The Homesteader: A Novel

by Oscar Micheaux

  CHAPTER XIII

  MRS. MERLEY

  The April morn shone beautifully over Chicago, when Jean Baptiste camefrom the basement of the apartment where Mrs. Pruitt lived, and had badeGodspeed to him. It was election day over all the state, a preferentialprimary for the purpose of choosing delegates to the G.O.P. conventionto be held two months later. And when Jean Baptiste thought of it, heunderstood what had brought the Reverend to the city.

  Baptiste arrived at Mrs. Merley's an hour after he left Mrs. Pruitt,went directly to the number and pulled the bell. It was responded to bya young woman he did not know, but she assured him that the one hesought was in, and after seating him in the parlor, hurried to tell Mrs.Merley.

  She came at once all joy and gladness, and greeted him with a shake ofboth hands, and kissed him into the bargain.

  "Sit right down, sit right down," she said profusely. "And, oh, my, howglad I am to see you!" she smiled upon him happily, proving how glad shereally was, and he was moved.

  "And you came to see me," she continued. "You could have called on noone who would have been more delighted to see you!"

  "You do me too much honor, Mrs. Merley," said he gratefully.

  "Indeed," she returned. "I could not do you enough."

  "I hadn't hoped for so much kindness, I am sure."

  "But, Jean, you don't know how much I have thought about you in the lasttwo years, and I have longed to talk with you!"

  "Oh, really! But I thought I was forgotten by everybody in Chicago."

  "You have never been forgotten by us. And especially have we talked ofyou in this last year...."

  He was silent, though he felt he understood her reference.

  "Some dirty sinner ought to be in torment!"

  And still he did not speak.

  "Oh, I know all that has been done to you, Jean," she went on tenderly.

  "Your words give me much relief, Mrs. Merley."

  "I wish they could give you more. It is my wish that an opportunitycould be given me to help you."

  He straightened. Now was the time to state his mission. But she wasspeaking again:

  "I spoke my sentiments to his face, the rascal! All his dirty life hasbeen given to making people miserable, wherever he could."

  Jean said nothing, but was listening nevertheless.

  "He has been a rascal for thirty-five years, and has made that simplecousin of mine he married, the goat." She paused to get her breath. "Isaw Orlean not long ago, and asked her where her will was, or if she hadany."

  He was attentive. Always he liked to hear her.

  "She, of course, tried to stand up for that arch hypocrite. But I waivedthat aside. Said I to her: 'Orlean, I could never believe you if yousaid Jean Baptiste abused, mistreated or neglected you.' She looked downwhen I had spoken and then said evenly. 'No, Jean did not do any ofthose things,' 'Then,' said I. 'Why do you live apart from him, the manyou married? Where is your sense of duty?' 'But, Mrs. Merley,' she triedto protest. 'I just couldn't live out there in that wilderness, it wastoo lonesome,' 'Oh, Orlean,' I said disgustingly, 'do you expect me tobelieve that? And if even I believed you, how could I respect you?'

  "But that is it, Jean. Here is this family posing as among the bestNegro families in Chicago, but with no more regard for what is morallyright than the worst thief. Indeed, no thief would do what that man isdoing."

  He mumbled something inaudible. She was out to talk, so he heard her on:

  "I understand the whole line up, and their vain shielding of that oldrascal, just because you didn't lie to him and become a hypocrite likehe himself is. Everybody near him must bow to him and tell him he isgreat, else he will use what influence is his to 'get even.' So that'sthe whole output. He took her away from you because he raised her as hehas willed my cousin, his wife, to subserve to him. And now he goesaround here with all that dirty affected piety and wants people tosympathize with him in his evil." She paused again for breath, and thenhe spoke:

  "I am glad to know you have taken the view of this you have, Mrs.Merley," he said slowly, "And I am wondering therefore, whether youwould be willing to help me in a certain Christian cause."

  "Why, Jean! Why ask me? You must know that I would help you in any way Icould."

  He then told her just what he had planned. She interrupted him at timeswith little bursts of enthusiasm, and there was no hesitancy on herpart.

  "Anything, Jean, anything! You don't know how anxious I am, and howglad I am to have the opportunity! The only thing I regret is that youever married such a weakling. You might have heard that Blanche ismarried?"

  "I have," he replied. "I trust she is happy."

  "Well," said the other slowly, "she appears to be, withal. And for thatreason I suppose I should be thankful. But she did not quite please mein her selection."

  "Oh," he echoed.

  "No," she said slowly, and as if she felt the disappointment keenly."She did not. Her husband, it is true, is good to her, but he did notcome up to my hope. Yet, and it is singular," she said thoughtfully, "tothink that a man with all you possess financially, and mentally, shouldget 'in' as you have." She paused again a little embarrassed, and thenpursued:

  "I wish Blanche had a husband of your disposition and attainments."

  "Blanche, I thought, was a sweet girl," he said reflectively.

  "And a good girl," said Mrs. Merley. "I would have given anything tohave had her marry a promising young farmer of your order, and be nowliving in the West."

  "I love the West, and had hoped others would be loving it too," he saidruefully.

  "He came back here after his first visit, and sitting right where youare now, said that you was one of the race's most progressive young men.He added to this everywhere he had half a chance and eulogized you tothe highest. It happened that the minister who married you, was here,and he, too, very much admired you, and voiced the same to the Reverend.That old devil just swelled up like a big frog with vanity. Three monthslater he comes back here, and, to seek to justify his action, hespreads the town with lies that nobody believes."

  The other shifted his position.

  "Well, Jean," she said now more soberly, "just what shall I do?"

  "If you would not mind--"

  "Oh, don't say that!"

  "Very well, Mrs. Merley. I would like you to call her up and suggest amatinee."

  "Why not just go to one?"

  "That would please me if you would condescend?"

  "I'd be glad to go, and in view of the circumstances, I think it wouldbe a suggestive idea. Let her get used to your presence again, withoutcoming directly to the point at once."

  "A capital idea, I agree!"

  "Call her up and ask her to come over and go with you to the matinee."

  "That is the plan, and I understand."

  "I will appreciate your kindness," said he heartily. She arose then andadvancing toward him, embraced him impulsively.

  Thereupon she went to the telephone, and succeeded in getting his wifeon the wire. He heard her answer the call, and laugh over somethinghumorous Mrs. Merley said. His heart beat faster, and he was consciousthat he was more hopeful than he had been for a long time.

  "Yes...." Mrs. Merley was saying. "I want you to go with me to amatinee.... Be here at one forty-five.... Yes, I have the tickets....And you'll not be late."

  She was standing before him again, and her face was lighted up with thejoy of what she had accomplished. He was grateful, and rose to thankher, whereupon she embraced him again. The next moment she went quicklyup the stairs to prepare for the occasion.

  "You may come upstairs, too, Jean," she invited, "and from the frontroom there, you can watch for yours."

  "Oh, Mrs. Merley, you make me happier than I have been for a long time,"he said, and almost was he emotional.

  "And I have a nice spare bedroom for you and _her_, tonight. Andtomorrow, she is _yours_."

  Jean Baptiste waited and watched, and then suddenly he heard a voice. Itwas that of the girl wh
o had admitted him, who was also watching.

  "Here she comes," she cried, excitedly. Jean Baptiste looked quickly outof the window and up the street, and saw his wife coming leisurelytoward the house wherein he was sitting.