Chapter Sixteenth.
"Oh jealousy! thou bane of pleasing friendship, Thou worst invader of our tender bosoms: How does thy rancour poison all our softness, And turn our gentle natures into bitterness!" --ROWE.
THE news was too good to keep, and Rupert could not forbear stopping atthe smithy on his return and giving Gotobed a hint of how matters stood.
To say that the certainty of a decided rejection of Ransquattle's suitlifted a burden of anxiety from young Lightcap's mind, is not anover-estimate of the relief the boy's communication afforded him.
He had been moody and depressed since his visit of the morning toRansquattle's shop, and had refused to give Rhoda Jane any satisfactionas to his intentions in regard to making one of the sleighing party ofthe following evening. She was therefore agreeably surprised when towardbed-time he came, in quite a merry mood, into the kitchen where she satsewing alone, their mother having stepped out to see a neighbor, to tellher that he had decided to go.
"Well, I'm glad of it," she said, "and who are you going to take?"
He colored at the question and answered almost doggedly, "I'm goingafter Sarah Miller."
"Why don't you ask Mildred Keith?"
"'Cause there ain't no use; Ormsby's headed me off there."
"Yes; an' if you don't look out, with yer pokin' ways, he'll head youoff altogether, and marry her afore you know it."
"She ain't goin' off in such a hurry," he muttered, drumming on thetable with his fingers; then jumping up from his chair and going over tothe stove, making a pretense of warming himself that he might avoid thekeen scrutiny of his sister's sharp eyes; "but what's the use o' me atryin' with all them fellers round?"
"Gote Lightcap, I'm ashamed of you!" exclaimed Rhoda Jane. "If I was aman I'd have more pluck by a long shot. 'Twouldn't be me that would letany feller get ahead where I was amind to go in and win."
"You don't know nothin' about it," he retorted, lighting a candle andstalking off to bed.
"Dear me, if he only had half my spunk!" said Rhoda Jane, looking afterhim with scornful eyes and a curling lip.
The wish was echoed more than once in his heart as he lay awake far intothe night revolving the subject in his mind, and filled with longings,doubts and fears.
He had been so greatly rejoiced over the downfall of Ransquattle'shopes; yet after all what did it avail him while the other three, whosesuperiority he could not help acknowledging to himself, remained in theway? Alas, there was no great cause for exultation that one rival out offour had been removed from his path.
Still was it quite certain that they were all rivals? might it not bethat Miss Chetwood or Miss Grange was the more attractive girl to one orall of them? The six were so constantly seen together, the attentions ofthe three young men were so equally divided between the three girls,that who could tell how they were going to pair off, if at all?
Besides there was no accounting for tastes and a lady didn't alwaysselect that one from among her admirers whom other people in generalconsidered the most desirable match. There was yet a spark of hope forhim, but--ah if he only had Rhoda Jane's pluck and energy ofdetermination!
Near sunset of the next day a large omnibus sleigh drawn by four horseswith jingling bells, and well supplied with buffalo robes and otherappliances for keeping the cold at bay, went from house to house inPleasant Plains, picking up the girls and "boys" to the number of adozen or more--a very merry company--then glided swiftly on over thesnow for some six or eight miles.
The sleighing was fine, the weather not severe; the moon rose soon afterthe setting of the sun, and the girls being well muffled up in hoods,cloaks and other wraps, were warm and cosy, and vastly enjoyed the ride.
Of course the lads did the same. They laughed, jested and sang, andfound time fly as swiftly as the horses; who seemed to make nothing oftheir load.
The destination of the party was a hotel in a neighboring village, wherea supper had been ordered for them some days before. It was served up,hot and savory, shortly after their arrival.
A couple of hours were afterward spent in the parlor of the hotel, insocial chat and playing games; and here they were joined by Mr. TimothyBuzzard, who taught a singing school in this town also.
"There's another rival," thought Gotobed, jealously watching himcarrying on a lively conversation with Mildred; "'pears like everybody's after her; and I can't get no chance at all."
Rhoda Jane was equally jealous--partly for her brother, but still morefor herself; because last year Mr. Buzzard had waited upon her more thanon any other girl in Pleasant Plains, and she considered him herproperty and "didn't fancy bein' cut out by no newcomer nor by anybodyelse, for that matter."
Influenced by the desire to separate the two, she was the first tosuggest that it was time to start for home. She was agreeably surprisedthat Mildred promptly seconded the motion.
Some objected, saying there was no hurry, but as it was now eleveno'clock, these were overruled by the majority, and the sleigh waspresently announced as in readiness.
"Can't we make room for another passenger?" some one asked, as amidlaughter and jesting, they were crowding into the vehicle.
"Who is it?" queried another.
"Why, Buzzard would--"
"No, we hain't room for no more?" interrupted Gotobed. "We're not agoin'to have the ladies crowded."
"Speak fur yerself, Gote Lightcap," spoke up Rhoda Jane with spirit."There ain't none of us so disobligin' as not to be willin' to scrouge alittle for the sake of accommodatin' a fellow critter in distress. Setup a little closer, girls, and there'll be lots o' room."
"Yes; the more the merrier, and the closer the warmer," assented SarahMiller, Gote Lightcap's partner for the expedition, who had noticed withvexation and chagrin his evident interest in Mildred Keith. "Come on,Buzzard," making room for the singing teacher between Rhoda Jane andherself.
"Thank you, ladies. I shall be a thorn between two roses," he said,taking the offered seat with a laugh at his own stale jest.
"Now we've got the singing master along, let's have some music," saidRhoda Jane, when they were fairly on their way.
"Yes, you'll be expected to pay your way Buzzard," remarked Ormsby.
"I hope I'll always be found willing to do that," he responded. "MissLightcap, what shall I sing?"
Highly pleased that the choice was given her, Rhoda Jane promptly nameda love song she had heard him sing as a solo.
He gave it, then another, selected by Miss Miller, then turning toMildred,
"I think it is your turn now, Miss Keith," he said.
She proposed a round he had taught them that winter, saying all couldjoin in it.
All did so with right good will. Other rounds, glees, choruses and solosfollowed. They sang on even after reaching Pleasant Plains; sang on tillbut two or three were left as one after another was set down at his orher own door.
A light burned in the parlor at Mr. Keith's and the front door wasopened before the sleigh had quite drawn up to it.
"Poor, dear mother! what a shame to have kept you up so long!" Mildredexclaimed as she came in.
"Never mind," was the cheerful reply. "Here's a good warm fire; takethis arm-chair close to it, and don't remove any of your wraps till youcease to feel chilly. I should have prepared you some hot lemonade butfor one little difficulty in the way; no lemons to be had. Coffee wouldkeep you awake; but you shall have a glass of good rich milk; eitherhot or cold, as you prefer. Now tell me what sort of a time you had."
"I wish every girl had such a mother as mine," Mildred said, smilingfondly up into the face she loved so well. "I verily believe I take asmuch pleasure in recounting my adventures to you as in going throughthem. And it is so nice to have so safe and wise and loving aconfidante.
"Mother, I have a great deal to tell you, not so much about what hasoccurred to-night as of something that happened last night. I have beenlooking for an opportunity all day, but without finding it
; for you knowwe were unusually busy all the morning and had company all the afternoontill it was time for me to get ready for the sleigh-ride."
Mrs. Keith glanced at the face of a tall old-fashioned clock ticking ina corner of the room.
"I want very much to hear your story, daughter; but if you can sleepwithout having told it I think we will reserve it till to-morrow; forsee! it is now half-past twelve."
The girl would have been glad to unburden her mind and to learn if hermother approved--not her rejection of Ransquattle--of that there couldbe no doubt--but her manner of doing it; but that dear mother's facecheerful though it was, told of physical exhaustion and need of sleep.
Mildred rose hastily. "High time then that we wore both in bed. My storywill keep perfectly well till to-morrow."
"Sit down and finish warming yourself," Mrs. Keith said, with a smile."I want to hear about to-night. We will keep the longer story forto-morrow."
The Lightcaps found their house all dark the family had retired to bedhours ago, but leaving the kitchen door unlocked and a good fire in thestove.
"Good and warm in here," remarked Gotobed, feeling for the candle andmatches his mother was sure to have left on the table ready for them.
"Yes; feels comfortable. I shall set down and warm a bit 'fore I crawlup to that there cold bed-room."
"Me too; don't expect to sleep none when I do get to bed," growled Gote,as he succeeded in lighting the candle, after two or three ineffectualattempts, and set it on the table again.
"Kind o' eggzited are ye?"
"Some. I say, what did you make room for that--"
"Don't swear;" she sneered, as he paused for a suitable cognomen tobestow upon Buzzard.
"I wa'n't agoin' to!" he said angrily; "not but what I've sufficientcause in your letting that unclean bird in amongst us decent folks."
"There now; that'll do fur to-night," she snapped. "Tim. Buzzard ain'tno more an unclean bird than you are; he's twicet as good lookin' andsings like a nightingale.
"But now see here; don't let's quarrel, but go to work together to bringthings round right. You don't want him to cut you out with MildredKeith, and I don't want her to cut me out with him. So now you justspunk up and pop the question right off. If you don't, one or other o'them fellers'll get ahead o' you; you may just take my word for that."
Gotobed dropped his head into his hands and sighed deeply, then rose andwalked the floor.
Rhoda Jane watched him with an eager, half-contemptuous look.
"Well!" he said at length, "I wisht I knowed how!"
"Knowed how! you needn't make many words about it; 'tain't like makin'up a sermon or a president's message."
"It's a heap more important; the happiness of a feller's whole life adependin' onto it."
Silence for some minutes, Rhoda Jane sitting meditatively before thestove, her feet on its hearth, her hands clasped round her knees, whileher brother continued his restless walk.
She was the first to speak. "I'd write it out if I was you."
"I ain't used to writin' much."
"Well, you can get used to it; you can try and try till you've writsomethin' that'll do."
"I couldn't write anything good enough for her to see."
"Then take t'other way."
"I don't never git no chance; and if I did I'd be tongue-tied, sure asthe world."
"Then you'll have to write it, and I'll help you!" concluded Rhoda Janewith energy.
She arose as she spoke, picked up the candle, stepped quickly to acorner shelf in the next room, whence she brought an inkstand and aquill pen.
Setting these down on the kitchen table, she went back, and opening abureau drawer where miscellaneous articles were kept, fished out fromits depths a sheet of foolscap, which she spread out beside theinkstand.
"That ain't nice enough," said Gotobed, eyeing it disapprovingly.
"Make it up on that and get better at the store to-morrow to copy itonto," returned his sister. "Now you set down and go at it like a man;or maybe I'd better say like a woman," she added sarcastically.
"If I'd only had an edication!" groaned Gotobed, taking up the pen; "butit's mighty hard on a feller--such things as this is--when he hasn't."
"Well, do the best you kin, and mebbe it'll come out right for all.You're good-lookin' and got a good trade and can make a good livin' forher. Just tell her that; and tell her you think she's as purty as apicter, and good-tempered, and knows a lot; and that you worship theground she walks on, and won't never let the wind blow rough on her,won't never say no cross words to her, and--and a lot more o' suchstuff; that's what girls like."
"Well, I s'pose you'd ought to know, seeing you belong to the sect; butit's a heap easier for you to say it than for me to git it writ down inblack and white," he sighed.
"I declare I'm clear beat out with you a'most," said Rhoda Jane,snuffing the candle impatiently; "and I've a great mind to leave you tomake it up by yourself."
But she went on coaxing, suggesting and prompting, till between themthey had composed an epistle which was satisfactory to her though not toher brother.
"It's nigh onto three o'clock, and I'm awful tired and sleepy," sheremarked, as at last they separated and sought their beds.
The next day Gotobed searched the town for letter paper and bought halfa quire of the best he could find.
During the next week all his leisure moments were spent in makingrevised and improved copies of his and Rhoda Jane's joint composition.
He had used his last sheet, and seized with a fit of desperation, heselected the one which seemed to him the least faulty and sent it by hissister.
Mrs. Keith, opening the door in answer to Rhoda Jane's knock, was struckwith the peculiar expression of the girl's face--a mixture of pride,condescension and exultation.
"Good evenin' Mis' Keith. Where's Mildred?" she said, stepping in andglancing about the room with an air of importance, "I want to see herpertickler; got somethin' fur her," and a conscious glance at themissive in her hand enlightened the quick-witted lady as to its nature.
"Mildred is not at home," she said; "will not be until bedtime; butanything you choose to leave with me will be given her on her return."
Rhoda Jane considered a moment. She felt a strong desire to deliver thenote into Mildred's own hand, and to watch her while reading it; butshould she carry it back Gote might change his mind and put offindefinitely this business which she was so desirous to have carriedthrough at once.
She left it, though with evident reluctance.
She presently congratulated herself that she had done so. Gotobed,eagerly awaiting her return, peering anxiously every other minutethrough the smithy door, hailed her in breathless excitement.
"Well, what--what did she--"
"She wasn't there. She's gone out somewheres and won't be back tillbedtime."
"Give it to me then; quick!" and he held out his hand with a peremptorygesture.
"I ain't got it," Rhoda Jane answered with a sardonic grin.
"Where is it? you ain't gone and left it," he cried aghast.
"Yes, I have; I give it to Mis' Keith."
Gotobed groaned. "I'd thought better of it; I'd throw it in the firethis minute if I had it here. She'll think me a fool. I know she will!"
"If she does she's one," returned Rhoda Jane shortly, and left him tohis unavailing regrets.
How they tortured him! how could he bear the suspense.
Mildred was merciful and did not keep him in doubt any longer thannecessary. He found a letter next morning, in the post-office, with hisaddress upon it, written in a lady's delicate graceful hand.
His heart seemed to jump into his mouth at the sight. He almost snatchedit from the postmaster's hand, and without stopping to answer thejesting remark of that functionary on his sudden accession of color,hurried away, never stopping till he reached the privacy of his ownroom, thankful that he succeeded in doing so without being seen by anyof the family.
But now it was a full minute ere
he could summon courage to open themissive and learn his fate. And even when it lay open before him hepassed his hand several times across his eyes as if to clear his sight.
Yet it was very plainly written;--also plainly expressed; a distinct,decided, though very kindly rejection of his suit; the only reason giventhat she could not love him and a loveless marriage could be fruitful ofnothing but misery to both parties.
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