Part 36 (1/2)
”You can depend upon it, I covered all I could think might come within a mile of gold!” laughed Polly.
”Well, girls, listen to some good advice on this! Not a word to be said about this cave--not even among yourselves until the claim is filed and investigated! You see, the walls have ears when any one speaks of gold!
Then, having attended to the legal aspects of the mine, we will all ride over to remain a few days, as visitors to Old Mr. Grizzly! When we get back we ought to have some information worth while!”
”And what about sending for John's friend to come and go with us? If he knew enough to tell you about the lava, he will surely be able to judge about the gold!” ventured Polly, eagerly.
”I think that is a splendid idea, Sam! When we go in to Oak Creek to-morrow, let us send John a day-letter explaining about this cavern,”
added Mrs. Brewster.
”Hain't you-all comin' to supper? Har hev Ah ben and wukked all day hopin' fer a night off to-night!” said Sary, suddenly appearing at the doorway between the living-room and the kitchen.
Every one started for she had not made a sound before speaking, so no one knew how much she had over-heard. Mrs. Brewster quickly replied, however.
”Why, Sary! I didn't know you wished to go out! I could have attended to supper myself, had you asked me!”
”Ah hain't planned to go out--Ah said a 'night off,' Mis' Brewster,”
said Sary, hardly deigning to wait for an answer, but looking at the girls with an impatient frown.
”Mother, we really must wash before supper!” said Polly.
Sary tossed her head. Mrs. Brewster knew what that meant, so she urged the girls to forego any lengthy toilets and merely wash away the worst signs of travel.
Sary was pacified when Eleanor came out of the room and handed her a large paper bundle.
”Sary, I have a little present for you because we made so much trouble to-night.”
”Oh, Miss Nolla, Ah'm much obleeged t' you-all. Ah don' mind trouble, onny yoh see Ah expec' comp'ny to-night.”
It took Sary but an instant to open the package and when she beheld a ruffled organdy dress discarded by Barbara the previous season and accidentally packed in the trunk with other clothes, she rolled her eyes heavenward.
”Miss Nolla! Is this fine gown'd fer me?”
Eleanor stifled a laugh but Sary made as if she would clasp the girl in her powerful arms, so discretion was needed. Eleanor backed behind the kitchen chair.
”Miss Nolla, Ah wonder ef a widder of seven months' standin' mought wear little yaller rose-buds on a dress, like-ez-how this is?”
”Certainly, Sary,” came from Mrs. Brewster, who now joined the two.
”It's not the color or quant.i.ty of clothes as much as the sincerity of one's mourning.”
Quite unintentionally, Mrs. Brewster touched upon a tender spot. In fact, so tender was it, that Sary blamed Bill for having died so recently instead of two years back. She might have now been ending her second year of mourning!
Eleanor being trained to the wiles of polite society, saw and understood Sary's flash of resentment, so she turned to Mrs. Brewster with the remark:
”I've heard said, that the highest regard a widow can pay her departed, is, to take a second husband. It speaks well for her happiness with the first one, you see.”
Mrs. Brewster stared at Eleanor but Sary smirked and quickly replied:
”You-all is right, Miss Nolla! A widder what hez ben _so_ happy that she gits lonesome whiles thinkin' of her departed, hez a right t' find a second husban'.”