A Life Worth Living

by Irene Brand

  If Allen loved her, and she suspected that he did, he wouldn’t ask her to marry him, not only because of the difference in their family background and wealth, but also because she didn’t share his Christian faith. Rather than criticizing him for being stubborn, she was actually proud of him because he placed his convictions above all else.

  After they’d returned to New York, she’d borrowed Maude’s Bible. She didn’t understand much of what she read, but with the woman’s help, she’d found the verse that Allen had quoted. “ ‘Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers.’ ”

  When she’d asked Maude what that verse meant, the maid favored her with a surprised facial expression before answering, “I’m not a Bible scholar, miss, but I believe it means that people ought to marry somebody who has the same religion they have. My folks were both Methodists, and they got along fine. I’m not suggesting that other religions are wrong, mind you, but it works better for man and wife to believe the same.”

  “But what if one partner has no religion at all, and the other one is a committed Christian? Would they have a good marriage?”

  “Those marriages sometimes turn out very well, but many dedicated believers won’t marry an unbeliever.”

  Dora asked no more questions, but she’d been dis-gruntled the rest of the day. Why was she fretting over the situation anyway? There wasn’t anything romantic between her and Allen, and she knew him well enough to wonder if there ever would be. Despite her feelings for him, she knew their backgrounds were too different for any future together. The thought made her irritable most of the time, and she had no interest in seeing anyone.

  For instance, Lester Holdredge had been stopping by for visits. Lester and his wife, Matilda, had been friends of the family for several years, and Lester had been foot-loose since Matilda had died the previous year. He was a retired schoolteacher, and Dora had encouraged him to do some substitute work just to pass the time, but he was still lonely. She felt sorry for the man, and since he lived in the same apartment building, he stopped by to see her almost every day. He had never proposed to her, but he had given several indications that he would be interested in marrying again, should the opportunity arise.

  He had stopped by this morning for an unannounced visit, and he had been boring Dora for an hour as he discussed all of his achievements. She knew he wasn’t exaggerating, but she’d heard all of it before. So if Lester thought she was impressed by his achievements and was about ready to propose, he was in for a rude awakening. While he talked, in her thoughts she compared him to Allen, knowing that Lester didn’t have a chance for a positive answer to a proposal if he ever got up his nerve to ask her.

  ❧

  Allen had never trusted Ted Morgan, who’d been hired a few months before the sale of the mill and retained by Mr. Porter when Allen refused to become the new manager, although he didn’t have a reason for his distrust. As far as Allen could tell, the man had performed his work adequately until the news arrived that ownership of the mill had passed to Dora. Morgan sent word to Allen that he had some carpentry work for him to do at the mill. Allen completed building a barn for his neighbor before he went to the textile mill to see what Morgan wanted.

  He was curious and somewhat surprised when Morgan explained that he wanted Allen to build an office for him across the street from the mill. The manager had even drawn a sketch of how he wanted the building completed. To follow Morgan’s plans would entail quite a sum of money, so after the man explained what he wanted done, Allen commented, “I assume that you’ve discussed this project with the owner and that she approves of the construction.”

  Morgan frowned. “I’m the manager of this mill. I make the decisions of what needs to be done.”

  With a shrug, Allen said, “You have that right, but I’m not building anything unless the owner tells me to.”

  “Then I’ll get another carpenter,” Morgan said angrily.

  “Suits me,” Allen said and walked out the door, thinking that the absentee owner had better put in an appearance, or Morgan would steal her blind.

  Allen was a firm believer in not involving himself in other people’s affairs. He’d made it plain to Dora that he wouldn’t manage the business for her, but he knew she considered him a friend. Was it right for him to do nothing while Ted Morgan mishandled the textile mill’s funds and stole her inheritance? Dora had asked him to notify her if anything went wrong, but he hadn’t promised he would. Still, should he stand aside and watch the downfall of an industry that was the lifeline of Fairfield? He had not only Dora’s interest at heart, but also concern for his friends and neighbors who would lose their livelihoods if the mill closed. He spent one whole evening writing a letter trying to explain to Dora what would probably happen to the mill if Morgan continued to manage it. He tore up several copies of the letter before he threw his pen aside. He wasn’t any good at putting his thoughts on paper.

  Since Dora had told him to contact her if she needed to return to Fairfield, he knew she should know what was going on. Without attempting to understand his decision, a few days later, leaving Timothy to look after the farm, Allen went into Asheville and bought new clothes and caught the local train to Richmond with New York City as his ultimate destination. Three days later when he arrived at Grand Central Station in New York, he sat on one of the benches in the station and gave serious consideration to his reason for coming. He was half tempted to catch a train back to North Carolina without letting Dora know he’d come to the city. Although she was friendly enough in Fairfield, she might be ashamed to have him show up at her New York apartment. Even with his new clothes—perhaps because of them—he still looked like a country hick, and he figured he’d be an embarrassment to her.

  He bought a meal in one of the station’s restaurants, amazed at the cost and wondering if his money would last until he returned to Fairfield. Fortunately, he’d bought a round-trip ticket. At a newspaper stand he inquired about the distance to Dora’s apartment, gratified to learn that it was in walking distance.

  When he reached the apartment building, he checked his suitcase with the doorman and took the elevator to the eighth floor. He stood outside her door for a few minutes before he had the courage to knock. For all he knew, she might be on a tour of Europe or traveling in the United States, and he would have made the trip for nothing. He heard footsteps approaching and didn’t realize he was holding his breath until a woman he’d never seen opened the door. At first he thought he must have the wrong apartment, but noting that the woman wore a navy blue uniform, he assumed she was a servant.

  “I’m looking for Dora Porter. Do I have the right apartment?”

  The maid looked him over from head to toe before she said, “Do you have a calling card?”

  Realizing more than ever that he was a fish out of water, Allen shook his head. He didn’t even know what a calling card was.

  “Just a moment, please.”

  The woman didn’t invite him in and started to close the door when he heard soft footsteps approaching and Dora’s voice saying, “Who is it?”

  She reached the door, and for a moment a stunned expression covered her face before she gave a tiny squeal, pushed past the maid, and threw her arms around him.

  “Oh Allen,” she said. “I’ve missed seeing you.”

  Momentarily speechless, Allen stood like a man turned to stone before his emotions surfaced and he drew her into a tight embrace.

  “I almost turned back before I rang the bell,” he mur-mured, “not knowing whether you’d want to see me, but it can’t get much better than this. I believe you’re happy to see me, so that’s worth the long trip up here.”

  Allen glanced at the maid and almost laughed at her scandalized expression. She shrugged her shoulders and walked away.

  “Oh Allen,” Dora murmured. “I am happy to see you. Come on in. I’m not conceited enough to believe that you came all the way t
o New York just to see me, so I suppose there’s trouble at the mill. Just let me get used to the fact that you’re really here before you unload any bad news.”

  He knew now that he had missed her and had come to New York primarily to see Dora, although he couldn’t admit it to her. He’d not wanted to love Dora, but there wasn’t any doubt in his mind now that he did love her and that he’d made the long trip to see her more than to warn her about problems at the mill. He could have sent that warning by letter. Why was he so foolish to love a woman who was as far out of his reach as the sun and the moon? Well, he was here now, so he might as well enjoy a taste of paradise for a few days.

  ❧

  With her arm around his waist, Dora led Allen into the living room, where Lester Holdredge was still sitting. She’d forgotten all about the man, and she wondered how she could explain his presence to Allen and vice versa. From where he sat, Lester could have seen her embrace Allen.

  She felt her face flushing and, fearful that she had a guilty look, she took Allen’s hand and drew him into the room. “Let me introduce you to Lester Holdredge, a friend of the family. Lester, this is my friend, Allen Bolden, who is looking after the affairs of the family’s textile mill in North Carolina.”

  “I can come back later,” Allen said.

  “Oh no,” Dora said.

  Standing, Lester shook hands with Allen. “That isn’t necessary. I was just preparing to leave.”

  Dora walked to the door with him, trying not to show how eager she was for him to leave. Why had Allen come to New York? Whatever the reason, she was delighted to see him.

  ❧

  Allen stood at the wide window overlooking the park, Dora at his side. He’d always known that his world and Dora’s were eons apart, but if he’d needed more proof, the location of this apartment made it evident. Even in the mountains, he’d heard of Central Park and the expensive dwellings and businesses around the area.

  He heard footsteps behind them, and Dora turned. Maude had entered the room with a tray and greeted Allen graciously before she set several items on a long table in front of the davenport. “It’s good to have you visit, Mr. Bolden. Do you want me to pour?”

  “No thanks,” Dora said. “I’ll take care of it.”

  “Ring if you need anything else.”

  Dora sat on the davenport and invited Allen to sit with her.

  “I’m not hungry,” he said. “I ate at the train station.”

  “Regardless, you can drink another cup of coffee or tea and eat a cinnamon roll while you tell me why you’re here. As I said, you couldn’t have made the trip just to see me. Is there something wrong at the mill?”

  Allen smiled. “As far as I know, everything inside the mill is all right. It’s Ted Morgan. Maybe I just have a suspicious mind, but your manager is building himself an office. He’s also driving a new buggy pulled by a team of thoroughbred horses, which I have an idea he bought with your money. If you approve of that, all right, but I’m sure your father wouldn’t.”

  “It’s your fault,” she said, a stubborn expression on her face. It amused him to some extent—they hadn’t been together fifteen minutes, and already they were disagreeing.

  “My fault!” he said.

  “Yes, your fault!” she answered. “If you’d taken over management of the mill as I wanted you to, there wouldn’t have been any problem.”

  “If you’d move to North Carolina like you ought to,” he retorted, “there wouldn’t be any trouble. With your intelligence and your riches, you could make that textile mill one of the best in the whole country.”

  “You still don’t understand, do you?” She stood and walked to the window again. With a sweep of her hand, she asked, “After you’ve seen all of this, can’t you realize what I’d be giving up to move to North Carolina?”

  “Of course I can,” Allen said and followed her to the window. His legs were still stiff from sitting for hours on the long train ride, and he wanted to stand.

  “You’d be leaving the noise, smoke, and crowded streets where people don’t even look at each other as they’re hurrying from one place to the other. If you’d leave this behind, you’d be gaining a view of the mountains, fresh air, and the opportunity to turn the Fairfield Textile Mill into a business that would not only be profitable for your employees, but also to you. You’d have neighbors and friends who would have your best interest at heart and would help you in any way necessary.”

  Dora sniffed. “And I suppose you think that would compensate for giving up the lifestyle I’ve had since childhood. It doesn’t matter to me whether I inherit his fortune or not. My grandmother left me plenty of money, but I don’t want Father to give his wealth to a cousin I don’t even like.”

  “I believe your father is testing you. It’s your choice, of course, and if you want to continue to be an absentee landlord, so be it. I thought it was only right for me to warn you that, if the present trend continues, Ted Morgan will probably steal you blind and maybe ruin the business in the process. I normally don’t meddle in other people’s affairs, but you’re my friend, and I couldn’t get it out of my mind to tell you. I’ve done that now, so I’ll head back to North Carolina.”

  He turned toward the door, and she jerked on his coattail.

  “You’ll do no such thing,” she said, an annoyed expression on her face. “When I’ve missed you for weeks, the least you can do is stay a day or two. At least stay long enough to see some of New York so you will realize how my life would change if I commit to spending the rest of my life in North Carolina. And if you’ve come bearing any more bad news, wait until you’re ready to go home to tell me.”

  “I’ll stay one night,” Allen agreed. “Then I’ll head south. I can’t afford to stay in this city very long.”

  “If you’ll be reasonable, it won’t cost you anything except your train fare. We have an apartment on the floor below, which Father keeps for visiting business associates. You can stay there free of charge, and I’d like for you to take your meals with me. It’s lonely eating alone. Consider it a return for all the things you did for me when I was in North Carolina.”

  “All right, I’ll accept your hospitality for one night. Now I want to know what you plan to do with the mill. It’s none of my business, but you asked me to alert you to any problems. Morgan is a problem.”

  “What is he doing or not doing? Do you think he’ll steal from me?”

  “Now, Dora, you know me well enough to realize that I won’t speculate on what might happen. At this point, I don’t know that Morgan is dishonest, but he is greedy. I suspect he’s purchasing things, like that new buggy, for his own benefit. He may have paid for the buggy with his own money, but I doubt it.”

  “I certainly didn’t authorize a new buggy for him.”

  “I could be wrong, but someone hinted to me that he used company money to buy it. He’s also sped up production, and since he’s being paid a percentage of the mill’s income, he’s increased the workload of the mill hands to make more money. They were already working long hours, and they’re mad about it. Besides that, he’s slow in authorizing necessary repairs to the company houses. For instance, part of the roof blew off the house where Kitty lives. He hasn’t ordered a repair order yet.”

  “Isn’t that the little crippled girl?”

  Allen nodded.

  “She’s been on my mind a lot. Father has a good friend who’s a surgeon here in the city. I’m sure he could easily repair the damage in her leg. I’d pay for it.”

  He nodded in agreement. “That’s the type of thing you should do for your workers and their families. Their homes need repair, and most of the managers haven’t been in any hurry to order the work done. It would be easy for you to sit here in luxury and not have any idea of the needs of your employees. My conscience wouldn’t let me rest until you knew what the situation is, so rather than writing a lett
er, I decided to notify you personally. But I’ve meddled all I intend to. I’ve told you about the situation—that’s all I can do. You’ll have to take it from here. I may be wrong, but I still believe that if you continue to leave everything in Morgan’s control, he’ll bankrupt you.”

  “I wouldn’t like that,” Dora agreed. “And I can already hear my father’s reaction. I can’t make decisions about the mill on the spur of the moment, though. If you’re going to leave tomorrow, let’s take a look at New York this afternoon. We’ll hire a carriage.”

  seven

  After they’d traveled through the palatial districts of the city, which Allen admitted were quite impressive, he said to the driver, “Buddy, let’s take a look at the other face of New York. How about going down to the waterfront and to the ghettos? I’ve read the photo documentary How the Other Half Lives published by Jacob Riis. I’d like to see if his facts were true.”

  “I don’t own this rig, and I ain’t allowed to go certain places that you probably want to see,” the driver said. “But I can take you to some areas where you’ll get your eyes full.”

  Thanks to the driver, Allen had a tour of part of the sprawling city of New York. After an hour, he had seen enough to know that the reports he’d heard of the pressures caused by industrialization, sprawling urban cities, violent labor uprisings, economic depression, and fears of the middle classes in the cities were all true. He’d also witnessed firsthand the difference between his upbringing and Dora’s—seen enough to realize that if he’d ever harbored dreams that he and Dora could share a life, it was a false hope. He noticed more than one building that had the name Porter on it, and it was beyond his comprehension to understand how any one man could have so much money.