Part 11 (1/2)
”I don't know, Hester, no more than you do,” laughed Jeremiah happily; ”only William says he's tired of runnin' things all alone, an' he wants me to take hold again. They're goin' ter make out the papers right away; an' say, Hester,”--the bent shoulders drew themselves erect with an air of pride,--”I thought mebbe this afternoon we'd drive over ter Huntersville an' get some shoes for you. Ye know you're always needin'
shoes!”
The Long Road
”Jane!”
”Yes, father.”
”Is the house locked up?”
”Yes.”
”Are ye sure, now?”
”Why, yes, dear; I just did it.”
”Well, won't ye see?”
”But I have seen, father.” Jane did not often make so many words about this little matter, but she was particularly tired to-night.
The old man fell back wearily.
”Seems ter me, Jane, ye might jest see,” he fretted. ”'T ain't much I'm askin' of ye, an' ye know them spoons--”
”Yes, yes, dear, I'll go,” interrupted the woman hurriedly.
”And, Jane!”
”Yes.” The woman turned and waited. She knew quite well what was coming, but it was the very exquisiteness of her patient care that allowed her to give no sign that she had waited in that same spot to hear those same words every night for long years past.
”An' ye might count 'em--them spoons,” said the old man.
”Yes.”
”An' the forks.”
”Yes.”
”An' them photygraph pictures in the parlor.”
”All right, father.” The woman turned away. Her step was slow, but confident--the last word had been said.
To Jane Pendergast her father had gone with the going of his keen, clear mind, twenty years before. This fretful, childish, exacting old man that pottered about the house all day was but the sh.e.l.l that had held the kernel--the casket that had held the jewel. But because of what it had held, Jane guarded it tenderly, laying at its feet her life as a willing sacrifice.
There had been four children: Edgar, the eldest; Jane, Mary, and Fred.
Edgar had left home early, and was a successful business man in Boston.
Mary had married a wealthy lawyer of the same city; and Fred had opened a real estate office in a thriving Southern town.