COURTNEY APPEARS IN PUBLIC
The meetings of the Literary Society were held once a month in the
Windomville schoolhouse, a two story brick building situated some
distance back from the main street at the upper edge of the town.
There were four classrooms and three teachers, including the principal,
Miss Angie Miller, who taught the upper grade. Graduates from her
"room" were given diplomas admitting them to the first year of High
School in the city hard-by in case they desired to take advantage
of the privilege. As a rule, however, the parents of such children
were satisfied to call it an honour rather than a privilege, with
the result that but few of them ever saw the inside of the High
School. They were looked upon as being quite sufficiently educated
for all that Windomville could possibly expect or exact of them.
When the old schoolhouse was destroyed by fire in the winter of
1916, Alix Crown contributed fifteen thousand dollars toward the
construction of this new and more or less modern structure, with
the provision that the town board should appropriate the balance
needed to complete the building. On completion the schoolhouse
was found to have cost exactly $14,989.75, and so, at the next
township election, the board was unanimously returned to office by
an appreciative constituency, and Miss Crown graciously notified
by the assessor that she had been credited with ten dollars and
twenty-five cents against her next year's road tax.
The Literary Society always met in Miss Miller's "room," not
because it was more imposing or commodious than any of the others
but on account of its somewhat rarified intellectual atmosphere.
Miss Angie's literary attainments, while confined to absorption
rather than to production, were well known. She was supposed to
have read all of the major poets. At any rate she was able to quote
them. Besides, she had made a study of Dickens and Thackeray and
Trollope, being qualified to discuss the astonishing shortcomings
of those amiable mid-Victorians in a most dependable manner. She
made extensive use of the word "erudite," and confused a great many
people by employing "vicarious" and "didactic" and "raison d'etre"
in the course of ordinary conversation. For example, in complaining
to Mr. Hodges, the school trustee, about the lack of heat in
mid-January, she completely subdued him be remarking that there
wasn't "the least raison d'etre for such a condition." In view of
these and other intellectual associations, Miss Miller's "room"
was obviously the place for the Literary Society to meet.
Mr. George Ade, Mr. Booth Tarkington, Mr. James Whitcomb Riley,
Mr. Meredith Nicholson and other noted Indiana authors had been
invited to "read from their works" before the Society, and while
none of them had been able to accept, each and every one had written
a polite note of regret to the secretary, who not only read them
aloud to the Society but preserved them in her own private scrap
book and spoke feelingly of her remarkable "collection."
The room was crowded to hear the "celebrated air-man" relate his
experiences at the front. The exercises were delayed for nearly an
hour while Mr. Hatch, the photographer, prepared and foozled three
attempts to get a flashlight picture of the gathering. Everybody
was coughing violently when A. Lincoln Pollock arose to introduce
the speaker of the evening. In conclusion he said:
"Mr. Thane was not only wounded in the service of humanity but
he was also gassed. I wish to state here and now that it was not
laughing gas the Germans administered. Far from it, my friends. Mr.
Thane will tell you that it was no laughing matter. He has come
to God's own country to recuperate and to regain his once robust
health. After looking the world over, he chose the health-giving
climate of his native state,--ahem! I should say, his father's
native state,--and here he is not only thriving but enjoying himself.
I take it upon myself to announce that he left all of his medals
at his home in New York. They are too precious to be carried
promiscuously about the country. It is my pleasure, ladies and
gentlemen, to introduce to you one of the real heroes of the Great
War, Mr. Courtney Thane, of New York City, who will now speak to
you."
Alix Crown sat at the back of the room. There were no chairs, of
course. Each person present occupied a scholar's seat and desk.
Courtney had seen her come in. She was so late that he began to
fear she was not coming at all. The little thrill of exultation
that came with her arrival was shortly succeeded by an even greater
fear that she would depart as soon as the meeting was over, without
stopping to meet him at the "reception" which was to follow.
In his most agreeable drawl and with the barest reference to his
own exploits, he described, quite simply, a number of incidents
that had come under his personal observation while with the American
Ambulance and afterwards in the British Flying Corps. Most of his
talk was devoted to the feats of others and to the description of
scenes and events somewhat remote from the actual fighting zone.
He confessed that he knew practically nothing of the work of the
American Expeditionary Force, except by hearsay, as he did not
come in contact with the American armies, except an occasional unit
brigaded with British troops in the Cambrai section of the great
line. His listeners, no doubt, knew a great deal more about the
activities and achievements of the Americans than he, so he was
quite sure there was nothing he could say that would interest or
enlighten them. In concluding he very briefly touched upon his own
mishap.
"We were returning from a bombing flight over the German positions
when somebody put a bullet into our petrol and down we came in
flames. There was a gas attack going on at the time. We managed to
land in a cloud of it, and--somehow we got back to our own lines,
a little the worse for wear and all that sort of thing, you know.
It wasn't as bad as you'd think,--except for the gas, which isn't
what you would call palatable,--and I came out not much worse off
than a chap who has been through a hard football scrimmage. Knee
and ankle bunged up a little,--and a dusty uniform,--that's about
all. I hope you will excuse me from talking any longer. My silly
throat goes back on me, you see. My mother probably would tell
you, 'too many cigarettes.' Perhaps she is right. Thank you for
listening to all this rot, ladies and gentlemen. You are very kind
to have given me this undeserved honour."
Not once during his remarks did he allow his gaze to rest upon Alix
Crown. It was his means of informing her that she had not made the
slightest impression upon him.
As he resumed his seat beside Mr. Pollock, and while the generous
hand-clapping was still going on, Pastor Mavity arose and benignly
waited for the applause to cease. Mr. Mavity invariably claimed
the ecclesiastical privilege of speech. No meeting was complete,
no topic exhausted, until he had exercised that right. It did not
matter whether he had anything pertinent to say, the fact still
remained that he felt called upon to say something:
"I should like to ask Mr. Thane if he thinks the Germans are
preparing for another war. We have heard rumours to that effect.
Many of our keenest observers have declared that it is only a
matter of a few years before the Germans will be in a position to
make war again, and that they will make it with even greater ferocity
than before. We all know of the conflict now raging in Russia,
and the amazing rebellion of De Annunzio in Fiume, and the--er--as
I was saying, the possibility of the Kaiser seizing his bloody
throne and calling upon his minions to--ah--er--renew the gigantic
struggle. The history of the world records no such stupendous sacrifice
of life on the cruel altars of greed and avarice and--er--ambition.
We may turn back to the vast campaigns of Hannibal and Hamilcar
and Julius Caesar and find no--er--no war comparable to the one we
have so gloriously concluded. Our own Civil War, with all its,--but
I must not keep you standing, Mr. Thane. Do you, from your experience
and observation, regard another war as inevitable?"
"I do," was Courtney's succinct reply.
There was a distinctly audible flutter throughout the room. Here,
at last, was something definite to support the general contention
that "we aren't through with the Germans yet." A lady up in front
leaned across the aisle and whispered piercingly to her husband:
"There! What did I tell you?"
Another lady arose halfway from her seat and anxiously inquired:
"How soon do you think it will come, Mr. Thane?"
She had a son just turning seventeen.
"That is a question I am afraid you will have to put to God or the
German Emperor," said Courtney, with a smile.
"When David Strong was home this spring I asked him what he thought
about it," said Editor Pollock. "I published the interview in the
Sun. He was of the opinion that the Germans had had all they wanted
of war. I tried to convince him that he was all wrong, but all I
could get him to say was that if they ever did make war again it
would be long after the most of us were dead."
"David Strong didn't see anything of the war except what he saw in
the hospitals," said a woman contemptuously.
"Permit me to correct you, Mrs. Primmer," said Alix Crown, without
arising. "David Strong was under fire most of the time. He was not
in a base hospital. He was attached to a field hospital,--first with
the French, then with the British, and afterwards with the Americans."
"In that case," said Courtney, facing her, "he was in the thick
of it. Every man in the army, from general down to the humblest
private, takes his hat off to the men who served in the field
hospitals. While we may differ as to the next war, I do not hesitate
to say that Dr. Strong saw infinitely more of the last one than I
did. It may sound incredible to you, ladies and gentlemen, but my
job was a picnic compared to his. As a matter of fact, I have always
claimed that I was in greater danger when I was in the American
Ambulance than when I was flying, quite safely, a couple of miles
up in the air. At any rate, I FELT safer."
"Oh, but think of falling that distance," cried Miss Angie Miller.
"It was against the rules to think of falling," said he, and every
one laughed.
The "reception" followed. Every one came up and shook hands with
Courtney and told him how much his address was enjoyed. As the
group around him grew thicker and at the same time more reluctant
to move on, he began to despair of meeting Alix Crown. He could
see her over near the door conversing with Alaska Spigg and Charlie
Webster. Then he saw her wave her hand in farewell to some one
across the room and bow to Charlie. There was a bright, gay smile
on her lips as she said something to Charlie which caused that
gentleman to laugh prodigiously. All hope seemed lost as she and
little old Alaska turned toward the open door.
It was not fate that intervened. It was Pastor Mavity. Disengaging
himself from the group and leaving a profound sentence uncompleted,
he dashed over to her, calling out her name as he did so.
"Alix! Just a moment, please!"
She paused,--and Courtney discreetly turned his back. Presently
a benevolent hand was laid on his shoulder and the voice of the
shepherd fell upon his ear.
"I want you to meet Miss Crown, Mr. Thane. She has just been
telling me how interested she was in your remarks. Miss Crown, my
very dear friend, Mr. Courtney Thane. Mr. Thane, as you may already
know, is sojourning in our midst for--"
"I am delighted to meet you, Miss Crown," broke in Courtney,
with an abashed smile. "Formally, I mean. I have a very distinct
recollection of meeting you informally," he added wrily.
"Dear me!" exclaimed Mr. Mavity, elevating his eyebrows.
Courtney's humility disarmed her. She allowed her lips to curve
slightly in a faint smile. The merest trace of a dimple flickered
for an instant in her smooth cheek.
"I suppose it was the old story of forbidden fruit, Mr. Thane,"
said she. Then, impulsively, she extended her hand. He clasped it
firmly, and there was peace between them.
"On the contrary, Miss Crown, it was an unpardonable piece of
impudence, for which I am so heartily ashamed that I wonder how I
can look you in the face."
"I was tremendously interested in your talk tonight," she said, coolly
dismissing the subject. "Thank you for giving us the pleasure. It
is just such adventures as you have had that makes me wish more
than ever that I had not been born a girl."
He bowed gallantly. "What would the world be like if God had
neglected to create the rose?"
"Bravo!" cried Mr. Mavity, slapping him on the back. "Spoken like
a knight of old."
"Good night, Mr. Thane,--and thank you again," she said. Nodding
to Mr. Mavity, she turned to leave the group.
Again the parson intervened. "My dear Alix, I can't let you go
without saying a word about your splendid defence of David Strong.
It was fine. And you, sir, were--ah--what shall I say?--you were
most generous in saying what you did. David is a fine fellow. He--"
"I should have said the same about any doctor who was up at the
front," said Courtney simply. "Is he an old friend, Miss Crown?"
"I have known him ever since I can remember," she replied, and he
detected a slight stiffness in her manner.
"Ahem! Er--ah--" began Mr. Mavity tactfully. "David was born here,
Mr. Thane. Well, good night, Alix,--good night."
When she was quite out of hearing, the flustered parson lowered
his voice and said to Courtney:
"They--er--don't get along very well, you see. I couldn't explain
while she was here. Something to do with money matters,--nothing of
consequence, I assure you,--but very distressing, most distressing.
It is too bad,--too bad."
Mrs. Pollock overheard. "They're both terribly set in their ways,"
she remarked. "Stubborn as mules. For my part, I think Alix is too
silly for words about it. Especially with his mother living in the
same house with her. Now, mind you, I'm not saying anything against
Alix. I love her. But just the same, she can be the most unreasonable--"
"They haven't spoken to each other for over three years," inserted
Angie Miller. "When they were children they were almost inseparable.
David Windom took a fancy to little David. The story is that he
was trying to ease his conscience by being nice to a blacksmith's
son. You see, his own daughter ran away with a blacksmith's
son,--and you've heard what happened, Mr. Thane. David was in my
class for two years before he went up to High School, and I remember
he always used to get long letters from Alix when she was in England.
Then, when she came home,--she was about twelve I think,--they were
great friends. Always together, playing, studying, reading, riding
and--"
"Everybody used to say old David Windom was doing his best to make
a match of it," interrupted Mrs. Pollock, who had been out of the
conversation longer than she liked. "Up to the time the old man
died, we used to take it for granted that some day they would get
married,--but, my goodness, it's like waving a red flag at a bull
to even mention his name to Alix now. She hates him,--and I guess
he hates her."
"Oh, my dear friend," cried Mr. Mavity, "I really don't think you
ought to say that. Hate is a very dreadful word. I am sure Alix
is incapable of actually hating any one. And as for David, he is
kindness, gentleness itself. It is just one of those unfortunate
situations that cannot be accounted for."
Charlie Webster came up at that juncture.
"Say, Court, why didn't you tell 'em about the time you called
Colonel What's-His-Name down,--the French guy that--" The scowl
on Courtney's brow silenced the genial Charlie. He coughed and
sputtered for a moment or two and then said something about "taking
a joke."
As Charlie moved away, Miss Angie Miller sniffed and said, without
appreciably lowering her voice:
"I wonder where he gets it. There isn't supposed to be a drop in
Windomville." Suddenly her eyes flew wide open. "Furman! Oh, Furman
Hatch!" she called out to a man who was sidling toward the door in
the wake of the pernicious Mr. Webster.
While there was nothing to indicate that Mr. Hatch heard her, the
most disinterested spectator would have observed a perceptible
acceleration of speed on his part.
"You promised to tell me how to--" But Mr. Hatch was gone. Mr.
Webster turned a surprised and resentful look upon him as he felt
himself being pushed rather roughly through the door ahead of the
hurrying photographer. When Miss Angie reached the door,--she had
lost some little time because of the seats and the stupidity of
Mrs. Primmer who blocked the way by first turning to the right,
then to the left, and finally by not turning at all,--Mr. Hatch was
nowhere in sight, even though Mr. Webster was barely two-thirds of
the way down the stairs.
A pleasant, courteous voice accosted her from behind as she stood
glaring after the chubby warehouseman.
"Do you mind if I walk home with you, Miss Miller?"
"Oh, is--is that you, Mr. Thane?" she fairly gasped. Then she
simpered. "I'm really not a bit afraid. Still,"--hastily--"if you
really wish to, I should be delighted."
If Mr. Hatch was lurking anywhere in the shadows, he must have been
profoundly impressed by the transformation in Miss Angie Miller as
she strode homeward at the side of the tall young New Yorker, her
hand on his arm, her head held high,--he might also have noticed
that she stepped a little higher than usual.