Part 5 (1/2)
”Yes, I should say quite a few people.” Miss Watson leaned over her desk and steepled her fingers. ”Rose says you've been standoffish with the other girls. That you put on airs around them.”
”I mean no offense.” I had kept my distance from the other girls, it was true, but not, as she insinuated, out of a sense of superiority. The fact is, I pitied them-and feared that any tender feelings toward them would lead to attachments and interfere with my plans. ”I am new to this way of life. I never had a sister. I guess I don't know how to behave like one.”
”Well, you've got a whole houseful of girls to show you.” Miss Watson smoothed a hand over her brow, as if to slacken its strain. ”Not that I expect you to be a sister to all of them. But I do expect you to treat them with respect.”
”Of course,” I said, bowing my head.
Miss Watson plunked her hands down on the desk. ”Can I count on you, then, to mend your ways?”
”Yes, I will be more attentive to my conduct.” All this time I had not ventured a glimpse at Rose, though I discerned her fidgeting in the chair next to me. Poor Rose. I had quickly mastered the art of seeking sponsors.h.i.+p for my departure from Carrie Watson's, but she and most of the other girls were doomed to spend their youthful years there. And Rose had already seen a good number of those pa.s.s.
Miss Watson leaned back in her chair.
”Is that all, miss?” I asked.
Rose cleared her throat and said, ”There's that other matter.”
I shot Rose a glance, raising my eyebrows demurely. She kept her gaze fastened on Miss Watson.
Miss Watson's eyes darted over Rose and settled on me. ”I know Mr. Hall has been visiting you regularly. Can you tell me how that started?”
Ah, I understood now what Rose's real concern was. Mr. Hall-who had showered her with the loveliest trinkets-had cast her off, and she wanted to blame me for it. ”Mr. Montcrief introduced us over dinner one evening, and the next night Mr. Hall said he wanted to spend the evening with me.”
”Did you know he'd been spending time with Rose for some months now?”
”I didn't know for how long, but I had seen him with Rose before.”
”And did you do anything to discourage him from seeing Rose?”
”No, miss, I can't see any reason to do such a thing.”
Miss Watson s.h.i.+fted from one haunch to the other, turning away from Rose toward me. ”Well, our guests are free to choose whomever they want. But I expect you to show some respect for each other's regulars as well.”
”Of course,” I said.
”Very well, then.” Miss Watson braced an arm on her chair and made ready to stand.
Rose blurted out, ”But she fixes her hair the way Mr. Hall likes it-just the way I do, swept to the side. She never did that before. And she makes a beeline for him every time he shows up.”
”Oh, my.” Miss Watson pinched her lips and rolled her head in an arc. ”Do you see what this has led to, Pauline? You setting yourself apart from the other girls?”
I folded my hands on my lap and hunched forward. ”Yes, miss.”
Miss Watson flattened her hands on her desk. ”I want both of you to let this matter drop. Mr. Hall will see whomever he wishes to see. It is his choice. And, Pauline, I expect you to take this talk as a warning. I do not want strife in this house. Do you understand?”
”Yes, I do.”
”And you, Rose, I expect you to give Pauline a chance to mend her ways. Will you do that?”
I heard the slightest snort escape from Rose's nostrils as she spoke. ”Of course I will.”
Turning to Rose, I said, ”I appreciate that.”
Miss Watson concluded the interview then, but I figured life at Miss Watson's would not be as easy for me as it had been. Rose would be on the lookout for anything she could pin on me to cause more trouble. And with Miss Watson insisting I change my ways, it was high time to get serious about leaving, though I had not yet formed any solid plan.
In retrospect, I realize I miscalculated by not cultivating the other girls' society, an error I have taken care never to repeat. In fact, I have since learned that women can be counted on to show great devotion and loyalty when afforded respect and friends.h.i.+p.
THE TRIAL.
FRANK TAKES THE STAND.
MENOMINEE-JANUARY 23, 1917
As Frank stood and marched to the stand, a buzz shot through the courtroom. Judge Flanagan gripped his gavel. The crowd quieted. I followed her every move: her stocky frame held straight and stalwart; the plump hand placed on the Bible; her usually mischievous expression tempered with solemnity. She skated through the swearing in as if it were a turkey shoot, occasionally glancing in my direction, most likely with the intent of unnerving me. This was her arena. She knew the courtroom, and she probably thought her chances of out-gaming me in it were quite good. I merely held her gaze, my expression abundant with tranquillity.
”Miss Shaver,” said Mr. Sawyer, ”please tell us the story of your acquaintance with the Baroness, just so we understand the time and events. How did you meet?”
Frank squared her shoulders and looked to the jury. ”We met on a train traveling from Chicago to Milwaukee back in 1901. I was in the parlor car, and the Baroness was holding court there, having quite a merry time. I was alone and couldn't help but notice the jolly party at the next table. The Baroness caught my eye at one point and invited me to join them. That's how it all started.”
”And what do you mean by 'holding court'?”
Frank tossed her head back and smiled. ”Entertaining her entourage-and the whole car, for that matter. May could charm the crown-and bottoms-off a king.”
t.i.tters erupted in the courtroom. Once the judge wiped the smile off his face and glared at the onlookers, calm was restored.
”Yes, fine,” said Sawyer, ”and how did the acquaintances.h.i.+p get on?”
”We exchanged letters, and six months later, in spring of 1902, when May was on her way back to Menominee, we met in Chicago and spent some time gadding about the city. Her brother Gene joined us, which was the first time I met him. Later, in September of 1902, May visited me at my parents' home in Pittsburgh, and her brother came along and spent a month there.”
”And is that when Gene proposed marriage?”
”Yes, and I accepted. Afterward, he invited me for a long visit to Menominee. He had borrowed some money when he visited me in Pittsburgh, which he repaid. But then he started borrowing money again, and it got my hackles up. I told May I was not pleased and asked her to set him straight.”
”And did she do that?”
”No. She said I should humor Gene and enjoy his company, which didn't satisfy me. So I told Gene he obviously couldn't support both of us, and I broke the engagement. May came crying that Gene was heartbroken and asked me to reconsider. But I refused.”
I glanced at Gene, who merely shrugged. Heartbreak never had been his metier.
Sawyer urged Frank on. ”And then what happened?”
”We quarreled, and that was the end of our friends.h.i.+p for quite a few years.”