He Fell In Love With His Wife, Edward Payson Roe [children's books read aloud .TXT] 📗
- Author: Edward Payson Roe
- Performer: -
Book online «He Fell In Love With His Wife, Edward Payson Roe [children's books read aloud .TXT] 📗». Author Edward Payson Roe
The domestic stared at Alida and Holcroft, and then surmising what had taken
place, was so excited that she could scarcely wait on the guests.
Holcroft, with the simple tact which genuine kindness usually suggests, was
attentive to his bride, but managed, by no slight effort for him, to engage
the two men in general conversation, so that Alida might have time to recover
her composure. His quiet, matter-of-fact bearing was reassuring in itself. A
cup of strong tea and a little old currant wine, which Watterly insisted on
her taking, brightened her up not a little. Indeed her weakness was now
largely due to the want of nourishment suited to her feeble condition.
Moreover, both nerves and mind found relief and rest in the consciousness that
the decisive step had been taken. She was no longer shuddering and recoiling
from a past in which each day had revealed more disheartening elements. Her
face was now toward a future that promised a refuge, security, and even hope.
The quiet meal was soon over. Holcroft put a five-dollar bill in the hands of
the justice, who filled in a certificate and departed, feeling that the
afternoon had not been spent in vain.
“Jim,” said Watterly, drawing his friend aside, “you’ll want to make some
purchases. You know she’s only what she wears. How are you off for money?”
“Well, Tom, you know I didn’t expect anything of this kind when—”
“Of course I know it. Will fifty answer?”
“Yes. You’re a good friend. I’ll return it in a day or two.”
“Return it when you’re a mind to. I say, Alida, I want you to take this. Jim
Holcroft can’t get married and his bride not receive a present from me,” and
he put ten dollars in her hand.
Tears rushed to her eyes as she turned them inquiringly to Holcroft to know
what she should do.
“Now see here, Tom, you’ve done too much for us already.”
“Shut up, Jim Holcroft! Don’t you end the day by hurting my feelings! It’s
perfectly right and proper for me to do this. Goodby, Alida. I don’t believe
you’ll ever be sorry you found your way to my hotel.”
Alida took his proffered hand, but could only falter, “I—I can never forget.”
Chapter XX. Uncle Jonathan’s Impression of the Bride
“Now, Alida,” said Holcroft, as they drove away, “remember that we are two
middle-aged, sensible people. At least I’m middle-aged, and fairly sensible,
too, I hope. You’ll need to buy some things, and I want you to get all you
need. Don’t stint yourself, and you needn’t hurry so as to get tired, for we
shall have moonlight and there’s no use trying to get home before dark. Is
there any particular store which you’d like to go to?”
“No, sir; only I’d rather go over on the east side of the town where I’m not
known.”
“That suits me, for it’s the side nearest home and I AM known there.”
“Perhaps—perhaps you also would rather go this evening where you are not
known,” she said hesitatingly.
“It makes no difference to me. In fact I know of a place where you’ll have a
good choice at reasonable rates.”
“I’ll go where you wish,” she said quietly.
They soon entered a large shop together, and the proprietor said pleasantly,
“Good evening, Mr. Holcroft.”
“Good evening, Mr. Jasper. My wife wants to get some things. If you’ll be
good enough to wait on her, I’ll step out to do two or three errands.”
The merchant looked curiously at Alida, but was too polite to ask questions or
make comments on her very simple purchases. Her old skill and training were
of service now. She knew just what she absolutely needed, and bought no more.
Holcroft laid in a good stock of groceries and some juicy beef and then
returned. When Mr. Jasper gave him his bill, he went to Alida, who was
resting, and said in a low voice, “This won’t do at all. You can’t have
bought half enough.”
For the first time something like a smile flitted across her face as she
replied, “It’s enough to begin with. I know.”
“Really, Mr. Holcroft, I didn’t know you were married,” said the merchant. “I
must congratulate you.”
“Well, I am. Thank you. Good night.”
A few moments later he and his wife were bowling out of town toward the hills.
Reaching one of these, the horses came down to a walk and Holcroft turned and
said, “Are you very tired, Alida? I’m troubled about you taking this long
ride. You have been so sick.”
“I’m sorry I’m not stronger, sir, but the fresh air seems to do me good and I
think I can stand it.”
“You didn’t promise to obey me, did you?” with a rather nervous little laugh.
“No, sir, but I will.”
“That’s a good beginning. Now see what an old tyrant I am. In the first
place, I don’t want you to say ‘sir’ to me any more. My name is James. In
the second place, you must work only as I let you. Your first business is to
get strong and well, and you know we agreed to marry on strictly business
grounds.”
“I understand it well, but I think you are very kind for a business man.”
“Oh, as to that, if I do say it of myself, I don’t think it’s my nature to be
hard on those who treat me square. I think we shall be very good friends in
our quiet way, and that’s more than can be said of a good many who promise
more than they seem to remember afterward.”
“I will try to do all you wish for I am very grateful.”
“If you do, you may find I’m as grateful as you are.”
“That can never be. Your need and mine were very different.—But I shall try
to show my gratitude by learning your ways and wishes and not by many words of
thanks.”
“Thank the Lord!” mentally ejaculated the farmer, “there’s no Mrs. Mumpson in
this case;” but he only said kindly, “I think we understand each other now,
Alida. I’m not a man of words either, and I had better show by actions also
what I am. The fact is, although we are married, we are scarcely acquainted,
and people can’t get acquainted in a day.”
The first long hill was surmounted and away they bowled again, past cottage
and farmhouse, through strips of woodland and between fields from which came
the fragrance of the springing grass and the peepings of the hylas. The moon
soon rose, full-orbed, above the higher eastern hills, and the mild April
evening became luminous and full of beauty.
A healing sense of quiet and security already began to steal into Alida’s
bruised heart. In turning her back upon the town in which she had suffered so
greatly, she felt like one escaping from prison and torture. An increasing
assurance of safety came with every mile; the cool, still radiance of the
night appeared typical of her new and most unexpected experience. Light had
risen on her shadowed path, but it was not warm, vivifying sunlight, which
stimulates and develops. A few hours before she was in darkness which might
be felt—yet it was a gloom shot through and through with lurid threatening
gleams. It had seemed to her that she had fallen from home, happiness, and
honor to unfathomed depths, and yet there had appeared to be deeper and darker
abysses on every side. She had shuddered at the thought of going out into the
world, feeling that her misfortune would awaken suspicion rather than
sympathy, scorn instead of kindness; that she must toil on until death, to
sustain a life to which death would come as God’s welcome messenger. Then had
come this man at her side, with his comparatively trivial troubles and
perplexities, and he had asked her help—she who was so helpless. He had
banished despair from her earthly future, he had lifted her up and was bearing
her away from all which she had so dreaded; nothing had been asked which her
crushed spirit was unable to bestow; she was simply expected to aid him in his
natural wish to keep his home and to live where he had always dwelt. His very
inability to understand her, to see her broken, trampled life and immeasurable
need as she saw it, brought quietness of mind. The concentration of his
thoughts on a few homely and simple hopes gave her immunity. With quick
intuition, she divined that she had not a whimsical, jealous, exacting nature
to deal with. He was the plain, matter-of-fact man he seemed; so literal and
absolutely truthful that he would appear odd to most people. To her mind, his
were the traits which she could now most welcome and value. He knew all about
her, she had merely to be herself, to do what she had promised, in order to
rest securely on his rock-like truth. He had again touched a deep, grateful
chord in speaking of her to the shopkeeper as his wife; he showed no
disposition whatever to shrink from the relation before the world; it was
evident that he meant to treat her with respect and kindness, and to exact
respect from others. For all this, while sitting quietly and silently at his
side, she thanked him almost passionately in her heart; but far more than for
all this she was glad and grateful that he would not expect what she now felt
it would be impossible for her to give—the love and personal devotion which
had been inseparable from marriage in her girlhood thoughts. He would make
good his words—she should be his wife in name and be respected as such. He
was too simple and true to himself and his buried love, too considerate of
her, to expect more. She might hope, therefore, as he had said, that they
might be helpful, loyal friends and he would have been surprised indeed had he
known how the pale, silent woman beside him was longing and hoping to fill
his home with comfort.
Thoughts like these had inspired and sustained her while at the same time
ministering the balm of hope. The quiet face of nature, lovely in the
moonlight, seemed to welcome and reassure her. Happy are those who, when
sorely wounded in life, can turn to the natural world and find in every tree,
shrub, and flower a comforting friend that will not turn from them. Such are
not far from God and peace.
The range of Holcroft’s thoughts was far simpler and narrower than Alida’s.
He turned rather deliberately from the past, preferring to dwell on the
probable consummation of his hope. His home, his farm, were far more to him
than the woman he had married. He had wedded her for their sake, and his
thoughts followed his heart, which was in his hillside acres. It is said that
women often marry for a home; he truly had done so to keep his home. The
question which now most occupied him was the prospect of doing this through
quiet, prosperous years. He dwelt minutely on Alida’s manner, as well as her
words, and found nothing to shake his belief that she had been as truthful as
himself. Nevertheless, he queried in regard to the future with not a little
anxiety. In her present distress and poverty she might naturally be glad of
the refuge he had offered; but as time passed and the poignancy of bitter
memories was allayed, might not her life on the farm seem monotonous and dull,
might not weariness
Comments (0)