Jewel: A Chapter in Her Life Part 19

"Well, little girl, how are you getting on?" he asked.

"Pretty well, thank you." Her beaming expression left no doubt that she was very glad to see him.

"Not particularly flattering if she is," he mused. "Fine ladies not out of their rooms yet, and ma doin' her duty by her to beat the band."

"Where's your doll?" he asked.

"I didn't bring her. I thought perhaps the--Mrs. Forbes would--would just as lief she didn't come."

"Ma _hasn't_ played with dolls for quite a spell," agreed Zeke, with a smile that was sunshine to the child.

"You live out in the barn with the horses, don't you?" she asked eagerly. "Will you give me permission to go out there some time?"

"Sure. Come any time."

"Mrs. Forbes said I must ask permission," responded the child with an apprehensive glance behind her to see if her escort were arriving.

"What--what is your name?"

"Forgotten this soon? I told you Zeke."

"I thought you did, but your mother said it was something very different."

"Ezekiel, perhaps."

"Yes, that's it. I won't forget again. How many horses has grandpa?"

"Two here, but I guess he's got more in the country. You come out to the barn any time you feel like it. You've heard of a bell cow, haven't you?

Well, we've got the belle horse out there. She beats all creation."

"The one I saw yesterday," eagerly, "the one that runs away all the time?"

"No. This is Mr. Evringham's riding horse."

Jewel hopped and clapped her hands. "I'll see grandpa ride. Goody! I'll watch him."

"Go to your paths, Zeke," said a voice, and the veil appeared around the corner of the house.

Jewel quietly joined her stately companion, and walked away sedately beside her.

They did not exchange many words on their way to the park gates, for Mrs. Forbes needed her breath for the rather long promenade, and Jewel was busy looking at the trees and trim swards and crocus beds beside the winding road.

Outside the gate they had to wait but a minute before the car came, and after they had boarded it, the little girl was entertained by looking out of the window, and often wished for Anna Belle's sympathy in some novel sight or sound.

A ride of fifteen minutes brought them to the shoe store. Mrs. Forbes seemed to know the clerk, and Jewel was finally fitted to her guardian's satisfaction, but scarcely to her own, the housekeeper having selected the species known as storm rubbers, and chose them as large as would stay on.

"They're quite warm, aren't they?" said Jewel, looking down at her shiny feet and trying to speak cheerfully.

"When you wear them you want to be warm," was Mrs. Forbes's rejoinder.

"I brought my money," said the child, in a low voice.

"No. Your grandfather wishes to make you a present of these." The housekeeper's tone was final, and she paid for the overshoes, which were wrapped up, and then she led Jewel out of the store.

Next door was a candy shop with alluring windows.

"I'd like to go in here," said the little girl. "Would you mind?"

"Do you spend your money for candy, Julia?"

"Yes'm. Don't you like it?" Jewel lingered, looking at the pretty display. Easter had recently pa.s.sed, and there were bright-eyed little yellow chickens that especially took her fancy.

"It isn't a question of liking it when people are poor," returned Mrs.

Forbes. "I'm astonished that your mother encourages you to spend money for candy."

Jewel looked up quickly. "Did you think we were poor?" she asked, with disconcerting suddenness.

Mrs. Forbes hesitated. "Your mother is a dressmaker, isn't she?"

"Yes, she's just a splendid one. Everybody says so. We couldn't be poor, you know. She found out about G.o.d before I was old enough to talk, so you see all her poor time came before I can remember."

The housekeeper glanced about her furtively. "Julia, don't you know you shouldn't use your Creator's name on the street!" she exclaimed, when she had made certain that no one was listening.

"Why not?" asked the child.

"Why--why--it isn't a proper place. Some one might hear you."

"Well, won't you let me get some candy now? If I knew what kind you liked, Mrs. Forbes, I'd get it."

"I don't eat candy as a rule. It's not only extravagant, it's very unhealthy."

The little girl smiled. "How do you suppose your stomach knows what you put into it?" she asked. "I guess you're just a little--bit--afraid, aren't you?"

"Odder than d.i.c.k's hatband!" quoth Mrs. Forbes again, mentally. "I take h.o.r.ehound drops sometimes," she said aloud, "for a cold."

"Can't you sneeze a little now?" asked Jewel, amus.e.m.e.nt twinkling in her blue eyes. "I do want so much to go in here."

"Don't tempt Providence by making fun of sickness, Julia, or you'll live to regret it," returned Mrs. Forbes. "I don't mind getting some h.o.r.ehound drops, but be careful now and don't spend too much. A little girl's money always burns in her pocket."

"Yes'm," returned the child dutifully, skipping up to the door of the shop and opening it.

Mrs. Forbes followed slowly, and once inside, fell into conversation with the girl of whom she bought the cough candy. This gave Jewel opportunity to buy beside her caramels one of the lovely yellow chickens, which she designed for a special purpose.

"Now don't you eat that candy before lunch. It will take away your appet.i.te. It is nearly lunch time now," said Mrs. Forbes as they left the store.

"And won't you either?" asked the child, offering the open caramel bag with a spontaneous politeness which somehow made the housekeeper feel at a disadvantage.

"No, thank you. Stop that car, Julia, and make them wait for me," she said, making haste slowly.