dark old house, that stands just + opposite Widegables, and is of the same period and style, I knew that if I did not + escape into its emptiness before I got into Cousin Martha's comfortable arms, + surrounded by the rest of the Crag's family, I would never have the courage to enter + into the estate of freedom I had planned.</p> + <p>"Sallie," I said firmly, as I handed the limp Kitten down to Aunt Dilsie, as + Henrietta took the other one—"Puppy" I suppose I will have to call the young + animal,—from her mother and started on up the walk in the lead of the return + expedition, "I am going over to stay in my own home to-night. I know it seems + strange, but—I <i>must</i>. Please don't worry about me."</p> + <p>"Why, dear, you can't stay by yourself, with no man on the place," exclaimed + Sallie, <span class="pagenum"><a name="page43" id="page43"></a>{43}</span> in a tone + of absolute panic. "I'll go tell Cousin Martha you are here, while Cousin James + unpacks your satchel and things." And she hurried in her descent from the ark, and + also hurried in her quest for the reinforcement of Cousin Martha's authority.</p> + <p>"I'm going to escape before any of them come back," I said determinedly to the + Crag, who stood there still, just looking at me. "I'm not up to arguing the question + to-night, for the trip has been a long one, and this is the first time I have been + home since—Just let me have to-night to myself, please." I found myself + pleading to him, as he held up his arms to lift me clear of the wheels.</p> + <p>His eyes were hurt and suffering for a second, then a strange light of + comprehension came from them into mine, like a benediction, as he gently set me on my + feet.</p> + <p>"Must you, Eve?"</p> + <p>"Yes," I answered, with a gulp that <span class="pagenum"><a name="page44" + id="page44"></a>{44}</span> went all the way down to my feminine toes, as I glanced + across the road at the grim, dark old pile that towered against the starlit sky. "I + want to stay in my own house to-night—and—and I'm not afraid."</p> + <p>"You won't need to be frightened. I understand, I think—and here's your key, + I always carry it in my pocket. Your Father's candle is on the mantel. You shall have + to-night to yourself. Good-night, and bless your home-coming, dear!"</p> + <p>"Good-night," I answered as I turned away from his kind eyes quickly, to keep from + clinging-to him with might and main, and crossed the road to my own gate. With my + head up, and trying for the whistle, at least in my heart, I went quickly along the + front walk with its rows of blush peonies, nodding along either edge. The two old + purple lilacs beside the front steps have grown so large they seemed to be barring my + way into my home with longing, sweet embraces, and a fragrant little climb<span + class="pagenum"><a name="page45" id="page45"></a>{45}</span> ing rose, that has + rioted across the front door, ever since I could remember, bent down and left a kiss + on my cheeks.</p> + <p>The warm, mellow old moon flooded a glow in front of me, through the big front + door, as I opened it, and then hastened to pour into the wide windows as I threw back + the shutters.</p> + <p>Logs lay ready for lighting in the wide fireplace at the end of the long room, and + Father's tobacco jar gleamed a reflected moonlight from its pewter sides from the + tall mantel-shelf. The old hooks melted into the dusk of their cases along the wall, + and the portrait of Grandfather Shelby lost its fierce gaze and became benign from + its place between the windows.</p> + <p>I was being welcomed to the home of my fathers, with a soft dusk that was as still + and sweet as the grave. Sweet for those that want it; but I didn't. Suddenly, I + thrilled as alive as any terror-stricken woman that ever found herself alone any<span + class="pagenum"><a name="page46" id="page46"></a>{46}</span> where on any other edge + of the world, and then as suddenly found myself in a complete condition of fright + prostration, crouched on my own threshold. I was frightened at the dark, and could + not even cry. Then almost immediately, while I crouched quivering in every nerve I + seemed to hear a man's voice say comfortingly:</p> + <p>"You don't need to be frightened."</p> + <p>Courageously I lifted my eyes and looked down between the old lilac bushes, and + saw just what I expected I would, a tall, gray figure, pacing slowly up and down the + road. Then it was that fear came into me, stiffened my muscles and strengthened my + soul—fear of myself and my own conclusions about destiny and all things + pertaining thereto.</p> + <p>I never want to go through such another hour as I spent putting things in order in + Father's room, which opens off the living-room, so I could go to bed by candle-light + in the bed in which he and I were both born. <span class="pagenum"><a name="page47" + id="page47"></a>{47}</span> I wanted to sleep there, and didn't even open any other + part of the grim old house.</p> + <p>And when I put out the candle and lay in the high, old four-post bed, I again felt + as small as I really am, and I was in danger of a bad collapse from self-depreciation + when my humor came to the rescue. I might just as well have gone on and slept between + Henrietta and the wall, as was becoming my feminine situation, for here my + determination to assert my masculine privileges was keeping a real man doing sentry + duty up and down a moonlight road all night—and I wanted it.</p> + <p>"After this, James Hardin, you can consider yourself safe from any of my + attentions or intentions," I laughed to myself, as I turned my face into the pillow, + that was faintly scented from the lavender in which Mother had always kept her linen. + "I've been in Glendale two hours, and one man is on the home base with his fingers + crossed. James, you are free! Oh, Jane!"</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page48" id="page48"></a>{48}</span></p> + <h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> + <p>A FLINT SPARK</p> + <p>The greatest upheavals of nature are those that arrive suddenly, without notifying + the world days beforehand of their intentions of splitting the crust of the Universe + wide open. One is coming to Glendale by degrees, but the town hasn't found out about + it yet. I'm the only one who sees it, and I'm afraid to tell.</p> + <p>When Old Harpeth, who has been looking down on a nice, peaceful, man ordained, + built, and protected world, woke Glendale up the morning after my arrival and found + me defiantly alone in the home of my fathers—also of each of my foremothers, by + the courtesy of dower—he muttered and drew a veil of mist across his face. + Slight <span class="pagenum"><a name="page49" id="page49"></a>{49}</span> showers + ensued, but he had to come out in less than an hour from pure curiosity. I found the + old garden heavenly in its riot of neglected buds, shoots, and blooms, wet and + welcoming with the soft odors of Heaven itself.</p> + <p>It was well I was out early to enjoy it, for that was to be the day of my + temptation and sore trial. I am glad I have recorded it all, for I might have + forgotten some day how wonderfully my very pliant, feminine attitude rubbed in my + masculine intentions as to my life on the blind side of all the forces brought to + bear on me to put me back into my predestined place in the scheme of the + existence.</p> + <p>"Your Cousin James's home is the place for you, Evelina, and until he explained to + me how you felt last night I was deeply hurt that you hadn't come straight, with + Sallie, to me and to him," said Cousin Martha, in as severe a voice as was possible + for such a placid individual to produce.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page50" + id="page50"></a>{50}</span> Cousin Martha is completely lovely, and the Mossback gets + his beauty from her. She is also such a perfect dear that her influence is something + terrific, even if negatively expressed.</p> + <p>"I have come to help you get your things together, so you can move over before + dinner," she continued with gentle force. "Now, what shall we put in the portmanteau + first? I see you have unpacked very little, and I am glad that it confirms me in my + feeling that your coming over here for the night was just a dutiful sentiment for + your lost loved ones, and not any unmaidenly sense of independence in the matter of + choice where it is best for you to live. Of course, such a question as that must be + left to your guardian, and of course James will put you under my care."</p> + <p>"I—I really thought that perhaps Cousin James did not have room for me, + Cousin Martha," I answered meekly.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page51" + id="page51"></a>{51}</span> "How many families has he with him now?" I asked with a + still further meekness that was the depths of wiliness.</p> + <p>"There are three of us widows, whom he sustains and comforts for the loss of our + husbands, and also the three Norton girls, cousins on his father's side of the house, + you remember. It is impossible for them to look after their plantation since their + father's death robbed them of a protector, at least, even though he had been + paralyzed since Gettysburg. James is a most wonderful man, my dear—a most + wonderful man. Though as he is my son I ought to think it in silence."</p> + <p>"Indeed he is," I answered from the heart. "But—but wouldn't it be a little + crowded for him to have another—another vine—that is, exactly what would + he do with me? I know Widegables is wide, but that is a houseful, isn't it?"</p> + <p>"Well, all of us did feel that it made the house uncomfortably full when Sallie + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page52" id="page52"></a>{52}</span> came with the + three children, but you know Henry Carruthers left James his executor and guardian of + the children, and Sallie of course couldn't live alone, so Mrs. Hargrove and I moved + into the south room together, and gave Sallie and the children my room. It is a large + room, and it would be such a comfort to Sallie to have you stay with her and help her + at night with the children. She doesn't really feel able to get up with them at all. + Then Dilsie could sleep in the cabin, as she ought to on account of the jimsonweed in + her phthisic pipe. It would be such a beautiful influence in your lonely life, + Evelina, to have the children to care for."</p> + <p>I wondered if Cousin Martha had ever heard that galatea bunch indulge in such + heartfelt oaths as had followed that train down the track last night!</p> + <p>"It would be lovely," I answered—and the reply was not all insincerity, as I + thought of the darkness of that long night, <span class="pagenum"><a name="page53" + id="page53"></a>{53}</span> and the Bunch's offer of a place at her sturdy little + back "next the wall."</p> + <p>"But I will be so busy with my own work, Cousin Martha, that I am afraid I + couldn't do justice to the situation and repay the children and Sallie for crowding + them."</p> + <p>"Why, you couldn't crowd us, Evelina, honey," came in Sallie's rich voice, as she + sailed into the room, trailing the Pup and the Kit at her skirts and flying lavender + ribbons at loose ends. "We've come to help you move over right away."</p> + <p>"Well, not while I have a voice in the affairs of my own husband's niece! How are + you, Evelina, and are you crazy, Sallie Carruthers?" came in a deep raven croak of a + voice that sounded as if it had harked partly from the tomb, as Aunt Augusta Shelby + stood in the doorway, with reproof on her lips and sternness on her brow. "Peter and + I will have Evelina move down immediately with us. James Hardin has <span + class="pagenum"><a name="page54" id="page54"></a>{54}</span> as much in the way of a + family as he can very well stand up under now."</p> + <p>And as she spoke, Aunt Augusta glared at Sallie with such ferocity that even + Sallie's sunshiny presence was slightly dimmed.</p> + <p>"Are you ready, Evelina? Peter will send the surrey for your baggage," she + continued, and for a moment I quailed, for Aunt Augusta's determination of mind is + always formidable, but I summoned my woman's wit and man's courage, and answered + quickly before she fairly snatched me from under my own roof-tree.</p> + <p>"That would be lovely, Aunt Augusta, and how are you?" I answered and asked in the + same breath, as I drew near enough to her to receive a business-like peck on my + cheek. "I expect to have you and Uncle Peter to look after me a lot, but somehow I + feel that Father would have liked—liked for me to live here and keep my + home—his home—open. Some way will arrange itself. I haven't talked with + Cousin<span class="pagenum"><a name="page55" id="page55"></a>{55}</span> James yet," + I felt white feathers sprouting all over me, as I thus invoked the masculine + dominance I had come to lay.</p> + <p>"You'll have to settle that matter with your Uncle Peter, then, for, following his + dictates of which I did not approve, I have done our duty by the orphan. Now, + Evelina, let me say in my own person, that I thoroughly approve of your doing just as + you plan." And as she uttered this heresy, she looked so straight and militant and + altogether commanding, that both Cousin Martha and Sallie quailed. I felt elated, as + if my soul were about to get sight of a kindred personality. Or rather a + soul-relative of yours, Jane.</p> + <p>"Oh, she would be so lonely, Mrs. Shelby, and she—" Sallie was venturing to + say with trepidation, when Aunt Augusta cut her short without ceremony.</p> + <p>"Lonely, nonsense! Such a busy woman as I now feel sure Evelina is going to be, + will not have time to be lonely. I wish<span class="pagenum"><a name="page56" + id="page56"></a>{56}</span> I could stay and talk with you further about your plans, + but I must hurry back and straighten out Peter's mind on that question of the town + water-supply that is to come up in the meeting of the City Council to-day. He let it + be presented all wrong last time, and they got things so muddled that it was voted on + incorrectly. I will have to write it out for him so he can explain it to them. I will + need you in many ways to help me help Peter be Mayor of Glendale, Evelina. I am + wearied after ten years of the strain of his office. I shall call on you for + assistance often in the most important matters," with which promise, that sounded + like a threat, she proceeded to march down the front path, almost stepping on + Henrietta, who was coming up the same path, with almost the same emphasis. There was + some sort of an explosion, and I hope the kind of words I heard hurled after the + train were not used.</p> + <p>"That old black crow is a-going to git <span class="pagenum"><a name="page57" + id="page57"></a>{57}</span> in trouble with me some day, Marfy," Henrietta remarked, + as she settled herself on the arm of Cousin Martha's chair, after bestowing a smudgy + kiss on the little white curl that wrapped around one of the dear old lady's pink + little ears. I had felt that way about Cousin Martha myself at the Bunch's age, and + we exchanged a sympathetic smile on the subject.</p> + <p>"Well, what <i>are</i> you going to do, Evelina?" asked Sallie, and she turned + such a young, helpless, wondering face up to me from the center of her cluster of + babies, that my heart almost failed me at the idea of pouring what seemed to me at + that moment the poison of modernity into the calm waters of her and Cousin Martha's + primitive placidity.</p> + <p>"You'll have to live some place where there is a man," she continued, with worried + conviction.</p> + <p>My time had come, and the fight was on. Oh, Jane!<span class="pagenum"><a + name="page58" id="page58"></a>{58}</span></p> + <p>"I don't believe I really feel that way about it," I began in the gentlest of + manners, and slowly, so as to feel my way. "You see, Sallie dear, and dearest Cousin + Martha, I have had to be out in the world so much—alone, that I am—used + to it. I—I haven't had a man's protection for so long that I don't need it, as + I would if I were like you two blessed sheltered women."</p> + <p>"I know it has been hard, dear," said Cousin Martha gently looking her sympathy at + my lorn state, over her glasses.</p> + <p>"I don't see how you have stood it at all," said Sallie, about to dissolve in + tears. "The love and protection and sympathy of a man are the only things in life + worth anything to a woman. Since my loss I don't know what I would have done without + Cousin James. You must come into his kind care, Evelina."</p> + <p>"I must learn to endure loneliness," I answered sadly, about to begin to gulp from + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page59" id="page59"></a>{59}</span> force of example, + and the pressure of long hereditary influence.</p> + <p>I'm glad that I did not dissolve, however, before what followed happened, for in + the twinkling of two bare feet I was smothered in the embrace of Henrietta, who in + her rush brought either the Pup or the Kit, I can't tell which yet, along to help her + enfold me.</p> + <p>"I'll come stay with you forever, and we don't need no men! Don't like 'em no-how!" + she was exclaiming down my back, when a drawl from the doorway made us all turn in + that direction.</p> + <p>"Why, Henrietta, my own, can it be you who utter such cruel sentiments in my + absence?" and Polk Hayes lounged into the room, with the same daring listlessness + that he had used in trying to hold me in his arms out on the porch the night I had + said good-by to him and Glendale, four years ago.</p> + <p>Henrietta's chubby little body gave a <span class="pagenum"><a name="page60" + id="page60"></a>{60}</span> wriggle of delight, and much sentiment beamed in her + rugged, small face, as she answered him with enthusiasm, though not stopping to couch + her reply in exactly complimentary terms.</p> + <p>"You don't count, Pokie," she exclaimed, as she made a good-natured face at + him.</p> + <p>"That's what Evelina said four years ago—and she has proved it," he answered + her, looking at me just exactly as if he had never left off doing it since that last + dance.</p> + <p>"How lovely to find you in the same exuberant spirits in which I left you, Polk, + dear," I exclaimed, as I got up to go and shake hands with him, as he had sunk into + the most comfortable chair in the room, without troubling to bestow that attention + upon me.</p> + <p>Some men's hearts beat with such a strong rhythm that every feminine heart which + comes within hearing distance immediately catches step, and goes to waltzing. It has + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page61" id="page61"></a>{61}</span> been four years + since mine swung around against his, at that dance, but I'm glad Cousin Martha was + there, and interrupted, us enough to make me drag my eyes from his, as he looked up + and I looked down.</p> + <p>"Please help us to persuade Evelina to come and live with James and me, Polk, + dear," she said, glancing at him with the deepest confidence and affection in her + eyes. There is no age-limit to Polk's victims, and Cousin Martha had always adored + him.</p> + <p>"All women do, Evelina, why not you—live with James?" he asked, and I + thought I detected a mocking flicker in his big, hazel, dangerous eyes.</p> + <p>"If I ever need protection it will be James—and Cousin Martha I will run to + for it—but I never will," I answered him, very simply, with not a trace of the + defiance I was fairly flinging at him in either my voice or manner.</p> + <p>Paris and London and New York are <span class="pagenum"><a name="page62" + id="page62"></a>{62}</span> nice safe places to live in, in comparison with Glendale, + Tennessee, in some respects. I wonder why I hadn't been more scared than I was last + night, as the train whirled me down into proximity to Polk Hayes. But then I had had + four years of forgetting him stored up as a bulwark.</p> + <p>"But what <i>are</i> you going to do, Evelina?" Sallie again began to question, + with positive alarm in her voice, and I saw that it was time for me to produce some + sort of a protector then and there—or capitulate.</p> + <p>And I record the fact that I wanted to go home with Sallie and Cousin Martha and + the babies and—and live under the roof of the Mossback forever. All that + citizenship-feeling I had got poured into me from Jane and had tried on Dickie, good + old Dickie, had spilled out of me at the first encounter with Polk.</p> + <p>There is a great big hunt going on in this world, and women are the ones only a + short lap ahead. Can we turn and make <span class="pagenum"><a name="page63" + id="page63"></a>{63}</span> good the fight—or won't we be torn to death? It has + come to this it seems: women must either be weak, and cling so close to man that she + can't be struck, keep entirely out of the range of his fists and arms,—or + develop biceps equal to his. Jane ought to have had me in training longer, for I'm + discovering that I'm weak—of biceps.</p> + <p>"Are you coming—are you coming to live with us, Evelina? Are you coming? + Answer!" questioned the small Henrietta, as she stood commandingly in front of + me.</p> + <p>"Please, Evelina," came in a coax from Sallie, while the Kit crawled over and + caught at my skirt as Cousin Martha raised her eyes to mine, with a gentle echo of + the combined wooings.</p> + <p>Then suddenly into Polk's eyes flamed still another demand, that something told me + I would have to answer later. I had capitulated and closed this book forever when the + deliverance came.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page64" + id="page64"></a>{64}</span></p> + <p>Jasper, a little older, but as black and pompous as ever, stood in the doorway, + and a portly figure, with yellow, shining face, on the step behind him.</p> + <p>"Why, Uncle Jasper, how did you know I was here?" I exclaimed, as I fairly ran to + hold out my hand to him.</p> + <p>"Mas' James sont me word last night, and I woulder been here by daybreak, Missie, + 'cept I had to hunt dis yere suitable woman to bring along with me. Make your + 'beesence to Miss Evelina, Lucy Petunia," he commanded.</p> + <p>"You needn't to bother to show her anything, child," he continued calmly, "I'll + learn her all she needs to know to suit us. Then, if in a week she have shown + suitable ability to please us both, my word is out to marry her next Sunday night. + Ain't that the understanding, Tuny?" he this time demanded.</p> + <p>"Yes, sir," answered the Petunia with <span class="pagenum"><a name="page65" + id="page65"></a>{65}</span> radiant but modest hope shining from her comely yellow + face.</p> + <p>"I've kept everything ready for you child, since Old Mas' died, and I ain't never + stayed offen the place a week at a time—I was just visiting out Petunia's way + when I heard you'd come, and gittin' a wife to tend to us and back to you quick was + the only thing that concerned me. Now, we can all settle down comf'table, while I has + Tuny knock up some dinner, a company one I hopes, if Miss Martha and the rest will + stay with us." Jasper's manner is an exact copy of my Father's courtly grace, done in + sepia, and my eyes misted for a second, as I reciprocated his invitation, taking + acceptance for granted.</p> + <p>"Of course they will stay, Uncle Jasper."</p> + <p>"Well," remarked Sallie with a gasp, "you've gone to housekeeping in two minutes, + Evelina."</p> + <p>"Jasper has always been a very forceful personality," said Cousin Martha.<span + class="pagenum"><a name="page66" id="page66"></a>{66}</span> "He managed everything + for your Father at the last, Evelina, and I don't know how the whole town would have + been easy about the Colonel unless they had trusted Jasper."</p> + <p>"I like the terms on which he takes unto himself a wife," drawled Polk, as he + lighted a cigarette without looking at me. "Good for Jasper!"</p> + <p>"However, it does take a 'forceful personality' to capture a 'suitable woman' in + that manner," I answered with just as much unconcern, and then we both roared, while + even Sallie in all her anxiety joined in.</p> + <p>The commanding, black old man, and the happy-faced, plump, little yellow woman, + had saved one situation—and forced another, perhaps?</p> + <p>Jasper's home-coming dinner party was a large and successful one. Two of the dear + little old Horton lady-cousins got so impatient at Cousin Martha's not bringing me + back to Widegables that they came tee<span class="pagenum"><a name="page67" + id="page67"></a>{67}</span> tering over to see about it, heavily accompanied by Mrs. + Hargrove, whose son had been Cousin James's best friend at the University of + Virginia, and died and left her to him since I had been at college. The ponderosity + of her mind was only equaled by that of her body. I must say Petunia made a hit with + the dear old soul, by the seasoning of her chicken gravy.</p> + <p>Sallie wanted to send the children home, but Jasper wouldn't let her, and + altogether we had eleven at the table.</p> + <p>Polk maneuvered for a seat at the head of my festive board, with a spark of the + devil in his eyes, but Jasper's sense of the proprieties did not fail me, and he + seated Cousin Martha in Father's chair, with great ceremony.</p> + <p>And as I looked down the long table, bright with all the old silver Jasper had had + time to polish, gay with roses from my garden, that he had coaxed Henrietta into + gathering for him, which nodded back and <span class="pagenum"><a name="page68" + id="page68"></a>{68}</span> forth with the bubbling babies, suddenly my heart filled + to the very brim with love of it all—and for mine own people.</p> + <p>But, just as suddenly, a vision came into my mind of the long table across the + road at Widegables, with the Mossback seated at one end with only two or three of his + charges stretched along the empty sides to keep him company.</p> + <p>I wanted him to be here with us! I wanted him badly, and I went to get him. I + excused myself suddenly, telling them all just why. I didn't look at Polk, but Cousin + Martha's face was lovely, as she told me to run quickly.</p> + <p>I found him on the front porch, smoking his pipe alone, while the two little + relics, whom he had had left to dine with him, were taking their two respective naps. + Our dinner was late on account of the initiation of Petunia, and he had finished + before we began.</p> + <p>"I stole most of your family to-day,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="page69" + id="page69"></a>{69}</span> I plunged headlong into my errand, "but I want you, too, + most of all."</p> + <p>"You've got me, even if you do prefer to keep me across the road from you," he + answered, with the most solemn expression on his face, but with a crinkle of a smile + in the corners of his deep eyes.</p> + <p>I can't remember when I didn't look with eagerness for that crinkle in his eyes, + even when I was a child and he what I at that time considered a most glorious grownup + individual, though he must have been the most helpless hobbledehoy that ever + existed.</p> + <p>"You don't need another vine," I answered mutinously.</p> + <p>"You know I want you, but Jasper's is the privilege of looking after you," he + answered calmly. "I want you to be happy, Evelina," and I knew as I raised my eyes to + his that I could consider myself settled in my own home.</p> + <p>"Well, then, come and have dinner num<span class="pagenum"><a name="page70" + id="page70"></a>{70}</span> ber two with me," I answered with a laugh that covered a + little happy sigh that rose from my heart at the look in the kind eyes bent on + mine.</p> + <p>I felt, Jane, you would have approved of that look! It was so human to human.</p> + <p>He came over with me, and that was one jolly party in the old dining-room. They + all stayed until almost sunset, and almost everybody in town dropped in during the + afternoon to welcome me home, and ask me where I was going to live. Jasper and + Petunia hovering in the background, the tea-tray out on the porch set with the silver + and damask all of them knew of old, and the appearance of having been installed with + the full approval of Cousin Martha and James and the rest of the family, stopped the + questions on their lips, and they spent the afternoon much enlivened but slightly + puzzled.</p> + <p>Time doesn't do much to people in a place like the Harpeth Valley, that is out of + the stream of modern progress; and <span class="pagenum"><a name="page71" + id="page71"></a>{71}</span> most of my friends seem to have just been sitting still, + rocking their lives along in the greatest ease and comfort.</p> + <p>Still, Mamie Hall has three more kiddies, which, added to the four she had when I + left, makes a slightly high, if charming, set of stair-steps. Mamie also looks + decidedly worn, though pathetically sweet. Ned was with her, and as fresh as any one + of the buds. Maternity often wilts women, but paternity is apt to make men bloom with + the importance of it. Ned showed off the bunch as if he had produced them all, while + Mamie only smiled like an angel in the background.</p> + <p>A slight bit of temper rose in a flush to my cheeks, as I watched Caroline + Lellyett sit on the steps and feed cake to one twin and two stair-steps with as much + hunger in her eyes for them as there was in theirs for the cake. Lee Greenfield is + the responsible party in this case, and she has been loving him hopelessly for + fifteen years. Lots of <span class="pagenum"><a name="page72" + id="page72"></a>{72}</span> other folks wanted to marry her, but Lee has pinned her + in the psychic spot and is watching her flutter.</p> + <p>Polk departed in the trail of Nell Kirkland's fluffy muslin skirts, smoldering + dangerously, I felt. Nell has grown up into a most lovely individual, and I felt + uneasy about her under Folk's ministrations. Her eyes follow him rather persistently. + On the whole, I am glad Jane committed me to this woman's cause. I'll have to begin + to exercise the biceps of Nell's heart—as soon as I get some strength into my + own.</p> + <p>And after they had all gone, I sat for an hour out on the front steps of my big, + empty old house, and enjoyed my own loneliness, if it could be called enjoying. I + could hear the Petunia's happy giggle, answering Jasper's guttural pleasantries, out + on the cabin porch behind the row of lilac bushes. I do hope that Petunia gets much + and the right sort of courting during this week that Jasper has allowed her!<span + class="pagenum"><a name="page73" id="page73"></a>{73}</span></p> + <p>With the last rays of the sun, I had found time to read a long, dear letter from + Richard Hall, and though I had transferred it from my pocket to my desk, while I + dressed for the afternoon, its crackle was still in my mind. I wondered what it all + meant, this dissatisfied longing that human beings send out across time and distance, + one to and for another.</p> + <p>If a woman's heart were really like a great big golden chalice, full to the brim + with the kind of love she is taught God wants her to have in it for all mankind, both + men and women, why shouldn't she offer drafts of it to every one who is thirsty, + brothers as well as sisters? I wonder how that would solve Jane's problem of + emotional equality! I do love Dicky—and—and I do love Polk—with an + inclination to dodge. Now, if there were enough of the right sort of love in me, I + ought to be able to get them to see it, and drink it for their comforting, and have + no trouble at all with <span class="pagenum"><a name="page74" + id="page74"></a>{74}</span> them about their wanting to seize the cup, drain all the + love there is in it, shut it away from the rest of the world—and then neglect + it.</p> + <p>Yes, why can't I love Polk as I love you, Jane, and have him enjoy it? Yes, + why?</p> + <p>I think if I had Dicky off to myself for a long time, and very gently led him up + to the question of loving him hard in this new way, he might be induced to sip out of + the cup just to see if he liked it—and it might be just what he craved, for the + time being; but I doubt it. He would storm and bluster at the idea.</p> + <p>Of course the Crag would let a woman love him in any old kind of new or + experimental way she wanted to, if it made her happy. He would take her cup of + tenderness and drink it as if it were sacramental wine, on his knees. But he doesn't + count. He has to be man to so many people that there is danger of his becoming a kind + of superman. Think of the old Mossback be<span class="pagenum"><a name="page75" + id="page75"></a>{75}</span> ing a progressive thing like that! I laughed out loud at + the idea—but the echo was dismal.</p> + <p>I wonder if Sallie will marry him.</p> + <p>And as I sat and thought and puzzled, the moonlight got richer and more glowing, + and it wooed open the throats of the thousand little honeysuckle blossoms, clinging + to the vine on the trellis, until they poured out a perfect symphony of perfume to + mingle in a hallelujah from the lilacs and roses that ascended to the very stars + themselves.</p> + <p>I had dropped my head on my arms, and let my eyes go roaming out to the dim hills + that banked against the radiant sky, when somebody seated himself beside me, and a + whiff of tobacco blew across my face, sweet with having joined in the honeysuckle + chorus. Nobody said a word for a long time, and then I looked up and laughed into the + deep, gray eyes looking tenderly down into mine. With a thrill I realized that <span + class="pagenum"><a name="page76" id="page76"></a>{76}</span> there was one man in the + world I could offer the chalice to and <i>trust</i> him to + drink—moderately.</p> + <p>"Jamie," I said in a voice as young as it used to be when I trailed at his heels, + "thank you for letting me be contrary and independent and puzzling. I have been busy + adventuring with life, in queer places and with people not like—like us. Now I + want a little of real living and to think—and feel. May I?"</p> + <p>"You may, dear," the Crag answered in a big comfortable voice, that was a + benediction in itself. "I understood last night when you told me that you wanted to + come home alone. I can trust Jasper with you, and I am going to sleep down at the + lodge room, right across the road here, so I can hear you if you even think out loud. + No one shall worry you about it any more. Now will you promise to be happy?"</p> + <p>I could not answer him, I was so full of a deepness of peace. I just laid my cheek + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page77" id="page77"></a>{77}</span> against the sleeve + of his queer old gray coat, to show him what I could not say.</p> + <p>He let me do it, and went on smoking without noticing me.</p> + <p>Then, after a little while, he began to tell me all about Father and his death, + that had come so suddenly while he seemed as well as ever, and how he had worried + about my probably not wanting to be left to him, and that he wanted me to feel + independent, but to please let him do all that I would to help me, and not to feel + that I was alone with nobody to love me. That he was always there, and would be + forever and ever.</p> + <p>And he did stay so late that Jasper had to send him home!</p> + <p>There is such a thing as a man's being a father and mother and grown sister and + brother and a college-chum and a preacher of the Gospel and a family physician to a + woman—with no possibility of being her husband either. She wouldn't so drag + such a man from his high estate as to think <span class="pagenum"><a name="page78" + id="page78"></a>{78}</span> of such a worldly relation in connection with him.</p> + <p>I have certainly collected some phenomena in the reaction of a woman's heart this + day. Did you choose me wisely for these experiments, Jane?</p> + <p>It takes a woman of nerve to go to housekeeping in a tinder-box, when she isn't + sure she even knows what flint is when she sees it, and might strike out a spark + without intending it at all.</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page79" id="page79"></a>{79}</span></p> + <h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> + <p>SWEETER WHEN TAMED?</p> + <p>I wonder if men ever melt suddenly into little boys, and try to squirm and run + back to hide their heads in their mothers' skirts. It is an open secret that starchy, + modern women often long to wilt back into droopy musk roses, that climb over gates + and things, but they don't let each other. When I feel myself getting soluble, I + write it out to Jane and I get a bracing cold wave of a letter in reply. The one this + morning was on the subject of love, or, at least, that is what Jane would have said + it was on. She wrote:</p> + <p>Yes, it is gratifying to know that Mary Elizabeth is so happily engaged to the + young <span class="pagenum"><a name="page80" id="page80"></a>{80}</span> teacher who + has been in her work with her. She writes that she was encouraged by our resolution, + at last to be her best self while in his presence as she had not had the courage to + do last year. You see, Evelina? And also, you are right in your conclusion that there + is not enough abstract love in this world of brotherhood and sisterhood; that the + doctrine of divine love calls us to give more and more of it. We cannot give too + much! But also, considerations for the advancement of the world call for experiments + by the more illumined women along more definite and concrete lines. How old is this + Mr. Hayes, on whom you have chosen to note the reactions of sisterly affection? Are + you sure that he is not a fit subject for your consideration in the matter of a + choice for a mate?</p> + <p>Remember to be as frank in your expressions of regard for him as he is in his of + regard for you. That is the crux of the whole matter. Be frank, be courageous! Let a + man look freely into your heart, and thus encouraged he will open his to you. Then + you will both have an opportunity to judge each other with <span class="pagenum"><a + name="page81" id="page81"></a>{81}</span> reference to a life-long union. It is the + only way; and remember what rests on you in this matter. The destinies of many women + are involved.</p> + <hr style='width: 45%;' /> + <p>I don't say this in a spirit of levity, but I do wish Polk Hayes and Jane Mathers + were out on the front steps in the moonlight, after a good supper that has made him + comfortable, Jane to be attired in something soft that would float against his arm, + whether she wanted it to or not! I believe it would be good for Jane, and make things + easier for me. Be frank with Polk as to how much he asphyxiates me? I know better + than to blow out the gas like that! No, Jane!</p> + <p>But what is a woman going to do when she is young and hearty and husky, with the + blood running through her veins at a two-forty rate, when her orchard is in bloom, + the mocking-birds are singing the night through, and she is not really in love with + anybody?<span class="pagenum"><a name="page82" id="page82"></a>{82}</span> The + loneliness does fill her heart full of the solution of love, and she has got to pour + off some of it into somebody's life. There is plenty of me to be both abstract and + concrete, at the same time, and I thought of Uncle Peter.</p> + <p>Uncle Peter Is the most explosive and crusty person that ever happened in + Glendale, and it takes all of Aunt Augusta's energy, common-sense and force of + character to keep him and the two chips he carries on his shoulders, as a defiance to + the world in general, from being in a constant state of combustion. He has been + ostensibly the Mayor of Glendale for twenty-five years, and Aunt Augusta has done the + work of the office very well indeed, while he has blown up things in general with + great energy. He couldn't draw a long breath without her, but of course he doesn't + realize it. He thinks he is in a constant feud with her and her sex. His ideas on the + woman question are so terrific that I have always run from <span class="pagenum"><a + name="page83" id="page83"></a>{83}</span> them, but I concluded that it would be a + good thing for me to liquefy some of my vague humanitarianism, and help Aunt Augusta + with him, while she wrestles with the City Council on the water question. Anyway, I + have always had a guarded fondness for the old chap.</p> + <p>I chose a time when I knew Aunt Augusta had to be busy with his report of the + disastrous concrete paving trade the whole town had been sold out on, and I lay in + wait to capture him and the chips. This morning I waited behind the old purple lilac + at the gate, which immediately got into the game by sweeping its purple-plumed arms + all around me, so that not a tag of my dimity alarmed him as he came slowly down the + street.</p> + <p>"Uncle Peter," I said, as I stepped out in front of him suddenly, "please, Uncle + Peter, won't you come in and talk to me?"</p> + <p>"Hey? Evelina?"</p> + <p>"Yes, Uncle Peter, it's Evelina," and<span class="pagenum"><a name="page84" + id="page84"></a>{84}</span> I hesitated with terror at the snap in his dear old eyes, + back under their white brows. Then I let my eyes uncover my heart full of the elixir + I had prepared for him, and offered him as much as he could drink.</p> + <p>"I'm lonely," I said, with a little catch in my voice.</p> + <p>"Lonely—hey?" he grumbled, but his feet hesitated opposite my gate.</p> + <p>In about two and a half minutes I had him seated in a cushioned rocker on the + south side of the porch. Jasper had given us both a mint julep, and Uncle Peter was + much Jess thirsty than he had been for a long time. Aunt Augusta is as temperate in + all things as a steel ramrod.</p> + <p>"You see, Uncle Peter, I needed you so that I just had to kidnap you," I said to + him, as he wiped his lips with a pocket-handkerchief, as stiffly starched as was his + wife herself.</p> + <p>"Why didn't you go over and live in James's hennery—live with + James—<span class="pagenum"><a name="page85" id="page85"></a>{85}</span>hey?" + he snapped, with the precision of a pistol cap.</p> + <p>To be just, I suppose Aunt Augusta's adamant disposition accounts, to some extent, + for Uncle Peter's explosive way of thinking and speaking. A husband would have to + knock Aunt Augusta's nature down to make any impression whatever on it. Uncle Peter + always has the air of firing an idea and then ducking his head to avoid the return + shot.</p> + <p>"His house is so full, and I need a lot of space to carry on my work," I answered + him, with the words I have used so often in the last two weeks that they start to + come when the Petunia asks me if I want waffles or batter-cakes for supper.</p> + <p>"Well, Sallie Carruthers will get him, and then there'll be a dozen more to run + the measure over—children—hey? All girls! A woman like Sallie would not + be content with producing less than a dozen of her kind—hey?"<span + class="pagenum"><a name="page86" id="page86"></a>{86}</span></p> + <p>His chuckle was so contagious that I couldn't help but join him, though I didn't + like it so very much. But why shouldn't I? Sallie is such a gorgeous woman that a + dozen of her in the next generation will be of value to the State. Still, I didn't + like it. I didn't enjoy thinking of Cousin James as so serving his country.</p> + <p>"Carruthers left her to James—he'll have to take care of her. Henry turned + toes in good time. Piled rotten old business and big family on to James's shoulders, + and then died—good time—hey? Get a woman on your hands, only thing to do + is to marry or kill her. Poor James—hey?" He peered at me with a twinkle in his + eyes that demanded assent from me.</p> + <p>"Why, Uncle Peter, I don't know that Sallie has any such idea. She grieves + dreadfully over Mr. Carruthers, and I don't believe she would think of marrying + again," I answered, trying to put enough warmth in my defense to convince + myself.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page87" id="page87"></a>{87}</span></p> + <p>"Most women are nothing but gourd-vines, grow all over a corn-stalk, kill it, + produce gourds until it frosts, and begin all over again in the next generation. + James has to do the hoeing around Sallie's roots, and feed her. Might as well marry + her—hey?"</p> + <p>"Does—does Cousin James have to support Sallie and the children, Uncle + Peter?" I asked, coming with reluctance down to the rock-bed of the discussion.</p> + <p>"Thinks he does, and it serves him right—serves him right for starting out + to run a widow-ranch in the first place; it's like making a collection of old shoes. + He let Henry Carruthers persuade him to mortgage everything and buy land on the river + for the car-shops of the new railroad, which just fooled the town out of a hundred + thousand dollars, and is going by on the other side of the river with the shops up at + Bolivar. If James didn't get all the lawing in Alton County they would all starve to + death—which would be hard on the constitution of <span class="pagenum"><a + name="page88" id="page88"></a>{88}</span> old lady Hargrove, and her two + hundred-weight."</p> + <p>"Oh, has Cousin James really lost all of his fortune?" I asked, and I was + surprised at the amount of sympathetic dismay that rose in me at the information.</p> + <p>"Everything but what he carries around under that old gray hat of his—not so + bad a fortune, at that!—hey?"</p> + <p>I feel I am going to love Uncle Peter for the way he disdainfully admires Cousin + James.</p> + <p>"And—and all of his—his guests are really dependent on him?" I asked + again, as the stupendous fact filtered into my mind.</p> + <p>"All the flock, all the flock," answered Uncle Peter, with what seemed, under the + circumstances, a heartless chuckle. "They each one have little dabs of property, + about as big as a handful of chicken feed, and as they have each one given it all to + James to manage, they expect an income in return—and get it—all they ask + for. A lot of use<span class="pagenum"><a name="page89" id="page89"></a>{89}</span> + less old live stock—all but Sallie, and she's worse—worse, hey?"</p> + <p>I agreed with his question—but I didn't say so.</p> + <p>"Glad your money is safe in Public Town Bonds and City Securities, Evelina. If + James could, he might lose it, and you'd have to move over. It would then be nip and + tuck between you and Sallie which got James—nip and tuck—hey?"</p> + <p>"Oh, Uncle Peter!" I exclaimed with positive horror that was flavored with a large + dash of indignation.</p> + <p>"Well, yes, a race between a widow and a girl for a man is about like one between + a young duck and a spring chicken, across a mill-pond—girl and chicken + lose—hey? But let Sallie have him, since you don't need him. I've got to go + home and listen to Augusta talk about my business, that she knows nothing in the + world about, or I won't be ready for town meeting this afternoon. Women are all + fools,—hey?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="page90" + id="page90"></a>{90}</span></p> + <p>"Will you come again, Uncle Peter?" I asked eagerly. I had set out to offer Uncle + Peter a cup of niecely affection, and I had got a good, stiff bracer to arouse me in + return.</p> + <p>"I will, whenever I can escape Augusta," he answered, and there was such a kindly + crackle in his voice that I felt that he had wanted and needed what I had offered + him. "I'll drop in often and analyze the annals of the town with you. Glad to have + you home, child, good young blood to stir me up—hey?"</p> + <p>And as I sat and watched the Mayor go saunteringly down the street, with his + crustiness carried like a child on his shoulder, which it delighted him to have + knocked off, so that he could philosophize in the restoring of it to its position, + suddenly a realization of the relation of Glendale to the world in general was forced + upon me—and I quailed.</p> + <p>Glendale is like a dozen other small <span class="pagenum"><a name="page91" + id="page91"></a>{91}</span> towns in the Harpeth Valley; they are all drowsy + princesses who have just waked up enough to be wondering what did it. The tentative + kiss has not yet disclosed the presence of the Prince of Revolution, and they are + likely to doze for another century or two. I think I had better go back into the wide + world and let them sleep on. One live member is likely to irritate the repose of the + whole body.</p> + <p>Their faint stirrings of progress are pathetic.</p> + <p>They have an electric plant, but, as I have noted before, the lights therefrom + show a strong trace of their pine-knot heredity, and go out on all important + occasions, whether of festivity or tragedy. Kerosene lamps have to be kept filled and + cleaned if a baby or a revival or a lawn festival is expected.</p> + <p>They have a lovely, wide concrete pavement in front of six of the stores around + the public square, but no two stretches of <span class="pagenum"><a name="page92" + id="page92"></a>{92}</span> the improvement join each other, and it makes a shopping + progression around the town somewhat dangerous, on account of the sudden change of + grade of the sidewalk, about every sixty feet. Aunt Augusta wanted Uncle Peter to + introduce a bill in the City Council forcing all of the property owners on the Square + to put down the pavement in front of their houses, at small payments per annum, the + town assuming the contract at six per cent. Uncle Peter refused, because he said that + he felt a smooth walk around the Square would call out what he called "a dimity + parade" every afternoon.</p> + <p>They have a water system that is supplied by so much mud from the river that it + often happens that the town has to go unwashed for a week, while the pipes are + cleaned out. There is a wonderful spring that could be used, with a pump to supply + the town, Aunt Augusta says.</p> + <p>The City Council tied up the town for a <span class="pagenum"><a name="page93" + id="page93"></a>{93}</span> hundred thousand dollars' subscription to the new + railroad, and failed to tie the shops down in the contract. They are to be built in + Bolivar. A great many of the rich men have lost a lot of money thereby, Cousin James + the most of all, and everybody is sitting up in bed blinking.</p> + <p>There are still worse things happening in the emotional realm of Glendale.</p> + <p>Lee Greenfield has been in the state of going to ask Caroline Lellyett to marry + him for fifteen years, and has never done it. Caroline has been beautiful all her + life, but she is getting so thin and faded at thirty that she is a tragedy. Lee goes + to see her twice a week, and on Sunday afternoon takes her out in his new and rakish + runabout, that is as modern as his behavior is obsolete. Caroline knows no better, + and stands it with sublime patience and lack of character. That is a situation I + won't be able to keep my hands off of much longer.</p> + <p>Ned Hall's wife has seven children with <span class="pagenum"><a name="page94" + id="page94"></a>{94}</span> the oldest one not twelve, and she looks fifty. Ned goes + to all the dances at the Glendale Hotel dining-room and looks thirty. He dresses + beautifully and Nell and all the girls like to dance with him. Just ordinary torture + wouldn't do for him.</p> + <p>Polk Hayes wouldn't be allowed to run loose in London society.</p> + <p>Sallie Carruthers is a great big husky woman, with three children that she is + responsible for having had. She and her family must consume tons of green groceries + every month and a perfectly innocent man pays for them.</p> + <p>Mrs. Dodd, the carpenter-and-contractor's wife is a Boston woman who came down + here—Before I could write all about that Boston girl so that Jane could + understand perfectly the situation Polk came around from the side street and seated + himself on the railing of the porch so near the arm of my chair that I couldn't rock + without inconveniencing him.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page95" + id="page95"></a>{95}</span></p> + <p>I am glad he found me in the mood I was in and I am glad to record the + strong-minded—it came near being the strong-armed—contest in which we + indulged.</p> + <p>"Me for a woman that has a lot of spirit—she is so much sweeter when tamed, + Evelina," was one of the gentle remarks with which he precipitated the riot. "I think + it has been spunkily fascinating of you to come and live by yourself in this old + barn. It keeps me awake nights just to think of you over here—alone. How long + is the torture to go on?"</p> + <p>Jane, I tried, but if I had frankly and courageously shown Polk Hayes what was in + my heart for him at that moment, I couldn't have answered for the results.</p> + <p>From the time I was eighteen until I was twenty the same sort of assault and + battery had been handed out to me from him. He had beaten me with his love. He didn't + want me—he doesn't want any woman except so long as he is uncertain that he can + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page96" id="page96"></a>{96}</span> get her. Just + because I had been firm with him when even a child and denied him, he has been + merciless. And now that I am a woman and armed for the combat, it will be to the + death.</p> + <p>Shall I double and take refuge in a labyrinth of subterfuge or turn and fight? So + I temporized to-day.</p> + <p>"It is lonely—but not quite 'torture' to me, with the family so close, + across the street," I answered him, and I went on whipping the lace on a piece of + fluff I am making, to discipline myself because I loathe a needle so. "Please don't + you worry over me, dear." I raised my eyes to his and I tried the common citizenship + look. It must have carried a little way for he flushed, the first time I ever saw him + do it, and his hand with the cigarette in it shook.</p> + <p>"Evelina, are you real or a—farce?" he asked, after a few minutes of + peace.</p> + <p>"I'm trying to be real, Polk," I answered, and this time I raised my eyes with + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page97" id="page97"></a>{97}</span> perfect frankness. + "If you could define a real woman, Polk, in what terms would you express her?" I + asked him straight out from the shoulder.</p> + <p>"Hell fire and a hallelujah chorus, if she's beautiful," he answered me + promptly.</p> + <p>I laughed. I thought it was best under the circumstances.</p> + <p>"I'll tell you, Evelina," he continued, stealthily. "A man just can't generalize + the creatures. Apparently they are craving nothing so much as emotional excitement + and when you offer it to them they want to go to housekeeping with it. Love is a + business with them and not an art."</p> + <p>"Would you like to try a genuine friendship with one. Polk?" I asked, and again + struck from the shoulder—with my eyes.</p> + <p>"Help! Not if you mean yourself, beautiful," he answered promptly and with fervor. + "I wouldn't trust myself with you one minute off-guard like that."</p> + <p>"You could safely."<span class="pagenum"><a name="page98" + id="page98"></a>{98}</span></p> + <p>"But I won't!"</p> + <p>"Will you try?"</p> + <p>"No!"</p> + <p>"Will you go over and sit in that chair while I tell you something calmly, + quietly, and seriously? It'll give you a new sensation and maybe it will be good for + you." I looked him straight in the face and the battle of our eyes was something + terrific. I had made up my mind to have it out with him then and there. There was + nothing else to do. I would be frank and courageous and true to my vow—and + accept the consequences.</p> + <p>He slid along the railing of the porch and down into the chair in almost a daze of + bewilderment.</p> + <p>"Polk," I began, concealing a gulp of terror, "I love you more than I can + possibly—"</p> + + <div class="figcenter" style="width: 258px;"><a id="three" name="three"></a> + <img src="images/image03.jpg" width="350" height="258" + alt=""Say, Polk, I let the Pup git hung by her apron to the wheel of your car."" + title=""Say, Polk, I let the Pup git hung by her apron to the wheel of your car."" /> + <b>"Say, Polk, I let the Pup git hung by her apron to the wheel of + your car."</b> + </div> + <p>"Say, Polk, I let the Pup git hung by her apron to the wheel of your car out in + the road and her head is dangersome kinder <span class="pagenum"><a name="page99" + id="page99"></a>{99}</span> upside down. It might run away. Can you come and git her + loose for me?"</p> + <p>Henrietta's calmness under dire circumstances was a lesson to both Polk and me, + for with two gasps that sounded as one we both raced across the porch, down the path + and out to the road where Folk's Hupp runabout stood by the worn old stone post that + had tethered the horses of the wooers of many generations of the maids of my + house.</p> + <p>But, prompt as our response to Henrietta's demand for rescue had been, Cousin + James was there before us. He stood in the middle of the dusty road with the tousled + mite in his arms, soothing her frightened sobs against his cheek with the dearest + tenderness and patting Sallie on the back with the same comforting.</p> + <p>"Oh, Henrietta, how could you nearly kill your little sister like this?" Sallie + sobbed. "Please say something positive to her, James!"<span class="pagenum"><a + name="page100" id="page100"></a>{100}</span></p> + <p>"Henrietta," began Cousin James with a suspicion of embarrassment at Polk's and my + presence at the domestic scene. Polk choked a chuckle and I could have murdered + him.</p> + <p>"Wait a minute," said Henrietta, in her most commanding voice. "Sallie, didn't you + ask me to take that Pup from Aunt Dilsie, 'cause of the phthisic, and keep her quiet + while the Kit got a nap, and didn't I ask you if it would be all right if I got her + back whole and clean?"</p> + <p>"Yes, Henrietta, but you—"</p> + <p>"Ain't she whole all over and clean?"</p> + <p>"Yes, but—"</p> + <p>"Couldn't nobody do any better than that with one of them twins. I won't try. If I + have to 'muse her it has to be in my own way." And with her head in the air the Bunch + marched up the walk to the house.</p> + <p>At this Polk shouted and the rest of us laughed.<span class="pagenum"><a + name="page101" id="page101"></a>{101}</span></p> + <p>"Polk, please don't encourage Henrietta in the way she treats me and her little + sisters," Sallie begged between her laughs and her half-swallowed sobs. "I need my + friends' help with my children, not to have them make it hard for me. Henrietta is + devoted to you and you could influence her so for the best. Please try to help me + make a real woman out of her and not some sort of a terrible—terrible + suffragette."</p> + <p>Sallie is the most perfectly lovely woman I almost ever saw. She has great violet + eyes with black lashes that beg you for a piece of your heart, and her mouth is as + sweet as a blush rose with cheeks that almost match it in rosiness. She and the + babies always remind me of a cluster rose and roses, flower and buds, and I don't see + why every man that sees her is not mad about her. They all used to be before she + married, and I suppose they will be again as soon as the crepe gets entirely worn off + her clothes. As she stood with the bubbly <span class="pagenum"><a name="page102" + id="page102"></a>{102}</span> baby in her arms and looked up at Polk I couldn't see + how he could take it calmly.</p> + <p>"Sallie," he answered seriously, with a glint in his eyes over at me, "if you'll + give me a few days longer, I will then have found out by experience what a real woman + is and I'll begin on Henrietta for you accordingly."</p> + <p>"Don't be too hard on the kiddie," Cousin James answered him with the crinkle in + the corner of his eyes that might have been called shrewd in eyes less beautifully + calm. "Let's trust a lot to Henrietta's powers of observation of her mother + and—her neighbors." He smiled suddenly, with his whole face, over both Sallie + and me, and went on down the street in a way that made me sure he was forgetting all + about all of us before he reached the corner of the street.</p> + <p>"Isn't that old mossback a treat for the sight of gods and men?" asked Polk with a + laugh as we all stood watching the old <span class="pagenum"><a name="page103" + id="page103"></a>{103}</span> gray coat-tails flapping in the warm breeze that was + rollicking across the valley.</p> + <p>"I don't know what I would do without him," said Sadie softly, with tears suddenly + misting the violets in her eyes as she turned away from us with the baby in her arms + and went slowly up the front walk of Widegables.</p> + <p>"Please come stay with me a little while, Evelina," she pleaded back over her + shoulder. "I feel faint."</p> + <p>I hesitated, for, as we were on my side of the Road, Polk was still my guest.</p> + <p>"Go on with Sallie, sweetie," he answered my hesitating. "I don't want the + snapped-off fraction of a declaration like you were about to offer me. I can bide my + time—and get my own." With which he turned and got into his car as I went + across the street.</p> + <p>Jane, I feel encouraged. I have done well to-day to get half way through my + declaration of independence—though he <span class="pagenum"><a name="page104" + id="page104"></a>{104}</span> doesn't think that is what it is going to be—to + Polk. If I can just tell him how much I love him, before he makes love to me we can + get on such a sensible footing with each other. I'll command the situation then.</p> + <p>But suppose I do get Polk calmed down to a nice friendship after old Plato's + recipe, what if I want to marry him?</p> + <p>Do I want to marry a friend?</p> + <p>Yes, I do!</p> + <p>No—no!</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page105" id="page105"></a>{105}</span></p> + <h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> + <p>DEEPER THAN SHOULDERS AND RIBS</p> + <p>There are many fundamental differences between men and women which strike deeper + than breadth of shoulders and number of ribs on the right side.</p> + <p>Men deliberately unearth matters of importance and women stumble on the same + things in the dark. It is then a question of the individual as to the complications + that result. One thing can be always counted on. A woman likes to tangle life into a + large mass and then straighten out the threads at her leisure—and the man's + leisure too.</p> + <p>Glendale affairs interest me more every day.</p> + <p>This has been a remarkable afternoon <span class="pagenum"><a name="page106" + id="page106"></a>{106}</span> and I wish Jane had been in Glendale to witness it.</p> + <p>"Say, Evelina, all the folks over at our house have gone crazy, and I wish you + would come over and help Cousin James with 'em," Henrietta demanded, as I sat on my + side porch, calmly hemming a ruffle on a dress for the Kitten. Everybody sews for the + twins and, as much as I hate it, I can't help doing it.</p> + <p>"Why, Henrietta, what is the matter?" I demanded, as I hurried down the front walk + and across the road at her bare little heels. By the time I got to the front gate I + could hear sounds of lamentation.</p> + <p>"A railroad train wants to run right through the middle of all their dead people + and Sallie started the crying. Dead's dead, and if Cousin James wants 'em run over. I + wants 'em run over too." She answered over her shoulder as we hurried through the + wide front hall.</p> + <p>And a scene that beggars description met <span class="pagenum"><a name="page107" + id="page107"></a>{107}</span> my eyes, as I stood in the living-room door. I hope + this account I am going to try and write will get petrified by some kind of new + element they will suddenly discover some day and the manuscript be dug up from the + ruins of Glendale to interest the natives of the Argon age about 2800 A. D.</p> + <p>Sallie sat in the large armchair in the middle of the room weeping in the slow, + regular way a woman has of starting out with tears, when she means to let them flow + for hours, maybe days, and there were just five echoes to her grief, all done in + different keys and characters.</p> + <p>Cousin Martha knelt beside the chair and held Sallie's head on her ample bosom, + but I must say that the expression on her face was one of bewilderment, as well as of + grief.</p> + <p>The three little Horton cousins sat close together in the middle of the old + hair-cloth sofa by the window and were weeping as modestly and helplessly as they did + every<span class="pagenum"><a name="page108" id="page108"></a>{108}</span> thing else + in life, while Mrs. Hargrove, in her chair under her son's portrait, was just plainly + out and out howling.</p> + <p>And on the hearth-rug, before the tiny fire of oak chips that the old ladies liked + to keep burning all summer, stood the master of the house and, for once in my life, I + have seen the personification of masculine helplessness. He was a tragedy and I flew + straight to him with arms wide open, which clasped both his shoulders as I gave him a + good shake to arouse him from his paralyzation.</p> + <p>"What's the matter?" I demanded, with the second shake.</p> + <p>"I'm a brute, Evelina," he answered, and a sudden discouragement lined every + feature of his beautiful biblical face. I couldn't stand that and I hugged him tight + to my breast for an instant and then administered another earthquake shake.</p> + <p>"Tell me exactly what has happened," I demanded, looking straight into his tragic + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page109" id="page109"></a>{109}</span> eyes and + letting my hands slip from his shoulders down his arms until they held both of his + hands tight and warm in mine.</p> + <p>Jane, I was glad that I had offered the cup of my eyes to him full of this curious + inter-sex elixir of life that you have induced me to seek so blindly, for he + responded to the dose immediately and the color came back into his face as he + answered me just as sensibly as he would another man.</p> + <p>"The men who are surveying the new railroad from Cincinnati to the Gulf have laid + their experimental lines across the corner of Greenwood Cemetery and they say it will + have to run that way or go across the river and parallel the lines of the other road. + If they come on this side of the river they will force the other road to come across, + too, and in that case we will get the shops. It just happens that such a line will + make necessary the removal of—of poor<span class="pagenum"><a name="page110" + id="page110"></a>{110}</span> Henry's remains to another lot. Sallie's is the only + lot in the cemetery that is that high on the bluff. Henry didn't like the situation + when he bought it himself, and I thought that, as there is another lot right next to + her mother's for sale, she would not—but, of course, I was brutal to mention it + to her. I hope you will find it in your heart to forgive me, Sallie." And as he spoke + he extracted himself from me and walked over and laid his hand on Sallie's head.</p> + <p>"It was such a shock to her—poor Henry," sobbed little Cousin Jasmine, and + the other two little sisters sniffed in chorus.</p> + <p>"To have railroad trains running by Greenwood at all will be disturbing to the + peace of the dead," snorted Mrs. Hargrove. "We need no railroad in Glendale. We have + never had one, and that is my last word—no!"</p> + <p>"Four miles to the railroad station across the river is just a pleasant drive in + good <span class="pagenum"><a name="page111" id="page111"></a>{111}</span> weather," + said Cousin Martha, plaintively, as she cuddled Sallie's sobs more comfortably down + on her shoulder.</p> + <p>"I feel that Henry would doubt my faithfulness to his memory, if I consented to + such a desecration," came in smothered tones from the pillowing shoulder.</p> + <p>And not one of all those six women had stopped to think for one minute that the + minor fact of the disturbing of the ashes of Henry Carruthers would be followed by + the major one of the restoration of the widow's fortune and the lifting of a huge + financial burden off the strong shoulders they were all separately and collectively + leaning upon.</p> + <p>I exploded, but I am glad I drew the Crag out on the porch and did it to him + alone.</p> + <p>"Evelina, you are refreshing if strenuous," he laughed, after I had spent five + minutes in stating my opinions of women in general and a few in particular. "But<span + class="pagenum"><a name="page112" id="page112"></a>{112}</span> I ought not to have + hurt Sallie by telling her about the lines until they are a certainty. It is so far + only a possibility. They may go across the river anyway."</p> + <p>"And as for seeing Sallie swaddled in your consideration, and fed yourself as a + sacrifice from a spoon, I am tired of it," I flamed up again. "It's not good for her. + Feed and clothe her and her progeny,—men in general have brought just such + burdens as that upon you in particular by their attitude towards us,—but do let + her begin to exert just a small area of her brain on the subject of the survival of + the fit to live. You don't swaddle or feed me!"</p> + <p>"Eve," he said, softly under his breath as his wonderful gentle eyes sank down way + below the indignation and explosiveness to the quiet pool that lies at the very + bottom of my heart.</p> + <p>Nobody ever found it before and I didn't know it was there myself, but I felt as + if it were being drained up into Heaven.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page113" + id="page113"></a>{113}</span></p> + <p>"Eve!" He said again, and it is a wonder that I didn't answer:</p> + <p>"Adam!"</p> + <p>I don't know just what would have happened if Uncle Peter hadn't broken in on the + interview with his crustiest chips on both shoulders and so much excitement bottled + up that he had to let it fly like a double reporter.</p> + <p>"Dodson is down at the Hotel looking for you, James," he began as he hurried up + the steps. "Big scheme this—got him in a corner if the C. & G. comes along + this side of Old Harpeth—make him squeal—hey?"</p> + <p>"Who's Dodson?" I asked with the greatest excitement. I was for the first time + getting a whiff of the schemes of the masculine mighty, but I was squelched promptly + by Uncle Peter.</p> + <p>"We've no time for questions, Evelina, now—go back to your + tatting—hey?" He answered me as he began to button<span class="pagenum"><a + name="page114" id="page114"></a>{114}</span> hole the Crag and lead him down the + steps.</p> + <p>"Dodson is the man who is laying down and contracting for the line across the + river, Evelina," answered Cousin James without taking any notice whatever of Uncle + Peter's squelching of me. "If this other line can just be secured he will have to + come to our terms—and the situation will be saved." As he spoke he took my hand + in his and led me at his side, down the front walk to the gate, talking as he went, + for Uncle Peter was chuckling on ahead like a steam tug in a hurry.</p> + <p>"And the shades of Henry will again assume the maintenance of his family," I + hazarded with lack of respect of the dead, impudence to Cousin James about his own + affairs, and unkindness by implication to Sallie, who loves me better than almost + anybody in the world does. And I got my just punishment by seeing a lovely look of + tender concern rise in Cousin James's eyes <span class="pagenum"><a name="page115" + id="page115"></a>{115}</span> as he stopped short in the middle of the walk.</p> + <p>"I want to go back a minute to speak to Sallie before I go on down town," he said, + quickly, and before Uncle Peter's remonstrances had exploded, he had taken the steps + two at a bound and disappeared in the front door.</p> + <p>"Sooner he marries that lazy lollypop the better," fumed Uncle Peter, as he waited + at the gate. "The way for a man to quench his thirst for woman-sweets is to marry a + pot of honey like that, and then come right on back to the bread and butter game. + Here's a letter Jasper gave me to bring along for you from town. Go on and read it + and do not disturb the workings of my brain while I wait for James—workings of + a great brain—hey?"</p> + <p>I took the letter and hurried across the street because I wanted anyway to get to + some place by myself and think. There was no earthly reason for it but I felt like + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page116" id="page116"></a>{116}</span> an animal that + has been hurt and wants to go off and lick its wounds. A womanly woman that lives a + lovely appealing life right in a man's own home has a perfect right to gain his love, + especially if she is beautifully unconscious of her appeal. Besides, why should a man + want to take an independent, explosive, impudent firebrand with all sorts of dreadful + plots in her mind to his heart? He wouldn't and doesn't!</p> + <p>There is no better sedative for a woman's disturbed and wounded emotions than a + little stiff brain work. Richard's letter braced my viny drooping of mind at once and + from thinking into the Crag's affairs of sentiment, I turned with masculine vigor to + begin to mix into his affairs of finance. However, I wish that the first big business + letter I ever got in my life hadn't had to have a strain of love interest running + through it! Still Dickie is a trump card in the man pack.</p> + <p>It seems that as his father is one of the <span class="pagenum"><a name="page117" + id="page117"></a>{117}</span> most influential directors and largest stockholders in + this new branch of the Cincinnati and Gulf railroad he has got the commission for + making the plans for all the stations along the road, and he wants to give me the + commission for drawing all the gardens for all the station-yards. It will be + tremendous for both of us so young in life, and I never dared hope for such a thing. + I had only hoped to get a few private gardens of some of my friends to laze and pose + over, but this is startling. My mind is beginning to work on in terms of hedges and + fountains already and Dickie may be coming South any minute.</p> + <p>And besides the hedges and gravel paths I have a feeling that Dickie's father and + the Crag and Sallie's girl-babies are fomenting around in my mind getting ready to + pop the cork of an idea soon. The combination feels like some kind of a hunch—I + sat still for a long time and let it seethe, while I took stock of the + situation.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page118" id="page118"></a>{118}</span></p> + <p>There is a strange, mysterious kind of peace that begins to creep across the + Harpeth Valley, just as soon as the sun sinks low enough to throw the red glow over + the head of Old Harpeth. I suppose it happens in other hill-rimmed valleys in other + parts of the Universe, but it does seem as if God himself is looking down to brood + over us, and that the valley is the hollow of His hand into which he is gathering us + to rest in the darkness of His night. I felt buffeted and in need of Him as I sank + down under the rose-vine over the porch and looked out across my garden to the blue + and rose hills beyond.</p> + <p>I have been in Glendale a whole month now, and I can't see that my influence has + revolutionized the town as yet. I don't seem to be of half the importance that I + thought I was going to be. I have tried, and I have offered that bucket of love that + I thought up to everybody, but whether they have drunk of it to profit I am sure I + can't <span class="pagenum"><a name="page119" id="page119"></a>{119}</span> say. In + fact, my loneliness has liquefied my gaseous affection into what almost looks like + officiousness.</p> + <p>Still, I know Uncle Peter is happier than he ever was before, because he has got + me to come to as a refuge from Aunt Augusta, a confidante for his views of life that + he is not allowed to express at home, and also the certainty of one of Jasper's + juleps.</p> + <p>Sallie has grown so dependent on me that my shoulders are assuming a masculine + squareness to support her weight. I am understudying Cousin James to such an extent + over at Widegables that I feel like the heir to his house. Cousin Martha sends for me + when the chimney smokes and the cows get sick. I have twice changed five dollars for + little Cousin Jasmine, and sternly told the man from out on their farm on Providence + Road that he must not root up the lavender bushes to plant turnip-greens in their + places. I afterwards rented the patch from him to grow the lavender <span + class="pagenum"><a name="page120" id="page120"></a>{120}</span> because he said he + couldn't lose the price that the greens would bring him "for crotchets."</p> + <p>Mrs. Hargrove has given me her will to keep for her, and the sealed instructions + for her burial. I hope when the time comes the two behests will strike a balance, but + I doubt it.</p> + <p>Her ideas of a proper funeral seem to coincide with those of Queen Victoria, whom + she has admired through life and mourns sincerely.</p> + <p>Henrietta has not been heard to indulge in profane language since I had a long + talk with her last week out in the garden, that ended in stubby tears and the gift of + a very lovely locket which I impressed upon her was as chaste in design as I wished + her speech to become.</p> + <p>The twins have been provided with several very lovely pieces of wearing apparel + from my rapidly skill-acquiring needle. That's on the credit side of my balance.<span + class="pagenum"><a name="page121" id="page121"></a>{121}</span> But that is + <i>all</i>—and it doesn't sound revolutionary, does it, Jane?</p> + <p>Petunia married Jasper according to his word of promise, and I have taught her to + cook about five French dishes that he couldn't concoct to save his life, and which + help her to keep him in his place. His pomposity grows daily but he eyes me with + suspicion when he sees me in secret conclave with Petunia.</p> + <p>"We needs a man around this place," I heard him mutter the other day as I left the + kitchen.</p> + <p>I wonder!</p> + <p>The garden has been weeded, replanted, trained, clipped and garnished, and my arms + are as husky and strong as a boy's and my nose badly sunburned from my strenuosity + with hoe and trimming scissors.</p> + <p>All of which I have done and done well. But when I think of all those five girls + that are waiting for me to solve the emotional formula by which they can work out and + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page122" id="page122"></a>{122}</span> establish the + fact that man equals woman, I get weak in the knees.</p> + <p>Jane's letters are just prods.</p> + <hr style='width: 45%;' /> + <p>Your highly cultivated artistic nature ought to be a very beautiful revelation to + the spiritual character of the young Methodist divine you wrote me of in your last + letter. Encourage him in every way with affectionate interest in his work, especially + in the Epworth League on his country circuit. I am enclosing fifty dollars' + subscription to the work and I hope you will give as much You have not mentioned Mr. + Hayes for several letters. I fear you are prejudiced against him. Seek to know and + weigh his character before you judge him as unfit for your love.</p> + <hr style='width: 45%;' /> + <p>The highly spiritual Mr. Haley glared at Polk for an hour out here on my porch, + when he interrupted us in one of our Epworth League talks, in such an unspiritual + manner that Polk said he felt as if he had been introduced to the Apostle Paul while + he was still Saul of Tarsus. I had to pet the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page123" + id="page123"></a>{123}</span> Dominie decorously for a week before he regained his + benign manner. Of course, however, it was trying to even a highly spiritual nature + like his to have Polk insist on pinning a rose in my hair right before his eyes.</p> + <p>About Polk I feel that I am in the midst of one of those great calm, oily + stretches of ocean that a ship is rocked gently in for a few hours before the storm + tosses it first to Heaven and then to hell. He is so psychic, and in a way attuned to + me, that he partly understands my purpose in declaring my love for him to put him at + a disadvantage in his love-making to me, and he hasn't let me do it yet, while his + tacit suit goes on. It is a drawn battle between us and is going to be fought to the + death. In the meantime Nell—</p> + <p>And while I was on the porch sitting with Richard Hall's letter in my hand, still + unread, Nell herself came down the front walk and sat down beside me.<span + class="pagenum"><a name="page124" id="page124"></a>{124}</span></p> + <p>"Why, I thought you had gone fishing with Polk," I said as I cuddled her up to me + a second. She laid her head on my shoulder and heaved such a sigh that it shook us + both.</p> + <p>"I didn't quite like to go with him alone and Henrietta wouldn't go because a bee + had stung the red-headed twin, and she wanted to stay to scold Sallie," she answered + with both hesitation and depression in her voice.</p> + <p>"Polk is—is strenuous for a whole day's companionship," I answered, + experimentally, for I saw the time had come to exercise some of the biceps in Nell's + femininity in preparation for just what I knew she was to get from Polk. My heart + ached for what I knew she was suffering. I had had exactly those growing pains for + months following that experience with him on the front porch after the dance four + years ago. And I had had change of scene and occupation to help.<span + class="pagenum"><a name="page125" id="page125"></a>{125}</span></p> + <p>"I don't understand him at all," faltered Nell, and she raised her eyes as she + bared her wound to me.</p> + <p>"Nell," I said with trepidation, as I began on this my first disciple, "you aren't + a bit ashamed or embarrassed or humiliated in showing me that you love me, are + you?"</p> + <p>"You know I've adored you ever since I could toddle at your heels, Evelina," she + answered, and the love-message her great brown eyes flashed into mine was as sweet as + anything that ever happened to me.</p> + <p>"Then, why should you wonder and suffer and restrain and be humiliated at your + love for Polk?" I asked, firing point blank at all of Nell's traditions. "Why not + tell him about it and ask him if he loves you?"</p> + <p>The shot landed with such force that Nell gasped, but answered as straight out + from the shoulder as I had aimed.</p> + <p>"I would rather die than have Polk Hayes know how he—he affects me," she + answered with her head held high.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page126" + id="page126"></a>{126}</span></p> + <p>"Then, what you feel for him is not worthy love, but something entirely unworthy," + I answered loftily, with a very poor imitation of Jane's impressiveness of + speech.</p> + <p>"I know it," she faltered into my shoulder, "if it were Mr. James Hardin I loved, + I wouldn't mind anybody's knowing it, but something must be wrong with Polk or me or + the way I feel. What is it?"</p> + <p>For a moment I got so stiff all over that Nell raised her head from my shoulder in + surprise. Do all women feel about the Crag as I do?</p> + <p>"I don't know," I answered weakly.</p> + <p>And I don't know! Oh, Jane, your simple experiment proposition is abouit to become + compound quadratics.</p> + <p>Then I got a still further surprise.</p> + <p>"I wouldn't in the least mind telling Mr. James how I like him—if you think + it is all right," Nell mused, looking pensively at the first pale star that was + rising over<span class="pagenum"><a name="page127" id="page127"></a>{127}</span> Old + Harpeth. "I would enjoy it, because I have always adored him, and it would be so + interesting to see what he'd say."</p> + <p>"Nell," I said suddenly with determination, "do it! Tell any man you like how much + you like him—and see what happens."</p> + <p>"I feel as if—as if"—Nell faltered and I don't blame her; I wouldn't + have said as much to her—"I feel that to tell Mr. James I love <i>him</i> would + ease the pain, the—pain—that I feel about Polk. It would be so + interesting to tell a man a thing like that."</p> + <p>"Do it!" I gasped, and went foot in the class in romantics.</p> + <p>If any jungle explorer thinks he has mapped and charted a woman's heart he had + better pack up his instruments of warfare and recorders and come down to Glendale, + Tennessee.</p> + <p>Nell and I must have talked further along the same lines, but I don't remember + what <span class="pagenum"><a name="page128" id="page128"></a>{128}</span> we said. I + have recorded the high lights on the conversation, but long after I lost her I kept + my whirlwind feeling of amazement. It was like trying to balance calmly on the lid of + the tinder-box when you didn't know whether or not you had touched off the fuse.</p> + <p>Has honeysuckle-garbed Old Harpeth been seeing things like this go on for + centuries and not interrupted? I think I would have been sitting there questioning + him until now, if Lee and Caroline hadn't stopped at the gate and called to me.</p> + <p>I think Lee was giving Caroline this stroll home from the post-office in the + twilight as an extra treat in her week's allowance of him, and she was so soft and + glowing and sweet and pale that I wonder the Cherokee roses on my hedge didn't droop + their heads with humility before her.</p> + <p>"What's a lovely lady doing sitting all by herself in the gloaming?" Lee asked in + his rich, warm voice.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page129" + id="page129"></a>{129}</span></p> + <p>I hate him!</p> + <p>"Come take a walk with us, Evelina, dear," Caroline begged softly, though I knew + what it would mean to her if I should intrude on this precious hour with her + near-lover.</p> + <p>Please, God—if I seem to be calling You into a profane situation I can't + help it; I must have help!—show me some way to assist Caroline to make Lee into + a real man and then get him for herself. She must have him and he needs her. And show + me a way quick! Amen!</p> + <p>Jane, I hope you will be able to pick the data out of this jumble, but I doubt it. + Anyway I'm grateful for the lock and key on this book.</p> + <p>As I stood at the gate and watched Lee and Caroline saunter down the moon-flecked + street a mocking bird in the tallest of the oak twins that are my roof shelter called + wooingly from one of the top boughs and got his answer from about the same place on + the same limb.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page130" + id="page130"></a>{130}</span></p> + <p>If a woman starts out to be a trained nurse to an epidemic of love-making, she is + in great danger of doing something foolish her own self. I am even glad it is + prayer-meeting night for Mr. Haley; he is safe in performing his rituals. He might + misunderstand this mood.</p> + <p>I wonder if I ever was really over in sunny France being wooed and happy!</p> + <p>Of course, I decided the first night I was here that, as circumstances over which + I had no control had decreed that Cousin James should stand in the position of + enforced protector to me, decent, communistic femino-masculine honor demands that I + refrain from any manoeuvers in his direction to attract his thoughts and attention to + the feminine me. I can only meet him on the ordinary grounds of fellowship. And I + suppose the glad-to-see him coming up the street was of the neuter gender, but it was + very interesting.</p> + <p>"What did Dodson have to say—is he <span class="pagenum"><a name="page131" + id="page131"></a>{131}</span> coming across?" I demanded of him before he got quite + to my gate.</p> + <p>"Not if he can help it," he answered as he came close and leaned against one of + the tall stone posts, so that his grandly shaped head with its ante-bellum squirls of + hair was silhouetted against the white-starred wistaria vine in a way that made me + frantic for several buckets of monochrome water-colors and a couple of brushes as big + as those used for white-washing. In about ten great splotches I could have done a + masterpiece of him that would have drawn artistic fits from the public of gay Paris. + I never see him that I don't long for a box of pastels or get the ghost of the odor + of oil-paint in my nose.</p> + <p>"The whole thing will be settled in a month," he continued, with a sigh that had a + hint of depression in it and an astral shape of Sallie manifested itself hanging on + his shoulder. However, I controlled myself and listened to him. "There is to be a + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page132" id="page132"></a>{132}</span> meeting of the + directors of both roads over in Bolivar in a few weeks and they are to come to some + understanding. The line across the river is unquestionably the cheapest and best + grade and there is no chance of getting them to run along our bluff—unless we + can show them some advantage in doing so, and I can't see what that will be."</p> + <p>"What makes it of advantage for a railroad to run through any given point in a + rural community like this, Cousin James?" I asked, with a glow of intellect mounting + to my head, the like of which I hadn't felt since I delivered my Junior thesis in + Political Economy with Jane looking on, consumed with pride.</p> + <p>"Towns that have good stock or grain districts around them with good roads for + hauling do what is called 'feeding' a railroad," he answered. "Bolivar can feed both + roads with the whole of the Harpeth Valley on that side of the river. They'll <span + class="pagenum"><a name="page133" id="page133"></a>{133}</span> get the roads, I'm + thinking. Poor old Glendale!"</p> + <p>"Isn't there anything to feed the monsters this side of the river?" I demanded, + indignant at the barrenness of the south side of the valley of Old Harpeth.</p> + <p>"Very little unless it's the scenery along the bluff," he replied, with the + depression sounding still more clearly in his voice and his shoulders drooped against + the unsympathetic old stone post in a way that sent a pang to my heart.</p> + <p>"Jamie, is all you've got tied up in the venture?" I asked softly, using the name + that a very small I had given him in a long ago when the world was young and not full + of problems.</p> + <p>"That's not the worst, Evelina," he answered in a voice that was positively + haggard. "But what belongs to the rest of the family is all in the same leaky craft. + Carruthers put Sallie's in himself, but I invested the mites belonging to the + others.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page134" id="page134"></a>{134}</span> Of + course, as far as the old folks are concerned, I can more than take care of them, and + if anything happens there's enough life insurance and to spare for them. I don't feel + exactly responsible for Sallie's situation, but I do feel the responsibility of their + helplessness. Sallie is not fitted to cope with the world and she ought to be well + provided for. I feel that more and more every day. Her helplessness is very beautiful + and tender, but in a way tragic, don't you think?"</p> + <p>I wish I had dared tell him for the second time that day what I did think on the + subject but I denied myself such frankness.</p> + <p>Anyway, men are just stupid, faithful children—some of them faithful, I + mean.</p> + <p>I felt that if I stood there talking with the Crag any longer, I might grow + pedagogical and teach him a few things so I sent him home across the road. I knew all + six women would stay awake until they <span class="pagenum"><a name="page135" + id="page135"></a>{135}</span> heard him lock them in, come down to the lodge and lock + his own door.</p> + <p>It is very unworthy of me to enjoy his playing a watch-dog of tradition across the + road to an emancipated woman like myself. The situation both keeps me awake and puts + me to sleep—and it is sweet, though I don't know why.</p> + <p>God never made anything more wonderful than a good man,—even a stupid one. + Lights out!</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page136" id="page136"></a>{136}</span></p> + <h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> + <p>MAX AND THE ASAFETIDA SPOON</p> + <p>I do wish the great man who is discovering how to put people into some sort of + metaphysical pickle that will suspend their animations until he gets ready to wake + them up, would hurry up with his investigations, so he can catch Sallie before she + begins to fade or wilt. Sallie, just as she is, brought to life about five + generations from now, would cause a sensation.</p> + <p>Some women are so feminine that they are sticky, unless well spiced with deviltry. + Sallie's loveliness hasn't much seasoning. Still, I do love her dearly, and I am just + as much her slave as are any of the others. I can't get out of it.</p> + <p>"Do you suppose we will ever get all of the clothes done for the twins?" Nell + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page137" id="page137"></a>{137}</span> sighed gently + as we sat on my porch whipping yards of lace upon white ruffles and whipping up our + own spirits at the same time. Everybody in Glendale sews for Sallie's children and it + takes her all her time to think up the clothes.</p> + <p>"Never," I answered.</p> + <p>"She's coming, and I do believe she has got more of this ruffling. I see it + floating down her skirt," Nell fairly groaned.</p> + <p>Nell ought to like to sew. She isn't emancipated enough to hate a needle as I do. + But the leaven is working and she's rising slowly. It might be well for some man to + work the dough down a little before she runs over the pan. That's a primitively + feminine wish and not at all in accordance with my own advanced ideas.</p> + <p>I was becoming slightly snarled with my thread, and I was glad when Sallie and her + sweetness seated itself in the best rocker in the softest breeze, which Nell had + vacated for her.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page138" + id="page138"></a>{138}</span></p> + <p>"Children are the greatest happiness in life and also the greatest responsibility, + girls," she said, in her lovely rich voice that always melts me to a solution of + sympathy whenever she uses it pensively on me. "Of course, I should be desolate + without mine, but what could I do with them, if I didn't have all of you dear people + to help me with them?"</p> + <p>Her wistful dependence had charm.</p> + <p>I looked at the twin with the yellow fuzz on the top of its head that has + hall-marked it as the Kitten in my mind, seated on Sallie's lap with her head on + Sallie's shoulder looking like a baby bud folded against the full rose, and I + couldn't help laughing. Kit had been undressed three times after her bath this + morning while Cousin Martha, Cousin Jasmine and Mrs. Hargrove argued with each other + whether she should or shouldn't have a scrap of flannel put on over her fat little + stomach. Henrietta finally decided the matter by being impu<span class="pagenum"><a + name="page139" id="page139"></a>{139}</span> dent and sensible to them all about the + temperature.</p> + <p>"Don't you all 'spose God made the sun some to heat up Kit's stomach?" she + demanded scornfully, as she grabbed the little roly-poly bone of contention and + marched off with her to finish dressing her on the front porch in the direct rays of + her instituted heater.</p> + <p>The household at large at Widegables can never agree on the clothing of the twins + and Henrietta often has to finish their toilets thus, by force. Aunt Dilsie being + reduced by her phthisic to a position that is almost entirely ornamental, Henrietta's + strength of character is the only thing that has made the existence of the twins + bearable to themselves or other people.</p> + <p>As I have said before, I do wish that some day in the future you will come under + the direct rays of Henrietta's influence, Jane, dear!</p> + <p>"Yes, Sallie, I should call them a re<span class="pagenum"><a name="page140" + id="page140"></a>{140}</span> sponsibility," I answered her with a laugh, as I + reached up my arms for the Kitten. Then, as the little yellow head snuggled in the + hollow that was instituted in the beginning between a woman's breast and arm for the + purpose of just such nestlings, I whispered as I laid my lips against her little ear, + "and a happiness, too, darling."</p> + <p>And as Sallie rocked and recuperated her breath Nell eyed the ruffle + apprehensively.</p> + <p>"Are you going to let us make another dress for the kiddies, Sallie, dear?" she + finally was forced by her uneasiness to ask, though with the deepest sweetness and + consideration in her voice.</p> + <p>If I am ever a widow with young children I hope they will burn us all up with the + deceased rather than keep me wrapped in a cotton-wool of sympathy, as all of us do + Sallie.</p> + <p>"It's lovely of you, Nell, to want to do more for the babies after all the + beautiful <span class="pagenum"><a name="page141" id="page141"></a>{141}</span> + things you and Evelina have made them, and I may be able to get another white dress + apiece for them after I give Cousin James the bills, that are awful already, but this + is some ruffling that I just forced Mamie Hall to let me bring up to you girls to do + for her baby. The poor little dear is two months old and Mamie is just beginning on + his little dress for him. He has been wearing the plainest little slips. Mamie says + Ned remarked on the fact that the baby was hardly presentable when you girls stopped + in with him to see it the other day, Nell. I urged her to get right to work fixing + him up. It is wrong for children not to be kept as daintily as their father likes to + see them."</p> + <p>How any woman that is as spiritually-minded as I am, and who has so much love for + the whole world in her heart, and such a deep purpose always to offer it to her + fellowmen according to their need of it, can have the vile temper I possess I cannot + see.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page142" id="page142"></a>{142}</span></p> + <p>"And the sight that would please me better than anything else I have even thought + up to want to see," I found myself saying when I became conscious—I hope I + didn't use any of the oaths of my forefathers which must have been tempting my + refined foremothers for generations and which I secretly admire Henrietta for + indulging in on occasions of impatience with Sallie—"would be Ned Hall left + entirely alone with that squirming baby, that looks exactly like him, when it is + having a terrible spell of colic and Ned is in the midst of a sick headache, with all + the other children cold, hungry, and cross, the cook gone to a funeral, and the nurse + in a grouch because she couldn't go and—and he knowing that Mamie was attired + in a lovely, cool muslin dress, sitting up here on the porch with us sipping a mint + julep and smoking a ten-cent cigar, resting and getting up an appetite for supper. I + want him to have about five years of such days and then he would <span + class="pagenum"><a name="page143" id="page143"></a>{143}</span> deserve the joys of + parenthood that he now does not appreciate."</p> + <p>"Oh, Mamie wouldn't smoke a cigar!" was the exclamation that showed how much + Sallie got of the motif of my eruption.</p> + <p>"Glorious!" exclaimed Nell, with shining eyes.</p> + <p>I must be careful about Nell, she is going this new gait too fast for one so + young. Women must learn to fletcherize freedom if it is not to give them indigestion + of purpose.</p> + <p>"Still Ned provides everything in the world he can think of to help Mamie," said + Caroline, who had come up the walk just in time to fan the flame in me by her sweet + wistfulness, with a soft judiciousness in her voice and eyes. "And Mamie adores the + children and him."</p> + <p>If one man is unattainable to a woman all the other creatures take on the hue of + being valuable from the reflection. Caroline is pathetic!</p> + <p>"It would be robbing a woman of a priv<span class="pagenum"><a name="page144" + id="page144"></a>{144}</span> ilege not to let her trot the colic out of her own + baby," Sallie got near enough in sight of the discussion to shout softly from the + rear.</p> + <p>I have often seen Cousin Martha on one side of the fire trotting the Pup, and + Cousin Jasmine on the other ministrating likewise to the Kit. so Sallie could take a + good nap, which she didn't at all need, on the long sofa in the living-room at + Widegables.</p> + <p>"Ned is a delightful man and, of course, Mamie adores him." Nell agreed with an + attitude of mind like to the attitude of a body sustained on the top rail of a shaky + fence.</p> + <p>"He doubtless would be just as delightful to Mamie standing by dropping asafetida + into a spoon to administer to the baby, as he is dancing with you at the Assembly, + Nell," I said, still frothy around the temper.</p> + <p>"He'll never do it again," was the prompt result I got from my shot.<span + class="pagenum"><a name="page145" id="page145"></a>{145}</span></p> + <p>"The trouble with you, Evelina," said Sallie, with ruminative reflectiveness in + her eyes, "is that you have never been married and do not understand how noble a man + can be under—"</p> + <p>"Yes, I should say that you had hit Evelina's trouble exactly on the head, + Sallie," came in Polk's drawl as he came over the rose hedge from the side street and + seated himself beside Caroline on the steps.</p> + <p>"Well, if I ever have a husband he'll prove his nobility by being competent to + make the correct connection between the asafetida spoon and his own baby," was the + answer that came with so much force that I couldn't stop it after I fully realized + Folk's presence and sex.</p> + <p>"Help!" exclaimed Polk, weakly, while Nell blushed into the fold of her ruffle, + Caroline looked slightly shocked and Sallie wholly scandalized at my lack of + delicacy.</p> + <p>I felt that the place had been reached, the audience provided, and the time ripe + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page146" id="page146"></a>{146}</span> for the first + gun in my general revolution planned for Glendale. I spoke calmly in a perfect panic + of fear.</p> + <p>"I am glad Polk is here to speak for the masculine side of the question," I said, + looking all the three astonished women straight in the face. "Polk, do you or do you + not think that a man with a wife and seven children ought to assume at least some of + the domestic strain resulting therefrom, like dropping the asafetida in the spoon for + her while she is wrestling with the youngest-born's colic?"</p> + <p>"Do I have to answer?" pleaded Polk, with desperation.</p> + <p>"Yes!"</p> + <p>"Then, under the circumstances I think the man ought to say: 'To hell with the + spoon,' grab a gun, go out and shoot up a bear and a couple of wild turkeys for + breakfast, throttle some coin out of some nearby business corporation, send two to + five trained nurses back to the wigwam, stay <span class="pagenum"><a name="page147" + id="page147"></a>{147}</span> down town to lunch and then go home with a tender + little kiss for the madame who meets him fluffy and smiling at the door. That's my + idea of true connubial bliss. Applications considered in the order of their + reception. Nell, you are sweet enough to eat in that blue muslin. I'm glad I asked + you to get one just that shade!"</p> + <p>And the inane chorus of pleased laughs that followed Polk Hayes's brainless + disposal of the important question in hand made me ashamed of being a + woman—though it was funny. Still I bided my time and Polk saw the biding, I + could tell by the expression in the corners of his eyes that he kept turned away from + me.</p> + <p>And in less than a half-hour he was left to my mercies, anything but tender. + Sallie took Nell and Caroline over home to help her decide how wide a band of white + it would be decorous for her to sew in the neck of her new black meteor crepe. I see + it coming that we will all have to unite in <span class="pagenum"><a name="page148" + id="page148"></a>{148}</span> getting Sallie out of mourning and into the trappings + of frivolity soon and I dread it. It takes so many opinions on any given subject to + satisfy Sallie that she ought to keep a tabulated advice-book.</p> + <p>"Evelina," said Polk, experimentally, after he had seen them safely across the + street, and he moved along the steps until he sat against my skirts, "are your family + subject to colic?"</p> + <p>"No, they have strong brains instead," I answered icily.</p> + <p>"Said brains subject to colic, though," he mused in an impudent undertone.</p> + <p>I laughed: I couldn't help it. One of the dangerous things about Polk is that he + gets you comfortable and warm of heart whenever he gets near you. It wouldn't matter + at all to him if you should freeze later for lack of his warmth, just so he doesn't + know about it.</p> + <p>"Polk," I began to say in a lovely serious tone of voice, looking him square in + the <span class="pagenum"><a name="page149" id="page149"></a>{149}</span> eyes and + determined that as we were now on the subject of basic things, like infantile colic, + I would have it out with him along all lines, "there is an awful shock coming to you + when you realize that—"</p> + <p>"That in the heat of this erudite and revolutionary discussion, which an evil fate + led me to drop in on, I have forgotten to give you this telegram that came for you + while I was down at the station shipping some lumber. Be as easy as you can with me, + Evelina, and remember that I am your childhood's companion when you decide between + us." With which he handed me a blue telegram.</p> + <p>I opened it hastily and found that it was from Richard:</p> + <div class="blockquot"> + <p>Am coming down to Bolivar with C. & G. Commission. Be deciding about what I + wrote you. Must.</p> + <p>RICHARD.</p> + </div> + <p>I sat perfectly still for several seconds <span class="pagenum"><a name="page150" + id="page150"></a>{150}</span> because I felt that a good strong hand had reached out + of the distance and gently grabbed me. Dickie had bossed me strenuously through two + years of the time before I had awakened to the fact that, for his good, I must take + the direction of the affairs of him and his kind on my and my kind's shoulders.</p> + <p>I suppose a great many years of emancipation will have to pass over the heads of + women before they lose the gourd kind of feeling at the sight of a particularly + broad, strong pair of shoulders. My heart sparkled at the idea of seeing Dickie again + and being browbeaten in a good old, methodical, tender way. I suppose the sparkle in + my heart showed in my eyes, for Polk sat up quickly and took notice of it very + decidedly.</p> + <p>"Wire especially impassioned?" he asked, with a smolder in his eyes.</p> + <p>"Not especially." I answered serenely, "One of my friend's father is a director in + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page151" id="page151"></a>{151}</span> the C. & G. + and he is coming down with him for the conference over at Bolivar between the two + roads next week."</p> + <p>"Good," answered Polk, heartily, as the flare died out of his eyes.</p> + <p>I was glad he didn't have to see the wire for I wanted to use Polk's brain a while + if I could get his emotions to sleep in my presence. It is very exasperating for a + woman to be offered flirtation when she is in need of common sense from a man. There + are so many times she needs the one rather than the other, but the dear creatures + refuse to realize it, if she's under forty.</p> + <p>"Polk, do you see any logical, honest or dishonest way to get that Road to take + the Glendale bluff line?" I asked, with trepidation, for that was the first time I + had ever even begun to discuss anything intelligently with Polk.</p> + <p>"None in the world, Evelina," he answered with a nice, straight, intellectuality + showing over his whole face and even his <span class="pagenum"><a name="page152" + id="page152"></a>{152}</span> lazy, posing figure. "I remonstrated with James and + Henry Carruthers both when they used their influence to have the bonds voted and I + told James it was madness to invest in all that field and swamp property with just a + chance of the shops. The trouble was that James had always left all his business to + Henry, along with the firm's business, for a man can't be the kind of lawyer James + is, and carry the details of the handling of filthy lucre in the same mind that can + make a speech like the one he made down in Nashville last April, on the exchange of + the Judiciary. James can be the Governor of this good State any time he wants to, or + could, if Henry hadn't turned toes and left him such a bag to hold—no reference + to Sallie's figure intended, which is all to the good if you like that kind of + curves!"</p> + <p>I took a moment to choose my words.</p> + <p>"The C. & G. is going to take that bluff route," I answered calmly from + somewhere <span class="pagenum"><a name="page153" id="page153"></a>{153}</span> + inside me that I had never used to speak from before.</p> + <p>"Do you know anything of the character of Mrs. Joshua?" asked Polk, admiringly, + but slipping down from his intellectual attitude of mind and body and edging an inch + nearer. "Bet she had a strong mind or Joshua never could have pulled off that sun and + moon stunt."</p> + <p>"Do you know, Polk, there is one woman in the world who could—could handle + you?" I said, as a sudden vision of what Jane would do, if Polk sat on her skirts as + he did on mine, flashed across my troubled brain.</p> + <p>"I'd be mighty particular as to who handles me," he answered impudently, "Want to + try?" And with the greatest audacity he laid his head gently against my knee. I let + it rest there a second and then tipped it back against the arm of the rocker.</p> + <p>"It does hurt me to see a man like Cousin James fairly throttled by women as he is + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page154" id="page154"></a>{154}</span> being," I said + as I looked across the street and noted that the porch of Widegables was full to + overflowing with the household of women.</p> + <p>"Evelina," said Polk, as he stood up suddenly in front of me, "that old Mossback + is the finest man in this commonwealth, but from his situation nobody can extract + him, unless it is a woman with the wiliness of the devil himself. Poison the whole + bunch and I'll back you. But we'll have to plot it later on. I see his reverence + coming tripping along with a tract in his hand for you and I'll be considerate enough + to sneak through the kitchen, get a hot muffin-cake that has been tantalizing my nose + all this time you have been sentimentalizing over me, and return anon when I can have + you all to myself in the melting moonlight in the small hours after all religious + folk are in bed. Until then!" And as he went back through the front hall Mr. Haley + came down the front walk.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page155" + id="page155"></a>{155}</span></p> + <p>"My dear Miss Shelby, how fortunate I am to find you alone," he exclaimed with + such genuine delight beaming from his nice, good, friendly, gray eyes that I beamed + up myself a bit out of pure responsiveness.</p> + <p>"I am so glad to see you, Mr. Haley. Hasn't it been a lovely day?" I answered, as + I offered him the large rocker Sallie had vacated.</p> + <p>"It has, indeed, and I don't know when I have been as deeply happy. This hour with + you will be the very climax of the day's perfections, I feel sure."</p> + <p>I smiled.</p> + <p>To follow you, Jane, I "let a man look freely into my heart and thus encouraged he + opened his to mine" and behold, I found Sallie and the twins and Henrietta all + squatting in the Dominie's cardiac regions, just as comfortably as they do it at + Widegables.</p> + <p>"My sympathies have become so enlisted in the struggle which Mrs. Carruthers is + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page156" id="page156"></a>{156}</span> having to curb + the eccentricities of her oldest daughter that I feel I must lay definite plans to + help her. It is very difficult for a young and naturally yielding woman like Mrs. + Carruthers to discipline alone even so young a child as Henrietta. I know you will + help me all you can to help her. Believe me, my dear friend, even in the short time + you have been in Glendale you have become a tower of strength to me. I feel that I + can take my most difficult and sacred perplexities to you."</p> + <p>Now, what do you think of that, Jane? Be sure and rub this situation in on all the + waiting Five disciples. I defy any of them to do so well in less than three months. + This getting on a plane of common citizenship with a fellow-man is easy. That is, + with some men.</p> + <p>Still while you are getting on the plane somebody else gets the man. What about + that? I didn't want Mr. Haley, but what if I had?<span class="pagenum"><a + name="page157" id="page157"></a>{157}</span></p> + <p>"Yes, Henrietta is a handful, Mr. Haley," I answered with enthusiasm, for even the + mention of Henrietta enlivens me and somehow Mr. Haley's getting in the game of + "curbing" her stirred up my risibles. "But—but Sallie already has a good many + people to help her with the children. I have been trying to—to influence + Henrietta—and she does not swear except on the most exasperating occasions + now."</p> + <p>"The dear little child created a slight consternation in her Sunday School class + last week when they were being taught the great dramatic story of Jonah's three days' + incarceration in the whale. To quote her exactly, so that you may see how it must + have affected the other children, she said: 'I swallowed a live fly onct myself and + I'm not damn fool enough to believe that whale kept Jonah down three days, alive and + kicking, no matter who says so.'</p> + <p>"She then marched out of the class and has not returned these two succeeding + Sab<span class="pagenum"><a name="page158" id="page158"></a>{158}</span> baths. It + was to talk over the matter I called on Mrs. Carruthers this afternoon, and I have + never had my sympathies so stirred. We must help her, my dear friend!"</p> + <p>I never enjoyed anything more in my life than the hour I spent helping that dear, + good, funny man plan first aids to the rearing of Sallie's children. Besides my + coöperation he has planned to enlist that of Aunt Augusta, and I was wicked + enough to let him do it. In a small village where the inhabitants have no chance at + diversions like Wagnerian operas and collapsing skyscrapers I felt that I had no + right to avert the spectacle of Aunt Augusta's disciplining Henrietta.</p> + <p>I'll write you all about it, Jane, in a special delivery letter.</p> + <p>Jasper whipped Petunia with great apparent severity day before yesterday, and we + have been having the most heavenly waffles and broiled chicken ever since. I dis<span + class="pagenum"><a name="page159" id="page159"></a>{159}</span> missed Jasper for + doing it, but Petunia came into my room and cried about it a half-hour, so I had to + go out where he was rubbing the silver and forgive him and hire him over.</p> + <p>"When a woman gits her mouth stuck out at a man and the world in general three + days hand running they ain't nothing to cure it but a stick," he answered with lofty + scorn.</p> + <p>"Yes'm, dat's so," answered Petunia. "I never come outen a spell so easy before." + And her yellow face had a pink glow of happiness all over it as she smiled lovably on + the black brute.</p> + <p>I went off into a corner and sat down for a quiet hour to think. Nobody in the + world knows everything.</p> + <p>"Supper's on the table," Jasper announced, after having seen Mr. Haley go down the + front walk to-night. Jasper has such great respect for the cloth that never in the + world would he have asked Mr. Haley in to supper without having at least a day <span + class="pagenum"><a name="page160" id="page160"></a>{160}</span> to prepare for him. + Any of my other friends he would have asked, regardless of whether or not I wanted + them.</p> + <p>I somehow didn't feel that I could eat alone to-night, but it was too late to go + for Sallie or Cousin Jasmine, and besides it is weak-minded to feel that way. Why + shouldn't I want to eat by myself?</p> + <p>This is a great big house for just one woman, and I don't see why I have to be + that one! I never was intended to be single. I seem to even think double. Way down in + me there is a place that all my life I have been laying things aside in to tell some + day to somebody that will understand. I don't remember a single one of them now, but + when the time comes somebody is going to ask me a question very softly and it is + going to be the key that will unlock the treasures of all my life, and he will take + them out one by one, and look at them and love them and smile over them and scold + over them and be frightened even to swearing <span class="pagenum"><a name="page161" + id="page161"></a>{161}</span> over them, perhaps weep over them, and then—while + I'm very close—pray over them. I could feel the tears getting tangled in my + lashes, but I forced them back.</p> + <p>Now, I don't see why I should have been sentimentalizing over myself like that. + Just such a longing, miserable, wait-until-he-comes—and + why-doesn't-he-hurry-or-I'll-take-the-wrong-man attitude of mind and sentiment in + women in general is what I have taken a vow on my soul, and made a great big + important wager to do away with. There are millions of lovely men in the world and + all I have to do is to go out and find the right one, be gentle with him until he + understands my mode of attack to be a bit different from the usual crawfish one + employed by women from prehistoric times until now, but not later: and then + domesticate him in any way that suits me.</p> + <p>Here I've been in Glendale almost three months and have let my time be occupied + keeping house for nobody but myself and <span class="pagenum"><a name="page162" + id="page162"></a>{162}</span> to entertain my friends, planting a flower garden that + can't be used at all for nourishment, and sewing on another woman's baby clothes.</p> + <p>I've written millions of words in this book and there is as yet not one word that + will help the Five in the serious and important task of proving that they have a + right to choose their own mates, and certainly nothing to help them perform the + ceremonial.</p> + <p>If I don't do better than this Jane will withdraw her offer and there is no + telling how many years the human race will be retarded by my lack of strength of + character.</p> + <p>What do men do when they begin to see the gray hairs on their temples and when + they have been best-man at twenty-three weddings, and are tired of being at + christenings and buying rattles, and things at the club all taste exactly alike, and + they have purchased ten different kinds of hair-<span class="pagenum"><a + name="page163" id="page163"></a>{163}</span> tonic that it bores them to death to rub + on the tops of their own heads?</p> + <p>I don't want any man I know! I might want Polk, if I let him have half a chance to + make me, but that would be dishonorable.</p> + <p>I've got up so much nice warm sisterly love for Dickie and Mr. Haley that I + couldn't begin to love them in the right way now, I am afraid. Still, I haven't seen + Dickie for three months and maybe my desperation will have the effect of enhancing + his attractions. I hope so.</p> + <p>Still I am disgusted deeply with myself. I believe if I could experiment with + mankind I could make some kind of creature that would be a lot better than a woman + for all purposes, and I would—</p> + <p>"Supper's ready and company come," Jasper came to the front door to announce for + the third time, but this time with the unctuous voice of delight that a guest always + inspires in him. I promptly went in to <span class="pagenum"><a name="page164" + id="page164"></a>{164}</span> welcome my materialized desire whoever it happened to + be.</p> + <p>The Crag was standing by the window in the half light that came, partly from the + candles in their tall old silver candlesticks that were Grandmother Shelby's, and + partly from the last glow of the sun down over the ridge. That was what I needed!</p> + <p>"I was coming in from the fields across your back yard and I saw the table lighted + and you on the front porch, star-gazing, and—and I got Jasper to invite me." he + said as he came over and drew out my chair on one side of that wide square table, + while Jasper stood waiting to seat him at the other, about a mile away.</p> + <p>"I wanted you," I answered him stupidly, as I sank into my place and leaned my + elbows on the table so I could drop my warm cheeks into my hands comfortably. I + didn't see why I should be blushing.</p> + <p>"That's the reason I came then," he answered, as he looked at me across the bowl + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page165" id="page165"></a>{165}</span> of musk roses + that were sending out waves of sweetness to meet those that were coming in from the + honeysuckle climbing over the window. "If you were ever lonely and needed me, + Evelina, you would tell me, wouldn't you?" he asked, as he leaned towards me and + regarded me still more closely.</p> + <p>And again those two treacherous tears rose and tangled themselves in my lashes, + though I did shake them away quickly as a smile quivered its way to command of my + mouth. But I was not quick enough and he saw them.</p> + <p>And what he did was just what I wanted him to do! He rose, picked up his chair and + came around that huge old table and sat down at the corner just as near to my elbow + as the steaming coffee pot would let him.</p> + <p>"If you wanted me any time, would you tell me, Evelina?" he insisted from this + closer range.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page166" + id="page166"></a>{166}</span></p> + <p>"No, I wouldn't," I answered with a laugh. "I would expect you to know it, and + come just like you did to-night."</p> + <p>"But—but it was I that wanted you badly in this case," he answered with an + echo of the laugh.</p> + <p>But even under the laugh I saw signs of excitement in his deep eyes and his long, + lean hands shook as they handed me his cup to pour the coffee. Jasper had laid his + silver and napkin in front of him and retired to admonish Petunia as to the exact + crispness of her first waffle.</p> + <p>"What is it?" I asked breathlessly, as I moved the coffee pot from between us to + the other side.</p> + <p>"Just a letter that came to me from the Democratic Headquarters in the City, that + shook me up a bit and made me want to—to tell <i>you</i> about it. Nobody else + can know—I have been out on Old Harpeth all afternoon fighting that out, and + telling you is the only thing I have allowed myself."<span class="pagenum"><a + name="page167" id="page167"></a>{167}</span></p> + <p>"They want you to be the next Governor," I said quickly. "And you will be, too," I + added, again using that queer place in my brain that seems to know perfectly + unknowable things and that only works in matters that concern him.</p> + <p>"No!"</p> + <p>"Yes, Your Excellency," I hurled at him defiantly.</p> + <p>"You witch, you," he answered me with a pleased, teasing whimsicality coming into + his eyes. "Of course, you guessed the letter and it was dear to have you do it, but + we both know it is impossible. Nobody must hear of it, and the telling you has been + the best I could get out of it anyway. Jasper, take my compliments to Petunia, this + chicken is perfection!"</p> + <p>That eighth wonder of the world which got lost was something even more mysterious + than the Sphinx. It was a marvel that could have been used for women to compare men + to. That man sat right there at my <span class="pagenum"><a name="page168" + id="page168"></a>{168}</span> side and ate four waffles, two large pieces of chicken + and a liver-wing, drank two cups of coffee, and then devoured a huge bowl of peaches + and cream, with three muffin-cakes, while enduring the tragedy of the realization of + having to decline the Governorship of his State.</p> + <p>I watched him do it, first in awe and then with a dim understanding of something, + I wasn't sure what. Most women, under the circumstances, would have gone to bed and + cried it out or at least have refused food for hours. We've got to get over those + habits before we get to the point of having to refuse to be Governors of the States + and railroad presidents and things like that.</p> + <p>And while he ate, there I sat not able to more than nibble because I was making up + my mind to do something that scared me to death to think about. That gaunt, craggy + man in a shabby gray coat, cut ante-bellum wise, with a cravat that wound itself + around <span class="pagenum"><a name="page169" id="page169"></a>{169}</span> his + collar, snowy and dainty, but on the same lines as the coat and evidently of rural + manufacture in the style favored by the flower and chivalry of the day of Henry Clay, + had progressive me as completely overawed for several minutes as any painted redskin + ever dominated a squaw—or as Jasper did Petunia in my own kitchen.</p> + <p>But after we were left alone with the roses and the candles and his cigar, with + only Jasper's gratified voice mumbling over compliments to Petunia in the distance, I + took my courage in my hands and plunged.</p> + <p>This can he used as data for the Five.</p> + <p>"James." I said, with such cool determination in my voice that it almost froze my + own tongue, "I meant to tell you about it several weeks ago, I have decided to adopt + Sallie and all the children. I intend to legally adopt the children and just + nominally adopt Sallie, but it will amount to the same thing. I don't have to have + your consent but I think it is courteous to ask for it."<span class="pagenum"><a + name="page170" id="page170"></a>{170}</span></p> + <p>"What!" he exclaimed, as he sat up and looked at me with the expression an + alienist might use in an important examination.</p> + <p>"Yes," I answered, gaining courage with time. "You see, I was crying out here on + the porch with loneliness when you found me. I can't stand this any longer. I must + have a family right away and Sallie's just suits me. I have to take a great deal of + interest in them anyway and it would be easier if I had complete control of them. It + will leave you with enough family to keep you from being lonely and then we can all + be happy together down into old age."</p> + <p>"Have you said anything about this to Sallie?" he asked weakly as he dipped the + end of his cigar into his glass of water and watched the sputter with the greatest + interest.</p> + <p>"Not yet, but don't you feel sure that she will consent?" I asked, with confidence + in my plan at fever heat. "Sallie is <span class="pagenum"><a name="page171" + id="page171"></a>{171}</span> so generous and she can't want to see me live lonely + always, without any family at all. Now, will she?"</p> + <p>"She would consent!" he answered slowly, and then he laid his head down on the + table right against my arm and shook so that the candlesticks rattled against the + candles. "But I don't," he gasped, and for the life of me I couldn't tell whether he + was crying or laughing, until he sat up again.</p> + <p>"Eve," he said, with his eyes fairly dancing into mine, "if women in general mean + to walk over political difficulties as you are planning to walk away with this one of + mine, I'm for feminine rule. Don't you dare say one word about such a thing to + Sallie. Of course, it is impossible as it is funny."</p> + <p>It was a tragedy to have such a lovely scheme as I had thought up on the spur of + the moment, knocked down suddenly by a half dozen positive words from a mere man, + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page172" id="page172"></a>{172}</span> and for a + moment my eyes fought with his in open rebellion. Then I rose haughtily and walked + out on the front porch.</p> + <p>"Dear," he said, as he followed me and took my hand in his and drew me near him, + "don't you know that your wanting to put your shoulder under any burden I may be + bearing lifts it completely? There are things in this situation that you can't + understand. If I seem to make sacrifices, they come from the depths of my heart and + are not sacrifices. Will you believe me?"</p> + <p>How can he help loving Sallie with her so emphatically there?</p> + <p>I answered him I suppose to his liking and he went on across the road to + Widegables and left me alone in the cruel darkness.</p> + <p>Please, God, when things seem to be drowning me like this make me swim with head + up. Amen!</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page173" id="page173"></a>{173}</span></p> + <h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2> + <p>SOME SMOLDERINGS</p> + <p>I'm a failure! Yes, Jane, I am!</p> + <p>Polk Hayes is an up-to-date, bright man of the world, with lots of brains and I + should say about the average masculine nature, and a great deal more than the average + amount of human charm. However, he has got no more brains than I have, has had really + fewer advantages, and it ought to be easy for me to hold my own against him. But I am + about to fail on him.</p> + <p>For the last two weeks he has been constantly with Nell and has got her in a + dreamy state that shows in her face and every movement of her slim body. And yet I + know without the shadow of a doubt that he is just biding his time to try me out + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page174" id="page174"></a>{174}</span> and get me on + his own terms. My heart aches for Nell, and I just couldn't see him murder her + girlhood, and it will amount to that if he involves her heart any more than it is. I + made up my mind to have it out with him and accordingly let him come and sit on my + side steps with me late yesterday afternoon, when I have avoided being alone with him + for a month.</p> + <p>"Polk," I asked him suddenly without giving him time to get the situation into his + own hands, skilled in their woman-handling, "do you intend to marry Nell or just + plain break her heart for the fun you get out of it?"</p> + <p>His dangerous eyes smoldered back at me for a long minute before he answered + me:</p> + <p>"Men don't break women's hearts, Evelina."</p> + <p>"I think you are right," I answered slowly, "they do just wring and distort them + and deform them for life. But I intend to see that Nell's has no such tortur<span + class="pagenum"><a name="page175" id="page175"></a>{175}</span> ous operation + performed on it if I can appeal to you or convince her."</p> + <p>"When you argue with Nell be sure and don't tell her just exactly the things + <i>you</i> have done to <i>me</i> all this summer through, Evelina." he answered + coolly.</p> + <p>"What do you mean?" I demanded, positively cold with a kind of astonished + fear.</p> + <p>"I mean that I have never offered Nell one half of the torture you have offered + me, every day since you came home, with your damned affectionate friendliness. When I + laugh, you answer it before it gets articulate, and when I gloom, you are as + sympathetic as sympathy itself. I have held your hand and kissed it, instituting and + not quenching a raging thirst thereby, as you are experienced enough to know. You + have made yourself everything for me that is responsive and desirable and beautiful + and worthy and have put me back every time I have reached out to grasp you. You don't + want me, you don't want to marry me at all, you just want<span class="pagenum"><a + name="page176" id="page176"></a>{176}</span> —excitement. You are as cold as + ice that grinds and generates fire. Very well, you don't have to take me—and + I'll get what I can from Nell—and others."</p> + <p>"Oh, Polk, how could you have misunderstood me like this?" I moaned from the + depths of an almost broken heart. But as I moaned I understood—I + understood!</p> + <p>I'm doing it all wrong! I had the most beautiful human love for him in my heart + and he thought it was all dastardly, cold coquetting. An awful spark has been struck + out of the flint. I'm not worthy to experiment with this dreadful man-and-woman + question. I just laid my head down on my arms, resting on my knees and cowered at + Polk's feet.</p> + <p>"Don't—Evelina, I didn't mean it." he said quickly in a shaken voice. But he + did!</p> + <p>I couldn't answer him and as I sat still and prayed in my heart for some words to + come that would do away with the horror I heard Sallie's voice from my front walk, + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page177" id="page177"></a>{177}</span> and she and Mr. + Haley, each carrying a sleeping twin, came around the corner of the porch.</p> + <p>That interruption was a direct answer to prayer, for God knew that I just must + have time to think before having this out with Polk. I sometimes feel ashamed of the + catastrophes I have to pray quick about, but what would I do if I couldn't?</p> + <p>I don't know how I got through the rest of this evening, but I did—I pray + for sleep. Amen!</p> + <p>Watching the seasons follow each other in the Harpeth Valley gives me the agony of + a dumb poet, who can feel though not sing.</p> + <p>It was spring when I came down here four months ago, a young, tender, mist-veiled, + lilac-scented spring that nestled firmly in your heart and made it ache with + sweetness that you hardly understood yourself.</p> + <p>But before I knew it the young darling, <span class="pagenum"><a name="page178" + id="page178"></a>{178}</span> with her curls and buds and apple-blooms had gone and + summer was rioting over the gardens and fields and hills, rich, lush colored, + radiant, redolent, gorgeous, rose-scented and pulsing with a life that made me + breathless. Even the roads along the valley were bordered with flowers that the sun + had wooed to the swooning point.</p> + <p>But this week, early as it is, there has been a hint of autumn in the air, and a + haze is beginning to creep over the whole world, especially in the early mornings, + which are so dew-gemmed that they seem to be hinting a warning of the near coming of + frost and snow.</p> + <p>My garden has grown into a perfect riot of blooms, but for the last two weeks + queer slugs have begun to eat the tender buds that are forming for October blooming, + and I have been mourning over it by day and by night and to everybody who will + listen.</p> + <p>Aunt Augusta insists that the only thing to do is to get up with the first crack + of <span class="pagenum"><a name="page179" id="page179"></a>{179}</span> dawn and + carefully search out each slug, remove it and destroy it. She says if this is done + for a week they will be exterminated.</p> + <p>I carefully explained it all to Jasper and when I came down to breakfast he was + coming in with three queer green things, also with an injured air of having been kept + up all night. I didn't feel equal to making him go on with the combat and ignored the + question for two days until I saw all the buds on my largest Neron done for in one + night.</p> + <p>I have always been able to get up at the break of day to go sketching—it was + at daybreak that I made my sketch in the Defleury gardens that captured the French + art eye enough to get me my Salon mention. If I could get up to splash water-colors + at that hour, I surely could rush to the protection of my own roses, so I went to bed + with gray dawn on my mind and the shutters wide open so the first light would get + full in my eyes.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page180" + id="page180"></a>{180}</span></p> + <p>I am glad that it was a good bright ray that woke me and partly dazzled me, for + the sight I had, after I had been kneeling down in the rose bed for fifteen minutes, + was something of a shock to me, though no reason in the world why it should have + been. I can't remember that I ever speculated as to whether the Crag wore pajamas or + not, and I don't see that I should have been surprised that he did instead of the + night shirt of our common ancestry.</p> + <p>He came around the side of the house out of the sun-shot mist and was half way + down the garden path before I saw him or he saw me, and I must say that his unconcern + under the circumstances was rather remarkable.</p> + <p>He was attired in a light blue silk pajama jacket that was open at the throat and + half way down his broad breast. He had on his usual gray trousers, but tag's of blue + trailed out and ruffled around his bare ankles, and across his bare heels that + pro<span class="pagenum"><a name="page181" id="page181"></a>{181}</span> truded from + his slippers. His hair was in heavy tousled black curls all over his head and his + gray eyes were positively mysterious with interrupted dreams. In one hand he carried + a tin can and in the other a small pointed stick, which looked murderously fitted for + the extermination of the marauders.</p> + <p>I was positively nervous over the prospect of his embarrassment when he should + catch sight of me, but there was none.</p> + <p>"Eve!" he exclaimed, with surprise, and a ray of pure delight drove away the + dreams in his eyes. Nobody in the wide world calls me Eve but just the Crag, and he + does it in a queer, still way when he is surprised to see me, or glad, or sorry, or + moved with any kind of sudden emotion.</p> + <p>And queer as it is I have to positively control the desire to answer him with the + correlated title—Adam!</p> + <p>"I forgot to tell you yesterday that I was coming over to get the slugs for you, + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page182" id="page182"></a>{182}</span> dear," he said + as he came down the row of roses next to mine, squatted opposite to where I was + kneeling by the bushy, suffering Neron and began to examine the under side of each + leaf carefully. He was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in the early light + with his great chest bare and the blue of the pajamas melting into the bronze of his + throat and calling out the gray in his eyes. I had to force myself into being + gardener rather than artist, as we laughed together over the glass bowl and silver + spoon I had brought out for the undoing of the slugs. Some day I'm going to paint him + like that!</p> + + <div class="figcenter" style="width: 350px;"><a id="four" name="four"></a> + <img src="images/image04.jpg" width="350" height="426" + alt="His gray eyes were positively mysterious with interrupted dreams" + title="His gray eyes were positively mysterious with interrupted" /> <b>His gray + eyes were positively mysterious with interrupted dreams</b> + </div> + <p>I found out about the pajamas from questioning Aunt Martha discreetly. They seemed + so incongruous in relation to the usual old Henry Clay coat and stock collar, that I + had to know the reason why. Mrs. Hargrove's son was a very worldly man, she says, and + wore them. It comforts her to make them for the Crag to wear in <span + class="pagenum"><a name="page183" id="page183"></a>{183}</span> memoriam. He wears + the collars Cousin Martha makes him with her own fingers after the pattern she made + his father's by, for the same reason, and lets Cousin Jasmine cut his hair because + she always cut her father's, Colonel Horton's, until his death. That accounts for the + ante-bellum curls and the irregular tags in the back. I almost laughed when Cousin + Martha was telling me, but I remembered how a glow rose in my heart when I saw that + he still had Father's little old Confederate comrade tailor cut his coats on the same + pattern on which he had cut Father's, since the days of reconstruction. Sometimes it + startles me to find that with all my emancipation I am very like other women.</p> + <p>But I wonder what I would do if Sallie attired him in any of the late Henry's + wearing apparel?</p> + <p>"What do you suppose is the why of such useless things as slugs?" I speculated to + stop that thought off sharp as we crawled <span class="pagenum"><a name="page184" + id="page184"></a>{184}</span> down the row together, he searching one side of each + bush and I the other.</p> + <p>"Well, they brought on this nice companionable hunt for them, didn't they?" he + asked, looking over into my eyes with a laugh.</p> + <p>"I wanted to see you early this morning anyway," he hastily resumed. "Sallie and + the Dominie sat talking to you so late last night that I didn't feel it was fair to + come across after they left. But I wanted you so I could hardly get to sleep, and I + was just half awake from a dream of you, when I came into the garden."</p> + <p>"My evenings don't belong to anybody, if you need them, Jamie, and you don't have + to be told that," I answered crossly when I thought what a grand time I might have + been having talking about real things with the Crag, instead of wrestling with Polk's + romantics or Sallie's and Mr. Haley's gush.</p> + <p>"Go on and tell me all about it, while I <span class="pagenum"><a name="page185" + id="page185"></a>{185}</span> crawl after you like a worm myself," I snapped still + further.</p> + <p>"Well, here goes! In the City Council meeting last night your Uncle Peter told us + about the plans that they have made up at Bolivar for entertaining the C. & G. + Commission, and the gloom of Polk and Lee, Ned and the rest of them could have easily + been cut in blocks and used for cold storage purposes. They are just all down and out + about it and no fight left. Of course, they all lose by the bond issue, but I can't + see that it is bad enough to knock them all out like this. I got up in mighty wrath + and—and I have got myself into one job. My eloquence landed me right into one + large hole, and I am reaching out for a hand from you."</p> + <p>"Here it is," and I reached over and left a smear of loam across the back of his + hand, while I brought away a brown circle around my wrist that the responsive grasp + of his fingers left. "Do you want <span class="pagenum"><a name="page186" + id="page186"></a>{186}</span> me single-handed to get the bluff line chosen?"</p> + <p>"Not quite, but almost," he answered with another laugh. "You would if you tried. + I haven't a doubt. Do you remember the talk we had the other night about its seeming + inhospitable of you not to invite the other gentlemen in the Commission over to see + you when you invite Hall and his father? And you know you had partly planned some + sort of entertainment for the whole bunch. You had the right idea at the right place, + as you always do. As you said, we don't want Bolivar to see us with what looks like a + grouch on us at their good fortune, and I think that as the Commission are all to be + here as the guests of a private citizen, Glendale ought to entertain them publicly. + There is no hope to get the line for us, but I would like those men at least to see + what the beauty of that bluff road would be. The line across the river runs through + the only ugly part of the valley, <span class="pagenum"><a name="page187" + id="page187"></a>{187}</span> and while I know in the balance between dollars and + scenery, scenery will go down and out, still it would be good for them to see it and + at least get a vision of what might have been, to haunt them when they take their + first trip through the swamps across the country there. Now, as you are to have them + anyway, I want to have the whole town entertain the whole Commission and Bolivar with + what is classically called among us a barbecue-rally, the countryside to be invited. + Bolivar is going to give them a banquet, to be as near like what the Bolivarians + imagine they have in New York as possible, and Mrs. Doctor Henderson is to give them + a pink tea reception to which carefully chosen presentables, like you and me, are to + be invited. You remember that circus day in July?—a rally will be like that or + more so. What do you think?"</p> + <p>"Oh, I think you are a genius to think about it," I gasped, as I sat down on a + very cruet Killarney branch and just as quickly <span class="pagenum"><a + name="page188" id="page188"></a>{188}</span> sat up again, receiving comforting + expressions of sympathy from across the bush, to which I paid no heed. "Those + blasé city men will go crazy about it. We can have the barbecue up on the + bluff, where we have always had it for the political rallies, and a fish-fry and the + country people in their wagons with children tumbling all over everything + and—and you will make a great speech with all of us looking on and being proud + of you, because nobody in New York or beyond can do as well. We can invite a lot of + people up from the City and over from Bolivar and Hillsboro and Providence to hear + you tell them all about Tennessee while things are cooking and—"</p> + <p>"This rally is to show off Glendale not—the Crag," he interrupted me with a + quizzical laugh.</p> + <p>Now, how did he know I called him the Crag in my heart? I suppose I did it to his + face and never knew. I seem to think right out loud when I am with him and <span + class="pagenum"><a name="page189" id="page189"></a>{189}</span> feel out loud, too. I + ignored his levity, that was out of place when he saw how my brain was beginning to + work well and rapidly.</p> + <p>"You mean, don't you, Jamie, that you want to get Glendale past this place that + is—humiliating—swimming with her head up?" I asked softly past a rose + that drooped against my cheek.</p> + <p>Perfectly justifiable tears came to my lashes as I thought what a humiliation it + all was to him and the rest of them, to be passed by an opportunity like that and + left to die in their gray moldiness off the main line of life—shelved.</p> + <p>"That is one of my prayers, to get past humiliations, swimming with my head up," I + added softly, though I blushed from my toes to my top curl at the necessity that had + called out the prayer the last time. It's awful on a woman to feel herself growing up + stiff and sturdy by a man's side and then to get sight of a gourd-vine tangling + itself up between them. I'm the dryad out of <span class="pagenum"><a name="page190" + id="page190"></a>{190}</span> one of my own twin oaks down by the gate, and I want + the other twin to be—</p> + <p>I wonder if his eyes really look to other women like deep gray pools that you can + look deeper and deeper into and never seem to get to the bottom, no matter if the + look does seem to last forever and you feel yourself blushing and wanting to take + your eyes away, or if it is just I that get so drowned in them!</p> + <p>"You've a gallant stroke, Evelina," he said softly, as I at last gained possession + of my own sight. "And here I am with a hand out to you for assistance in carrying out + your own plan that seems to be just the thing to—"</p> + <p>"Say, Cousin James. Aunt Marfy says for you to come home to breakfast right away. + Mis' Hargrove won't let nobody begin until you says the blessing, and Cousin Jasmine + have got the headache from waiting for her coffee. What do you want to fool with + Evelina this time of day for <span class="pagenum"><a name="page191" + id="page191"></a>{191}</span> anyway?" And with the delivery of which message and + reproof Henrietta stood on the edge of the path looking down upon us with great and + scornful interest.</p> + <p>"You've got on your night shirt and haven't combed your hair or washed your face," + she continued sternly. "There'll be hell to pay with all the breakfast getting cold, + and I'm empty down to my feet. Come on, quick!"</p> + <p>"Henrietta," I said, sternly, as I rose to my feet, "I've asked you once not to + say ugly words like that."</p> + <p>"I'll go make the lightning toilet, Henrietta. Do run like a good girl and ask + Mrs. Hargrove to let Cousin Jasmine have her cup of coffee right away. I'll be there + before the rest are dead from hunger," and Cousin James skilfully interrupted the + threatened feminine clash as he emptied my glass bowl into his tin can and stuck the + sharp stick in the ground for future reference. Even Henrietta's pointed allusion to + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page192" id="page192"></a>{192}</span> his toilet had + not in the least ruffled his equanimity or brought a shade of consciousness to his + face.</p> + <p>"Mis' Hargrove said that the Bible said not for any woman to say a blessing at any + table or at any place that anybody can hear her, when Cousin Marfy wanted to be + polite to the Lord by saying just a little one and go on before we was all too + hungry," answered Henrietta, in her most scornfully tolerant voice. "If women eat out + loud before everybody why can't they pray their thank-you out loud like any man?"</p> + <p>"Answer her, Evelina," laughed Cousin James, as he hurried down the walk away from + us.</p> + <p>"Henrietta," I asked, in a calmly argumentative tone of voice as she and I walked + up the path to the house, "didn't Mr. Haley talk to you just yesterday and tell you + how wicked it is for you to use—use such strong words as you do?"</p> + <p>Mr. Haley had told me just a few days <span class="pagenum"><a name="page193" + id="page193"></a>{193}</span> ago that he and Aunt Augusta had agreed to open their + campaign of reform on Henrietta by a pastoral lecture from him, to be followed + strongly by a neighborly one from her.</p> + <p>"No, he never did any such thing," answered Henrietta, promptly—and what + Henrietta says is always the truth, because she isn't afraid of anybody or anything + enough to tell a lie—-"he just telled me over and over in a whole lot of words + how I ought to love and be good to Sallie. If I was to love Sallie that kind of way, + he said, I would be so busy I couldn't do none of the things Sallie don't like to do + herself and makes me do. 'Stid er saying, 'my precious mother, I love you and want to + be good because you want me to,' about every hour, I had better wipe the twins' + noses, and wash the dirt often them, and light Aunt Dilsie's phthisic pipe, and get + things upstairs for Sallie and Miss Jasmine and everybody when they are downstairs. + I'm too busy, I <span class="pagenum"><a name="page194" id="page194"></a>{194}</span> + am, to be so religious. And I'm too hungry to talk any more about it." With which she + departed.</p> + <p>I sank on the side steps and laughed until a busy old bumble-bee came down from a + late honeysuckle blossom and buzzed around to see what it was all about. Henrietta's + statement of the case was a graphic and just one. Sallie has got a tendril around + Henrietta which grows by the day. Poor tot, she does have a hard and hardening + time—and how can I lecture her for swearing?</p> + <p>With a train of thought started by Henrietta I sat at my solitary breakfast in a + deeply contemplative mood. Life was going to press hard on Henrietta. And reared in + the fossilized atmosphere of Widegables, which tried to draw all its six separate + feminine breaths as one with a lone, supporting man, how was she to develop the + biceps of strength of mind and soul, as well as body, to meet the conditions she was + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page195" id="page195"></a>{195}</span> likely to have + to meet? Still her coming tussle with Aunt Augusta would be a tonic at least. I was + just breaking a last muffin and beginning to smile when I saw a delegation coming + down the street and turning into my front gate; I rose to meet it with + distinction.</p> + <p>Aunt Augusta marched at the head and Nell and Caroline were on each side of her, + while Sallie and Mamie Hall brought up the rear, walking more deliberately and each + carrying a baby, comparing some sort of white tags of sewing. Cousin Martha was + crossing the Road in their wake with her knitting bag and palm leaf fan.</p> + <p>One thing I am proud of having accomplished this summer is the establishing of + friendly relations with Aunt Augusta. I made up my mind that she probably needed to + have some of my affection ladled out to her more than anybody in Glendale, and I + worked on all the volatile fear and resentment and dislike I had ever had for her all + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page196" id="page196"></a>{196}</span> my life, and I + have succeeded in liquefying it into a genuine liking for the martial old + personality. If Aunt Augusta had been a man she would have probably led a regiment up + San Juan Hill, died in the trenches, and covered herself and family with glory. She + is the newest woman in the Harpeth Valley, and though sixty years old, she is + lineally Sallie Carruthers's own granddaughter.</p> + <p>"Evelina," she began, as soon as she had martialed her forces into rocking-chairs, + though she had Jasper bring her the stiffest and straightest-backed one in the house, + "I have collected as many women as I had time to, and have come up here to tell you, + and them, that the men in Glendale are so lacking in sense and judgment that the time + has come for women to stand forth and assume the responsibility of them and Glendale + in general. As the wife of the poor decrepit Mayor, I appoint myself chairman of the + meeting pro tem and ask you to take the <span class="pagenum"><a name="page197" + id="page197"></a>{197}</span> first minutes. If disgrace is threatening us we must at + least face it in an orderly and parliamentary way. And I—"</p> + <p>"Oh, Mrs. Shelby, is it—is it smallpox?" and as Sallie spoke she hugged up + the Puppy baby, who happened to be the twin in her arms, so that she bubbled and + giggled, mistaking her embraces for those of frolicsome affection.</p> + <p>Mamie turned pale and held her baby tight and I could see that she was having + light spasms of alarm, one for each one of the children and one for Ned.</p> + <p>"Smallpox, fiddlesticks—I said disgrace, Sallie Carruthers, and the worst + kind of disgrace—municipal disgrace." And as Aunt Augusta named the plague that + was to come upon us, she looked as if she expected it to wilt us all into sear and + dried leaves. And in point of fact, we all did rustle.</p> + <p>"Tell us about it," said Nell, with sparkling eyes and sitting up in her low + rocker as straight as Aunt Augusta did in her uncom<span class="pagenum"><a + name="page198" id="page198"></a>{198}</span> promising seat. The rest of them just + looked helpless and undecided as to whether to be relieved or not.</p> + <p>"Yes, municipal disgrace threatens the town, and the women must rise in their + strength and avert it," she declaimed majestically with her dark eyes snapping.</p> + <p>"Yesterday afternoon James Hardin, who is the only patriotic male in Glendale, put + before the Town Council a most reasonable and pride-bestirring proposition originated + by Evelina Shelby, one of Glendale's leading citizens, though a woman. She wants to + offer the far-famed hospitality of Glendale—which is the oldest and most + aristocratic town in the Harpeth Valley, except perhaps Hillsboro, and which is not + in the class with a vulgarly rich, modern place like Bolivar, that has a soap-factory + and streetcars, and was a mud-hole in the landscape when the first Shelby built this + very house,—to the Commission of magnates who are to come down about the + railroad lines that <span class="pagenum"><a name="page199" + id="page199"></a>{199}</span> are to be laid near us. James agrees with her and urges + that it is fitting and dignified that, when they are through with their vulgar + trafficking over at insignificant Bolivar, they be asked to partake of real southern + hospitality at its fountain head, especially as Evelina is obliged to invite two of + them as personal friends. Do you not see it in that light?" And Aunt Augusta looked + at us with the martial mien of a general commanding his army for a campaign.</p> + <p>"It would be nice," answered Mamie, as she turned little Ned over on his stomach + across her knee and began to sway him and trot him at the same time, which was his + signal to get off into a nap. "But Ned said last night that he had lost so much in + the bond subscription, that he didn't feel like spending any more money for an + entertainment, that wouldn't do one bit of good about the taxes or bonds or anything. + The baby was beginning to fret, so I don't think I understood it exactly."<span + class="pagenum"><a name="page200" id="page200"></a>{200}</span></p> + <p>"I don't think you did," answered Aunt Augusta, witheringly, "That is not the + point at all, and—"</p> + <p>"But Mr. Greenfield said last night, while he was discussing it with Father, that + it would do no good whatever and probably be an embarrassment to the Commission, our + putting in a pitiful bid like that. He—" but Caroline got no further with the + feminine echo of her masculine opinion-former.</p> + <p>"Peter Shelby put that objection much more picturesquely than Lee Greenfield," + Aunt Augusta snapped. "He said that licking those men's hands would turn his stomach, + after swallowing that bond issue. However, all this has nothing to do with the case. + I am trying to—"</p> + <p>"Polk said last night that he thought it would be much more spectacular for all + the good looking women in town to go when we are invited to Mrs. Henderson's tea for + the big bugs, and dazzle 'em so that it would at least put Glendale on the map," said + Nell, <span class="pagenum"><a name="page201" id="page201"></a>{201}</span> with + spirit. "He made me so mad that I—"</p> + <p>"Mr. Haley thinks that we should be very careful not to feel malice or envy + towards Bolivar, but to rejoice at their good fortune in getting both roads and the + shops, even if it does mean a loss to us. What is material wealth in this world + anyway when we can depend so on—" Sallie's expression was so beautifully silly + and like the Dominie's, that it was all that I could do not to give vent to an + unworthy shout. Nell saw it as I did and I felt her smother a giggle.</p> + <p>But before Aunt Augusta could get her breath to put the crux of the matter + straight before her feminine tribunal, Aunt Martha beat her to it as she placidly + rocked back and forth knitting lace for a petticoat for Henrietta.</p> + <p>"Of course, Glendale doesn't really care about the railroad; in fact, we would + much rather not have our seclusion broken in up<span class="pagenum"><a + name="page202" id="page202"></a>{202}</span> on, especially as they might choose the + route they have prospected"—with a glance at Sallie—"but it is to show + them our friendliness, more Bolivar than the actual Commission, and our desire to + rejoice with them in their good fortune. It would be very mean spirited of us to + ignore them and not assist them in entertaining their guests, especially as some of + them must be invited. We've never been in such an attitude as that to Bolivar!"</p> + <p>"Exactly, Martha," answered Aunt Augusta with relief. "The thought of proud old + Glendale putting herself in an attitude of municipal sulks towards common Bolivar + seemed an unbearable disgrace to me. Didn't we invite them up for a great fish-fry on + the river when they opened that odious soap factory, and ask them to let us help take + care of some of their delegates when they had the Methodist Conference? They sent one + of the two bishops to you, you remember, Martha, and I am sure your enter<span + class="pagenum"><a name="page203" id="page203"></a>{203}</span> tainment of him was + so lavish that he went home ill. No man said us nay in the exercising our right of + religious hospitality, why should they in our civic? We must not allow the town to + put us in such an attitude! Must Not! It was for this that I called this meeting at + Evelina's, as she was the one to propose this public-spirited and creditable + plan."</p> + <p>"But what shall we do if they don't want to have it?" asked Mamie.</p> + <p>"I have asked, when did the men of Glendale begin to dictate to the women as to + whom they should offer their hospitality?" answered Aunt Augusta, as she arose to her + feet. "Are we free women, and have we, or have we not, command of our own storerooms + and our own servants and our own time and strength?"</p> + <p>And as I looked up at the tall, fierce, white-haired old dame of high degree, + daughter of the women of the Colonies and the women of the Wilderness days, I got + ex<span class="pagenum"><a name="page204" id="page204"></a>{204}</span> actly the + same sensation I had when I saw the Goddess of Liberty loom up out of the mist as I + sailed into the harbor of my own land from a foreign one. And what I was feeling I + knew every woman present was feeling in a greater or less degree, except perhaps + Sallie, for her face was a puzzle of sore amazement and a pleading desire for further + sleep.</p> + <p>"Have we or have we not?" Aunt Augusta again demanded, and just then a most + wonderful thing happened!</p> + <p>Jane stood in our midst!</p> + <p>Oh, Jane, you were a miracle to me, but I must go on writing about it all calmly + for the sake of the Five!</p> + <p>I made a mad rush from my rocker to throw myself into her arms, but she stopped me + with one glance of her cold, official eye that quelled me, and stood attention before + Aunt Augusta.</p> + <p>"Madam President," she said in her grandest parliamentary voice, "it was by + ac<span class="pagenum"><a name="page205" id="page205"></a>{205}</span> cident that I + interrupted the proceedings of what I take to be an official meeting. Have I your + permission to withdraw? I am Miss Shelby's guest, Miss Mathers, and I can easily + await her greetings until the adjournment of this body."</p> + <p>Oh, Jane, and my arms just hungry for you!</p> + <p>"Madam," answered Aunt Augusta, in her grandest manner and a voice so filled with + cordiality that I hardly knew it, "it is the pleasure of the chair to interrupt + proceedings and to welcome you. Evelina, introduce us all!"</p> + <p>It was all just glorious! I never saw anybody get a more lovely ovation than Jane + did from my friends, for they had all heard about her, read with awe clippings I + showed them about her speeches and—were about ready for her.</p> + <p>Sallie kissed her on both cheeks, Mamie laid the baby in her arms with a devout + expression, and Nell clung to her with the <span class="pagenum"><a name="page206" + id="page206"></a>{206}</span> rapture of the newly proselyted in her face. Aunt + Martha made her welcome in her dearest manner and Caroline beamed on her with the + return of a lot of the fire and spirit of the youth that hanging on the doled-out + affections of Lee Greenfield had starved in her.</p> + <p>And it was characteristic of Jane and her methods that it took much less time than + it takes me to write it, for her to get all the greetings over with, explain that she + had sent me a letter telling me that she was coming that must have gone astray, get + everybody named and ticketed in her mind, and get us all back to business.</p> + <p>Aunt Augusta explained the situation to her with so much feeling and eloquence + that she swept us all off our feet, and when she was ready to put the question again + to us as to our willingness to embark on our defiance of our fellow-townsmen, the + answer of enthusiastic acquiescence was ready for her.<span class="pagenum"><a + name="page207" id="page207"></a>{207}</span></p> + <p>"Of course, as none of you have any official municipal status, the invitation will + have to be given informally, in a social way, to the Commission through Miss Shelby's + friend, Mr. Richard Hall," said Jane, when Aunt Augusta had called on her to give us + her opinion of the situation in general and the mode of procedure. "We find it best + in all women-questions of the present, to do things in a perfectly legal and + parliamentary way."</p> + <p>"Must we tell them about it or not?" asked Mamie, in a wavering voice, looking up + devoutly at Jane, who had held young Ned against the stiff white linen shirt of her + traveling dress just as comfortably as if he were her own seventh.</p> + <p>"Did they consult you before deciding to refuse your suggestion?" asked Jane, + calmly and thoughtfully.</p> + <p>"They did not," trumpeted Aunt Augusta.</p> + <p>"Then wouldn't it be the most regular <span class="pagenum"><a name="page208" + id="page208"></a>{208}</span> way to proceed to get an acceptance of the invitation + from the Commission and then extend them one to be present?" pronounced Jane, coolly, + seemingly totally unconscious that she was exploding; a bomb shell.</p> + <p>"It would, and we will consider it so settled," answered Aunt Augusta, + dominatingly.</p> + <p>This quick and revolutionary decision gave me a shock. I could see that a woman + doesn't like to feel that there is a stick of dynamite between her and a man, when + she puts her head down under his chin or her cheek to his, but advanced women must + suffer that. Still I'm glad that the Crag is on our side of the fence. I felt sorry + for Mamie and Caroline—and Sallie looked a tragedy.</p> + <p>In fact, a shade of depression was about to steal over the spirits of the meeting + when Aunt Augusta luckily called for the discussion of plans for the rally.</p> + <p>Feeding other human beings is the nat<span class="pagenum"><a name="page209" + id="page209"></a>{209}</span> ural, instituted, physiological, pathological, + metaphysical, and spiritual outlet for a woman's nature, and that is why she is so + happy when she gets out her family receipt book for a called rehearsal for the + functioning of her hospitality. The revolution went home happy and excited over the + martialing of their flesh pots.</p> + <p>I'm glad Jane is asleep across the hall to-night. If I had had to shoulder all + this outbreak by myself I would have compromised by instituting a campaign of + wheedling, the like of which this town never suffered before, and then when this + glorious rally was finally pulled off, the cajoled masculine population would have + fairly swelled with pride over having done it!</p> + <p>Of course, by every known test of conduct and economics, their attitude in the + matter is entirely right. Men work to all given points in straight, clear-cut, + logical lines only to find women at the point of results waiting for them, with + unforeseen culminations, <span class="pagenum"><a name="page210" + id="page210"></a>{210}</span> which would have been impossible to them.</p> + <p>And I am also glad the Crag is partly responsible for starting, or at least + unconsciously aiding, this scheme in high finance of mine; and he is also in reality + the silent sponsor for this unhatched revolution. I am deeply contented to go to + sleep with that comforting; thought tucked under my pillow.</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page211" id="page211"></a>{211}</span></p> + <h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + <p>AN ATTAINED TO-MORROW</p> + <p>I've changed my mind about a woman's being like a whirlwind. The women of now are + the attained to-morrow that the world since the beginning has been trying to catch up + with. Jane is that, and then the day after, too, and what she has done to Glendale in + these two weeks has stunned the old town into a trance of delight and amazement. She + has recreated us, breathed the breath of modernity into us, and started the machine + up the grade of civilization at a pace that makes me hold my breath for fear of + something jolting us.</p> + <p>She and Aunt Augusta have organized an Equality League, and that wheel came very + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page212" id="page212"></a>{212}</span> near flying + loose and being the finish of Uncle Peter.</p> + <p>He came to see me the morning of the first meeting and, when I saw him coming up + the front walk, I got an astral vision of the chips on his shoulder enlarged to twice + their natural size, and called to Jasper to mix the juleps very long and extra deep. + But deep as they were, to the very top of the longest glasses, he couldn't drown his + wrath in his.</p> + <p>"Women, women," he exploded from over the very mint sprig itself, "all fools, all + fools from the beginning of time; made that way on purpose—on + purpose—hey? World needs some sort of creature with no better sense than to + want to spend their lives fooling with babies and the bread of life. Human young and + religion are the only things in the world men can't attend to for themselves and + that's what they need women for. Women with no brains—but all heart—all + heart—hey?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="page213" + id="page213"></a>{213}</span></p> + <p>"Why should just a little brain hurt their heart-action. Uncle Peter?" I asked + mildly. There is nothing in the world that I ever met that I enjoy any more than one + of Uncle Peter's rages, and I always try to be meekly inflammatory.</p> + <p>"They're never satisfied with using them to run church societies and children's + internal organs, but they want to use 'em on men and civilization in general. Where'd + you get that Yankee school-marm—hey? Why don't she get a husband and a baby and + settle down? Ten babies, twenty babies if necessary—hey?"</p> + <p>"You are entirely mistaken as to the plans that Jane and Aunt Augusta have for the + League they are forming this morning, Uncle Peter." I began to say with delight as to + what was likely to ensue. "If you would only listen to Jane while she—"</p> + <p>"Don't want to hear a word she has to say! All 'as the crackling of thorns under a + pot'—all the talk of fools."<span class="pagenum"><a name="page214" + id="page214"></a>{214}</span></p> + <p>"But surely you are not afraid to listen to her, Uncle Peter," I dared to say, and + then stood away.</p> + <p>"Afraid, afraid—never was afraid of anybody in my life, Augusta not + excepted!" he exclaimed, as he rose in his wrath. "The men of this town will show the + uprising hussies what we think of 'em, and put 'em back to the heels of men, where + they belong—belong—hey?"</p> + <p>And before I could remonstrate with him he was marching down the street like a + whole regiment out on a charge that was to be one of extermination, or complete + surrender.</p> + <p>The Crag told me that evening that the Mayor's office of Glendale had reeked of + brimstone, for hours, and the next Sunday Aunt Augusta sat in their pew at church, + militantly alone, while he occupied a seat in the farthest limits of the amen corner, + with equal militancy.</p> + <p>But Uncle Peter's attitude during the time <span class="pagenum"><a name="page215" + id="page215"></a>{215}</span> of Jane's campaign for general Equality in Glendale was + pathetically like that of an old log, that has been drifting comfortably down the + stream of life with the tide that bore its comrades, and suddenly got its end stuck + in the mud so that it was forced to stem alone the very tide it had been floating + on.</p> + <p>Jane didn't throw any rocks at anybody's opinions or break the windows of + anybody's prejudices. She had the most lovely heart to heart talks with the women + separately, collectively, and in both small and large bunches. I had them in to tea + in the combinations that she wanted them, and I must say that she was the loveliest + thing with them that could be imagined. She was just her stiff, ugly self, starchily + clad in the most beautifully tailored white linen, and they all went mad about her. + The Pup and the Kit clutched at her skirts until anybody else would have been a mass + of wrinkles, and the left breast of her linen blouse did always <span + class="pagenum"><a name="page216" id="page216"></a>{216}</span> bear a slight impress + of little Ned's head. The congeniality of Jane and that baby was a revelation to me + and his colic ceased after the first time she kneaded it out of his fat little + stomach with her long, slim, powerful hands according to a first-aid method she had + learned in her settlement work, with Mamie looking on in fear and adoration. It may + have been bloodless surgery but I suspect it of being partly hypnotism, because the + same sort of surgery was used on the minds of all my women friends and with a like + result.</p> + <p>The subject of the rally was a fine one for everybody to get together on from the + start and, before any of them realized that they were doing anything but plan out the + details of a big spread, the like of which they had been doing for hospitable + generations, for the railroad Commission, they were organized into a flourishing + Equality League, with officers and by-laws and a sinking fund in the treasury.<span + class="pagenum"><a name="page217" id="page217"></a>{217}</span></p> + <p>"Now, Evelina," said Jane, as she sat on the edge of my bed braiding her heavy, + sleek, black braid that is as big as my wrist and that she declares is her one + beauty, though she ought to know that her straight, strong-figure, ruddy complexion, + aroma of strength and keen, near-sighted eyes are—well, if not beauties, + something very winning, "we must not allow the men time to get sore over this matter + of the League. We must make them feel immediately that they are needed and wanted + intensely in the movement. They must be asked to take their place, shoulder to + shoulder, with us in this fight for better conditions for the world and mankind in + general. True to our theory we must offer them our comradely affection and openly and + honestly express our need of them in our lives and in our activities. I was talking + to Mrs. Carruthers and Nell and Mrs. Hall and Caroline, as well as your Cousin + Martha, about it this afternoon and they all agreed with me that the men would <span + class="pagenum"><a name="page218" id="page218"></a>{218}</span> have cause to be + aggrieved at us about seeming thus to be organizing a life for ourselves apart from + theirs, with no place in it provided for them. Mrs. Carruthers said that she had felt + that the Reverend Mr. Haley had been deeply hurt already at not being masked to open + any of the meetings with prayer, and she volunteered to talk to him and express for + herself and us our need of him."</p> + <p>"That will be easy for Sallie, for she has been expressing need of people in her + fife as long as she has been living it," I answered with a good-natured laugh, though + I would have liked to have that interview with the Dominie myself. He is so + enthusiastic that I like to bask in him once in a while.</p> + + <div class="figcenter" style="width: 233px;"><a id="five" name="five"></a> + <img src="images/image05.jpg" width="350" height="233" + alt=""We must not allow the men to get sore over this matter of the League"" + title=""We must not allow the men to get sore over this matter of the League"" /> + <b>"We must not allow the men to get sore over this matter of the + League"</b> + </div> + <p>"I asked young Mr. Hayes to take me fishing with him to-morrow in order to have a + whole quiet day with him alone so that we could get closely in touch with each other. + I have had very little opportunity to talk with <span class="pagenum"><a + name="page219" id="page219"></a>{219}</span> him, but I have felt his sympathy in + several interested glances we have exchanged with each other. I am looking forward to + the establishment of a perfect friendship with him."</p> + <p>I told myself that I was mistaken in thinking that the expression in Jane's eyes + was softened to the verge of dreaminess and my inmost soul shouted at the idea of + Jane and Polk and their day alone in the woods.</p> + <p>Since that night that Polk humiliated me as completely as a man can humiliate a + woman, he has looked at me like a whipped child, and I haven't looked at him at all I + have used Jane as a wide-spread fan behind which to hide from him. How was I to know + what was going on on the other side of the fan?</p> + <p>It is a relief to realize that in the world there are at least a few women like + Jane that don't have to be protected from Polk and his kind. Jane is one of the + hunted <span class="pagenum"><a name="page220" id="page220"></a>{220}</span> that has + turned and has come back to meet the pursuer with outstretched and disarming hand. + This, I suspect, is to be about her first real tussle; skoal to the victor!</p> + <p>"I advised your Aunt Augusta to ask you to talk again to your Uncle Peter, and + Nell is to seek an interview with Mr. Hardin at her earliest opportunity, though I + think the only result will be instruction and uplift for Nell, as a more illumined + thing I never had said to me on the subject of the relation of men and women than the + one he uttered to me last night, as he said good-by to me out on the porch in that + glorious moonlight that seems brighter here in Glendale than I have ever seen it out + in the world anywhere else."</p> + <p>"What did he say?" I asked perfectly naturally, though a double-bladed pain was + twisted around in my solar plexus as the vision of Jane's last night interview in the + moonlight with the Crag, and Nell's soon-to-be-one, hit me broadside at the same + time.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page221" id="page221"></a>{221}</span> I haven't + had one by myself with him for a week.</p> + <p>"Why, of course, women are the breath that men draw into their lungs of life to + supply eternal combustion," was what he said when I asked him point-blank what he + thought of the League. "Only let us breathe slowly as we ascend to still greater + elevations with their consequent rarefied air," he added, with the most heavenly + thoughtfulness in his fine face. "Did it ever occur to you, Evelina, that your Cousin + James is really a radiantly beautiful man? How could you be so mistaken, as to both + him and his personal appearance, as to apply such a name as Crag to him?"</p> + <p>Glendale is going to Jane's head!</p> + <p>"Don't you think he looks scraggy in that long-tailed coat, shocks of taggy hair + and a collar big enough to fit Old Harpeth?" I asked deceitfully.</p> + <p>Why shouldn't I tell Jane what I really thought of Cousin James and discuss him + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page222" id="page222"></a>{222}</span> broadly and + frankly? I don't know! Lately I don't want to think about him or have anybody mention + him in my presence. I've got a consciousness of him way off in a corner of me + somewhere and I'm just brooding over it. Everybody in town has been in this house + since Jane has been here, all the time, and I haven't seen him alone for ages it + seems. Maybe that's why I have had to make a desert island inside myself to take him + to.</p> + <p>"And I have been thinking since you told me of the situation in which he and Mrs. + Carruthers have been placed by this financial catastrophe, how wonderful it will be + if love really does come to them, when her grief is healed by time. He will rear her + interesting children into women that will be invaluable to the commonwealth," Jane + continued as she tied a blue bow on the end of her long black plait.</p> + <p>"Do you think that there—there are any signs of—of such a thing yet?" + I <span class="pagenum"><a name="page223" id="page223"></a>{223}</span> asked with + pitiful weakness as I wilted down into my pillow.</p> + <p>"Just a bit in his manner to her, though I may be influenced in my judgment by the + evident suitability of such a solution of the situation," she answered as she settled + herself back against one of the posts of my high old bed and looked me clean through + and through, even unto the shores of that desert island itself.</p> + <p>"I hope you have been noting these different emotional situations and reactions + among your friends carefully in your record, Evelina," she continued in an interested + and biological tone of voice and expression of eye. "In a small community like this + it is much easier to get at the real underlying motive of such things than it is in a + more complicated civilization. I have seen you transcribing notes into our book. + Since I have come to Glendale I am more firmly determined than ever that the attitude + of emotional equality that we determined upon in <span class="pagenum"><a + name="page224" id="page224"></a>{224}</span> the spring is the true solution of most + of the complicated man-and-woman problems. I am anxious to see it tried out in five + other different communities that we will select. I would not seem to be indelicate, + dear, but I do not see any signs of your having been especially drawn emotionally + towards any of your friends, though your attitude of sisterly comradeship and + frankness with them is more beautiful than I thought it was possible for such a thing + to be. You are not being tempted to shirk any of your duties of womanhood because of + your interest in your art, are you? I will confess to you that the thing that brought + me down upon you was your news of this commission for the series of station-gardens. + I think you will probably work better after this side of your nature is at rest. Of + course, a union with Mr. Hall would be ideal for you. You must consider it + seriously."</p> + <p>The "must" in Jane's voice sounded exactly like that "must" looked in Richard's + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page225" id="page225"></a>{225}</span> telegram, which + has been enforced with others just as emphatic ever since.</p> + <p>There are some men who are big enough to take a woman with a wound in her heart + and heal both it and her by their love. Richard is one of that kind. What could any + woman want more than her work and a man like that?</p> + <p>After Jane had laid her strong-minded head on the hard pillow, that I had had to + have concocted out of bats of cotton for her, I laid my face against my own made of + the soft breast feathers of a white flock of hovering hen-mothers and wept on their + softness.</p> + <p>A light was burning down in the lodge at the gate of Widegables. He hasn't gone + back to his room to sleep, even when I have Jane's strong-mindedness in the house + with me. I remember that I gave my word of honor to myself that I wouldn't try any of + my modern emotional experiments on him the first night I slept in this house alone, + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page226" id="page226"></a>{226}</span> with only him + over there to keep me from dying with primitive woman fright. I shall keep my word to + myself and propose to Richard if my contract with Jane and the Five seems to call for + it. In the meantime if I choose to cry myself to sleep it is nobody's business.</p> + <p>I wonder if a mist rises up to Heaven every night from all the woman-tears in all + the world, and if God sees it, as it clings damp around the hem of His garment, and + smiles with such warm understanding that it vanishes in a soft glow of sleep that He + sends down to us!</p> + <p>Jane has arisen early several mornings and spent an hour before breakfast + composing a masterly and Machiavellian letter of invitation from the Equality League + to the inhabitants of Glendale and the surrounding countryside to and beyond Bolivar + to attend the rally given by them in honor of the C. & G. Railroad Commission on + Tuesday next. It is to come out to-day in the weekly papers <span class="pagenum"><a + name="page227" id="page227"></a>{227}</span> of Glendale, Bolivar, Hillsboro, and + Providence, and I hope there will not be so many cases of heart-failure from rage + that the gloom of many funerals will put out the light of the rally. I hope no man + will beat any woman in the Harpeth Valley for it, and if he does, I hope he will do + it so neither Jane nor I will hear of it.</p> + <p>It was Aunt Augusta who thought up the insulting and incendiary plan of having the + rally as an offering of hospitality from the League, and I hope if Uncle Peter is + going to die over it he will not have the final explosion in my presence.</p> + <p>Privately I spent a dollar and a half sending a night-letter to Richard all about + it and asking him if the Commissioners would be willing to stand for this feminist + plank in the barbecue deal. He had sent me the nicest letter of acceptance from the + Board when I had written the invitation to them through him, as coming from the + perfectly ladylike feminine population of Glendale, <span class="pagenum"><a + name="page228" id="page228"></a>{228}</span> and I didn't like to get them into a + woman-whirlwind without their own consent. I paid the boy at the telegraph office + five dollars not to talk about the matter to a human soul, and threatened to have him + dismissed if he did, so the bomb-shell was kept in until this afternoon.</p> + <p>Richard replied to the telegram with characteristic directness:</p> + <div class="blockquot"> + <p>Delighted to be in at the fight. Seven of us rabid suffragists, two on the + fence, and a half roast pig will convert the other. Found no answer to my question + in letter of last Tuesday. Must!</p> + <p>RICHARD.</p> + </div> + <p>It was nice of Jane to write out and get ready her bomb-shell and then go off with + Polk, so as not to see it explode. But I'm glad she did. However, I did advise her to + take a copy of it along with the reels and the lunch-basket to read to him, as a + starter of <span class="pagenum"><a name="page229" id="page229"></a>{229}</span> + their day to be devoted to the establishment of a perfect friendship between + them.</p> + <p>Polk didn't look at me even once as I helped pack them and their traps into his + Hupp, but Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like Polk in his white flannels, + and he and Jane made a picture of perfectly blended tailored smartness as they got + ready for the break-away.</p> + <p>There are some men that acquire feminine obligations as rough cheviot does lint + and Henrietta is one of Polk's when it comes to the fishing days. He takes her so + often that she thinks she owns him and all the trout in Little Harpeth, and she + landed in the midst of the picnic with her fighting clothes on.</p> + <p>"Where are you and her going at,—fishing?" she asked in a calmly controlled + voice that both of them had heard before, and which made us quail in our boots and + metaphorically duck our heads.</p> + <p>"Yes, we—er thought we would," he <span class="pagenum"><a name="page230" + id="page230"></a>{230}</span> answered with an uncertainty of voice and manner that + bespoke abject fear.</p> + <p>"I'll be d—— if you shall," came the explosion, hot and loud. "I want + to go fishing with you, Polk, my own self, and she ain't no good for nothing any way. + You can't take her!"</p> + <p>"Henrietta!" I both beseeched and commanded in one breath.</p> + <p>"No, she ain't no good at all," was reiterated in the stormy young voice as + Henrietta caught hold of the nose of the panting Hupp and stood directly in the path + of destruction, if Polk had turned the driving wheel a hair's breadth. "Uncle Peter + says that she is er going to turn the devil loose in Glendale, so they won't be no + more whisky and no more babies borned and men will get they noses rubbed in their + plates, if they don't eat the awful truck she is er going to teach the women to cook + for their husbands. An' the men won't marry no more then at all, and I'll have to be + a old maid like her."<span class="pagenum"><a name="page231" + id="page231"></a>{231}</span></p> + <p>Now, why did I write weeks ago that I would like to witness an encounter between + Jane and Henrietta! I didn't mean it, but I got it!</p> + <p>Without ruffling a hair or changing color Jane stepped out of the Hupp and faced + the foe. Henrietta is a tiny scrap of a woman, intense in a wild, beautiful, almost + hunted kind of way, and she is so thin that it makes my heart ache. She is being + fairly crushed with the beautiful depending weight of her mother and the + responsibility of the twins, and somehow she is most pathetic. I made a motion to + step between her and Jane, but one look in Jane's face stopped me.</p> + <p>"Dear," she said, in her rich, throaty, strong voice as she looked pleadingly at + the militant midget facing her. Suddenly I was that lonesome, homesick freshman by + the waters of Lake Waban, with Jane's awkward young arm around me, and I stood aside + to let Henrietta come into her herit<span class="pagenum"><a name="page232" + id="page232"></a>{232}</span> age of Jane. "Don't you want to come with us?" was the + soft question that followed the commanding word of endearment.</p> + <p>"No!" was the short, but slightly mollified answer as Henrietta dug her toes into + the dust and began to look fascinated.</p> + <p>"I'm glad you don't want to come, because I've got some very important business to + ask you to attend to for me," answered Jane, in the brisk tone of voice she uses in + doing business with women, and which interests them intensely by its very novelty and + flatters them by seeming to endow them with a kind of brain they didn't know they + possessed. "I want you to go upstairs and get my pocketbook. Be careful, for there is + over a hundred dollars in the roll of bills—Evelina will give you the key to + the desk—and go down to the drug store where they keep nice little clocks and + buy me the best one they have. Then please you wind it up yourself and watch it all + day to see if it <span class="pagenum"><a name="page233" + id="page233"></a>{233}</span> keeps time with the clock in your hall, and if it + varies more than one minute, take it back and get another. While you are in the drug + store, if you have time, won't you please select me a new tooth-brush and some nice + kind of paste that you think is good? Make them show you all they have. Pay for it + out of one of the bills."</p> + <p>"Want any good, smelly soap?" I came out of my trance of absolute admiration to + hear Henrietta ask in the capable voice of a secretary to a millionaire. Her thin + little face was flushed with excitement and importance, and she edged two feet nearer + the charmer.</p> + <p>"It would be a good thing to get about a half dozen cakes, wouldn't it?" answered + Jane, with slight uncertainty in her voice as if leaving the decision of the matter + partly to Henrietta.</p> + <p>"Yes, I believe I would," Henrietta decided judicially. "The 'New Mown Hay' is + what Jasper got for Petunia because he <span class="pagenum"><a name="page234" + id="page234"></a>{234}</span> hit her too hard last week and swelled her eye. They is + a perfumery that goes with it at one quarter a bottle. That makes it all + cheaper."</p> + <p>"Exactly the thing, and we mustn't spend money unnecessarily," Jane agreed. "But I + don't want to trespass on your time, Henrietta, dear," she added with the deference + she would have used in speaking to the President of the Nation League or the founder + of Hull House.</p> + <p>"No, ma'am, I'm glad to do it, and I'll go quick 'fore it gets any later in the + day for me to watch the clock," answered Henrietta in stately tones that were very + like Jane's and which I had never heard her employ before.</p> + <p>And before any of the three of us got our breath her bare little feet were + flashing up my front walk.</p> + <p>"Help!" exclaimed Polk as he leaned back from his wheel and fanned himself with + his hat. "Do you use the same meth<span class="pagenum"><a name="page235" + id="page235"></a>{235}</span> ods with grown beasts that you do with cubs?" he added + weakly.</p> + <p>"It's the same she has always used on me, only this is more dramatic. Beware!" I + said with a laugh as I insisted on just one squeeze of Jane's white linen arm as she + was climbing back into the car.</p> + <p>"That's a remarkably fine child and she should have good, dependable, + business-like habits put in the place of faulty and useless ones. Her profanity will + make no difference for the present and can be easily corrected. Don't interfere with + her attending to my commissions, Evelina. Let's start, Mr. Hayes." And Jane settled + herself calmly for the spin out Providence Road.</p> + <p>"All the hundred dollars all by herself, Jane?" I called after them.</p> + <p>"Yes," floated back positively in the wake of the Hupp.</p> + <p>For several hours I attended to the business of my life in a haze of meditation. + If Henrietta ticks off the same number of min<span class="pagenum"><a name="page236" + id="page236"></a>{236}</span> utes on the woman-clock from Jane's standpoint, that + Jane has marked off from her own mother's, high noon is going to strike before we are + ready for it.</p> + <p>But it was only an hour or two of high-minded communing with the future that I got + the time for, before I was involved in the whirl of dust that swirled around the + storm center, to darken and throw a shadow over Glendale about the time of the + publication of the Glendale News, which occurs every Thursday near the hour of noon, + so that all the subscribers can take that enterprising sheet home to consume while + waiting for dinner, and can leave it for the women of their families to enjoy in the + afternoon.</p> + <p>I suspect that the digestion of Jane's Equality rally invitation interfered with + the digestion of much fried chicken, corn, and sweet potatoes, under the roof-trees + of the town and I spent the afternoon in hearing results and keeping up the spirits + of the insurgents.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page237" + id="page237"></a>{237}</span></p> + <p>Caroline came in with her head so high that she had difficulty in seeing over her + very slender and aristocratic nose, with a note from Lee Greenfield which had just + come to her, asking her to go with him in his car over to Hillsboro to spend the day + with Tom Pollard's wife, a visit he knows she has been dying to make for two months, + for she was one of Pet's bridesmaids. He made casual and dastardly mention that there + would be a moon to come home by, but ignored completely the fact that Tuesday was the + day on which he had been invited by the League, of which he knew she was a member, to + meet and rally around the C. & G. Commission.</p> + <p>I helped her compose the answer, and I must say we hit Lee only in high spots. I + could see she was scared to death, and so was I, but her dander was up, and I backed + mine up along side it for the purpose of support. Besides I feel in my heart that + that note will dynamite the rocky old situa<span class="pagenum"><a name="page238" + id="page238"></a>{238}</span> tion between them into something more easily + handled.</p> + <p>She had just gone to dispatch the missive by their negro gardener when Mamie and + Sallie came clucking in. Mamie's face was pink and high-spirited, but Sallie was in + one complete slump of mind and body.</p> + <p>"Mr. Haley has just stopped by to say that he thinks no price is too great to pay + for peace, and fellowship, and good-will in a community," she said, as she dropped + into a rocker and looked pensively after the retreating figure of the handsome young + Dominie, who had accompanied them to the gate but wisely no farther. He didn't know + that Jane had gone with Polk.</p> + <p>"And women to pay the price," answered Mamie, spiritedly. "I have just told Ned + that as yet I do not know enough to argue the question of woman's wrongs with him, + but I have learned a few of her rights. One of <i>mine</i> is to have him accept any + invitation I am responsible for having my friends of<span class="pagenum"><a + name="page239" id="page239"></a>{239}</span> fer him, and to accompany me to the + entertainment if I desire to go. I reminded him that I had not troubled him often as + an escort since my marriage. He was so scared that he almost let little Ned drop out + of his arms, and he got in an awful hurry to go to town, but he asked me to have his + gray flannels pressed before Tuesday and to buy him a blue tie to go with a new shirt + he has. I never like to spank Ned or the children, but I must say it does clear the + atmosphere."</p> + <p>"You don't think we could put it off or—or—" Sallie faltered.</p> + <p>"No!" answered Mamie and I together, and as I spoke I called Jasper to set out + more rockers and have Petunia get the tea-tray ready, for I saw Aunt Augusta go + across the road to collect Cousin Martha and Mrs. Hargrove and the rest, while Nell + whirled by in her rakish little car on her way to the Square and called that she + would be back.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page240" + id="page240"></a>{240}</span></p> + <p>When Nell used a thousand dollars of her own money, left her by her grandmother, + to buy that little Buick, Glendale promptly had a spell of epilepsy that lasted for + days. The whole town still dodges and swears when it sees her coming, for she drives + with a combination of feminine recklessness and masculine speed that is to say the + least alarming. To see Aunt Augusta out for a spin with her is a delicious sight.</p> + <p>And it was most interesting to listen to a minute description of the composite fit + thrown by the male population of Glendale, at their rally invitation, but as time was + limited I finally coaxed the conversation around to the subject of the viands to be + offered the lordly creatures in the way of propitiation for the insult that we were + forcing them to swallow by taking matters in our own hands, and then we had a really + glorious time.</p> + <p>I am glad I have had a year or more in Paris, months in Italy, weeks in Berlin, + and <span class="pagenum"><a name="page241" id="page241"></a>{241}</span> a sojourn + in England, just so that I can be sure myself and assure the others with authority + that there are no such cooks in all the world as the women in the Harpeth Valley of + Tennessee, United States of America.</p> + <p>The afternoon wore away on the wings of magic, and the long, purple shadows were + falling across the street, a rustle of cool night wind was stirring the tree-tops and + the first star was coming timidly out into the gloaming, before they all realized + that it was time to hurry and scurry under roof-trees.</p> + <p>Lee Greenfield was waiting at the gate for Caroline.</p> + <p>Just as Henrietta had taken a last peep at the clock on the hall table and gone to + answer Sallie's call to come and help Aunt Dilsie in the bedding of the Kitten and + the Pup, Polk's Hupp stopped at the gate, and he and Jane came up the front walk in + the twilight together.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page242" + id="page242"></a>{242}</span></p> + <p>She had on his flannel coat over her linen one and his expression was one of + glorified and translucent daze. I didn't look at her—I felt as if I couldn't. I + was scared! For a second she held me in her arms and kissed me, + <i>really</i>—the first time she had ever done it in all my life—and then + went on upstairs with a nice, cool good-night and "thank you" to Polk.</p> + <p>"Evelina," he said, as he handed me the empty lunch-basket and also the empty + fish-bucket, the first he had ever in his life brought in from Little Harpeth, "I was + right about that Hallelujah chorus being the true definition of the real + woman—only they are more so. I have seen a light, and you pointed the way. Will + you forgive me for being what I was—and trust + me—with—with—good-night!" He was gone!</p> + <p>Jane's kiss had been one of revelation—to me!</p> + <p>For a long time I sat out there in the <span class="pagenum"><a name="page243" + id="page243"></a>{243}</span> cool, hazy, windy autumn twilight breeze, that was + heavy with the scent of luscious wild grapes and tasseled corn, fanning the flame of + loneliness in me until I couldn't have stood it any longer if a tall gray figure of + relief had not come up the street and called me down to my front gate.</p> + <p>"Hail the instigator of a bloodless revolution," laughed the Crag as I stopped + myself with difficulty on the opposite side of the gate from him. "The city fathers + will have to capitulate, and now for the reign of the mothers!"</p> + <p>"And the same old route to subjection chosen, through their stomachs to their + civic hearts," I answered impudently.</p> + <p>Overlooking my pertness he went on:</p> + <p>"Mayor Shelby was at home with Mrs. Augusta for two hours after dinner and, as I + came by the post-office, I heard him telling Polk in remarkably chastened, if not + entirely chaste language, that it was 'better to let the women have their kick-up + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page244" id="page244"></a>{244}</span> on a feeding + proposition than on something worse,' as he classically put it."</p> + <p>"I know it is a great victory," I answered weakly, "but I'm too tired to glory in + it. I wish I was Sallie's Puppy being trotted across Aunt Dilsie's knee, or Kit, + getting a rocking in Cousin Martha's arms."</p> + <p>"Would any other arms do for the rocking?" came in a queer, audacious voice, with + a note in it that stilled something in me and made all the world seem to be holding + its breath.</p> + <p>"I'm tired of revoluting and it's—it's tenderness I want," I faltered in a + voice that hardly seemed strong enough to get so far up out of my heart as to reach + the ears of the Crag as he bent his head down close over mine. He had come on my side + of the gate at the first weak little cry I had let myself make a minute or two + before.</p> + + <div class="figcenter" style="width: 350px;"><a id="six" name="six"></a> + <img src="images/image06.jpg" width="350" height="526" + alt=""Is this right?" he asked" + title=""Is this right?" he asked" /> <b>"Is this right?" he asked</b> + </div> + <p>"Is this right?" he asked, as he gently took me in his arms, hollowed his shoulder + for a place for my head, and leaning against <span class="pagenum"><a name="page245" + id="page245"></a>{245}</span> the old gate he began to swing me gently to and fro, + his cheek against my hair and humming Aunt Dilsie's</p> + <p>"Swing low sweet chariot, fer to carry me home."</p> + <p>It was.</p> + <p>I know now what I want and I am going to have it. I'll fight the whole world with + naked hands for him. And I'm also going to find some way to get him with all his + absurd niceties of honor intact, just because that will make him happier.</p> + <p>I'll begin at the beginning and some way unclasp those gourdy tendrils that Sallie + has been strangling him with. I will bunch all the rest of his feminine collection + and take them on my own hands. I'm going to make a Governor out of him, and then a + United States Senator and finally a Supreme Judge. Help! Think of the old Mossback + being a progressive, but that's my party and Jane's.</p> + <p>I know he is going to hate terribly to <span class="pagenum"><a name="page246" + id="page246"></a>{246}</span> have me ask him to marry me, and I hate to hurt him so, + but it is my duty to get Jane's fifty thousand dollars so the Five may be as happy as + I am to-night; only there aren't five other Crags. I know it will be a life-long + mortification to him to have me do it, but he lost his chance to-night + grand-mothering me. Still, I did turn my lips away. I was not quite ready + then—I am now.</p> + <p>If he wants to go on wearing clothes like that I'm going to let him, even on the + Senate floor, but I can't ever stand for Cousin Jasmine to cut his hair any more. I + want to do it myself, and I'm going to tell her so, and why. She and I have cried + over that miniature of the lost young Confederate cousin of hers and she'll + understand me.</p> + <p>But as I think it over—it always is best to be kind, and I believe I'll let + him get through this rally—it's just four days—free and happy man.</p> + <p>I don't know whether to go in and wake <span class="pagenum"><a name="page247" + id="page247"></a>{247}</span> up Jane or not. I would like to go to sleep with that + kiss revelation between us, but maybe it is my duty to the Five to extract some data + from her while it is fresh, on the foam. I am afraid it is going to go hard with her, + but somehow I have a newborn faith in Polk that makes me feel that he will make it as + easy as he can for her.</p> + <p>Isn't it a glorious thing to realize that neither she nor I will have to sit and + be tortured by waiting to see what those men are going to do?</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page248" id="page248"></a>{248}</span></p> + <h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2> + <p>DYNAMITE</p> + <p>When a man injures a woman's feelings by any particular course of conduct to which + she objects, the maternal in her rises to the surface and she treats and forgives him + as she would a naughty child,—but a man makes any kind of woman-affront into a + lover's quarrel. That is what masculine Glendale has been doing to its women folks + for four days, and I believe everybody has been secretly enjoying it.</p> + <p>As to the rally, they have stood aside with their hands in their pockets and their + noses in the air, and if it hadn't been for Aunt Augusta and Nell and Jane being + natural-born carpenters and draymen, we might <span class="pagenum"><a name="page249" + id="page249"></a>{249}</span> have had to give it up and let them go on with it to + their own glory.</p> + <p>When Nell and Jane went to see Mr. Dodd about building the long tables to serve + the barbecue dinner on, he said he was too busy to do it and hadn't even any lumber + to sell.</p> + <p>Then things happened in my back yard that it sounds like a romance to write about. + Jane sent me over to borrow the Crag's team and wagon and Henrietta and Cousin Martha + and any of the rest of his woman-impedimenta that I could get. He was out of town, + trying a case over at Bolivar, and wouldn't get back until Monday night.</p> + <p>I am glad he wasn't here, for it would have gone hard with me to treat him in the + manner that Jane decided it was best for all the women in Glendale to treat all the + men in this crisis. It sounded sweet and cold as molasses dispenses itself to you in + midwinter, and I could see it was a strain on Mamie and Caroline and Mrs. + Kirkland,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page250" id="page250"></a>{250}</span> Nell's + mother, and young Mrs. Dodd, the carpenter's wife,—the Boston girl that married + him before she realized him,—to keep it up from day to day.</p> + <p>Besides that I'm going to be a politician's wife—though he doesn't know it + yet—and I want the Crag to be away from the necessity of taking any sides in + this civilized warfare. That's one reason I am such a go-between for Uncle Peter and + the League, I am making votes for my man, so I consider it all right for me never to + deliver any of their messages to each other as they are given to me, but to twist + them into agreeability to suit myself.</p> + <p>Sallie said the Dominie was entirely on our side and that was why she went walking + with him Sunday afternoon. All the other men were cool to him and he is so + sensitive.</p> + <p>But to get back to the back yard. I glory in writing it and want the Five to + consider it as almost sacred data, though I hope they will never have to do + likewise.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page251" id="page251"></a>{251}</span></p> + <p>Jane and Nell and Aunt Augusta took the two axes and one large hammer and tore + down my back fence while I and the others loaded the planks on the wagon. Jane + appointed Henrietta to sit and hold the slow old horses in case they should have got + demoralized by the militant atmosphere pervading Glendale and try to bolt. I never + saw any human being enjoy herself as Henrietta did, and it was worth it all just to + look into her radiant countenance.</p> + <p>Jane took all the hard top blows to do herself and left the unloosening of the + lower nails to Aunt Augusta while Nell ripped off the planks that stuck. I could + almost hear Nell's long, polished finger nails go with a rip every time she jerked a + particularly tough old plank into subjection, and Aunt Augusta dispensed encouraging + axioms about pioneer work as she banged along behind Jane. Jane herself looked as + cool as a cucumber, didn't get the least bit ruffled, and had the expression on her + face that the <span class="pagenum"><a name="page252" id="page252"></a>{252}</span> + truly normal woman has while she is hemming a baby's flannel petticoat.</p> + <p>And though during the day many delightful crises were precipitated, the most + interesting were the expressions that devastated Polk Hayes's and Lee Greenfield's + faces as they came around the side of the house to see what all that hammering was + about.</p> + <p>"Caroline!" exclaimed Lee, in perfect agony, as he beheld the lady of his ardent, + though long-restrained, affections poised across the wheel of the wagon tugging at + the middle of a heavy plank which Mrs. Dodd and I were pushing up to her, while + Mamie, the mother of seven, stood firmly on top of the wagon guiding it into + place.</p> + <p>"Help!" gasped Polk, as he started to take the ax from Jane by force.</p> + <p>Then we all stopped while Jane quietly gurgled the molasses of the situation to + them, and sent them on down the street sadder and wiser men. I thought Polk was <span + class="pagenum"><a name="page253" id="page253"></a>{253}</span> going to cry on her + shoulder before he was finally persuaded to go and leave us to our fate, and the + expression on Lee's face as he looked up at torn, dirty, perspiring Caroline, with a + smudge on her nose and blood on her hand from an absolutely insignificant scratch, + was such as ought to have been on Ned's face as he ought to have been standing by + Mamie with the asafetida bottle. That's mixed up but the Five ought to catch the + point.</p> + <p>It took up all of Saturday afternoon and part of Monday morning, but we built + those tables, thereby disciplining masculine Glendale with a severity that I didn't + think could have been in us.</p> + <p>We all rested on Sunday, that is, ostensibly. Jane put down all sorts of things on + paper that everybody had to do on Monday and on Tuesday. Henrietta sat by her in a + state of trance and it did me good to see Sallie out in the hammock at Widegables + taking care of both the Kit and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page254" + id="page254"></a>{254}</span> Pup, laboriously assisted by panting Aunt Dilsie, + because Jane explained to her so beautifully that she needed a lot of Henrietta's + time, that Sallie acquiesced with good-natured bewilderment. Of course, Cousin + Jasmine helped her some, but she was busy aiding Cousin Martha to beat up some + mysterious eggs in the kitchen—with the shutters shut because it was Sunday. It + was something that takes two days to "set" and was to be the <i>pièce de + résistance</i>, after the barbecue.</p> + <p>Mrs. Hargrove couldn't help Sallie at all with the kiddies, either, because she + was looking through all her boxes and bundles for a letter from her son, which she + thought said something about favoring woman's rights, and if it is like she thinks it + is, she is going to go to the barbecue and get things nice and hot instead of having + them brought to her cold.</p> + <p>I had hoped to get a few minutes Sunday afternoon to myself so I could go up into + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page255" id="page255"></a>{255}</span> the garret and + look through one of the trunks I brought from Paris with me to see how many sets of + things I have got left. I am going to need a trousseau pretty soon, and I might need + it more suddenly than I expect. I don't see any reason for people's not marrying + immediately when they make up their minds, and my half of ours is made up strong + enough to decidedly influence rapidity in his. But then I really don't believe that + the Crag would care very much about the high lights of a trousseau, and it was just + as well that Nell came in to get me to help her write a letter to National + Headquarters to know if she could have any kind of assignment in the Campaign for the + Convention to alter the Constitution in Tennessee when it meets next winter.</p> + <p>"Have you made up your mind fully to go in for public life, Nell?" I asked mildly. + "Some of your friends might not like it very much and—and—"</p> + <p>"If you mean Polk Hayes, Evelina,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="page256" + id="page256"></a>{256}</span> Nell answered with the positiveness that only a very + young person can get up the courage to use, "I have forgot that I was ever influenced + by his narrow-minded, primitive personality at all. If I ever love and marry it will + be a man who can appreciate and further my real woman's destiny."</p> + <p>"Well, then, that's all right," I answered with such relief in my heart that it + must have showed in my voice and face. I had worried about Nell since I could see + plainly, though she hasn't told me yet, and I am sure he doesn't realize it, that + Jane had decided Folk's destiny. Nell is not twenty-one yet and she will find lots of + men in the world that will be fully capable of making her believe they feel that way + about her destiny, until they succeed in tying her up to using it for the real + utilitarian purposes they are sure such a pretty woman is created for.</p> + <p>It will take men in general another hundred years yet, and lots of suffering, to + realize that a woman's destiny is anything <span class="pagenum"><a name="page257" + id="page257"></a>{257}</span> but himself, and get to housekeeping with her on that + basis.</p> + <p>Of course, I see the justice and need of perfect equality in all things between + the sexes, emotional equality especially, but I hope the time will never come when + men get as hungry to see their women folks as said feminists get to see them, after + they have been away about four days out in the Harpeth Valley. It takes a woman's + patience to stand the tug.</p> + <p>The Crag didn't jog into Glendale on his raw-boned old horse until one-thirty + Monday night. I had been watching down Providence Road for him from my pillow ever + since I put out my light at eleven, because Jane had decided that it was our duty to + go to bed early so as to be as fresh as possible for the rally in the morning. She + had walked to the gate with Polk at ten and hadn't come back until eleven, so, of + course, she was ready to turn in. It was just foolish, primitive old convention <span + class="pagenum"><a name="page258" id="page258"></a>{258}</span> that kept me from + slipping on my slippers and dressing-gown—I've got the prettiest ones that ever + came across the Atlantic, Louise de Mereton, Rue de Rivoli, Paris—and going + down to the gate to see him for just a minute. That second he stood undecided in the + middle of the road looking at my darkened house was agony that I'm not going to put + up with very much longer.</p> + <p>Scientifically I feel that I'm thinking life with one lobe of my brain and + breathing with one lung. Still I made myself go to sleep.</p> + <p>Everybody believes in God in a different kind of way, and mine satisfies me + entirely. I know that the hairs of my head are numbered and that not a sparrow falls; + and I don't stop at that. I feel sure that my tears are measured and my smiles are + rejoiced over, and when I want a good day to come to me I ask for it and mostly get + it. There never was another like the one He sent me down this morning on the first + slim <span class="pagenum"><a name="page259" id="page259"></a>{259}</span> ray of + dawn that slid over the side of Old Harpeth!</p> + <p>The sun was warm and jolly and hospitable from the arrival of its first rays, but + the wind was deliciously cool and bracing and full of the wine of October. It came + racing across the fields laden with harvest scents, blustering a bit now and then + enough to bring down a shower of nuts or to make the yellow corn in the shocks in the + fields rustle ominously of a winter soon to come.</p> + <p>The maples on the bluff were garmented in royal crimson brocaded with yellow, the + buck-bushes that grew along the edges of the rocks were strung with magenta berries + and regiments of tall royal purple iron weeds and yellow-plumed golden-rod were + marshaled in squads and clumps for a background for the long tables.</p> + <p>Jane and I with Henrietta were out by the old gray moss rock at the first break of + day, installing Jasper and Petunia and a few of their <i>confrères</i>. Jasper + has always <span class="pagenum"><a name="page260" id="page260"></a>{260}</span> been + king of all Glendale barbecue-pits and he had had them dug the day before and filled + with dry hickory fires all night, and his mien was so haughty that I trembled for the + slaves under his command. His basket of "yarbs" was under the side of the rock in + hoodoo-like shadows and the wagons of poor, innocent, sacrificed lambs and turkeys + and sucking-pigs were backed up by the largest infernal pit. Petunia was already + elbow deep in a cedar tub of corn meal for the pones, and another minion was shucking + late roasting-ears and washing the sweet potatoes to be packed down with the meat by + eight o-clock. A wagon was to collect the baked hams and sandwiches and biscuits and + confections of all variety and pedigree from the rest of the League at ten + o'clock.</p> + <p>We didn't know it then but another wagon was already being loaded very privately + in town with ice and bottles, glasses and lemons and mint and kegs and schoon<span + class="pagenum"><a name="page261" id="page261"></a>{261}</span> ers. I am awfully + glad that the Equality League had forgotten all about the wetting up of the rally, + because I don't believe we would have been equal to the situation with Aunt Augusta + and Jane both prohibition enthusiasts, but it did so promote the sentiment of peace + and good cheer during the day for us to all feel that the men had not failed us in a + crisis, as well as in the natural qualities inherent in their offering for the feast. + There was a whole case of Uncle Peter's private stock. Could human nature have done + better than that?</p> + <p>But if we did forget to provide the liquids, I am glad we had the foresight to + provide other viands enough to feed a regiment, because a whole army came.</p> + <p>"Evelina," gasped Jane, as we stood on the edge of the bluff that commands a view + of almost all the Harpeth Valley stretched out like the very garden of Eden itself, + crossed by silver creeks, lined with broad roads and mantled in the richness of the + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page262" id="page262"></a>{262}</span> harvest haze, + "can all those wagons full of people be coming to accept our invitation?"</p> + <p>"Yes, they're our guests," I answered, with the elation of generations of + rally-givers rising in my breast, as I saw the stream of wagons and carriages and + buggies, with now and then a motor-car, all approaching Glendale from all points of + the compass.</p> + <p>"Have we enough to feed them. Jasper?" she turned and asked in still further + alarm.</p> + <p>"Nothing never give out in Glendale yit, since we took the cover offen the pits + for Old Hickory in my granddad's time," he answered, with a trace of offense in his + voice, as he stood over a half tub of butter mixing in his yarbs with mutterings that + sounded like incantations. I drew Jane away for I felt that it was no time to disturb + him, when the basting of his baked meats was just about to begin.</p> + <p>I was glad that about all the countryside had gathered, unhitched their wagons, + pick<span class="pagenum"><a name="page263" id="page263"></a>{263}</span> eted their + horses, and got down to the enjoyment of the day before the motor-cars bringing the + distinguished guests had even started from Bolivar. It was great to watch the farmers + slap neighbors on the back, exchange news and tobacco plugs, while the rosy women + folks grouped and ungrouped in radiant good cheer with children squirming and + tangling over and under and around the rejoicings.</p> + <p>"This, Evelina," remarked Jane, with controlled emotion in her voice and a mist in + her eyes behind their glasses, "is not only the bone and sinew but also the rich red + blood in the arteries of our nation. I feel humbled and honored at being permitted to + go among them."</p> + <p>And the sight of dear old Jane "mixing" with those Harpeth Valley farmer folk was + one of the things I have put aside to remember for always. They all knew me, of + course, and I was a bit teary at their greetings. Big motherly women took me in their + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page264" id="page264"></a>{264}</span> arms and + younger ones laid their babies in my arms and laughed and cried over me, while every + few minutes some rugged old farmer would call out for Colonel Shelby's "little gal" + and look searchingly in my face for the likeness to my fire-eating, old Confederate, + politician father.</p> + <p>But it was Jane that took them by storm and kept them, too, through the crisis of + the day. Jane is the <i>reveille</i> the Harpeth Valley has been waiting for for + fifty years. I thought I was, but Jane is it.</p> + <p>And it was into an atmosphere of almost hilarious enjoyment that the distinguished + Commission arrived a few minutes before noon, just as Jasper's barbecue-pits were + beginning to send forth absolutely maddening aromas.</p> + <p>Nell whirled up the hill first and turned her Buick across the road by the bluff + with that rakish skill of hers that always sends my heart into my throat. And whom + did she have sitting at her blue, embroidered <span class="pagenum"><a name="page265" + id="page265"></a>{265}</span> linen elbow but Richard Hall himself? Good old big, + strong dandy Dickie, how great it was to see him again, and if I had had my own heart + in my breast it would have leaped with delight at the sight of him! But even the + Crag's that I had exchanged mine for, though it was an entire stranger to Dickie, + beat fast enough in sympathy with the dance in my eyes to send the color up to my + face in good fashion as I hurried across a clump of golden-rod to meet him.</p> + <p>"Evelina, the Lovely!" he exclaimed in his big booming voice, as he took me by + both shoulders and shook me instead of shaking merely my hand.</p> + <p>"Richard the Royal!" I answered in our old <i>Quartier Latin</i> form of greeting. + I didn't look right into his eyes as I always had, however, and something sent a keen + pain through the exchanged heart in my breast at the thought that I might be obliged + to hurt the dandy old dear.</p> + <p>But suddenly the sight of Nell's loveli<span class="pagenum"><a name="page266" + id="page266"></a>{266}</span> ness cheered me. She had had Dick in that car with her + ever since nine o'clock, almost three hours, showing him the sights of that teeming + heavy lush harvest countryside around Bolivar and Glendale, all over which are + low-roofed old country houses which brood over families that cluster around the unit + that one man and a woman make in their commonwealth. Nell's eyes were sweet as she + looked at him. I'll wait and see if I need to worry over him. With the fervor I felt + I had a right to, I then avoided the issue of Richard's eyes, put it up to God and + Nell, and introduced him to Jane.</p> + <p>And while the three of them stood waiting for Nell to back up the Buick and put + her spark-plug in her pocket,—only Richard calmly took it and put it in + his,—the rest of the cars came up the hill and turned into the edge of the + golden-rod.</p> + <p>Aunt Augusta was in the first one with the Chairman of the Commission, whose name + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page267" id="page267"></a>{267}</span> even would have + paralyzed anybody but Aunt Augusta; and Mamie and Cousin Martha, Caroline and several + more of the ladies made up the rest of the Committee who had gone to escort the + distinguished guests to the rally.</p> + <p>The Crag was in the last car with a perfectly delicious old gray-haired edition of + Dickie, and I almost fell on both their necks at once. What saved them was Polk + appearing between us with three long mint-topped glasses.</p> + <p>I'm glad old Dick immediately had his eyebrows well tangled in the mint of his + julep, for I got my own eyes farther down into Cousin James's deep gray ones than I + expected and it was hard to come up. I hadn't had a plunge in them for three days and + I went pretty deep.</p> + <p>"Eve!" he said softly, as he raised his glass and smiled across his green + tuft.</p> + <p>Yes, I know he knows that I know, there is an answer to that name when he says it + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page268" id="page268"></a>{268}</span> that way, but + I'm not going to give it until I am ready and the place is romantically secluded + enough to suit me. He just dares me when he says it to me before other people. That + reminds me, the harvest moon is full to-night and rises an hour later every evening + from now on. I don't want to wait another month before I propose to him. I've always + chosen moonlight for that catastrophe of my life. I wonder if men have as good times + planning the culmination of their suits as I am having with mine?</p> + <p>But I had to come down quickly to a little thing like the rally and give the + signal to feed all the five hundred people, who by that time were nice, polite, + ravening wolves, for Jasper had uncovered the turkey-pit to keep them from getting + too brown while the lambs caught up with them.</p> + <p>Jane was the master of ceremonies, because I balked at the last minute. I think I + would be capable of managing even a National Convention in Chicago—that far + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page269" id="page269"></a>{269}</span> away from the + Harpeth Valley,—but I couldn't do it with my friends of pioneer generations + looking on. A man or woman never grows up at all to the woman who has knitted baby + socks for them or the man who has let them ride down the hill on the front of his + saddle.</p> + <p>And at the head of the center table Jane asked the Crag to sit beside her, so that + he would be in place to command attention for her when she wanted to speak, and where + everybody could hear him when he did.</p> + <p>And while the table was piled high and emptied, and piled high again, so many + bouquets of oratory were culled, tied, and cast at the guests along the table that I + believe they would have been obliged to pay exclusive attention to them if the things + to eat had not been just as odoriferous and substantial. Before dinner was over + everybody had spoken that was of a suitable age, and some that had heretofore in the + Har<span class="pagenum"><a name="page270" id="page270"></a>{270}</span> peth Valley + been considered of an unsuitable sex.</p> + <p>Jane's speech of welcome made such an impression that it is no wonder some of the + old mothers in Israel got up to iterate it, as the dinner progressed.</p> + <p>She, as usual, refrained from prejudice-smashing and stones-at-glass-houses + throwing, and she hadn't said ten sentences before she had the whole feeding + multitude with her.</p> + <p>She began on the way our pioneer mothers had to contrive to keep larders stocked + and good things ready for the households, and she tickled the palate of every man + present by mentioning every achievement in a culinary way that every woman of his + household had made in all the generations that had gone over Harpeth Valley. She + called all the concoctions by their right names, too, and she always gave the name of + the originator, who was some dear old lady that was sleeping in the Greenwood at the + foot <span class="pagenum"><a name="page271" id="page271"></a>{271}</span> of the + hill, or in some grave over at Providence or Hillsboro or Bolivar, and who was + grandmother or great-grandmother to a hundred or more of the guests. I had wondered + why Jane had been poring over that old autograph manuscript receipt book in my desk + for days, and as she paid these modern resurrecting compliments to the long gone + cooks, tears and laughed literally deluged the table.</p> + <p>And as she built up, achievement by achievement, the domestic woman-history of the + valley, Jane showed in the most insidious way possible how the pioneer women had been + really the warp on which had been woven the woof of the whole history of their part + of the Nation, political, financial, and religious. I never heard anything like it in + all my life, and as I looked down those long tables at those aroused, tense, farmer + faces, I knew Jane had cracked the geological crust of the Harpeth Valley, and built + a brake that would stop any whirl<span class="pagenum"><a name="page272" + id="page272"></a>{272}</span> wind on the woman-question that might attempt to come + in on us over the Ridge from the outside world. They saw her point and were hard hit. + When "Votes for Women" gets to coming down Providence Road the farmers will hitch up + a wagon and take mother and the children with a well-packed lunch basket to meet it + half way. This is a prophecy!</p> + <p>Then, after Jane sat down, I don't believe such a speechifying ever was before as + resounded out over the river, even in the time of Old Hickory. Everybody had + something to say and got to his feet to say it well, even if some of them did + brandish a turkey wing or a Iamb rib to emphasize their points.</p> + <p>And the women were the funniest things I ever beheld, as we were treated to one + maiden speech after another, issuing from the lips of plump matrons anywhere from + thirty to sixty. They had never done it before, but liked it after they had + tried.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page273" id="page273"></a>{273}</span></p> + <p>Mother Mayberry from Providence, who is the grand old woman of the whole valley, + having established her claim to the title thirty years ago by taking up her dead + doctor husband's practice and "riding saddlebags to suffering ever since," as she + puts it, broke the feminine ice by rising from her seat by the side of one of the + entranced Magnates,—who had been so delighted with her and her philosophies + that he could hardly do his dinner justice,—and addressing the rally in her + wonderful old voice with her white curls flying and her cheeks as pink as a + girl's.</p> + <p>"Children," she said, after everybody had clapped and clapped so she couldn't get + a start for several minutes, "The Harpeth Valley women have been a-marching along + behind the men for many a day, because their strong shoulders had to break + undergrowth for both, but now husbands and fathers and sons have got their feet up on + the bluff of Paradise Ridge, and it does look <span class="pagenum"><a name="page274" + id="page274"></a>{274}</span> like they will be a-reaching down their hands to help + us up, in the break of a new day, to stand by their side; and I, for one, say + mount!—I'm ready!"</p> + <p>A perfect war of applause answered her, and Dickie's father got up to go down the + whole length of the table to shake hands with her, but had to wait until she came out + of the embrace of Nell's fluffy arms, and got a hand free from the Magnate on one + side and Aunt Augusta on the other.</p> + <p>Even Sallie began to look speechful, and I believe she would have got up and + spoken a few words on the subject of women, and how they need men to look after them, + but she said something to Mr. Haley, who shook his head and then got up and prosed + beautifully to us for ten minutes, and would have gone on longer, if he hadn't seen + Henrietta begin to look mutinous.</p> + <p>The feast had begun at one o'clock, but by Jasper's skilful maneuvering of one + gorgeous viand after the other, into the <span class="pagenum"><a name="page275" + id="page275"></a>{275}</span> right place, by having relays of pones browned to the + right turn and potatoes at the proper bursting point, it had been prolonged until the + shadows of late afternoon were beginning to turn purple.</p> + <p>"Don't nobody ever leave one of my barbecue tables until sundown begins to tetch + up the empty bones," has been his boast for years. And as he had cleared away the + last scrap from the last table, he leaned against a tree, exhausted and triumphant, + with alert, adoring eyes fixed on the Crag, who had risen in his place at the head of + the long central table.</p> + <p>I had felt entirely too far away from him down at the other end with one of the + junior Magnates and Dickie, but I was glad then that I sat so I could look straight + into his face as the light from across the Harpeth Valley illumined it without, while + a wonderful glow lit it from within.</p> + <p>All of the others had spoken of the achievements of their families and fore<span + class="pagenum"><a name="page276" id="page276"></a>{276}</span> fathers and vaunted + the human history of the valley, but he spoke of the great hill-rimmed Earth Pocket + itself. He gave the Earth credit for the crops that she had yielded up for her + children's sustenance. He described how she had bred forest kings for the building of + their homes, granted stores of fuel from her mines for their warming, and nourished + great white cotton patches and flocks of sheep to clothe them from frosts and + winds.</p> + <p>And as he spoke in a powerful voice that intoned up in the tree-tops like a great + deep bell, he turned and looked out over the valley with an expression like what must + have been on Moses's face when he saw into the promised land.</p> + + <div class="figcenter" style="width: 350px;"><a id="seven" name="seven"></a> + <img src="images/image07.jpg" width="350" height="471" + alt=""She's our mother," he said" + title=""She's our mother," he said" /> <b>"She's our mother," he said</b> + </div> + <p>"She's our Mother," he said, as he flung back the long lock from across his + forehead and stretched out his strong arm and slender hand towards the sun that was + dropping fast down to the rim of Old Harpeth. "She has bared her breasts to suckle + us, covered <span class="pagenum"><a name="page277" id="page277"></a>{277}</span> us + from sun and snow, and now she expects something from us. If she has built us strong + and ready, then we are to answer when the world has need of us and her storehouses + and mines. We are to give out her invitations and welcome all who are hungry and who + come a-seeking. Gentlemen, her wealth and her fertility are yours—and her + beauty!"</p> + <p>For a long, long minute every face in the assembly was turned to the setting sun, + and a perfect glory rose from the valley and burned the call of its grandeur into + their eyes. We seemed to be looking across fields and forests and streams to the dim + purple hills that might be the ramparts of the Holy City itself, while just below us + lay the little quiet village of the dead whose souls must just have gone before.</p> + <p>And after that everybody rose with one accord and began to hurry to start out upon + the long roads homeward, just as the great yellow moon rose in the east to balance + the <span class="pagenum"><a name="page278" id="page278"></a>{278}</span> red old sun + that was sinking in the west. Only the Magnate sat still in his place for several + long minutes looking out across to Old Harpeth, and I wondered whether he was + thinking about the Eternal City or how many rails it was going to take to span the + valley at his feet.</p> + <p>And I—I just stood on the edge of the bluff by myself and let my soul lift + up its wings of rejoicing that my Crag had got his beautiful desire for + apostrophizing the Mother-Valley so all the world might hear. And then suddenly it + came over me in a great warm, uplifting, awe-inspiring rush that a woman who takes on + herself voluntarily the responsibility of marrying a poet and an orator and a mystic, + who is the complete edition of a Mossback that all those qualities imply, must square + her shoulders for a long, steady, pioneer march through a strange country.</p> + <p>Could such achievement be for me?</p> + <p>"Please God!" I prayed right across into <span class="pagenum"><a name="page279" + id="page279"></a>{279}</span> the sunset, "make me a full cup that never fails + him!"</p> + <p>I don't know how long I stood talking with God that way about my man, but when I + turned and looked back under the maples everybody was gone, and I could hear the last + rattle and whirl going down the hill. For a second I felt that there was nobody but + Him and me left on the hill, but even in that second my heart knew better.</p> + <p>"Now?" I questioned myself softly, out over to the yellow moon that had at last + languidly and gracefully risen, putting the finishing touch to the scene I had been + planning for my proposal.</p> + <p>"Evelina," said the Crag quietly from where he stood leaning against the tallest + maple, "shall we stay here forever and ever, or hurry down through the cemetery by + the short cut to the station to say good-by to the railroaders as they expect us to + do?"</p> + <p>Nobody ever had a better opening than that, and I ought to have said, "Be mine, + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page280" id="page280"></a>{280}</span> be mine," with + some sort of personal variation of the theme, and have clapped him to my breast and + been happy ever after. That is what a courageous man would have done under the + circumstances, with an opportunity like that, but I got the worst kind of scare I + ever experienced, and answered:</p> + <p>"How much time have we got? Do you think we can make it?"</p> + <p>"Plenty," he answered comfortably as I began to quicken my pace to the little gate + that leads between the hedge into the little half-acre of those who rest. Then as I + tried to pass him, he caught my hand and made me walk in the narrow path close at his + side.</p> + + <div class="figcenter" style="width: 350px;"><a id="eight" name="eight"></a> + <img src="images/image08.jpg" width="350" height="520" + alt="Scrouged so close to his arm that it was difficult for both of them to walk." + title="Scrouged so close to his arm that it was difficult for both of them to walk." /> + <b>Scrouged so close to his arm that it was difficult for both of them to + walk.</b> + </div> + <p>Now even a very strong-minded woman, who had to go through a little graveyard with + moonlight making the tombstones glower out from deep shadows of cedar trees, in the + depths of which strange birds croak, while the wind rustles the dry leaves into piles + as they fall, wouldn't feel like <span class="pagenum"><a name="page281" + id="page281"></a>{281}</span> honorably proposing to the man she intended to marry, + even if she was scrouged so close to his arm that it was difficult for both of them + to walk, would she?</p> + <p>I excuse myself this time, but I must hold myself to the same standard that I want + to hold Lee Greenfield to. How do I know that he hasn't had all sorts of cold, creepy + feeling's keeping him from proposing to Caroline?</p> + <p>I hereby promise myself that I will ask Cousin James to marry me the next + favorable opportunity I get, if I die with fright the next minute, or have to make + the opportunity.</p> + <p>Still, I can't help wondering what does keep him so composed under the + circumstances. Surely he wouldn't refuse me, but how do I know for sure? How does a + man even know if a woman is—?</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page282" id="page282"></a>{282}</span></p> + <h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2> + <p>TOGETHER?</p> + <p>When business and love crowd each other on a man's desk he calmly puts love in a + pigeon-hole to wait for a convenient time and attends strictly to business, while a + woman takes up and coddles the tender passion and stands business over in the corner + with its face to the wall to keep it from intruding.</p> + <p>Dickie has been here a whole week since the barbecue-rally, ostensibly trying to + get me down to making a few preliminary sketches for the gardens to his C. & G. + railroad stations, and, of course, I am going to do them. I'm interested in them and + I'm sensible of the honor it is to get the chance of making them: but the moon didn't + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page283" id="page283"></a>{283}</span> rise until + after ten o'clock last night and I'm getting nervous about that scene of sentiment + I'm planning. I can't think of gardens!</p> + <p>Still, I am glad he stayed and that everybody has been giving him a party and that + Nell is always there, for he hasn't had time to notice how I'm treating business and + coddling—</p> + <p>Jane and Polk and Nell and Caroline and Lee and everybody else, including Sallie + and the Dominie, have been all over my house all day and into the scandalous hours of + the night, which in Glendale begin at eleven o'clock and pass the limit at twelve, + and I don't see how they stand so much of not being alone with each other. It is + wearing me out.</p> + <p>I had positively decided on my own side steps for the scene of my proposal to the + Crag, under the honeysuckle vine that still has a few brave and hearty blossoms to + encourage me, with the harvest moon look<span class="pagenum"><a name="page284" + id="page284"></a>{284}</span> ing on, but moons and honeysuckle blossoms wait for no + man and no woman especially. They are both fading, and I've never got the spot to + myself more than a minute at a time yet. The Crag, with absolutely no knowledge of my + intentions, except it may be a psychic one, sits there every night and smokes and + looks out at Old Harpeth and maddens me, while some one of the others walks in and + out and around and about and sits down beside him, where I want to be.</p> + <p>And as for the day time, I am so busy all day long, providing for this perpetual + house-party, that I am dead to even friendship by night. Jane is doing over Glendale + from city limits to the river, and I have to spend my time keeping the dear town from + finding out what is being done to it.</p> + <p>She is hunting out everybody's pet idea or ideal for some sort of change or + improvement to his, especially <i>his</i>, native town, and then leading him gently + up to accomplishing <span class="pagenum"><a name="page285" + id="page285"></a>{285}</span> it so that he will think he has done it entirely by + himself, but will tell the next man he meets that there is nothing in the world like + a tine energetic woman with good horse sense. In fact, Jane is courting the entire + male population in a most scandalous fashion, and they'll be won before they know + it.</p> + <p>"Now, that Confederate monument ought to have been built long ago out of that + boulder from the river instead of hauling in a slicked-up granite slab that would er + made the Glendale volunteers of '61 feel uncomfortable like they would do in the beds + in the city hotels. Great idea of mine and that Yankee girl's—great + idea—hey?" sputtered Uncle Peter, after Jane had spent the evening down with + him and Aunt Augusta.</p> + <p>"It is a fine idea, Uncle Peter," I agreed with a concealed giggle.</p> + <p>"I've subscribed the first five dollars of the fifty for hauling, setting up and + inscrib<span class="pagenum"><a name="page286" id="page286"></a>{286}</span> ing it, + and we are going to let the women give half of it out of the egg-money they have got + in that Equality Quilting Society—some kind of horse sense epidemic has broken + out in this town, horse sense, Evelina, hey?" And he went on down the street + perfectly delighted at having at last accomplished his pet scheme. He thought of it + as exclusively his own by now, of course.</p> + <p>And the monument is just the beginning of what is going to begin in Glendale. Jane + says so.</p> + <p>"There could be no better place than this rural community to try out a number of + theories I have had in political economy as related to the activities of women, + Evelina," she said to me to-day, looking at me in a benign and slightly confused way + from behind her glasses. "Mr. Hayes and I were just talking some of them over + to-night, and he seems so interested in seeing me institute some of the most + important ones. How could you have ever thought such a <span class="pagenum"><a + name="page287" id="page287"></a>{287}</span> man as he is lacking in seriousness of + purpose, dear?"</p> + <p>"I feel sure that it was just my own frivolous streak that called out the + frivolous in Polk, Jane dear," I answered with trepidation, hoping and praying that + the inquisition would not go much further, and trying to remember just what I had + written her about Polk.</p> + <p>"It may have been that," Jane answered, in a most naïvely relieved tone of + voice. "But you don't know how happy I am, dear, to see that that streak is only an + occasional charming vein that shows in you, but that you are now settling down + steadily to your profession. I feel sure that when these garden drawings are done, + you and Mr. Hall will have found your correct places in each other's lives and it + will be just a glorious example of how superbly a man and woman can work together at + the same profession. Mr. Hardin and I were talking about it just last night out on + the side <span class="pagenum"><a name="page288" id="page288"></a>{288}</span> porch, + and though he said very little I could see how gratified he was at the honors that + had come to you and how much he likes Mr. Hall."</p> + <p>That settled it, and I made up my mind that when the Harvest Lady left us to-night + to sink behind Old Harpeth, she wasn't going to leave me weakly lonesome. She doesn't + set until two o'clock, and I'm going to take all the time I need.</p> + <p>And as serious and solemn as I feel over taking such a step for two as I am + deciding on, I can't help looking forward to scribbling a terse and impersonal + account of my having proposed to the man of my choice in this strong-minded book, + adding a few words of sage advice for the Five, locking it and handing it, key and + all, to Jane with a dramatic demand that she put her hundred thousand dollars in the + Trust Company and begin to choose the Five from those she has had in mind.</p> + <p>Then before she has had time to read it,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page289" + id="page289"></a>{289}</span> I am going to sneakily get it back and blot or tear out + some of the things I have written. I can decide later what will be data and what will + be dangerous to the cause.</p> + <p>"And you will be glad to have me—come and live for a time in your home life, + dear?" Jane recalled me to the question in hand by saying wistfully. "I feel that I + have never had such good friends before, anywhere, as these of yours are to me, + Evelina," she added.</p> + <p>That's one time I got Jane completely in my arms and showed her what a really good + hugging means south of Mason and Dixon's line. From later developments I am glad she + had that slight initiation. It must have been serviceable to her New England + disposition.</p> + <p>Then just as I was going to ask some of the plans she—and Polk—had + made, over came Cousin Jasmine, with Cousin Annie and Mary, with Mrs. Hargrove + puffing along behind them. They had come to see<span class="pagenum"><a + name="page290" id="page290"></a>{290}</span> Jane, but I was allowed to stay and have + my breath knocked out by their mission.</p> + <p>It seems Jane had got a great big book from some firm in New York that tells alt + about herb-growing, and how difficult it is to get the ones needed for condiments and + perfumes, and offering to buy first-class lavender and thyme and bergamot and sweet + fern and things of that kind in any quantities at a good price. She had shown it to + the little old ladies who had been secretly grieving at the separation from their + garden out on their poorly rented farm, and the leaven had worked—on Mrs. + Hargrove also. They go back to the farm and she with them! She had decided on raising + mint to both dry and ship fresh, because he of the gay pajamas always liked to have + it strong and fresh for the julep of his ancestors. I hope she won't forget to take + that pattern of Japanese extraction with her and make some for the Crag now and then, + for it will save my time. Horrors!<span class="pagenum"><a name="page291" + id="page291"></a>{291}</span></p> + <p>"We have fully decided on our course of action, Jane, and Evelina, dears," said + Cousin Jasmine in a positive little manner that she would have been as incapable of a + month ago, as is a pet kitten of barking at the family dog, "but we do so dread to + break it to dear James, because we feel that he may think we are not happy under his + roof and be distressed. Do you believe we shall be able to make him see that we must + pursue our independent life, though always needing the support of his affection and + interest?"</p> + <p>"I believe you will, Cousin Jasmine," I said, wanting to both laugh and cry to see + the Crag's burdens begin to roll off his shoulders like this. And the tears that + didn't rise would have been real ones, too, for I found that, down in the corner of + my heart, I had adored the picture of my oak with the tender little old vines + clinging around him. It was the producing gourd I had most objected to and I couldn't + see <span class="pagenum"><a name="page292" id="page292"></a>{292}</span> but she + would be there until I unclasped her tendrils.</p> + <p>But I was forgetting that, in the modern theory of thought-waves, it is the + simplest minds that get the ripples first and hardest. Sallie came over just as soon + as the other delegation had got home to take the twins off her hands. Jane had gone + upstairs to make more calculations on our reconstruction, and I was trying to get a + large deep breath.</p> + <p>"Evelina." she said, as she sank in a chair near me and fastened her large, very + young-in-soul, eyes on mine, "were you just joking Nell, or did you mean it, when you + said the other day that you thought it would be cowardly of a woman not to show a man + that she loved him, if he for any reason was not willing to make the first advances + to her?" Sallie is perfectly lovely in the faint lavender and pink things that Jane + made her decide to get in one conversation, whereas while Nell and Caroline and I had + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page293" id="page293"></a>{293}</span> been looking up + and bringing her surreptitious samples of all colors from the store all summer.</p> + <p>"Well, I don't know that I exactly meant Nell to take it all to heart," I answered + without the slightest suspicion of what was coming. "But I do think, Sallie, it would + be no more than honest, fearless, and within a woman's own greater rights."</p> + <p>"Mr. Haley was saying the other evening that a woman's sweet dependence was a + man's most precious heritage," Sallie gently mused out on the atmosphere that was + beginning to be pretty highly charged.</p> + <p>"Doesn't a woman have to depend on her husband's tenderness and care all of the + time—time she is bearing a child, Sallie, even up to the asafoetida spoon + crisis?" I asked with my cheeks in a flame but determined to stand my ground. "It + does seem to me that nature puts her in a position to demand so much support from him + in those times that she ought to rely on herself when <span class="pagenum"><a + name="page294" id="page294"></a>{294}</span> she can. Especially as she is likely to + bring an indefinite number of such crises into their joint existence."</p> + <p>Sallie laughed, for she remembered the high horse I had mounted on the subject of + Mamie and Ned Hall the day after the Assembly dance.</p> + <p>And as I laughed suddenly a picture I had seen down at the Hall's flashed across + my mind. I had gone down to tell Mamie something Aunt Augusta wanted her to propose + next day at a meeting of the Equality League about drinking water in the public + school building. Mamie has learned to make, with pink cheeks and shining eyes, the + quaintest little speeches that always carry the house—and even made one at a + public meeting when we invited the men to hand over our fifty dollars for the + monument. Ned's face was a picture as he held a ruffle of her muslin gown between his + fingers while she stood up to do it.</p> + <p>But the picture that flashed through my <span class="pagenum"><a name="page295" + id="page295"></a>{295}</span> mind was dearer than that and I put it away in that + jewel-box that I am going to open some day for my own man.</p> + <p>Both Mamie's nurse and cook had gone to the third funeral of the season and Mamie + was feeding the entire family in the back yard. The kiddies were sitting in a row + along the top of the back steps, eating cookies and milk, with bibs around their + necks,—from the twelve year old Jennie, who had tied on hers for fun, down to + the chubby-kins next to the baby,—and Mamie was sitting flat on the grass in + front of them nursing little Ned, with big Ned sitting beside her with his arm around + both her and the baby. He was looking first down into her face, and then at the + industrious kiddie getting his supper from the maternal fount, and then at the + handsome bunch on the steps, as he alternately munched a bite of his cookie and fed + Mamie one, to the delight of the children. The expression on his face as he looked at + them, and her, and ate and <span class="pagenum"><a name="page296" + id="page296"></a>{296}</span> laughed, is what is back of all that goes to make the + American nation the greatest on earth. Amen!</p> + <p>"Sallie," I said, as I reached out and took her plump white hand in mine, "our men + are the most wonderful in the world and they are ours any way we get them. They don't + care how it is done, and neither do we, just so we belong in the right way."</p> + <p>"Then you don't think it would be any harm for me to tell Mr. Haley I think I + could live on eighteen hundred dollars a year, until he gets sent to a larger + church?" was the bomb that, thus encouraged, Sallie exploded in my face.</p> + <p>I'm awfully glad that I didn't get a chance to answer, for I don't want to be + responsible for the future failure or success of Mr. Haley's ministry. Just then + Henrietta burst into the room with the Kitten in her arms.</p> + <p>"Keep her for me, Evelina, please, ma'am," she said, with the dearest little <span + class="pagenum"><a name="page297" id="page297"></a>{297}</span> chuckle, but not + forgetting the polite "please," which Jane had had to suggest to her just once. What + you've done for that wayward unmanageable genius of a child, Jane dear, makes you + deserve ten of your own. That is—help!</p> + <p>"Cousin Augusta and Nell and Dickie and me is a going out to watch the man put the + dyn'mite in the hole to blow the creek right up and Glendale, too, so they can see if + they is enough clean water to put in the waterworks," she continued to explain. "Nell + is a-going to take Dickie in her car, and Cousin Augusta is a-going to take me and + Uncle Peter in her buggy. Dilsie have got the Kit and Cousin Marfy is a-watching to + see she don't do nothing wrong with her. Oh, may I go, Sallie? Jane said I must + always ask you."</p> + <p>"Yes, dearest," answered Sallie, immensely flattered by the deference thus paid + her.</p> + <p>"How wonderful an influence the little <span class="pagenum"><a name="page298" + id="page298"></a>{298}</span> talks Mr. Haley has had with Henrietta have had on + her," she said, with such a happy glow on her face as the reformed one departed that + I succeeded in suppressing the laugh that rose in me at the memory of Henrietta's + account of the first one of the series.</p> + <p>Men need not fear that the time will ever come when they will cease to get the + credit for making Earth's wheels go around, from the female inhabitants thereof. So I + smiled to myself and buried my face in the fragrance under the bubbly Puppy girl's + chin and coaxed her arms to clasp around my neck.</p> + <p>They are the holy throb of a woman's life—babies. Less than ten wouldn't + satisfy me unless well scattered in ages, Jane. On some questions I am not + modern.</p> + <p>"Still I do feel so miserable leaving Cousin James so alone all winter," Sallie + continued with the most beautiful sympathy in her voice, as she looked out of the + window <span class="pagenum"><a name="page299" id="page299"></a>{299}</span> towards + Widegables. "I wonder if I ought to make up my mind to stay with him? He loves the + children so, and you know the plans of Cousin Jasmine and the others to go back to + their farm."</p> + <p>"But he'll have his mother left," I said quietly but very encouragingly. I seemed + to see the little green tendril that had unclasped from the oak turning on its stem + and winding tight again.</p> + <p>"Miss Mathers was encouraging Cousin Martha to go to Colorado to see Elizabeth and + her family for a long visit this winter. She hasn't seen Elizabeth since her mother + died and she was so much interested in the easy way of traveling these days, as Miss + Mathers described it, that she asked her to write for a time-table and what a ticket + costs, just this morning. I really ought not to desert Cousin James."</p> + <p>"But think how lonely Mr. Haley is down in the parsonage and of his influence on + Henrietta," I urged.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page300" + id="page300"></a>{300}</span></p> + <p>"Yes, I do feel drawn in both ways," sighed the poor tender gourd. "And then you + will be here by yourself, so you can watch over Cousin James, as much as your work + will allow you, can't you, Evelina?"</p> + <p>"Yes, I'll try to keep him from being too much alone," I answered with the most + deceitful unconcern.</p> + <p>"I see him coming to supper and I must go, for I want to be with him all I can, if + I am to leave him so soon. I may not make up my mind to it," with which threat Sallie + departed and left me alone in the gloaming, a situation which seems to be becoming + chronic with me now.</p> + <p>If I had it, I'd give another hundred thousand dollars to the cause, to hear that + interview between Sallie and the Dominie. I wager he'll never know what happened and + would swear it didn't, if confronted with a witness.</p> + <p>And also I felt so nervous with all this asking-in-marriage surging in the + atmos<span class="pagenum"><a name="page301" id="page301"></a>{301}</span> phere that + it was with difficulty that I sat through supper and listened to Jane and Polk, who + had come in with her, plan town sewerage. To-morrow night I knew the moon wouldn't + rise until eleven o'clock, and how did I know anyway that Sallie's emancipation might + not get started on the wrong track and run into my Crag? His chivalry would never let + him refuse a woman who proposed to him and he'll be in danger until I can do it and + tell the town about it.</p> + <p>Jane and Polk had promised Dickie and Nell to motor down Providence Road as far as + Cloverbend in the moonlight, and I think Caroline and Lee were going too. Polk looked + positively agonized with embarrassed sorrow at leaving me all alone, and it was with + difficulty that I got them off. I pleaded the greatest fatigue and my impatience + amounted to crossness.</p> + <p>After they had gone I dismissed Jasper and Petunia and locked the back doors, put + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page302" id="page302"></a>{302}</span> out all the + lights in the house and retired to the side steps, determined to be invisible no + matter who called—and wait!</p> + <p>And for one mortal hour there I sat alone in that waning old moonlight, that grew + colder and paler by the minute, while the stiff breeze that poured down from Old + Harpeth began to be vicious and icy as it nipped my ears and hands and nose and sent + a chill down to my very toes.</p> + <p>Nobody came and there I sat!</p> + <p>Finally, with the tears tangling icily in my lashes, I got up and went into the + house and lighted the fat pine under the logs in the hall. They had lain all ready + for the torch for a whole year, just as I had lain for a lifetime until a few weeks + ago. Then suddenly they blazed—as I had done.</p> + <p>My condition was pitiable. I felt that all nature had deserted me, the climate, + Indian summer, the harvest moon and my own charm, but my head was up and I was going + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page303" id="page303"></a>{303}</span> to crackle + pluckily along to my blaze, so I turned towards the door to go across the road and + put my fate to the test, even if I took pneumonia standing begging at his front door. + I hoped I would find him in the lodge and—</p> + <p>"Evelina," he exclaimed as he burst open my door, flung himself into the firelight + and seized my arm like a robber baron of the Twelfth Century, making a grab for his + lady-love in the midst of her hostile kindred, "I thought I would never get here! I + ran all the way up from the office. Here's a telegram from Mr. Hall that says that + the two roads have merged and will take the bluff route past Glendale, and give us + the shops,—and wants to appoint me the General Attorney for the Southern + Section. They want me to come on to New York by the first train. Can you marry me in + the morning so we can take the noon express from Bolivar? I won't go without you. + Please, dear, please," and as he stood and <span class="pagenum"><a name="page304" + id="page304"></a>{304}</span> looked at me in the firelight, all the relief and + excitement over his news died out of his lovely eyes and just the want of me filled + them from their very depths.</p> + <p>For several interminable centuries of time I stood perfectly still and looked into + them daringly, drinking my fill for the first time and offering him a like cup in my + own.</p> + <p>"Eve," he said so softly that I doubt if he really spoke the word.</p> + <p>"Adam!" I let myself go, and at last pressed my answer against his lips as he + folded me tight and safe.</p> + <p>It must have been some time after, I am sure I don't know how long, but I was most + beautifully adjusted against his shoulder and he had my hand pressed to his cheek, + when the awfulness of what had happened brought me straight up on my own feet and + almost out of his arms.</p> + <p>"Oh, how could you have done it!" I fairly wailed, as I thought of what this awful + complication was going to lose for the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page305" + id="page305"></a>{305}</span> Five to whom I felt more tender in that second than I + had ever felt before.</p> + <p>"Done what?" he demanded in alarm, pressing both my hands against his breast and + drawing me towards him again.</p> + <p>"Asked me to marry you when I—"</p> + <p>"I have been fighting desperately to see some way to offer myself and all my + impedimenta to you all this time, and this has made it all right, don't you see, + dear?" he interrupted me to say, as he took possession of me again and held me with a + tender fierceness, which had more of suffering in it than passion. "I have always + wanted you, Eve, since before you went away, but it didn't seem right to ask you to + come into a life so encumbered as mine was. Poverty made it seem impossible, but now, + if you will be just a little patient with them all, I can arrange—"</p> + <p>"I was going to arrange all that my own self, and now just see what you have done + to me and a whole lot of other women, be<span class="pagenum"><a name="page306" + id="page306"></a>{306}</span> sides making me miserable all summer," and crowded so + close under his chin that he couldn't see my face, I told him all about the + tinder-box Jane had loaded and then set me on the lid to see that it exploded.</p> + <p>I had just worked myself up to the point of how my incendiary mission was about to + touch off all the other love affairs in town, when he began to shake so with + disrespectful laughter that I felt that my dignity was about to demand that I + withdraw coldly from his arms, where I had just got so warm and comfortable and at + home; but with the first slight intimation of my intention, which was conveyed by a + very feeble indeed loosening of my arms from around his Henry Clay collar, he held me + firmly against him and controlled his unseemly mirth, only I could still feel it + convulsing his left lung,—though as I had no business being near enough to + notice it, I felt it only fair not to.</p> + <p>"Please don't worry about those other Five dear women," he begged, in the nicest + <span class="pagenum"><a name="page307" id="page307"></a>{307}</span> and most + considerate voice possible so that I tightened my arms again as I listened. "If Miss + Mathers doesn't feel justified in giving up the dowries by your—your failure to + prove the proposition, we can just invite them all down here and in Glendale and + Bolivar and Hillsboro and Providence, to say nothing of the countryside, we can plant + them all cozily. I can delicately explain to their choices exactly how to let them + manage circumstances like—" he illustrated his scheme just here until it took + time for me to get breath to listen to the rest of his apology—"this and there + is no telling, with such a start as the cult has got in the Harpeth Valley already, + how far ft will spread. Please forgive me, dear!"</p> + <p>"Yes," I answered doubtfully. Then I raised my head and looked him full in the + face as I made my declaration calmly but with the perfect conviction that I still + have and always will have, world without end.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page308" + id="page308"></a>{308}</span> "Yes, but don't you think for one minute I don't + <i>know</i> that what Jane and I and all the most advanced women in the world are + trying for is the right and just and the only way for men and women to come logically + into the kind of heritage you and I have stumbled into. Absolute freedom and equality + between all human beings is going to be the price of Kingdom Come. I shall always be + humiliated that I got scared out in the graveyard and didn't do it to you. It is + going to be the regret of my life."</p> + <p>"Truly, I'm sorry, sweetheart," he answered most contritely. "If I were to take my + hat and go back to the gate and come in again properly and let you do it, would that + make you feel any better?"</p> + <p>"No, it wouldn't," I answered quickly because why should I be separated from him + all the two and a half minutes it would take to play out that farce, when I have been + separated from him all the twenty-five years that stretch from now back until the day + of <span class="pagenum"><a name="page309" id="page309"></a>{309}</span> my birth? "I + am going to bear it bravely and hold up my head and tell Jane—"</p> + <p>"I wouldn't bother to hold up my head to tell her, Evelina," came from the doorway + in Polk's delighted drawl as he and Jane stepped into the room. "Pretty comfortably + placed, that head, I should say."</p> + <p>"Oh, Jane!" I positively wailed as I extracted myself from the Crag's gray arms + and buried myself in Jane's white serge ones that opened to receive me. And the + seconds that I rested silently there Polk spent in shaking both of the Crag's hands + and pounding him on the back so that I grew alarmed.</p> + <p>"I didn't do it, Jane, I didn't do it," I almost sobbed with fear of what her + disappointment was going to be. "He beat me to it!"</p> + <p>"Truly. I'm sorry," Cousin James added to my apology as he stood with his arm on + Polk's shoulder.</p> + <p>"I dare you, <i>dare</i>, you to tell 'em, Jane,"<span class="pagenum"><a + name="page310" id="page310"></a>{310}</span> Polk suddenly said, coming over and + putting a hand on one of my shoulders and one on Jane's.</p> + <p>"Evelina and Mr. Hardin," Jane answered gallantly with her head assuming its + lovely independent pose, but with the most wonderful blush spreading the beauty that + always ought to have been hers all over her one-time plain face, "the wager stands as + won by Evelina Shelby. She had properly prepared the ground and sowed the seed of + justice and right thinking that I—I harvested to-night. I had the honor of + offering marriage to Mr. Hayes just about fifteen minutes ago. I consider that mode + of procedure proved as feasible and as soon as I have received my answer, whatever it + is, I shall immediately proceed with making the endowment and choosing the five young + women according to the agreement."</p> + <p>"Polk!" I exclaimed, turning to him in a perfect panic of alarm. Could he be + trifling with Jane?<span class="pagenum"><a name="page311" + id="page311"></a>{311}</span></p> + <p>"Evelina," answered Polk, giving me a shake and a shove over in the direction of + the Crag, "you ought to know me better than to think I would answer such a question + as Jane put to me, while driving a cranky car in waning moonlight. If you and James + will just mercifully betake yourselves out there on the porch in the cold for a few + minutes I will try and add my data to this equality experiment with due dignity. + Go!"</p> + <p>We went!</p> + <p>"Love-woman," whispered the Crag, after I had broken it to him that we were going + to be a Governor of Tennessee, and not a railroad attorney, and he had crooned his + "Swing Low" over me and rocked me against his breast for a century of seconds, down + on my old front gate, "you are right about the whole question. I see that, and I want + to help—but if I'm stupid about life, will you hold my hand in the dark?"<span + class="pagenum"><a name="page312" id="page312"></a>{312}</span></p> + <p>"Yes," I answered with both generosity and courage.</p> + <p>And truly if the world is in the dusk of the dawn of a new day, what can men and + women do but cling tight and feel their way—together?</p> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Tinder-Box, by Maria Thompson Daviess + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TINDER-BOX *** + +***** This file should be named 14863-h.htm or 14863-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/4/8/6/14863/ + +Produced by Kentuckiana Digital Library, David Garcia, Chuck Greif, Leonard +Johnson and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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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: The Tinder-Box + +Author: Maria Thompson Daviess + +Release Date: February 1, 2005 [EBook #14863] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TINDER-BOX *** + + + + +Produced by Kentuckiana Digital Library, David Garcia, Chuck Greif, Leonard +Johnson and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + + + + + + +THE TINDER-BOX + +[Illustration: "You don't need another vine," I answered mutinously.] + + + + +THE TINDER-BOX + +BY + +MARIA THOMPSON DAVIESS + +Author of + +"The Melting of Molly," "Miss Selina Lue," "Sue Jane," Etc. + +WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY JOHN EDWIN JACKSON + +NEW YORK THE CENTURY CO. + +_Published, November, 1913_ + + + + +I DEDICATE THIS BOOK TO HANNAH DAVIESS PITTMAN WHO BLAZED MY TRAIL AND +STILL DOES + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER PAGE + +I. THE LOAD 3 + +II. THE MAIDEN LANCE 26 + +III. A FLINT-SPARK 48 + +IV. SWEETER WHEN TAMED? 79 + +V. DEEPER THAN SHOULDERS OR RIBS 105 + +VI. MAN AND THE ASAFETIDA SPOON 136 + +VII. SOME SMOLDERINGS 173 + +VIII. AN ATTAINED TO-MORROW 211 + +IX. DYNAMITE 248 + +X. TOGETHER? 282 + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + +"You don't need another vine," I answered mutinously....._Frontispiece_ + +He stood calmly in the midst of Sallie's family and baggage, both +animate and inanimate 38 + +"Say, Polk, I let the Pup git hung by her apron to the wheel of your +car" 98 + +His gray eyes were positively mysterious with interrupted dreams 182 + +"We must not allow the men time to get sore over this matter of the +League" 218 + +"Is this right?" he asked 244 + +"She's our Mother," he said 276 + +Scrouged so close to his arm that it was difficult for both of them to +walk 280 + + + + + +THE TINDER BOX + +CHAPTER I + +THE LOAD + + +All love is a gas, and it takes either loneliness, strength of +character, or religion to liquefy it into a condition to be ladled out +of us, one to another. There is a certain dangerously volatile state of +it; and occasionally people, especially of opposite sexes, try to +administer it to each other in that form, with asphyxiation resulting to +both hearts. And I'm willing to confess that it is generally a woman's +fault when such an accident occurs. That is, it is a mistake of her +nature, not one of intent. But she is learning! + +Also when a woman is created, the winds have wooed star-dust, rose-dew, +peach-down, and a few flint-shavings into a whirlwind of deviltry, and +the world at large looks on in wonder and sore amazement, as well as +breathless interest. I know, because I am one, and have just been waked +up by the gyrations of the cyclone; and I'm deeply confounded. I don't +like it, and wish I could have slept longer, but Fate and Jane Mathers +decreed otherwise. At least Jane decreed, and Fate seems so far helpless +to controvert the decree. + +I might have known that when this jolly, easy-going old Fate of mine, +which I inherited from a lot of indolent, pleasure-loving Harpeth Valley +Tennesseans, let me pack up my graduating thesis, my B.S., and some +delicious frocks, and go off to Paris for a degree from the Beaux Arts +in Architecture, we would be caught up with by some kind of Nemesis or +other, and put in our place in the biological and ethnological scheme of +existence. Yes, Fate and I are placed, and Jane did it. + +Also, I am glad, now that I know what is going to happen to me, that I +had last week on shipboard, with Richard Hall bombarding my cardiac +regions with his honest eyes and booming voice discreetly muffled to +accord with the moonlight and the quiet places around the deck. I may +never get that sort of a joy-drink again, but it was so well done that +it will help me to administer the same to others when the awful occasion +arrives. + +"A woman is the spark that lights the flame on the altar of the inner +man, dear, and you'll have to sparkle when your time comes," he warned +me, as I hurried what might have been a very tender parting, the last +night at sea. + +"_Spark_"--she's a conflagration by this new plan of Jane's, but I'm +glad he didn't know about it then. He may have to suffer from it yet. It +is best for him to be as happy as he can as long as he can. + +"Evelina, dear," said Jane, as she and Mary Elizabeth Conners and I sat +in the suite of apartments in which our proud Alma Mater had lodged us +old grads, returned for our second degrees, "your success has been +remarkable, and I am not surprised at all that that positively creative +thesis of yours on the Twentieth Century Garden, to which I listened +to-night, procured you an honorable mention in your class at the Beaux +Arts. The French are a nation that quickly recognizes genius. I am very +happy to-night. All your honors and achievements make me only the more +certain that I have chosen the right person for the glorious mission I +am about to offer you." + +"Oh, no, Jane!" I exclaimed, from a sort of instinct for trouble to +come. I know that devoted, twenty-second century look in Jane's intense, +near-sighted eyes, and I always fend from it. She is a very dear person, +and I respectfully adore her. Indeed, I sometimes think she is the real +spine in my back that was left out of me, and of its own strength got +developed into another and a finer woman. She became captain of my +Freshman soul, at the same time she captured the captaincy of the boat +crew, on which I pulled stroke, and I'm still hitting the water when she +gives the word, though it now looks as if we are both adrift on the high +and uncharted seas--or sitting on the lid of a tinder-box, juggling +lighted torches. + +"You see, dear," she went on to say slowly, drawing Mary Elizabeth into +the spell-bound circle of our intensity, as we three sat together with +our newly-engraved sheepskins on our knees, "for these two years while +you have been growing and developing along all your natural lines in a +country which was not your own, in a little pool I should call it, out +of even sight and sound of the current of events, we have been here in +your own land engaged in the great work of the organization and +reorganization which is molding the destinies of the women of our +times, and those that come after us. That is what I want to talk to you +about, and devoutly have I been praying that your heart will be +receptive to the call that has claimed the life of Mary Elizabeth and +me. There is a particular work, for which you are fitted as no other +woman I have ever known is fitted, and I want to lay the case plainly +before you to-night. Will you give me a hearing?" + +And the hearing I gave that beloved and devout woman was the _reveille_ +that awakened me to this--this whirlwind that seems to be both inside me +and outside me, and everywhere else in the whole world. + +It's not woman's suffrage; it has gone way down past the road from votes +for women. I wish I could have stopped in that political field of +endeavor before Jane got to me. She might have left me there doing +little things like making speeches before the United States Senate and +running for Governor of Tennessee, after I had, single-handed, remade +the archaic constitution of that proud and bat-blind old State of my +birth; but such ease was not for me. + +Of course for years, as all women have been doing who are sensible +enough to use the brains God gave them and stop depending on their +centuries-seasoned intuitions and fascinations, I have been reading +about this feminist revolution that seems all of a sudden to have +revoluted from nobody knows where, and I have been generally indignant +over things whether I understood them or not, and I have felt that I was +being oppressed by the opposite sex, even if I could not locate the +exact spot of the pain produced. I have always felt that when I got to +it I would shake off the shackles of my queer fondness and of my +dependence upon my oppressors, and do something revengeful to them. + +When my father died in my Junior year and left me all alone in the +world, the first thing that made me feel life in my veins again was the +unholy rage I experienced when I found that he had left me bodaciously +and otherwise to my fifth cousin, James Hardin. + +Cousin James is a healthy reversion to the primitive type of Father +Abraham, and he has so much aristocratic moss on him that he reminds me +of that old gray crag that hangs over Silver Creek out on Providence +Road. Artistically he is perfectly beautiful in an Old-Testament +fashion. He lives in an ancient, rambling house across the road from my +home, and he is making a souvenir collection of derelict women. +Everybody that dies in Glendale leaves him a relict, and including his +mother, Cousin Martha, he now has either seven or nine female charges, +depending on the sex of Sallie Carruthers's twin babies, which I can't +exactly remember, but will wager is feminine. + +My being left to him was an insult to me, though of course Father did +not see it that way. He adored the Crag, as everybody else in Glendale +does, and wouldn't have considered not leaving him precious me. Wanting +to ignore Cousin James, because I was bound out to him until my +twenty-fifth year or marriage, which is worse, has kept me from Glendale +all these four years since father died suddenly while I was away at +college, laid up with the ankle which I broke in the gymnasium. Still, +as much as I resent him, I keep the letter the Crag wrote me the night +after Father died, right where I can put my hand on it if life suddenly +panics me for any reason. It covers all the circumstances I have yet +met. I wonder if I ought to burn it now! + +But, to be honest with myself, I will have to confess that the +explosively sentimental scene on the front porch, the night I left for +college, with Polk Hayes has had something to do with my cowardice in +lingering in foreign climes. I feel that it is something I will have to +go on with some day, and the devil will have to pick up the chips. Polk +is the kind of man that ought to be exterminated by the government in +sympathy for its women wards, if his clan didn't make such good citizens +when they do finally marry. He ought at least to be labeled "poison for +the very young." I was very young out on the porch that night. Still, I +don't resent him like I do the archaic Crag. + +And as Jane talked, my seasoned indignation of four years against my +keeper flared up, and while she paused at intervals for breath I hurled +out plans for his demolishment. I wish now I had been more +conservatively quiet, and left myself a loophole, but I didn't. I walked +into this situation and shut the door behind me. + +"Yes, Evelina, I think you will have to insist forcibly on assuming +charge of your own social and financial affairs in your own home. It may +not be easy, with such a man as you describe, but you will accomplish +it. However, many mediocre women have proved their ability to attend to +their own fortunes, and do good business for themselves; but your battle +is to be fought on still higher grounds. You are to rise and establish +with your fellow-man a plane of common citizenship. You do it for his +sake and your own, and for that of humanity." + +"Suppose, after I get up there on that plateau, I didn't find any man at +all," I ventured faint-heartedly, but with a ripple of my risibles; the +last in life I fear. + +"You must reach down your hands to them and draw them up to you," she +answered in a tone of tonic inspiration. "You are to claim the same +right to express your emotions that a man has. You are to offer your +friendship to both men and women on the same frank terms, with no +degrading hesitancy caused by an embarrassment on account of your sex. +It is his due and yours. No form of affection is to be withheld from +him. It is to be done frankly and impressively, and when the time +comes--" I can hardly write this, but the memory of the wonderful though +fanatic light in Jane's eyes makes me able to scrawl it--"that you feel +the mating instinct in you move towards any man, I charge you that you +are to consider it a sacred obligation to express it with the same +honesty that a man would express the same thing to you, in like case, +even if he has shown no sign of that impulse toward you. No contortions +and contemptible indirect method of attack, but a fearless one that is +yours by right, and his though he may not acknowledge it. The barbaric +and senseless old convention that denies women the right of selection, +for which God has given her the superior instinct, is to be broken down +by just such women as you. A woman less dowered by beauty and all +feminine charm could not do it just yet, but to you, to whom the +command of men is a natural gift, is granted the wonderful chance to +prove that it can be done, honestly and triumphantly, with no sacrifice +of the sacredness of womanhood." + +"Oh, Jane." I moaned into the arm of the chair on which I had bowed my +head. + +I am moaning; now just as much, down in the bottom of my heart. Where +are all my gentle foremothers that smiled behind their lace fans and had +their lily-white hands kissed by cavalier gentlemen in starched ruffles, +out under the stars that rise over Old Harpeth, that they don't claim me +in a calm and peaceful death? Still, as much as I would like to die, I +am interested in what is going to happen. + +"Yes, Evelina," she answered in an adamant tone of voice, "and when I +have the complete record of what, I know, will be your triumphant +vindication of the truth that it is possible and advisable for women to +assert their divine right to choose a mate for their sacred vocation of +bearing the race, I shall proceed, as I have told you, to choose five +other suitable young women to follow your example, and furnish them the +money, up to the sum of a hundred thousand dollars, after having been +convinced by your experience. Be careful to make the most minute +records, of even the most emotional phases of the question, in this book +for their guidance. Of course, they will never know the source of the +data, and I will help you elucidate and arrange the book, after it is +all accomplished." + +If Jane hadn't had two million dollars all this trouble would not be. + +"I can never do it!" I exclaimed with horror, "And the men will hate +it--and me. And if I did do it, I couldn't write it." + +I almost sobbed as a vision flashed before me of thus verbally +snap-shotting the scene with dear old Dickie as we stood against the +rail of the ship and watched the waves fling back silvery radiance at +the full moon, and I also wondered how I was to render in serviceable +written data his husky: + +"A woman is the flame that lights the spark--" + +Also, what would that interview with Polk Hayes look like reproduced +with high lights? + +"Now," she answered encouragingly, "don't fear the men, dear. They are +sensible and business-like creatures, and they will soon see how much to +their advantage it is to be married to women who have had an equal +privilege with themselves of showing their preferences. Then only can +they be sure that their unions are from real preferences and not +compromises, on the part of their wives, from lack of other choice. Of +course, a woman's pride will make her refrain from courtship, as does +her brother man, until she is financially independent, and +self-supporting, lest she be put in the position of a mendicant." Jane +has thought the whole thing out from Genesis to Revelation. + +Still, that last clause about the mendicant leaves hope for the +benighted man who still wants the cling of the vine. A true vine would +never want--or be able--to hustle enough to flower sordid dollars +instead of curls and blushes. + +"A woman would have to be--to be a good deal of a woman, not any less +one, to put such a thing across, Jane," I said, with a preflash of some +of the things that might happen in such a cruel crusade of reformation +and deprivation of rights. + +"That is the reason I have chosen you to collect the data, Evelina," +answered Jane, with another of those glorious tonic looks, issuing from +my backbone in her back. "The ultimate woman must be superb in body, +brain, and heart. You are that now more nearly than any one I have ever +seen. You are the woman!" + +I was silenced with awe. + +"Jane plans to choose five girls who would otherwise have to spend their +lives teaching in crowded cities after leaving college and to start them +in any profession they choose, with every chance of happiness, in the +smaller cities of the South and Middle West," said Mary Elizabeth +gently, and somehow the tears rose in my eyes, as I thought how the poor +dear had been teaching in the high school in Chicago the two glorious +years I had been frolicking abroad. No time, and no men to have good +times with. + +And there were hundreds like her, I knew, in all the crowded parts of +the United States. And as I had begun, I thought further. Just because I +was embarrassed at the idea of proposing to some foolish man, who is of +no importance to me, himself, or the world in general, down in Glendale, +where they have all known me all my life, and would expect anything of +me anyway after I have defied tradition and gone to college, five +lovely, lonely girls would have to go without any delightful suitors +like Richard--or Polk Hayes, forever. + +And, still further, I thought of the other girls, coming under the +influence of those five, who might be encouraged to hold up their heads +and look around, and at least help out their Richards in their +matrimonial quest, and as I sat there with Jane's compelling and Mary +Elizabeth's hungry eyes on me, I felt that I was being besought by all +the lovers of all the future generations to tear down some sort of awful +barrier and give them happiness. And it was the thought of the men that +was most appealing. It takes a woman who really likes them as I do, and +has their good really at heart, to see their side of the question as +Jane put it, poor dears. Suddenly, I felt that all the happiness of the +whole world was in one big, golden chalice, and that I had to hold it +steadily to give drink to all men and all women--with a vision of +little unborn kiddies in the future. + +Then, before I could stop myself, I decided--and I hope the dear Lord--I +say it devoutly--indeed I do!--will help that poor man in Glendale if I +pick out the wrong one. I'm going to do it. + +"I accept your appointment and terms, Jane," I said quietly, as I looked +both those devout, if fanatic, women in the face. "I pledge myself to go +back to Glendale, to live a happy, healthy, normal life, as useful as I +can make it. I had intended to do that anyway, for if I am to evolve the +real American garden. I can't do better than sketch and study those in +the Harpeth Valley, for at least two seasons all around. I shall work at +my profession whole-heartedly, take my allotted place in the community, +and refuse to recognize any difference in the obligations and +opportunities in my life and that of the men with whom I am thrown, and +to help all other women to take such a fearless and honest attitude--if +Glendale blows up in consequence. I will seek and claim marriage in +exactly the same fearless way a man does, and when I have found what I +want I shall expect you to put one hundred thousand dollars, twenty to +each, at the disposal of five other suitable young women, to follow my +example, as noted down in this book--if it has been successful. Shall I +give you some sort of written agreement?" + +"Just record the agreement as a note in the book, and I will sign it," +answered Jane, in her crispest and most business-like tone of voice, +though I could see she was trembling with excitement, and poor Mary +Elizabeth was both awe-struck and hopeful. + +I'll invite Mary Elizabeth down to Glendale, as soon as I stake out my +own claim, poor dear! + +And here I sit alone at midnight, with a huge, steel-bound, +lock-and-keyed book that Jane has had made for me, with my name and the +inscription, "In case of death, send unopened to Jane Mathers, Boston, +Massachusetts," on the back, committed to a cause as crazy and as +serious as anything since the Pilgrimages, or the Quest of the Knights +for the Grail. It also looks slightly like trying to produce a modern +Don Quixote, feminine edition, and my cheeks are flaming so that I +wouldn't look at them for worlds. And to write it all, too! I have +always had my opinion of women who spill their souls out of an +ink-bottle, but I ought to pardon a nihilist, that in the dead of night, +cold with terror, confides some awful appointment he has had made him, +to his nearest friend. I am the worst nihilist that ever existed, and +the bomb I am throwing may explode and destroy the human race. But, on +the other hand, the explosion might be of another kind. Suppose that +suddenly a real woman's entire nature should be revealed to the world, +might not the universe be enveloped in a rose glory and a love +symphony? We'll see! + +Also, could the time ever come when a woman wouldn't risk hanging over +the ragged edge of Heaven to hold on to the hand of some man? Never! +Then, as that is the case, I see we must all keep the same firm grip on +the creatures we have always had, and haul them over the edge, but we +must not do it any more without letting them know about it--it isn't +honest. Yes, women must solidify their love into such a concrete form +that men can weigh and measure it, and decide for themselves whether +they want to--to climb to Heaven for it, or remain comfortable old +bachelors. We mustn't any more lead them into marriage blinded by the +overpowering gaseous fragrance called romantic love. + +But, suppose I should lose all love for everybody in this queer quest +for enlightenment I have undertaken? Please, God, let a good man be in +Glendale, Tennessee, who will understand and protect me--no, that's the +wrong prayer! Protect him--no--both of us! + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE MAIDEN LANCE + + +A woman may shut her eyes, and put a man determinedly out of her heart, +and in two minutes she will wake up in an agony of fear that he isn't +there. Now, as I have decided that Glendale is to be the scene of this +bloodless revolution of mine--it would be awful to carry out such an +undertaking anywhere but under the protection of ancestral traditions--I +have operated Richard Hall out of my inmost being with the utmost +cruelty, on an average of every two hours, for this week Jane and I have +been in New York; and I have still got him with me. + +I, at last, became determined, and chose the roof-garden at the Astor to +tell him good-by, and perform the final operation. First I tried to +establish a plane of common citizenship with him, by telling him how +much his two years' friendship across the waters had meant to me, while +we studied the same profession under the same masters, drew at the same +drawing-boards and watched dear old Paris flame into her jeweled +night-fire from Montmarte, together. I was frankly affectionate, and it +made him suspicious of me. + +Then I tried to tell him just a little, only a hint, of my new attitude +towards his sex, and before he had had time even to grasp the idea he +exploded. + +"Don't talk to me as if you were an alienist trying to examine an +abstruse case, Evelina," he growled, with extreme temper. "Go on down +and rusticate with your relatives for the summer, and fly the bats in +your belfry at the old moss-backs, while I am getting this Cincinnati +and Gulf Stations commission under way. Then, when I can, I will come +for you. Let's don't discuss the matter, and it's time I took you back +to your hotel." + +Not a very encouraging tilt for my maiden lance. + +I've had a thought. If I should turn and woo Dickie, like he does me, I +suppose we would be going-so fast in opposite directions that we would +be in danger of passing each other without recognizing signals. I wonder +if that might get to be the case of humanity at large if women do +undertake the tactics I am to experiment with, and a dearth of any kind +of loving and claiming at all be the result. I will elucidate that idea +and shoot it into Jane. But I have no hope; she'll have the answer +ticketed away in the right pigeon-hole, statistics and all, ready to +fire back at me. + +I have a feeling that Jane won't expect such a diary as this locked cell +of a book is becoming, but I can select what looks like data for the +young from these soul squirmings, and only let her have those for The +Five. I don't know which are which now, and I'll have to put down the +whole drama. + +And my home-coming last night was a drama that had in it so much comedy, +dashed with tragedy, that I'm a little breathless over it yet. Jane, and +my mind is breathing unevenly still. + +Considering the situation, and my intentions, I was a bit frightened as +the huge engine rattled and roared its way along the steel rails that +were leading me back, down into the Harpeth Valley. But, when we crossed +the Kentucky line, I forgot the horrors of my mission, and I thrilled +gloriously at getting hack to my hills. Old Harpeth had just come into +sight, as we rounded into the valley and Providence Knob rested back +against it, in a pink glow that I knew came from the honeysuckle in +bloom all over it like a mantle. I traveled fast into the twilight, and +I saw all the stars smile out over the ridge, in answer to the hearth +stars in the valley, before I got across Silver Creek. I hadn't let any +one know that I was coming, so I couldn't expect any one to meet me at +the station at Glendale. There was nobody there I belonged to--just an +empty house. I suppose a man coming home like that would have whistled +and held up his head, but I couldn't. I'm a woman. + +Suddenly, that long glowworm of a train stopped just long enough at +Glendale to eject me and my five trunks, with such hurried emphasis that +I felt I was being planted in the valley forever, and I would have to +root myself here or die. I still feel that way. + +And as I stood just where my feet were planted, in the dust of the road, +instead of on the little ten-foot platform, that didn't quite reach to +my sleeper steps, I felt as small as I really am in comparison to the +universe. I looked after the train and groveled. + +Then, just as I was about to start running down the track, away from +nowhere and to nowhere, I was brought to my senses by a loud boohoo, and +then a snubby choke, which seemed to come out of my bag and +steamer-blanket that stood in a pile before me. + +"Train's gone, train's gone and left us! I knew it would, when Sallie +stopped to put the starch on her face all over again. And Cousin James, +he's as slow as molasses, and I couldn't dress two twins in not time to +button one baby. Oh, damn, oh, damn!" And the sobs rose to a perfect +storm of a wail. + +Just at that moment, down the short platform an electric light, that was +so feeble that it seemed to show a pine-knot influence in its heredity, +was turned on by the station-agent, who was so slow that I perceived the +influence of a descent from old Mr. Territt, who drove the stage that +came down from the city before the war, and my fellow-sufferer stood +revealed. + +She was a slim, red-haired bunch of galatea, stylish of cut as to +upturned nose and straight little skirt but wholly and defiantly unshod +save for a dusty white rag around one pink toe. A cunning little straw +bonnet, with an ecru lace jabot dangled in her hand, and her big brown +eyes reminded me of Jane's at her most inquisitive moments. + +"If you was on a train, what did you git offen it _here_ for?" she +demanded of me, with both scorn and curiosity in her positive young +voice. + +"I don't know why," I answered weakly, not at all in the tone of a +young-gallant-home-from-the-war mood I had intended to assume towards +the first inhabitant of my native town to whom I addressed a remark. + +"We was all a-goin' down to Hillsboro, to visit Aunt Bettie Pollard for +a whole week, to Cousin Tom's wedding, but my family is too slow for +nothing but a funeral. And Cousin James, he's worse. He corned for us +ten minutes behind the town clock, and Mammy Dilsie had phthisic, so I +had to fix the two twins, and we're done left. I wisht I didn't have no +family!" And with her bare feet the young rebel raised a cloud of dust +that rose and settled on my skirt. + +"There they come now," she continued, with the pained contempt still +rising in her voice. + +And around the corner of the station hurried the family party, with all +the haste they would have been expected to use if they had not, just two +minutes earlier, beheld their train go relentlessly on down the valley +to Hillsboro and the wedding celebration. I hadn't placed the kiddie, +but I might have known, from her own description of her family, to whom +she belonged. + +First came Sallie Carruthers, sailing along in the serene way that I +remembered to have always thought like a swan in no hurry, and in her +hands was a wet box from which rose sterns protruded. + +Next in the procession came Aunt Dilsie, huge and black and wheezing, +fanning herself with a genteel turkey-tail fan, and carrying a large +covered basket. + +But the tail-piece of the procession paralyzed all the home-coming +emotions that I had expected to be feeling, save that of pure hilarity. +James Hardin was carrying two bubbly, squirmy, tousle-headed babies, on +one arm, and a huge suitcase in the other hand, and his gray felt hat +set on the back of his shock of black hair at an angle of deep +desperation, though patience shone from every line of his strong, gaunt +body, and I could see in the half light that there were no lines of +irritation about his mouth, which Richard had said looked to him like +that of the prophet Hosea, when I had shown him the picture that Father +had had snapped of himself and the Crag, with their great string of +quail, on one of their hunting-trips, just before Father died. + +"Eve!" he exclaimed, when he suddenly caught sight of me, standing in +the middle of the dusty road, with my impedimenta around me, and as he +spoke he dropped both babies on the platform in a bunch, and the small +trunk on the other side. Then he just stood and looked, and I had to +straighten the roar that was arising in me at the sight of him into a +conventional smile of greeting, suitable to bestow on an enemy. + +But before the smile was well launched, Sallie bustled in and got the +full effect of it. + +"Why, Evelina Shelby, you darling thing, when did you come?" she fairly +bubbled, as she clasped me in the most hospitable of arms, and bestowed +a slightly powdery kiss on both my cheeks. I weakly and femininely +enjoyed the hug, not that a man might not have--Sallie is a dear, and I +always did like her gush, shamefacedly. + +"She got often that train that left us, and she ain't got a bit of +sense, or she wouldn't," answered the Blue Bunch for me, in a +matter-of-fact tone of voice. + +"What for did you all unpack outen the surrey, if you sawed the train go +by?" she further demanded, with accusing practicality. "Don't you know +when youse left?" + +"Oh, Henrietta," exclaimed Sallie, looking at the young-philosopher with +terrified helplessness. "Please don't mind her, Evelina. I don't +understand her being my child, and nobody does, unless it was Henry's +grandmother on his mother's side. You had heard of my loss?" + +If I hadn't heard of the death of Henry Carruthers, Sallie's elaborate +black draperies, relieved by the filmy exquisiteness of white crepe +ruches at the neck and wrists, would have proclaimed the fact. + +Suddenly, something made me look at Cousin James, as he stood calmly in +the midst of Sallie's family and baggage, both animate and inanimate, +and the laugh that had threatened for minutes fairly flared out into his +placid, young prophet face. + +"Oh, I am so sorry, Sallie, and so glad to see all of you that I'm +laughing at the same time," I exclaimed to save myself from the +awfulness of greeting a young widow's announcement of her sorrow in such +an unfeeling manner. To cover my embarrassment and still further +struggles with the laugh that never seemed to be able to have itself +out, I bent and hugged up one of the toddlers, who were balancing +against the Crag's legs, with truly feminine fervor. + +"I'm glad to see you, Evelina," said Cousin James gently, and I could +see that the billows of my mirth had got entirely past him. + +I was glad he had escaped, and I found myself able to look with +composure at his queer, long-tailed gray coat, which made me know that +little old Mr. Pinkus, who had been Father's orderly all through the +war, was still alive and tailoring in his tiny shop down by the +post-office, though now that Father is dead he probably only does it for +Cousin James. The two of them had been his only customers for years. And +as I looked, I saw that the locks that curled in an ante-bellum fashion +around the Crag's ears, were slightly sprinkled with gray, and +remembered how he had loved and stood by Father, even in the manner of +wearing Pinkus clothes; my heart grew very large all of a sudden, and I +held out my hand to him. + +[Illustration: He stood calmly in the midst of Sallie's family and +baggage, both animate and inanimate.] + +"I'm glad to be at home," I said, gazing straight into his eyes, with a +look of affection that you would have been proud of, Jane,--using +unconsciously, until after I had done it, the warmth I had tried +unsuccessfully on Richard Hall at the Astor, not forty-eight hours +ago, but two thousand miles away. And it got a response that puzzles me +to think of yet. It was just a look, but there was a thought of Father +in it, also a suggestion of the glance he bestowed on Sallie's twins. I +remembered that the Crag seldom speaks, and that's what makes you spend +your time breathlessly listening to him. + +"Well, come on, everybody, let's go home and undress, and forget about +the wedding," came in Henrietta's positive and executive tones. "Let's +go and take the strange lady with us. We can have company if we can't be +it. She can sleep other side of me, next the wall." + +I have never met anybody else at all like Henrietta Carruthers, and I +never shall unless Jane Mathers marries and--I sincerely hope that some +day she and Jane will meet. + +And the next ten minutes was one of the most strenuous periods of time I +ever put in, in all my life. I longed, really longed, to go home with +Sallie and Henrietta, and sleep next the wall at Widegables with the +rest of the Crag's collection. But I knew Glendale well enough to see +plainly that if I thus once give myself up to the conventions that by +Saturday night they would have me nicely settled with his relicts, or in +my home with probably two elderly widows and a maiden cousin or so to +look after me. And then, by the end of the next week, they would have +the most suitable person in town fairly hunted by both spoken and mental +influence, to the moonlight end of my front porch, with matrimonial +intentions in his pocket. I knew I had to take a positive stand, and +take it immediately. I must be masculinely firm. No feminine wiles would +serve in such a crisis as this. + +So, I let Cousin James pack me into his low, prehistoric old surrey, in +the front seat, at his side, while Sallie took Aunt Dilsie and one twin +with her on the back seat. Henrietta scrouged down at my feet, and I +fearingly, but accommodatingly, accepted the other twin. It was a +perfect kitten of a baby, and purred itself to sleep against my shoulder +as soon as anchored. + +The half-mile from the station, along the dusty, quiet village streets, +was accomplished in about the time it would take a modern vehicle to +traverse Manhattan lengthwise, and at last we stopped at the gate of +Widegables. The rambling, winged, wide-gabled, tall-columned old pile of +time-grayed brick and stone, sat back in the moonlight, in its tangle of +a garden, under its tall roof maples, with a dignity that went straight +to my heart. There is nothing better in France or England, and I feel +sure that there are not two hundred houses in America as good. I'll +paint it, just like I saw it to-night, for next Spring's Salon. A bright +light shone from the windows of the dining-room in the left wing, where +the collection of clinging vines were taking supper, unconscious of the +return of the left-behinds that threatened. + +And as I glanced at my own tall-pillared, dark old house, that stands +just opposite Widegables, and is of the same period and style, I knew +that if I did not escape into its emptiness before I got into Cousin +Martha's comfortable arms, surrounded by the rest of the Crag's family, +I would never have the courage to enter into the estate of freedom I had +planned. + +"Sallie," I said firmly, as I handed the limp Kitten down to Aunt +Dilsie, as Henrietta took the other one--"Puppy" I suppose I will have +to call the young animal,--from her mother and started on up the walk in +the lead of the return expedition, "I am going over to stay in my own +home to-night. I know it seems strange, but--I _must_. Please don't +worry about me." + +"Why, dear, you can't stay by yourself, with no man on the place," +exclaimed Sallie, in a tone of absolute panic. "I'll go tell Cousin +Martha you are here, while Cousin James unpacks your satchel and +things." And she hurried in her descent from the ark, and also hurried +in her quest for the reinforcement of Cousin Martha's authority. + +"I'm going to escape before any of them come back," I said determinedly +to the Crag, who stood there still, just looking at me. "I'm not up to +arguing the question to-night, for the trip has been a long one, and +this is the first time I have been home since--Just let me have to-night +to myself, please." I found myself pleading to him, as he held up his +arms to lift me clear of the wheels. + +His eyes were hurt and suffering for a second, then a strange light of +comprehension came from them into mine, like a benediction, as he gently +set me on my feet. + +"Must you, Eve?" + +"Yes," I answered, with a gulp that went all the way down to my +feminine toes, as I glanced across the road at the grim, dark old pile +that towered against the starlit sky. "I want to stay in my own house +to-night--and--and I'm not afraid." + +"You won't need to be frightened. I understand, I think--and here's your +key, I always carry it in my pocket. Your Father's candle is on the +mantel. You shall have to-night to yourself. Good-night, and bless your +home-coming, dear!" + +"Good-night," I answered as I turned away from his kind eyes quickly, to +keep from clinging-to him with might and main, and crossed the road to +my own gate. With my head up, and trying for the whistle, at least in my +heart, I went quickly along the front walk with its rows of blush +peonies, nodding along either edge. The two old purple lilacs beside the +front steps have grown so large they seemed to be barring my way into my +home with longing, sweet embraces, and a fragrant little climbing +rose, that has rioted across the front door, ever since I could +remember, bent down and left a kiss on my cheeks. + +The warm, mellow old moon flooded a glow in front of me, through the big +front door, as I opened it, and then hastened to pour into the wide +windows as I threw back the shutters. + +Logs lay ready for lighting in the wide fireplace at the end of the long +room, and Father's tobacco jar gleamed a reflected moonlight from its +pewter sides from the tall mantel-shelf. The old hooks melted into the +dusk of their cases along the wall, and the portrait of Grandfather +Shelby lost its fierce gaze and became benign from its place between the +windows. + +I was being welcomed to the home of my fathers, with a soft dusk that +was as still and sweet as the grave. Sweet for those that want it; but I +didn't. Suddenly, I thrilled as alive as any terror-stricken woman that +ever found herself alone anywhere on any other edge of the world, and +then as suddenly found myself in a complete condition of fright +prostration, crouched on my own threshold. I was frightened at the dark, +and could not even cry. Then almost immediately, while I crouched +quivering in every nerve I seemed to hear a man's voice say +comfortingly: + +"You don't need to be frightened." + +Courageously I lifted my eyes and looked down between the old lilac +bushes, and saw just what I expected I would, a tall, gray figure, +pacing slowly up and down the road. Then it was that fear came into me, +stiffened my muscles and strengthened my soul--fear of myself and my own +conclusions about destiny and all things pertaining thereto. + +I never want to go through such another hour as I spent putting things +in order in Father's room, which opens off the living-room, so I could +go to bed by candle-light in the bed in which he and I were both born. +I wanted to sleep there, and didn't even open any other part of the +grim old house. + +And when I put out the candle and lay in the high, old four-post bed, I +again felt as small as I really am, and I was in danger of a bad +collapse from self-depreciation when my humor came to the rescue. I +might just as well have gone on and slept between Henrietta and the +wall, as was becoming my feminine situation, for here my determination +to assert my masculine privileges was keeping a real man doing sentry +duty up and down a moonlight road all night--and I wanted it. + +"After this, James Hardin, you can consider yourself safe from any of my +attentions or intentions," I laughed to myself, as I turned my face into +the pillow, that was faintly scented from the lavender in which Mother +had always kept her linen. "I've been in Glendale two hours, and one man +is on the home base with his fingers crossed. James, you are free! Oh, +Jane!" + + + + +CHAPTER III + +A FLINT SPARK + + +The greatest upheavals of nature are those that arrive suddenly, without +notifying the world days beforehand of their intentions of splitting the +crust of the Universe wide open. One is coming to Glendale by degrees, +but the town hasn't found out about it yet. I'm the only one who sees +it, and I'm afraid to tell. + +When Old Harpeth, who has been looking down on a nice, peaceful, man +ordained, built, and protected world, woke Glendale up the morning after +my arrival and found me defiantly alone in the home of my fathers--also +of each of my foremothers, by the courtesy of dower--he muttered and +drew a veil of mist across his face. Slight showers ensued, but he had +to come out in less than an hour from pure curiosity. I found the old +garden heavenly in its riot of neglected buds, shoots, and blooms, wet +and welcoming with the soft odors of Heaven itself. + +It was well I was out early to enjoy it, for that was to be the day of +my temptation and sore trial. I am glad I have recorded it all, for I +might have forgotten some day how wonderfully my very pliant, feminine +attitude rubbed in my masculine intentions as to my life on the blind +side of all the forces brought to bear on me to put me back into my +predestined place in the scheme of the existence. + +"Your Cousin James's home is the place for you, Evelina, and until he +explained to me how you felt last night I was deeply hurt that you +hadn't come straight, with Sallie, to me and to him," said Cousin +Martha, in as severe a voice as was possible for such a placid +individual to produce. Cousin Martha is completely lovely, and the +Mossback gets his beauty from her. She is also such a perfect dear that +her influence is something terrific, even if negatively expressed. + +"I have come to help you get your things together, so you can move over +before dinner," she continued with gentle force. "Now, what shall we put +in the portmanteau first? I see you have unpacked very little, and I am +glad that it confirms me in my feeling that your coming over here for +the night was just a dutiful sentiment for your lost loved ones, and not +any unmaidenly sense of independence in the matter of choice where it is +best for you to live. Of course, such a question as that must be left to +your guardian, and of course James will put you under my care." + +"I--I really thought that perhaps Cousin James did not have room for me, +Cousin Martha," I answered meekly. "How many families has he with him +now?" I asked with a still further meekness that was the depths of +wiliness. + +"There are three of us widows, whom he sustains and comforts for the +loss of our husbands, and also the three Norton girls, cousins on his +father's side of the house, you remember. It is impossible for them to +look after their plantation since their father's death robbed them of a +protector, at least, even though he had been paralyzed since Gettysburg. +James is a most wonderful man, my dear--a most wonderful man. Though as +he is my son I ought to think it in silence." + +"Indeed he is," I answered from the heart. "But--but wouldn't it be a +little crowded for him to have another--another vine--that is, exactly +what would he do with me? I know Widegables is wide, but that is a +houseful, isn't it?" + +"Well, all of us did feel that it made the house uncomfortably full when +Sallie came with the three children, but you know Henry Carruthers left +James his executor and guardian of the children, and Sallie of course +couldn't live alone, so Mrs. Hargrove and I moved into the south room +together, and gave Sallie and the children my room. It is a large room, +and it would be such a comfort to Sallie to have you stay with her and +help her at night with the children. She doesn't really feel able to get +up with them at all. Then Dilsie could sleep in the cabin, as she ought +to on account of the jimsonweed in her phthisic pipe. It would be such a +beautiful influence in your lonely life, Evelina, to have the children +to care for." + +I wondered if Cousin Martha had ever heard that galatea bunch indulge in +such heartfelt oaths as had followed that train down the track last +night! + +"It would be lovely," I answered--and the reply was not all insincerity, +as I thought of the darkness of that long night, and the Bunch's offer +of a place at her sturdy little back "next the wall." + +"But I will be so busy with my own work, Cousin Martha, that I am afraid +I couldn't do justice to the situation and repay the children and Sallie +for crowding them." + +"Why, you couldn't crowd us, Evelina, honey," came in Sallie's rich +voice, as she sailed into the room, trailing the Pup and the Kit at her +skirts and flying lavender ribbons at loose ends. "We've come to help +you move over right away." + +"Well, not while I have a voice in the affairs of my own husband's +niece! How are you, Evelina, and are you crazy, Sallie Carruthers?" came +in a deep raven croak of a voice that sounded as if it had harked partly +from the tomb, as Aunt Augusta Shelby stood in the doorway, with reproof +on her lips and sternness on her brow. "Peter and I will have Evelina +move down immediately with us. James Hardin has as much in the way of a +family as he can very well stand up under now." + +And as she spoke, Aunt Augusta glared at Sallie with such ferocity that +even Sallie's sunshiny presence was slightly dimmed. + +"Are you ready, Evelina? Peter will send the surrey for your baggage," +she continued, and for a moment I quailed, for Aunt Augusta's +determination of mind is always formidable, but I summoned my woman's +wit and man's courage, and answered quickly before she fairly snatched +me from under my own roof-tree. + +"That would be lovely, Aunt Augusta, and how are you?" I answered and +asked in the same breath, as I drew near enough to her to receive a +business-like peck on my cheek. "I expect to have you and Uncle Peter to +look after me a lot, but somehow I feel that Father would have +liked--liked for me to live here and keep my home--his home--open. Some +way will arrange itself. I haven't talked with Cousin James yet," I +felt white feathers sprouting all over me, as I thus invoked the +masculine dominance I had come to lay. + +"You'll have to settle that matter with your Uncle Peter, then, for, +following his dictates of which I did not approve, I have done our duty +by the orphan. Now, Evelina, let me say in my own person, that I +thoroughly approve of your doing just as you plan." And as she uttered +this heresy, she looked so straight and militant and altogether +commanding, that both Cousin Martha and Sallie quailed. I felt elated, +as if my soul were about to get sight of a kindred personality. Or +rather a soul-relative of yours, Jane. + +"Oh, she would be so lonely, Mrs. Shelby, and she--" Sallie was +venturing to say with trepidation, when Aunt Augusta cut her short +without ceremony. + +"Lonely, nonsense! Such a busy woman as I now feel sure Evelina is going +to be, will not have time to be lonely. I wish I could stay and talk +with you further about your plans, but I must hurry back and straighten +out Peter's mind on that question of the town water-supply that is to +come up in the meeting of the City Council to-day. He let it be +presented all wrong last time, and they got things so muddled that it +was voted on incorrectly. I will have to write it out for him so he can +explain it to them. I will need you in many ways to help me help Peter +be Mayor of Glendale, Evelina. I am wearied after ten years of the +strain of his office. I shall call on you for assistance often in the +most important matters," with which promise, that sounded like a threat, +she proceeded to march down the front path, almost stepping on +Henrietta, who was coming up the same path, with almost the same +emphasis. There was some sort of an explosion, and I hope the kind of +words I heard hurled after the train were not used. + +"That old black crow is a-going to git in trouble with me some day, +Marfy," Henrietta remarked, as she settled herself on the arm of Cousin +Martha's chair, after bestowing a smudgy kiss on the little white curl +that wrapped around one of the dear old lady's pink little ears. I had +felt that way about Cousin Martha myself at the Bunch's age, and we +exchanged a sympathetic smile on the subject. + +"Well, what _are_ you going to do, Evelina?" asked Sallie, and she +turned such a young, helpless, wondering face up to me from the center +of her cluster of babies, that my heart almost failed me at the idea of +pouring what seemed to me at that moment the poison of modernity into +the calm waters of her and Cousin Martha's primitive placidity. + +"You'll have to live some place where there is a man," she continued, +with worried conviction. + +My time had come, and the fight was on. Oh, Jane! + +"I don't believe I really feel that way about it," I began in the +gentlest of manners, and slowly, so as to feel my way. "You see, Sallie +dear, and dearest Cousin Martha, I have had to be out in the world so +much--alone, that I am--used to it. I--I haven't had a man's protection +for so long that I don't need it, as I would if I were like you two +blessed sheltered women." + +"I know it has been hard, dear," said Cousin Martha gently looking her +sympathy at my lorn state, over her glasses. + +"I don't see how you have stood it at all," said Sallie, about to +dissolve in tears. "The love and protection and sympathy of a man are +the only things in life worth anything to a woman. Since my loss I don't +know what I would have done without Cousin James. You must come into his +kind care, Evelina." + +"I must learn to endure loneliness," I answered sadly, about to begin to +gulp from force of example, and the pressure of long hereditary +influence. + +I'm glad that I did not dissolve, however, before what followed +happened, for in the twinkling of two bare feet I was smothered in the +embrace of Henrietta, who in her rush brought either the Pup or the Kit, +I can't tell which yet, along to help her enfold me. + +"I'll come stay with you forever, and we don't need no men! Don't +like 'em no-how!" she was exclaiming down my back, when a drawl from the +doorway made us all turn in that direction. + +"Why, Henrietta, my own, can it be you who utter such cruel sentiments +in my absence?" and Polk Hayes lounged into the room, with the same +daring listlessness that he had used in trying to hold me in his arms +out on the porch the night I had said good-by to him and Glendale, four +years ago. + +Henrietta's chubby little body gave a wriggle of delight, and much +sentiment beamed in her rugged, small face, as she answered him with +enthusiasm, though not stopping to couch her reply in exactly +complimentary terms. + +"You don't count, Pokie," she exclaimed, as she made a good-natured face +at him. + +"That's what Evelina said four years ago--and she has proved it," he +answered her, looking at me just exactly as if he had never left off +doing it since that last dance. + +"How lovely to find you in the same exuberant spirits in which I left +you, Polk, dear," I exclaimed, as I got up to go and shake hands with +him, as he had sunk into the most comfortable chair in the room, without +troubling to bestow that attention upon me. + +Some men's hearts beat with such a strong rhythm that every feminine +heart which comes within hearing distance immediately catches step, and +goes to waltzing. It has been four years since mine swung around +against his, at that dance, but I'm glad Cousin Martha was there, and +interrupted, us enough to make me drag my eyes from his, as he looked up +and I looked down. + +"Please help us to persuade Evelina to come and live with James and me, +Polk, dear," she said, glancing at him with the deepest confidence and +affection in her eyes. There is no age-limit to Polk's victims, and +Cousin Martha had always adored him. + +"All women do, Evelina, why not you--live with James?" he asked, and I +thought I detected a mocking flicker in his big, hazel, dangerous eyes. + +"If I ever need protection it will be James--and Cousin Martha I will +run to for it--but I never will," I answered him, very simply, with not +a trace of the defiance I was fairly flinging at him in either my voice +or manner. + +Paris and London and New York are nice safe places to live in, in +comparison with Glendale, Tennessee, in some respects. I wonder why I +hadn't been more scared than I was last night, as the train whirled me +down into proximity to Polk Hayes. But then I had had four years of +forgetting him stored up as a bulwark. + +"But what _are_ you going to do, Evelina?" Sallie again began to +question, with positive alarm in her voice, and I saw that it was time +for me to produce some sort of a protector then and there--or +capitulate. + +And I record the fact that I wanted to go home with Sallie and Cousin +Martha and the babies and--and live under the roof of the Mossback +forever. All that citizenship-feeling I had got poured into me from Jane +and had tried on Dickie, good old Dickie, had spilled out of me at the +first encounter with Polk. + +There is a great big hunt going on in this world, and women are the ones +only a short lap ahead. Can we turn and make good the fight--or won't +we be torn to death? It has come to this it seems: women must either be +weak, and cling so close to man that she can't be struck, keep entirely +out of the range of his fists and arms,--or develop biceps equal to his. +Jane ought to have had me in training longer, for I'm discovering that +I'm weak--of biceps. + +"Are you coming--are you coming to live with us, Evelina? Are you +coming? Answer!" questioned the small Henrietta, as she stood +commandingly in front of me. + +"Please, Evelina," came in a coax from Sallie, while the Kit crawled +over and caught at my skirt as Cousin Martha raised her eyes to mine, +with a gentle echo of the combined wooings. + +Then suddenly into Polk's eyes flamed still another demand, that +something told me I would have to answer later. I had capitulated and +closed this book forever when the deliverance came. + +Jasper, a little older, but as black and pompous as ever, stood in the +doorway, and a portly figure, with yellow, shining face, on the step +behind him. + +"Why, Uncle Jasper, how did you know I was here?" I exclaimed, as I +fairly ran to hold out my hand to him. + +"Mas' James sont me word last night, and I woulder been here by +daybreak, Missie, 'cept I had to hunt dis yere suitable woman to bring +along with me. Make your 'beesence to Miss Evelina, Lucy Petunia," he +commanded. + +"You needn't to bother to show her anything, child," he continued +calmly, "I'll learn her all she needs to know to suit us. Then, if in a +week she have shown suitable ability to please us both, my word is out +to marry her next Sunday night. Ain't that the understanding, Tuny?" he +this time demanded. + +"Yes, sir," answered the Petunia with radiant but modest hope shining +from her comely yellow face. + +"I've kept everything ready for you child, since Old Mas' died, and I +ain't never stayed offen the place a week at a time--I was just visiting +out Petunia's way when I heard you'd come, and gittin' a wife to tend to +us and back to you quick was the only thing that concerned me. Now, we +can all settle down comf'table, while I has Tuny knock up some dinner, a +company one I hopes, if Miss Martha and the rest will stay with us." +Jasper's manner is an exact copy of my Father's courtly grace, done in +sepia, and my eyes misted for a second, as I reciprocated his +invitation, taking acceptance for granted. + +"Of course they will stay, Uncle Jasper." + +"Well," remarked Sallie with a gasp, "you've gone to housekeeping in two +minutes, Evelina." + +"Jasper has always been a very forceful personality," said Cousin +Martha. "He managed everything for your Father at the last, Evelina, +and I don't know how the whole town would have been easy about the +Colonel unless they had trusted Jasper." + +"I like the terms on which he takes unto himself a wife," drawled Polk, +as he lighted a cigarette without looking at me. "Good for Jasper!" + +"However, it does take a 'forceful personality' to capture a 'suitable +woman' in that manner," I answered with just as much unconcern, and then +we both roared, while even Sallie in all her anxiety joined in. + +The commanding, black old man, and the happy-faced, plump, little yellow +woman, had saved one situation--and forced another, perhaps? + +Jasper's home-coming dinner party was a large and successful one. Two of +the dear little old Horton lady-cousins got so impatient at Cousin +Martha's not bringing me back to Widegables that they came teetering +over to see about it, heavily accompanied by Mrs. Hargrove, whose son +had been Cousin James's best friend at the University of Virginia, and +died and left her to him since I had been at college. The ponderosity of +her mind was only equaled by that of her body. I must say Petunia made a +hit with the dear old soul, by the seasoning of her chicken gravy. + +Sallie wanted to send the children home, but Jasper wouldn't let her, +and altogether we had eleven at the table. + +Polk maneuvered for a seat at the head of my festive board, with a spark +of the devil in his eyes, but Jasper's sense of the proprieties did not +fail me, and he seated Cousin Martha in Father's chair, with great +ceremony. + +And as I looked down the long table, bright with all the old silver +Jasper had had time to polish, gay with roses from my garden, that he +had coaxed Henrietta into gathering for him, which nodded back and +forth with the bubbling babies, suddenly my heart filled to the very +brim with love of it all--and for mine own people. + +But, just as suddenly, a vision came into my mind of the long table +across the road at Widegables, with the Mossback seated at one end with +only two or three of his charges stretched along the empty sides to keep +him company. + +I wanted him to be here with us! I wanted him badly, and I went to get +him. I excused myself suddenly, telling them all just why. I didn't look +at Polk, but Cousin Martha's face was lovely, as she told me to run +quickly. + +I found him on the front porch, smoking his pipe alone, while the two +little relics, whom he had had left to dine with him, were taking their +two respective naps. Our dinner was late on account of the initiation of +Petunia, and he had finished before we began. + +"I stole most of your family to-day," I plunged headlong into my +errand, "but I want you, too, most of all." + +"You've got me, even if you do prefer to keep me across the road from +you," he answered, with the most solemn expression on his face, but with +a crinkle of a smile in the corners of his deep eyes. + +I can't remember when I didn't look with eagerness for that crinkle in +his eyes, even when I was a child and he what I at that time considered +a most glorious grownup individual, though he must have been the most +helpless hobbledehoy that ever existed. + +"You don't need another vine," I answered mutinously. + +"You know I want you, but Jasper's is the privilege of looking after +you," he answered calmly. "I want you to be happy, Evelina," and I knew +as I raised my eyes to his that I could consider myself settled in my +own home. + +"Well, then, come and have dinner number two with me," I answered with +a laugh that covered a little happy sigh that rose from my heart at the +look in the kind eyes bent on mine. + +I felt, Jane, you would have approved of that look! It was so human to +human. + +He came over with me, and that was one jolly party in the old +dining-room. They all stayed until almost sunset, and almost everybody +in town dropped in during the afternoon to welcome me home, and ask me +where I was going to live. Jasper and Petunia hovering in the +background, the tea-tray out on the porch set with the silver and damask +all of them knew of old, and the appearance of having been installed +with the full approval of Cousin Martha and James and the rest of the +family, stopped the questions on their lips, and they spent the +afternoon much enlivened but slightly puzzled. + +Time doesn't do much to people in a place like the Harpeth Valley, that +is out of the stream of modern progress; and most of my friends seem to +have just been sitting still, rocking their lives along in the greatest +ease and comfort. + +Still, Mamie Hall has three more kiddies, which, added to the four she +had when I left, makes a slightly high, if charming, set of stair-steps. +Mamie also looks decidedly worn, though pathetically sweet. Ned was with +her, and as fresh as any one of the buds. Maternity often wilts women, +but paternity is apt to make men bloom with the importance of it. Ned +showed off the bunch as if he had produced them all, while Mamie only +smiled like an angel in the background. + +A slight bit of temper rose in a flush to my cheeks, as I watched +Caroline Lellyett sit on the steps and feed cake to one twin and two +stair-steps with as much hunger in her eyes for them as there was in +theirs for the cake. Lee Greenfield is the responsible party in this +case, and she has been loving him hopelessly for fifteen years. Lots of +other folks wanted to marry her, but Lee has pinned her in the psychic +spot and is watching her flutter. + +Polk departed in the trail of Nell Kirkland's fluffy muslin skirts, +smoldering dangerously, I felt. Nell has grown up into a most lovely +individual, and I felt uneasy about her under Folk's ministrations. Her +eyes follow him rather persistently. On the whole, I am glad Jane +committed me to this woman's cause. I'll have to begin to exercise the +biceps of Nell's heart--as soon as I get some strength into my own. + +And after they had all gone, I sat for an hour out on the front steps of +my big, empty old house, and enjoyed my own loneliness, if it could be +called enjoying. I could hear the Petunia's happy giggle, answering +Jasper's guttural pleasantries, out on the cabin porch behind the row of +lilac bushes. I do hope that Petunia gets much and the right sort of +courting during this week that Jasper has allowed her! + +With the last rays of the sun, I had found time to read a long, dear +letter from Richard Hall, and though I had transferred it from my pocket +to my desk, while I dressed for the afternoon, its crackle was still in +my mind. I wondered what it all meant, this dissatisfied longing that +human beings send out across time and distance, one to and for another. + +If a woman's heart were really like a great big golden chalice, full to +the brim with the kind of love she is taught God wants her to have in it +for all mankind, both men and women, why shouldn't she offer drafts of +it to every one who is thirsty, brothers as well as sisters? I wonder +how that would solve Jane's problem of emotional equality! I do love +Dicky--and--and I do love Polk--with an inclination to dodge. Now, if +there were enough of the right sort of love in me, I ought to be able to +get them to see it, and drink it for their comforting, and have no +trouble at all with them about their wanting to seize the cup, drain +all the love there is in it, shut it away from the rest of the +world--and then neglect it. + +Yes, why can't I love Polk as I love you, Jane, and have him enjoy it? +Yes, why? + +I think if I had Dicky off to myself for a long time, and very gently +led him up to the question of loving him hard in this new way, he might +be induced to sip out of the cup just to see if he liked it--and it +might be just what he craved, for the time being; but I doubt it. He +would storm and bluster at the idea. + +Of course the Crag would let a woman love him in any old kind of new or +experimental way she wanted to, if it made her happy. He would take her +cup of tenderness and drink it as if it were sacramental wine, on his +knees. But he doesn't count. He has to be man to so many people that +there is danger of his becoming a kind of superman. Think of the old +Mossback being a progressive thing like that! I laughed out loud at the +idea--but the echo was dismal. + +I wonder if Sallie will marry him. + +And as I sat and thought and puzzled, the moonlight got richer and more +glowing, and it wooed open the throats of the thousand little +honeysuckle blossoms, clinging to the vine on the trellis, until they +poured out a perfect symphony of perfume to mingle in a hallelujah from +the lilacs and roses that ascended to the very stars themselves. + +I had dropped my head on my arms, and let my eyes go roaming out to the +dim hills that banked against the radiant sky, when somebody seated +himself beside me, and a whiff of tobacco blew across my face, sweet +with having joined in the honeysuckle chorus. Nobody said a word for a +long time, and then I looked up and laughed into the deep, gray eyes +looking tenderly down into mine. With a thrill I realized that there +was one man in the world I could offer the chalice to and _trust_ him to +drink--moderately. + +"Jamie," I said in a voice as young as it used to be when I trailed at +his heels, "thank you for letting me be contrary and independent and +puzzling. I have been busy adventuring with life, in queer places and +with people not like--like us. Now I want a little of real living and to +think--and feel. May I?" + +"You may, dear," the Crag answered in a big comfortable voice, that was +a benediction in itself. "I understood last night when you told me that +you wanted to come home alone. I can trust Jasper with you, and I am +going to sleep down at the lodge room, right across the road here, so I +can hear you if you even think out loud. No one shall worry you about it +any more. Now will you promise to be happy?" + +I could not answer him, I was so full of a deepness of peace. I just +laid my cheek against the sleeve of his queer old gray coat, to show +him what I could not say. + +He let me do it, and went on smoking without noticing me. + +Then, after a little while, he began to tell me all about Father and his +death, that had come so suddenly while he seemed as well as ever, and +how he had worried about my probably not wanting to be left to him, and +that he wanted me to feel independent, but to please let him do all that +I would to help me, and not to feel that I was alone with nobody to love +me. That he was always there, and would be forever and ever. + +And he did stay so late that Jasper had to send him home! + +There is such a thing as a man's being a father and mother and grown +sister and brother and a college-chum and a preacher of the Gospel and a +family physician to a woman--with no possibility of being her husband +either. She wouldn't so drag such a man from his high estate as to think +of such a worldly relation in connection with him. + +I have certainly collected some phenomena in the reaction of a woman's +heart this day. Did you choose me wisely for these experiments, Jane? + +It takes a woman of nerve to go to housekeeping in a tinder-box, when +she isn't sure she even knows what flint is when she sees it, and might +strike out a spark without intending it at all. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +SWEETER WHEN TAMED? + + +I wonder if men ever melt suddenly into little boys, and try to squirm +and run back to hide their heads in their mothers' skirts. It is an open +secret that starchy, modern women often long to wilt back into droopy +musk roses, that climb over gates and things, but they don't let each +other. When I feel myself getting soluble, I write it out to Jane and I +get a bracing cold wave of a letter in reply. The one this morning was +on the subject of love, or, at least, that is what Jane would have said +it was on. She wrote: + + +Yes, it is gratifying to know that Mary Elizabeth is so happily engaged +to the young teacher who has been in her work with her. She writes that +she was encouraged by our resolution, at last to be her best self while +in his presence as she had not had the courage to do last year. You see, +Evelina? And also, you are right in your conclusion that there is not +enough abstract love in this world of brotherhood and sisterhood; that +the doctrine of divine love calls us to give more and more of it. We +cannot give too much! But also, considerations for the advancement of +the world call for experiments by the more illumined women along more +definite and concrete lines. How old is this Mr. Hayes, on whom you have +chosen to note the reactions of sisterly affection? Are you sure that he +is not a fit subject for your consideration in the matter of a choice +for a mate? + +Remember to be as frank in your expressions of regard for him as he is +in his of regard for you. That is the crux of the whole matter. Be +frank, be courageous! Let a man look freely into your heart, and thus +encouraged he will open his to you. Then you will both have an +opportunity to judge each other with reference to a life-long union. It +is the only way; and remember what rests on you in this matter. The +destinies of many women are involved. + + * * * * * + +I don't say this in a spirit of levity, but I do wish Polk Hayes and +Jane Mathers were out on the front steps in the moonlight, after a good +supper that has made him comfortable, Jane to be attired in something +soft that would float against his arm, whether she wanted it to or not! +I believe it would be good for Jane, and make things easier for me. Be +frank with Polk as to how much he asphyxiates me? I know better than to +blow out the gas like that! No, Jane! + +But what is a woman going to do when she is young and hearty and husky, +with the blood running through her veins at a two-forty rate, when her +orchard is in bloom, the mocking-birds are singing the night through, +and she is not really in love with anybody? The loneliness does fill +her heart full of the solution of love, and she has got to pour off some +of it into somebody's life. There is plenty of me to be both abstract +and concrete, at the same time, and I thought of Uncle Peter. + +Uncle Peter Is the most explosive and crusty person that ever happened +in Glendale, and it takes all of Aunt Augusta's energy, common-sense and +force of character to keep him and the two chips he carries on his +shoulders, as a defiance to the world in general, from being in a +constant state of combustion. He has been ostensibly the Mayor of +Glendale for twenty-five years, and Aunt Augusta has done the work of +the office very well indeed, while he has blown up things in general +with great energy. He couldn't draw a long breath without her, but of +course he doesn't realize it. He thinks he is in a constant feud with +her and her sex. His ideas on the woman question are so terrific that I +have always run from them, but I concluded that it would be a good +thing for me to liquefy some of my vague humanitarianism, and help Aunt +Augusta with him, while she wrestles with the City Council on the water +question. Anyway, I have always had a guarded fondness for the old chap. + +I chose a time when I knew Aunt Augusta had to be busy with his report +of the disastrous concrete paving trade the whole town had been sold out +on, and I lay in wait to capture him and the chips. This morning I +waited behind the old purple lilac at the gate, which immediately got +into the game by sweeping its purple-plumed arms all around me, so that +not a tag of my dimity alarmed him as he came slowly down the street. + +"Uncle Peter," I said, as I stepped out in front of him suddenly, +"please, Uncle Peter, won't you come in and talk to me?" + +"Hey? Evelina?" + +"Yes, Uncle Peter, it's Evelina," and I hesitated with terror at the +snap in his dear old eyes, back under their white brows. Then I let my +eyes uncover my heart full of the elixir I had prepared for him, and +offered him as much as he could drink. + +"I'm lonely," I said, with a little catch in my voice. + +"Lonely--hey?" he grumbled, but his feet hesitated opposite my gate. + +In about two and a half minutes I had him seated in a cushioned rocker +on the south side of the porch. Jasper had given us both a mint julep, +and Uncle Peter was much Jess thirsty than he had been for a long time. +Aunt Augusta is as temperate in all things as a steel ramrod. + +"You see, Uncle Peter, I needed you so that I just had to kidnap you," I +said to him, as he wiped his lips with a pocket-handkerchief, as stiffly +starched as was his wife herself. + +"Why didn't you go over and live in James's hennery--live with James--hey?" +he snapped, with the precision of a pistol cap. + +To be just, I suppose Aunt Augusta's adamant disposition accounts, to +some extent, for Uncle Peter's explosive way of thinking and speaking. A +husband would have to knock Aunt Augusta's nature down to make any +impression whatever on it. Uncle Peter always has the air of firing an +idea and then ducking his head to avoid the return shot. + +"His house is so full, and I need a lot of space to carry on my work," I +answered him, with the words I have used so often in the last two weeks +that they start to come when the Petunia asks me if I want waffles or +batter-cakes for supper. + +"Well, Sallie Carruthers will get him, and then there'll be a dozen more +to run the measure over--children--hey? All girls! A woman like Sallie +would not be content with producing less than a dozen of her +kind--hey?" + +His chuckle was so contagious that I couldn't help but join him, though +I didn't like it so very much. But why shouldn't I? Sallie is such a +gorgeous woman that a dozen of her in the next generation will be of +value to the State. Still, I didn't like it. I didn't enjoy thinking of +Cousin James as so serving his country. + +"Carruthers left her to James--he'll have to take care of her. Henry +turned toes in good time. Piled rotten old business and big family on to +James's shoulders, and then died--good time--hey? Get a woman on your +hands, only thing to do is to marry or kill her. Poor James--hey?" He +peered at me with a twinkle in his eyes that demanded assent from me. + +"Why, Uncle Peter, I don't know that Sallie has any such idea. She +grieves dreadfully over Mr. Carruthers, and I don't believe she would +think of marrying again," I answered, trying to put enough warmth in my +defense to convince myself. + +"Most women are nothing but gourd-vines, grow all over a corn-stalk, +kill it, produce gourds until it frosts, and begin all over again in the +next generation. James has to do the hoeing around Sallie's roots, and +feed her. Might as well marry her--hey?" + +"Does--does Cousin James have to support Sallie and the children, Uncle +Peter?" I asked, coming with reluctance down to the rock-bed of the +discussion. + +"Thinks he does, and it serves him right--serves him right for starting +out to run a widow-ranch in the first place; it's like making a +collection of old shoes. He let Henry Carruthers persuade him to +mortgage everything and buy land on the river for the car-shops of the +new railroad, which just fooled the town out of a hundred thousand +dollars, and is going by on the other side of the river with the shops +up at Bolivar. If James didn't get all the lawing in Alton County they +would all starve to death--which would be hard on the constitution of +old lady Hargrove, and her two hundred-weight." + +"Oh, has Cousin James really lost all of his fortune?" I asked, and I +was surprised at the amount of sympathetic dismay that rose in me at the +information. + +"Everything but what he carries around under that old gray hat of +his--not so bad a fortune, at that!--hey?" + +I feel I am going to love Uncle Peter for the way he disdainfully +admires Cousin James. + +"And--and all of his--his guests are really dependent on him?" I asked +again, as the stupendous fact filtered into my mind. + +"All the flock, all the flock," answered Uncle Peter, with what seemed, +under the circumstances, a heartless chuckle. "They each one have little +dabs of property, about as big as a handful of chicken feed, and as they +have each one given it all to James to manage, they expect an income in +return--and get it--all they ask for. A lot of useless old live +stock--all but Sallie, and she's worse--worse, hey?" + +I agreed with his question--but I didn't say so. + +"Glad your money is safe in Public Town Bonds and City Securities, +Evelina. If James could, he might lose it, and you'd have to move over. +It would then be nip and tuck between you and Sallie which got +James--nip and tuck--hey?" + +"Oh, Uncle Peter!" I exclaimed with positive horror that was flavored +with a large dash of indignation. + +"Well, yes, a race between a widow and a girl for a man is about like +one between a young duck and a spring chicken, across a mill-pond--girl +and chicken lose--hey? But let Sallie have him, since you don't need +him. I've got to go home and listen to Augusta talk about my business, +that she knows nothing in the world about, or I won't be ready for town +meeting this afternoon. Women are all fools,--hey?" + +"Will you come again, Uncle Peter?" I asked eagerly. I had set out to +offer Uncle Peter a cup of niecely affection, and I had got a good, +stiff bracer to arouse me in return. + +"I will, whenever I can escape Augusta," he answered, and there was such +a kindly crackle in his voice that I felt that he had wanted and needed +what I had offered him. "I'll drop in often and analyze the annals of +the town with you. Glad to have you home, child, good young blood to +stir me up--hey?" + +And as I sat and watched the Mayor go saunteringly down the street, with +his crustiness carried like a child on his shoulder, which it delighted +him to have knocked off, so that he could philosophize in the restoring +of it to its position, suddenly a realization of the relation of +Glendale to the world in general was forced upon me--and I quailed. + +Glendale is like a dozen other small towns in the Harpeth Valley; they +are all drowsy princesses who have just waked up enough to be wondering +what did it. The tentative kiss has not yet disclosed the presence of +the Prince of Revolution, and they are likely to doze for another +century or two. I think I had better go back into the wide world and let +them sleep on. One live member is likely to irritate the repose of the +whole body. + +Their faint stirrings of progress are pathetic. + +They have an electric plant, but, as I have noted before, the lights +therefrom show a strong trace of their pine-knot heredity, and go out on +all important occasions, whether of festivity or tragedy. Kerosene lamps +have to be kept filled and cleaned if a baby or a revival or a lawn +festival is expected. + +They have a lovely, wide concrete pavement in front of six of the stores +around the public square, but no two stretches of the improvement join +each other, and it makes a shopping progression around the town somewhat +dangerous, on account of the sudden change of grade of the sidewalk, +about every sixty feet. Aunt Augusta wanted Uncle Peter to introduce a +bill in the City Council forcing all of the property owners on the +Square to put down the pavement in front of their houses, at small +payments per annum, the town assuming the contract at six per cent. +Uncle Peter refused, because he said that he felt a smooth walk around +the Square would call out what he called "a dimity parade" every +afternoon. + +They have a water system that is supplied by so much mud from the river +that it often happens that the town has to go unwashed for a week, while +the pipes are cleaned out. There is a wonderful spring that could be +used, with a pump to supply the town, Aunt Augusta says. + +The City Council tied up the town for a hundred thousand dollars' +subscription to the new railroad, and failed to tie the shops down in +the contract. They are to be built in Bolivar. A great many of the rich +men have lost a lot of money thereby, Cousin James the most of all, and +everybody is sitting up in bed blinking. + +There are still worse things happening in the emotional realm of +Glendale. + +Lee Greenfield has been in the state of going to ask Caroline Lellyett +to marry him for fifteen years, and has never done it. Caroline has been +beautiful all her life, but she is getting so thin and faded at thirty +that she is a tragedy. Lee goes to see her twice a week, and on Sunday +afternoon takes her out in his new and rakish runabout, that is as +modern as his behavior is obsolete. Caroline knows no better, and stands +it with sublime patience and lack of character. That is a situation I +won't be able to keep my hands off of much longer. + +Ned Hall's wife has seven children with the oldest one not twelve, and +she looks fifty. Ned goes to all the dances at the Glendale Hotel +dining-room and looks thirty. He dresses beautifully and Nell and all +the girls like to dance with him. Just ordinary torture wouldn't do for +him. + +Polk Hayes wouldn't be allowed to run loose in London society. + +Sallie Carruthers is a great big husky woman, with three children that +she is responsible for having had. She and her family must consume tons +of green groceries every month and a perfectly innocent man pays for +them. + +Mrs. Dodd, the carpenter-and-contractor's wife is a Boston woman who +came down here--Before I could write all about that Boston girl so that +Jane could understand perfectly the situation Polk came around from the +side street and seated himself on the railing of the porch so near the +arm of my chair that I couldn't rock without inconveniencing him. + +I am glad he found me in the mood I was in and I am glad to record the +strong-minded--it came near being the strong-armed--contest in which we +indulged. + +"Me for a woman that has a lot of spirit--she is so much sweeter when +tamed, Evelina," was one of the gentle remarks with which he +precipitated the riot. "I think it has been spunkily fascinating of you +to come and live by yourself in this old barn. It keeps me awake nights +just to think of you over here--alone. How long is the torture to go +on?" + +Jane, I tried, but if I had frankly and courageously shown Polk Hayes +what was in my heart for him at that moment, I couldn't have answered +for the results. + +From the time I was eighteen until I was twenty the same sort of assault +and battery had been handed out to me from him. He had beaten me with +his love. He didn't want me--he doesn't want any woman except so long as +he is uncertain that he can get her. Just because I had been firm with +him when even a child and denied him, he has been merciless. And now +that I am a woman and armed for the combat, it will be to the death. + +Shall I double and take refuge in a labyrinth of subterfuge or turn and +fight? So I temporized to-day. + +"It is lonely--but not quite 'torture' to me, with the family so close, +across the street," I answered him, and I went on whipping the lace on a +piece of fluff I am making, to discipline myself because I loathe a +needle so. "Please don't you worry over me, dear." I raised my eyes to +his and I tried the common citizenship look. It must have carried a +little way for he flushed, the first time I ever saw him do it, and his +hand with the cigarette in it shook. + +"Evelina, are you real or a--farce?" he asked, after a few minutes of +peace. + +"I'm trying to be real, Polk," I answered, and this time I raised my +eyes with perfect frankness. "If you could define a real woman, Polk, +in what terms would you express her?" I asked him straight out from the +shoulder. + +"Hell fire and a hallelujah chorus, if she's beautiful," he answered me +promptly. + +I laughed. I thought it was best under the circumstances. + +"I'll tell you, Evelina," he continued, stealthily. "A man just can't +generalize the creatures. Apparently they are craving nothing so much as +emotional excitement and when you offer it to them they want to go to +housekeeping with it. Love is a business with them and not an art." + +"Would you like to try a genuine friendship with one. Polk?" I asked, +and again struck from the shoulder--with my eyes. + +"Help! Not if you mean yourself, beautiful," he answered promptly and +with fervor. "I wouldn't trust myself with you one minute off-guard like +that." + +"You could safely." + +"But I won't!" + +"Will you try?" + +"No!" + +"Will you go over and sit in that chair while I tell you something +calmly, quietly, and seriously? It'll give you a new sensation and maybe +it will be good for you." I looked him straight in the face and the +battle of our eyes was something terrific. I had made up my mind to have +it out with him then and there. There was nothing else to do. I would be +frank and courageous and true to my vow--and accept the consequences. + +He slid along the railing of the porch and down into the chair in almost +a daze of bewilderment. + +"Polk," I began, concealing a gulp of terror, "I love you more than I +can possibly--" + +[Illustration: "Say, Polk, I let the Pup git hung by her apron to the +wheel of your car."] + +"Say, Polk, I let the Pup git hung by her apron to the wheel of your car +out in the road and her head is dangersome kinder upside down. It +might run away. Can you come and git her loose for me?" + +Henrietta's calmness under dire circumstances was a lesson to both Polk +and me, for with two gasps that sounded as one we both raced across the +porch, down the path and out to the road where Folk's Hupp runabout +stood by the worn old stone post that had tethered the horses of the +wooers of many generations of the maids of my house. + +But, prompt as our response to Henrietta's demand for rescue had been, +Cousin James was there before us. He stood in the middle of the dusty +road with the tousled mite in his arms, soothing her frightened sobs +against his cheek with the dearest tenderness and patting Sallie on the +back with the same comforting. + +"Oh, Henrietta, how could you nearly kill your little sister like this?" +Sallie sobbed. "Please say something positive to her, James!" + +"Henrietta," began Cousin James with a suspicion of embarrassment at +Polk's and my presence at the domestic scene. Polk choked a chuckle and +I could have murdered him. + +"Wait a minute," said Henrietta, in her most commanding voice. "Sallie, +didn't you ask me to take that Pup from Aunt Dilsie, 'cause of the +phthisic, and keep her quiet while the Kit got a nap, and didn't I ask +you if it would be all right if I got her back whole and clean?" + +"Yes, Henrietta, but you--" + +"Ain't she whole all over and clean?" + +"Yes, but--" + +"Couldn't nobody do any better than that with one of them twins. I won't +try. If I have to 'muse her it has to be in my own way." And with her +head in the air the Bunch marched up the walk to the house. + +At this Polk shouted and the rest of us laughed. + +"Polk, please don't encourage Henrietta in the way she treats me and her +little sisters," Sallie begged between her laughs and her half-swallowed +sobs. "I need my friends' help with my children, not to have them make +it hard for me. Henrietta is devoted to you and you could influence her +so for the best. Please try to help me make a real woman out of her and +not some sort of a terrible--terrible suffragette." + +Sallie is the most perfectly lovely woman I almost ever saw. She has +great violet eyes with black lashes that beg you for a piece of your +heart, and her mouth is as sweet as a blush rose with cheeks that almost +match it in rosiness. She and the babies always remind me of a cluster +rose and roses, flower and buds, and I don't see why every man that sees +her is not mad about her. They all used to be before she married, and I +suppose they will be again as soon as the crepe gets entirely worn off +her clothes. As she stood with the bubbly baby in her arms and looked +up at Polk I couldn't see how he could take it calmly. + +"Sallie," he answered seriously, with a glint in his eyes over at me, +"if you'll give me a few days longer, I will then have found out by +experience what a real woman is and I'll begin on Henrietta for you +accordingly." + +"Don't be too hard on the kiddie," Cousin James answered him with the +crinkle in the corner of his eyes that might have been called shrewd in +eyes less beautifully calm. "Let's trust a lot to Henrietta's powers of +observation of her mother and--her neighbors." He smiled suddenly, with +his whole face, over both Sallie and me, and went on down the street in +a way that made me sure he was forgetting all about all of us before he +reached the corner of the street. + +"Isn't that old mossback a treat for the sight of gods and men?" asked +Polk with a laugh as we all stood watching the old gray coat-tails +flapping in the warm breeze that was rollicking across the valley. + +"I don't know what I would do without him," said Sadie softly, with +tears suddenly misting the violets in her eyes as she turned away from +us with the baby in her arms and went slowly up the front walk of +Widegables. + +"Please come stay with me a little while, Evelina," she pleaded back +over her shoulder. "I feel faint." + +I hesitated, for, as we were on my side of the Road, Polk was still my +guest. + +"Go on with Sallie, sweetie," he answered my hesitating. "I don't want +the snapped-off fraction of a declaration like you were about to offer +me. I can bide my time--and get my own." With which he turned and got +into his car as I went across the street. + +Jane, I feel encouraged. I have done well to-day to get half way through +my declaration of independence--though he doesn't think that is what it +is going to be--to Polk. If I can just tell him how much I love him, +before he makes love to me we can get on such a sensible footing with +each other. I'll command the situation then. + +But suppose I do get Polk calmed down to a nice friendship after old +Plato's recipe, what if I want to marry him? + +Do I want to marry a friend? + +Yes, I do! + +No--no! + + + + +CHAPTER V + +DEEPER THAN SHOULDERS AND RIBS + + +There are many fundamental differences between men and women which +strike deeper than breadth of shoulders and number of ribs on the right +side. + +Men deliberately unearth matters of importance and women stumble on the +same things in the dark. It is then a question of the individual as to +the complications that result. One thing can be always counted on. A +woman likes to tangle life into a large mass and then straighten out the +threads at her leisure--and the man's leisure too. + +Glendale affairs interest me more every day. + +This has been a remarkable afternoon and I wish Jane had been in +Glendale to witness it. + +"Say, Evelina, all the folks over at our house have gone crazy, and I +wish you would come over and help Cousin James with 'em," Henrietta +demanded, as I sat on my side porch, calmly hemming a ruffle on a dress +for the Kitten. Everybody sews for the twins and, as much as I hate it, +I can't help doing it. + +"Why, Henrietta, what is the matter?" I demanded, as I hurried down the +front walk and across the road at her bare little heels. By the time I +got to the front gate I could hear sounds of lamentation. + +"A railroad train wants to run right through the middle of all their +dead people and Sallie started the crying. Dead's dead, and if Cousin +James wants 'em run over. I wants 'em run over too." She answered over +her shoulder as we hurried through the wide front hall. + +And a scene that beggars description met my eyes, as I stood in the +living-room door. I hope this account I am going to try and write will +get petrified by some kind of new element they will suddenly discover +some day and the manuscript be dug up from the ruins of Glendale to +interest the natives of the Argon age about 2800 A. D. + +Sallie sat in the large armchair in the middle of the room weeping in +the slow, regular way a woman has of starting out with tears, when she +means to let them flow for hours, maybe days, and there were just five +echoes to her grief, all done in different keys and characters. + +Cousin Martha knelt beside the chair and held Sallie's head on her ample +bosom, but I must say that the expression on her face was one of +bewilderment, as well as of grief. + +The three little Horton cousins sat close together in the middle of the +old hair-cloth sofa by the window and were weeping as modestly and +helplessly as they did everything else in life, while Mrs. Hargrove, in +her chair under her son's portrait, was just plainly out and out +howling. + +And on the hearth-rug, before the tiny fire of oak chips that the old +ladies liked to keep burning all summer, stood the master of the house +and, for once in my life, I have seen the personification of masculine +helplessness. He was a tragedy and I flew straight to him with arms wide +open, which clasped both his shoulders as I gave him a good shake to +arouse him from his paralyzation. + +"What's the matter?" I demanded, with the second shake. + +"I'm a brute, Evelina," he answered, and a sudden discouragement lined +every feature of his beautiful biblical face. I couldn't stand that and +I hugged him tight to my breast for an instant and then administered +another earthquake shake. + +"Tell me exactly what has happened," I demanded, looking straight into +his tragic eyes and letting my hands slip from his shoulders down his +arms until they held both of his hands tight and warm in mine. + +Jane, I was glad that I had offered the cup of my eyes to him full of +this curious inter-sex elixir of life that you have induced me to seek +so blindly, for he responded to the dose immediately and the color came +back into his face as he answered me just as sensibly as he would +another man. + +"The men who are surveying the new railroad from Cincinnati to the Gulf +have laid their experimental lines across the corner of Greenwood +Cemetery and they say it will have to run that way or go across the +river and parallel the lines of the other road. If they come on this +side of the river they will force the other road to come across, too, +and in that case we will get the shops. It just happens that such a line +will make necessary the removal of--of poor Henry's remains to another +lot. Sallie's is the only lot in the cemetery that is that high on the +bluff. Henry didn't like the situation when he bought it himself, and I +thought that, as there is another lot right next to her mother's for +sale, she would not--but, of course, I was brutal to mention it to her. +I hope you will find it in your heart to forgive me, Sallie." And as he +spoke he extracted himself from me and walked over and laid his hand on +Sallie's head. + +"It was such a shock to her--poor Henry," sobbed little Cousin Jasmine, +and the other two little sisters sniffed in chorus. + +"To have railroad trains running by Greenwood at all will be disturbing +to the peace of the dead," snorted Mrs. Hargrove. "We need no railroad +in Glendale. We have never had one, and that is my last word--no!" + +"Four miles to the railroad station across the river is just a pleasant +drive in good weather," said Cousin Martha, plaintively, as she cuddled +Sallie's sobs more comfortably down on her shoulder. + +"I feel that Henry would doubt my faithfulness to his memory, if I +consented to such a desecration," came in smothered tones from the +pillowing shoulder. + +And not one of all those six women had stopped to think for one minute +that the minor fact of the disturbing of the ashes of Henry Carruthers +would be followed by the major one of the restoration of the widow's +fortune and the lifting of a huge financial burden off the strong +shoulders they were all separately and collectively leaning upon. + +I exploded, but I am glad I drew the Crag out on the porch and did it to +him alone. + +"Evelina, you are refreshing if strenuous," he laughed, after I had +spent five minutes in stating my opinions of women in general and a few +in particular. "But I ought not to have hurt Sallie by telling her +about the lines until they are a certainty. It is so far only a +possibility. They may go across the river anyway." + +"And as for seeing Sallie swaddled in your consideration, and fed +yourself as a sacrifice from a spoon, I am tired of it," I flamed up +again. "It's not good for her. Feed and clothe her and her progeny,--men +in general have brought just such burdens as that upon you in particular +by their attitude towards us,--but do let her begin to exert just a +small area of her brain on the subject of the survival of the fit to +live. You don't swaddle or feed me!" + +"Eve," he said, softly under his breath as his wonderful gentle eyes +sank down way below the indignation and explosiveness to the quiet pool +that lies at the very bottom of my heart. + +Nobody ever found it before and I didn't know it was there myself, but I +felt as if it were being drained up into Heaven. + +"Eve!" He said again, and it is a wonder that I didn't answer: + +"Adam!" + +I don't know just what would have happened if Uncle Peter hadn't broken +in on the interview with his crustiest chips on both shoulders and so +much excitement bottled up that he had to let it fly like a double +reporter. + +"Dodson is down at the Hotel looking for you, James," he began as he +hurried up the steps. "Big scheme this--got him in a corner if the C. & +G. comes along this side of Old Harpeth--make him squeal--hey?" + +"Who's Dodson?" I asked with the greatest excitement. I was for the +first time getting a whiff of the schemes of the masculine mighty, but I +was squelched promptly by Uncle Peter. + +"We've no time for questions, Evelina, now--go back to your +tatting--hey?" He answered me as he began to buttonhole the Crag and +lead him down the steps. + +"Dodson is the man who is laying down and contracting for the line +across the river, Evelina," answered Cousin James without taking any +notice whatever of Uncle Peter's squelching of me. "If this other line +can just be secured he will have to come to our terms--and the situation +will be saved." As he spoke he took my hand in his and led me at his +side, down the front walk to the gate, talking as he went, for Uncle +Peter was chuckling on ahead like a steam tug in a hurry. + +"And the shades of Henry will again assume the maintenance of his +family," I hazarded with lack of respect of the dead, impudence to +Cousin James about his own affairs, and unkindness by implication to +Sallie, who loves me better than almost anybody in the world does. And I +got my just punishment by seeing a lovely look of tender concern rise in +Cousin James's eyes as he stopped short in the middle of the walk. + +"I want to go back a minute to speak to Sallie before I go on down +town," he said, quickly, and before Uncle Peter's remonstrances had +exploded, he had taken the steps two at a bound and disappeared in the +front door. + +"Sooner he marries that lazy lollypop the better," fumed Uncle Peter, as +he waited at the gate. "The way for a man to quench his thirst for +woman-sweets is to marry a pot of honey like that, and then come right +on back to the bread and butter game. Here's a letter Jasper gave me to +bring along for you from town. Go on and read it and do not disturb the +workings of my brain while I wait for James--workings of a great +brain--hey?" + +I took the letter and hurried across the street because I wanted anyway +to get to some place by myself and think. There was no earthly reason +for it but I felt like an animal that has been hurt and wants to go off +and lick its wounds. A womanly woman that lives a lovely appealing life +right in a man's own home has a perfect right to gain his love, +especially if she is beautifully unconscious of her appeal. Besides, why +should a man want to take an independent, explosive, impudent firebrand +with all sorts of dreadful plots in her mind to his heart? He wouldn't +and doesn't! + +There is no better sedative for a woman's disturbed and wounded emotions +than a little stiff brain work. Richard's letter braced my viny drooping +of mind at once and from thinking into the Crag's affairs of sentiment, +I turned with masculine vigor to begin to mix into his affairs of +finance. However, I wish that the first big business letter I ever got +in my life hadn't had to have a strain of love interest running through +it! Still Dickie is a trump card in the man pack. + +It seems that as his father is one of the most influential directors +and largest stockholders in this new branch of the Cincinnati and Gulf +railroad he has got the commission for making the plans for all the +stations along the road, and he wants to give me the commission for +drawing all the gardens for all the station-yards. It will be tremendous +for both of us so young in life, and I never dared hope for such a +thing. I had only hoped to get a few private gardens of some of my +friends to laze and pose over, but this is startling. My mind is +beginning to work on in terms of hedges and fountains already and Dickie +may be coming South any minute. + +And besides the hedges and gravel paths I have a feeling that Dickie's +father and the Crag and Sallie's girl-babies are fomenting around in my +mind getting ready to pop the cork of an idea soon. The combination +feels like some kind of a hunch--I sat still for a long time and let it +seethe, while I took stock of the situation. + +There is a strange, mysterious kind of peace that begins to creep across +the Harpeth Valley, just as soon as the sun sinks low enough to throw +the red glow over the head of Old Harpeth. I suppose it happens in other +hill-rimmed valleys in other parts of the Universe, but it does seem as +if God himself is looking down to brood over us, and that the valley is +the hollow of His hand into which he is gathering us to rest in the +darkness of His night. I felt buffeted and in need of Him as I sank down +under the rose-vine over the porch and looked out across my garden to +the blue and rose hills beyond. + +I have been in Glendale a whole month now, and I can't see that my +influence has revolutionized the town as yet. I don't seem to be of half +the importance that I thought I was going to be. I have tried, and I +have offered that bucket of love that I thought up to everybody, but +whether they have drunk of it to profit I am sure I can't say. In fact, +my loneliness has liquefied my gaseous affection into what almost looks +like officiousness. + +Still, I know Uncle Peter is happier than he ever was before, because he +has got me to come to as a refuge from Aunt Augusta, a confidante for +his views of life that he is not allowed to express at home, and also +the certainty of one of Jasper's juleps. + +Sallie has grown so dependent on me that my shoulders are assuming a +masculine squareness to support her weight. I am understudying Cousin +James to such an extent over at Widegables that I feel like the heir to +his house. Cousin Martha sends for me when the chimney smokes and the +cows get sick. I have twice changed five dollars for little Cousin +Jasmine, and sternly told the man from out on their farm on Providence +Road that he must not root up the lavender bushes to plant turnip-greens +in their places. I afterwards rented the patch from him to grow the +lavender because he said he couldn't lose the price that the greens +would bring him "for crotchets." + +Mrs. Hargrove has given me her will to keep for her, and the sealed +instructions for her burial. I hope when the time comes the two behests +will strike a balance, but I doubt it. + +Her ideas of a proper funeral seem to coincide with those of Queen +Victoria, whom she has admired through life and mourns sincerely. + +Henrietta has not been heard to indulge in profane language since I had +a long talk with her last week out in the garden, that ended in stubby +tears and the gift of a very lovely locket which I impressed upon her +was as chaste in design as I wished her speech to become. + +The twins have been provided with several very lovely pieces of wearing +apparel from my rapidly skill-acquiring needle. That's on the credit +side of my balance. But that is _all_--and it doesn't sound +revolutionary, does it, Jane? + +Petunia married Jasper according to his word of promise, and I have +taught her to cook about five French dishes that he couldn't concoct to +save his life, and which help her to keep him in his place. His +pomposity grows daily but he eyes me with suspicion when he sees me in +secret conclave with Petunia. + +"We needs a man around this place," I heard him mutter the other day as +I left the kitchen. + +I wonder! + +The garden has been weeded, replanted, trained, clipped and garnished, +and my arms are as husky and strong as a boy's and my nose badly +sunburned from my strenuosity with hoe and trimming scissors. + +All of which I have done and done well. But when I think of all those +five girls that are waiting for me to solve the emotional formula by +which they can work out and establish the fact that man equals woman, I +get weak in the knees. + +Jane's letters are just prods. + + * * * * * + +Your highly cultivated artistic nature ought to be a very beautiful +revelation to the spiritual character of the young Methodist divine you +wrote me of in your last letter. Encourage him in every way with +affectionate interest in his work, especially in the Epworth League on +his country circuit. I am enclosing fifty dollars' subscription to the +work and I hope you will give as much You have not mentioned Mr. Hayes +for several letters. I fear you are prejudiced against him. Seek to know +and weigh his character before you judge him as unfit for your love. + + * * * * * + +The highly spiritual Mr. Haley glared at Polk for an hour out here on my +porch, when he interrupted us in one of our Epworth League talks, in +such an unspiritual manner that Polk said he felt as if he had been +introduced to the Apostle Paul while he was still Saul of Tarsus. I had +to pet the Dominie decorously for a week before he regained his benign +manner. Of course, however, it was trying to even a highly spiritual +nature like his to have Polk insist on pinning a rose in my hair right +before his eyes. + +About Polk I feel that I am in the midst of one of those great calm, +oily stretches of ocean that a ship is rocked gently in for a few hours +before the storm tosses it first to Heaven and then to hell. He is so +psychic, and in a way attuned to me, that he partly understands my +purpose in declaring my love for him to put him at a disadvantage in his +love-making to me, and he hasn't let me do it yet, while his tacit suit +goes on. It is a drawn battle between us and is going to be fought to +the death. In the meantime Nell-- + +And while I was on the porch sitting with Richard Hall's letter in my +hand, still unread, Nell herself came down the front walk and sat down +beside me. + +"Why, I thought you had gone fishing with Polk," I said as I cuddled her +up to me a second. She laid her head on my shoulder and heaved such a +sigh that it shook us both. + +"I didn't quite like to go with him alone and Henrietta wouldn't go +because a bee had stung the red-headed twin, and she wanted to stay to +scold Sallie," she answered with both hesitation and depression in her +voice. + +"Polk is--is strenuous for a whole day's companionship," I answered, +experimentally, for I saw the time had come to exercise some of the +biceps in Nell's femininity in preparation for just what I knew she was +to get from Polk. My heart ached for what I knew she was suffering. I +had had exactly those growing pains for months following that experience +with him on the front porch after the dance four years ago. And I had +had change of scene and occupation to help. + +"I don't understand him at all," faltered Nell, and she raised her eyes +as she bared her wound to me. + +"Nell," I said with trepidation, as I began on this my first disciple, +"you aren't a bit ashamed or embarrassed or humiliated in showing me +that you love me, are you?" + +"You know I've adored you ever since I could toddle at your heels, +Evelina," she answered, and the love-message her great brown eyes +flashed into mine was as sweet as anything that ever happened to me. + +"Then, why should you wonder and suffer and restrain and be humiliated +at your love for Polk?" I asked, firing point blank at all of Nell's +traditions. "Why not tell him about it and ask him if he loves you?" + +The shot landed with such force that Nell gasped, but answered as +straight out from the shoulder as I had aimed. + +"I would rather die than have Polk Hayes know how he--he affects me," +she answered with her head held high. + +"Then, what you feel for him is not worthy love, but something entirely +unworthy," I answered loftily, with a very poor imitation of Jane's +impressiveness of speech. + +"I know it," she faltered into my shoulder, "if it were Mr. James Hardin +I loved, I wouldn't mind anybody's knowing it, but something must be +wrong with Polk or me or the way I feel. What is it?" + +For a moment I got so stiff all over that Nell raised her head from my +shoulder in surprise. Do all women feel about the Crag as I do? + +"I don't know," I answered weakly. + +And I don't know! Oh, Jane, your simple experiment proposition is about +to become compound quadratics. + +Then I got a still further surprise. + +"I wouldn't in the least mind telling Mr. James how I like him--if you +think it is all right," Nell mused, looking pensively at the first pale +star that was rising over Old Harpeth. "I would enjoy it, because I +have always adored him, and it would be so interesting to see what he'd +say." + +"Nell," I said suddenly with determination, "do it! Tell any man you +like how much you like him--and see what happens." + +"I feel as if--as if"--Nell faltered and I don't blame her; I wouldn't +have said as much to her--"I feel that to tell Mr. James I love _him_ +would ease the pain, the--pain--that I feel about Polk. It would be so +interesting to tell a man a thing like that." + +"Do it!" I gasped, and went foot in the class in romantics. + +If any jungle explorer thinks he has mapped and charted a woman's heart +he had better pack up his instruments of warfare and recorders and come +down to Glendale, Tennessee. + +Nell and I must have talked further along the same lines, but I don't +remember what we said. I have recorded the high lights on the +conversation, but long after I lost her I kept my whirlwind feeling of +amazement. It was like trying to balance calmly on the lid of the +tinder-box when you didn't know whether or not you had touched off the +fuse. + +Has honeysuckle-garbed Old Harpeth been seeing things like this go on +for centuries and not interrupted? I think I would have been sitting +there questioning him until now, if Lee and Caroline hadn't stopped at +the gate and called to me. + +I think Lee was giving Caroline this stroll home from the post-office in +the twilight as an extra treat in her week's allowance of him, and she +was so soft and glowing and sweet and pale that I wonder the Cherokee +roses on my hedge didn't droop their heads with humility before her. + +"What's a lovely lady doing sitting all by herself in the gloaming?" Lee +asked in his rich, warm voice. + +I hate him! + +"Come take a walk with us, Evelina, dear," Caroline begged softly, +though I knew what it would mean to her if I should intrude on this +precious hour with her near-lover. + +Please, God--if I seem to be calling You into a profane situation I +can't help it; I must have help!--show me some way to assist Caroline to +make Lee into a real man and then get him for herself. She must have him +and he needs her. And show me a way quick! Amen! + +Jane, I hope you will be able to pick the data out of this jumble, but I +doubt it. Anyway I'm grateful for the lock and key on this book. + +As I stood at the gate and watched Lee and Caroline saunter down the +moon-flecked street a mocking bird in the tallest of the oak twins that +are my roof shelter called wooingly from one of the top boughs and got +his answer from about the same place on the same limb. + +If a woman starts out to be a trained nurse to an epidemic of +love-making, she is in great danger of doing something foolish her own +self. I am even glad it is prayer-meeting night for Mr. Haley; he is +safe in performing his rituals. He might misunderstand this mood. + +I wonder if I ever was really over in sunny France being wooed and +happy! + +Of course, I decided the first night I was here that, as circumstances +over which I had no control had decreed that Cousin James should stand +in the position of enforced protector to me, decent, communistic +femino-masculine honor demands that I refrain from any manoeuvers in his +direction to attract his thoughts and attention to the feminine me. I +can only meet him on the ordinary grounds of fellowship. And I suppose +the glad-to-see him coming up the street was of the neuter gender, but +it was very interesting. + +"What did Dodson have to say--is he coming across?" I demanded of him +before he got quite to my gate. + +"Not if he can help it," he answered as he came close and leaned against +one of the tall stone posts, so that his grandly shaped head with its +ante-bellum squirls of hair was silhouetted against the white-starred +wistaria vine in a way that made me frantic for several buckets of +monochrome water-colors and a couple of brushes as big as those used for +white-washing. In about ten great splotches I could have done a +masterpiece of him that would have drawn artistic fits from the public +of gay Paris. I never see him that I don't long for a box of pastels or +get the ghost of the odor of oil-paint in my nose. + +"The whole thing will be settled in a month," he continued, with a sigh +that had a hint of depression in it and an astral shape of Sallie +manifested itself hanging on his shoulder. However, I controlled myself +and listened to him. "There is to be a meeting of the directors of both +roads over in Bolivar in a few weeks and they are to come to some +understanding. The line across the river is unquestionably the cheapest +and best grade and there is no chance of getting them to run along our +bluff--unless we can show them some advantage in doing so, and I can't +see what that will be." + +"What makes it of advantage for a railroad to run through any given +point in a rural community like this, Cousin James?" I asked, with a +glow of intellect mounting to my head, the like of which I hadn't felt +since I delivered my Junior thesis in Political Economy with Jane +looking on, consumed with pride. + +"Towns that have good stock or grain districts around them with good +roads for hauling do what is called 'feeding' a railroad," he answered. +"Bolivar can feed both roads with the whole of the Harpeth Valley on +that side of the river. They'll get the roads, I'm thinking. Poor old +Glendale!" + +"Isn't there anything to feed the monsters this side of the river?" I +demanded, indignant at the barrenness of the south side of the valley of +Old Harpeth. + +"Very little unless it's the scenery along the bluff," he replied, with +the depression sounding still more clearly in his voice and his +shoulders drooped against the unsympathetic old stone post in a way that +sent a pang to my heart. + +"Jamie, is all you've got tied up in the venture?" I asked softly, using +the name that a very small I had given him in a long ago when the world +was young and not full of problems. + +"That's not the worst, Evelina," he answered in a voice that was +positively haggard. "But what belongs to the rest of the family is all +in the same leaky craft. Carruthers put Sallie's in himself, but I +invested the mites belonging to the others. Of course, as far as the +old folks are concerned, I can more than take care of them, and if +anything happens there's enough life insurance and to spare for them. I +don't feel exactly responsible for Sallie's situation, but I do feel the +responsibility of their helplessness. Sallie is not fitted to cope with +the world and she ought to be well provided for. I feel that more and +more every day. Her helplessness is very beautiful and tender, but in a +way tragic, don't you think?" + +I wish I had dared tell him for the second time that day what I did +think on the subject but I denied myself such frankness. + +Anyway, men are just stupid, faithful children--some of them faithful, I +mean. + +I felt that if I stood there talking with the Crag any longer, I might +grow pedagogical and teach him a few things so I sent him home across +the road. I knew all six women would stay awake until they heard him +lock them in, come down to the lodge and lock his own door. + +It is very unworthy of me to enjoy his playing a watch-dog of tradition +across the road to an emancipated woman like myself. The situation both +keeps me awake and puts me to sleep--and it is sweet, though I don't +know why. + +God never made anything more wonderful than a good man,--even a stupid +one. Lights out! + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +MAX AND THE ASAFETIDA SPOON + + +I do wish the great man who is discovering how to put people into some +sort of metaphysical pickle that will suspend their animations until he +gets ready to wake them up, would hurry up with his investigations, so +he can catch Sallie before she begins to fade or wilt. Sallie, just as +she is, brought to life about five generations from now, would cause a +sensation. + +Some women are so feminine that they are sticky, unless well spiced with +deviltry. Sallie's loveliness hasn't much seasoning. Still, I do love +her dearly, and I am just as much her slave as are any of the others. I +can't get out of it. + +"Do you suppose we will ever get all of the clothes done for the twins?" +Nell sighed gently as we sat on my porch whipping yards of lace upon +white ruffles and whipping up our own spirits at the same time. +Everybody in Glendale sews for Sallie's children and it takes her all +her time to think up the clothes. + +"Never," I answered. + +"She's coming, and I do believe she has got more of this ruffling. I see +it floating down her skirt," Nell fairly groaned. + +Nell ought to like to sew. She isn't emancipated enough to hate a needle +as I do. But the leaven is working and she's rising slowly. It might be +well for some man to work the dough down a little before she runs over +the pan. That's a primitively feminine wish and not at all in accordance +with my own advanced ideas. + +I was becoming slightly snarled with my thread, and I was glad when +Sallie and her sweetness seated itself in the best rocker in the softest +breeze, which Nell had vacated for her. + +"Children are the greatest happiness in life and also the greatest +responsibility, girls," she said, in her lovely rich voice that always +melts me to a solution of sympathy whenever she uses it pensively on me. +"Of course, I should be desolate without mine, but what could I do with +them, if I didn't have all of you dear people to help me with them?" + +Her wistful dependence had charm. + +I looked at the twin with the yellow fuzz on the top of its head that +has hall-marked it as the Kitten in my mind, seated on Sallie's lap with +her head on Sallie's shoulder looking like a baby bud folded against the +full rose, and I couldn't help laughing. Kit had been undressed three +times after her bath this morning while Cousin Martha, Cousin Jasmine +and Mrs. Hargrove argued with each other whether she should or shouldn't +have a scrap of flannel put on over her fat little stomach. Henrietta +finally decided the matter by being impudent and sensible to them all +about the temperature. + +"Don't you all 'spose God made the sun some to heat up Kit's stomach?" +she demanded scornfully, as she grabbed the little roly-poly bone of +contention and marched off with her to finish dressing her on the front +porch in the direct rays of her instituted heater. + +The household at large at Widegables can never agree on the clothing of +the twins and Henrietta often has to finish their toilets thus, by +force. Aunt Dilsie being reduced by her phthisic to a position that is +almost entirely ornamental, Henrietta's strength of character is the +only thing that has made the existence of the twins bearable to +themselves or other people. + +As I have said before, I do wish that some day in the future you will +come under the direct rays of Henrietta's influence, Jane, dear! + +"Yes, Sallie, I should call them a responsibility," I answered her with +a laugh, as I reached up my arms for the Kitten. Then, as the little +yellow head snuggled in the hollow that was instituted in the beginning +between a woman's breast and arm for the purpose of just such nestlings, +I whispered as I laid my lips against her little ear, "and a happiness, +too, darling." + +And as Sallie rocked and recuperated her breath Nell eyed the ruffle +apprehensively. + +"Are you going to let us make another dress for the kiddies, Sallie, +dear?" she finally was forced by her uneasiness to ask, though with the +deepest sweetness and consideration in her voice. + +If I am ever a widow with young children I hope they will burn us all up +with the deceased rather than keep me wrapped in a cotton-wool of +sympathy, as all of us do Sallie. + +"It's lovely of you, Nell, to want to do more for the babies after all +the beautiful things you and Evelina have made them, and I may be able +to get another white dress apiece for them after I give Cousin James the +bills, that are awful already, but this is some ruffling that I just +forced Mamie Hall to let me bring up to you girls to do for her baby. +The poor little dear is two months old and Mamie is just beginning on +his little dress for him. He has been wearing the plainest little slips. +Mamie says Ned remarked on the fact that the baby was hardly presentable +when you girls stopped in with him to see it the other day, Nell. I +urged her to get right to work fixing him up. It is wrong for children +not to be kept as daintily as their father likes to see them." + +How any woman that is as spiritually-minded as I am, and who has so much +love for the whole world in her heart, and such a deep purpose always to +offer it to her fellowmen according to their need of it, can have the +vile temper I possess I cannot see. + +"And the sight that would please me better than anything else I have +even thought up to want to see," I found myself saying when I became +conscious--I hope I didn't use any of the oaths of my forefathers which +must have been tempting my refined foremothers for generations and which +I secretly admire Henrietta for indulging in on occasions of impatience +with Sallie--"would be Ned Hall left entirely alone with that squirming +baby, that looks exactly like him, when it is having a terrible spell of +colic and Ned is in the midst of a sick headache, with all the other +children cold, hungry, and cross, the cook gone to a funeral, and the +nurse in a grouch because she couldn't go and--and he knowing that Mamie +was attired in a lovely, cool muslin dress, sitting up here on the porch +with us sipping a mint julep and smoking a ten-cent cigar, resting and +getting up an appetite for supper. I want him to have about five years +of such days and then he would deserve the joys of parenthood that he +now does not appreciate." + +"Oh, Mamie wouldn't smoke a cigar!" was the exclamation that showed how +much Sallie got of the motif of my eruption. + +"Glorious!" exclaimed Nell, with shining eyes. + +I must be careful about Nell, she is going this new gait too fast for +one so young. Women must learn to fletcherize freedom if it is not to +give them indigestion of purpose. + +"Still Ned provides everything in the world he can think of to help +Mamie," said Caroline, who had come up the walk just in time to fan the +flame in me by her sweet wistfulness, with a soft judiciousness in her +voice and eyes. "And Mamie adores the children and him." + +If one man is unattainable to a woman all the other creatures take on +the hue of being valuable from the reflection. Caroline is pathetic! + +"It would be robbing a woman of a privilege not to let her trot the +colic out of her own baby," Sallie got near enough in sight of the +discussion to shout softly from the rear. + +I have often seen Cousin Martha on one side of the fire trotting the +Pup, and Cousin Jasmine on the other ministrating likewise to the Kit. +so Sallie could take a good nap, which she didn't at all need, on the +long sofa in the living-room at Widegables. + +"Ned is a delightful man and, of course, Mamie adores him." Nell agreed +with an attitude of mind like to the attitude of a body sustained on the +top rail of a shaky fence. + +"He doubtless would be just as delightful to Mamie standing by dropping +asafetida into a spoon to administer to the baby, as he is dancing with +you at the Assembly, Nell," I said, still frothy around the temper. + +"He'll never do it again," was the prompt result I got from my shot. + +"The trouble with you, Evelina," said Sallie, with ruminative +reflectiveness in her eyes, "is that you have never been married and do +not understand how noble a man can be under--" + +"Yes, I should say that you had hit Evelina's trouble exactly on the +head, Sallie," came in Polk's drawl as he came over the rose hedge from +the side street and seated himself beside Caroline on the steps. + +"Well, if I ever have a husband he'll prove his nobility by being +competent to make the correct connection between the asafetida spoon and +his own baby," was the answer that came with so much force that I +couldn't stop it after I fully realized Folk's presence and sex. + +"Help!" exclaimed Polk, weakly, while Nell blushed into the fold of her +ruffle, Caroline looked slightly shocked and Sallie wholly scandalized +at my lack of delicacy. + +I felt that the place had been reached, the audience provided, and the +time ripe for the first gun in my general revolution planned for +Glendale. I spoke calmly in a perfect panic of fear. + +"I am glad Polk is here to speak for the masculine side of the +question," I said, looking all the three astonished women straight in +the face. "Polk, do you or do you not think that a man with a wife and +seven children ought to assume at least some of the domestic strain +resulting therefrom, like dropping the asafetida in the spoon for her +while she is wrestling with the youngest-born's colic?" + +"Do I have to answer?" pleaded Polk, with desperation. + +"Yes!" + +"Then, under the circumstances I think the man ought to say: 'To hell +with the spoon,' grab a gun, go out and shoot up a bear and a couple of +wild turkeys for breakfast, throttle some coin out of some nearby +business corporation, send two to five trained nurses back to the +wigwam, stay down town to lunch and then go home with a tender little +kiss for the madame who meets him fluffy and smiling at the door. That's +my idea of true connubial bliss. Applications considered in the order of +their reception. Nell, you are sweet enough to eat in that blue muslin. +I'm glad I asked you to get one just that shade!" + +And the inane chorus of pleased laughs that followed Polk Hayes's +brainless disposal of the important question in hand made me ashamed of +being a woman--though it was funny. Still I bided my time and Polk saw +the biding, I could tell by the expression in the corners of his eyes +that he kept turned away from me. + +And in less than a half-hour he was left to my mercies, anything but +tender. Sallie took Nell and Caroline over home to help her decide how +wide a band of white it would be decorous for her to sew in the neck of +her new black meteor crepe. I see it coming that we will all have to +unite in getting Sallie out of mourning and into the trappings of +frivolity soon and I dread it. It takes so many opinions on any given +subject to satisfy Sallie that she ought to keep a tabulated +advice-book. + +"Evelina," said Polk, experimentally, after he had seen them safely +across the street, and he moved along the steps until he sat against my +skirts, "are your family subject to colic?" + +"No, they have strong brains instead," I answered icily. + +"Said brains subject to colic, though," he mused in an impudent +undertone. + +I laughed: I couldn't help it. One of the dangerous things about Polk is +that he gets you comfortable and warm of heart whenever he gets near +you. It wouldn't matter at all to him if you should freeze later for +lack of his warmth, just so he doesn't know about it. + +"Polk," I began to say in a lovely serious tone of voice, looking him +square in the eyes and determined that as we were now on the subject of +basic things, like infantile colic, I would have it out with him along +all lines, "there is an awful shock coming to you when you realize +that--" + +"That in the heat of this erudite and revolutionary discussion, which an +evil fate led me to drop in on, I have forgotten to give you this +telegram that came for you while I was down at the station shipping some +lumber. Be as easy as you can with me, Evelina, and remember that I am +your childhood's companion when you decide between us." With which he +handed me a blue telegram. + +I opened it hastily and found that it was from Richard: + + Am coming down to Bolivar with C. & G. Commission. Be deciding + about what I wrote you. Must. + + RICHARD. + +I sat perfectly still for several seconds because I felt that a good +strong hand had reached out of the distance and gently grabbed me. +Dickie had bossed me strenuously through two years of the time before I +had awakened to the fact that, for his good, I must take the direction +of the affairs of him and his kind on my and my kind's shoulders. + +I suppose a great many years of emancipation will have to pass over the +heads of women before they lose the gourd kind of feeling at the sight +of a particularly broad, strong pair of shoulders. My heart sparkled at +the idea of seeing Dickie again and being browbeaten in a good old, +methodical, tender way. I suppose the sparkle in my heart showed in my +eyes, for Polk sat up quickly and took notice of it very decidedly. + +"Wire especially impassioned?" he asked, with a smolder in his eyes. + +"Not especially." I answered serenely, "One of my friend's father is a +director in the C. & G. and he is coming down with him for the +conference over at Bolivar between the two roads next week." + +"Good," answered Polk, heartily, as the flare died out of his eyes. + +I was glad he didn't have to see the wire for I wanted to use Polk's +brain a while if I could get his emotions to sleep in my presence. It is +very exasperating for a woman to be offered flirtation when she is in +need of common sense from a man. There are so many times she needs the +one rather than the other, but the dear creatures refuse to realize it, +if she's under forty. + +"Polk, do you see any logical, honest or dishonest way to get that Road +to take the Glendale bluff line?" I asked, with trepidation, for that +was the first time I had ever even begun to discuss anything +intelligently with Polk. + +"None in the world, Evelina," he answered with a nice, straight, +intellectuality showing over his whole face and even his lazy, posing +figure. "I remonstrated with James and Henry Carruthers both when they +used their influence to have the bonds voted and I told James it was +madness to invest in all that field and swamp property with just a +chance of the shops. The trouble was that James had always left all his +business to Henry, along with the firm's business, for a man can't be +the kind of lawyer James is, and carry the details of the handling of +filthy lucre in the same mind that can make a speech like the one he +made down in Nashville last April, on the exchange of the Judiciary. +James can be the Governor of this good State any time he wants to, or +could, if Henry hadn't turned toes and left him such a bag to hold--no +reference to Sallie's figure intended, which is all to the good if you +like that kind of curves!" + +I took a moment to choose my words. + +"The C. & G. is going to take that bluff route," I answered calmly from +somewhere inside me that I had never used to speak from before. + +"Do you know anything of the character of Mrs. Joshua?" asked Polk, +admiringly, but slipping down from his intellectual attitude of mind and +body and edging an inch nearer. "Bet she had a strong mind or Joshua +never could have pulled off that sun and moon stunt." + +"Do you know, Polk, there is one woman in the world who could--could +handle you?" I said, as a sudden vision of what Jane would do, if Polk +sat on her skirts as he did on mine, flashed across my troubled brain. + +"I'd be mighty particular as to who handles me," he answered impudently, +"Want to try?" And with the greatest audacity he laid his head gently +against my knee. I let it rest there a second and then tipped it back +against the arm of the rocker. + +"It does hurt me to see a man like Cousin James fairly throttled by +women as he is being," I said as I looked across the street and noted +that the porch of Widegables was full to overflowing with the household +of women. + +"Evelina," said Polk, as he stood up suddenly in front of me, "that old +Mossback is the finest man in this commonwealth, but from his situation +nobody can extract him, unless it is a woman with the wiliness of the +devil himself. Poison the whole bunch and I'll back you. But we'll have +to plot it later on. I see his reverence coming tripping along with a +tract in his hand for you and I'll be considerate enough to sneak +through the kitchen, get a hot muffin-cake that has been tantalizing my +nose all this time you have been sentimentalizing over me, and return +anon when I can have you all to myself in the melting moonlight in the +small hours after all religious folk are in bed. Until then!" And as he +went back through the front hall Mr. Haley came down the front walk. + +"My dear Miss Shelby, how fortunate I am to find you alone," he +exclaimed with such genuine delight beaming from his nice, good, +friendly, gray eyes that I beamed up myself a bit out of pure +responsiveness. + +"I am so glad to see you, Mr. Haley. Hasn't it been a lovely day?" I +answered, as I offered him the large rocker Sallie had vacated. + +"It has, indeed, and I don't know when I have been as deeply happy. This +hour with you will be the very climax of the day's perfections, I feel +sure." + +I smiled. + +To follow you, Jane, I "let a man look freely into my heart and thus +encouraged he opened his to mine" and behold, I found Sallie and the +twins and Henrietta all squatting in the Dominie's cardiac regions, just +as comfortably as they do it at Widegables. + +"My sympathies have become so enlisted in the struggle which Mrs. +Carruthers is having to curb the eccentricities of her oldest daughter +that I feel I must lay definite plans to help her. It is very difficult +for a young and naturally yielding woman like Mrs. Carruthers to +discipline alone even so young a child as Henrietta. I know you will +help me all you can to help her. Believe me, my dear friend, even in the +short time you have been in Glendale you have become a tower of strength +to me. I feel that I can take my most difficult and sacred perplexities +to you." + +Now, what do you think of that, Jane? Be sure and rub this situation in +on all the waiting Five disciples. I defy any of them to do so well in +less than three months. This getting on a plane of common citizenship +with a fellow-man is easy. That is, with some men. + +Still while you are getting on the plane somebody else gets the man. +What about that? I didn't want Mr. Haley, but what if I had? + +"Yes, Henrietta is a handful, Mr. Haley," I answered with enthusiasm, +for even the mention of Henrietta enlivens me and somehow Mr. Haley's +getting in the game of "curbing" her stirred up my risibles. "But--but +Sallie already has a good many people to help her with the children. I +have been trying to--to influence Henrietta--and she does not swear +except on the most exasperating occasions now." + +"The dear little child created a slight consternation in her Sunday +School class last week when they were being taught the great dramatic +story of Jonah's three days' incarceration in the whale. To quote her +exactly, so that you may see how it must have affected the other +children, she said: 'I swallowed a live fly onct myself and I'm not damn +fool enough to believe that whale kept Jonah down three days, alive and +kicking, no matter who says so.' + +"She then marched out of the class and has not returned these two +succeeding Sabbaths. It was to talk over the matter I called on Mrs. +Carruthers this afternoon, and I have never had my sympathies so +stirred. We must help her, my dear friend!" + +I never enjoyed anything more in my life than the hour I spent helping +that dear, good, funny man plan first aids to the rearing of Sallie's +children. Besides my cooeperation he has planned to enlist that of Aunt +Augusta, and I was wicked enough to let him do it. In a small village +where the inhabitants have no chance at diversions like Wagnerian operas +and collapsing skyscrapers I felt that I had no right to avert the +spectacle of Aunt Augusta's disciplining Henrietta. + +I'll write you all about it, Jane, in a special delivery letter. + +Jasper whipped Petunia with great apparent severity day before +yesterday, and we have been having the most heavenly waffles and broiled +chicken ever since. I dismissed Jasper for doing it, but Petunia came +into my room and cried about it a half-hour, so I had to go out where he +was rubbing the silver and forgive him and hire him over. + +"When a woman gits her mouth stuck out at a man and the world in general +three days hand running they ain't nothing to cure it but a stick," he +answered with lofty scorn. + +"Yes'm, dat's so," answered Petunia. "I never come outen a spell so easy +before." And her yellow face had a pink glow of happiness all over it as +she smiled lovably on the black brute. + +I went off into a corner and sat down for a quiet hour to think. Nobody +in the world knows everything. + +"Supper's on the table," Jasper announced, after having seen Mr. Haley +go down the front walk to-night. Jasper has such great respect for the +cloth that never in the world would he have asked Mr. Haley in to supper +without having at least a day to prepare for him. Any of my other +friends he would have asked, regardless of whether or not I wanted them. + +I somehow didn't feel that I could eat alone to-night, but it was too +late to go for Sallie or Cousin Jasmine, and besides it is weak-minded +to feel that way. Why shouldn't I want to eat by myself? + +This is a great big house for just one woman, and I don't see why I have +to be that one! I never was intended to be single. I seem to even think +double. Way down in me there is a place that all my life I have been +laying things aside in to tell some day to somebody that will +understand. I don't remember a single one of them now, but when the time +comes somebody is going to ask me a question very softly and it is going +to be the key that will unlock the treasures of all my life, and he will +take them out one by one, and look at them and love them and smile over +them and scold over them and be frightened even to swearing over them, +perhaps weep over them, and then--while I'm very close--pray over them. +I could feel the tears getting tangled in my lashes, but I forced them +back. + +Now, I don't see why I should have been sentimentalizing over myself +like that. Just such a longing, miserable, wait-until-he-comes--and +why-doesn't-he-hurry-or-I'll-take-the-wrong-man attitude of mind and +sentiment in women in general is what I have taken a vow on my soul, and +made a great big important wager to do away with. There are millions of +lovely men in the world and all I have to do is to go out and find the +right one, be gentle with him until he understands my mode of attack to +be a bit different from the usual crawfish one employed by women from +prehistoric times until now, but not later: and then domesticate him in +any way that suits me. + +Here I've been in Glendale almost three months and have let my time be +occupied keeping house for nobody but myself and to entertain my +friends, planting a flower garden that can't be used at all for +nourishment, and sewing on another woman's baby clothes. + +I've written millions of words in this book and there is as yet not one +word that will help the Five in the serious and important task of +proving that they have a right to choose their own mates, and certainly +nothing to help them perform the ceremonial. + +If I don't do better than this Jane will withdraw her offer and there is +no telling how many years the human race will be retarded by my lack of +strength of character. + +What do men do when they begin to see the gray hairs on their temples +and when they have been best-man at twenty-three weddings, and are tired +of being at christenings and buying rattles, and things at the club all +taste exactly alike, and they have purchased ten different kinds of +hair-tonic that it bores them to death to rub on the tops of their own +heads? + +I don't want any man I know! I might want Polk, if I let him have half a +chance to make me, but that would be dishonorable. + +I've got up so much nice warm sisterly love for Dickie and Mr. Haley +that I couldn't begin to love them in the right way now, I am afraid. +Still, I haven't seen Dickie for three months and maybe my desperation +will have the effect of enhancing his attractions. I hope so. + +Still I am disgusted deeply with myself. I believe if I could experiment +with mankind I could make some kind of creature that would be a lot +better than a woman for all purposes, and I would-- + +"Supper's ready and company come," Jasper came to the front door to +announce for the third time, but this time with the unctuous voice of +delight that a guest always inspires in him. I promptly went in to +welcome my materialized desire whoever it happened to be. + +The Crag was standing by the window in the half light that came, partly +from the candles in their tall old silver candlesticks that were +Grandmother Shelby's, and partly from the last glow of the sun down over +the ridge. That was what I needed! + +"I was coming in from the fields across your back yard and I saw the +table lighted and you on the front porch, star-gazing, and--and I got +Jasper to invite me." he said as he came over and drew out my chair on +one side of that wide square table, while Jasper stood waiting to seat +him at the other, about a mile away. + +"I wanted you," I answered him stupidly, as I sank into my place and +leaned my elbows on the table so I could drop my warm cheeks into my +hands comfortably. I didn't see why I should be blushing. + +"That's the reason I came then," he answered, as he looked at me across +the bowl of musk roses that were sending out waves of sweetness to meet +those that were coming in from the honeysuckle climbing over the window. +"If you were ever lonely and needed me, Evelina, you would tell me, +wouldn't you?" he asked, as he leaned towards me and regarded me still +more closely. + +And again those two treacherous tears rose and tangled themselves in my +lashes, though I did shake them away quickly as a smile quivered its way +to command of my mouth. But I was not quick enough and he saw them. + +And what he did was just what I wanted him to do! He rose, picked up his +chair and came around that huge old table and sat down at the corner +just as near to my elbow as the steaming coffee pot would let him. + +"If you wanted me any time, would you tell me, Evelina?" he insisted +from this closer range. + +"No, I wouldn't," I answered with a laugh. "I would expect you to know +it, and come just like you did to-night." + +"But--but it was I that wanted you badly in this case," he answered with +an echo of the laugh. + +But even under the laugh I saw signs of excitement in his deep eyes and +his long, lean hands shook as they handed me his cup to pour the coffee. +Jasper had laid his silver and napkin in front of him and retired to +admonish Petunia as to the exact crispness of her first waffle. + +"What is it?" I asked breathlessly, as I moved the coffee pot from +between us to the other side. + +"Just a letter that came to me from the Democratic Headquarters in the +City, that shook me up a bit and made me want to--to tell _you_ about +it. Nobody else can know--I have been out on Old Harpeth all afternoon +fighting that out, and telling you is the only thing I have allowed +myself." + +"They want you to be the next Governor," I said quickly. "And you will +be, too," I added, again using that queer place in my brain that seems +to know perfectly unknowable things and that only works in matters that +concern him. + +"No!" + +"Yes, Your Excellency," I hurled at him defiantly. + +"You witch, you," he answered me with a pleased, teasing whimsicality +coming into his eyes. "Of course, you guessed the letter and it was dear +to have you do it, but we both know it is impossible. Nobody must hear +of it, and the telling you has been the best I could get out of it +anyway. Jasper, take my compliments to Petunia, this chicken is +perfection!" + +That eighth wonder of the world which got lost was something even more +mysterious than the Sphinx. It was a marvel that could have been used +for women to compare men to. That man sat right there at my side and +ate four waffles, two large pieces of chicken and a liver-wing, drank +two cups of coffee, and then devoured a huge bowl of peaches and cream, +with three muffin-cakes, while enduring the tragedy of the realization +of having to decline the Governorship of his State. + +I watched him do it, first in awe and then with a dim understanding of +something, I wasn't sure what. Most women, under the circumstances, +would have gone to bed and cried it out or at least have refused food +for hours. We've got to get over those habits before we get to the point +of having to refuse to be Governors of the States and railroad +presidents and things like that. + +And while he ate, there I sat not able to more than nibble because I was +making up my mind to do something that scared me to death to think +about. That gaunt, craggy man in a shabby gray coat, cut ante-bellum +wise, with a cravat that wound itself around his collar, snowy and +dainty, but on the same lines as the coat and evidently of rural +manufacture in the style favored by the flower and chivalry of the day +of Henry Clay, had progressive me as completely overawed for several +minutes as any painted redskin ever dominated a squaw--or as Jasper did +Petunia in my own kitchen. + +But after we were left alone with the roses and the candles and his +cigar, with only Jasper's gratified voice mumbling over compliments to +Petunia in the distance, I took my courage in my hands and plunged. + +This can he used as data for the Five. + +"James." I said, with such cool determination in my voice that it almost +froze my own tongue, "I meant to tell you about it several weeks ago, I +have decided to adopt Sallie and all the children. I intend to legally +adopt the children and just nominally adopt Sallie, but it will amount +to the same thing. I don't have to have your consent but I think it is +courteous to ask for it." + +"What!" he exclaimed, as he sat up and looked at me with the expression +an alienist might use in an important examination. + +"Yes," I answered, gaining courage with time. "You see, I was crying out +here on the porch with loneliness when you found me. I can't stand this +any longer. I must have a family right away and Sallie's just suits me. +I have to take a great deal of interest in them anyway and it would be +easier if I had complete control of them. It will leave you with enough +family to keep you from being lonely and then we can all be happy +together down into old age." + +"Have you said anything about this to Sallie?" he asked weakly as he +dipped the end of his cigar into his glass of water and watched the +sputter with the greatest interest. + +"Not yet, but don't you feel sure that she will consent?" I asked, with +confidence in my plan at fever heat. "Sallie is so generous and she +can't want to see me live lonely always, without any family at all. Now, +will she?" + +"She would consent!" he answered slowly, and then he laid his head down +on the table right against my arm and shook so that the candlesticks +rattled against the candles. "But I don't," he gasped, and for the life +of me I couldn't tell whether he was crying or laughing, until he sat up +again. + +"Eve," he said, with his eyes fairly dancing into mine, "if women in +general mean to walk over political difficulties as you are planning to +walk away with this one of mine, I'm for feminine rule. Don't you dare +say one word about such a thing to Sallie. Of course, it is impossible +as it is funny." + +It was a tragedy to have such a lovely scheme as I had thought up on the +spur of the moment, knocked down suddenly by a half dozen positive words +from a mere man, and for a moment my eyes fought with his in open +rebellion. Then I rose haughtily and walked out on the front porch. + +"Dear," he said, as he followed me and took my hand in his and drew me +near him, "don't you know that your wanting to put your shoulder under +any burden I may be bearing lifts it completely? There are things in +this situation that you can't understand. If I seem to make sacrifices, +they come from the depths of my heart and are not sacrifices. Will you +believe me?" + +How can he help loving Sallie with her so emphatically there? + +I answered him I suppose to his liking and he went on across the road to +Widegables and left me alone in the cruel darkness. + +Please, God, when things seem to be drowning me like this make me swim +with head up. Amen! + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +SOME SMOLDERINGS + + +I'm a failure! Yes, Jane, I am! + +Polk Hayes is an up-to-date, bright man of the world, with lots of +brains and I should say about the average masculine nature, and a great +deal more than the average amount of human charm. However, he has got no +more brains than I have, has had really fewer advantages, and it ought +to be easy for me to hold my own against him. But I am about to fail on +him. + +For the last two weeks he has been constantly with Nell and has got her +in a dreamy state that shows in her face and every movement of her slim +body. And yet I know without the shadow of a doubt that he is just +biding his time to try me out and get me on his own terms. My heart +aches for Nell, and I just couldn't see him murder her girlhood, and it +will amount to that if he involves her heart any more than it is. I made +up my mind to have it out with him and accordingly let him come and sit +on my side steps with me late yesterday afternoon, when I have avoided +being alone with him for a month. + +"Polk," I asked him suddenly without giving him time to get the +situation into his own hands, skilled in their woman-handling, "do you +intend to marry Nell or just plain break her heart for the fun you get +out of it?" + +His dangerous eyes smoldered back at me for a long minute before he +answered me: + +"Men don't break women's hearts, Evelina." + +"I think you are right," I answered slowly, "they do just wring and +distort them and deform them for life. But I intend to see that Nell's +has no such torturous operation performed on it if I can appeal to you +or convince her." + +"When you argue with Nell be sure and don't tell her just exactly the +things _you_ have done to _me_ all this summer through, Evelina." he +answered coolly. + +"What do you mean?" I demanded, positively cold with a kind of +astonished fear. + +"I mean that I have never offered Nell one half of the torture you have +offered me, every day since you came home, with your damned affectionate +friendliness. When I laugh, you answer it before it gets articulate, and +when I gloom, you are as sympathetic as sympathy itself. I have held +your hand and kissed it, instituting and not quenching a raging thirst +thereby, as you are experienced enough to know. You have made yourself +everything for me that is responsive and desirable and beautiful and +worthy and have put me back every time I have reached out to grasp you. +You don't want me, you don't want to marry me at all, you just want +--excitement. You are as cold as ice that grinds and generates fire. +Very well, you don't have to take me--and I'll get what I can from +Nell--and others." + +"Oh, Polk, how could you have misunderstood me like this?" I moaned from +the depths of an almost broken heart. But as I moaned I understood--I +understood! + +I'm doing it all wrong! I had the most beautiful human love for him in +my heart and he thought it was all dastardly, cold coquetting. An awful +spark has been struck out of the flint. I'm not worthy to experiment +with this dreadful man-and-woman question. I just laid my head down on +my arms, resting on my knees and cowered at Polk's feet. + +"Don't--Evelina, I didn't mean it." he said quickly in a shaken voice. +But he did! + +I couldn't answer him and as I sat still and prayed in my heart for some +words to come that would do away with the horror I heard Sallie's voice +from my front walk, and she and Mr. Haley, each carrying a sleeping +twin, came around the corner of the porch. + +That interruption was a direct answer to prayer, for God knew that I +just must have time to think before having this out with Polk. I +sometimes feel ashamed of the catastrophes I have to pray quick about, +but what would I do if I couldn't? + +I don't know how I got through the rest of this evening, but I did--I +pray for sleep. Amen! + +Watching the seasons follow each other in the Harpeth Valley gives me +the agony of a dumb poet, who can feel though not sing. + +It was spring when I came down here four months ago, a young, tender, +mist-veiled, lilac-scented spring that nestled firmly in your heart and +made it ache with sweetness that you hardly understood yourself. + +But before I knew it the young darling, with her curls and buds and +apple-blooms had gone and summer was rioting over the gardens and fields +and hills, rich, lush colored, radiant, redolent, gorgeous, rose-scented +and pulsing with a life that made me breathless. Even the roads along +the valley were bordered with flowers that the sun had wooed to the +swooning point. + +But this week, early as it is, there has been a hint of autumn in the +air, and a haze is beginning to creep over the whole world, especially +in the early mornings, which are so dew-gemmed that they seem to be +hinting a warning of the near coming of frost and snow. + +My garden has grown into a perfect riot of blooms, but for the last two +weeks queer slugs have begun to eat the tender buds that are forming for +October blooming, and I have been mourning over it by day and by night +and to everybody who will listen. + +Aunt Augusta insists that the only thing to do is to get up with the +first crack of dawn and carefully search out each slug, remove it and +destroy it. She says if this is done for a week they will be +exterminated. + +I carefully explained it all to Jasper and when I came down to breakfast +he was coming in with three queer green things, also with an injured air +of having been kept up all night. I didn't feel equal to making him go +on with the combat and ignored the question for two days until I saw all +the buds on my largest Neron done for in one night. + +I have always been able to get up at the break of day to go +sketching--it was at daybreak that I made my sketch in the Defleury +gardens that captured the French art eye enough to get me my Salon +mention. If I could get up to splash water-colors at that hour, I surely +could rush to the protection of my own roses, so I went to bed with gray +dawn on my mind and the shutters wide open so the first light would get +full in my eyes. + +I am glad that it was a good bright ray that woke me and partly dazzled +me, for the sight I had, after I had been kneeling down in the rose bed +for fifteen minutes, was something of a shock to me, though no reason in +the world why it should have been. I can't remember that I ever +speculated as to whether the Crag wore pajamas or not, and I don't see +that I should have been surprised that he did instead of the night shirt +of our common ancestry. + +He came around the side of the house out of the sun-shot mist and was +half way down the garden path before I saw him or he saw me, and I must +say that his unconcern under the circumstances was rather remarkable. + +He was attired in a light blue silk pajama jacket that was open at the +throat and half way down his broad breast. He had on his usual gray +trousers, but tag's of blue trailed out and ruffled around his bare +ankles, and across his bare heels that protruded from his slippers. His +hair was in heavy tousled black curls all over his head and his gray +eyes were positively mysterious with interrupted dreams. In one hand he +carried a tin can and in the other a small pointed stick, which looked +murderously fitted for the extermination of the marauders. + +I was positively nervous over the prospect of his embarrassment when he +should catch sight of me, but there was none. + +"Eve!" he exclaimed, with surprise, and a ray of pure delight drove away +the dreams in his eyes. Nobody in the wide world calls me Eve but just +the Crag, and he does it in a queer, still way when he is surprised to +see me, or glad, or sorry, or moved with any kind of sudden emotion. + +And queer as it is I have to positively control the desire to answer him +with the correlated title--Adam! + +"I forgot to tell you yesterday that I was coming over to get the slugs +for you, dear," he said as he came down the row of roses next to mine, +squatted opposite to where I was kneeling by the bushy, suffering Neron +and began to examine the under side of each leaf carefully. He was the +most beautiful thing I have ever seen in the early light with his great +chest bare and the blue of the pajamas melting into the bronze of his +throat and calling out the gray in his eyes. I had to force myself into +being gardener rather than artist, as we laughed together over the glass +bowl and silver spoon I had brought out for the undoing of the slugs. +Some day I'm going to paint him like that! + +[Illustration: His gray eyes were positively mysterious with interrupted +dreams] + +I found out about the pajamas from questioning Aunt Martha discreetly. +They seemed so incongruous in relation to the usual old Henry Clay coat +and stock collar, that I had to know the reason why. Mrs. Hargrove's son +was a very worldly man, she says, and wore them. It comforts her to make +them for the Crag to wear in memoriam. He wears the collars Cousin +Martha makes him with her own fingers after the pattern she made his +father's by, for the same reason, and lets Cousin Jasmine cut his hair +because she always cut her father's, Colonel Horton's, until his death. +That accounts for the ante-bellum curls and the irregular tags in the +back. I almost laughed when Cousin Martha was telling me, but I +remembered how a glow rose in my heart when I saw that he still had +Father's little old Confederate comrade tailor cut his coats on the same +pattern on which he had cut Father's, since the days of reconstruction. +Sometimes it startles me to find that with all my emancipation I am very +like other women. + +But I wonder what I would do if Sallie attired him in any of the late +Henry's wearing apparel? + +"What do you suppose is the why of such useless things as slugs?" I +speculated to stop that thought off sharp as we crawled down the row +together, he searching one side of each bush and I the other. + +"Well, they brought on this nice companionable hunt for them, didn't +they?" he asked, looking over into my eyes with a laugh. + +"I wanted to see you early this morning anyway," he hastily resumed. +"Sallie and the Dominie sat talking to you so late last night that I +didn't feel it was fair to come across after they left. But I wanted you +so I could hardly get to sleep, and I was just half awake from a dream +of you, when I came into the garden." + +"My evenings don't belong to anybody, if you need them, Jamie, and you +don't have to be told that," I answered crossly when I thought what a +grand time I might have been having talking about real things with the +Crag, instead of wrestling with Polk's romantics or Sallie's and Mr. +Haley's gush. + +"Go on and tell me all about it, while I crawl after you like a worm +myself," I snapped still further. + +"Well, here goes! In the City Council meeting last night your Uncle +Peter told us about the plans that they have made up at Bolivar for +entertaining the C. & G. Commission, and the gloom of Polk and Lee, Ned +and the rest of them could have easily been cut in blocks and used for +cold storage purposes. They are just all down and out about it and no +fight left. Of course, they all lose by the bond issue, but I can't see +that it is bad enough to knock them all out like this. I got up in +mighty wrath and--and I have got myself into one job. My eloquence +landed me right into one large hole, and I am reaching out for a hand +from you." + +"Here it is," and I reached over and left a smear of loam across the +back of his hand, while I brought away a brown circle around my wrist +that the responsive grasp of his fingers left. "Do you want me +single-handed to get the bluff line chosen?" + +"Not quite, but almost," he answered with another laugh. "You would if +you tried. I haven't a doubt. Do you remember the talk we had the other +night about its seeming inhospitable of you not to invite the other +gentlemen in the Commission over to see you when you invite Hall and his +father? And you know you had partly planned some sort of entertainment +for the whole bunch. You had the right idea at the right place, as you +always do. As you said, we don't want Bolivar to see us with what looks +like a grouch on us at their good fortune, and I think that as the +Commission are all to be here as the guests of a private citizen, +Glendale ought to entertain them publicly. There is no hope to get the +line for us, but I would like those men at least to see what the beauty +of that bluff road would be. The line across the river runs through the +only ugly part of the valley, and while I know in the balance between +dollars and scenery, scenery will go down and out, still it would be +good for them to see it and at least get a vision of what might have +been, to haunt them when they take their first trip through the swamps +across the country there. Now, as you are to have them anyway, I want to +have the whole town entertain the whole Commission and Bolivar with what +is classically called among us a barbecue-rally, the countryside to be +invited. Bolivar is going to give them a banquet, to be as near like +what the Bolivarians imagine they have in New York as possible, and Mrs. +Doctor Henderson is to give them a pink tea reception to which carefully +chosen presentables, like you and me, are to be invited. You remember +that circus day in July?--a rally will be like that or more so. What do +you think?" + +"Oh, I think you are a genius to think about it," I gasped, as I sat +down on a very cruet Killarney branch and just as quickly sat up again, +receiving comforting expressions of sympathy from across the bush, to +which I paid no heed. "Those blase city men will go crazy about it. We +can have the barbecue up on the bluff, where we have always had it for +the political rallies, and a fish-fry and the country people in their +wagons with children tumbling all over everything and--and you will make +a great speech with all of us looking on and being proud of you, because +nobody in New York or beyond can do as well. We can invite a lot of +people up from the City and over from Bolivar and Hillsboro and +Providence to hear you tell them all about Tennessee while things are +cooking and--" + +"This rally is to show off Glendale not--the Crag," he interrupted me +with a quizzical laugh. + +Now, how did he know I called him the Crag in my heart? I suppose I did +it to his face and never knew. I seem to think right out loud when I am +with him and feel out loud, too. I ignored his levity, that was out of +place when he saw how my brain was beginning to work well and rapidly. + +"You mean, don't you, Jamie, that you want to get Glendale past this +place that is--humiliating--swimming with her head up?" I asked softly +past a rose that drooped against my cheek. + +Perfectly justifiable tears came to my lashes as I thought what a +humiliation it all was to him and the rest of them, to be passed by an +opportunity like that and left to die in their gray moldiness off the +main line of life--shelved. + +"That is one of my prayers, to get past humiliations, swimming with my +head up," I added softly, though I blushed from my toes to my top curl +at the necessity that had called out the prayer the last time. It's +awful on a woman to feel herself growing up stiff and sturdy by a man's +side and then to get sight of a gourd-vine tangling itself up between +them. I'm the dryad out of one of my own twin oaks down by the gate, +and I want the other twin to be-- + +I wonder if his eyes really look to other women like deep gray pools +that you can look deeper and deeper into and never seem to get to the +bottom, no matter if the look does seem to last forever and you feel +yourself blushing and wanting to take your eyes away, or if it is just I +that get so drowned in them! + +"You've a gallant stroke, Evelina," he said softly, as I at last gained +possession of my own sight. "And here I am with a hand out to you for +assistance in carrying out your own plan that seems to be just the thing +to--" + +"Say, Cousin James. Aunt Marfy says for you to come home to breakfast +right away. Mis' Hargrove won't let nobody begin until you says the +blessing, and Cousin Jasmine have got the headache from waiting for her +coffee. What do you want to fool with Evelina this time of day for +anyway?" And with the delivery of which message and reproof Henrietta +stood on the edge of the path looking down upon us with great and +scornful interest. + +"You've got on your night shirt and haven't combed your hair or washed +your face," she continued sternly. "There'll be hell to pay with all the +breakfast getting cold, and I'm empty down to my feet. Come on, quick!" + +"Henrietta," I said, sternly, as I rose to my feet, "I've asked you once +not to say ugly words like that." + +"I'll go make the lightning toilet, Henrietta. Do run like a good girl +and ask Mrs. Hargrove to let Cousin Jasmine have her cup of coffee right +away. I'll be there before the rest are dead from hunger," and Cousin +James skilfully interrupted the threatened feminine clash as he emptied +my glass bowl into his tin can and stuck the sharp stick in the ground +for future reference. Even Henrietta's pointed allusion to his toilet +had not in the least ruffled his equanimity or brought a shade of +consciousness to his face. + +"Mis' Hargrove said that the Bible said not for any woman to say a +blessing at any table or at any place that anybody can hear her, when +Cousin Marfy wanted to be polite to the Lord by saying just a little one +and go on before we was all too hungry," answered Henrietta, in her most +scornfully tolerant voice. "If women eat out loud before everybody why +can't they pray their thank-you out loud like any man?" + +"Answer her, Evelina," laughed Cousin James, as he hurried down the walk +away from us. + +"Henrietta," I asked, in a calmly argumentative tone of voice as she and +I walked up the path to the house, "didn't Mr. Haley talk to you just +yesterday and tell you how wicked it is for you to use--use such strong +words as you do?" + +Mr. Haley had told me just a few days ago that he and Aunt Augusta had +agreed to open their campaign of reform on Henrietta by a pastoral +lecture from him, to be followed strongly by a neighborly one from her. + +"No, he never did any such thing," answered Henrietta, promptly--and +what Henrietta says is always the truth, because she isn't afraid of +anybody or anything enough to tell a lie---"he just telled me over and +over in a whole lot of words how I ought to love and be good to Sallie. +If I was to love Sallie that kind of way, he said, I would be so busy I +couldn't do none of the things Sallie don't like to do herself and makes +me do. 'Stid er saying, 'my precious mother, I love you and want to be +good because you want me to,' about every hour, I had better wipe the +twins' noses, and wash the dirt often them, and light Aunt Dilsie's +phthisic pipe, and get things upstairs for Sallie and Miss Jasmine and +everybody when they are downstairs. I'm too busy, I am, to be so +religious. And I'm too hungry to talk any more about it." With which she +departed. + +I sank on the side steps and laughed until a busy old bumble-bee came +down from a late honeysuckle blossom and buzzed around to see what it +was all about. Henrietta's statement of the case was a graphic and just +one. Sallie has got a tendril around Henrietta which grows by the day. +Poor tot, she does have a hard and hardening time--and how can I lecture +her for swearing? + +With a train of thought started by Henrietta I sat at my solitary +breakfast in a deeply contemplative mood. Life was going to press hard +on Henrietta. And reared in the fossilized atmosphere of Widegables, +which tried to draw all its six separate feminine breaths as one with a +lone, supporting man, how was she to develop the biceps of strength of +mind and soul, as well as body, to meet the conditions she was likely +to have to meet? Still her coming tussle with Aunt Augusta would be a +tonic at least. I was just breaking a last muffin and beginning to smile +when I saw a delegation coming down the street and turning into my front +gate; I rose to meet it with distinction. + +Aunt Augusta marched at the head and Nell and Caroline were on each side +of her, while Sallie and Mamie Hall brought up the rear, walking more +deliberately and each carrying a baby, comparing some sort of white tags +of sewing. Cousin Martha was crossing the Road in their wake with her +knitting bag and palm leaf fan. + +One thing I am proud of having accomplished this summer is the +establishing of friendly relations with Aunt Augusta. I made up my mind +that she probably needed to have some of my affection ladled out to her +more than anybody in Glendale, and I worked on all the volatile fear and +resentment and dislike I had ever had for her all my life, and I have +succeeded in liquefying it into a genuine liking for the martial old +personality. If Aunt Augusta had been a man she would have probably led +a regiment up San Juan Hill, died in the trenches, and covered herself +and family with glory. She is the newest woman in the Harpeth Valley, +and though sixty years old, she is lineally Sallie Carruthers's own +granddaughter. + +"Evelina," she began, as soon as she had martialed her forces into +rocking-chairs, though she had Jasper bring her the stiffest and +straightest-backed one in the house, "I have collected as many women as +I had time to, and have come up here to tell you, and them, that the men +in Glendale are so lacking in sense and judgment that the time has come +for women to stand forth and assume the responsibility of them and +Glendale in general. As the wife of the poor decrepit Mayor, I appoint +myself chairman of the meeting pro tem and ask you to take the first +minutes. If disgrace is threatening us we must at least face it in an +orderly and parliamentary way. And I--" + +"Oh, Mrs. Shelby, is it--is it smallpox?" and as Sallie spoke she hugged +up the Puppy baby, who happened to be the twin in her arms, so that she +bubbled and giggled, mistaking her embraces for those of frolicsome +affection. + +Mamie turned pale and held her baby tight and I could see that she was +having light spasms of alarm, one for each one of the children and one +for Ned. + +"Smallpox, fiddlesticks--I said disgrace, Sallie Carruthers, and the +worst kind of disgrace--municipal disgrace." And as Aunt Augusta named +the plague that was to come upon us, she looked as if she expected it to +wilt us all into sear and dried leaves. And in point of fact, we all did +rustle. + +"Tell us about it," said Nell, with sparkling eyes and sitting up in her +low rocker as straight as Aunt Augusta did in her uncompromising seat. +The rest of them just looked helpless and undecided as to whether to be +relieved or not. + +"Yes, municipal disgrace threatens the town, and the women must rise in +their strength and avert it," she declaimed majestically with her dark +eyes snapping. + +"Yesterday afternoon James Hardin, who is the only patriotic male in +Glendale, put before the Town Council a most reasonable and +pride-bestirring proposition originated by Evelina Shelby, one of +Glendale's leading citizens, though a woman. She wants to offer the +far-famed hospitality of Glendale--which is the oldest and most +aristocratic town in the Harpeth Valley, except perhaps Hillsboro, and +which is not in the class with a vulgarly rich, modern place like +Bolivar, that has a soap-factory and streetcars, and was a mud-hole in +the landscape when the first Shelby built this very house,--to the +Commission of magnates who are to come down about the railroad lines +that are to be laid near us. James agrees with her and urges that it is +fitting and dignified that, when they are through with their vulgar +trafficking over at insignificant Bolivar, they be asked to partake of +real southern hospitality at its fountain head, especially as Evelina is +obliged to invite two of them as personal friends. Do you not see it in +that light?" And Aunt Augusta looked at us with the martial mien of a +general commanding his army for a campaign. + +"It would be nice," answered Mamie, as she turned little Ned over on his +stomach across her knee and began to sway him and trot him at the same +time, which was his signal to get off into a nap. "But Ned said last +night that he had lost so much in the bond subscription, that he didn't +feel like spending any more money for an entertainment, that wouldn't do +one bit of good about the taxes or bonds or anything. The baby was +beginning to fret, so I don't think I understood it exactly." + +"I don't think you did," answered Aunt Augusta, witheringly, "That is +not the point at all, and--" + +"But Mr. Greenfield said last night, while he was discussing it with +Father, that it would do no good whatever and probably be an +embarrassment to the Commission, our putting in a pitiful bid like that. +He--" but Caroline got no further with the feminine echo of her +masculine opinion-former. + +"Peter Shelby put that objection much more picturesquely than Lee +Greenfield," Aunt Augusta snapped. "He said that licking those men's +hands would turn his stomach, after swallowing that bond issue. However, +all this has nothing to do with the case. I am trying to--" + +"Polk said last night that he thought it would be much more spectacular +for all the good looking women in town to go when we are invited to Mrs. +Henderson's tea for the big bugs, and dazzle 'em so that it would at +least put Glendale on the map," said Nell, with spirit. "He made me so +mad that I--" + +"Mr. Haley thinks that we should be very careful not to feel malice or +envy towards Bolivar, but to rejoice at their good fortune in getting +both roads and the shops, even if it does mean a loss to us. What is +material wealth in this world anyway when we can depend so on--" +Sallie's expression was so beautifully silly and like the Dominie's, +that it was all that I could do not to give vent to an unworthy shout. +Nell saw it as I did and I felt her smother a giggle. + +But before Aunt Augusta could get her breath to put the crux of the +matter straight before her feminine tribunal, Aunt Martha beat her to it +as she placidly rocked back and forth knitting lace for a petticoat for +Henrietta. + +"Of course, Glendale doesn't really care about the railroad; in fact, we +would much rather not have our seclusion broken in upon, especially as +they might choose the route they have prospected"--with a glance at +Sallie--"but it is to show them our friendliness, more Bolivar than the +actual Commission, and our desire to rejoice with them in their good +fortune. It would be very mean spirited of us to ignore them and not +assist them in entertaining their guests, especially as some of them +must be invited. We've never been in such an attitude as that to +Bolivar!" + +"Exactly, Martha," answered Aunt Augusta with relief. "The thought of +proud old Glendale putting herself in an attitude of municipal sulks +towards common Bolivar seemed an unbearable disgrace to me. Didn't we +invite them up for a great fish-fry on the river when they opened that +odious soap factory, and ask them to let us help take care of some of +their delegates when they had the Methodist Conference? They sent one of +the two bishops to you, you remember, Martha, and I am sure your +entertainment of him was so lavish that he went home ill. No man said +us nay in the exercising our right of religious hospitality, why should +they in our civic? We must not allow the town to put us in such an +attitude! Must Not! It was for this that I called this meeting at +Evelina's, as she was the one to propose this public-spirited and +creditable plan." + +"But what shall we do if they don't want to have it?" asked Mamie. + +"I have asked, when did the men of Glendale begin to dictate to the +women as to whom they should offer their hospitality?" answered Aunt +Augusta, as she arose to her feet. "Are we free women, and have we, or +have we not, command of our own storerooms and our own servants and our +own time and strength?" + +And as I looked up at the tall, fierce, white-haired old dame of high +degree, daughter of the women of the Colonies and the women of the +Wilderness days, I got exactly the same sensation I had when I saw the +Goddess of Liberty loom up out of the mist as I sailed into the harbor +of my own land from a foreign one. And what I was feeling I knew every +woman present was feeling in a greater or less degree, except perhaps +Sallie, for her face was a puzzle of sore amazement and a pleading +desire for further sleep. + +"Have we or have we not?" Aunt Augusta again demanded, and just then a +most wonderful thing happened! + +Jane stood in our midst! + +Oh, Jane, you were a miracle to me, but I must go on writing about it +all calmly for the sake of the Five! + +I made a mad rush from my rocker to throw myself into her arms, but she +stopped me with one glance of her cold, official eye that quelled me, +and stood attention before Aunt Augusta. + +"Madam President," she said in her grandest parliamentary voice, "it was +by accident that I interrupted the proceedings of what I take to be an +official meeting. Have I your permission to withdraw? I am Miss Shelby's +guest, Miss Mathers, and I can easily await her greetings until the +adjournment of this body." + +Oh, Jane, and my arms just hungry for you! + +"Madam," answered Aunt Augusta, in her grandest manner and a voice so +filled with cordiality that I hardly knew it, "it is the pleasure of the +chair to interrupt proceedings and to welcome you. Evelina, introduce us +all!" + +It was all just glorious! I never saw anybody get a more lovely ovation +than Jane did from my friends, for they had all heard about her, read +with awe clippings I showed them about her speeches and--were about +ready for her. + +Sallie kissed her on both cheeks, Mamie laid the baby in her arms with a +devout expression, and Nell clung to her with the rapture of the newly +proselyted in her face. Aunt Martha made her welcome in her dearest +manner and Caroline beamed on her with the return of a lot of the fire +and spirit of the youth that hanging on the doled-out affections of Lee +Greenfield had starved in her. + +And it was characteristic of Jane and her methods that it took much less +time than it takes me to write it, for her to get all the greetings over +with, explain that she had sent me a letter telling me that she was +coming that must have gone astray, get everybody named and ticketed in +her mind, and get us all back to business. + +Aunt Augusta explained the situation to her with so much feeling and +eloquence that she swept us all off our feet, and when she was ready to +put the question again to us as to our willingness to embark on our +defiance of our fellow-townsmen, the answer of enthusiastic acquiescence +was ready for her. + +"Of course, as none of you have any official municipal status, the +invitation will have to be given informally, in a social way, to the +Commission through Miss Shelby's friend, Mr. Richard Hall," said Jane, +when Aunt Augusta had called on her to give us her opinion of the +situation in general and the mode of procedure. "We find it best in all +women-questions of the present, to do things in a perfectly legal and +parliamentary way." + +"Must we tell them about it or not?" asked Mamie, in a wavering voice, +looking up devoutly at Jane, who had held young Ned against the stiff +white linen shirt of her traveling dress just as comfortably as if he +were her own seventh. + +"Did they consult you before deciding to refuse your suggestion?" asked +Jane, calmly and thoughtfully. + +"They did not," trumpeted Aunt Augusta. + +"Then wouldn't it be the most regular way to proceed to get an +acceptance of the invitation from the Commission and then extend them +one to be present?" pronounced Jane, coolly, seemingly totally +unconscious that she was exploding; a bomb shell. + +"It would, and we will consider it so settled," answered Aunt Augusta, +dominatingly. + +This quick and revolutionary decision gave me a shock. I could see that +a woman doesn't like to feel that there is a stick of dynamite +between her and a man, when she puts her head down under his chin or her +cheek to his, but advanced women must suffer that. Still I'm glad that +the Crag is on our side of the fence. I felt sorry for Mamie and +Caroline--and Sallie looked a tragedy. + +In fact, a shade of depression was about to steal over the spirits of +the meeting when Aunt Augusta luckily called for the discussion of plans +for the rally. + +Feeding other human beings is the natural, instituted, physiological, +pathological, metaphysical, and spiritual outlet for a woman's nature, +and that is why she is so happy when she gets out her family receipt +book for a called rehearsal for the functioning of her hospitality. The +revolution went home happy and excited over the martialing of their +flesh pots. + +I'm glad Jane is asleep across the hall to-night. If I had had to +shoulder all this outbreak by myself I would have compromised by +instituting a campaign of wheedling, the like of which this town never +suffered before, and then when this glorious rally was finally pulled +off, the cajoled masculine population would have fairly swelled with +pride over having done it! + +Of course, by every known test of conduct and economics, their attitude +in the matter is entirely right. Men work to all given points in +straight, clear-cut, logical lines only to find women at the point of +results waiting for them, with unforeseen culminations, which would +have been impossible to them. + +And I am also glad the Crag is partly responsible for starting, or at +least unconsciously aiding, this scheme in high finance of mine; and he +is also in reality the silent sponsor for this unhatched revolution. I +am deeply contented to go to sleep with that comforting; thought tucked +under my pillow. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +AN ATTAINED TO-MORROW + + +I've changed my mind about a woman's being like a whirlwind. The women +of now are the attained to-morrow that the world since the beginning has +been trying to catch up with. Jane is that, and then the day after, too, +and what she has done to Glendale in these two weeks has stunned the old +town into a trance of delight and amazement. She has recreated us, +breathed the breath of modernity into us, and started the machine up the +grade of civilization at a pace that makes me hold my breath for fear of +something jolting us. + +She and Aunt Augusta have organized an Equality League, and that wheel +came very near flying loose and being the finish of Uncle Peter. + +He came to see me the morning of the first meeting and, when I saw him +coming up the front walk, I got an astral vision of the chips on his +shoulder enlarged to twice their natural size, and called to Jasper to +mix the juleps very long and extra deep. But deep as they were, to the +very top of the longest glasses, he couldn't drown his wrath in his. + +"Women, women," he exploded from over the very mint sprig itself, "all +fools, all fools from the beginning of time; made that way on +purpose--on purpose--hey? World needs some sort of creature with no +better sense than to want to spend their lives fooling with babies and +the bread of life. Human young and religion are the only things in the +world men can't attend to for themselves and that's what they need women +for. Women with no brains--but all heart--all heart--hey?" + +"Why should just a little brain hurt their heart-action. Uncle Peter?" I +asked mildly. There is nothing in the world that I ever met that I enjoy +any more than one of Uncle Peter's rages, and I always try to be meekly +inflammatory. + +"They're never satisfied with using them to run church societies and +children's internal organs, but they want to use 'em on men and +civilization in general. Where'd you get that Yankee school-marm--hey? +Why don't she get a husband and a baby and settle down? Ten babies, +twenty babies if necessary--hey?" + +"You are entirely mistaken as to the plans that Jane and Aunt Augusta +have for the League they are forming this morning, Uncle Peter." I began +to say with delight as to what was likely to ensue. "If you would only +listen to Jane while she--" + +"Don't want to hear a word she has to say! All 'as the crackling of +thorns under a pot'--all the talk of fools." + +"But surely you are not afraid to listen to her, Uncle Peter," I dared +to say, and then stood away. + +"Afraid, afraid--never was afraid of anybody in my life, Augusta not +excepted!" he exclaimed, as he rose in his wrath. "The men of this town +will show the uprising hussies what we think of 'em, and put 'em back to +the heels of men, where they belong--belong--hey?" + +And before I could remonstrate with him he was marching down the street +like a whole regiment out on a charge that was to be one of +extermination, or complete surrender. + +The Crag told me that evening that the Mayor's office of Glendale had +reeked of brimstone, for hours, and the next Sunday Aunt Augusta sat in +their pew at church, militantly alone, while he occupied a seat in the +farthest limits of the amen corner, with equal militancy. + +But Uncle Peter's attitude during the time of Jane's campaign for +general Equality in Glendale was pathetically like that of an old log, +that has been drifting comfortably down the stream of life with the tide +that bore its comrades, and suddenly got its end stuck in the mud so +that it was forced to stem alone the very tide it had been floating on. + +Jane didn't throw any rocks at anybody's opinions or break the windows +of anybody's prejudices. She had the most lovely heart to heart talks +with the women separately, collectively, and in both small and large +bunches. I had them in to tea in the combinations that she wanted them, +and I must say that she was the loveliest thing with them that could be +imagined. She was just her stiff, ugly self, starchily clad in the most +beautifully tailored white linen, and they all went mad about her. The +Pup and the Kit clutched at her skirts until anybody else would have +been a mass of wrinkles, and the left breast of her linen blouse did +always bear a slight impress of little Ned's head. The congeniality of +Jane and that baby was a revelation to me and his colic ceased after the +first time she kneaded it out of his fat little stomach with her long, +slim, powerful hands according to a first-aid method she had learned in +her settlement work, with Mamie looking on in fear and adoration. It may +have been bloodless surgery but I suspect it of being partly hypnotism, +because the same sort of surgery was used on the minds of all my women +friends and with a like result. + +The subject of the rally was a fine one for everybody to get together on +from the start and, before any of them realized that they were doing +anything but plan out the details of a big spread, the like of which +they had been doing for hospitable generations, for the railroad +Commission, they were organized into a flourishing Equality League, with +officers and by-laws and a sinking fund in the treasury. + +"Now, Evelina," said Jane, as she sat on the edge of my bed braiding her +heavy, sleek, black braid that is as big as my wrist and that she +declares is her one beauty, though she ought to know that her straight, +strong-figure, ruddy complexion, aroma of strength and keen, +near-sighted eyes are--well, if not beauties, something very winning, +"we must not allow the men time to get sore over this matter of the +League. We must make them feel immediately that they are needed and +wanted intensely in the movement. They must be asked to take their +place, shoulder to shoulder, with us in this fight for better conditions +for the world and mankind in general. True to our theory we must offer +them our comradely affection and openly and honestly express our need of +them in our lives and in our activities. I was talking to Mrs. +Carruthers and Nell and Mrs. Hall and Caroline, as well as your Cousin +Martha, about it this afternoon and they all agreed with me that the men +would have cause to be aggrieved at us about seeming thus to be +organizing a life for ourselves apart from theirs, with no place in it +provided for them. Mrs. Carruthers said that she had felt that the +Reverend Mr. Haley had been deeply hurt already at not being masked to +open any of the meetings with prayer, and she volunteered to talk to him +and express for herself and us our need of him." + +"That will be easy for Sallie, for she has been expressing need of +people in her fife as long as she has been living it," I answered with a +good-natured laugh, though I would have liked to have that interview +with the Dominie myself. He is so enthusiastic that I like to bask in +him once in a while. + +[Illustration: "We must not allow the men to get sore over this matter +of the League"] + +"I asked young Mr. Hayes to take me fishing with him to-morrow in order +to have a whole quiet day with him alone so that we could get closely in +touch with each other. I have had very little opportunity to talk with +him, but I have felt his sympathy in several interested glances we +have exchanged with each other. I am looking forward to the +establishment of a perfect friendship with him." + +I told myself that I was mistaken in thinking that the expression in +Jane's eyes was softened to the verge of dreaminess and my inmost soul +shouted at the idea of Jane and Polk and their day alone in the woods. + +Since that night that Polk humiliated me as completely as a man can +humiliate a woman, he has looked at me like a whipped child, and I +haven't looked at him at all I have used Jane as a wide-spread fan +behind which to hide from him. How was I to know what was going on on +the other side of the fan? + +It is a relief to realize that in the world there are at least a few +women like Jane that don't have to be protected from Polk and his kind. +Jane is one of the hunted that has turned and has come back to meet the +pursuer with outstretched and disarming hand. This, I suspect, is to be +about her first real tussle; skoal to the victor! + +"I advised your Aunt Augusta to ask you to talk again to your Uncle +Peter, and Nell is to seek an interview with Mr. Hardin at her earliest +opportunity, though I think the only result will be instruction and +uplift for Nell, as a more illumined thing I never had said to me on the +subject of the relation of men and women than the one he uttered to me +last night, as he said good-by to me out on the porch in that glorious +moonlight that seems brighter here in Glendale than I have ever seen it +out in the world anywhere else." + +"What did he say?" I asked perfectly naturally, though a double-bladed +pain was twisted around in my solar plexus as the vision of Jane's last +night interview in the moonlight with the Crag, and Nell's +soon-to-be-one, hit me broadside at the same time. I haven't had one by +myself with him for a week. + +"Why, of course, women are the breath that men draw into their lungs of +life to supply eternal combustion," was what he said when I asked him +point-blank what he thought of the League. "Only let us breathe slowly +as we ascend to still greater elevations with their consequent rarefied +air," he added, with the most heavenly thoughtfulness in his fine face. +"Did it ever occur to you, Evelina, that your Cousin James is really a +radiantly beautiful man? How could you be so mistaken, as to both him +and his personal appearance, as to apply such a name as Crag to him?" + +Glendale is going to Jane's head! + +"Don't you think he looks scraggy in that long-tailed coat, shocks of +taggy hair and a collar big enough to fit Old Harpeth?" I asked +deceitfully. + +Why shouldn't I tell Jane what I really thought of Cousin James and +discuss him broadly and frankly? I don't know! Lately I don't want to +think about him or have anybody mention him in my presence. I've got a +consciousness of him way off in a corner of me somewhere and I'm just +brooding over it. Everybody in town has been in this house since Jane +has been here, all the time, and I haven't seen him alone for ages it +seems. Maybe that's why I have had to make a desert island inside myself +to take him to. + +"And I have been thinking since you told me of the situation in which he +and Mrs. Carruthers have been placed by this financial catastrophe, how +wonderful it will be if love really does come to them, when her grief is +healed by time. He will rear her interesting children into women that +will be invaluable to the commonwealth," Jane continued as she tied a +blue bow on the end of her long black plait. + +"Do you think that there--there are any signs of--of such a thing yet?" +I asked with pitiful weakness as I wilted down into my pillow. + +"Just a bit in his manner to her, though I may be influenced in my +judgment by the evident suitability of such a solution of the +situation," she answered as she settled herself back against one of the +posts of my high old bed and looked me clean through and through, even +unto the shores of that desert island itself. + +"I hope you have been noting these different emotional situations and +reactions among your friends carefully in your record, Evelina," she +continued in an interested and biological tone of voice and expression +of eye. "In a small community like this it is much easier to get at the +real underlying motive of such things than it is in a more complicated +civilization. I have seen you transcribing notes into our book. Since I +have come to Glendale I am more firmly determined than ever that the +attitude of emotional equality that we determined upon in the spring is +the true solution of most of the complicated man-and-woman problems. I +am anxious to see it tried out in five other different communities that +we will select. I would not seem to be indelicate, dear, but I do not +see any signs of your having been especially drawn emotionally towards +any of your friends, though your attitude of sisterly comradeship and +frankness with them is more beautiful than I thought it was possible for +such a thing to be. You are not being tempted to shirk any of your +duties of womanhood because of your interest in your art, are you? I +will confess to you that the thing that brought me down upon you was +your news of this commission for the series of station-gardens. I think +you will probably work better after this side of your nature is at rest. +Of course, a union with Mr. Hall would be ideal for you. You must +consider it seriously." + +The "must" in Jane's voice sounded exactly like that "must" looked in +Richard's telegram, which has been enforced with others just as +emphatic ever since. + +There are some men who are big enough to take a woman with a wound in +her heart and heal both it and her by their love. Richard is one of that +kind. What could any woman want more than her work and a man like that? + +After Jane had laid her strong-minded head on the hard pillow, that I +had had to have concocted out of bats of cotton for her, I laid my face +against my own made of the soft breast feathers of a white flock of +hovering hen-mothers and wept on their softness. + +A light was burning down in the lodge at the gate of Widegables. He +hasn't gone back to his room to sleep, even when I have Jane's +strong-mindedness in the house with me. I remember that I gave my word +of honor to myself that I wouldn't try any of my modern emotional +experiments on him the first night I slept in this house alone, with +only him over there to keep me from dying with primitive woman fright. I +shall keep my word to myself and propose to Richard if my contract with +Jane and the Five seems to call for it. In the meantime if I choose to +cry myself to sleep it is nobody's business. + +I wonder if a mist rises up to Heaven every night from all the +woman-tears in all the world, and if God sees it, as it clings damp +around the hem of His garment, and smiles with such warm understanding +that it vanishes in a soft glow of sleep that He sends down to us! + +Jane has arisen early several mornings and spent an hour before +breakfast composing a masterly and Machiavellian letter of invitation +from the Equality League to the inhabitants of Glendale and the +surrounding countryside to and beyond Bolivar to attend the rally given +by them in honor of the C. & G. Railroad Commission on Tuesday next. It +is to come out to-day in the weekly papers of Glendale, Bolivar, +Hillsboro, and Providence, and I hope there will not be so many cases of +heart-failure from rage that the gloom of many funerals will put out the +light of the rally. I hope no man will beat any woman in the Harpeth +Valley for it, and if he does, I hope he will do it so neither Jane nor +I will hear of it. + +It was Aunt Augusta who thought up the insulting and incendiary plan of +having the rally as an offering of hospitality from the League, and I +hope if Uncle Peter is going to die over it he will not have the final +explosion in my presence. + +Privately I spent a dollar and a half sending a night-letter to Richard +all about it and asking him if the Commissioners would be willing to +stand for this feminist plank in the barbecue deal. He had sent me the +nicest letter of acceptance from the Board when I had written the +invitation to them through him, as coming from the perfectly ladylike +feminine population of Glendale, and I didn't like to get them into a +woman-whirlwind without their own consent. I paid the boy at the +telegraph office five dollars not to talk about the matter to a human +soul, and threatened to have him dismissed if he did, so the bomb-shell +was kept in until this afternoon. + +Richard replied to the telegram with characteristic directness: + + Delighted to be in at the fight. Seven of us rabid suffragists, two + on the fence, and a half roast pig will convert the other. Found no + answer to my question in letter of last Tuesday. Must! + + RICHARD. + +It was nice of Jane to write out and get ready her bomb-shell and then +go off with Polk, so as not to see it explode. But I'm glad she did. +However, I did advise her to take a copy of it along with the reels and +the lunch-basket to read to him, as a starter of their day to be +devoted to the establishment of a perfect friendship between them. + +Polk didn't look at me even once as I helped pack them and their traps +into his Hupp, but Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like Polk in +his white flannels, and he and Jane made a picture of perfectly blended +tailored smartness as they got ready for the break-away. + +There are some men that acquire feminine obligations as rough cheviot +does lint and Henrietta is one of Polk's when it comes to the fishing +days. He takes her so often that she thinks she owns him and all the +trout in Little Harpeth, and she landed in the midst of the picnic with +her fighting clothes on. + +"Where are you and her going at,--fishing?" she asked in a calmly +controlled voice that both of them had heard before, and which made us +quail in our boots and metaphorically duck our heads. + +"Yes, we--er thought we would," he answered with an uncertainty of +voice and manner that bespoke abject fear. + +"I'll be d---- if you shall," came the explosion, hot and loud. "I want +to go fishing with you, Polk, my own self, and she ain't no good for +nothing any way. You can't take her!" + +"Henrietta!" I both beseeched and commanded in one breath. + +"No, she ain't no good at all," was reiterated in the stormy young voice +as Henrietta caught hold of the nose of the panting Hupp and stood +directly in the path of destruction, if Polk had turned the driving +wheel a hair's breadth. "Uncle Peter says that she is er going to turn +the devil loose in Glendale, so they won't be no more whisky and no more +babies borned and men will get they noses rubbed in their plates, if +they don't eat the awful truck she is er going to teach the women to +cook for their husbands. An' the men won't marry no more then at all, +and I'll have to be a old maid like her." + +Now, why did I write weeks ago that I would like to witness an encounter +between Jane and Henrietta! I didn't mean it, but I got it! + +Without ruffling a hair or changing color Jane stepped out of the Hupp +and faced the foe. Henrietta is a tiny scrap of a woman, intense in a +wild, beautiful, almost hunted kind of way, and she is so thin that it +makes my heart ache. She is being fairly crushed with the beautiful +depending weight of her mother and the responsibility of the twins, and +somehow she is most pathetic. I made a motion to step between her and +Jane, but one look in Jane's face stopped me. + +"Dear," she said, in her rich, throaty, strong voice as she looked +pleadingly at the militant midget facing her. Suddenly I was that +lonesome, homesick freshman by the waters of Lake Waban, with Jane's +awkward young arm around me, and I stood aside to let Henrietta come +into her heritage of Jane. "Don't you want to come with us?" was the +soft question that followed the commanding word of endearment. + +"No!" was the short, but slightly mollified answer as Henrietta dug her +toes into the dust and began to look fascinated. + +"I'm glad you don't want to come, because I've got some very important +business to ask you to attend to for me," answered Jane, in the brisk +tone of voice she uses in doing business with women, and which interests +them intensely by its very novelty and flatters them by seeming to endow +them with a kind of brain they didn't know they possessed. "I want you +to go upstairs and get my pocketbook. Be careful, for there is over a +hundred dollars in the roll of bills--Evelina will give you the key to +the desk--and go down to the drug store where they keep nice little +clocks and buy me the best one they have. Then please you wind it up +yourself and watch it all day to see if it keeps time with the clock in +your hall, and if it varies more than one minute, take it back and get +another. While you are in the drug store, if you have time, won't you +please select me a new tooth-brush and some nice kind of paste that you +think is good? Make them show you all they have. Pay for it out of one +of the bills." + +"Want any good, smelly soap?" I came out of my trance of absolute +admiration to hear Henrietta ask in the capable voice of a secretary to +a millionaire. Her thin little face was flushed with excitement and +importance, and she edged two feet nearer the charmer. + +"It would be a good thing to get about a half dozen cakes, wouldn't it?" +answered Jane, with slight uncertainty in her voice as if leaving the +decision of the matter partly to Henrietta. + +"Yes, I believe I would," Henrietta decided judicially. "The 'New Mown +Hay' is what Jasper got for Petunia because he hit her too hard last +week and swelled her eye. They is a perfumery that goes with it at one +quarter a bottle. That makes it all cheaper." + +"Exactly the thing, and we mustn't spend money unnecessarily," Jane +agreed. "But I don't want to trespass on your time, Henrietta, dear," +she added with the deference she would have used in speaking to the +President of the Nation League or the founder of Hull House. + +"No, ma'am, I'm glad to do it, and I'll go quick 'fore it gets any later +in the day for me to watch the clock," answered Henrietta in stately +tones that were very like Jane's and which I had never heard her employ +before. + +And before any of the three of us got our breath her bare little feet +were flashing up my front walk. + +"Help!" exclaimed Polk as he leaned back from his wheel and fanned +himself with his hat. "Do you use the same methods with grown beasts +that you do with cubs?" he added weakly. + +"It's the same she has always used on me, only this is more dramatic. +Beware!" I said with a laugh as I insisted on just one squeeze of Jane's +white linen arm as she was climbing back into the car. + +"That's a remarkably fine child and she should have good, dependable, +business-like habits put in the place of faulty and useless ones. Her +profanity will make no difference for the present and can be easily +corrected. Don't interfere with her attending to my commissions, +Evelina. Let's start, Mr. Hayes." And Jane settled herself calmly for +the spin out Providence Road. + +"All the hundred dollars all by herself, Jane?" I called after them. + +"Yes," floated back positively in the wake of the Hupp. + +For several hours I attended to the business of my life in a haze of +meditation. If Henrietta ticks off the same number of minutes on the +woman-clock from Jane's standpoint, that Jane has marked off from her +own mother's, high noon is going to strike before we are ready for it. + +But it was only an hour or two of high-minded communing with the future +that I got the time for, before I was involved in the whirl of dust that +swirled around the storm center, to darken and throw a shadow over +Glendale about the time of the publication of the Glendale News, which +occurs every Thursday near the hour of noon, so that all the subscribers +can take that enterprising sheet home to consume while waiting for +dinner, and can leave it for the women of their families to enjoy in the +afternoon. + +I suspect that the digestion of Jane's Equality rally invitation +interfered with the digestion of much fried chicken, corn, and sweet +potatoes, under the roof-trees of the town and I spent the afternoon in +hearing results and keeping up the spirits of the insurgents. + +Caroline came in with her head so high that she had difficulty in seeing +over her very slender and aristocratic nose, with a note from Lee +Greenfield which had just come to her, asking her to go with him in his +car over to Hillsboro to spend the day with Tom Pollard's wife, a visit +he knows she has been dying to make for two months, for she was one of +Pet's bridesmaids. He made casual and dastardly mention that there would +be a moon to come home by, but ignored completely the fact that Tuesday +was the day on which he had been invited by the League, of which he knew +she was a member, to meet and rally around the C. & G. Commission. + +I helped her compose the answer, and I must say we hit Lee only in high +spots. I could see she was scared to death, and so was I, but her dander +was up, and I backed mine up along side it for the purpose of support. +Besides I feel in my heart that that note will dynamite the rocky old +situation between them into something more easily handled. + +She had just gone to dispatch the missive by their negro gardener when +Mamie and Sallie came clucking in. Mamie's face was pink and +high-spirited, but Sallie was in one complete slump of mind and body. + +"Mr. Haley has just stopped by to say that he thinks no price is too +great to pay for peace, and fellowship, and good-will in a community," +she said, as she dropped into a rocker and looked pensively after the +retreating figure of the handsome young Dominie, who had accompanied +them to the gate but wisely no farther. He didn't know that Jane had +gone with Polk. + +"And women to pay the price," answered Mamie, spiritedly. "I have just +told Ned that as yet I do not know enough to argue the question of +woman's wrongs with him, but I have learned a few of her rights. One of +_mine_ is to have him accept any invitation I am responsible for having +my friends offer him, and to accompany me to the entertainment if I +desire to go. I reminded him that I had not troubled him often as an +escort since my marriage. He was so scared that he almost let little Ned +drop out of his arms, and he got in an awful hurry to go to town, but he +asked me to have his gray flannels pressed before Tuesday and to buy him +a blue tie to go with a new shirt he has. I never like to spank Ned or +the children, but I must say it does clear the atmosphere." + +"You don't think we could put it off or--or--" Sallie faltered. + +"No!" answered Mamie and I together, and as I spoke I called Jasper to +set out more rockers and have Petunia get the tea-tray ready, for I saw +Aunt Augusta go across the road to collect Cousin Martha and Mrs. +Hargrove and the rest, while Nell whirled by in her rakish little car on +her way to the Square and called that she would be back. + +When Nell used a thousand dollars of her own money, left her by her +grandmother, to buy that little Buick, Glendale promptly had a spell of +epilepsy that lasted for days. The whole town still dodges and swears +when it sees her coming, for she drives with a combination of feminine +recklessness and masculine speed that is to say the least alarming. To +see Aunt Augusta out for a spin with her is a delicious sight. + +And it was most interesting to listen to a minute description of the +composite fit thrown by the male population of Glendale, at their rally +invitation, but as time was limited I finally coaxed the conversation +around to the subject of the viands to be offered the lordly creatures +in the way of propitiation for the insult that we were forcing them to +swallow by taking matters in our own hands, and then we had a really +glorious time. + +I am glad I have had a year or more in Paris, months in Italy, weeks in +Berlin, and a sojourn in England, just so that I can be sure myself and +assure the others with authority that there are no such cooks in all the +world as the women in the Harpeth Valley of Tennessee, United States of +America. + +The afternoon wore away on the wings of magic, and the long, purple +shadows were falling across the street, a rustle of cool night wind was +stirring the tree-tops and the first star was coming timidly out into +the gloaming, before they all realized that it was time to hurry and +scurry under roof-trees. + +Lee Greenfield was waiting at the gate for Caroline. + +Just as Henrietta had taken a last peep at the clock on the hall table +and gone to answer Sallie's call to come and help Aunt Dilsie in the +bedding of the Kitten and the Pup, Polk's Hupp stopped at the gate, and +he and Jane came up the front walk in the twilight together. + +She had on his flannel coat over her linen one and his expression was +one of glorified and translucent daze. I didn't look at her--I felt as +if I couldn't. I was scared! For a second she held me in her arms and +kissed me, _really_--the first time she had ever done it in all my +life--and then went on upstairs with a nice, cool good-night and "thank +you" to Polk. + +"Evelina," he said, as he handed me the empty lunch-basket and also the +empty fish-bucket, the first he had ever in his life brought in from +Little Harpeth, "I was right about that Hallelujah chorus being the true +definition of the real woman--only they are more so. I have seen a +light, and you pointed the way. Will you forgive me for being what I +was--and trust me--with--with--good-night!" He was gone! + +Jane's kiss had been one of revelation--to me! + +For a long time I sat out there in the cool, hazy, windy autumn +twilight breeze, that was heavy with the scent of luscious wild grapes +and tasseled corn, fanning the flame of loneliness in me until I +couldn't have stood it any longer if a tall gray figure of relief had +not come up the street and called me down to my front gate. + +"Hail the instigator of a bloodless revolution," laughed the Crag as I +stopped myself with difficulty on the opposite side of the gate from +him. "The city fathers will have to capitulate, and now for the reign of +the mothers!" + +"And the same old route to subjection chosen, through their stomachs to +their civic hearts," I answered impudently. + +Overlooking my pertness he went on: + +"Mayor Shelby was at home with Mrs. Augusta for two hours after dinner +and, as I came by the post-office, I heard him telling Polk in +remarkably chastened, if not entirely chaste language, that it was +'better to let the women have their kick-up on a feeding proposition +than on something worse,' as he classically put it." + +"I know it is a great victory," I answered weakly, "but I'm too tired to +glory in it. I wish I was Sallie's Puppy being trotted across Aunt +Dilsie's knee, or Kit, getting a rocking in Cousin Martha's arms." + +"Would any other arms do for the rocking?" came in a queer, audacious +voice, with a note in it that stilled something in me and made all the +world seem to be holding its breath. + +"I'm tired of revoluting and it's--it's tenderness I want," I faltered +in a voice that hardly seemed strong enough to get so far up out of my +heart as to reach the ears of the Crag as he bent his head down close +over mine. He had come on my side of the gate at the first weak little +cry I had let myself make a minute or two before. + +[Illustration: "Is this right?" he asked] + +"Is this right?" he asked, as he gently took me in his arms, hollowed +his shoulder for a place for my head, and leaning against the old +gate he began to swing me gently to and fro, his cheek against my hair +and humming Aunt Dilsie's + +"Swing low sweet chariot, fer to carry me home." + +It was. + +I know now what I want and I am going to have it. I'll fight the whole +world with naked hands for him. And I'm also going to find some way to +get him with all his absurd niceties of honor intact, just because that +will make him happier. + +I'll begin at the beginning and some way unclasp those gourdy tendrils +that Sallie has been strangling him with. I will bunch all the rest of +his feminine collection and take them on my own hands. I'm going to make +a Governor out of him, and then a United States Senator and finally a +Supreme Judge. Help! Think of the old Mossback being a progressive, but +that's my party and Jane's. + +I know he is going to hate terribly to have me ask him to marry me, and +I hate to hurt him so, but it is my duty to get Jane's fifty thousand +dollars so the Five may be as happy as I am to-night; only there aren't +five other Crags. I know it will be a life-long mortification to him to +have me do it, but he lost his chance to-night grand-mothering me. Still, +I did turn my lips away. I was not quite ready then--I am now. + +If he wants to go on wearing clothes like that I'm going to let him, +even on the Senate floor, but I can't ever stand for Cousin Jasmine to +cut his hair any more. I want to do it myself, and I'm going to tell her +so, and why. She and I have cried over that miniature of the lost young +Confederate cousin of hers and she'll understand me. + +But as I think it over--it always is best to be kind, and I believe I'll +let him get through this rally--it's just four days--free and happy man. + +I don't know whether to go in and wake up Jane or not. I would like to +go to sleep with that kiss revelation between us, but maybe it is my +duty to the Five to extract some data from her while it is fresh, on the +foam. I am afraid it is going to go hard with her, but somehow I have a +newborn faith in Polk that makes me feel that he will make it as easy as +he can for her. + +Isn't it a glorious thing to realize that neither she nor I will have to +sit and be tortured by waiting to see what those men are going to do? + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +DYNAMITE + + +When a man injures a woman's feelings by any particular course of +conduct to which she objects, the maternal in her rises to the surface +and she treats and forgives him as she would a naughty child,--but a man +makes any kind of woman-affront into a lover's quarrel. That is what +masculine Glendale has been doing to its women folks for four days, and +I believe everybody has been secretly enjoying it. + +As to the rally, they have stood aside with their hands in their pockets +and their noses in the air, and if it hadn't been for Aunt Augusta and +Nell and Jane being natural-born carpenters and draymen, we might have +had to give it up and let them go on with it to their own glory. + +When Nell and Jane went to see Mr. Dodd about building the long tables +to serve the barbecue dinner on, he said he was too busy to do it and +hadn't even any lumber to sell. + +Then things happened in my back yard that it sounds like a romance to +write about. Jane sent me over to borrow the Crag's team and wagon and +Henrietta and Cousin Martha and any of the rest of his woman-impedimenta +that I could get. He was out of town, trying a case over at Bolivar, and +wouldn't get back until Monday night. + +I am glad he wasn't here, for it would have gone hard with me to treat +him in the manner that Jane decided it was best for all the women in +Glendale to treat all the men in this crisis. It sounded sweet and cold +as molasses dispenses itself to you in midwinter, and I could see it was +a strain on Mamie and Caroline and Mrs. Kirkland, Nell's mother, and +young Mrs. Dodd, the carpenter's wife,--the Boston girl that married him +before she realized him,--to keep it up from day to day. + +Besides that I'm going to be a politician's wife--though he doesn't know +it yet--and I want the Crag to be away from the necessity of taking any +sides in this civilized warfare. That's one reason I am such a +go-between for Uncle Peter and the League, I am making votes for my man, +so I consider it all right for me never to deliver any of their messages +to each other as they are given to me, but to twist them into +agreeability to suit myself. + +Sallie said the Dominie was entirely on our side and that was why she +went walking with him Sunday afternoon. All the other men were cool to +him and he is so sensitive. + +But to get back to the back yard. I glory in writing it and want the +Five to consider it as almost sacred data, though I hope they will never +have to do likewise. + +Jane and Nell and Aunt Augusta took the two axes and one large hammer +and tore down my back fence while I and the others loaded the planks on +the wagon. Jane appointed Henrietta to sit and hold the slow old horses +in case they should have got demoralized by the militant atmosphere +pervading Glendale and try to bolt. I never saw any human being enjoy +herself as Henrietta did, and it was worth it all just to look into her +radiant countenance. + +Jane took all the hard top blows to do herself and left the unloosening +of the lower nails to Aunt Augusta while Nell ripped off the planks that +stuck. I could almost hear Nell's long, polished finger nails go with a +rip every time she jerked a particularly tough old plank into +subjection, and Aunt Augusta dispensed encouraging axioms about pioneer +work as she banged along behind Jane. Jane herself looked as cool as a +cucumber, didn't get the least bit ruffled, and had the expression on +her face that the truly normal woman has while she is hemming a baby's +flannel petticoat. + +And though during the day many delightful crises were precipitated, the +most interesting were the expressions that devastated Polk Hayes's and +Lee Greenfield's faces as they came around the side of the house to see +what all that hammering was about. + +"Caroline!" exclaimed Lee, in perfect agony, as he beheld the lady of +his ardent, though long-restrained, affections poised across the wheel +of the wagon tugging at the middle of a heavy plank which Mrs. Dodd and +I were pushing up to her, while Mamie, the mother of seven, stood firmly +on top of the wagon guiding it into place. + +"Help!" gasped Polk, as he started to take the ax from Jane by force. + +Then we all stopped while Jane quietly gurgled the molasses of the +situation to them, and sent them on down the street sadder and wiser +men. I thought Polk was going to cry on her shoulder before he was +finally persuaded to go and leave us to our fate, and the expression on +Lee's face as he looked up at torn, dirty, perspiring Caroline, with a +smudge on her nose and blood on her hand from an absolutely +insignificant scratch, was such as ought to have been on Ned's face as +he ought to have been standing by Mamie with the asafetida bottle. +That's mixed up but the Five ought to catch the point. + +It took up all of Saturday afternoon and part of Monday morning, but we +built those tables, thereby disciplining masculine Glendale with a +severity that I didn't think could have been in us. + +We all rested on Sunday, that is, ostensibly. Jane put down all sorts of +things on paper that everybody had to do on Monday and on Tuesday. +Henrietta sat by her in a state of trance and it did me good to see +Sallie out in the hammock at Widegables taking care of both the Kit and +the Pup, laboriously assisted by panting Aunt Dilsie, because Jane +explained to her so beautifully that she needed a lot of Henrietta's +time, that Sallie acquiesced with good-natured bewilderment. Of course, +Cousin Jasmine helped her some, but she was busy aiding Cousin Martha to +beat up some mysterious eggs in the kitchen--with the shutters shut +because it was Sunday. It was something that takes two days to "set" and +was to be the _piece de resistance_, after the barbecue. + +Mrs. Hargrove couldn't help Sallie at all with the kiddies, either, +because she was looking through all her boxes and bundles for a letter +from her son, which she thought said something about favoring woman's +rights, and if it is like she thinks it is, she is going to go to the +barbecue and get things nice and hot instead of having them brought to +her cold. + +I had hoped to get a few minutes Sunday afternoon to myself so I could +go up into the garret and look through one of the trunks I brought from +Paris with me to see how many sets of things I have got left. I am going +to need a trousseau pretty soon, and I might need it more suddenly than +I expect. I don't see any reason for people's not marrying immediately +when they make up their minds, and my half of ours is made up strong +enough to decidedly influence rapidity in his. But then I really don't +believe that the Crag would care very much about the high lights of a +trousseau, and it was just as well that Nell came in to get me to help +her write a letter to National Headquarters to know if she could have +any kind of assignment in the Campaign for the Convention to alter the +Constitution in Tennessee when it meets next winter. + +"Have you made up your mind fully to go in for public life, Nell?" I +asked mildly. "Some of your friends might not like it very much +and--and--" + +"If you mean Polk Hayes, Evelina," Nell answered with the positiveness +that only a very young person can get up the courage to use, "I have +forgot that I was ever influenced by his narrow-minded, primitive +personality at all. If I ever love and marry it will be a man who can +appreciate and further my real woman's destiny." + +"Well, then, that's all right," I answered with such relief in my heart +that it must have showed in my voice and face. I had worried about Nell +since I could see plainly, though she hasn't told me yet, and I am sure +he doesn't realize it, that Jane had decided Folk's destiny. Nell is not +twenty-one yet and she will find lots of men in the world that will be +fully capable of making her believe they feel that way about her +destiny, until they succeed in tying her up to using it for the real +utilitarian purposes they are sure such a pretty woman is created for. + +It will take men in general another hundred years yet, and lots of +suffering, to realize that a woman's destiny is anything but himself, +and get to housekeeping with her on that basis. + +Of course, I see the justice and need of perfect equality in all things +between the sexes, emotional equality especially, but I hope the time +will never come when men get as hungry to see their women folks as said +feminists get to see them, after they have been away about four days out +in the Harpeth Valley. It takes a woman's patience to stand the tug. + +The Crag didn't jog into Glendale on his raw-boned old horse until +one-thirty Monday night. I had been watching down Providence Road for +him from my pillow ever since I put out my light at eleven, because Jane +had decided that it was our duty to go to bed early so as to be as fresh +as possible for the rally in the morning. She had walked to the gate +with Polk at ten and hadn't come back until eleven, so, of course, she +was ready to turn in. It was just foolish, primitive old convention +that kept me from slipping on my slippers and dressing-gown--I've got +the prettiest ones that ever came across the Atlantic, Louise de +Mereton, Rue de Rivoli, Paris--and going down to the gate to see him for +just a minute. That second he stood undecided in the middle of the road +looking at my darkened house was agony that I'm not going to put up with +very much longer. + +Scientifically I feel that I'm thinking life with one lobe of my brain +and breathing with one lung. Still I made myself go to sleep. + +Everybody believes in God in a different kind of way, and mine satisfies +me entirely. I know that the hairs of my head are numbered and that not +a sparrow falls; and I don't stop at that. I feel sure that my tears are +measured and my smiles are rejoiced over, and when I want a good day to +come to me I ask for it and mostly get it. There never was another like +the one He sent me down this morning on the first slim ray of dawn that +slid over the side of Old Harpeth! + +The sun was warm and jolly and hospitable from the arrival of its first +rays, but the wind was deliciously cool and bracing and full of the wine +of October. It came racing across the fields laden with harvest scents, +blustering a bit now and then enough to bring down a shower of nuts or +to make the yellow corn in the shocks in the fields rustle ominously of +a winter soon to come. + +The maples on the bluff were garmented in royal crimson brocaded with +yellow, the buck-bushes that grew along the edges of the rocks were +strung with magenta berries and regiments of tall royal purple iron +weeds and yellow-plumed golden-rod were marshaled in squads and clumps +for a background for the long tables. + +Jane and I with Henrietta were out by the old gray moss rock at the +first break of day, installing Jasper and Petunia and a few of their +_confreres_. Jasper has always been king of all Glendale barbecue-pits +and he had had them dug the day before and filled with dry hickory fires +all night, and his mien was so haughty that I trembled for the slaves +under his command. His basket of "yarbs" was under the side of the rock +in hoodoo-like shadows and the wagons of poor, innocent, sacrificed +lambs and turkeys and sucking-pigs were backed up by the largest +infernal pit. Petunia was already elbow deep in a cedar tub of corn meal +for the pones, and another minion was shucking late roasting-ears and +washing the sweet potatoes to be packed down with the meat by eight +o-clock. A wagon was to collect the baked hams and sandwiches and +biscuits and confections of all variety and pedigree from the rest of +the League at ten o'clock. + +We didn't know it then but another wagon was already being loaded very +privately in town with ice and bottles, glasses and lemons and mint and +kegs and schooners. I am awfully glad that the Equality League had +forgotten all about the wetting up of the rally, because I don't believe +we would have been equal to the situation with Aunt Augusta and Jane +both prohibition enthusiasts, but it did so promote the sentiment of +peace and good cheer during the day for us to all feel that the men had +not failed us in a crisis, as well as in the natural qualities inherent +in their offering for the feast. There was a whole case of Uncle Peter's +private stock. Could human nature have done better than that? + +But if we did forget to provide the liquids, I am glad we had the +foresight to provide other viands enough to feed a regiment, because a +whole army came. + +"Evelina," gasped Jane, as we stood on the edge of the bluff that +commands a view of almost all the Harpeth Valley stretched out like the +very garden of Eden itself, crossed by silver creeks, lined with broad +roads and mantled in the richness of the harvest haze, "can all those +wagons full of people be coming to accept our invitation?" + +"Yes, they're our guests," I answered, with the elation of generations +of rally-givers rising in my breast, as I saw the stream of wagons and +carriages and buggies, with now and then a motor-car, all approaching +Glendale from all points of the compass. + +"Have we enough to feed them. Jasper?" she turned and asked in still +further alarm. + +"Nothing never give out in Glendale yit, since we took the cover offen +the pits for Old Hickory in my granddad's time," he answered, with a +trace of offense in his voice, as he stood over a half tub of butter +mixing in his yarbs with mutterings that sounded like incantations. I +drew Jane away for I felt that it was no time to disturb him, when the +basting of his baked meats was just about to begin. + +I was glad that about all the countryside had gathered, unhitched their +wagons, picketed their horses, and got down to the enjoyment of the day +before the motor-cars bringing the distinguished guests had even started +from Bolivar. It was great to watch the farmers slap neighbors on the +back, exchange news and tobacco plugs, while the rosy women folks +grouped and ungrouped in radiant good cheer with children squirming and +tangling over and under and around the rejoicings. + +"This, Evelina," remarked Jane, with controlled emotion in her voice and +a mist in her eyes behind their glasses, "is not only the bone and sinew +but also the rich red blood in the arteries of our nation. I feel +humbled and honored at being permitted to go among them." + +And the sight of dear old Jane "mixing" with those Harpeth Valley farmer +folk was one of the things I have put aside to remember for always. They +all knew me, of course, and I was a bit teary at their greetings. Big +motherly women took me in their arms and younger ones laid their babies +in my arms and laughed and cried over me, while every few minutes some +rugged old farmer would call out for Colonel Shelby's "little gal" and +look searchingly in my face for the likeness to my fire-eating, old +Confederate, politician father. + +But it was Jane that took them by storm and kept them, too, through the +crisis of the day. Jane is the _reveille_ the Harpeth Valley has been +waiting for for fifty years. I thought I was, but Jane is it. + +And it was into an atmosphere of almost hilarious enjoyment that the +distinguished Commission arrived a few minutes before noon, just as +Jasper's barbecue-pits were beginning to send forth absolutely maddening +aromas. + +Nell whirled up the hill first and turned her Buick across the road by +the bluff with that rakish skill of hers that always sends my heart into +my throat. And whom did she have sitting at her blue, embroidered linen +elbow but Richard Hall himself? Good old big, strong dandy Dickie, how +great it was to see him again, and if I had had my own heart in my +breast it would have leaped with delight at the sight of him! But even +the Crag's that I had exchanged mine for, though it was an entire +stranger to Dickie, beat fast enough in sympathy with the dance in my +eyes to send the color up to my face in good fashion as I hurried across +a clump of golden-rod to meet him. + +"Evelina, the Lovely!" he exclaimed in his big booming voice, as he took +me by both shoulders and shook me instead of shaking merely my hand. + +"Richard the Royal!" I answered in our old _Quartier Latin_ form of +greeting. I didn't look right into his eyes as I always had, however, +and something sent a keen pain through the exchanged heart in my breast +at the thought that I might be obliged to hurt the dandy old dear. + +But suddenly the sight of Nell's loveliness cheered me. She had had +Dick in that car with her ever since nine o'clock, almost three hours, +showing him the sights of that teeming heavy lush harvest countryside +around Bolivar and Glendale, all over which are low-roofed old country +houses which brood over families that cluster around the unit that one +man and a woman make in their commonwealth. Nell's eyes were sweet as +she looked at him. I'll wait and see if I need to worry over him. With +the fervor I felt I had a right to, I then avoided the issue of +Richard's eyes, put it up to God and Nell, and introduced him to Jane. + +And while the three of them stood waiting for Nell to back up the Buick +and put her spark-plug in her pocket,--only Richard calmly took it and +put it in his,--the rest of the cars came up the hill and turned into +the edge of the golden-rod. + +Aunt Augusta was in the first one with the Chairman of the Commission, +whose name even would have paralyzed anybody but Aunt Augusta; and +Mamie and Cousin Martha, Caroline and several more of the ladies made up +the rest of the Committee who had gone to escort the distinguished +guests to the rally. + +The Crag was in the last car with a perfectly delicious old gray-haired +edition of Dickie, and I almost fell on both their necks at once. What +saved them was Polk appearing between us with three long mint-topped +glasses. + +I'm glad old Dick immediately had his eyebrows well tangled in the mint +of his julep, for I got my own eyes farther down into Cousin James's +deep gray ones than I expected and it was hard to come up. I hadn't had +a plunge in them for three days and I went pretty deep. + +"Eve!" he said softly, as he raised his glass and smiled across his +green tuft. + +Yes, I know he knows that I know, there is an answer to that name when +he says it that way, but I'm not going to give it until I am ready and +the place is romantically secluded enough to suit me. He just dares me +when he says it to me before other people. That reminds me, the harvest +moon is full to-night and rises an hour later every evening from now on. +I don't want to wait another month before I propose to him. I've always +chosen moonlight for that catastrophe of my life. I wonder if men have +as good times planning the culmination of their suits as I am having +with mine? + +But I had to come down quickly to a little thing like the rally and give +the signal to feed all the five hundred people, who by that time were +nice, polite, ravening wolves, for Jasper had uncovered the turkey-pit +to keep them from getting too brown while the lambs caught up with them. + +Jane was the master of ceremonies, because I balked at the last minute. +I think I would be capable of managing even a National Convention in +Chicago--that far away from the Harpeth Valley,--but I couldn't do it +with my friends of pioneer generations looking on. A man or woman never +grows up at all to the woman who has knitted baby socks for them or the +man who has let them ride down the hill on the front of his saddle. + +And at the head of the center table Jane asked the Crag to sit beside +her, so that he would be in place to command attention for her when she +wanted to speak, and where everybody could hear him when he did. + +And while the table was piled high and emptied, and piled high again, so +many bouquets of oratory were culled, tied, and cast at the guests along +the table that I believe they would have been obliged to pay exclusive +attention to them if the things to eat had not been just as odoriferous +and substantial. Before dinner was over everybody had spoken that was of +a suitable age, and some that had heretofore in the Harpeth Valley been +considered of an unsuitable sex. + +Jane's speech of welcome made such an impression that it is no wonder +some of the old mothers in Israel got up to iterate it, as the dinner +progressed. + +She, as usual, refrained from prejudice-smashing and +stones-at-glass-houses throwing, and she hadn't said ten sentences +before she had the whole feeding multitude with her. + +She began on the way our pioneer mothers had to contrive to keep larders +stocked and good things ready for the households, and she tickled the +palate of every man present by mentioning every achievement in a +culinary way that every woman of his household had made in all the +generations that had gone over Harpeth Valley. She called all the +concoctions by their right names, too, and she always gave the name of +the originator, who was some dear old lady that was sleeping in the +Greenwood at the foot of the hill, or in some grave over at Providence +or Hillsboro or Bolivar, and who was grandmother or great-grandmother to +a hundred or more of the guests. I had wondered why Jane had been poring +over that old autograph manuscript receipt book in my desk for days, and +as she paid these modern resurrecting compliments to the long gone +cooks, tears and laughed literally deluged the table. + +And as she built up, achievement by achievement, the domestic +woman-history of the valley, Jane showed in the most insidious way +possible how the pioneer women had been really the warp on which had +been woven the woof of the whole history of their part of the Nation, +political, financial, and religious. I never heard anything like it in +all my life, and as I looked down those long tables at those aroused, +tense, farmer faces, I knew Jane had cracked the geological crust of the +Harpeth Valley, and built a brake that would stop any whirlwind on the +woman-question that might attempt to come in on us over the Ridge from +the outside world. They saw her point and were hard hit. When "Votes for +Women" gets to coming down Providence Road the farmers will hitch up a +wagon and take mother and the children with a well-packed lunch basket +to meet it half way. This is a prophecy! + +Then, after Jane sat down, I don't believe such a speechifying ever was +before as resounded out over the river, even in the time of Old Hickory. +Everybody had something to say and got to his feet to say it well, even +if some of them did brandish a turkey wing or a Iamb rib to emphasize +their points. + +And the women were the funniest things I ever beheld, as we were treated +to one maiden speech after another, issuing from the lips of plump +matrons anywhere from thirty to sixty. They had never done it before, +but liked it after they had tried. + +Mother Mayberry from Providence, who is the grand old woman of the whole +valley, having established her claim to the title thirty years ago by +taking up her dead doctor husband's practice and "riding saddlebags to +suffering ever since," as she puts it, broke the feminine ice by rising +from her seat by the side of one of the entranced Magnates,--who had +been so delighted with her and her philosophies that he could hardly do +his dinner justice,--and addressing the rally in her wonderful old voice +with her white curls flying and her cheeks as pink as a girl's. + +"Children," she said, after everybody had clapped and clapped so she +couldn't get a start for several minutes, "The Harpeth Valley women have +been a-marching along behind the men for many a day, because their +strong shoulders had to break undergrowth for both, but now husbands and +fathers and sons have got their feet up on the bluff of Paradise Ridge, +and it does look like they will be a-reaching down their hands to help +us up, in the break of a new day, to stand by their side; and I, for +one, say mount!--I'm ready!" + +A perfect war of applause answered her, and Dickie's father got up to go +down the whole length of the table to shake hands with her, but had to +wait until she came out of the embrace of Nell's fluffy arms, and got a +hand free from the Magnate on one side and Aunt Augusta on the other. + +Even Sallie began to look speechful, and I believe she would have got up +and spoken a few words on the subject of women, and how they need men to +look after them, but she said something to Mr. Haley, who shook his head +and then got up and prosed beautifully to us for ten minutes, and would +have gone on longer, if he hadn't seen Henrietta begin to look mutinous. + +The feast had begun at one o'clock, but by Jasper's skilful maneuvering +of one gorgeous viand after the other, into the right place, by having +relays of pones browned to the right turn and potatoes at the proper +bursting point, it had been prolonged until the shadows of late +afternoon were beginning to turn purple. + +"Don't nobody ever leave one of my barbecue tables until sundown begins +to tetch up the empty bones," has been his boast for years. And as he +had cleared away the last scrap from the last table, he leaned against a +tree, exhausted and triumphant, with alert, adoring eyes fixed on the +Crag, who had risen in his place at the head of the long central table. + +I had felt entirely too far away from him down at the other end with one +of the junior Magnates and Dickie, but I was glad then that I sat so I +could look straight into his face as the light from across the Harpeth +Valley illumined it without, while a wonderful glow lit it from within. + +All of the others had spoken of the achievements of their families and +forefathers and vaunted the human history of the valley, but he spoke +of the great hill-rimmed Earth Pocket itself. He gave the Earth credit +for the crops that she had yielded up for her children's sustenance. He +described how she had bred forest kings for the building of their homes, +granted stores of fuel from her mines for their warming, and nourished +great white cotton patches and flocks of sheep to clothe them from +frosts and winds. + +And as he spoke in a powerful voice that intoned up in the tree-tops +like a great deep bell, he turned and looked out over the valley with an +expression like what must have been on Moses's face when he saw into the +promised land. + +[Illustration: "She's our mother," he said] + +"She's our Mother," he said, as he flung back the long lock from across +his forehead and stretched out his strong arm and slender hand towards +the sun that was dropping fast down to the rim of Old Harpeth. "She has +bared her breasts to suckle us, covered us from sun and snow, and now +she expects something from us. If she has built us strong and ready, +then we are to answer when the world has need of us and her storehouses +and mines. We are to give out her invitations and welcome all who are +hungry and who come a-seeking. Gentlemen, her wealth and her fertility +are yours--and her beauty!" + +For a long, long minute every face in the assembly was turned to the +setting sun, and a perfect glory rose from the valley and burned the +call of its grandeur into their eyes. We seemed to be looking across +fields and forests and streams to the dim purple hills that might be the +ramparts of the Holy City itself, while just below us lay the little +quiet village of the dead whose souls must just have gone before. + +And after that everybody rose with one accord and began to hurry to +start out upon the long roads homeward, just as the great yellow moon +rose in the east to balance the red old sun that was sinking in the +west. Only the Magnate sat still in his place for several long minutes +looking out across to Old Harpeth, and I wondered whether he was +thinking about the Eternal City or how many rails it was going to take +to span the valley at his feet. + +And I--I just stood on the edge of the bluff by myself and let my soul +lift up its wings of rejoicing that my Crag had got his beautiful desire +for apostrophizing the Mother-Valley so all the world might hear. And +then suddenly it came over me in a great warm, uplifting, awe-inspiring +rush that a woman who takes on herself voluntarily the responsibility of +marrying a poet and an orator and a mystic, who is the complete edition +of a Mossback that all those qualities imply, must square her shoulders +for a long, steady, pioneer march through a strange country. + +Could such achievement be for me? + +"Please God!" I prayed right across into the sunset, "make me a full +cup that never fails him!" + +I don't know how long I stood talking with God that way about my man, +but when I turned and looked back under the maples everybody was gone, +and I could hear the last rattle and whirl going down the hill. For a +second I felt that there was nobody but Him and me left on the hill, but +even in that second my heart knew better. + +"Now?" I questioned myself softly, out over to the yellow moon that had +at last languidly and gracefully risen, putting the finishing touch to +the scene I had been planning for my proposal. + +"Evelina," said the Crag quietly from where he stood leaning against the +tallest maple, "shall we stay here forever and ever, or hurry down +through the cemetery by the short cut to the station to say good-by to +the railroaders as they expect us to do?" + +Nobody ever had a better opening than that, and I ought to have said, +"Be mine, be mine," with some sort of personal variation of the theme, +and have clapped him to my breast and been happy ever after. That is +what a courageous man would have done under the circumstances, with an +opportunity like that, but I got the worst kind of scare I ever +experienced, and answered: + +"How much time have we got? Do you think we can make it?" + +"Plenty," he answered comfortably as I began to quicken my pace to the +little gate that leads between the hedge into the little half-acre of +those who rest. Then as I tried to pass him, he caught my hand and made +me walk in the narrow path close at his side. + +[Illustration: Scrounged so close to his arm that it was difficult for +both of them to walk.] + +Now even a very strong-minded woman, who had to go through a little +graveyard with moonlight making the tombstones glower out from deep +shadows of cedar trees, in the depths of which strange birds croak, +while the wind rustles the dry leaves into piles as they fall, wouldn't +feel like honorably proposing to the man she intended to marry, even +if she was scrouged so close to his arm that it was difficult for both +of them to walk, would she? + +I excuse myself this time, but I must hold myself to the same standard +that I want to hold Lee Greenfield to. How do I know that he hasn't had +all sorts of cold, creepy feeling's keeping him from proposing to +Caroline? + +I hereby promise myself that I will ask Cousin James to marry me the +next favorable opportunity I get, if I die with fright the next minute, +or have to make the opportunity. + +Still, I can't help wondering what does keep him so composed under the +circumstances. Surely he wouldn't refuse me, but how do I know for sure? +How does a man even know if a woman is--? + + + + +CHAPTER X + +TOGETHER? + +When business and love crowd each other on a man's desk he calmly puts +love in a pigeon-hole to wait for a convenient time and attends strictly +to business, while a woman takes up and coddles the tender passion and +stands business over in the corner with its face to the wall to keep it +from intruding. + +Dickie has been here a whole week since the barbecue-rally, ostensibly +trying to get me down to making a few preliminary sketches for the +gardens to his C. & G. railroad stations, and, of course, I am going to +do them. I'm interested in them and I'm sensible of the honor it is to +get the chance of making them: but the moon didn't rise until after ten +o'clock last night and I'm getting nervous about that scene of sentiment +I'm planning. I can't think of gardens! + +Still, I am glad he stayed and that everybody has been giving him a +party and that Nell is always there, for he hasn't had time to notice +how I'm treating business and coddling-- + +Jane and Polk and Nell and Caroline and Lee and everybody else, +including Sallie and the Dominie, have been all over my house all day +and into the scandalous hours of the night, which in Glendale begin at +eleven o'clock and pass the limit at twelve, and I don't see how they +stand so much of not being alone with each other. It is wearing me out. + +I had positively decided on my own side steps for the scene of my +proposal to the Crag, under the honeysuckle vine that still has a few +brave and hearty blossoms to encourage me, with the harvest moon +looking on, but moons and honeysuckle blossoms wait for no man and no +woman especially. They are both fading, and I've never got the spot to +myself more than a minute at a time yet. The Crag, with absolutely no +knowledge of my intentions, except it may be a psychic one, sits there +every night and smokes and looks out at Old Harpeth and maddens me, +while some one of the others walks in and out and around and about and +sits down beside him, where I want to be. + +And as for the day time, I am so busy all day long, providing for this +perpetual house-party, that I am dead to even friendship by night. Jane +is doing over Glendale from city limits to the river, and I have to +spend my time keeping the dear town from finding out what is being done +to it. + +She is hunting out everybody's pet idea or ideal for some sort of change +or improvement to his, especially _his_, native town, and then leading +him gently up to accomplishing it so that he will think he has done it +entirely by himself, but will tell the next man he meets that there is +nothing in the world like a tine energetic woman with good horse sense. +In fact, Jane is courting the entire male population in a most +scandalous fashion, and they'll be won before they know it. + +"Now, that Confederate monument ought to have been built long ago out of +that boulder from the river instead of hauling in a slicked-up granite +slab that would er made the Glendale volunteers of '61 feel +uncomfortable like they would do in the beds in the city hotels. Great +idea of mine and that Yankee girl's--great idea--hey?" sputtered Uncle +Peter, after Jane had spent the evening down with him and Aunt Augusta. + +"It is a fine idea, Uncle Peter," I agreed with a concealed giggle. + +"I've subscribed the first five dollars of the fifty for hauling, +setting up and inscribing it, and we are going to let the women give +half of it out of the egg-money they have got in that Equality Quilting +Society--some kind of horse sense epidemic has broken out in this town, +horse sense, Evelina, hey?" And he went on down the street perfectly +delighted at having at last accomplished his pet scheme. He thought of +it as exclusively his own by now, of course. + +And the monument is just the beginning of what is going to begin in +Glendale. Jane says so. + +"There could be no better place than this rural community to try out a +number of theories I have had in political economy as related to the +activities of women, Evelina," she said to me to-day, looking at me in a +benign and slightly confused way from behind her glasses. "Mr. Hayes and +I were just talking some of them over to-night, and he seems so +interested in seeing me institute some of the most important ones. How +could you have ever thought such a man as he is lacking in seriousness +of purpose, dear?" + +"I feel sure that it was just my own frivolous streak that called out +the frivolous in Polk, Jane dear," I answered with trepidation, hoping +and praying that the inquisition would not go much further, and trying +to remember just what I had written her about Polk. + +"It may have been that," Jane answered, in a most naively relieved tone +of voice. "But you don't know how happy I am, dear, to see that that +streak is only an occasional charming vein that shows in you, but that +you are now settling down steadily to your profession. I feel sure that +when these garden drawings are done, you and Mr. Hall will have found +your correct places in each other's lives and it will be just a glorious +example of how superbly a man and woman can work together at the same +profession. Mr. Hardin and I were talking about it just last night out +on the side porch, and though he said very little I could see how +gratified he was at the honors that had come to you and how much he +likes Mr. Hall." + +That settled it, and I made up my mind that when the Harvest Lady left +us to-night to sink behind Old Harpeth, she wasn't going to leave me +weakly lonesome. She doesn't set until two o'clock, and I'm going to +take all the time I need. + +And as serious and solemn as I feel over taking such a step for two as I +am deciding on, I can't help looking forward to scribbling a terse and +impersonal account of my having proposed to the man of my choice in this +strong-minded book, adding a few words of sage advice for the Five, +locking it and handing it, key and all, to Jane with a dramatic demand +that she put her hundred thousand dollars in the Trust Company and begin +to choose the Five from those she has had in mind. + +Then before she has had time to read it, I am going to sneakily get it +back and blot or tear out some of the things I have written. I can +decide later what will be data and what will be dangerous to the cause. + +"And you will be glad to have me--come and live for a time in your home +life, dear?" Jane recalled me to the question in hand by saying +wistfully. "I feel that I have never had such good friends before, +anywhere, as these of yours are to me, Evelina," she added. + +That's one time I got Jane completely in my arms and showed her what a +really good hugging means south of Mason and Dixon's line. From later +developments I am glad she had that slight initiation. It must have been +serviceable to her New England disposition. + +Then just as I was going to ask some of the plans she--and Polk--had +made, over came Cousin Jasmine, with Cousin Annie and Mary, with Mrs. +Hargrove puffing along behind them. They had come to see Jane, but I +was allowed to stay and have my breath knocked out by their mission. + +It seems Jane had got a great big book from some firm in New York that +tells alt about herb-growing, and how difficult it is to get the ones +needed for condiments and perfumes, and offering to buy first-class +lavender and thyme and bergamot and sweet fern and things of that kind +in any quantities at a good price. She had shown it to the little old +ladies who had been secretly grieving at the separation from their +garden out on their poorly rented farm, and the leaven had worked--on +Mrs. Hargrove also. They go back to the farm and she with them! She had +decided on raising mint to both dry and ship fresh, because he of the +gay pajamas always liked to have it strong and fresh for the julep of +his ancestors. I hope she won't forget to take that pattern of Japanese +extraction with her and make some for the Crag now and then, for it will +save my time. Horrors! + +"We have fully decided on our course of action, Jane, and Evelina, +dears," said Cousin Jasmine in a positive little manner that she would +have been as incapable of a month ago, as is a pet kitten of barking at +the family dog, "but we do so dread to break it to dear James, because +we feel that he may think we are not happy under his roof and be +distressed. Do you believe we shall be able to make him see that we must +pursue our independent life, though always needing the support of his +affection and interest?" + +"I believe you will, Cousin Jasmine," I said, wanting to both laugh and +cry to see the Crag's burdens begin to roll off his shoulders like this. +And the tears that didn't rise would have been real ones, too, for I +found that, down in the corner of my heart, I had adored the picture of +my oak with the tender little old vines clinging around him. It was the +producing gourd I had most objected to and I couldn't see but she would +be there until I unclasped her tendrils. + +But I was forgetting that, in the modern theory of thought-waves, it is +the simplest minds that get the ripples first and hardest. Sallie came +over just as soon as the other delegation had got home to take the twins +off her hands. Jane had gone upstairs to make more calculations on our +reconstruction, and I was trying to get a large deep breath. + +"Evelina." she said, as she sank in a chair near me and fastened her +large, very young-in-soul, eyes on mine, "were you just joking Nell, or +did you mean it, when you said the other day that you thought it would +be cowardly of a woman not to show a man that she loved him, if he for +any reason was not willing to make the first advances to her?" Sallie is +perfectly lovely in the faint lavender and pink things that Jane made +her decide to get in one conversation, whereas while Nell and Caroline +and I had been looking up and bringing her surreptitious samples of all +colors from the store all summer. + +"Well, I don't know that I exactly meant Nell to take it all to heart," +I answered without the slightest suspicion of what was coming. "But I do +think, Sallie, it would be no more than honest, fearless, and within a +woman's own greater rights." + +"Mr. Haley was saying the other evening that a woman's sweet dependence +was a man's most precious heritage," Sallie gently mused out on the +atmosphere that was beginning to be pretty highly charged. + +"Doesn't a woman have to depend on her husband's tenderness and care all +of the time--time she is bearing a child, Sallie, even up to the +asafoetida spoon crisis?" I asked with my cheeks in a flame but +determined to stand my ground. "It does seem to me that nature puts her +in a position to demand so much support from him in those times that she +ought to rely on herself when she can. Especially as she is likely to +bring an indefinite number of such crises into their joint existence." + +Sallie laughed, for she remembered the high horse I had mounted on the +subject of Mamie and Ned Hall the day after the Assembly dance. + +And as I laughed suddenly a picture I had seen down at the Hall's +flashed across my mind. I had gone down to tell Mamie something Aunt +Augusta wanted her to propose next day at a meeting of the Equality +League about drinking water in the public school building. Mamie has +learned to make, with pink cheeks and shining eyes, the quaintest little +speeches that always carry the house--and even made one at a public +meeting when we invited the men to hand over our fifty dollars for the +monument. Ned's face was a picture as he held a ruffle of her muslin +gown between his fingers while she stood up to do it. + +But the picture that flashed through my mind was dearer than that and I +put it away in that jewel-box that I am going to open some day for my +own man. + +Both Mamie's nurse and cook had gone to the third funeral of the season +and Mamie was feeding the entire family in the back yard. The kiddies +were sitting in a row along the top of the back steps, eating cookies +and milk, with bibs around their necks,--from the twelve year old +Jennie, who had tied on hers for fun, down to the chubby-kins next to +the baby,--and Mamie was sitting flat on the grass in front of them +nursing little Ned, with big Ned sitting beside her with his arm around +both her and the baby. He was looking first down into her face, and then +at the industrious kiddie getting his supper from the maternal fount, +and then at the handsome bunch on the steps, as he alternately munched a +bite of his cookie and fed Mamie one, to the delight of the children. +The expression on his face as he looked at them, and her, and ate and +laughed, is what is back of all that goes to make the American nation +the greatest on earth. Amen! + +"Sallie," I said, as I reached out and took her plump white hand in +mine, "our men are the most wonderful in the world and they are ours any +way we get them. They don't care how it is done, and neither do we, just +so we belong in the right way." + +"Then you don't think it would be any harm for me to tell Mr. Haley I +think I could live on eighteen hundred dollars a year, until he gets +sent to a larger church?" was the bomb that, thus encouraged, Sallie +exploded in my face. + +I'm awfully glad that I didn't get a chance to answer, for I don't want +to be responsible for the future failure or success of Mr. Haley's +ministry. Just then Henrietta burst into the room with the Kitten in her +arms. + +"Keep her for me, Evelina, please, ma'am," she said, with the dearest +little chuckle, but not forgetting the polite "please," which Jane had +had to suggest to her just once. What you've done for that wayward +unmanageable genius of a child, Jane dear, makes you deserve ten of your +own. That is--help! + +"Cousin Augusta and Nell and Dickie and me is a going out to watch the +man put the dyn'mite in the hole to blow the creek right up and +Glendale, too, so they can see if they is enough clean water to put in +the waterworks," she continued to explain. "Nell is a-going to take +Dickie in her car, and Cousin Augusta is a-going to take me and Uncle +Peter in her buggy. Dilsie have got the Kit and Cousin Marfy is +a-watching to see she don't do nothing wrong with her. Oh, may I go, +Sallie? Jane said I must always ask you." + +"Yes, dearest," answered Sallie, immensely flattered by the deference +thus paid her. + +"How wonderful an influence the little talks Mr. Haley has had with +Henrietta have had on her," she said, with such a happy glow on her face +as the reformed one departed that I succeeded in suppressing the laugh +that rose in me at the memory of Henrietta's account of the first one of +the series. + +Men need not fear that the time will ever come when they will cease to +get the credit for making Earth's wheels go around, from the female +inhabitants thereof. So I smiled to myself and buried my face in the +fragrance under the bubbly Puppy girl's chin and coaxed her arms to clasp +around my neck. + +They are the holy throb of a woman's life--babies. Less than ten +wouldn't satisfy me unless well scattered in ages, Jane. On some +questions I am not modern. + +"Still I do feel so miserable leaving Cousin James so alone all winter," +Sallie continued with the most beautiful sympathy in her voice, as she +looked out of the window towards Widegables. "I wonder if I ought to +make up my mind to stay with him? He loves the children so, and you know +the plans of Cousin Jasmine and the others to go back to their farm." + +"But he'll have his mother left," I said quietly but very encouragingly. +I seemed to see the little green tendril that had unclasped from the oak +turning on its stem and winding tight again. + +"Miss Mathers was encouraging Cousin Martha to go to Colorado to see +Elizabeth and her family for a long visit this winter. She hasn't seen +Elizabeth since her mother died and she was so much interested in the +easy way of traveling these days, as Miss Mathers described it, that she +asked her to write for a time-table and what a ticket costs, just this +morning. I really ought not to desert Cousin James." + +"But think how lonely Mr. Haley is down in the parsonage and of his +influence on Henrietta," I urged. + +"Yes, I do feel drawn in both ways," sighed the poor tender gourd. "And +then you will be here by yourself, so you can watch over Cousin James, +as much as your work will allow you, can't you, Evelina?" + +"Yes, I'll try to keep him from being too much alone," I answered with +the most deceitful unconcern. + +"I see him coming to supper and I must go, for I want to be with him all +I can, if I am to leave him so soon. I may not make up my mind to it," +with which threat Sallie departed and left me alone in the gloaming, a +situation which seems to be becoming chronic with me now. + +If I had it, I'd give another hundred thousand dollars to the cause, to +hear that interview between Sallie and the Dominie. I wager he'll never +know what happened and would swear it didn't, if confronted with a +witness. + +And also I felt so nervous with all this asking-in-marriage surging in +the atmosphere that it was with difficulty that I sat through supper +and listened to Jane and Polk, who had come in with her, plan town +sewerage. To-morrow night I knew the moon wouldn't rise until eleven +o'clock, and how did I know anyway that Sallie's emancipation might not +get started on the wrong track and run into my Crag? His chivalry would +never let him refuse a woman who proposed to him and he'll be in danger +until I can do it and tell the town about it. + +Jane and Polk had promised Dickie and Nell to motor down Providence Road +as far as Cloverbend in the moonlight, and I think Caroline and Lee were +going too. Polk looked positively agonized with embarrassed sorrow at +leaving me all alone, and it was with difficulty that I got them off. I +pleaded the greatest fatigue and my impatience amounted to crossness. + +After they had gone I dismissed Jasper and Petunia and locked the back +doors, put out all the lights in the house and retired to the side +steps, determined to be invisible no matter who called--and wait! + +And for one mortal hour there I sat alone in that waning old moonlight, +that grew colder and paler by the minute, while the stiff breeze that +poured down from Old Harpeth began to be vicious and icy as it nipped my +ears and hands and nose and sent a chill down to my very toes. + +Nobody came and there I sat! + +Finally, with the tears tangling icily in my lashes, I got up and went +into the house and lighted the fat pine under the logs in the hall. They +had lain all ready for the torch for a whole year, just as I had lain +for a lifetime until a few weeks ago. Then suddenly they blazed--as I +had done. + +My condition was pitiable. I felt that all nature had deserted me, the +climate, Indian summer, the harvest moon and my own charm, but my head +was up and I was going to crackle pluckily along to my blaze, so I +turned towards the door to go across the road and put my fate to the +test, even if I took pneumonia standing begging at his front door. I +hoped I would find him in the lodge and-- + +"Evelina," he exclaimed as he burst open my door, flung himself into the +firelight and seized my arm like a robber baron of the Twelfth Century, +making a grab for his lady-love in the midst of her hostile kindred, "I +thought I would never get here! I ran all the way up from the office. +Here's a telegram from Mr. Hall that says that the two roads have merged +and will take the bluff route past Glendale, and give us the shops,--and +wants to appoint me the General Attorney for the Southern Section. They +want me to come on to New York by the first train. Can you marry me in +the morning so we can take the noon express from Bolivar? I won't go +without you. Please, dear, please," and as he stood and looked at me in +the firelight, all the relief and excitement over his news died out of +his lovely eyes and just the want of me filled them from their very +depths. + +For several interminable centuries of time I stood perfectly still and +looked into them daringly, drinking my fill for the first time and +offering him a like cup in my own. + +"Eve," he said so softly that I doubt if he really spoke the word. + +"Adam!" I let myself go, and at last pressed my answer against his lips +as he folded me tight and safe. + +It must have been some time after, I am sure I don't know how long, but +I was most beautifully adjusted against his shoulder and he had my hand +pressed to his cheek, when the awfulness of what had happened brought me +straight up on my own feet and almost out of his arms. + +"Oh, how could you have done it!" I fairly wailed, as I thought of what +this awful complication was going to lose for the Five to whom I felt +more tender in that second than I had ever felt before. + +"Done what?" he demanded in alarm, pressing both my hands against his +breast and drawing me towards him again. + +"Asked me to marry you when I--" + +"I have been fighting desperately to see some way to offer myself and +all my impedimenta to you all this time, and this has made it all right, +don't you see, dear?" he interrupted me to say, as he took possession of +me again and held me with a tender fierceness, which had more of +suffering in it than passion. "I have always wanted you, Eve, since +before you went away, but it didn't seem right to ask you to come into a +life so encumbered as mine was. Poverty made it seem impossible, but +now, if you will be just a little patient with them all, I can +arrange--" + +"I was going to arrange all that my own self, and now just see what you +have done to me and a whole lot of other women, besides making me +miserable all summer," and crowded so close under his chin that he +couldn't see my face, I told him all about the tinder-box Jane had +loaded and then set me on the lid to see that it exploded. + +I had just worked myself up to the point of how my incendiary mission +was about to touch off all the other love affairs in town, when he began +to shake so with disrespectful laughter that I felt that my dignity was +about to demand that I withdraw coldly from his arms, where I had just +got so warm and comfortable and at home; but with the first slight +intimation of my intention, which was conveyed by a very feeble indeed +loosening of my arms from around his Henry Clay collar, he held me +firmly against him and controlled his unseemly mirth, only I could still +feel it convulsing his left lung,--though as I had no business being +near enough to notice it, I felt it only fair not to. + +"Please don't worry about those other Five dear women," he begged, in +the nicest and most considerate voice possible so that I tightened my +arms again as I listened. "If Miss Mathers doesn't feel justified in +giving up the dowries by your--your failure to prove the proposition, we +can just invite them all down here and in Glendale and Bolivar and +Hillsboro and Providence, to say nothing of the countryside, we can +plant them all cozily. I can delicately explain to their choices exactly +how to let them manage circumstances like--" he illustrated his scheme +just here until it took time for me to get breath to listen to the rest +of his apology--"this and there is no telling, with such a start as the +cult has got in the Harpeth Valley already, how far ft will spread. +Please forgive me, dear!" + +"Yes," I answered doubtfully. Then I raised my head and looked him full +in the face as I made my declaration calmly but with the perfect +conviction that I still have and always will have, world without end. +"Yes, but don't you think for one minute I don't _know_ that what Jane +and I and all the most advanced women in the world are trying for is the +right and just and the only way for men and women to come logically into +the kind of heritage you and I have stumbled into. Absolute freedom and +equality between all human beings is going to be the price of Kingdom +Come. I shall always be humiliated that I got scared out in the +graveyard and didn't do it to you. It is going to be the regret of my +life." + +"Truly, I'm sorry, sweetheart," he answered most contritely. "If I were +to take my hat and go back to the gate and come in again properly and +let you do it, would that make you feel any better?" + +"No, it wouldn't," I answered quickly because why should I be separated +from him all the two and a half minutes it would take to play out that +farce, when I have been separated from him all the twenty-five years +that stretch from now back until the day of my birth? "I am going to +bear it bravely and hold up my head and tell Jane--" + +"I wouldn't bother to hold up my head to tell her, Evelina," came from +the doorway in Polk's delighted drawl as he and Jane stepped into the +room. "Pretty comfortably placed, that head, I should say." + +"Oh, Jane!" I positively wailed as I extracted myself from the Crag's +gray arms and buried myself in Jane's white serge ones that opened to +receive me. And the seconds that I rested silently there Polk spent in +shaking both of the Crag's hands and pounding him on the back so that I +grew alarmed. + +"I didn't do it, Jane, I didn't do it," I almost sobbed with fear of +what her disappointment was going to be. "He beat me to it!" + +"Truly. I'm sorry," Cousin James added to my apology as he stood with +his arm on Polk's shoulder. + +"I dare you, _dare_, you to tell 'em, Jane," Polk suddenly said, coming +over and putting a hand on one of my shoulders and one on Jane's. + +"Evelina and Mr. Hardin," Jane answered gallantly with her head assuming +its lovely independent pose, but with the most wonderful blush spreading +the beauty that always ought to have been hers all over her one-time +plain face, "the wager stands as won by Evelina Shelby. She had properly +prepared the ground and sowed the seed of justice and right thinking +that I--I harvested to-night. I had the honor of offering marriage to +Mr. Hayes just about fifteen minutes ago. I consider that mode of +procedure proved as feasible and as soon as I have received my answer, +whatever it is, I shall immediately proceed with making the endowment +and choosing the five young women according to the agreement." + +"Polk!" I exclaimed, turning to him in a perfect panic of alarm. Could +he be trifling with Jane? + +"Evelina," answered Polk, giving me a shake and a shove over in the +direction of the Crag, "you ought to know me better than to think I +would answer such a question as Jane put to me, while driving a cranky +car in waning moonlight. If you and James will just mercifully betake +yourselves out there on the porch in the cold for a few minutes I will +try and add my data to this equality experiment with due dignity. Go!" + +We went! + +"Love-woman," whispered the Crag, after I had broken it to him that we +were going to be a Governor of Tennessee, and not a railroad attorney, +and he had crooned his "Swing Low" over me and rocked me against his +breast for a century of seconds, down on my old front gate, "you are +right about the whole question. I see that, and I want to help--but if +I'm stupid about life, will you hold my hand in the dark?" + +"Yes," I answered with both generosity and courage. + +And truly if the world is in the dusk of the dawn of a new day, what can +men and women do but cling tight and feel their way--together? + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Tinder-Box, by Maria Thompson Daviess + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TINDER-BOX *** + +***** This file should be named 14863.txt or 14863.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/4/8/6/14863/ + +Produced by Kentuckiana Digital Library, David Garcia, Chuck Greif, Leonard +Johnson and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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