Part 3 (1/2)

At the conclusion of the toast four gla.s.ses of whiskey were emptied down four men's throats.

A man went down from his house to the road where his mailbox was nailed to a redwood post. The stage was just coming in.

”Any news?” asked the man of the stage-driver as he took his mail.

”News!” said the driver. ”I should say there was. They tell me that Charles Herne has been, and gone, and done it.”

Saunders, the merchant of Orangeville, told his customers that day that ”Charles Herne had got spliced.”

Tim Collins took a span of kicking mules to Pierce, the blacksmith, to be shod.

”Well, Tim, I got some news for you,” said Pierce.

”What is it?” said Tim.

”Charles Herne has got hitched up.”

Now one could not discern any perceptible change in Charles Herne, if it were true that he had done all the many and varied things which his neighbors stated he had; such as ”Brought home a brand-new wife,” ”Got him a woman,” ”Got a bride,” ”Got a running mate,” ”Been, gone, and done it,” ”Got spliced,” ”Got hitched up,” and so on.

The waves of ether in the atmosphere of Orangeville were pregnant with all these sayings and produced such an effect on a number of ladies as to make them call at different times at the Treelawn home.

When some of the ladies had made a call and had seen Mrs. Herne, and these ladies saw some others in Orangeville who had not seen Mrs. Herne, conversation did not drag. And as for speculation. Why the amount of speculative genius displayed by certain ladies of that locality would eclipse all speculative talent of Kant, Spencer and Mill. Listen to some of the inquiries: ”Is she proud?” ”Is she pretty?” ”Has she much style about her?” ”Do you think they will get along well together?” ”Is she fond of children?” ”Will they have any babies?” ”Is she fond of dress?”

”Is she a society lady?” ”Do you think she will get lonesome?” ”Can she do housework?” ”Is she much account with a needle?” ”Is she close and saving?” ”Is she extravagant?” ”Do you think she will put her foot down on Charles Herne furnis.h.i.+ng his men with so many luxuries?” ”Is she happy?” ”Is she a scold?” ”Will she wear the breeches?” and numerous other questions which, like problems concerning the Universe, will take time to solve.

Clara Herne was very happy in her new home as the wife of Charles Herne.

She found her duties light and pleasant. Everything in the house and about the house was order and system, no friction, all harmony. She remarked to her husband one evening: ”It pays to have good help. Every one here takes an interest in what he has to do and does it the very best he knows how, cheerfully and willingly.”

She respected her husband exceedingly for the generous way in which he treated his men, and she helped him to still further their comforts.

On retiring one night after they had both spent the evening with their men, which they often did, she said to her husband: ”How good it is to have love and respect between employers and employed. Every one speaks in such a kind way; so considerate for the feelings and interests of each one.”

”Yes,” said her husband, ”it makes life worth living to treat your hired help not as if they were merely machines for the use of getting so much work out of them, but to live and act towards them as if they were men.

Better still to realize the thought always, that they are our brothers.”

Charles and Clara Herne were very happy as man and wife, because they were a social unit. They were one in their domestic and social natures; they were fond of going out to parties, suppers and dances, and enjoyed entertaining company; they were strictly moral, though not religious, and occasionally attended church.

One evening about a year after they had been married, they were sitting in front of the open fire, interesting themselves in talking about some of the people in Orangeville who were at the party they had attended the evening previous.

”I think last night's party was one of the best we have attended,” said Mrs. Herne.

”Yes,” said her husband, ”the Hammonds are great entertainers. They always make it interesting and pleasant for every one who comes.”

”Of course, their daughter Julia has a tact for receiving company and making delicacies for a party,” added Clara. ”What taste she displayed in the arrangement of the table. Then she herself is personally a great attraction to the young men. I consider her the belle of Orangeville.

Her age I think is about twenty-one.”

”Yes, but she has a most unusual development for that age. She has such a commanding form, so erect; there is something very fascinating about her expression; and those black eyes of hers denote a powerful magnetism. No wonder she attracts men so strongly.”

”She seemed to pay more attention to that young Webber, I thought, than to any one else. Certainly, she smiled very sweetly upon him.”