The Homesteader: A Novel

by Oscar Micheaux

  CHAPTER XII

  MRS. PRUITT EFFECTS A PLAN

  He had some friends who lived on Federal Street and to their home hedecided to go. He thought of the day when he had married. The man ran onthe road. His wife he had known long, her name being Mildred, MildredMerrill. She had been invited to his wedding but had not attended. Whenhe had seen her a year later, and had asked her why she had notattended, she replied that she had been unable to purchase a suitablewedding gift.

  Her parents had been lifelong friends of his parents, and he had beenprovoked because she stayed away. She and her husband had been quietlymarried in the court house and had since lived happily together.

  "Oh, Jean," Mildred cried, when the door opened and she saw his face."We have just been talking of you," as she swung the door wide for himto enter.

  "Mama," she called, "here is Jean Baptiste!" Her mother came hurriedlyforward, grasped his hand, and exchanged a meaning look with Mildred.

  "And you are back _again_," she said as all three became seated.

  "Yes," he said, and sighed.

  "It's awful," commented her mother.

  "Isn't it the truth, oh, my God, how can those people be so mean?" criedMildred.

  "He's in Chicago," said her mother.

  "Yes," said Mildred, "and I'll bet right over at Mrs. Pruitt's everyday."

  "He wouldn't be _likely_ to be home," commented her mother.

  "He returns as a rule along about midnight." The two laughed then, andregarded the man.

  "You ought to give her up, Jean," said Mildred. "A woman that has nomore will power than she has, isn't fit--isn't worth the grief you arespending."

  "Yes, Mildred, it does seem so, but she is my wife, and somehow I feelthat I should give her every chance."

  "The case _is_ unusual," commented her mother again. "The man has areputation for such actions--rather, he has been known to persecute, anddoes persecute the preachers that are under his dictation in the church.But that such would extend to the possible happiness of his ownchildren! Indeed, it hardly seems credible."

  "Vanity, mama. Reverend McCarthy is regarded as the most vain man in thechurch. Jean here has never flattered him--tickled his vanity, and thisis the price he's paying."

  "Well," said her mother. "Such as this _can't_ keep up. Some day he'sgoing to be called on to pay--and the debt will be large."

  "Understand that he aspires for the bishopric in the convention nextmonth," said Mildred.

  "Shucks!" exclaimed her mother. "That's all bluff. He seeks to grab offa little cheap notoriety around Chicago before he goes to conference.There is as much chance of his being even entered as a candidate for theoffice as there is of me."

  "That's what I think," from Mildred.

  "What are your plans, Jean?" her mother now inquired of Baptiste who satin a sort of stupor listening to their talk.

  "I am trying to get to see her without the old man's knowledge." And hetold them of his conversation with Mrs. Pruitt.

  "Isn't that a wife, now!" exclaimed Mildred. "Afraid to meet the man shehas married."

  "Orlean and old lady McCarthy have no voice in that house," said hermother. "First it's the Reverend, and then follows Ethel."

  "And it hardly seems credible when one knows how he has always flirtedwith other women," said Mildred.

  "I asked Orlean the last time I saw her," said Mildred again, "what wasthe matter; was Jean mean to her, or had he neglected her. She said: No,that he was just as good to her as he could be, but that she could notstay out in that wild country; that it would impair her health, and shejust couldn't stay out there, and that was all."

  "Reverend McCarthy," said her mother.

  "Of course. But that is one thing I have observed. They have never gother to lie as they have done, and say that he mistreated her." FromMildred.

  "It's to be regretted that she has not more will to stand up for whatshe knows to be right," said her mother.

  "You have taken it up with the right person, Jean," said Mildred. "Ifany one can help you in such a delicate undertaking, it is Mrs. Pruitt.She has more influence with that old rascal than his wife. In fact, hiswife, from what I hear, has no influence at all."

  "Well, Jean," said Mildred's mother, "you are to be admired for thepatience you have exercised with Orlean. The average man would haveknocked that old white headed rascal stiff and let Orlean go, and Idon't wonder that if I was a man that I wouldn't have done so myself."

  "If I were that weak, and could see things as I do now, I would want myhusband to shoot me. I'm getting out of patience with Orlean'sweakness," Mildred added.

  "Well," said Baptiste at this point, "it is now eleven, and I will callup Mrs. Pruitt to go ahead with certain plans that I have in view. Haveyou a 'phone?"

  "Just outside," said Mildred, and opened the door.

  He got Mrs. Pruitt directly, and again came back over the wire:

  "It's the wrong number!" But during the recent conversation he hadforgotten for the moment the "counter sign," and continued calling back.Frantically he heard again and again, "_The wrong number! You have thewrong number!_" Suddenly he caught on, and as suddenly hung up thereceiver with a jerk.

  He didn't go to the Keystone that night. He felt as though he wanted tobe near some friends. Accordingly he went to Miss Rankin's. She was gladto see him, and, like all his friends, knew his troubles, and welcomedhim.

  "You will awaken me early tomorrow--say, six o'clock?" he asked, andupon being assured she would, he went to bed.

  All the night through his sleep was fitful. He saw gorgeous processionsthat frightened him, and then again he was thrilled; but never did heseem to feel just right. Then he saw his enemy. He dreamed that he cameto him and kissed him; he heard him saying kind words, and saw his wifeby his side. They were back in the West and his wife was returning froma visit. He was aroused, and jumped to his feet. He looked at the clock,and the time was half past five. All the agony of the day before cameback with a rush, and he was overwhelmed. Thereupon he got him up, and,dressing quickly, hurried out of the house and caught a car to whereMrs. Pruitt lived on the west side, in the basement of an apartmentbuilding, of which her husband was janitor.

  He estimated that the other would go home during the night, and earlymorning would be the time to form some plan of action. It seemed a longway to the west side, and it was after seven when he arrived there.

  He was greeted by Mrs. Pruitt, and the expression upon her face did notdisappoint him.

  "Now, Jean," she said, "I have prepared you some breakfast, and you musteat first, for I'll wager that not a bite have you eaten since youtalked with me yesterday."

  "It is so, Mrs. Pruitt," said he, recalling then that eating had notoccurred to him for the last eighteen hours or more.

  "Well," said she, becoming seated, "_he_ left here at almost midnight,and I have been planning just what to do, that you may see Orlean. Icertainly should have little patience with a girl that has no moregumption than Orlean; but since I know that she gets it from her mother,who has not as much as a chicken, I have accepted the inevitable.

  "Now, to begin with. If I called up and had her come over here, he wouldcome with her, of course, and also maybe Ethel. And you know what thatwould mean. It is so unusual that such a thing could be, but that isReverend McCarthy. He has always been this way, and I could not changehim. You erred when you didn't flatter him. But that you did not have todo, and I don't blame you. He has done you dirty, and some day he'sgoing to pay for it. I wouldn't be surprised if he did not soon, either.He is a disturbed man, he is. Never has he been happy as he was beforehe brought that girl home. The crime he has committed is weighing onhim, and I wouldn't wonder if he wouldn't be glad to have Orlean go backwith you. The only thing is, that he has been associated with a hardheaded lot of Negro preachers so long, until his disposition isingrained. He actually _couldn't_ be as he should. He would let Orleango back to you, but he would determine on a lot of ceremony, andsomething else that you are ill fitt
ed to forego. So the best way, as Ican see, is for you to meet Orlean somewhere, and there reason it outwith her." She paused briefly then, and was thoughtful.

  "She loves you as her mother loves, in a simple, weak way; but what is alove like that worth! In truth, while I admire your courage, and desireto uphold the sacredness of the marriage vow, you ought to get a divorceand marry a girl with some will and force."

  "I realize so, Mrs. Pruitt, but I am determined to live with Orlean andprotect her if it is within my power."

  "I understand your convictions and sentiments, Jean, and admire you forit. If the world contained more men like you, the evil of divorce wouldlessen; but on the other hand, as long as it contains men like theReverend, and women like Orlean, there will always be ground fordivorce."

  "But every man should exhaust all that is in him for what he feels isright, shouldn't he, Mrs. Pruitt?" spoke Baptiste.

  "Of course," she said somewhat absently. She looked quickly at him then,and her eyes brightened with an inspiration.

  "By the way, Jean," she said. "You remember Mrs. Merley?"

  "Who? Blanche's mother?"

  "The same."

  "Most sure. Why?"

  "Well," said Mrs. Pruitt. "I have been thinking. She's a friend ofyours, a good friend, although you might not have known it."

  "It is news to me--that is, directly."

  "Well, she is, and has been very much wrought up over the Reverend'streatment of you."

  "Indeed!"

  "Yes, it is so. You see, moreover, she is a distant relation of Mrs.McCarthy's, and is fairly well-to-do."

  "So I have understood."

  "Yes, they are, and McCarthys sort of look up to them."

  "Yes?"

  "Mrs. Merley is independent, and hasn't much patience with the Elder."

  "So."

  "No, and for that reason he admires her."

  "Indeed."

  "Yes, and she was over there and sort a 'bawled' them out over what theywere doing. Understand that she just spat it in the Elder's face and hehad to take it."

  "Well?"

  "Yes. You see Blanche got married this last summer, and didn't quiteplease her mother."

  "Oh, is that so?"

  "Yes, Mary Merley is a friend of mine, and frankly she almost told methat she wished Blanche had married some one on your order.

  "Oh!...."

  "Yes, she did. And meant it! She admired your type, and I know she wouldhave been more fully pleased in such an event."

  He was silent.

  "Anyhow, I have planned that it will be through her that you and Orleanmay be brought together."

  He was attentive.

  "But before you go into it, my request is that my name shall be leftout."

  His eyes asked a question that she answered.

  "It is so. While Mary is a friend of mine, she has certain habits that Idon't like."

  He regarded her more questioningly.

  "I will say no more."

  His face blanched, and then his mind went back two years. Orlean hadmade just such a remark. He was sorry.

  "So I don't want you to mention me, since it would do no good."

  "I understand."

  "I want her to have the credit for whatever success might come of this."

  "Yes."

  "And my plans are that you go over there, and see her?"

  "Yes."

  "Jolly her a little, and don't let on that you are aware that sheadmires you."

  "Very well."

  "Get her to call Orlean up, and suggest a show."

  "I get you."

  "And there you are."

  "Your plan is simple, but practical," and he smiled upon her thankfully.

  He was standing now. He held out his hand. She grasped it, and bendingforward, kissed him.

  "Be careful, Jean," she said. "And don't do anything rash."

  When he went his way, he understood.