She went about with martyr-like attitude, treating Marion with a deferential stiflFness that was as unpleasant as her former attitude had been. When Marion insisted upon setting the table, Jennie sent Nannie to perform the task, saying with a heavy sigh: " I have done my own work and set my own table for a good many years, and shall probably have to continue to do so all my life. One setting of a table more or less will make little difference. It's not with me as it is with you."
And this style of conversation continued until Marion was almost sorry she had come, and retreated at last to the parlor, which had been made delightful with a great open fire in the old-fashioned fireplace. Then Nannie forsook her table-setting, and nestled down close to her; and the other two children climbed into her lap, and demanded a story just where she had left off the year before. Lyman, talking politics to the delight of Tom, who had missed his city friends when it came to election-time, yet found time to watch his wife as she made a pretty picture of herself with the little ones about her.
The dinner would have been a trying affair with Jennie sitting up straight and stiff and dispensing her hospitalities without a smile, and Marion shy and embarrassed, wondering what her husband would think of it all, if it had not been for Lyman, who adapted himself to the situation with the most charming simplicity, talking intimately with Tom about the farm, admiring the view from the windows, discussing the possibilities of crops, then turning to the children with the story of a little dog they saw on the way, and even bringing a softened expression to Jennie's mouth when he admired her plum jam.
Marion watched him with growing pride and love, and Jennie watched her surreptitiously, and
marvelled. What a lady she had become! Did a few costly garments make all the difference there was between them, or had it been there all the time? These were the thoughts that were troubling Jennie.
As soon as dinner was over, Marion coaxed them all into the parlor, and Lyman brought the things from the car into the room. Thinking the gifts were all for the children, the father and mother gathered eagerly around to watch them untied. Jennie had thawed in her manner somewhat, but was not yet altogether cordial. She sat stiffly in one of the parlor chairs, and watched Nannie's eager fingers untie the cord of a large box; and then suddenly the child threw back the lid of the box and screamed with delight over the beautiful doll. The mother's face relaxed then into real pleasure as she saw the costly doll and her little girl's delight. Tom entered into the excitement as if he had been a boy, and helped the two little boys undo their packages, even shouting with them over what they brought to light, and beginning at once to set up the little electric railway that the new uncle had brought them.
In the midst of the tumult Marion brought the hat-box, and the suit-box, and the packages containing the other things she had for Jennie, around to the couch, and motioned her sister-in-law to come to
her. Thinking these were more things for the children, and thoroughly mollified now, Jennie came, and helped with untying the strings. When she saw the beautiful dress, and understood that it was for herself, her face was a study of conflicting emotions; amazement, doubt, shame, and delight contended for the mastery.
" Do vou like it ? " asked Marion. *' If vou would rather have something else, I think I could change it on my way back and send it to you."
Jennie laid eager hands on the soft silken material, and smoothed it lovingly.
" Well, I should think I did like it," said Jennie, at last melted out of her frigidity. " I never expected to have anything half so fine; and the color is just what I always wanted, and never could seem to find except in expensive stuff. I'm sure I'm ver^' much obliged to you, Marion."
"Oh, I'm so glad you like it!" said Marion, pleased; " and I do hope it fits you. I tried it on; but I used to be smaller than you, and I wasn't sure it would fit you. It w^as large for me."
** Oh, I'm sure it'll fit. It looks good and large. I'm just glad to have it made; for the dressmaker out here isn't very good and they never see anything as stylish as this. I'm real pleased."
But, when Marion opened the hat-box, and brought forth the hat, graceful and simple in its lines, yet beautiful, and bearing that unmistakable stamp of the lady, Jennie succumbed entirely. It Was the last straw that broke her barriers down. She looked and looked, and could say nothing, and then looked again as Marion set it on her own head.
Then Marion put the hat on Jennie, and sent her to the glass to see; and Jennie walked solemnly from the room, her kitchen apron still tied about her waist, but her head borne regally, mindful of its crowning glory. Tom and Lyman stopped talking, and Tom shouted out his hearty approval, till his wife's face grew rosy with pleasure. She stayed a long time in the guest room before the looking-glass; and Marion, fearful lest she did not like the hat, followed shyly, and found her looking at herself intently in the glass, and two great tears rolling down her flushed cheeks.
" Don't you like it, Jennie? " she asked anxiously.
" Like it! " said Jennie, turning full upon her. " I like it better than anything I ever had in my life before, and I don't deserve it. I've been awful mean to you sometimes, and I've almost hated you because you didn't come up here and help us get settled, and because you always held yourself away from things, and seemed to think nothing was good enough for
you; but I'm ashamed now, and I oughtn't to take these nice things. They don't belong to me, and I don't deserve to have you bring such nice presents to me nor the children. I'm sorry, and I ask you to forgive me."
And suddenly Jennie, the grim and forbidding, burst into tears, and fell upon her astonished sister-in-law's neck. But Marion's loving heart was equal to the occasion. With abounding forgiveness she received Jennie's overtures, and folded her arms lovingly about her, rejoicing that at last she had won her sister.
** But you don't know it all yet," sobbed out Jennie lifting her head from Marion's shoulder. " You'll never forgive me but I've got to tell. I can't sleep nights thinking of it. I stole your father's will and hid it so it wouldn't be found. I didn't destroy it, but I hid it, so you'd never know the house was all yours. And now I can't find the will anymore, it's gone."
Marion's hand rested softly on Jennie s head. Marion's voice was very gentle as she said: *' That's all right, Jennie. I forgave it long ago."
Jennie lifted her astonished head and stared:
" You forgave it? Then you knew it? "
" Yes, I knew it. The will fell out from behind
the desk when the movers were carrying it out of the house."
*' But you didn't know I did it."
" Yes, Jennie, you had dropped a bit of your peppermint candy into the envelope. I knew it must have been you. But it's all right now. I burned it up. Let's forget it. I've got something far better than the old house. You must come and see me in my new one."
'' You knew I'd done it and yet you forgave me!" marvelled Jennie. " And you never told, either! You're an angel, Marion Warren, and I'm a devil. But I'll love you always, and I'll do anything in the world for you. We'll sell this farm and give you back your money. Tom hasn't been happy about it either, but he didn't know what I'd done."
*' You will not sell this farm, Jennie dear, and Tom is never to know about that will. I don't want the money and I do want you to have the farm. I've more money than I know how to spend, so please, please forget it, I have, and let us have a good time!"
They came into the other room in a few minutes with shining faces.
" We may as well open the rest of these things/'
said Lyman, producing the packages meant for Tom; and Tom, nothing loath, and unsuspecting, took the small box handed him, and presently found the fine watch, and the books and other things; and the two sat down and had a real brotherly chat over the good cheer that had been brought.
Lyman, as he watched the brother, caught little gleams of resemblance to his wife in the rougher, heartier features; little tricks of speech and mannerisms that were pleasant to recognize; and he sa
w at once that the brother was no blockhead. He might not care for music and art and philosophy; but he would make a keen business man, and was a good talker. His arguments in politics were well put and the points sharp and original. He might be of far coarser mould than his fair and delicate sister; but there was nothing about him to be ashamed of, and and the new brother-in-law was enjoying himself immensely.
Finally Lyman and Tom went out to look over the farm while Marion and Jennie cleared off the table, and there was no more talk about rich and poor, for there was a final truce between Jennie and Marion.
They rode away the next morning into a sunlit world, having left happy hearts and pleasant feelings
behind them, and really sorry that it was not possible to have planned to accept the urgent invitations of both host and hostess to remain a few days longer. How they would have shouted with merriment if they could have known how Jennie feared they were coming to live on them, and of her plans to put her new brother-in-law to work on the farm to earn his board!
But, as they waved a good-by to the group on the side porch, and turned into the broad highway with the prospect of a glorious spring day before them, and just their two selves in all the great, beautiful world, Lyman felt that now indeed his bride belonged to him entirely. Until he had seen her people he knew she felt ill at ease with him whenever she thought of the wide difference in their birth. But he had somehow managed to make it plain to her that all the world is kin, and that he felt no such gulf as she had feared. He could see that her heart was light from the burden lifted, and now she felt that she might rest in his love and be happy.
Also there was a feeling of exhilaration upon them both, for they had won a victory over Jennie, and made her their devoted admirer. It gave Marion a great sense of peace to know this. Jennie might not be any pleasanter for daily living than before,
when the newness wore off; but she did not have to hve with her, and it was good to know that Jennie bore no grudges. Marion enjoyed thinking of the pleasant surprises she would send them all, and so make up to Jennie for any fancied wrongs of the past. So Marion sat beside her husband, happy and smiling, as they flew along the great wide road, and drew in the morning breath of spring sweetness, and delighted in the glance of each other's eyes.
At New York they found the chauffeur and a lot of letters.
Lyman had taken care to have announcement cards sent to all their friends before they left home, and now the congratulations were pouring down upon them. Marion gasped as she opened one exquisitely perfumed epistle written in exceedingly tall chirography on the latest mode of paper with a gold embossed monogram.
" You dear little Marion; " it began familiarly.
" How you have stolen a march upon us all! Though I'll tell you a secret. I suspected long ago what was going on, and have been perfectly delighted over the prospect; but I didn't tell a soul. Wasn't I good?
" I am charmed that you are to enter our circle and be one of us. It is a real pleasure to think of you as mistress of that lovely home. I shall be so pleased to be ' near neighbors ' and run irt often. I have always admired you greatly, and wanted to see more of you, and have often grieved over the separation that circumstances made necessary as we grew older. And now you are coming right into our set, and there will be nothing to hinder our being bosom friends. Your husband and
I have always been very intimate, and so I have a double claim upon you, you see; and I do hope my note will be the first you receive to tell you how glad we all are to have you among us. I intend to give a large dinner for you just as soon as you are settled at home and ready for your social duties.
" It is not necessary for me to tell you what a wonderful husband you have married, for you probably know that. Tell him for me that he is to be congratulated upon the bride he has chosen."
" Yours always lovingly,
" Isabel Cresson."
The gift that came with the note was a paperweight of green jade in the form of an exquisitely carved httle idol with a countenance hke a Chinese devil.
*' Oh ! " gasped Marion, helplessly letting the note slip from her fingers to the floor. " Oh! "
" What is the matter, dear? " asked Lyman, turning from a letter from a business friend.
*'Oh!" said Marion. "I am ashamed to have misjudged her so. She is very kind, I'm sure; but— but—I don't think I shall ever really quite enjoy her, she's such an awful h3^pocrite. I shall always think of her in that gold dress! "
Lyman picked up the letter, and read it with growing amusement.
*' Don't worry, dear," he said, laughing. " This is just what I've expected, and you've yet to learn that this young woman can be several very different people. It suits her just now to pose as my intimatft
friend—and yours. But no one is thereby deceived. Everyone of our circle knows that she has always been my special aversion. There are reasons why she will never be likely to say any disagreeable things to you, and you need not fear her; but, as for making her your intimate friend, that will never be necessary. Be your own sweet self, gracious and simple to her; but never let her deceive you into thinking you are wrong in your own intuition about her. She has no right to claim even toleration from you. She is a cruel, selfish, rotten-hearted woman. She is simply showing you that she is robbed of her power to hurt you, and prefers to make the best of it, and be as intimate as you will allow."
Two days after, they returned; and Marion entered the great, handsome house, and looked about upon the beauty and luxury which were henceforth to be hers. Everywhere, in all the rooms, there were roses to welcome her, great crimson roses, glowing in masses, in crystal bowls and jardinieres, and costly vases. But on her dressing-table in the little white boudoir he had prepared for her, standing in a clear glass vase so that its long green stem was clearly seen, there nodded and glowed a single crimson bud.
IHE ENCHANTED BAKN
By GRACE LIVINGSTON HILL
Author of
Coining Through the Rye,
A New Name, Etc.
The Hollisters didn't know what to do. Forced to abandon their home because of the death of Professor Hol-lister, the problem was too much for even their bright, ingenious minds.
But, as usual, it was Shirley who thought of the solution —Shirley who was pretty, sweet, naive, efficient and altogether adorable all in one bundle. And soon the Hollisters found themselves in " The Enchanted Barn," a ramshackle affair which Shirley had rented at a ridiculously low price, but which under the enthusiastic hands of the family rapidly became a veritable paradise.
Unlike the conventional, gruff, overbearing landlord, the Hollisters found young Sidney Graham quite likeable, and more than willing to help them in their schemes. In fact, Shirley found him so
nice that but we're
getting ahead of our story !
Crimson roses Page 21
