Part 9 (2/2)
”I thought,” sez he, ”from her looks and yours that she might be your grand-child, but that is of no moment,” sez he.
”It is of moment!” sez I, ”she is uncle Leander Smith's own child, and though she is a few years younger than I be, it has always been said and thought all over Jonesville and Loontown that I hold my age to a remarkable extent. And though I think my eyes of Faith I won't thank you or anyone else for callin' her my grand-child!”
”But yet,” sez he, ”that's a tender, sweet relations.h.i.+p. What I want to say to you is in relation to Miss Smith, she looks sad but beauchious. I like her looks. You may have noticed that I have occasionally glanced in the direction of your party.”
”Yes,” sez I, ”Heaven knows I have noticed it!”
”Yes,” sez he, ”as I have looked upon her face from day to day a conflict has been wagin' in my heart, and though you may be surprised at the result (for I am very wealthy) I have decided to make her glad and joyous once more.”
He paused, as if for a reply, and I sez, ”How did you mean to tackle the job?”
”By makin' her my wife,” sez he.
The mystery wuz all explained, my dignity and my beloved pardner's safety all a.s.sured. I felt a feeling of infinite relief, and yet I felt like a fool, and I blamed him severely for this ridiculous _contrary temps_ that had occurred in my mind.
”Of course,” sez he, ”it is a great rise for her, I have hearn that she hain't worth much, as I count wealth, and as we are speakin' in confidence, I will say that there is a rich widder here who has hopes of me, and mebby I've gin her some encouragement, kinder accidental, as you may say, but I ort to know better. Widdowers can't be too careful; they do great harm, let 'em be as careful as possible. They tromple right and left over wimmen's hearts do the best they can. But since I have seen Miss Smith and witnessed her sad face I have done a sight of thinkin'. Here the case lays, the widder is strong, she can stand trouble better. The widder is happy, for she has got that which will make any woman happy--health, wealth, and property. And I've been turnin' it over in my mind that mebby Duty is drawin' me away from the widder and towards the maid. It hain't because the widder is homely as the old Harry that influences me, no not at all. But the thought of lightenin' the burden of the sad and down hearted, makin' the mournful eyes dance with ecstasy, and the skrinkin' form bound with joy like--like--the boundin' row on the hill tops. Now as the case stands marry I will and must. My wife has already been lost for a period of three months lackin' three weeks. She sweetly pa.s.sed away murmurin', 'I am glad to go.'”
”No wonder at that!” I sez, ”no wonder!”
”Yes, she wuz a Christian and she pa.s.sed sweetly up into the Hevings, thank the Lord!” sez he lookin' acrost onto Faith's sweet face, for she had come back and set down acrost the room.
”She is better off, I hain't a doubt on't!” sez I fervently.
”I don't know about that. I did well by her, and she felt as well as myself, that to be my wife wuz a fate not often gin to mortal wimmen.”
”That is so!” sez I fervently, ”that is so!”
”Yes she wuz proud and happy durin' her life. I did everything for her. I killed a chicken durin' her last sickness onasked, jest to surprise her with soup. She lived proud and happy and died happy.”
”I hain't a doubt that she died happy.”
”No,” sez he, ”and now I must make a choice of her successor. It is a hard job to do,” sez he.
”No doubt on't,” sez I, ”no doubt on't!”
”Yes, whatever woman I choose, some must be left, pinin' on their stems, to speak poetically. I can't marry every woman, that's plain to be seen.”
”Yes, thank Heaven! that's a settled thing,” sez I lookin' longin'ly at my pardner, who wuz leanin' aginst the door and conversin' with the man of the house on his chosen theme, for anon or oftener I hearn the words--Coney Island! Dreamland--Luny Park, etc., etc.
”No, and my choice made, I want it done as speedily as possible, for my late lamented left as a slight token of her love thirteen children of all ages, rangin' from six months up to twelve years, two pairs of triplets, two ditto of twins, and three singles.
”My wealth lays in land mostly. I never believed in idle luxuries, only comfort, solid comfort, and my wife will have a luxurious home of a story and a half upright, and a linter, groceries and necessaries all provided, and all she will have to do will be the housework and gently train and care for the minds and bodies of the little ones, with some help from the oldest set of triplets, and make my home agin an oasis of joy, a Eden below. Oh! how happy she will be!” sez he, ”Nestlin' down like a wanderin' dove in the safety and peace and pride of married life. When can I see Miss Smith?” sez he. ”Or will you tell her in advance of her good fortune?”
[Ill.u.s.tration: ”_'No,' sez Mr. Pomper, 'I want it done as speedily as possible, fer my late lamented left me thirteen children, two pairs of triplets, two ditto of twins, and three singles.'_” (_See page 143_)]
”No indeed!” sez I, ”I make no matches nor break none. You will have to do your own errents.”
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