Ruse

by Murray, Tamela Hancock

  Later, Miranda sang her aria without missing a note. Otis delivered a performance on the piano that expressed the emotion of the music in a flawless fashion. The conclusion of their number was greeted by applause so great that Katherine thought the building might burst.

  She felt nervous now that their turn was nigh, but Katherine knew that singing to God’s glory took first place. The money raised from the sales of tickets was to be donated to a nearby orphanage in the name of the church and of Jesus Christ. How much more glory and honor could there be?

  Mr. Perkins rose from his seat and took center stage, as he did between each act. He clapped along with the audience until their applause ceased. Mr. Perkins then launched into his introduction. “And now, ladies and gentlemen, we come to our last act for this evening. Miss Katherine Jones and Mr. Christopher Bagley will be performing a medley of song for our entertainment and enjoyment. Please give them a warm welcome!” He clapped, and the audience followed suit.

  Katherine felt self-conscious as she took to the stage. She almost wished she hadn’t worn her conspicuous mint green dress. She glanced at Christopher, who stood straight, gazing upon the audience as though they were in for a great treat.

  She suppressed a smile. Christopher really was a performer!

  She scooted onto the piano bench and unfolded her sheet of music.

  “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen,” Christopher said. “Tonight it is my distinct pleasure to perform a popular melody known as ‘The Blue and the Gray’ or ‘A Mother’s Gift to Her Country’ written by Paul Dresser.”

  Christopher nodded to let Katherine know he was ready to begin singing. She played a brief introduction. He sang in a perfect baritone, hitting every note with precision:

  “A mother’s gift

  To her country’s cause

  Is a story yet untold.

  She had three sons,

  Three only sons,

  Each worth his weight in gold.

  She gave them up

  For the sake of war,

  While her heart was filled with pain.

  As each went away,

  She was heard to say,

  He will never return again.

  “One lies down near Appomattox,

  Many miles away.

  Another sleeps at Chickamauga

  And they both wore suits of gray.

  ’Mid the strains of ‘Down to Dixie’

  The third was laid away

  In a trench at Santiago.

  The Blue and the Gray.

  “She’s alone tonight,

  While the stars shine bright,

  With a heart full of despair.

  On the last great day

  I can hear her say,

  My three boys will be there.

  Perhaps they’ll wait

  At the heav’nly gates,

  On guard beside their guns.

  Then the mother true,

  To the gray and blue,

  May enter with her sons.”

  Katherine could hear a few sobs and sniffles from the audience as she played, but she dared not look up lest she miss a note. Moments later as she took her bow, Katherine couldn’t see a woman in the house who could boast a dry eye. Mrs. Watkins shook with sobs. Mr. Boyd blew his nose with a hearty snort into a red bandana. Katherine wasn’t surprised. The citizens of the region had been greatly impacted by the War Between the States and the recent conflict in Cuba.

  Christopher sent Katherine a slight nod, prompting her to play the first chords of “Dixie.” Without a moment’s hesitation, the crowd stood in respect to the anthem of the Confederacy. By the time he had completed the last chorus, all the men seemed to be holding back tears. Everyone seemed to remember the losses, the bravery, the horrible realities of war. Hitting the last note, Katherine knew that no matter what the outcome, they could not have performed better that evening.

  But victory didn’t matter. Her reward was Christopher’s smile. He motioned for her to join him by his side. Katherine curtsied; then he took a bow. Applause resounded in wave after wave. Katherine eyed the judges conferring. As she and Christopher returned to their seats, she knew the decision would soon be announced.

  As the judges continued in their deliberations, each person who participated in the show was invited by Mrs. Watkins and Mr. Perkins to go back up front and take bows to fresh rounds of recognition for their hard work and valiant efforts.

  Katherine eyed her parents sitting near the back, dressed in their Sunday best. They sat near Mr. and Mrs. Bagley, dressed in their Sunday finery as well. All four parents clapped as though they’d seen a professional production in New York instead of their own children performing in the little church they’d visited weekly their whole lives. Then again, maybe pride in their own children and the fact that Christopher and Katherine had performed well before people who cared about them all was the reason for the older people’s enthusiasm. Certainly Christopher and Katherine’s act was more meaningful to their parents than any big production staged by strangers would have been.

  Katherine eyed Christopher’s grandfather sitting as far up front as he could, right behind the performers. He looked younger than his years in his Sunday suit, and he wore a yellow rose in his buttonhole. No doubt he had plucked the special bloom himself from Mrs. Bagley’s flower garden. She let out a giggle as the elderly gentleman, a veteran of the War Between the States, filled the room with the noise of a shrill and approving whistle.

  Mr. Perkins nodded for all to return to their seats and then took the white envelope from the nearest judge. With an exaggerated gesture, he polished the lenses of his reading spectacles. The audience watched as though the action were the most fascinating thing one could ever witness. After he positioned his glasses in their proper position on his thin nose, he extracted a silver letter opener from his vest pocket. He sliced open the missive with a careful gesture. Clearly relishing his role as announcer, he placed the opener back in his pocket and with a flourish extracted a piece of white paper from the envelope. When Mr. Perkins looked over the results, Katherine thought he might make the announcement then. She held her breath.

  Instead, he folded the paper, held it in his hand, and spoke to the audience. “I am happy to announce that there are no ties for any of the positions. The judges have reached decisive verdicts on all counts.” He grinned at the judges, and they nodded. “First of all, let me say that everyone here tonight is a winner. I think we as their audience have demonstrated our appreciation and sentiments by our vigorous applause.”

  “Hear, hear!” a man shouted, amid a chorus of new praise.

  Mr. Perkins nodded as a signal for the audience to quiet themselves. “Now to announce the winner of our honorable-mention ribbon.”

  Whispers of speculation could be heard rippling across the audience.

  He paused and then looked over the performers sitting in the front part of the audience. “Honorable mention goes to Miss Betsy Jones for her marvelous dance!”

  The audience clapped in approval. Betsy pouted with disappointment at coming in so far from first place but saw Mother’s chastening look and quickly formed her lips into a winning smile. She took her ribbon with a curtsy and returned to her seat.

  “Very fine. Very fine.” He cleared his throat. “And moving right along now, our fourth-place winner is—Mr. Jim Bob Boyd and his amazing unicycle!”

  Jim Bob sauntered up to accept the ribbon. The semi-frown he wore demonstrated his lack of enthusiasm for his prize. Nevertheless, he nodded toward the audience and mumbled thanks to them and to the judges before he returned to his seat.

  “Thank you, Jim Bob, for a fine performance.” Mr. Perkins cleared his throat. “And now for our third-place winner. The yellow ribbon is awarded to a vocal performance.”

  Katherine took in a breath and prepared to go up to the stage to accept the ribbon. With such fierce competition, she and Christopher were lucky to be recognized with a ribbon at all. And a yellow ribbon would look
nice in her room, reminding her of a successful evening.

  She sent Christopher a little smile, which he returned. He shifted in his seat. Surely he had come to the same conclusion as she and was preparing to accept his ribbon.

  “And the yellow ribbon is awarded to—Miss Miranda Henderson for her rendition of ‘Havanaise’ from the first act of the opera Carmen!”

  It took Katherine a moment to recover from the surprise announcement. She settled back in her seat and clapped, stunned. She watched Otis and Miranda rise and stride toward Mr. Perkins to accept the ribbon.

  After they arrived upon the stage, Mr. Perkins presented the prize to Miranda as Otis remained positioned beside, yet still slightly behind, her. Composed as always, Miranda curved her mouth into a pleasing expression that would have led the casual observer to believe she had been awarded the first-place trophy and ribbon. Though pleasant, Otis’s grin looked tighter and more constrained than Miranda’s. Katherine knew him well enough to realize he was doing his best to conceal disappointment.

  Both Miranda and Otis emitted a hearty round of thanks to the audience and to the judges before taking their seats. Katherine had a chance to whisper congratulations to the couple before Mr. Perkins resumed making the announcements.

  Katherine relaxed. Since Miranda and Otis placed so low, there was no chance she and Christopher would be recognized. She could enjoy vicarious victory for a friend instead. The pressure was off.

  “We’re getting closer and closer to announcing the evening’s winner, folks!” Mr. Perkins teased.

  Katherine refrained from shaking her head. Any other day of the week, Mr. Perkins seemed to revel in his reputation as a grouch. Tonight, he clearly enjoyed playing the part of the jolly announcer. “I must say, I am in wholehearted agreement with this next decision. Our next winner deserves the bag of penny candy from Dooley’s Dry Goods Store and her big red ribbon.”

  Speculative whispers filled the room.

  Mr. Perkins continued. “Who can forget such a sweet rendition of the art of ballet? May I see little Miss Mary Lou Evans?”

  Mary Lou giggled and bounded up to the stage. Mr. Perkins held out both the red ribbon and the sack of candy to the little girl. She ignored the ribbon and grabbed the candy.

  Amid chuckles and “Ahs” from the audience, she pulled on the string, trying to open the bag. Her mother rushed up to retrieve the little girl, the candy, and the ribbon. Mrs. Evans smiled and instructed Mary Lou to thank everyone, which she did in prompt obedience. The pair exited the stage amid laughter and new applause.

  “She certainly deserves that big bag of candy, doesn’t she, folks?” Mr. Perkins prodded.

  More chuckles and applause ensued.

  Mr. Perkins gazed over the audience and sent them his broadest smile. “And now for the big moment, folks. The award of the blue ribbon and this lovely engraved trophy.” He studied the engraving on the silver loving cup and read, “In Recognition for the Finest Performance of 1901, Blessed Assurance Church Talent Show, Organized by the Ladies Missionary Society in Support of the Kent County Alms House, First Prize for a Talent Performance.”

  The audience applauded.

  “This seems like a fine moment to thank the Ladies’ Missionary Society for staging an evening of superb entertainment for us all. Ladies, will you please stand?”

  Mrs. Watkins and the rest of her contingent stood and accepted their accolades.

  After the clapping died down, Mr. Perkins looked inside the cup. “And not only will the first place winners have this lovely cup to keep forever, but in appreciation for the efforts of the grand-prize winners, the Hagerstown Inn has included a voucher for two fine dinners!”

  He paused, and on cue, everyone applauded.

  “Now, is everyone ready to hear who will be our grand-prize winners for this evening?”

  Shouts of yes filled the room.

  “Then don’t let me keep you waiting any longer.” He took in a breath. “I am pleased to say that this fine prize goes to Mr. Christopher Bagley for his fine performance of ‘The Blue and the Gray’ and ‘Dixie’!”

  As even more applause thundered, Katherine gasped. She knew Christopher had outdone himself, and she hadn’t made any mistakes in her accompaniment. Yet she had no idea he would walk away with the prize.

  “Now that we have those dinner vouchers, we have an excuse for a night out.” Christopher winked.

  Katherine moved aside so he could receive his award, but he took her hand, insisting that she receive the award along with him.

  After they took to the stage and bowed before the audience, Katherine noted that even Otis and Miranda appeared to be pleased with the outcome of the contest. When Mary Lou waved to them, a red, sugarcoated gumdrop was pinched between her forefinger and thumb.

  Thirteen

  The night air felt refreshing against Katherine’s face as she and Christopher made their way to the buggy after the show. Stars winked at them from a cloudless sky.

  “Were you surprised we won?” she ventured as the buggy pulled out of the church lot.

  “A little. I didn’t think I was the best singer there tonight.”

  “I thought you were. If anything, my poor accompaniment dragged you down.”

  “Now I know you’re fishing for compliments since everyone around thinks you’re marvelous at the piano.”

  She giggled. “Okay, maybe I wouldn’t mind the occasional compliment. Is that so bad?”

  “I suppose not.” His sigh was one of contentment. “This night can’t get much better.”

  “Yes, this time has certainly been one filled to the brim with excitement. Probably more excitement than I’ve seen in my lifetime.”

  “Maybe things will slow down and get back to normal soon.”

  “I hope so. I think.” Katherine grinned.

  They approached the turnoff to the Sharpes’ farm. “Do you think we should stop by and see how Alice is doing?”

  Katherine hesitated. “I doubt the baby has had time to arrive yet.” She looked longingly at the house.

  “Come on, Sadie. Giddup, General Lee,” Christopher clicked his tongue and pulled the reins to instruct the horses to turn left.

  “I can’t believe you’re doing this.”

  “I know you can’t stand the suspense. Besides, if the baby hasn’t been born yet, we’ll just go on home,” he said. “Alice won’t know we’ve been by, but I’m sure Vera will be glad we stopped in to check on the family.”

  “I’m sure Elmer is nervous, too,” Katherine observed. “After tonight, he’ll be a father.”

  Moments later they pulled in front of the house. Katherine jumped off the buggy, holding the loving cup all the while.

  A ragged-looking Vera answered their knock on the back door.

  “Uh, oh. It looks like you’re still in the middle of everything,” Katherine observed. “I guess we shouldn’t have stopped by this late. Tell Alice I’m sorry we disturbed all of you.”

  Vera waved them into the kitchen, shaking her head. “You’re not bothering us. The baby arrived just minutes ago.” She kept her voice low.

  “That’s wonderful!” Katherine gasped. “Tell us! Is it a boy or girl?”

  “It’s a boy.” Vera beamed. “They named him Paul Victor.”

  “Small victory?” Christopher asked only half jokingly.

  Katherine thought for a moment. “That’s right. Small is the meaning of the apostle’s name.”

  “I hadn’t thought of that, and I’m not sure Alice did, either.” Vera’s facial expression looked thoughtful.

  “I’m sure throughout his life he’ll enjoy triumphs both large and small,” Christopher remarked.

  “Aw, what a sweet thought.” Katherine smiled.

  “I think I’ll share that with Alice,” Vera said. “Once she wakes up, that is.”

  “Speaking of sleep, we’d better let the proud new aunt get some shut-eye.” Katherine tugged on Christopher’s sleeve. “Let’s go.”


  “You’ll do no such thing!” Vera stopped them with her voice.

  “Huh?” Christopher asked.

  “Not without telling me about that trophy.”

  “Oh. This.” Katherine had been so involved with the conversation that she had forgotten she was holding a rather cumbersome prize.

  “You won, I see.” Vera beamed.

  Katherine nodded.

  “You don’t seem too happy.”

  “Oh, we are,” Katherine assured her. “You know something? Winning a prize seemed so monumental only moments ago, but in light of a new birth, a talent show seems inconsequential.”

  “Inconsequential or not, I am so sorry I left you out in the cold at the last minute,” Vera apologized. “But obviously, you didn’t need me.”

  “Yes, we did need you. But we both realize your absence couldn’t be helped,” Christopher said.

  “That’s right. We both wish you could have been there. You worked just as hard as the rest of us.”

  “So tell me all the details.” Vera became breathless with anticipation.

  “First of all, Mrs. Watkins greeted us at the door with a terrible surprise,” Katherine explained.

  “Oh?”

  “Otis was snatched out from under us.”

  “Well, not exactly snatched.” Christopher told Vera the story.

  “I can’t say that I blame Otis,” Katherine admitted. “Miranda would have been all alone without him.”

  “True,” Vera said. “Oh, I feel so terrible. Even worse now.”

  “Silly goose! Would you have me blame little Paul for putting us through so much trouble?” Katherine joked.

  “So tell me who else won.”

  Katherine decided to have a little fun by dragging out the anticipation. “Betsy won honorable mention.”

  “Good for her!”

  “She was a little disappointed, I have to admit.”

  “There’s always next year,” Vera said.

  “That’s what I told her,” Christopher said.