Part 21 (2/2)
”MY DEAR MR. JOHNSON:
”Pray forgive me that I have been so long in answering your letter. I could not decide such an important matter in haste. Indeed you think more highly of me than you ought; but if such a foolish, ignorant girl as I am can make you happy, and you are sure you are not mistaken, I will try to return your love as it deserves. I have not much experience with children; but I will do my best to make yours love me, and it will surely be better for the dear little things than to have no mother at all.
”I dare say my aunt will think me very presumptuous to undertake so responsible a position; but she will not oppose me when she knows my heart is concerned,--and I am of age, and have a right to decide for myself. I shall be so glad of some real duties to make my idle, aimless life really useful to someone. I don't care for wealth, and as for society, I am heartily tired of it. The only fear I have is that you are over-rating me; but it is so pleasant to be loved so much that I will not blame you for it.
”I am ever yours sincerely, ”CAROLINE ALICE FOSTER.
”_December 10, 189-._”
If Caroline, by writing this letter, const.i.tuted herself a lunatic in the judgment of all her friends, it must be allowed, as Miss Caldwell had said, that she was not quite lacking in sense. Unlike either a fool or the heroine of a novel, she rang the bell for no servant, sent for no messenger, but when she had sealed and stamped her letter she tripped downstairs with it and, having slipped back the latch as she opened the door, walked as far as the nearest post-box and dropped it in herself.
[Ill.u.s.tration]
[Ill.u.s.tration]
THE TRAMPS' WEDDING
”They know no country, own no lord.
Their home the camp, their law the sword.”
”Who is it?” asked Mrs. Reed, as her husband entered her sitting-room; with some curiosity, pardonable in view of the fact that a stranger had for some time been holding an interview with him in his study.
”Why,” replied the Reverend Richard Reed, looking mildly absent, as was his custom when interrupted of a Sat.u.r.day morning, ”it is a Mr. Perley Pickens--the man, you know, who has taken the Maynard place for the summer.”
”Indeed! what did he want?” cried the lady, interested at once. The Maynard house was the great house of the place, and the Maynard family the magnates of the First Parish, and the whole town of Rutland. Their going abroad for a year or two had been felt as a public loss, and when, somewhat to the general surprise, it transpired that their house was let, it was at once surmised that it could only be to ”nice” people, though the new occupants had never been heard of, and were rarely seen.
”Oh, his daughter is to be married, and he wants the ceremony to take place in our church.”
”You don't say so? and he wants you to marry them?”
”Certainly.”
”Why, we haven't had a wedding in the church for quite a while! It will be very nice, won't it?”
”Yes, my dear; but excuse me, I am in a hurry just now. Mr. Pickens is waiting. He wants you to give him a few addresses. I gave him the s.e.xton's----”
”It will be a good thing for poor Langford,” said Mrs. Reed, benevolently.
”Yes--” drawled the Reverend Richard, still abstractedly, ”very good; and he wants a Boston caterer, and a florist. I know nothing about such things, and I told him I'd ask you, though I did not believe you did, either.”
”Oh, yes, I do! Mrs. Maynard always has Rossi, and as for a florist, they must have John Wicks, at the corner here. He's just set up, and it will be such a chance for him.”
”Do you think he will do? Mr. Pickens said that expense was no object--that everything must be in style, as he phrased it.”
”Oh, he'll do! Anyone will do, at this season. Why, they could decorate the church, and house too, from their own place; but I shan't suggest that.”
”Very well, my dear--but I am keeping Mr. Pickens waiting.”
<script>