CHAPTER IV
The very next day was Saturday so that Rebecca Mary was at home when thepostman made his first round. He brought her a letter from her mother,and Rebecca Mary never suspected what a wonderful surprise was packed inthe square envelope.
Mrs. Wyman's favorite aunt, a woman of some wealth and many years, haddecided to give a few of her friends the legacies she had meant to leavethem at her death so that she could hear how they were enjoyed. She hadsent Mrs. Wyman a check for five thousand dollars and a check for athousand dollars to each of the Wyman girls. Rebecca Mary's eyes fairlypopped from her head when she saw her check and read the letter. Shecouldn't believe that it was her check.
"I want you to spend at least a part of it on yourself," wrote Mrs. Wyman. "You have been so splendid and unselfish in sharing everything with us that you have earned the right to be a little foolish with some of this money. You never expected to have it and so we never planned to use any of it for a new roof or a kitchen stove. Take a little trip in your vacation, dear, or buy some other pleasure. If you put it in the bank the interest would pay your insurance premium, but you have sacrificed so much to the future. Perhaps I have been wrong in making so much of it for after all you are young but once. I do want my girls to have some good times to remember. Write Aunt Ellen a little note, and tell her that you are going to buy a lot of pleasure which you will remember all of your life with her generous gift."
Rebecca Mary had to read that letter twice before she could quiteunderstand it, and then she looked at her loan child.
"Joan," she exclaimed breathlessly, "let us give three rousing cheersfor a four-leaf clover!"
And after they had given three of the rousingest sort of cheers they puton their hats and went down to the First National Bank, where RebeccaMary deposited the most beautiful check that she ever hoped to see. Andthere they met Stanley Cabot, who was very much pleased to see RebeccaMary again and who introduced her to his older brother, Richard Cabot,who was the youngest bank vice-president that Waloo had ever had.Rebecca Mary had never expected to know a vice-president of the FirstNational Bank, and as soon as she saw him her eyes changed from saucersize to service plates, for she recognized him at once. He was the manwho had been with old Mrs. Peter Simmons that afternoon at the Waloo,the man who had looked as if he could do things, the man who had madeher cheeks burn and her heart thump. She had never thought that alreadyhe had done enough to make him a bank vice-president. He looked tooyoung. Rebecca Mary had always thought of a banker, vice-president orpresident, as an old man with gray hair and plenty of figure. RichardCabot hadn't a gray hair in his head and he was as slim and straight asan athlete. He seemed wonderful to Rebecca Mary, who gazed at him with asurprise and interest which amused and flattered him. He did notrecognize her at all for she had changed her face. At the Waloo tea roomshe had worn a yellow brown scowl and at the bank she had on a pinksmile. It was not strange that Richard did not recognize her until shehad agreed that it was a gorgeous day and that Mrs. Simmons was aperfect old dear. Then it was Richard who opened his eyes wide.
"That's it!" he exclaimed, and the puzzled look in his face was chasedaway by a slight flush, which seemed rather strange to be on the face ofa banker. "I thought I had seen you before, Miss Wyman. And it was atthe Waloo the afternoon Granny took me there for tea. She would acceptno refusal although I told her that bankers had no time and little usefor tea. But I was glad I went."
He liked Rebecca Mary's pink smile and self-conscious manner. Richardknew any number of girls, all of those with whom he had grown up and allthe relatives and friends of the older men with whom he was associatedand who regarded him as Waloo's most promising young man, and thosegirls had always met him considerably more than half way. It wasrefreshing to meet a girl who blushed and hesitated over the first stepsto his acquaintance. It made him feel big and mannish and important,which is exactly the way you like to feel if you are a man. That is whywhen he met Rebecca Mary at the bank door, after she had loaned thatmost beautiful check in the world to the cashier, that he said moreimpulsively than he usually spoke to a girl:
"If you have finished your banking, may I walk up the avenue with you?"
"My banking never takes long." Rebecca Mary was all in a flutter at thethought of walking up the avenue with Mr. Richard Cabot. Why, it wouldbe like taking a stroll with the ten story bank building. "I just put alittle in, and it seems to come out by itself," she explained sadly.
The walk up the avenue was a royal progress for Richard seemed to knowevery one. His hat was never on his head. Rebecca Mary was rathertongue-tied, but Joan's tongue was not tied. Before they were out of thebank she had told Richard that she had been loaned to Rebecca Mary andthat they were going to dinner at Mrs. Simmons' house on Thursdayevening.
"I've never been to a party dinner in all my life," she finished withgreat importance, "so I hope nothing will happen."
"What could happen?" asked Richard with a smile for Rebecca Mary, whogave him a shy smile in exchange.
"Lots of things. Scarlet fever or mumps or----"
"My goodness gracious, Joan! I hope you haven't been neighborly enoughto take mumps or scarlet fever!" The mere hint that Joan might have beenthat neighborly was startling to Rebecca Mary.
"But I'm not going to think of them because they aren't going to happen,and there isn't any good in thinking of what never will happen, isthere?" went on Joan.
"Not a bit," agreed Richard. "Are you going in here?" For Rebecca Maryhad stopped before the very smartest shop in Waloo.
"We're going to buy clothes for the dinner," Joan whisperedconfidentially. "My father said that ladies, even as little ladies as Iam, can't ever go anywhere without buying new clothes. He thinks it'svery strange."
"So it is. No wonder their money won't stay in the bank. I am very gladto have met you, Miss Wyman, and I hope to see those new clothes sometime soon." He looked straight into Rebecca Mary's gray eyes as he toldher what he hoped to do before he said good-by and went on up theavenue.
"Joan, you are an awful chatterbox," rebuked Rebecca Mary.
"I only talk because my head is so full of words that they just tumbleoff my tongue. Don't the words want to tumble from your tongue?" Joanasked curiously as they went into the smartest shop.
Rebecca Mary looked at the beautiful frocks about her. Oh, Cousin Susanwas right, and her clothes were a disgrace. They weren't clothes at all,they were only covering. She sent a little thank you message to AuntEllen by telepathy before she began that easiest of all tasks for awoman, to spend money.
She had an odd feeling that she was not herself as she went up ParkTerrace with Joan on Thursday evening, and she surely did not look likeher old shabby self. How could she when she wore a smart white Georgettecrepe frock under a smart beige cape and her big black hat had beendesigned by a real milliner and not copied by a "make over person?"Rebecca Mary had spent an hour with a hair dresser that afternoon afterschool so that from the wave in her yellow brown hair to the sole of herwhite pumps she was absolutely new. She felt as new as she looked, forthere is nothing which will take the tired discouraged feeling from awoman, or a man either, quicker or more effectively than new clothes.Festal garments had been found for Joan in the suit case which Mrs.Muldoon had packed so that any one who saw Rebecca Mary and Joan walk upPark Terrace knew at once that they were going out to dine.
They were early, and Rebecca Mary was dreadfully mortified. It looked soeager, so hungry, she told herself crossly, to be early. Joan was notmortified at all for in her small mind a guest could not go to a partytoo early. Mrs. Simmons joined them in a very few minutes. Joan curtsiedprettily and kissed Granny's wrinkled white hand.
"Did you teach her to do that in the Lincoln school?" Granny askedRebecca Mary after Joan had gone into the sun room to see the gold fishin their crystal globe. "Have you heard anything from her father yet? IfMr. Simmons were here we would soon know all about Mr. Frederick B
efort,Count Ernach de Befort," she corrected herself with a chuckle ofamusement. "But he isn't here, and I don't like to make trouble at theoffice. I hope Mr. Befort comes back soon for your sake. Here is RichardCabot. He asked himself," she explained as Richard came toward them. "Hecalled me up and asked if I would give him some dinner. He often dropsin when Mr. Simmons is away to keep me from being lonesome. I'm glad hecame to-night."
Richard looked a trifle conscious himself as he took Rebecca Mary's handand told her that he was very glad to see her again.
"And her new clothes, Mr. Cabot," whispered an anxious little voice athis elbow. Joan was desperately afraid that Richard would not seeRebecca Mary's new frock. "You said you wanted to see her new clothessoon, and here they are. Aren't they beautiful? And they were markeddown from sixty-nine fifty! Doesn't she look like a princess?"
"I've never seen a princess," laughed Richard, his eyes telling RebeccaMary more than his lips how very much he liked her marked down frock.
"Haven't you?" Joan looked quite surprised and sorry. "I have. I've seenthe Belgian princess and some of the English ones and, of course, all ofthe German ones."
Rebecca Mary and Granny looked at each other as Joan spoke of the manyprincesses she had seen. They couldn't help it. And Rebecca Mary beganto think that perhaps Joan had too much imagination.
It was a very gay little dinner, and before they had finished theircoffee young Peter Simmons and his mother ran in to ask what Granny hadheard from grandfather. They were followed almost at once by SallieCabot and her husband, young Joshua Cabot, and close on their heels cameyoung Mrs. Hiram Bingham with her adoring father-in-law. Richard drewRebecca Mary to the other side of the grand piano and told her howSallie Cabot had eloped with her great aunt and found a husband and ofthe jam rivalries which had threatened the romance of Hiram and JudithBingham. It was like reading two volumes from the public library to hearRichard, and Rebecca Mary's eyes sparkled. So there really was someromance in the world. She had been afraid there wasn't any left. She hadthought it must all be shut up in books.
"You ask Sallie," advised Richard, when she said that. "She'll tell youthat there will be romance in the world as long as there are people init. I used to laugh at her but, by George, I'm beginning to think thatshe is right!"
"Of course, I'm right," declared Sallie, who had strolled near enough tohear herself quoted. "Wherever did you find that child?" she askedRebecca Mary with a nod toward Joan. "Granny said she was a mystery, butshe is also a darling. She talks like an American kiddie, but shedoesn't act like an American. She acts more like a--like a Frenchchild," she decided. Sallie Cabot had been at a French convent so shethought she knew what French children were like.
"Her mother was an American, from New Orleans." Rebecca Mary didn't knowwhat Joan's father was so she couldn't tell Sallie. "She is a dear,isn't she? When she told me she had been loaned to me I was scared todeath and furious, too, but she really is fun. I expect I was in a rut,"she confessed with a shamed little face and voice which quite enchantedRichard.
"A rut? What an unpleasant place for a pretty girl to be. May I tell youthat I love your frock?"
Rebecca Mary glowed with pleasure to hear young Mrs. Joshua Cabot admireher marked down frock. Every one in Waloo knew that Mrs. Joshua Cabotcould have a new frock every day and two for Sunday if she wanted them.
"I like it," Rebecca Mary admitted with adorable shyness.
"So do I!" Richard did not speak at all shyly but very emphatically.
Sallie smiled as she moved away. "Any new fox trots, Granny?" she asked."I depend upon you to keep me up to the minute. Put on a record, Peter,and let us jig a bit. You like to trot, don't you, Miss Wyman?"
Rebecca Mary admitted that she did, and Richard asked her to have onewith him as if he were afraid that some one would claim her before hecould. He was a perfect partner for he extended just far enough aboveher five feet and three inches to hold her right, and their steps suitedperfectly. Rebecca Mary had never enjoyed a dance more, she thoughtbreathlessly, when at last they stopped because the music stopped.
"Here's your next partner," announced Peter, when he had changed therecord and another fox trot called them to dance.
If Rebecca Mary had been thrilled to dance with Waloo's youngest bankvice-president you may imagine how bubbly she was inside to fox trotwith Waloo's hero. Peter smiled as he looked at the flushed face so nearhis own. Lordy, but he hadn't realized what a jolly little thing Grannyhad found. Nothing school marmish about her with her shining gray eyes,which were almost black now, and her yellow-brown hair and her pinkcheeks and her smart new frock. Absolutely nothing.
Looking up to make a little remark about the call of the fox trot,Rebecca Mary caught the admiration in Peter's face, and she was soastonished that she lost the step. That made her furious, and shefrowned impatiently.
"By thunder!" exclaimed Peter in quick surprise, and he stopped dancingto look at her. "Now I know where I saw you before! It was at the Waloo,and you scowled at me like a pirate. I was scared to death for fear youdidn't like me."
"You scowled at me first!" Rebecca Mary's defense of her scowl was moreemphatic than logical.
"Oh, come now!" Peter wouldn't believe that he had been that culpable."I couldn't scowl at you. My old Granny was quite broken hearted to seeyou frown. She said if you were her daughter she'd lock you up until youhad learned to smile. Granny's strong for the grins. Give one and you'llget one is her motto. You can see for yourself how it works. Youscowled at me,--sure it was that way!--and I scowled at you, although Idon't see now how I ever did it."
"It's a very bad habit," Rebecca Mary told him severely. Her mouth wasas sober as a judge's mouth ever was, but her eyes crinkled joyously."You should break yourself of it."
"I shall," Peter told her promptly. "Just how should I go to work? Youseem to have broken yourself of it." His eyes were full of boyishadmiration.
"Not entirely." Rebecca Mary sighed, "I wish I could. A frowning face ishorrid. If you ever see me scowl again I wish you would shout 'Pirate'at me as loud as you can. I'm afraid I do it unconsciously." And sureenough her eyebrows did begin to bend together unconsciously.
"Pirate!" shouted Peter instantly. "I can see it's going to be some workto be monitor of your eyebrows," he chuckled.
Rebecca Mary was sorry when the dance with Peter was over although sheturned politely to Joshua Cabot when he spoke to her.
"Peter's a lucky chap," he said as he swung her out into the room. "Allgirls love a hero, and he's a hero all right. I'd like a decorationmyself, but I don't know as I'd care to be kissed on both cheeks by ahairy French general. That duty should have been delegated to fat MadameGeneral or better still to pretty Mademoiselle General. Peter is a goodold scout, and modest. He blushes like a girl when any one speaks ofwhat he has done."
Rebecca Mary nodded. She had seen him blush. She colored delicatelyherself, and Joshua looked wisely over her head to his wife. Hello,another victim for old Peter, his glance seemed to tell Sallie Cabot.
Joan danced, too, with old Mr. Bingham, who was not as light on his feetas he had been once.
"I do it for exercise," he explained to Granny. "Judy thinks it's goodfor me."
"You needn't make any excuse to me, Hiram Bingham. I take exercisemyself, don't I, Peter? And if old Peter Simmons comes home in time weshall dance nothing but fox trots at our golden wedding."
"A golden wedding!" Joan had never heard of such a thing. "What doesthat mean, dear Granny Simmons? Would I like one?"
Granny patted her rosy cheeks. "If you have any kind of a wedding I hopeyou will have a golden one, too. It stands, Joan, for fifty years ofself-control and unselfishness and forbearance and----"
"And love," interrupted Sallie Cabot quickly. "Don't leave out the love,Granny. No man and woman could live together for fifty years withoutlove."
"I reckon you're right, Sallie," agreed Granny meekly.
"I've never been to a golden wedding," ventured Joan, playing with th
eblack ribbon which kept Granny's glasses from losing themselves. "I'venever been invited to one!"
"You are invited to mine this minute," Granny told her with beautifulpromptness.
"Oh!" Joan balanced herself on her toes and exclaimed rapturously: "Agolden wedding! What good times I've had since I was loaned!"
"I suppose you young people think you are having good times," murmuredGranny wistfully, "but they aren't a patch on the good times we had, arethey, Hiram? I like to take my memories out and gloat over them when Ihear you young people talk. I have a lot of them, too. Why, Joan, if Ishould take all my memories out and put them end to end I expect theywould reach around the world, and if they were piled one on top of theother they would be higher than the Waloo water tower." She named thehighest point in Waloo.
Joan was not the only one impressed by the vast number of Granny'smemories.
"Imagine," Rebecca Mary turned to Richard, who was at her elbow, "havingso many things you want to remember. Most of my experiences I want toforget." And she shivered.
"Have they been so unpleasant?" Richard had never imagined he could beso sympathetic. "But I've heard that the hard experiences are the veryones that people like best to remember."
Rebecca Mary shook her head. "How can they?" She didn't see how any onewould want to remember unpleasant experiences.
"But you aren't going to have any more disagreeable times," promisedRichard confidently, as if he knew exactly what the future had in storefor her. "You are going to walk on Pleasant Avenue from now on."
"I hope so." But Rebecca Mary was not so confident, although she lookedup and smiled at him. "I surely have been on Pleasant Avenue thisevening, but now I must run back to Worry Street. I'm like Cinderella,only out on leave." And she laughed at his prophecy before she wentover to tell Granny that she had never had such a good time.
"Must you go?" Granny held her hand in a warm friendly clasp and thoughtthat the child looked as if she had had a good time. "Wait a minute.Peter----"
Rebecca Mary's heart thumped. Was Granny going to ask Peter to take herhome? But if Granny was she didn't for Richard interrupted her.
"Let me take Miss Wyman home. I have my car."
"I have mine, too," grinned Peter.
"But you have your mother. I'm alone."
Beggars cannot be choosers and although she would far rather have gonewith Peter it was pleasant to ride with Richard in his big car, Joantucked between them. Richard bent forward.
"Tired?" he asked gently.
"I'm glad to be tired to-night." Rebecca Mary spoke almost fiercely."I've been dead tired from work and from disappointment, but it hasn'tbeen often that I've been tired from pleasure." And then she amazedherself and charmed Richard by telling him something of her life, whichhad been so full of work and disappointment and so empty of pleasure.She even told him of Cousin Susan and the price she had paid for theirtea at the Waloo, and Richard, banker though he was, had never heard ofkitchen curtains buying tea for two.
"You were there that afternoon," she reminded him after she had decidedthat she would not tell him about the four-leaf clover. It would soundtoo foolish to a bank vice-president.
"I know," Richard said hastily before he went on in his usualmatter-of-fact voice. "You modern girls are wonderful. You are as braveas a man, braver than lots of men I know."
"That's because we have to be brave," Rebecca Mary explained. "I don'tknow why I've bored you with my stupid past," she said, rather ashamedof her outburst. "I've never spilled all my troubles on any one before."
"I'm mighty flattered that you told them to me. It means that we aregoing to be friends, doesn't it?" He bent forward to see as well as tohear that she would be friends with him. It was not often that Richardhad asked for a girl's friendship.
Rebecca Mary felt that in some occult feminine fashion, and she offeredhim a warm little hand and said indeed she should be glad to be friendswith him. If her voice shook a trifle when she said that it must havebeen because Richard was such a very important young man in Waloo.
Before she went to bed Rebecca Mary took out her memory insurance policyand entered another payment.
"A fox trot with the hero of Waloo."
So far as her memory insurance went the most promising young man inWaloo did not seem to exist although she liked him very very much. ButRebecca Mary was like everybody else, she would rather have what shewanted than what she could get.