Part 16 (1/2)
Little Josh, who had acquired the diminutive t.i.tle merely because he had been born two years later than his cousin, Big Josh, showed despondency in every line of his six-feet-two.
”The women will all be banded against her and want to send her to a home, but we can't stand for that,” said Big Josh. ”The women'll have to get it into their heads that they can't boss the whole shooting match. Well, come on and let's speak to our little cousin. Oh, you needn't worry. I'm going to be as careful as possible and never say a word I shouldn't. I can't take her into the family unless all the others do. When we have the family meeting about Cousin Ann we might bring up this business of Miss Judith Buck at the same time.”
”Good idea! Good idea!” agreed Little Josh.
What Big Josh said to Judith was, ”And how do you do, Miss Buck?
Remember you? Of course I remember you, but do you remember me?”
”And how could I forget you when you have given me many a lift on the road? You never pa.s.sed me by without picking me up.” Judith's manner was so frank and sweet and she smiled so brightly at Big Josh, returning his vigorous handshake with a strong, unaffected clasp, that the good-natured fellow was won over completely.
”Well, well! We've pretty near got the same name,” he cried heartily.
”You are Buck and I am Bucknor. I wouldn't be astonished if we had been the same in the beginning. Either your folks knocked the _nor_ off or my folks stuck it on. Ha! Ha! We may be related for all we know.”
CHAPTER XVI
The Morning After
”All over and paid for!” yawned Colonel Crutcher the morning after the debut party. ”I tell you I couldn't do it every night.”
”Neither could I--nor every week, nor every month, nor even every year,” agreed Major Fitch. ”But I tell you, Crutcher, it was worth it, I mean digging in our jeans for the money and getting so tired out and feeling our age and everything. It was worth it all, just to see our girl's eyes s.h.i.+ning and to prove what she is made of. I tell you she stood up there and received with as much dignity as Queen Victoria herself.”
The old men were gathered together on the Rye House porch, chairs tilted back and feet on railing as usual.
”I tell you, she's a thoroughbred, all right,” declared Pete Barnes.
”Why, that gal turned down two of the best-looking beaux at the hop--Jeff Bucknor and that young Harbison--just to sit down an' talk with me, old Pete Barnes. Jeff Bucknor was sore, too. He up an'
claimed kin with her an' she just gave him the merry ha ha.”
”Well, my j'ints are mighty stiff, but I'm proud to have trod a measure with Miss Judith Buck,” said Colonel Crutcher.
”It was worth a lot to see Miss Ann Peyton again, too,” said Judge Middleton. ”I heard a good deal of talk on the side about Miss Ann last night. It seems that the family is getting together on the subject. The women folks are reading the riot act and simply refusing to have the old lady visit them any more. Big Josh was shooting off his lip pretty lively because the women of the family want to send her to an old ladies' home. I say poor Miss Ann, but at the same time I can see the other side.”
Others beside the old men were aweary after the ball. Miss Ann spent a sleepless night and could not drag herself from her bed in time for breakfast. When old Billy came to her room with a can of hot water for her morning ablutions, he found his mistress limp and forlorn.
”Jes' you lay still, my pretty, an' ol' Billy will bring you up some breakfus'. You had so many beaux las' night, hoverin' roun' you like bees 'roun' a honey pot, no wonder you air tuckered out this mornin'.
I reckon you couldn't sleep with yo' haid so full er music an'
carryin's on.”
”I didn't sleep very well, Billy, because I am worrying. I am thinking perhaps we had better move on.”
”Don't say it, Miss Ann, don't say it! Buck Hill air sho' the gyardin spot er all our visitations. What put you in min' er movin' on?”
”I overheard, without meaning to in the least, but they spoke quite loudly--I overheard Cousin Milly talking on the subject with some of the others at the ball and I am afraid we are not welcome here.”
”Why, Miss Ann, 'twas only yistiddy that young Ma.r.s.e Jeff Bucknor up an' made me a solemn promise that you wouldn't never want fer nothin'
so long as he mought live an' be able ter do fer you.”
”That's very sweet of him, Billy, but this isn't his home alone. His mother is the mistress here. I think we might go visit Mr. Big Josh Bucknor for a while. He was very cordial and even said he would come for me in a flying machine because of the bad road leading into his place. What do you think of that, Billy? He said you could follow after with the carriage and horses.”
”Well, Miss Ann, I think Ma.r.s.e Big Josh air as good as gol' an' as kind as custard, but I can't help a feelin' that he don't mean ev'y-thing he says. Not that he ain't a thinkin' at the time that he will do what he promises, but ev'ybody knows you have ter take what Ma.r.s.e Big Josh says with a dose of salts. I don't mean he wouldn't be proud an' glad ter have us-alls come an' visit him, but I mean he ain't liable ter be a flyin' any time soon er late in this here world er yet the world ter come. He ain't ter say sanctified.”