CHAPTER XIX. TOM'S SUCCESS
"Come, Philander, let us be a marching, Every one his true love a searching,"
WOULD be the most appropriate motto for this chapter, because,intimidated by the threats, denunciations, and complaints showered uponme in consequence of taking the liberty to end a certain story as Iliked, I now yield to the amiable desire of giving satisfaction, and,at the risk of outraging all the unities, intend to pair off everybody Ican lay my hands on.
Occasionally a matrimonial epidemic appears, especially toward spring,devastating society, thinning the ranks of bachelordom, and leavingmothers lamenting for their fairest daughters. That spring the diseasebroke out with great violence in the Shaw circle, causing paternal headsmuch bewilderment, as one case after another appeared with alarmingrapidity. Fanny, as we have seen, was stricken first, and hardly had shebeen carried safely through the crisis, when Tom returned to swell thelist of victims. As Fanny was out a good deal with her Arthur, who wassure that exercise was necessary for the convalescent, Polly went everyday to see Mrs. Shaw, who found herself lonely, though much better thanusual, for the engagement had a finer effect upon her constitution thanany tonic she ever tried. Some three days after Fan's joyful call Pollywas startled on entering the Shaws' door, by Maud, who came tumblingdown stairs, sending an avalanche of words before her, "He's comebefore he said he should to surprise us! He's up in mamma's room,and was just saying, 'How's Polly?' when I heard you come, in yourcreep-mouse way, and you must go right up. He looks so funny withwhiskers, but he's ever so nice, real big and brown, and he swung meright up when he kissed me. Never mind your bonnet, I can't wait."
And pouncing upon Polly, Maud dragged her away like a captured shiptowed by a noisy little steam-tug.
"The sooner it's over the better for me," was the only thought Pollyhad time for before she plunged into the room above, propelled by Maud,who cried triumphantly, "There he is! Ain't he splendid?"
For a minute, everything danced before Polly's eyes, as a hand shookhers warmly, and a gruffish voice said heartily, "How are you, Polly?"Then she slipped into a chair beside Mrs. Shaw, hoping that her replyhad been all right and proper, for she had not the least idea what shesaid.
Things got steady again directly, and while Maud expatiated on the greatsurprise, Polly ventured to look at Tom, feeling glad that her backwas toward the light, and his was not. It was not a large room, and Tomseemed to fill it entirely; not that he had grown so very much, exceptbroader in the shoulders, but there was a brisk, genial, free-and-easyair about him, suggestive of a stirring, out-of-door life, with peoplewho kept their eyes wide open, and were not very particular what theydid with their arms and legs. The rough-and-ready travelling suit, stoutboots, brown face, and manly beard, changed him so much, that Pollycould find scarcely a trace of elegant Tom Shaw in the hearty-lookingyoung man who stood with one foot on a chair, while he talked businessto his father in a sensible way, which delighted the old gentleman.Polly liked the change immensely, and sat listening to the state ofWestern trade with as much interest as if it had been the most thrillingromance, for, as he talked, Tom kept looking at her with a nod or asmile so like old times, that for a little while, she forgot MariaBailey, and was in bliss.
By and by Fanny came flying in, and gave Tom a greater surprise than hishad been. He had not the least suspicion of what had been going on athome, for Fan had said to herself, with girlish malice, "If he don'tchoose to tell me his secrets, I'm not going to tell mine," and hadsaid nothing about Sydney, except an occasional allusion to hisbeing often there, and very kind. Therefore, when she announced herengagement, Tom looked so staggered for a minute, that Fan thought hedid n't like it; but after the first surprise passed, he showed such anaffectionate satisfaction, that she was both touched and flattered.
"What do you think of this performance?" asked Tom, wheeling round toPolly, who still sat by Mrs. Shaw, in the shadow of the bed-curtains.
"I like it very much," she said in such a hearty tone, that Tom couldnot doubt the genuineness of her pleasure.
"Glad of that. Hope you'll be as well pleased with another engagementthat's coming out before long"; and with an odd laugh, Tom carriedSydney off to his den, leaving the girls to telegraph to one another theawful message, "It is Maria Bailey."
How she managed to get through that evening, Polly never knew, yet itwas not a long one, for at eight o'clock she slipped out of the room,meaning to run home alone, and not compel any one to serve as escort.But she did not succeed, for as she stood warming her rubbers at thedining-room fire, wondering pensively as she did so if Maria Baileyhad small feet, and if Tom ever put her rubbers on for her, thelittle overshoes were taken out of her hands, and Tom's voice said,reproachfully, "Did you really mean to run away, and not let me go homewith you?"
"I'm not afraid; I did n't want to take you away," began Polly,secretly hoping that she did n't look too pleased.
"But I like to be taken away. Why, it's a whole year since I went homewith you; do you remember that?" said Tom, flapping the rubbers aboutwithout any signs of haste.
"Does it seem long?"
"Everlasting!"
Polly meant to say that quite easily, and smile incredulously at hisanswer; but in spite of the coquettish little rose-colored hood shewore, and which she knew was very becoming, she did not look or speakgayly, and Tom saw something in the altered face that made him sayhastily, "I'm afraid you've been doing too much this winter; you looktired out, Polly."
"Oh, no! it suits me to be very busy," and she began to drag on hergloves as if to prove it.
"But it does n't suit me to have you get thin and pale, you know."
Polly looked up to thank him, but never did, for there was somethingdeeper than gratitude in the honest blue eyes, that could not hidethe truth entirely. Tom saw it, flushed all over his brown face, anddropping the rubbers with a crash, took her hands, saying, in his oldimpetuous way, "Polly, I want to tell you something!"
"Yes, I know, we've been expecting it. I hope you'll be very happy,Tom;" and Polly shook his hands with a smile that was more pathetic thana flood of tears.
"What!" cried Tom, looking as if he thought she had lost her mind.
"Ned told us all about her; he thought it would be so, and when youspoke of another engagement, we knew you meant your own."
"But I did n't! Ned's the man; he told me to tell you. It's justsettled."
"Is it Maria?" cried Polly, holding on to a chair as if to be preparedfor anything.
"Of course. Who else should it be?"
"He did n't say you talked about her most and so we thought" stammeredPolly, falling into a sudden flutter.
"That I was in love? Well, I am, but not with her."
"Oh!" and Polly caught her breath as if a dash of cold water had fallenon her, for the more in earnest Tom grew, the blunter he became.
"Do you want to know the name of the girl I've loved for more than ayear? Well, it's Polly!" As he spoke, Tom stretched out his arms toher, with the sort of mute eloquence that cannot be resisted, and Pollywent straight into them, without a word.
Never mind what happened for a little bit. Love scenes, if genuine, areindescribable; for to those who have enacted them, the most elaboratedescription seems tame, and to those who have not, the simplest pictureseems overdone. So romancers had better let imagination paint for themthat which is above all art, and leave their lovers to themselves duringthe happiest minutes of their lives.
Before long, Tom and Polly were sitting side by side, enjoying theblissful state of mind which usually follows the first step out of ourwork-a-day world, into the glorified region wherein lovers rapturouslyexist for a month or two. Tom just sat and looked at Polly as if hefound it difficult to believe that the winter of his discontent hadended in this glorious spring. But Polly, being a true woman, askedquestions, even while she laughed and cried for joy.
"Now, Tom, how could I know you loved me when you went away and neversaid a word?" she began, in a
tenderly reproachful tone, thinking of thehard year she had spent.
"And how could I have the courage to say a word, when I had nothing onthe face of the earth to offer you but my worthless self?" answered Tom,warmly.
"That was all I wanted!" whispered Polly, in a tone which caused him tofeel that the race of angels was not entirely extinct.
"I've always been fond of you, my Polly, but I never realized how fondtill just before I went away. I was n't free, you know, and besides Ihad a strong impression that you liked Sydney in spite of the damperwhich Fan hinted you gave him last winter. He's such a capital fellow,I really don't see how you could help it."
"It is strange; I don't understand it myself; but women are queercreatures, and there's no accounting for their tastes," said Polly,with a sly look, which Tom fully appreciated.
"You were so good to me those last days, that I came very near speakingout, but could n't bear to seem to be offering you a poor, disgracedsort of fellow, whom Trix would n't have, and no one seemed to thinkworth much. 'No,' I said to myself, 'Polly ought to have the best; ifSyd can get her, let him, and I won't say a word. I'll try to be betterworthy her friendship, anyway; and perhaps, when I've proved that Ican do something, and am not ashamed to work, then, if Polly is free, Ishan't be afraid to try my chance.' So I held my tongue, worked like ahorse, satisfied myself and others that I could get my living honestly,and then came home to see if there was any hope for me."
"And I was waiting for you all the time," said a soft voice close to hisshoulder; for Polly was much touched by Tom's manly efforts to deserveher.
"I did n't mean to do it the first minute, but look about me a little,and be sure Syd was all right. But Fan's news settled that point, andjust now the look in my Polly's face settled the other. I could n't waitanother minute, or let you either, and I could n't help stretching outmy arms to my little wife, God bless her, though I know I don't deserveher."
Tom's voice got lower and lower as he spoke, and his face was full ofan emotion of which he need not be ashamed, for a very sincere loveennobled him, making him humble, where a shallower affection would havebeen proud of its success. Polly understood this, and found the honest,hearty speech of her lover more eloquent than poetry itself. Her handstole up to his cheek, and she leaned her own confidingly against therough coat, as she said, in her frank simple way, "Tom, dear, don't saythat, as if I was the best girl in the world. I've got ever so manyfaults, and I want you to know them all, and help me cure them, as youhave your own. Waiting has not done us any harm, and I love you all thebetter for your trial. But I'm afraid your year has been harder thanmine, you look so much older and graver than when you went away. Younever would complain; but I've had a feeling that you were goingthrough a good deal more than any of us guessed."
"Pretty tough work at first, I own. It was all so new and strange, I'm afraid I should n't have stood it if it had not been for Ned. He'dlaugh and say 'Pooh!' if he heard me say it, but it's true neverthelessthat he's a grand fellow and helped me through the first six monthslike a well, a brother as he is. There was no reason why he should goout of his way to back up a shiftless party like me, yet he did, andmade many things easy and safe that would have been confoundedly hardand dangerous if I'd been left to myself. The only way I can explain itis that it's a family trait, and as natural to the brother as it is tothe sister."
"It's a Shaw trait to do the same. But tell me about Maria; is Nedreally engaged to her?"
"Very much so; you'll get a letter full of raptures tomorrow; he hadn't time to send by me, I came off in such a hurry. Maria is a sensible,pretty girl and Ned will be a happy old fellow."
"Why did you let us think it was you?"
"I only teased Fan a little; I did like Maria, for she reminded me ofyou sometimes, and was such a kind, cosy little woman I could n't helpenjoying her society after a hard day's work. But Ned got jealous, andthen I knew that he was in earnest, so I left him a clear field, andpromised not to breathe a word to any one till he had got a Yes or Nofrom his Maria."
"I wish I'd known it," sighed Polly. "People in love always do suchstupid things!"
"So they do; for neither you nor Fan gave us poor fellows the least hintabout Syd, and there I've been having all sorts of scares about you."
"Serves us right; brothers and sisters should n't have secrets from eachother."
"We never will again. Did you miss me very much?"
"Yes, Tom; very, very much."
"My patient little Polly!"
"Did you really care for me before you went?"
"See if I did n't;" and with great pride Tom produced a portlypocket-book stuffed with business-like documents of a most imposingappearance, opened a private compartment, and took out a worn-lookingpaper, unfolded it carefully, and displayed a small brown object whichgave out a faint fragrance.
"That's the rose you put in the birthday cake, and next week we'llhave a fresh one in another jolly little cake which you'll make me; youleft it on the floor of my den the night we talked there, and I've keptit ever since. There's love and romance for you!"
Polly touched the little relic, treasured for a year, and smiled to readthe words "My Polly's rose," scribbled under the crumbling leaves.
"I did n't know you could be so sentimental," she said, looking sopleased that he did not regret confessing his folly.
"I never was till I loved you, my dear, and I'm not very bad yet, for Idon't wear my posy next my heart, but where I can see it every day, andso never forget for whom I am working. Should n't wonder if that bitof nonsense had kept me economical, honest, and hard at it, for I neveropened my pocket-book that I did n't think of you."
"That's lovely, Tom," and Polly found it so touching that she felt forher handkerchief; but Tom took it away, and made her laugh instead ofcry, by saying, in a wheedlesome tone, "I don't believe you did as much,for all your romance. Did you, now?"
"If you won't laugh, I'll show you my treasures. I began first, and I've worn them longest."
As she spoke, Polly drew out the old locket, opened it, and showed thepicture Tom gave her in the bag of peanuts cut small and fitted in onone side on the other was a curl of reddish hair and a black button. HowTom laughed when he saw them!
"You don't mean you've kept that frightful guy of a boy all this time?Polly! Polly! you are the most faithful'loveress,' as Maud says, thatwas ever known."
"Don't flatter yourself that I've worn it all these years, sir; I onlyput it in last spring because I did n't dare to ask for one of the newones. The button came off the old coat you insisted on wearing after thefailure, as if it was your duty to look as shabby as possible, and thecurl I stole from Maud. Are n't we silly?"
He did not seem to think so, and after a short pause for refreshments,Polly turned serious, and said anxiously, "When must you go back to yourhard work?"
"In a week or two; but it won't seem drudgery now, for you'll writeevery day, and I shall feel that I'm working to get a home for you.That will give me a forty-man-power, and I'll pay up my debts and get agood start, and then Ned and I will be married and go into partnership,and we'll all be the happiest, busiest people in the West."
"It sounds delightful; but won't it take a long time, Tom?"
"Only a few years, and we need n't wait a minute after Syd is paid, ifyou don't mind beginning rather low down, Polly."
"I'd rather work up with you, than sit idle while you toil away allalone. That's the way father and mother did, and I think they were veryhappy in spite of the poverty and hard work."
"Then we'll do it by another year, for I must get more salary before Itake you away from a good home here. I wish, oh, Polly, how I wish I hada half of the money I've wasted, to make you comfortable, now."
"Never mind, I don't want it; I'd rather have less, and know you earnedit all yourself," cried Polly, as Tom struck his hand on his knee withan acute pang of regret at the power he had lost.
"It's like you to say it, and I won't waste any words bewailing myself,
because I was a fool. We will work up together, my brave Polly, and youshall yet be proud of your husband, though he is'poor Tom Shaw.'"
She was as sure of that as if an oracle had foretold it, and was notdeceived; for the loving heart that had always seen, believed, andtried to strengthen all good impulses in Tom, was well repaid for itsinstinctive trust by the happiness of the years to come.
"Yes," she said, hopefully, "I know you will succeed, for the best thinga man can have, is work with a purpose in it, and the will to do itheartily."
"There is one better thing, Polly," answered Tom, turning her face up alittle, that he might see his inspiration shining in her eyes.
"What is it, dear?"
"A good woman to love and help him all his life, as you will me, pleaseGod."
"Even though she is old-fashioned," whispered Polly, with happy eyes,the brighter for their tears, as she looked up at the young man, who,through her, had caught a glimpse of the truest success, and was notashamed to owe it to love and labor, two beautiful old fashions thatbegan long ago, with the first pair in Eden.
Lest any of my young readers who have honored Maud with their interestshould suffer the pangs of unsatisfied curiosity as to her future, Iwill add for their benefit that she did not marry Will, but remained abusy, lively spinster all her days, and kept house for her father in themost delightful manner.
Will's ministerial dream came to pass in the course of time, however,and a gentle, bright-eyed lady ruled over the parsonage, whom thereverend William called his "little Jane."
Farther into futurity even this rash pen dares not proceed, but pauseshere, concluding in the words of the dear old fairy tales, "And so theywere married, and all lived happily till they died."
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