CHAPTER XVIII
THAT SOUTH MEADOW
When even before mid-day the two vehicles returned to Skyrie both Mr.and Mrs. Chester were too astonished to do more than open their eyes andmouths and wait explanations.
These came with a volubility that was less wonderful in Dorothy than inJim, but each of the pair seemed to trip the other up with a flood ofwords, till finally the listeners made out to sift the facts forthemselves. Then, while they were wholly delighted by the possession ofthe pony, mother Martha's prudence was disturbed by the thought of debt,and she promptly demanded to know what Jim had paid for the phaeton andharness.
For a time he stubbornly declined to tell, and it was not till Mrs.Chester brought out her own purse and insisted upon repaying him that heacknowledged:
"Well, if you must know, 'twasn't but fifteen dollars, all told. _True._Like Dorothy here I took every cent I had with me an' now I'm powerfulglad I did. As for takin' your money, same's sellin' it to you, Ishan't. I'm makin' it a present to Dolly an' all of you. If it hadn'tbeen for her I never'd have known Mrs. Calvert nor had the chance of mylife. 'Tain't but little, seems if, to return for all you've brought tome. If you don't want to hurt my feelin's and make me stay clean awayfrom Skyrie, you won't say another word on that subject. And I don'twant to stay away. I can't, not till some--some things gets straightenedout. So, I reckon I'd best go see if there's a good stall in that oldbarn to put--Say, Dorothy? What you goin' to name the critter, anyway?"
"James Barlow, she is not a 'critter.' She is a perfectly beautifulpiebald pony and her name is--Portia!" After which alliterativestatement Dorothy rushed toward the lad, intent upon hugging him ingratitude for the gift from which none of them could dissuade him.
But he had had experiences in that line and ungallantly backed away,blushing furiously that these elder people should witness hisembarrassment, and covering his confusion by remarking:
"I'm going to the barn now, and you can come with me if you want to. Ifyou do we can eat our dinner outside the door under that shady tree;then, as I've got the hull day give to me, I'd like to go see that minein the south medder I've heard tell of."
"All right," cheerfully answered the girl, not at all offended by hisrebuff of her attentions. "We'll find a place for my Portia and yourphaeton, and I think it's perfectly lovely for us to have them,half-and-half, that way, Jim, just think! How little we dreamed of suchsplendid times together when we were at Miranda Stott's!"
Old "Si Waterman's Folly," as the rumored "mine" was called, seemed tobe coming into sudden prominence. For years it had lain unnoticed, butsome recent excavations on the other side of the mountain had recalledto the public this long abandoned one at Skyrie. The very first timethat Dorothy had the delight of driving her father out in the phaeton,which was so low and comfortable for him to use, they met Friend OliverSands upon the road, and he brought up the subject by a roundaboutmanner all his own.
He had not been present at the "Bee." He had even expressed hisdisapproval of such an affair, affirming that "nobody should undertaketo run a farm unless he knew he could do it." Which might be good sensebut influenced few. Indeed, when hearing afterward of the sale wherebyDaisy-Jewel was metamorphosed, so to speak, into a pony, he had beenangry--as angry as such a benign old gentleman could be.
He had made an unnecessary gift to an unappreciative girl and _she_ hadmade money out of it; whereas, if things had gone as he expected, itwould have been himself who should make it. Hannah had been transformedinto a model cow by the simplest of methods, one that he should havebeen wise enough to try for himself only--he hadn't thought of it. Ofcourse, it was a good thing for him who had advanced money upon the landthat Skyrie should be put into good condition, even though it were astemporary as but one day's labor would make it. But he had heard things.Rumors were afloat. He hoped these rumors had not yet reached the earsof Skyrie's owners; but if they had he had still time to forestall themand reap his own advantage. Altogether, a thrifty soul was Oliver, thegood; though his tones were sweetly sympathetic as he now brought hisown smart team to a standstill in the very path of Portia and thephaeton.
"Don't stop, Dolly, if you can help it, but drive straight past themiller who's coming. Exchange bows, of course, if a Quaker will bow; butI'm too happy to-day to be disturbed by talk with him. Ever since heloaned us that money, 'payable on demand,' I've felt uncomfortable. It'swretched enough to owe money to anybody, but I'd have felt safer if we'dborrowed from Mrs. Calvert or even from a bank. Oh, dear! He's going tostop and we will have to!" had been Mr. Chester's hurried comments, sosoon as from a little distance they saw Mr. Sands approaching.
It was a rare bit of confidence and Dorothy looked at him in somesurprise. She did not share in her father's prejudice against the kindgentleman who had given her the pretty calf, and indeed was doublygrateful to him now that she had exchanged his gift for Portia. So itwas in all sincerity that she returned his pleasant:
"I am glad to see thee again, little Dorothy. Thee has a bonny face thatshould win thee many friends."
"And I am glad to see you, Mr. Sands. I wish I understood the 'plainlanguage,' too, then I could answer 'thee' after thy own fashion. Doyou--does thee see my pretty pony? Her name is Portia. I bought her withthe money paid for the calf you gave me. The pony is more useful to us,'cause my father's lame, and so I am twice pleased. This is the firsttime he has ridden out with me, but I can drive real well already."
"For a beginner thee does very well, and the plain speech is thesweetest in the world--heard on the lips of pretty girls. By the way,John, I was on my way to see thee about a little matter of business.Thee may have heard that I like to acquire and hold land?"
The statement was in the form of a question, to which the ex-postmanrather coldly replied: "Yes, so I have heard." He resented the familiar"John" on this "plain" speaker's lips, though he had never feltotherwise than complimented by Mrs. Cecil's even more familiar"Johnnie." It was a case of like and dislike, and as inconsistent asmost such cases are.
"Can you speak freely before the little maid, John Chester?"
"With perfect freedom. There are no secrets in our household----" Atwhich remark Dorothy slightly winced, remembering that dreadful "secret"of the "ghost," which she had hidden from her parents. "We are a unitedfamily in all respects and Dorothy fully understands our circumstances."
"Very well. That is a good thing. It speaks well for thy household.Regarding that little loan of mine, 'payable on demand,' I haveconsidered the matter well. Thee needs money, I want land. If thee willsell me a portion of Skyrie farm that transaction should offset theother. That south meadow, for instance, known by the name of 'SiWaterman's Folly,' is worth, at ruling prices for waste mountain land,about two hundred dollars. I loaned thee three hundred; but on accountof thy affliction I would pay thee more than I would another man. Whatdoes thee say?"
"I say that the property is my wife's; just as I told you before. Myaffliction does not enter into the case, but I shall certainly adviseher against such an unfair transaction as that. There are ten acres inthat south meadow, and I have learned that mountain land is not so cheapas you would have me think."
"Thee may have been misinformed. Ground suitable for fancy building lotsmay command a slight advance upon the ruling price, but not an overgrownpiece, half-woods, half-rocks, like that misnamed 'south meadow.' Meadowstands for rich and profitable land; not such as the 'Folly.' Why,friend John, it would take all of that three hundred dollars I offerthee to fill up that hole which required several years of SimonWaterman's life to dig. The 'love of money is the root of evil,' theGood Book tells us, and it was an undue love of money which sent friendSimon to that hopeless task. A dream misled him--Thee has heard thestory, John?"
"No, nor care to. We are going for a drive--my first, as Dollyexplained--and a storm threatens. I will add my thanks to hers, and doappreciate the fact that but for your gift of the calf we should not nowown this pretty pony."
"I trust thee may long enj
oy the luxury. 'Calico' ponies are as prettyas uncommon, and there is a superstition in the neighborhood that theybring 'good luck.' Some even fancy that to 'wish upon one' has the sameresult. I will not detain thee from thy recreation, but will pass on toSkyrie and talk matters over with Martha herself."
With a click of his unctuous lips the miller started his team into swiftmotion and vanished from sight: but he left discomfort behind him andhad effectually spoiled that ride for father John. Also the few cloudswhich had been gathering grew heavier with each passing moment and, asthe invalid was careful never to expose himself to a drenching, Dorothysoon turned Portia's head homeward and arrived there just in time toescape the slight summer shower.
Martha met them with a brighter countenance than she had shown for manydays, and the exclamation:
"Good news, dear ones! That splendid old Quaker gentleman has just lefthere, and has made me such a generous offer. He says, since we sodislike debt, that he will take that worthless south meadow off ourhands and call it an equivalent for the money he advanced. Farming ishard enough, but farming free from debt would be lessened of half itsworries."
"Martha, I hope you didn't tell him you would sell!" protested Mr.Chester, alarmed.
Her brightness faded into that unhappy sharpness which was becominghabitual and she returned, sarcastically:
"Of course, I didn't promise. A good wife never does dare promiseanything without consulting her husband, even about her own property.I'll come with you, Dorothy, and help put up the pony."
"O mother! Now you've hurt father's feelings and it isn't like you to dothat! I--I begin to understand why he dislikes that miller and his moneybusiness, for he makes you disagree so. That's something never used tobe at dear old 77 Brown Street!"
"Dorothy Chester! How dare you speak to me like that?" demanded theovertired housemistress, with an asperity rarely shown to her belovedchild.
"Beg pardon, mother. It was wrong. I only felt--I wish father liked Mr.Sands as well as you and I do, but don't let's talk of him any more. No,thank you, I don't need you to help with Portia. I'm proud to know howto harness and unharness all by myself. It was good of Jim and oldEphraim to teach me, and Mrs. Calvert says she is going to give me alittle side-saddle to fit the pony. She has ordered it made in Newburghfrom measures Ephraim took one day. Isn't she the dearest? Please, sitdown and rest, mother dear. I'll do whatever's needed as soon as I'veput Portia under cover."
There were both balm and bane in Dorothy's words. Martha was soothed bythe child's sweet affection and jealous that that other richer woman hadthe power to bestow gifts such as she could not. She had now learned ofthe offer of Mrs. Cecil to adopt Dorothy and this had not diminishedher jealousy; but, at the same time, the longer and better she knew thelady of Deerhurst the more she was forced to admire and respect her.
As soon as Dorothy had driven toward the barn and Mr. Chester hadentered the kitchen his wife returned to the subject of that southmeadow.
"That field is the laughing-stock of the whole town, John, and I can'tsee why you should object to my selling it. To keep it would, it seemsto me, make it 'Chester's Folly,' as well as 'Waterman's.'"
He answered rather sadly:
"I have no right to object, Martha, and I will not if your heart is setupon the deed. Yet I should not be loyal to your interests, if I did notcaution prudence. Wait a bit. Take advice upon the matter. Of that wiseSeth Winters, or Mr. Smith, or even of the best lawyer in Newburgh.There----"
"Lawyers! We've no money to waste upon lawyers, John."
"I know. Still, there is such a thing as being 'penny wise and poundfoolish.' Oliver Sands is a long-headed, shrewd old chap. He seesmoney, more of it than he suggested, in that south meadow, else he wouldnever try to buy it. As for that extra hundred dollars he proposes togive--Pooh! He plans to more than reimburse himself. As Mrs. Calvert sawhe did in that smaller affair of the calf. That he was outwitted thenwas due to Mrs. Cecil's knowledge of his character."
"You've just had a ride behind a horse we shouldn't have owned exceptfor him," she reminded.
"I know, and I give him all credit due. Only I do not want you to agreeto anything unfair to yourself. Why, Martha, we do not even know whatthat 'mine' is like. We have seen that the top of the 'hole' is covered,in part, by a sort of trap door, more than half-hidden by vines andbushes, and almost half decayed away. I peered down under what was leftof the trap, that time I went there with Dorothy: but I was far tootired with my crutch-walk to do more than that, even if I had not fearedsome unseen danger. She was eager to slip under the trap and find outfor both of us, but, of course, that was out of the question. Probably,it _is_ just a piece of 'Folly'; yet in other things Simon Waterman hadthe reputation of being a sane, sensible man. He proved himself such bywilling so much of his property to you, my dear."
"Humph! I don't see just now that it's so valuable. I feel as if Skyriefarm was a burden that would crush the life out of me yet," shereturned, in that discouraged tone it was so painful to hear, and whichalways stirred his deep regret for that affliction which had thrust upona woman's shoulders that weight of care which only the man's should haveborne. "He said that he wanted that meadow merely because it would'square' out his own property. He holds a mortgage on land lying betweenhis Heartsease and Skyrie, of which our south meadow is the limit. He'sto foreclose that mortgage and longs to own that one field of ours justto complete the shape of his farm. That's natural, isn't it?"
"Wholly and entirely natural to him, from what I've heard the neighborssay. But let him go. All I ask is that you should wait a little, untilyou can make inquiries of persons wiser than we are in land-lore,before you take a step you cannot retrace. Now, kiss me, my wife, anddon't let's allow the portly shadow of Oliver Sands to fall across ourpeace again."
She did kiss him, and she did feel so impressed by his wisdom that shepromised to follow his advice and "wait" before deciding the question ofthe south meadow: which strangely enough seemed so much more importantto him than to her.
So, coming in from the barn and Portia, "running between drops" as sheexpressed it, Dorothy found happiness restored and hastened to unfold aplan which Helena and she had thought out and to which her parents gavea ready assent.
"You see, mother, the summer is going very, very fast, and before weknow it, almost, Deerhurst and the Towers and all the big houses will beclosed and the families gone away for the _long_ winter. We haven't yethad even that camp-picnic Herbert planned. First he was away, or Helenasick, or something or other all the time kept happening. Now she wantsto give a picnic herself and ask all the young folks 'up-mounting' toit. We made out a list the last time I went to see her, and first shehad written only the names of the rich young folks on the Heights. ThenI coaxed her and told her how much more it would mean to the poor ones,like myself, than it possibly could to those others. Then she was asnice as nice! and wrote down every name I said. Mrs. Smith's boys, andevery Babcock except Claretta and Diaretta. Jim, too, of course, ifhe'll go. Helena is to provide the eating part of the picnic and I am toprovide the place, if you'll let me. That's the south meadow that somany people are talking about, Herbert says, just now. Oh! I do hope youwon't sell it to Mr. Sands before we have the party!"
"Not likely, unless you put it off too long," answered Mrs. Chester,quietly. "Do you mean that Miss Montaigne is willing, can afford, toprovide food for a large company like that? Because, though I might----"
"O mother! Don't you worry about that. Of course she can 'afford'--why,anything in the world she wants, I reckon. The people at the Towers seemto think as lightly about spending money as we would about using thewater from our well. I'm to take Portia to the Towers in the phaetonand bring back Helena and the baskets. Funny! How that girl who has somany faster horses of her own likes to ride behind my darling pet! ButPortia _can_ travel, too, if she takes a notion. Why, the other morningwhen you sent me to Eliza Jane's store of an errand and an automobilewas going down the mountain behind us, she just picked up her li
ttleheels and raced that auto--My! how she did run! But--the auto beat.Wasn't it too bad? Portia was so disgusted. It must be awfully trying towaste all one's breath racing an automobile and then get beaten."
"It must, indeed; but I hope that's the last time you'll ever let herenter such a race as that. Child, you might be killed! An accident toeither pony or machine--Dolly, never do it again!" cried father John,alarmed by the danger already safely passed.
"When do you want this picnic?" asked Mrs. Chester, with interest, andfeeling somewhat flattered that the chosen ground for it should be onher own premises.
"Why, Saturday, if it's fine. If not, then the next Monday. We want togo early, in the morning sometime, and stay the whole day. We mean toexplore that mine they call the 'Folly,' and who knows? I may bring homea nugget of pure gold! Wouldn't that be fine? I'm so glad you arewilling. I think I'll harness Portia again and ride to tell Helena,after dinner; and I'll get that now. I can do it all alone if you'llonly trust me. You rest, mother dear, and read your Baltimore weekly. Itcame last night and yet you haven't even taken the wrapper off."
The dinner was to be a simple one and well-trained Dorothy was capableof preparing it; so Mrs. Chester did take the proffered rest and wasdeep in the home news which interested her so greatly when a shadow fellupon the threshold and she glanced up to see two men who appeared to besurveyors, for they carried the instruments of such over theirshoulders; and the announcement made by the elder of the two fairly tookher breath away:
"We are sent by Oliver Sands to survey that south meadow you've soldhim. Will you direct us to it?"