Short Stories of the New America Part 20

"Oh, Maw!" Luke's pulses were leaping wildly. Buckwheat honey was the dear dream of many a long hour's wistful meditation. "If we could-I could study up about it an' send away fur printed books. We could make some money-"

But Maw had not yet finished.

"An' they's some about Tom, too, Luke! That young Doctor Wells down there-he's on'y b'en there a year-he come right up, an' spoke to me, in the midst of several. 'I want to talk about your boy,' he sez. 'I've wanted to fur some time, but didn't like to make bold; but now seem's as good a time as any.' 'They're all talkin' of him,' I sez. 'Well,' he sez, 'I don't mean the dead, but the livin' boy-the one folks calls Big Tom. I've heard his story, an' I got a good look over him down here in the store a while ago. Woman'-he sez it jest like that-'if that big boy o' your'n had a little operation, he'd be as good as any.'

"I answered him patient, an' told him what ailed Tom an' why he couldn't be no different-jest what old Doc Andrews told us-that they was a little piece o' bone druv deep into his skull that time he fell. He spoke real vi'lent then. 'But-my Lord!-woman,' he sez, 'that's what I'm talkin' about. If we jack up that bone'-trepannin', he called it too-'his brains'd git to be like anybody else's.' Told me he wants fur us to let him look after it. Won't cost anything unless we want. They's a hospital to Rockville would tend to it, an' glad to-when we git ready.... My poor Tommy!... Don't seem's if it could be true."

Her face softened, and she broke up suddenly.

"I got good boys all round," she wept. "I always said it; an' now folks know."

Luke lay on the old settle, thinking. In the air-tight stove the hickory f.a.gots crackled, with jeweled color-play. On the other side Tom sat whittling silently-Tom, who would presently whittle no more, but rise to be a man.

It was incredible! Incredible that the old place might some day shake off its shackles of poverty and be organized for a decent struggle with life! Incredible that Maw-stepping briskly about getting the supper-should be singing!

Already the room seemed filled and warmed with the odors of prosperity and self-respect. Maw had put a red geranium on the table; there was the crispy fragrance of frying salt pork and soda biscuit in the air.

These the Hayneses! These people, with hope and self-esteem once more in their hearts! These people, with a new, a unique place in the community's respect! It was all like a beautiful miracle; and, thinking of its maker, Luke choked suddenly and gulped.

There was a moist spot on the old Mexican hairless right under his eyes; but it had been made by tears of pride, not sorrow. Maw was right! A hero's folks hadn't ought to cry. And he wouldn't. Nat was better off than ever-safe and honored. He had trod the path of glory. A line out of the boy's old Reader sprang to his mind: "The paths of glory lead but to the grave." Oh, but it wasn't true! Nat's path led to life-to hope; to help for all of them, for Nat's own. In his death, if not in his life, he had rehabilitated them. And Nat-who loved them-would look down and call it good.

In spite of himself the boy sobbed, visioning his brother's face.

"Oh, Nat!" he whispered. "I knew you'd do it! I always said you'd do somethin' big for us all."

-Mary Brecht Pulver.

VIII-SERGT. WARREN COMES BACK FROM FRANCE

Immediately after voting, the Rev. Jeremiah Soule stepped outside the town hall to fortify himself with fresh air for the coming meeting.

Several others had done the same.

"Been a hard winter, Mr. Soule," politely remarked one of the loiterers about the door. He was clad for the gusts of March like a sealer about to venture forth upon an Arctic floe.

"And especially for the boys in the trenches," said the minister.

"That's a fact, sir. I didn't mean we'd ought to complain. We had our share of coal and wood, I guess, if the wood _was_ green and the coal mostly slate."

"And we had the money to pay for it."

The group of men stirred a little uneasily.

"Honestly made, I think you'll admit that, sir," said Arthur Watts, a strapping fellow of thirty years, who had been called in the first draft and rejected on account of his poor teeth.

"I believe so-quite," admitted Mr. Soule. "We are making good rope for the government and our allies, and no one is better pleased over it than I. I'm proud of the cordage plant. Yes, since this dreadful war had to be, the town has come honestly enough by its prosperity."

The group felt that Mr. Soule had tactfully dodged the real issue, and they were content to have it so. Just then the polls were closed, and those who had brought lunch boxes proceeded to consume the contents.

Others presented themselves at the anteroom, where George Ba.s.sett was dispensing his famous chowder and coffee, together with pickles and bread and b.u.t.ter.

"It frets the parson to see us keeping our money instead of blowing it all out in charity," remarked Watts, across a steaming mug of strong coffee. He laughed indulgently.

His friends did not echo his amus.e.m.e.nt. They looked, if not exactly ill at ease, at any rate somewhat sober.

The hall was packed when Joel Holmes, a ma.s.sive and imperturbable person, was chosen moderator for the tenth successive time. Warrant in one large hand and gavel in the other, he inscrutably stared upon the expectant voters for a weighty minute.

"The meeting will please come to order," he announced. The gavel smote the desk resoundingly.

As usual, the first person to be recognized was fiery little Mr. Abel Crabbe, who had a few withering remarks to make concerning the warrant as a whole. He was greatly applauded. As a conscientious objector to everything, Abel was looked upon as an interesting feature of town meeting.

A number of articles were then discussed and disposed of without excitement until Henry Torrey rose. He was as much of an objector as Mr.

Crabbe, but he dealt in irony rather than in blunt scorn. With a grim smile he proceeded to ridicule the library directors. When he had exposed them in their true colors, he made an impa.s.sioned motion to halve the appropriation they asked for in Article 6 of the warrant.

The motion was enthusiastically seconded, but on being put to vote Torrey's was the only ay. The crowd enjoyed Torrey as they enjoyed Abel Crabbe, but they had perfect faith in the library directors, the town officers and the warrant.

Early in the proceedings it was evident that Article No. 10 was to furnish the event of the day. It ran as follows:

"That the sum of $25,000 be appropriated for the improvement and embellishment of Farragut Square, said improvement to include the removal of the four old buildings now ab.u.t.ting upon it, the erection of a flagpole and a suitable band stand and the widening of Brig Street on the bay side of the square."

When the article was reached, no disposition was shown to dispose of it quickly. Fenville wished to hear the report of the committee and the opinions and impressions of each and every member thereon. The plan had caught the popular fancy. Nearly every man there was ready to back it firmly, even boastfully.

Pompous Mr. Baxter, the chairman of the committee, sounded the keynote.

He sketched the history of the cordage plant, which had begun as an unaspiring rope-walk. He compared it to the ugly duckling that became a regal swan. And the swan, he said, pursuing the simile, had not flown out of their hands in spite of the great wings it had grown.

At this point the moderator's voice and gavel were called upon to quell a disturbance in the rear of the hall apparently occasioned by the entrance of some late arrivals.

When order was restored Mr. Baxter, continuing the paean to the town's prosperity, spoke of the uniquely local character of the cordage plant; of the fact that virtually everyone, from the president down to the office boy, concerned with it was a native of Fenville. And besides a liberal salary everyone had a share in the profits. Nearly every penny of the stock was owned right in the town of Fenville. All of which was no news, but everyone relished Baxter's glowing phrases just the same.

The speeches of the other committeemen were in the same tenor. Fenville had made money out of its cordage; was still making money. It could afford to pat its own back, and the pat might well take the form of a renovated and beautified town square that would advertise its business smartness to all beholders.

As the last of the committeemen sat down, some one in the rear of the hall addressed the moderator.

"Mr. --?" queried that official, unable to see the speaker clearly.

Like the old hall, recently destroyed by fire, the new structure had made a concession to the fair and inquisitive s.e.x in the shape of a deep rear balcony.

"Warren-Miles Warren."

An excited craning of heads followed, and even Joel Holmes showed the human being beneath the armor of officialdom.

"Miles Warren!" he e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed. Then his gavel mechanically reminded him of his duties and he recalled the meeting to order. It took vigorous rapping to still the persistent murmurs and the eager turnings.

"I'd like to say a few words about Article 10," said the man under the low balcony.

"Well, I guess you can!" boomed the moderator. He was preserving his self-control with difficulty. His hands fidgeted and his circular face showed a deepening crimson. "But we can't hear what you say way back there-or see you, either," he added. "Please step a little farther forward if you will, Mr. Warren."

The storm of welcoming applause for the son who had so unexpectedly returned to his native town after two years of splendid service in the far-famed Foreign Legion suddenly fell to a shocked silence. They saw now why Sergt. Warren had come home. His father stood beside him. Miles needed some one to guide him up the narrow aisle-for he was blind.