MRS. DEPEW HOLDS THE REINS
At the farm bells jangled. The usual harmony was not prevailing.
No one struck the right key in conversation. After the manner of
mothers, Mrs. Depew sympathized with her daughter, with a result that
things were not running smoothly with the farmer.
A wife has facilities for disturbing a husband's tranquillity.
Apart from the displeasure of his wife and daughter, George Depew was
not that pleased with himself.
Gerald's behavior when leaving had certainly not been that of a guilty
man. And when the farmer came to think things over quietly, he came to
the conclusion that he had been a large sized fool to lose his temper as
he had done.
He realized Gerald's story must have been true--what would have been the
sense of trying to pass off that folded piece of newspaper as bank
notes? The trick would necessarily be found out at once.
The midday meal was under way, and was being disposed of in unusual
silence.
Mrs. Depew did not like the red eyed appearance of her daughter, and her
husband did not like the glances his wife occasionally favored him with
as a result thereof.
A messenger came to the door with a letter for the farmer. He took it
and tried to read it, but could only make out a word here and there.
"Here, Tess, just read this out, will you?"
His daughter took it and read.
The farmer said "Jerusalem!" His wife--after the manner of wives--said,
"There! I told you so," and the daughter said tearfully, "And you called
him a thief, father!"
"Yes," said Mrs. Depew, rubbing it in, after the manner of her sex, "an
almost stranger goes out of his way to bring you more money than you
have ever dreamed of, and you call him a thief! I've no patience with
the man."
"No, old woman, you haven't," replied the farmer. "Mebbe it would be
better for all of us if you had. Give me my store coat and hat. I'm
going right away to N'York by the next train."
"And what good's that, I should like to know? Sakes alive! Can't the man
understand that the money's to his credit here in Oakville?"
"Yes, the man's got gumption enough for that," answered the farmer
grimly. "Just now, it ain't the money that's agitating me--that's all
right."
"Then, what on earth do you want to go to N'York for?"
"To make about the most humble apology lips ever vented. I'm going to
find Gerald Danvers, and tell him that a bigger old fool don't prowl
about this airth than I am; and I'm going to beg him--d'ye hear--beg him
to forgive me for insulting him."
"Dear father!"
"That's it, Tess. Because your old dad's a bit of a fool, you don't want
to rub it in, do you? You leave that to your mother. Come here, girlie,
and gimme a kiss."
"Lawd sakes, now! Just listen to the man! As if I'd said anything!"
"No, mother," said the farmer, over Tessie's shoulder--he was holding
her to him--"it wouldn't be you to say anything. Silence is the kind of
thing you shine in. Now, Tessie, gimme your sweetheart's address, and
I'll get there slick away."
"Father, I don't know it."
"You--don't--know--it?"
"No, father. He will come back here now the money is found."
"Not if I know him, he won't," interposed the farmer's wife. "People
that are turned out of doors and called 'thief' and threatened with
whips ain't likely to come groveling around."
"Mother!"
"Oh, yes, 'mother.' But 'mother' won't find that boy, will it? Lawd
sakes! When I was a gal, sweethearts didn't behave like that. When your
father was courting me, I should ha' liked to see him stalk away to
N'York without telling me where he was going to put up. My--yes!"
"Hullo!" said the farmer, "here's a special delivery letter!"
"Perhaps it's from Gerald, father.
"More likely," snorted Mrs. Depew, "from the county lunatic asylum, to
say they've a vacancy for a permanency if your father likes to call."
"Here, Tess, girlie, read this. See who it's from, and what it's about."
The girl took the letter and read.
"That makes the nineteen thousand pounds," said Tessie, as she finished
reading the letter. "I wondered what eighteen meant."
"There's time to catch the train;" he walked to the window as he spoke,
and called out, "You, Sam, just hitch the mare on to the buggy----"
"And what's the buggy for?" interrupted his wife.
"To drive to the station, of course."
"Well, the buggy won't hold four people, will it?"
"Four?"
"Yes. Sam'll have to go to bring it back. Do you expect me and Tessie to
hang on to that axle?"
"What? Are you going?"
"Am I? I reckon. If you think, George Depew, that you are going to
career around the streets of N'York, bulging money at every pocket, with
nary a sensible soul to look after you, let me tell you, you make a
mistake."
"But, mother dear," said Tessie; "you will never be ready. The train
goes in twenty minutes, and you will never have time to change your
dress."
"Won't I? Sakes alive! You've known me for nigh on nineteen years, and
you don't know your mother yet."
She had thrown off her apron and was rolling down her sleeves as she
spoke. Then she called out to the hired girl:
"You, Liz, my boots, the ones I wore last time I was in Oakville. Won't
be ready, won't I?" she continued, as she bustled up-stairs to change
her dress; "I guess I shall be ready before you are."
Her husband changed the order, and the horse was harnessed to a four
wheeled trap. By the time the farmer had changed into fresh boots and
coat, Mrs. Depew was heard descending the stairs.
"On time, I reckon, ain't I?" she inquired as she tied her bonnet
strings. "Where's that gal? Now, you, Tessie, jump about; never mind
your hair, clap your hat on, and come right down at once. We don't need
to miss that train."
She was outside getting into her seat, and had taken the reins in hand
before she had finished speaking.
Tessie ran down, jumped up, and presently they were driving rapidly in
the direction of the station.
The train was caught, and during the journey the situation was discussed
with much spirit.
The fact that the hero had appealed to Mrs. Depew, when her husband had
turned him out, was not forgotten by that lady. Her "I told you so" song
she sang for all it was worth, and kept her foot on the low pedal, too.
"I know a man, I do hope, when I see one," she said, "and at five
o'clock this afternoon I hope to put my arms round the neck of one, and
give him a good sounding kiss. I'm just real anxious to fill a great
gaping hole in our midst. I'm wanting to extend a welcoming hand to a
son-in-law that'll fill it, and supply the common sense we're so hard up
for with our men folk."