Susie's ma--she who made the "real Northern" pie--was busy in her
kitchen. A dishpanful of dough, which had risen till it overhung the
edges of the pan, indicated that it was high time to knead a batch of
bread. She was just clearing the table with this end in view when she
heard a familiar sound in the distance, and going to the window she saw
that Jonas Hicks was at home again. He turned loose his "string," now
reduced to two yoke, and went into the house.
While it was no unusual thing for Jonas to go into the house, it was
seldom that he stayed long, for which reason Mrs. Berry tarried at the
window in expectation of getting another sight of him. While she was
thus waiting she saw Mrs. Harmon making her way across the open.
Evidently she was bound for Jonas's house. She had hardly reached the
door when Mrs. Norton and Kitty Wright made their appearance on Claxton
Road, arm in arm. They turned off the road and bent their steps in the
same direction. In a little while Mrs. Plympton and another of her
aristocratic neighbors issued forth and joined company, walking faster.
They too struck out across the common. What might this mean?
To Mrs. Berry, who knew nothing of the unreturned rockery, and nothing
of the mysterious doings of Steve Brown, this was a question which
called for an answer.
Evidently it was no preconcerted move. Mrs. Berry, being a woman,
could see, from various indications of dress and manner, that each of
them was going simply because she had seen the other do so, and this
was reason enough; but still, behind it all, there must have been some
original reason; and what was it?
Mrs. Berry proceeded to the kitchen and faced her work. She addressed
her remarks particularly to the dough.
"Well, I guess I can just let my work go for _once_ in my life," she
said. She spread out her hands and pushed down the dough till it was
about half its former size. "There, now," she said. "Rise again."
Donning a clean apron and her best hat, and giving Susan some parting
instructions, she opened the door and set forth for the common
destination. Mrs. Berry had the courage of her curiosity. She was not
meddlesome, but only interested; and as there was nothing whatever
between her and what she saw in the world,--not even an education,--she
dealt with life in her own resourceful way. Mrs. Berry was a "railroad
widow"; she supported herself and Susan by ceaseless industry helped
out by a small income received from "the Company" when her husband was
killed in the faithful discharge of his duty.
By the time she had put in her appearance at Jonas's ever-open door,
the ladies had come to a period in their conference with Jonas and now
they were engaged in expressing various sorts of surprise. They were
quite astonished at something--whatever the nature of it might be.
"Yes, she had on that kind of a hat," Jonas was saying. "But she ain't
any woman from around here. She is a school-teacher and educated. I
know her."
There was another chorus of "I declare!" which came to a stop as Mrs.
Berry rapped on the door-jamb; then all reference to their business was
dropped as they welcomed her in and made the usual polite inquiries
regarding herself and little Susan. Mrs. Berry seated herself in the
proffered chair without any reference to what the nature of her own
errand might have been. When it was seen that she had settled down to
stay, Mrs. Harmon took in hand to make everything plain and open. They
had just received news that Mr. Brown was engaged to be married. It
was this, Mrs. Harmon explained, that they had all been talking over,
and they were all very much delighted. Mrs. Berry, on her part, was
not a whit less interested in such things than the rest of them; she
expressed her opinion that it was really the best thing for a man to
do. With which sentiment they all agreed. Then Jonas spoke.
"You see, Mrs. Berry," he said, "Steve and the young lady passed me on
the road coming in from the ranch; and they stopped and told me all
about it. They just got engaged to-day."
"Oh, indeed," said Mrs. Berry. And then she created consternation by a
most embarrassing question. "And were you all expecting it?"
"Well--yes. We rather _suspected_ it, you know," put in Mrs. Harmon,
viewing her benignly. "We heard in a roundabout way that Mr. Brown was
paying attention to a young lady."
This crisis safely passed, gossip revived and took on new life, in the
course of which Mrs. Berry gathered a few details regarding the
bride-elect. Talk had not proceeded far, however, when Mrs. Harmon
rose and stationed herself behind Jonas's kitchen table.
"Ladies," she said, "I think that, just at this time, and while we are
all together, we had better call a meeting of the Circle." She took up
Jonas's long-handled batter-spoon and rapped three times on the table.
The result was that they all sat up a little straighter and came to
order. "As you are all aware," she continued, "the business of our
last meeting was left in a rather unfinished and unsatisfactory state.
It has just occurred to me that there is a little point that ought to
be taken up promptly and brought to a general understanding. I would
suggest that anything in our last meeting which might be of a--Star
Chamber nature--be expunged from the records, verbal and otherwise. In
every sense I mean--entirely. Will some one make a motion to that
effect?"
Kitty Wright arose to the occasion.
"I move," she said, "that the proceedings of the last meeting be
expunged. And that it be understood that it be considered a permanent
meeting of the committee of the whole behind closed doors. Also that
it be understood that any member--such as Mrs. Plympton, for
instance--is entitled to vote now, and make inquiries from any of her
sisters, at any time, regarding the nature of the present parliamentary
vocabulary."
"Second the motion," said Mrs. Plympton.
"Moved and seconded that the last meeting be of the aforesaid nature."
The motion was carried.
"And now," said Mrs. Harmon, rapping again with the spoon, "as this
little matter is tended to, I think it no more than proper, in view of
the pleasant news we have just received, that we turn our attention,
while the opportunity offers, to an _entirely different_ matter." Here
she turned a wary glance in the direction of the much-mystified Mrs.
Berry. "While we are all here I think it would be a matter of pleasure
to all concerned that we make some plans for the proper treatment of
the young lady who is going to settle among us. Possibly we could do
something to entertain her and make her feel at home. If any of you
have an idea on which we could act, motions to that effect will now be
in order."
"Mrs. President," said Kitty Wright, rising to her feet, "I think that
would be just lovely. I move that when Miss Smith arrives to-morrow
she be invited to a chicken dinner at the home of our worthy President;
and that two members of the Circle be invited, including myself."
"Second the motion," said Mrs. Norton.
"Moved and seconded that the young lady and her escort be invited to
dinner at the home of the President, and that Mrs. Wright and Mrs.
Norton include themselves. Are you ready for the question?"
"Question."
The motion was carried.
"Mrs. President," said Mrs. Plympton, rising and receiving recognition,
"I understand from the information that has been conveyed to us by Mr.
Hicks, that the wedding is not likely to be put off to a very late day.
It may occur very soon; therefore any plans that we may have in that
regard ought to be set in motion at once. Now, I have just been
thinking that I have those fifty Japanese lanterns which we used in the
lawn festival. I move that a committee be appointed, at the pleasure
of the President, to begin arrangements for celebrating the return of
the bridal couple with a reception _al fresco_ in our peach orchard.
And that the Colonel be notified to have his barn in readiness for
another dance."
The motion was seconded and carried by extra unanimous vote.
Mrs. Harmon paused a moment before bringing the meeting to an end.
While she was hesitating a chair scraped behind her and Mrs. Berry took
the floor.
"I don't know as I belong to this here Circle," said Mrs. Berry, "but
anyway I guess I belong to the Square." A murmur of approval showed
that they appreciated this view, referring as it did to that
rectangular neighborhood surrounding Jonas's twenty acres. "I guess I
belong to the Square. And I have just been thinking that as long as
Mr. Brown has been living alone around that house he has probably got
it into a pretty bad mess. Most likely the kitchen is a sight and the
place is all out of order. Somebody ought to go over and sweep and
dust and scrub and red things up. If the young lady was to come along
to-morrow and see things like that she would think we was a _pretty_
sort of a neighborhood. I move and second that I go and do it."
Without a dissenting vote, this motion was carried.
Mrs. Harmon was about to declare the meeting adjourned; but she paused
with her spoon in the air. "Mr. Hicks," she said, turning her head in
his direction, "I believe you understand about the rockery?"
"Yes," replied Jonas, rising. "I 'll tend to that all right. I 'll
get them back and fixed just the same as before. And as long as
everybody is bearing witness, I might as well do the same, as the cat
said when she got caught in the mousetrap. Most likely, if Steve has
been hauling things around in that house, there will be lots of heavy
lifting and tall reaching that needs to be done; so if Mrs. Berry is
going over there to fix up I guess I 'll go along too."
Upon this the batter-spoon came down and the meeting was declared
adjourned. But though it was adjourned, it did not immediately
disperse--women's meetings seldom do. Such delightful duties being in
the air, they had to be dwelt upon and enlarged, and Jonas had to bring
forth further details of his favorable impressions of the young lady.
And did he do her justice? Did he let them understand how well-bred
and refined and good-looking she was? Did he, in short, convey the
information that she was just about the sweetest and most delightful
and charming young lady that ever set foot on the soil of Texas? I
think, dear reader, that we may safely intrust that duty to Mr. Jonas
Hicks.