Part 12 (2/2)

”They don't know how!” said Mary. ”Even if they mistrust what ails 'em, and I don't believe they do as yet.”

She was silent a moment, and then added: ”Mr. Parks, I feel I can speak out to you, that have been their friend right along. I wish't one of Cousins would marry; there! I do so!”

Calvin Parks's face, which had been radiant with cheerfulness, turned to brown wood. He looked straight before him, with no more expression than the green tomato he held in his hand.

”That so!” he said slowly. ”Which--which one of 'em would you consider best suited to matrimony, Miss Hands, if 'tisn't too much to ask?”

”I don't know as I care which it is,” cried Mary, earnestly,--Calvin winced, and dropped the tomato, which rolled slowly down the cellar door and plumped into the snow,--”so long as it's one of 'em. They ought to have a woman _belongin'_ to them, Mr. Parks, as would take an interest in things because they was hers, you understand, and care for whichever one she'd marry and the other one too. They'd never ought to have been _let_ act so foolish. You see, they'd always had a woman to do for 'em, and think for 'em, and _live_ for 'em; and the minute she was gone they fell to pieces, kind of; 'tis often so with men folks,” she said simply.

”They ain't calc'lated to be alone. But even now, if there was a woman belongin' to 'em, that had the right to say how things should be, I believe she could bring 'em together in no time.”

There was a long silence, Mary turning tomatoes, Calvin staring straight ahead of him with the same wooden countenance. At length he cleared his throat and spoke slowly and laboriously.

”There's something in what you say, Miss Hands, and I'm bound to confess that--that I've had thoughts of something of the kind before you spoke.

But--well, we'll put it this way. Which of them two old--of them two individuals, we'll call 'em for this once--would a woman be likely to fancy? I--I should be pleased to have your opinion on that p'int.”

Mary considered, turning the Crimson Cus.h.i.+ons meanwhile with a careful hand. Calvin, misunderstanding her silence, went on.

”What I mean is--if a woman was thinkin' of matrimony--” he winced again, seeming to hear Mr. Sam's voice squeaking out the word,--”if a woman was thinkin' of matrimony, and one of them two should take her fancy more than the other--why--a person as was friendly to all concerned might try his hand in the way of helpin' to bring it about.”

Mary glanced up quickly at him, but no friendly twinkle responded to her glance. Calvin's brown eyes were still dark with trouble, and he still stared moodily away from her.

”'Tis hard to say!” she replied after a pause. ”Cousin Sim needs the most care.”

”He does so!” said Calvin Parks. ”Sim certinly needs care. And--he's a home-lovin' man, Simeon is, and sober, and honest. There's things you could find in Sim that's no worse than what you'd find in some others, I make no doubt; and--and any one would have a first-rate home, and every comfort.”

”Oh! Mr. Parks, but do you think any woman _could_ make up her mind to marry Cousin Sim?” said Mary.

Calvin gave her a bewildered look, and went on, still slowly and laboriously.

”Not bein' a woman myself, ma'am, nor had any special dealin's with the s.e.x since I growed up, it ain't easy for me to form an opinion. But since you ask me honest--well--maybe not! This brings us to Sam'l. Now Sam'l is a man that has his faculties, such as they are. He has his health, and he's smart and capable. A good farmer Sam has always been, and a good manager. Careful and savin'; and there'd be the house, same as in Simeon's case. Anybody would have them a good home, and--”

”Oh! my _goodness_!” cried Mary Sands. Calvin looked up with a start, and saw her face on fire.

”What is it?” he asked, helplessly.

”Oh! don't you see?” she cried. ”I was thinkin' about them, poor old things, and wis.h.i.+n' they might find some one; but you've shown me the other side. Mr. Parks, they never, never, _never_ could find any woman _to_ marry them!”

Calvin Parks's face was a study of bewilderment.

”I--I don't understand!” he faltered. ”Do you mean that you wouldn't--couldn't--fancy either one of the boys, Miss Hands?”

”_Me_!” cried Mary Sands; ”me fancy one of them!”

Involuntarily she rose to her feet; Calvin rose too, looking anxiously down at her. There was a moment of tense silence. ”Do--do you _want_ me to marry one of them, Mr. Parks?” asked Mary, in a small shaking voice.

”Want you to?” cried Calvin Parks. ”_Want_ you to?”

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