Part 53 (1/2)

No letter ever came that had Paget in the corner, or anything happened that did Sh.e.l.ley any good. Far otherwise! Just before supper Leon came from Groveville one evening, and all of us could see at a glance that he had been crying like a baby. He had wiped up, and was trying to hold in, but he was killed, next. I nearly said, ”Well, for heaven's sake, another!” when I saw him. He slammed down a big, long envelope, having printing on it, before father, and glared at it as if he wanted to tear it to smithereens, and he said: ”If you want to know why it looks like that, I buried it under a stone once; but I had to go back, and then I threw it as far as I could send it, into Ditton's gully, but after a while I hunted it up again!”

Then he keeled over on the couch mother keeps for her in the dining-room, and sobbed until he looked like he'd come apart.

Of course all of us knew exactly what that letter was from the way he acted. Mother had told him, time and again, not to set his heart so; father had, too and Laddie, and every one of us, but that little half-Arab, half-Kentucky mare was the worst temptation a man who loved horses could possibly have; and while father and mother stopped at good work horses, and matched roadsters for the carriage, they managed to prize and tend them so that every one of us had been born horse-crazy, and we had been allowed to ride, care for, and taught to love horses all our lives. Treat a horse ugly, and we'd have gone on the thras.h.i.+ng floor ourselves.

Father laid the letter face down, his hand on it, and shook his head.

”This is too bad!” he said. ”It's a burning shame, but the money, the exact amount, was taken from a farmer in Medina County, Ohio, by a traveller he sheltered a few days, because he complained of a bad foot.

The description of the man who robbed us is perfect. The money was from the sale of some prize cattle. It will have to be returned.”

”Just let me see the letter a minute,” said Laddie.

He read it over thoughtfully. He was long enough about it to have gone over it three times; then he looked at Leon, and his forehead creased in a deep frown. The tears slid down mother's cheeks, but she didn't know it, or else she'd have wiped them away. She was never mussy about the least little thing.

”Father!” she said. ”Father----!”

That was as far as she could go.

”The man must have his money,” said father, ”but we'll look into this----”

He pushed back the plates and tablecloth, and cleared his end of the table. Mother never budged to stack the plates, or straighten the cloth so it wouldn't be wrinkled. Then father brought his big account book from the black walnut chest in our room, some little books, and papers, sharpened a pencil and began going up and down the columns and picking out figures here and there that he set on a piece of paper. I never had seen him look either old or tired before; but he did then.

Mother noticed it too, for her lips tightened, she lifted her head, wiped her eyes, and pretended that she felt better. Laddie said something about doing the feeding, and slipped out. Just then Sh.e.l.ley came into the room, stopped, and looked questioningly at us. Her eyes opened wide, and she stared hard at Leon.

”Why what ails him?” she asked mother.

”You remember what I wrote you about a man who robbed us, and the money Leon was to have, provided no owner was found in a reasonable time; and the horse the boy had planned to buy, and how he had been going to Pryors'--Oh, I think he's slipped over there once a day, and often three times, all this spring! Mr. Pryor encouraged him, let him take his older horses to practise on, even went out and taught him cross-country riding himself----”

”I remember!” said Sh.e.l.ley.

Leon sobbed out loud. Sh.e.l.ley crossed the room swiftly, dropped beside him and whispered something in his ear. Quick as a shot his arm reached out and went around her. She hid her head deep in the pillow beside him, and they went to pieces together. Clear to pieces! Pretty soon father had to take off his gla.s.ses and wipe them so he could see the figures. Mother took one long look at him, a short one at Leon and Sh.e.l.ley, then she arose, her voice as even and smooth, and she said: ”While you figure, father, I'll see about supper. I have tried to plan an extra good one this evening.”

She left the room. NOW, I guess you know about all I can tell you of mother! I can't see that there's a thing left. That was the kind of soldier she was. Talk about Crusaders, and a good fight! All the blood of battle in our family wasn't on father's side, not by any means! The Dutch could fight too!

Father's pencil sc.r.a.ped a little, a bee that had slipped in buzzed over the apple b.u.t.ter, while the clock ticked as if it used a hammer. It was so loud one wanted to pitch it from the window. May and I sat still as mice when the cat is near. Candace couldn't keep away from the kitchen door to save her, and where mother went I hadn't an idea, but she wasn't getting an extra good supper. Sh.e.l.ley and Leon were quieter now. May nudged me, and I saw that his arm around her was gripping her tight, while her hand on his head was patting him and fingering his hair.

Ca-lumph! Ca-lumph! came the funniest sound right on the stone walk leading to the east door, then a shrill whicker that made father drop his pencil. Leon was on his feet, Sh.e.l.ley beside him, while at the door stood Laddie grinning as if his face would split, and with her forefeet on the step and her nose in the room, stood the prettiest, the very prettiest horse I ever saw. She was sticking her nose toward Leon, whinnying softly, as she lifted one foot, and if Laddie hadn't backed her, she would have walked right into the dining-room.

”Come on, Weiscope, she's yours!” said Laddie. ”Take her to the barn, and put her in one of the cow stalls, until we fix a place for her.”

Leon crossed the room, but he never touched the horse. He threw his arms around Laddie's neck.

”Son! Son! Haven't you let your feelings run away with you? What does this mean?” asked father sternly.

”There's nothing remarkable in a big six-footer like me buying a horse,” said Laddie. ”I expect to purchase a number soon, and without a cent to pay, in the bargain. I contracted to give five hundred dollars for this mare. She is worth more; but that should be satisfactory all around. I am going to earn it by putting five of Mr.

Pryor's fancy, pedigreed horses in shape for market, taking them personally, and selling them to men fit to own and handle real horses.

I get one hundred each, and my expenses for the job. I'll have as much fun doing it as I ever had at anything. It suits me far better than plowing, even.”

Mother entered the room at a sweep, and pushed Leon aside.

”Oh you man of my heart!” she cried. ”You man after my own heart!”

Laddie bent and kissed her, holding her tight as he looked over her head at father.