lavender and old lace-第20节

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et；　and　she〃　here　he　pointed　his　thumb　suggestively　toward　the　house〃she's　got　me。〃

〃I'm　going　to　be　married　myself；〃　volunteered　Joe；　proudly。

〃Merriage　is　a　fleetin'　showI　wouldn't；　if　I　was　in　your　place。　Merriage　is　a　drag　on　a　man's　ambitions。　I　set　out　to　own　a　schooner；　but　I　can't　never　do　it　now；　on　account　of　bein'　merried。　I　had　a　good　start　towards　itI　had　a　little　store　all　to　myself；　what　was　worth　three　or　four　hundred　dollars；　in　a　sunny　country　where　the　women　folks　had　soft　voices　and　pretty　ankles　and　wasn't　above　passin'　jokes　with　an　old　feller　to　cheer　'im　on　'is　lonely　way。〃

Mrs。　Ball　appeared　at　the　upper　window。　〃James；〃　she　called；　〃you'd　better　come　in　and　get　your　hat。　Your　bald　spot　will　get　all　sunburned。〃

〃I　guess　I　won't　wait　no　longer；　Miss　Hathaway；〃　Joe　shouted；　and；　suiting　the　action　to　the　word；　turned　around　and　started　down　hill。　Mr。　Ball；　half　way　up　the　gravelled　walk；　turned　back　to　smile　at　Joe　with　feeble　jocularity。

Hearing　the　familiar　voice；　Hepsey　hastened　to　the　front　of　the　house；　and　was　about　to　retreat；　when　Mr。　Ball　stopped　her。

〃Pore　little　darlin'；　he　said；　kindly；　noting　her　tear　stained　face。　〃Don't　gowait　a　minute。〃　He　fumbled　at　his　belt　and　at　last　extracted　a　crisp；　new　ten　dollar　bill。　〃Here；　take　that　and　buy　you　a　ribbon　or　sunthin'　to　remember　your　lovin'　Uncle　James　by。〃

Hepsey's　face　brightened；　and　she　hastily　concealed　the　bill　in　her　dress。　〃I　ain't　your　niece；〃　she　said；　hesitatingly；　〃it's　Miss　Thorne。〃

〃That　don't　make　no　difference；〃　rejoined　Mr。　Ball；　generously；　〃I'm　willin'　you　should　be　my　niece　too。　All　pretty　young　things　is　my　nieces　and　I　loves　'em　all。　Won't　you　give　your　pore　old　uncle　a　kiss　to　remember　you　by？〃

Ruth；　who　had　heard　the　last　words；　came　down　to　the　gravelled　walk。　〃Aunt　Jane　is　coming；〃　she　announced；　and　Hepsey　fled。

When　the　lady　of　the　house　appeared；　Uncle　James　was　sitting　at　one　end　of　the　piazza　and　Ruth　at　the　other；　exchanging　decorous　commonplaces。



XIII。　Plans

Hepsey　had　been　gone　an　hour　before　Mrs。　Ball　realised　that　she　had　sent　away　one　of　the　witnesses　of　her　approaching　wedding。　〃It　don't　matter；〃　she　said　to　Ruth；　〃I　guess　there's　others　to　be　had。　I've　got　the　dress　and　the　man　and　one　of　'em　and　I　have　faith　that　the　other　things　will　come。〃

Nevertheless；　the　problem　assumed　undue　proportions。　After　long　study；　she　decided　upon　the　minister's　wife。　〃If　'twa'nt　that　the　numskulls　round　here　couldn't　understand　two　weddin's；〃　she　said；　〃I'd　have　it　in　the　church；　as　me　and　James　first　planned。〃

Preparations　for　the　ceremony　went　forward　with　Aunt　Jane's　customary　decision　and　briskness。　She　made　a　wedding　cake；　assisted　by　Mr。　Ball；　and　gathered　all　the　flowers　in　the　garden。　There　was　something　pathetic　about　her　pleasure；　it　was　as　though　a　wedding　had　been　laid　away　in　lavender；　not　to　see　the　light　for　more　than　thirty　years。

Ruth　was　to　assist　in　dressing　the　bride　and　then　go　after　the　minister　and　his　wife；　who；　by　Aunt　Jane's　decree；　were　to　have　no　previous　warning。　〃'T　ain't　necessary　to　tell　'em　beforehand；　not　as　I　see；〃　said　Mrs。　Ball。　〃You　must　ask　fust　if　they're　both　to　home；　and　if　only　one　of　'em　is　there；　you'll　have　to　find　somebody　else。　If　the　minister's　to　home　and　his　wife　ain't　gaddin'；　he'll　get　them　four　dollars　in　James's　belt；　leavin'　an　even　two　hundred；　or　do　you　think　two　dollars　would　be　enough　for　a　plain　marriage？〃

〃I'd　leave　that　to　Uncle　James；　Aunty。〃

〃I　reckon　you're　right；　Ruthyou've　got　the　Hathaway　sense。〃

The　old　wedding　gown　was　brought　down　from　the　attic　and　taken　out　of　its　winding　sheet。　It　had　been　carefully　folded；　but　every　crease　showed　plainly　and　parts　of　it　had　changed　in　colour。　Aunt　Jane　put　on　her　best　〃foretop；〃　which　was　entirely　dark；　with　no　softening　grey　hair；　and　was　reserved　for　occasions　of　high　state。　A　long　brown　curl；　which　was　hers　by　right　of　purchase；　was　pinned　to　the　hard；　uncompromising　twist　at　the　back　of　her　neck。

Ruth　helped　her　into　the　gown　and；　as　it　slipped　over　her　head；　she　inquired；　fiom　the　depths　of　it：　〃Is　the　front　door　locked？〃　〃Yes；　Aunty；　and　the　back　door　too。〃

〃Did　you　bring　up　the　keys　as　I　told　you　to？〃

〃Yes；　Aunty；　here　they　are。　Why？〃

There　was　a　pause；　then　Mrs。　Ball　said　solemnly：　〃I've　read　a　great　deal　about　bridegrooms　havin'　wanderin'　fits　immediately　before　weddin's。　Does　my　dress　hike　up　in　the　back；　Ruth？〃

It　was　a　little　shorter　in　the　back　than　in　the　front　and　cleared　the　floor　on　all　sides；　since　she　had　grown　a　little　after　it　was　made；　but　Ruth　assured　her　that　everything　was　all　right。　When　they　went　downstairs　together；　Mr。　Ball　was　sitting　in　the　parlour；　plainly　nervous。

〃Now　Ruth；〃　said　Aunt　Jane；　〃you　can　go　after　the　minister。　My　first　choice　is　Methodis'；　after　that　Baptis'　and　then　Presbyterian。　I　will　entertain　James　durin'　your　absence。〃

Ruth　was　longing　for　fresh　air　and　gladly　undertook　the　delicate　mission。　Before　she　was　half　way　down　the　hill；　she　met　Winfield；　who　had　come　on　the　afternoon　train。

〃You're　just　in　time　to　see　a　wedding；〃　she　said；　when　the　first　raptures　had　subsided。

〃Whose　wedding；　sweetheart？　Ours？〃

〃Far　from　it；〃　answered　Ruth；　laughing。　〃Come　with　me　and　I'll　explain。〃

She　gave　him　a　vivid　description　of　the　events　that　had　transpired　during　his　absence；　and　had　invited　him　to　the　wedding　before　it　occurred　to　her　that　Aunt　Jane　might　not　be　pleased。　〃I　may　be　obliged　to　recall　my　invitation；〃　she　said　seriously；　〃I'll　have　to　ask　Aunty　about　it。　She　may　not　want　you。〃

〃That　doesn't　make　any　difference；〃　announced　Winfield；　in　high　spirits；　〃I'm　agoin'　to　the　wedding　and　I'm　a…goin'　to　kiss　the　bride；　if　you'll　let　me。〃

Ruth　smothered　a　laugh。　〃You　may；　if　you　want　to；　and　I　won't　be　jealous。　Isn't　that　sweet　of　me？〃

〃You're　always　sweet；　dear。　Is　this　the　abode　of　the　parson？〃

The　Methodist　minister　was　at　home；　but　his　wife　was　not；　and　Ruth　determined　to　take　Winfield　in　her　place。　The　clergyman　said　that　he　would　come　immediately；　and；　as　the　lovers　loitered　up　the　hill；　they　arrived　at　the　same　time。

Winfield　was　presented　to　the　bridal　couple；　but　there　was　no　time　for　conversation；　since　Aunt　Jane　was　in　a　hurry。　After　the　brief　ceremony　was　over；　Ruth　said　wickedly：

〃Aunty；　on　the　way　to　the　minister's；　Mr。　Winfield　told　me　he　was　going　to　kiss　the　bride。　I　hope　you　don't　mind？〃

Winfield　looked　unutterable　things　at　Ruth；　but　nobly　fulfilled　the　obligation。　Uncle　James　beamed　upon　Ruth　in　a　way　which　indicated　that　an　attractive　idea　lay　behind　it；　and　Winfield　created　a　diversion　by　tipping　over　a　vase　of　flowers。　〃He　shan't；〃　he　whispered　to　Ruth；　〃I'll　be　darned　if　he　shall！〃

〃Ruth；〃　said　Aunt　Jane；　after　a　close　scrutiny　of　Winfield；　〃if　you'　relayin'　out　to　marry　that　awkward　creeter；　what　ain't　accustomed　to　a　parlour；　you'd　better　do　it　now；　while　him　and　the　minister　are　both　here。〃

Winfield　was　willing；　but　Ruth　said　that　one　wedding　at　a　time　was　enough　in　any　family；　and　the　minister；　pledged　to　secrecy；　took　his　departure。　The　bride　cut　the　wedding　cake　and　each　solemnly　ate　a　piece　of　it。　It　was　a　sacrament；　rather　than　a　festivity。

When　the　silence　became　oppressive；　Ruth　suggested　a　walk。

〃You　will　set　here；　Niece　Ruth；〃　remarked　Aunt　Jane；　〃until　I　have　changed　my　dress。〃

Uncle　James　sighed　softly；　as　she　went　upstairs。　〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃I'm　merried　now；　hard　and　fast；　and　there　ain't　no　help　for　it；　world　without　end。〃

〃Cheer　up；　Uncle；〃　said　Winfield；　consolingly；　〃it　might　be　worse。〃

〃It's　come　on　me　all　of　a　sudden；〃　he　rejoined。　〃I　ain't　had　no　time　to　prepare　for　it；　as　you　may　say。　Little　did　I　think；　three　weeks　ago；　as　I　set　in　my　little　store；　what　was　wuth　four　or　five　hundred　dollars；　that　before　the　month　was　out；　I'd　be　merried。　Me！　Merried！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃Me；　as　never　thought　of　sech！〃

When　Mrs。　Ball　entered；　clad　in　sombre　calico；　Ruth；　overcome　by　deep　emotion；　led　her　lover　into　the　open　air。　〃It's　bad　for　you　to　stay　in　there；　〃she　said　gravely；　〃when　you　are　destined　to　meet　the　same　fate。〃

〃I've　had　time　to　prepare　for　it；〃　he　answered；　〃in　fact；　I've　had　more　time　than　I　want。〃

They　wandered　down　the　hillside　with　aimless　leisure；　and　Ruth　stooped　to　pick　up　a　large；　grimy　handkerchief；　with　〃C。　W。〃　in　the　corner。　〃Here's　where　we　were　the　other　morning；〃　she　said。

〃Blessed　spot；〃　he　responded；　〃beautiful　Hepsey　and　noble　Joe！　By　what　humble　means　are　great　destinies　made　evident！　You　haven't　said　you　were　glad　to　see　me；　dear。〃

〃I'm　always　glad　to　see　you；　Mr。　Winfield；〃　she　replied　primly。

〃Mr。　Winfield　isn't　my　name；〃　he　objected；　taking　her　into　his　arms。

〃Carl；〃　she　whispered　shyly；　to　his　coat　collar。

〃That　isn't　all　of　it。〃

〃Carldear〃　said　Ruth；　with　her　face　crimson。

〃That's　more　like　it。　Now　let's　sit　downI've　brought　you　something　and　you　have　three　guesses。〃

〃Returned　manuscript？〃

〃No；　you　said　they　were　all　in。〃

〃Another　piece　of　Aunt　Jane's　wedding　cake？〃

〃No；　guess　again。〃

〃Chocolates？〃

〃Who'd　think　you　were　so　stupid；〃　he　said；　putting　two　fingers　into　his　waistcoat　pocket。

〃Ohh！〃　gasped　Ruth；　in　delight。

〃You　funny　girl；　didn'