Mildred Keith

by Martha Finley

  Chapter Fifteenth.

  "The knight, perusing this epistle, Believ'd h' had brought her to his whistle. And read it like a jocund lover, With great applause t' himself twice over." --BUTLER'S HUDIBRAS.

  RHODA JANE had set the ball in motion and for several weeks similarfestivities were much in vogue among the young people of PleasantPlains. There were other rag carpet bees, some quilting, berrying andnutting parties, boatings on the river, "buggy rides," and rides onhorseback.

  Then as the days grew short and the evenings long, a singing school wasstarted. It met once a week at Damaris Drybread's schoolroom, waslargely attended by the youth of both sexes, quite as much for the sportto be got out of it as for the improvement of their vocal powers.

  Each carried thither a note book and a tallow candle, and at the end ofthe term paid his or her proportion of the salary of the teacher--oneTimothy Buzzard, from a neighboring town.

  Not the fittest name in the world for a singing teacher, people said;but then he couldn't help that, and soon proved himself competent forwhat he had undertaken; for imparting instruction at least;--as tokeeping order among his pupils, some of whom were years older thanhimself--that he found was quite another thing. Of course there wasoften a good deal of misbehavior on the part of silly, giggling girlsand tittering lads which tried his patience, occasionally even beyondendurance.

  Mildred, Claudina and their friend Lucilla Grange were not of these; butinvariably conducted themselves in a ladylike manner which won theadmiration and gratitude of the sometimes sorely tried teacher, and gavehim a powerful motive to self-control, in the natural desire to wintheir respect and esteem.

  These three girls were the belles of the town; Timothy was an unmarriedman, and when he seemed to pay court in a manner, to one or another ofthem, several of the young men were inclined to grow wrathy over it, andto feel that their rights were invaded.

  Will Chetwood, Yorke Mocker, and Wallace Ormsby had become frequentvisitors at Mr. Keith's; though, perhaps not more so in the case of thelatter two, than at the homes of Mildred's two intimate girl friends;the six formed a coterie of their own and were generally seen togetherat the merry-makings; pairing off now in one way now in another.

  Gotobed Lightcap would now and then pluck up courage to step in uponMildred of an evening, and was invariably treated politely and kindly,though not in a way to give undue encouragement.

  He had an instinctive understanding of that, attributed it in a greatmeasure, to his own awkward, ungainly ways, and looked with envy uponthose whose better education and more polished manners made them moreacceptable companions.

  Nicholas Ransquattle was not one of that number, yet esteemed himselfsuch, and annoyed our heroine not a little by his unwelcome attentions.

  They were declined whenever it could be done without positive rudeness,but vanity and self-conceit are often very blind.

  Nicholas was quite a reader for a man of his station and limitedopportunities; his family were proud of his attainments; he even moreso; he was given to displaying them on all possible occasions; oftenwasting a great deal of breath in the charitable effort to enlighten theignorance of his whilom associates.

  He would call at Mr. Keith's early in the evening, and if occasionoffered, talk to Mildred by the hour of his "abstruse studies" and thelighter literature with which he found it necessary to "unbend his mindfrom them," till she voted him an intolerable bore, and he became thelaughing stock of her younger brothers and sisters, who found hisclumsy, lumbering movements, self-conceit, and egotistical discourse somirth-provoking that they learned to be on the lookout for him and tofind excuses for remaining in the room while he staid; in which lastendeavor they received every encouragement from Mildred.

  Meanwhile so blinded by egotism was the man, that he supposed himself anobject of great admiration to them, and had little, if any doubt, thatthe whole family were ready to receive him with open arms whenever heshould make formal proposals for Mildred's hand.

  He was a shoemaker by trade; had a little shop in the principal businessstreet of the town, just opposite the store of Chetwood andMocker,--Claudina's brother and cousin.

  Mr. Keith had opened an office next door to them and Wallace Ormsby wasdiligently studying law with him.

  Nicholas with a soul above his last, sometimes envied Wallace theprospective distinction of being a member of one of the learnedprofessions, and while busied with his waxed ends and awl, consideredthe propriety of offering himself to Mr. Keith as a student andson-in-law both in one.

  He finally decided that the proposal to Mildred should be made first,the other to follow immediately upon her joyful acceptance.

  Winter had come in earnest; the ground had frozen hard and a heavy fallof snow upon this good foundation had made excellent sleighing; theyoung folk were jubilant over it, and more than one plan for itsenjoyment had been set afloat.

  "Mornin', Nick, see here, I want you to make me a pair o' new boots; putyour very best work on to 'em," said Gotobed Lightcap, enteringRansquattle's shop after a moment's vigorous kicking and stamping of thesnow from his feet upon the doorstep.

  "All right, Gote. Sit down and off with your boot," returned Nicholas,putting down his last and taking up his measures.

  "Let me have 'em as soon as you can," said Gotobed. "And be sure to make'em a neat fit," he added, laughing, "else they'll, maybe be throwedback on your hands."

  "They'll give satisfaction, you may depend," returned Ransquattle,straightening himself and throwing his head back on his shoulders in hisaccustomed fashion; "whatever I undertake is always done in the beststyle."

  "Eh! I hadn't noticed that," said Gotobed, innocently. "You're goin' tothe sleighin' to-morrow night, I s'pose?"

  "Yes; and I calculate to take Mildred Keith."

  "You do!" Lightcap ejaculated in tones of mingled anger and inquiry, hisbrows knitting wrathfully, a hot flush dyeing his swarthy cheek. "Haveyou asked her? got her consent?"

  "Her? what her? may I ask?" queried Yorke Mocker, coming in as Gotobed'squestion was propounded, Wallace Ormsby close at his heels.

  "No, I haven't asked her yet, but I shall in the course of the day; andnow I warn you fellows that she's my choice and you may each pick outsome other girl to take to the sleighing."

  "Indeed! and may I ask how you came by the right to the first pick?"

  "I've as much right to Mildred Keith as anybody else, Mr. Mocker; more,I should say; for I'm going to marry her."

  There was a simultaneous explosion of astonishment and indignation athis presumption, from Mocker and Ormsby, while Lightcap, thinking no onewould dare speak with such confident boasting who had not received greatencouragement, turned pale, then flushed again as he picked up and drewon the boot he had just taken off.

  "I admire the modesty of the man," remarked Ormsby with cutting sarcasm."I presume you will find the young lady ready to drop into your arms atthe first hint of your intentions."

  "Of course, since it must be evident to her that she couldn't possiblydo any better," sneered Yorke. "Pray, when did you learn that you weresuch a favorite?"

  "I flatter myself that I do not lack discernment," returned Ransquattle,with unmoved self-complaisance, as he entered his measurements in hisbook, then used his coat-tail as a pen-wiper. "Anything I can do for youthis morning, gentlemen?"

  "No," growled Ormsby, "but there's something I can do for you; namely,save you the trouble of asking Miss Keith to go with you to-morrow nightby informing you that she has already consented to allow me to be herescort."

  "Is that so?" exclaimed Ransquattle, reddening with anger anddisappointment. "Well, I must say I think it's very unfair; the way youfellows always get ahead of the rest of us."

  "So do I," said Gotobed, leaving the shop and walking away in moodydiscontent; too much chagrined at learning that he had no chance, toenjoy the discomfiture of Nicholas.

  "There has been no unfair dealing about it," retorted Ormsby, short
ly,as he and Mocker followed Gotobed into the street; in their anger andexcitement quite forgetting the errand that had brought them toRansquattle's shop, viz., to borrow his horse and sleigh for theproposed expedition, in case he were not going to make use of themhimself.

  They crossed the street, joined Will Chetwood in the store, and rousedhis ire also by a recital of what had just occurred.

  Ransquattle was angry too. "No unfair dealing about it, eh!" hemuttered, looking after them. "Well, I say there has been; they'vemanaged to keep other fellows at a distance from the girl without anyregard to her wishes. But I'll soon put a stop to that game, my lads.See if I don't."

  He took a letter from his pocket as he spoke, unfolded it, handling ittenderly, and glanced over the contents with a smile ofself-congratulation.

  "Ah, ha! we'll see if she'll be able to resist this!" he said, halfaloud, as he refolded and returned it to its place in the breast-pocketof his coat.

  A sleigh was at that moment standing at the front door of the yellowhouse on the corner and into it Mr. Keith was assisting his wife andaunt. Then followed the babe and the three next in age. They were goingto the country, to spend the day with their Lansdale acquaintances, theWards.

  Mildred, Rupert, Zillah and Ada stood in the doorway to see them off.

  "You won't be back to tea?" Mildred said inquiringly.

  "No; but by bedtime," her father answered as he turned the horses'heads. "Now go in, all of you, out of the cold before you catch theague."

  "What did Claudina say?" asked Mildred, addressing Rupert as theyobeyed the order.

  "Yes, of course; isn't she always glad of a chance to come here?"

  "That's good. How soon?"

  "In about half an hour, I believe she said. So you'd better hear Ada'slessons and have them out of the way."

  It was some weeks now since Ada's heart had been rejoiced by a finaldeliverance from Miss Drybread's control and a return to the instructionof her sister. Mr. Lord still kept up his class and Mildred's zeal forstudy had not abated, but the minister had a funeral to attend at adistant point that afternoon; so there would be no recitations tointerfere with the pleasure of a day with Claudina. Celestia Ann stillkept her position in the family, and though only ten o'clock, the housewas in order, and dinner and tea would require no supervision by theeldest daughter of the house.

  Claudina brought her sewing, and the two passed an uneventful, butpleasant day together, chatting over their work or reading aloud inturn; for Claudina was nearly as great a lover of books as was Mildred.

  Their talk was not largely of their neighbors, but some jests passedbetween them at Ransquattle's expense. They were quite severe in theircriticisms, as young things are too apt to be; but if the ears of thevictim burned it was not enough to prevent the act of folly he had incontemplation.

  Tea was over, Miss Hunsinger had removed the dishes to the kitchen;Mildred spread a bright colored cover over the table, placed the candleson it, and she and Claudina settled themselves to their sewing again;Zillah and Ada were the only other occupants of the room, Rupert havinggone out.

  Presently there came a knock at the outer door.

  "I'll go," said Ada, running to open it.

  A man, Nicholas Ransquattle, stood on the threshold. Stepping past thechild without speaking, he made directly for Mildred, and silentlyextended his right hand, between the thumb and forefinger of which heheld a letter.

  In a sort of maze the girl took it, and with one of his profoundobeisances, of one of which Cyril had remarked, "I thought he was goingto squattle on the stove when he put his head down so low," he withdrewwithout having spoken a word.

  They could hear the crackling of the snow under his heavy tread as hewalked away.

  "O Milly, what is it? what is it? what did he bring it for? had he beento the post-office?" the little girls were asking with eager curiosity.

  Mildred turned to Claudina. They looked into each other's eyes for amoment, then burst into a simultaneous hearty laugh.

  "Did ever you see such a comical performance?"

  "Never! It's addressed to you of course?"

  "Yes."

  Seizing a candle, laughing and blushing, "Come, help me to read it,"Mildred said. "We'll go up stairs where we won't be disturbed."

  "Mayn't we go too? mayn't we know what your letter's about?" pleaded thelittle girls as the older ones were hurrying away.

  "No, no! tisn't the sort for children like you to know about," laughedthe sister. "Be good and stay here. We won't be gone long; and some day,perhaps, I'll tell you what it says."

  They hurried through the kitchen where Miss Hunsinger was vigorouslysetting things to rights, up the crooked stairway and on into AuntWealthy's room, fastened the door and proceeded to examine the missive.

  It was an offer to Miss Mildred Keith, of the heart, hand and fortune ofthe writer, Nicholas Ransquattle, who denominated himself her devotedworshiper and slave, and addressed her as an angel and the loveliest andsweetest of created beings. The girls giggled over it at first, but atlength Mildred threw it down in supreme disgust.

  "Such stuff and nonsense! it's perfectly sickening! I'm anything but anangel; especially when I lose my temper. And I believe I'm losing itnow; for I feel insulted by an offer from such a conceited booby!"

  "Somebody's coming!" exclaimed Claudina.

  "Yes; Rupert. I know his step. Well, Ru, what is it?" as the boy rappedlightly on the door.

  "Why before you answer that letter and accept the fellow, let me tellyou something."

  Mildred threw open the door.

  "Who told you I had one?"

  "The children told me about old Nick bringing you a letter," he answeredlaughing, but looking angry too, "and it's easy enough to guess thesubject; particularly since I heard a bit of news over yonder at thesmithy. Gote Lightcap says he heard him--old Nick--boasting thismorning, before several young men, that he was going to marry MildredKeith."

  For a minute or more Mildred did not speak; she had probably never feltso angry in all her life.

  "The conceited puppy!" she cried at last, "wouldn't I like to take someof it out of him!"

  "Good for you!" cried Rupert clapping his hands. "I knew you'd be mad.And wouldn't I like to horsewhip him for his impudence?"

  "But it isn't right," said Mildred, already cooling down a little andashamed of her outburst. "You couldn't thrash him, Ru, but instead youshall, if you will, have the pleasure of carrying him my answer."

  "Tell me what it is first."

  Mildred took the letter and wrote, in pencil, beneath the signature,"The above offer is positively declined; all future visits on the partof the writer also," and signed her name. "There, return it," she said,"with the information that it is my final reply."