CHAPTER VIII
VAULTING AMBITIONS.
In the course of a few days Constance's new quarters in the Arcade werein operation, for Mr. Porter lost no time in fitting up Arch Number One.The little booth beneath the stairs was dismantled to furnish forth thenew one. Down at the kitchen Mary and her sister Fanny, who had come toassist in the work, were doing their best to keep abreast of the orderspouring in with each mail, while Mrs. Carruth, her ambitions at lengthachieved, was attending to the correspondence, since Constance's timemust for a little while be given to the new booth. She had not receiveda reply to her letter to Kitty Sniffins, and for the time being was toooccupied with the demands of the new booth to take further steps in thematter. Indeed, she had about made up her mind to look for someone else,once order was brought out of the confusion of moving and settling, forsome indefinable instinct caused her to feel an aversion to engagingKitty Sniffins. Had she been asked to state why, she would have found itdifficult to put her objection into actual words, and more than once shereproached herself for entertaining it at all. Nevertheless, she couldnot free herself from it, but was too busy just then to dwell upon it.In the course of a few days everything would be settled and in runningorder; and meanwhile she, herself, would go to the Arcade each daywhere, with Charles as her Majordomo, body-guard and faithful friend,she was a veritable queen of her little realm, and woe betide theindividual so reckless as to forget that he or she was in the presenceof a Blairsdale.
The pretty Arch had been in perfect running order for one week whenConstance began to cast about for someone to take her place, sinceneither she herself, nor her family felt content to have her make thejourney to and from South Riveredge each day, or to spend her time atthe Arch. On the previous Saturday she had put a carefully-wordedadvertisement in the _Riveredge Times_, the answers to be sent to ArchNo. 1, Arcade Building; and upon her arrival at her Arch on this Mondaymorning she found dozens of letters from girls, and even men, askingemployment. She was reading one of the letters when a shadow fell acrossthe page, and raising her eyes she saw a young man standing at thecounter. Thinking he had come to purchase a box of candy, she rose fromher chair and stood waiting for him to make his wants known to her.Instead of doing so, he raised his hat, and with a most impressive bendof his long, loosely-hung figure, and a smile which irritated her by itsself-complacency, said:
"How are you, Miss Carruth? You're sure putting up a big show here,ain't you?"
"What can I do for you?" asked Constance, with quiet dignity.
"Guess you can't do nothing for _me_, but maybe I can do something for_you_. Candy ain't in my line. Never spent none o' my solid cash for thestuff, but I'm glad other people do; plenty of fools in this world tohelp wise folks get rich, ain't there?"
"Will you please state your business?" and Constance took up anotherletter as a hint to her unwelcome visitor that her time, if not his, wasof some value.
"Got a pile o' answers, ain't you? That's just what I thought, and it'sjust what brought me down here this early. This letter come for Kitty inmy care 'most a week ago, but she's down in the city doin' somethin' or'nother; don't 'mount to much, I guess, though. I knew she hadn't nofriends up yonder in swell Riveredge, and when I saw your ad. in the_Riveredge Times_ it didn't take me no time to put two and two together.Oh, I'm fly, I am! I knowed--_knew_--the postmark meant something aboutthat candy kitchen, 'cause Mary Willing and Kit used to be school pals,and I guessed you was a-lookin' for more help, and I don't often guesswrong, neither. I sent a telegraph to Kit to come on home this mornin'to see you, but I weren't goin' to take any chances, so I come right upto clench the job for her."
"Then I assume that you are Miss Sniffins' brother. May I ask why youfelt so sure that the letter sent to your care was from me, or hadanything to do with my need of more help in this business?"
The smile and wink which prefaced his reply nearly proved the laststraw. Quietly reaching below the counter, Constance pressed an electricbutton. She had been wise beyond her years when she had this connectionmade between her Arch and Charles' counter. Sniffins did not notice themotion.
"Well, you see, I'm boss in my own house and run the wimmin-folks. WhenI suspicioned what the letter was, I just took French leave, so tospeak, and opened and read it----"
"What!" The indignation in Constance's tone was a trifle disconcertingeven to the thick-skinned Sniffins, and he had the grace to colorslightly. But it was only momentary. He rarely forgot Sniffins.
"Oh, that's all O. K. All in the family, you see. Kit won't dare kick;she ain't the kickin' kind--not with _me_, anyhow. She knows too wellwhich side her bread's buttered to kick. _I'm_ the head of things downyonder in our house, and as long as I can earn the pile and put up thecash for 'em Ma and Kit can toe the mark. But I don't see no reason whythey shouldn't add some to the pile. We ain't, so-to-speak, _rich_ yet,but we ain't _poor_; oh, no-siree, we ain't poor. That savings bank nextdoor knows we ain't poor no more, and it knows we're goin' to be----"
"Yes, Charles, I need you," interrupted Constance, for unobserved by hervisitor old Charles had drawn near, and now stood just behind Sniffins,and had heard a good portion of his senseless boasting.
"Yas, Mist'ess, I's right hyer fer ter sarve yo'."
Sniffins turned quickly.
"Hello, old stager, where did you come from?"
Charles paid no more attention to him than he would have paid to a straydog--not as much.
"Will you please remain at the counter a few moments, Charles. When yoursister returns she may call here to see me, Mr. Sniffins. Good-morning."And without another glance at the man Constance walked quickly away fromthe counter, and down to the 'phone booth, where she called a number.Sniffins' eyes followed her. When she disappeared he turned to Charlesand, with an unpleasant sneer, remarked: "Workin' for her livin' an'tryin' ter play the big-bug, too, ain't she?"
"Does yo' wish fer ter purchase some of dis hyer candy, sah?" askedCharles, icily.
"No, I don't, an' if I did I ain't takin' it from niggers."
"No, sah, I don' reckon yo' is, kase--Mor'in', Massa Po'tah, I'se rightglad fer ter see a _gemmen_, sah. Dey's mighty skurse sometimes. How kinI sarve yo', sah?"
"Morning, Charles. Where is my little girl this morning? Gone to thetelephone booth? Be back pretty quick, won't she? I want to speak to hera moment."
"She'll return, sah, when de air's better fer her ter breve; it got sorto' foul-like, an' if you'se no objections I'se gwine raise de winderjist a trifle."
"Do, by all means. Must keep the air pure and sweet for that littlelady."
"Yas, sir: Yas, sir: Dat's percis'ly what I's amin' ter do. _Dat's_ whyI'se always on han'."
"Good! We'll watch out for her, won't we? Hello, Sniffins. How aboutthat big deal you were going to put through for me? I haven't heard muchabout it lately."
"Oh, you'll hear from that all right, all right. Trouble is you expect aman to do in two weeks somethin' most men needs two months to do."
"Well if _you_ take two months to settle that matter for me, the otherfellow, _who can_ do it in two weeks, will win out, you mark my word. Soyou'd better not take time to buy candy at ten A. M. on Mondaymornings," for in some way Mr. Porter had gathered from Charles the truesituation, and had given this broad hint. Sniffins was not given totaking hints, but he dared not go counter to Mr. Porter's implied wishthat he leave the Candy Arch. Still, he was bound to have his last shot,and, with what he intended to be a telling glance, he said:
"You tell Miss Carruth that my sister will take that position, and I'llcall 'round later to arrange about her salary."
"It will not be necessary for you to do so, Mr. Sniffins; I have just'phoned to someone else." Constance had returned so quietly that no onewas aware of her approach.
"How do you do, Mr. Porter? I am glad to see you. What can I do for you?Come into my sanctum."
She led the way to the rear of the Arch, where a little inclosure heldher desk and two chairs. Sniffins turned to leave the
Arch. At theentrance he came face to face with Hadyn Stuyvesant. The look whichaccompanied the nod Sniffins gave him was not pleasant. Hadyn did notknow him at all, and looked at him in surprise, believing him to havemistaken him for someone else. But Sniffins knew Hadyn.
"So _he's_ on there, too, is he? Guess he can see through a millstonemost as far as other folks can. If that girl keeps on she's goin' to berich, _rich_. That business has growed--ah, grown--like a--a--well, it's_grown_. 'For' long she's goin' to have a big thing in it. Wake up,Sniffins, my boy. You're got as good a chance as any other fellow, an'you're no sloach on looks, neither. Get busy and spruce up more'n ever.Buy some new clothes, old man; you'll find 'em a good investment, I tellyou. Get Kit down there _somehow_; that's your best wedge for gettin'into the swell set up yonder. Kit's half-way good-lookin', and ain't gotthe spunk of a mouse to do any way except the way _I_ tell her."
By the time this monologue came to an end Sniffins had turned into hisoffice on State Street, and there found his sister awaiting him. She hadreturned to South Riveredge nearly frightened to death by his telegram.
"Ah, cut it out! What's the use whooping things up for nothing?" was hisshort ordering. "Nobody's dead nor dyin', but I want you to get down tothe Arcade and _get this job_, see? Don't come back here whinin' thatyou _can't_. You're _got_ to get it, or you can dust out o' SouthRiveredge an' your happy home. Now listen to what I'm tellin' you: Don'tyou let on _who_ you _are_. If you do the jig's up, for that high andmighty sprig down there ain't got no sort o' use for _me_. But I'll_tame_ her. I ain't seen the girl yet I couldn't tame. But I want youthere 'cause I want to keep track of the revenue, do you see? and ifyour head's worth half a muttonhead you can't _help_ gettin' a good ideaof what that business is worth, and that's what I mean to know. Shedon't know you from a hole in the ground, and you ain't goin' to lether----"
"But she will know my name, Lige."
"How will she know your name if you don't _tell_ her your name? You'vegot a middle name, ain't you? Well, what's the matter with that?Katherine Boggs is all right, ain't it? You haven't _got_ to tack on theSniffins."
"Oh, I'd forget, and people would know me, and I'd be scared to death todo it, Lige."
"Now see here: You'll be scared to death if you _don't_ do it, let metell you, for I'll scare you myself. Now get down there and do the jobright up to the mark."
About half an hour later a sweet-faced, timid girl presented herself atConstance's Arch. She seemed unduly agitated, and her hands trembled asshe rested them on the counter, to ask if Miss Carruth was to be seen.
"I think she can be," answered Constance, smiling encouragingly at theperturbed little figure before her, for Constance was too much hermother's child not to feel the deepest sympathy for such a girl.
"Is she in?" ventured her visitor.
"I am Miss Carruth. What can I do for you?"
"Oh! Why, you want a girl, a clerk?"
"I do. Come into my little office; no one will interrupt us there. Sitdown; you seem tired. Now tell me all about it. I've had such a pile ofletters that I hardly know which to answer. By the way, I have just'phoned to one who gave me her number but not her name. I asked her tocall at once. I wonder if you can be No. 795?" Constance paused with amost encouraging smile upon her lips and light in her eyes.
"Yes--oh--no; I mean----"
"Why are you so nervous? It will not be a very difficult undertaking,I'm sure, just to sit here and sell boxes of candy, and I'm not _half_as formidable a young woman as you must have pictured me. The hours arenot so very long, and there will be a good many spare moments. Thesalary is seven dollars a week. Do you care to consider it, Miss----?"
"S--Boggs, I mean Miss Boggs. Yes, I'll take it, I want it very much,I'll try to please you----"
Constance looked at the girl. What ailed her? Why this feverisheagerness to secure the position, and why a degree of nervousness whichalmost amounted to a panic?
"Will you please give me your address? And"--Constance hesitated. She wasupon the point of asking for references, but sympathy for the girlwithheld her from doing so.
The girl gave an address in a distant part of the town, and rose to go.Constance's look held her. There was nothing alarming in the quiet gazeof those deep brown eyes; on the contrary, it was soothing, ifcompelling.
"Do you mind telling me why you are so agitated? I can see no cause forit, yet there may be one which I do not guess, and if I can help removeit I shall be glad to do so. It troubles me to see you disturbed.Perhaps a good deal depends upon your securing a situation at once, andif that is the cause of your trouble we have removed it, haven't we? foryou are already engaged."
"Oh, yes, I know I'm very foolish; I do want the situation; I've _got_to take it; I'll do my very, very best; I truly will. Please excuse me.When must I come?"
"Can you come this afternoon? I am very anxious to get back to my dutiesin my candy kitchen, and if you can arrange to come here after luncheon,I shall have time to show you the little things you would like to learn,and to-morrow morning you can get along without me."
"Yes, I'll come. I'll be here at two o'clock, and I'll try so hard toplease you, Miss Carruth." For a moment a smile lighted up the girl'sface and quite transformed it.
She was a plain, colorless little thing, but something in her smile madeher very attractive.
"I shall be here. Good-bye for a couple of hours."
The girl hurried away.
"Well, if she isn't one of the oddest little creatures I've ever comeacross. I am sure I don't know what impelled me to engage her, for Idare say I could have found a dozen others much better qualified toattend to things here, but--somehow--well, I dare say, there's a lot ofmother in me, and when our sympathies are aroused we sometimes do queerthings."
Constance was not conscious of having spoken aloud, as she moved aboutthe Arch arranging and giving a touch here and there, until a laughingvoice asked:
"What is this I'm listening to? A budding elocutionist practicing hermonologue?"
"Does sound a little like it, doesn't it? but it's nothing half sobrilliant. In fact, you might suspect me of bordering on mentalaberration instead if I told you, so I reckon I won't. But I am starvedeven if you are not. Let us go see what Blairsdale _and_ Devon have tooffer to-day."
A moment later Constance and Hadyn Stuyvesant were seated in the littlescreened-off corner back of Charles' counter, his duties transferred tohis satellite, as he laid before his young mistress, and the one whom inhis faithful old heart he had long cherished a wish to call his "YoungMassa," the dainties especially prepared for them by Mammy.