Beloved Stranger

by Grace Livingston Hill

  The woman cast a sort of despairing look at her caller and with a half-deprecatory glance toward Sherrill, who had settled down on the old haircloth sofa, she vanished into the back room where they could hear her turning on water, lifting dripping clothes from one tub to another, pulling a tin boiler across the top of an old-fashioned iron range, and slamming the dampers back and forth.

  She returned, pulling down her neat print sleeves and fastening a clean apron over her wet dress.

  Sherrill meanwhile had been looking around the little room, noting carefully the pretty trifles that Lutie had used to make the place homelike. There was even a little snapshot of herself that Sherrill recognized as one she had thrown in the wastebasket. It was framed in glass with a black paper binding and stood under the lamp on the small center table. Poor Lutie! Sherrill was deeply touched.

  “Well,” said Aunt Pat, “I’ll get right to the point. My niece found out from Lutie that your husband is sick. How is he? Getting well fast?”

  “No,” said the woman sadly, “he doesn’t improve at all now. He’s pretty well discouraged. He said last night he guessed he had got to the end, and the sooner it came the better off we’ll all be.”

  The woman was blinking the tears back and swallowing hard. Her lips quivered as she spoke.

  “Fiddlesticks!” said Aunt Pat briskly. “We’ll see if something can’t be done about that. Have you got a good doctor? Who is your doctor?”

  “We haven’t any doctor now,” said the woman with a hopeless note in her voice. “We’ve tried three, and he only got worse. He would not hear to having any more bills run up that we never can pay.”

  “Hmm!” said Aunt Pat. “What doctors did you have?”

  “Oh, we had the company doctor where he worked first, and he went on for two months and didn’t make a mite of difference. And then we got Dr. Green. He was the doctor that examined him for his insurance several years ago, but he said just out plain he couldn’t do him any good. And then we tried a specialist somebody recommended at the office where my son works, but he charged ten dollars every time he saw him, and ordered things that cost so much we couldn’t get them, and said he ought to go to a private hospital for observation where they charge fifty dollars a week, and we had to give that up. Now we owe them all, and Lutie is paying them fifty cents a week, and Sam pays sometimes a dollar when he can spare it; dear knows when we’ll get them all paid off.”

  “Well,” said Aunt Pat with satisfaction, “then the coast is clear. That’s good. Now, I’m going to send my doctor up to see him. How soon would it be convenient for him to come?”

  The woman flushed.

  “Oh, we couldn’t really afford another doctor,” she said in a worried tone. “It’s very kind for you to take an interest in us, but you see, we just couldn’t pay him now, and it only worries Father and makes him so he can’t sleep.”

  “Yes, but you see, my doctor won’t cost you anything,” said Aunt Pat. “He does these things as a favor for me.

  He’s an old friend of mine, and he’s been our family physician for years. He’s very skillful, too, and he’ll tell me the truth. If anything can be done for your husband, we’ll find out what it is. And as for money, dear woman, aren’t you and I both God’s children? I’ve got some money that is just crying out to be spent somehow. They’re after me to build an art school with it, but if it could make your husband better, I’d a lot rather have it used that way. And I take it God would be a great deal better pleased.”

  “Oh, but Miss Catherwood, I couldn’t! You’re awfully good and I’ll never forget it—but we couldn’t! Oh, we never could!” The woman was crying openly now, into her nice clean blue-and-white checked apron. Sherrill had a sudden feeling that she would like to go over and put her arms around Lutie’s mother and kiss her on her tired, seamed forehead. Suppose it had been her mother? Sherrill’s mother seemed so very many years away!

  But Miss Catherwood was sitting up very straight now.

  “Fiddlesticks end!” she said crisply. “As if you’d put pride between when it comes to getting your husband well! Listen! The Lord told me to come over here this morning and see what needed doing and do it. See? And you’re not going to block the way. You’re just going to be a dear sweet woman and do what you’re told. How soon can you be ready for the doctor?”

  “Oh!” sobbed the woman. “You’re too good to us! Lutie said you were the salt of the earth—”

  “Now, look here,” fumed Aunt Pat, “stop that kind of talk. We don’t need any salt around here just now. Wipe your eyes and tell me how soon I can have the doctor stop. Can you be ready for him by two o’clock? I think it likely he could be here about then. And while he’s here I’m going to tell him to take a look at the little boy. Lutie said he had trouble with his hip.”

  “Oh yes,” wailed the mother as if the admission stabbed her to the heart. “They tell me he’ll never walk again. He doesn’t know it yet, poor kid. He keeps talking about when he’s going to get well enough to play baseball with the other boys.”

  “Well, we’ll see what can be done,” said Aunt Pat with satisfaction. “And now, is there any way we can help you with this washing? Because, you see, we want you to be ready to have the doctor give you an examination, too, and then we’ll know where we stand.”

  “Oh, but I’m all right!” beamed the mother eagerly. “I don’t need the doctor now. If my husband and boy could just get cured I’d be all right. It’s just been the worry—”

  “Well, that’s all right, too, but you’re going to have the examination, and then we’ll find out what the doctor says about it. If he says you’re all right, why, then no harm is done, but if he says you need an operation, you’re going to have it right away.”

  “Oh, but I couldn’t be spared while my two men are sick,” said the woman in alarm.

  “Oh yes, you could, my dear!” said the old lady determinedly, “and it’s a great deal better for you to be spared now than to wait until it’s too late to help you. Don’t be silly! Here comes Lutie. She’ll look after the house and her brother while the three of you are in the hospital.”

  “Hospital?” said the woman frantically. “But we couldn’t afford—!”

  “Oh yes, you could. It’s all fixed, I tell you. Here comes Lutie. How about that wash out there, Lutie? Can’t you finish that up while your mother gets your father and brother ready to go to the hospital?”

  “Oh, Miss Catherwood! Wouldn’t that be too wonderful!” cried Lutie, her cheeks growing red as a winter apple and her eyes starry. “Of course I can finish up the wash. Only”—and she paused in consternation—“I’m supposed to go up to your house to help with the ironing at eleven o’clock.”

  “Well, that’s off for today. I’ll explain to the housekeeper. We’ve plenty of people there to finish the ironing for this once, and if we haven’t, it can go unironed. Now go to work quickly, and don’t let your mother get all fussed up about things.”

  When they got up to go, Lutie looked at Sherrill wistfully.

  “I been wondering if you really was going with me to the Bible class tonight,” she said in a low tone. “I’ve been telling the other girls about you, and they’re so anxious for you to come. But now I don’t know as I can go this week. Maybe I’ll be too busy here.”

  “Bible class?” said Aunt Pat, scenting something interesting. “What’s that? Where were you going with her, Sherrill?”

  “She’s been telling me about a class she attends,” explained Sherrill. “Why, yes, I guess I can go tonight if you can find you can. I’d be interested to see what it’s like.”

  “Of course you mustn’t miss you Bible class, Lutie,” said her mother with a wan smile. Then, turning to Miss Catherwood, she explained, “Lutie’s been that taken up with her Bible study, and I’m glad she’s got something since things have been so awful bad. But perhaps, Lutie, you’ll be too tired.”

  “Oh, I’m never tired,” said Lutie eagerly. “I’ll go. Shall I come
round to the house for you, Miss Sherrill?”

  “No, I’ll call for you with the little car,” said Sherrill with sudden inspiration. “Then you won’t have to walk when you are tired.”

  “Oh, that would be wonderful!” said Lutie as if Sherrill were offering her a ride in a chariot of state.

  “Here, Lutie, help me down these steps. I want to ask you some questions,” said Aunt Pat imperatively.

  Lutie helped the old lady carefully down the steps, and as they walked out to the car, Miss Patricia snapped out the questions.

  “My niece said you lost some money. What bank?”

  Lutie told her.

  “Hmm!” commented Miss Patricia. “Who owns your mortgage?”

  Lutie gave the necessary information.

  “Hmm!” said the old lady. “I know them. I’ll see what can be done. Don’t you worry about losing your house. Just get your mother comfortable. And by the way, if your folks all have to go to the hospital, you won’t have time to work at the house till they get on their feet again, will you? It’ll take about all your time to keep house here, won’t it?”

  “Oh no, Miss Catherwood!” said Lutie in consternation. “I just couldn’t afford not to work. There won’t be anything for me to do but get Sam’s breakfast and dinner and put up his lunch. I can give you just as much time as you want.”

  “That’s all right, then, Lutie. Don’t you worry. But if you need to take a vacation for a few weeks, why, you just come to me, and we’ll fix it up so you won’t lose anything by it. Now, Sherrill, are we all ready to go?”

  They drove away amid exclamations of blessing from Lutie and her mother, and Sherrill felt a big lump rise in her throat as she looked back and saw them standing in the doorway, the mother waving her apron.

  “That was wonderful of you, Aunt Pat!” said Sherrill eagerly. “That was dear of you! But it’s going to cost you a lot of money.”

  “Well, you see, child, I figured if James gave his life to save Lutie’s mother, it was maybe my job to look after the rest of the family. And what’s money in a case like that?

  If God thought saving her life was worth a man’s life, then surely the least that I can do is to look after her, or somebody else’s family if there hadn’t been this one. I’ve you to thank for finding this out for me. I never thought to ask anything about them before, and Lutie never opened her lips. If I thought anything about them at all, I supposed they were all well and hearty and everyone with a good job and thrifty. Lutie looks that way. What’s this thing you’re going to tonight?”

  “Why, when she was singing that happy little song the other day, I asked her where she got it. She told me about a class where they study the Bible and learn to be glad even when there’s trouble. I said I would go with her sometime.”

  “So she’s that kind, is she? Well, I’m glad. Now, here’s the doctor’s, and I’ll just run in and give him his orders. I’m hoping he isn’t full up every hour today with operations or something. I’d hate to go back on my word.”

  A few minutes later she was back.

  “He’s going to see them at three o’clock. It’s the best he can do. He’s very busy. But I told him all about them, and he promised me he’d do his best to put them all back in normal health again. Now, Sherrill, what did I do with the card Lutie wrote that mortgage company’s address on? I want to stop and see my lawyer a minute and get him to fix that up, and then we can go home and rest awhile. We’ve done a big piece of work.”

  “A wonderful piece of work,” mused Sherrill. “Oh,

  Aunt Pat! You’ve done more with your life than any woman I know!”

  “Fiddlesticks end!” said Aunt Pat scornfully. “I’ve not done the half that I should. Now, Sherrill, while I’m seeing my lawyer I’d like you to do a little shopping for those people if you will. They’ll need things to go to the hospital with, dressing gowns and robes and things, and decent suitcases to carry them in. I want them to be comfortable while they are there. That poor woman doesn’t look as if she’s had a day’s rest since she was born, and I mean she shall have. Get her a real pretty robe, and brushes and things. Nice pretty ones. She likes pretty things, I’m sure. Look at the way they’ve fixed up that old ramshackle house with just plants and vines. Not even paint! I’ll give you the money, and you get the necessary things. And I’m glad you’re going to that Bible class. There are a lot of things in the Bible I don’t understand, but I believe it from cover to cover, and I’d like to know more about it. I’m too old to study now, but you’re not, and you can tell me all about it.”

  When they got home they found a stack of mail awaiting them. Notes of commiseration and protest from the people who had received their wedding gifts back again. Some letters, intended to cheer up Sherrill in her lonely estate of maidenhood, which made her very angry. A few giving her loving wishes from far-off friends who hadn’t yet heard of the change in the wedding arrangements.

  She looked up listlessly from her lap full of letters and gave a deep sigh. How much more worthwhile was the world of helpfulness to which she had just been with her aunt, than this social world built around such an unstable foundation. She could sense through all these elaborate phrases that some of her old friends and playmates actually thought less of her because she had allowed herself to be washed up on the shore of maidenhood again, after she had once landed a man and gotten so far as wedding invitations.

  Aunt Pat looked up sharply at the second sigh and handed over a letter.

  “Well,” she said triumphantly, “they haven’t put your emeralds on the market yet, whoever it was that took them. Of course there has hardly been time for anybody to get them to Europe. But if they attempt it, it won’t be long before we know who did it.”

  “Aunt Pat!” said Sherrill in astonishment. “Then you have done something about it after all!”

  “Why, of course, child! You didn’t think I was a fool, did you? I called up the private detective who was here at the wedding and had a talk with him. He’s been quietly watching all the places where they would be likely to be put on the market. They’re all registered stones, you know. Any jewel dealer of repute will be on the watch for them. Sooner or later they would have to turn up at the right place to get a reasonable price for them. I talked to my lawyer about them, too, told him I didn’t want publicity, and he’s working quietly. So that’s that and don’t worry! They’ll turn up if you were meant to get them back, and if you weren’t, all the worry in the world won’t help you.”

  After lunch Sherrill went to lie down and had a long restful sleep. She had a sort of feeling when she woke up of being stranded on a desert island, and now that she was coming near to that Bible class that she had promised to attend, she found a keen aversion to going. Why had she promised Lutie? Lutie was well enough herself, but Lutie had spoken of other girls who wanted to see her. They would be common girls without education, of course. They would have heard a lot of gossip about her wedding and how she didn’t get married after all, and would be watching every move she made.

  She half started to the telephone to tell Lutie that she was tired and would go another time, and then the eager look in Lutie’s eyes came back to mind, and she couldn’t quite get the courage to call off the engagement. So she dressed herself in a plain quiet little knit dress of blue wool, and a small felt hat to match. It was one of her oldest sport dresses, and quite shabby now she thought. But she did not want to make Lutie feel that there was too much difference between them.

  Miss Catherwood looked at her approvingly as she came into the room at dinnertime.

  “Some people wouldn’t have known any better than to put on an evening dress,” she remarked irrelevantly and smiled her peculiar twisted grin. “Well, I hope you have a good time, and be sure to listen for me.”

  Chapter 17

  Dubiously Sherrill parked her car and followed Lutie into the plain wooden building. If she hadn’t promised Lutie, she never would have gone tonight. She had lost her first curiosit
y about Lutie’s source of peace, and if she had not seen how eager and pleased Lutie was about taking her, she would have invented some excuse.

  The building was not inviting. It was old and grimy. There had not been much money for fresh paint, and the floor was bare boards. A large blackboard and a battered old piano were the only attempts at furnishings besides the hard wooden benches, and the only decorations were startling Bible verses in plain print on white cards here and there about the walls.

  “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” was announced on the right; and Sherrill, entering, felt a shade of resentment at being classed with sinners. She had a feeling that her family had never been in that class.

  There were other verses, but she had no time to read them, for several young girls came up and Lutie introduced them.

  One put a hand on Sherrill’s arm intimately and with a sweet little smile said, “We’re so glad you have come. Lutie has been telling us about you, and we hope you will like it here. We just love it.”

  Again there was just the least bit of resentment in Sherrill’s aristocratic soul that these girls should think her of their class, and expect her to be coming more than once. Yet there was something so winning about her smile, and so gentle in her manner, that Sherrill began to wonder if perhaps she had been wrong. Perhaps these girls were not all in Lutie’s class. It was difficult to tell. They wore nice clothes; one had a pretty little pink crepe dress and a white beret, like any girl who had been out to play golf or tennis. There was an earnest air about them that made Sherrill like them in spite of herself. Could it be possible that she, Sherrill Cameron, was a snob? She must get out of this state of mind. She would not come here again likely, but while she was here she would be one of them, and do her best to enter into the things. She would be a good sport. She would be in their class, even if they were not in hers. After all, what was her class anyway? She was just a girl by herself who would have had to earn her own living somehow if Aunt Pat had not invited her to live with her. The fact that she had earned it until then teaching school instead of cleaning rooms and ironing as Lutie did, really made no difference, of course. It was all silly anyway.