IN WHICH MARY CARY SPEAKS
The flourish of Mr. Milligan's hand as Mary Cary rose and came toward
the platform was not to be resisted by Mrs. McDougal, who was
clapping vehemently. She gave the hand a resounding smack.
"Fine words, Mr. Milligan, fine words! But a dead Irishman would make
a good speech if you'd touch his tongue. You're an orationer, you are.
Set down, quick! Miss Cary is going to speak."
"Mr. President, gentlemen of the council." The clear, fresh voice
carried to the far corners of the room and upon the latter fell
vibrating silence. "Yorkburg's fiscal year ending in June in the next
few weeks, the annual budget for the coming twelve months will be fixed
by you. Before this budget is made up I am going to ask you to act upon
three propositions. Last year the total revenue of the town was
$16,907.23, and your expenditures something under one thousand dollars
less than your income. Out of your sinking-fund you retired a large
proportion of your outstanding bonds, with the result that your
indebtedness is now sufficiently small to justify your increasing it. I
am here to-night to ask you to issue, during the next three months,
fifty thousand dollars' worth of city bonds, interest on which is to be
3 per cent., payable semi-annually. If you will agree to do this
promptly, Bartlett, Cramp & Company, of New York, will take the entire
amount at once. At the expiration of twenty years these bonds are to be
retired."
"In the name of glory!"
The words, half smothered, sounded even to the platform, and Mary
Cary, catching them, laughed and nodded toward the source from which
they came.
"Is there anything you wish to say, Mr. Billisoly, before I go on?"
The latter rose to his feet, put his hand to his mouth, coughed, and
looked at Mr. Chinn.
"Yes'm, there is. Fifty thousand dollars is a powerful lot of money to
borrow at one clip, and--"
"Three per cent. interest is powerful little money to pay for its use,"
she answered, smiling. "But that isn't all I am here to say. If you
don't mind and will let me get through it will save time, and then
questions can be asked and answered. Last year the rate of interest on
all taxable property was one dollar and twenty-five cents per one
hundred dollars. This year, Mr. Councilmen, if you really love Yorkburg,
you will raise it to one dollar and thirty-five cents.
"Oh, I know," She laughed and lifted her hand as if to stop the unspoken
protest of certain stirrings. "I know the name of taxes isn't truly
pleasant to any one. But I have with me a list of taxpayers who agree to
the increase asked for, and if you would like to see it, there is no
objection to your doing so."
She opened her bag and took from it a roll of paper, and as she
unwound it she threw one end to Mr. Ash, the chairman of the finance
committee.
"This," she said, "is a list of the people who love their town enough to
put their hands in their pockets to prove it. A truly trying test!" She
held up her end of the paper. "There," she said, "there is the list."
Instinctively many leaned forward to see the paper which for reasons of
her own she had made in one long, narrow ribbon, and as they did so
she laughed again and nodded to the men at the desks. "The will of your
constituents.
"And now"--she stepped back--"there is one thing more. Yorkburg has
a friend who is greatly interested in its welfare. This friend believes
the time has come when the town should take stock of itself, should look
itself in the face and see just what sort of a town it is, and what it
may be. As a friend of this friend of Yorkburg I am authorized to say
that if this issue of fifty thousand dollars' worth of bonds be made
promptly, the like amount of fifty thousand dollars will be at once
deposited by Bartlett, Cramp & Company to the credit of your finance
committee, said amount to be used for the relaying out of the town,
the proper paving of streets, the planting of shade-trees, and the
cleaning up of dirty places."
For a moment there was palpitating silence. No one moved. Eyes were
fixed on her as if ears had not heard aright. The heads of some leaned
forward, the bodies of others leaned back, then the clearing of throats
and the shuffling of feet broke the pause that followed the statement
which had just been heard, and back toward the door Mr. Benny
Brickhouse arose.
"If he ain't the spittin' image of an orange with two peanuts
underneath and one peanut on top, I never seen one," said Mrs. McDougal
in a voice none too low, "and the top peanut ain't got a thing in it.
Just listen at his cambric-needle squeak!"
"Mr. President." The thin, piping tones caused many to look around.
"Mr. President, never before in its history has the council of Yorkburg
heard from its platform such astounding propositions as have been made
before it to-night. The young lady who has made them is doubtless
actuated by high and lofty motives, but it is not to be expected that
she should know what she is doing. It is out of her sphere, sir, the
sphere in which God put woman and meant her to stay--"
"Please, sir, Mr. Chinn, may I ask Mr. Brickhouse if God Almighty told
him He put woman in a sphere, or if a man told him?" and Mrs.
McDougal, on her feet, held up her hand as a child in a classroom who
asks to speak.
Mr. Chinn's gavel came down heavily and squelched the titter which
threatened to be something more. "Mr. Brickhouse has the floor, Mrs.
McDougal."
"And likely to keep it, sir. But go on, Mr. Brickhouse, go on! I
thought maybe you'd just heard from the Lord. Beg your pardon, sir."
She sat down, waving her hand toward the round little man, speechless
with amazement, then turned in a half whisper to the girl at her side.
"Let him talk, Miss Cary. Nothing shows the kind of fool you are as
quick as your tongue. Balaam's Brickhouse won't hurt you."
"Mr. President"--the interruption was ignored, and only the trembling of
the fine, thin voice gave evidence of anger--Mr. President, Yorkburg is
no pauper, and does not need the gift which has been offered it
to-night, provided it will acknowledge it needs to be cleaned up.
Yorkburg is a very clean place. Its streets were good enough for our
fathers, and I, for one, protest against the supplanting of the trees
they planted by the planting of more! We don't want more! And who is the
person who offers this gift? Why is his name withheld? Is he ashamed of
it, or is there a string tied to it which we don't see yet? What does
the party want of us in return for this sum of money, gotten we know not
how? It may be tarnished, sir, it any be tarnished!" His pudgy little
hands smote the air with something of vehemence; then remembering that
excitement was inelegant he wiped them carefully with his handkerchief,
clasped them righteously together, and laid them on his stomach.
"And I would like to ask why this honorable body is called on to pass a
measure which will plunge this old and distinguished town in such
enormous indebtedness?" he began again, after a pause which he
thought impressive. "Why should fifty thousand dollars' worth of bonds
be issued? For what purpose will the money be used? Why should this
great increase in taxes by made? What is to be done with the money
drained from our people, who are not worshippers of Mammon and
who set not their hearts on mere material things? I beg this honorable
body not to be led astray. It will be a sad day for this city of a
precious past--"
He stopped. Mary Cary's eyes, which in the beginning of his speech had
been bent on a letter held in her hand lest the laughter in them be
seen, were raised, and she was now looking at him with a steadiness
which was disconcerting, and the words died upon his lips.
"Are you through, Mr. Brickhouse?"
He sat down, wiping his moist face limply. "Yes, I am through."
This time Mary Cary, who had been standing below the platform,
stepped upon it, and the letter she had been holding was laid upon the
table.
"I am very much obliged to Mr. Brickhouse for asking the questions he
has asked," she began. "Except the name of the person giving this money
to Yorkburg there is no one of them that will not be answered readily,
as they should be rightly. Whether we are entitled to peculiarities, or
not, all of us possess them, and one of this friend of Yorkburg's is
that the gift and the giver should not be associated together;
therefore, the name of this friend will not be known. Another
characteristic of this same person is that before a place can be
properly beautiful it should be made sound and solid and healthy. The
foundation must come first, and the foundation of any town which would
have a future is to know Yorkburg is badly laid out. It isn't laid out
at all, and many of its streets start and end as they please. An
elemental need of Yorkburg is that it should be laid out anew, and by a
competent civil engineer who knows what he is about. This engineer will
be provided when you agree to use his services. Mr. Brickhouse says we
have a precious past. That is true, but a precious past doesn't make
good walking, and, not being dead, our feet have some rights. There is
no string tied to this gift of fifty thousand dollars save the
restriction that the money be expended for the purposes mentioned.
"You see"--she turned to the councilmen in front and nodded to them--
"when the matters brought before you to-night were mentioned to Mr.
Brickhouse he was not interested, and did not care to put his name to
the list of taxpayers who are willing to increase their taxes in order
that Yorkburg may get a new bonnet and gloves and good stout shoes for
its feet. He thinks they are not needed, and instead of expenditure,
economy should be your keynote." She shook her head. "There are
times when too much economy is as ruinous as too great expenditure.
Some women die from it every year.
"But before coming here to-night I did try to understand what I was
about." She tucked a curl which had slipped from under her hat back in
place. "I learned from your mayor that the town is financially able to
do what it is asked to do. We need two new school-buildings--one for
primary and grammar grades, one for a high-school. The increase of
taxes is needed to pay the interest on the new bonds, needed for many
more things than it will supply."
For a half moment she looked around the room, then again turned to the
men immediately in front, and her hands made a swift, appealing gesture.
"Gentlemen, you have done so splendidly. For so long there was so little
to do with. For many years the struggle for life and honor gave your
fathers no time for thought of other things, but they held their heads
up through it all, and you--you are your fathers' sons! In the years I
have been away I never saw anything beautiful or useful or splendid,
never saw good streets, schools, libraries, churches, parks,
playgrounds, galleries, museums, baths, kindergartens, never saw a good
idea in operation, or anything that made life nicer and better that I
didn't wish Yorkburg had it. I was always wishing it could be the
cleanest, prettiest, happiest of all places on this earth to live in,
and when I came back and saw what you had done, saw there was good
water, good sewerage, good lights, a few good streets, I was as proud
and pleased as if--as if I'd been your mother!"
She joined in the laugh that followed, then shook her head. "But,
gentlemen, people who don't do anything keep at it. A big idea means
big things, and if everybody pulls together we can do lots for Yorkburg.
And you don't really love what you don't work for, don't deny yourself
a little bit for, don't take some risk with. Some say there's risk in
marriage, but people get married. They want to. We can do anything for
Yorkburg we want to if we just want hard enough. Everybody agrees that
we need a high-school and a new grammar school. We've needed them for
years, and there were few people who pay taxes who didn't sign this
petition readily. Nearly everybody wants children to have a chance."
"Did the biggest taxpayer in Yorkburg sign it?" It was Mr. Billisoly
who asked the question.
"Who is that?"
"Mr. John Maxwell, owner of the Yorkburg shoe factory, ice factory,
electric-light plant; owner of more than any one man in town, if he
don't live here."
Mary Cary took up her end of the paper and examined it. "His name is
the first on the list. Next is Mr. Moon, then Mr. Walstein, Mr. Ash,
Mr. Wilson, Mr.--"
"Is Miss Gibbie Gault's name there?"
"It is."
"Wonder!" Mr. Billisoly blew his nose and turned to the man at his side.
"Looks like she's got it all there. If she could land Miss Gibbie the
rest were easy."
"Tell me she and Miss Cary are great friends. They say the old lady is
as smart as the devil and he'd be much more apt to get out of her way
than she out of his if they met. Listen, there goes Sunny Chinn. Ain't
he a cheerful thing to look at?"
The latter had risen, and again the table was struck by the gavel, which
through the evening his hand had not relinquished. "Are there any
further remarks to be made? If not--"
"Yes, sir." Mr. Ranlet, owner and proprietor of the Yorkburg bakery,
rose from his seat. "I'd like to ask something about this firm of
Bartlett, Cramp & Company, who is willing to buy bonds that only pay
3 per cent. How does Miss Cary know that?"
"I have a letter to that effect." She opened her bag and took from it
a letter. "This," she said, holding it up, "is the letter which states
that they will make this purchase for a customer, provided it can be
done promptly. Mr. Moon, Mr. Walstein, any one doing business in New
York can tell you the character and reputation of this company."
"I suppose the name of the customer is not mentioned?"
"Yes. It is a Mr. Black, of Brooklyn."
"The same one who has been buying property around here lately?"
"The same one. I understand he is thinking of coming here to live."
"Must have plenty of money. Not many people jump at 3-per-cent.
town bonds."
"Then we ought to jump quick lest he change his mind."
"I move the matter be referred to the finance committee." It was Mr.
Mowry who spoke, and instantly Mr. Ash, who had said nothing so far,
was on his feet.
"Mr. President, such reference would be a waste of time. As chairman
of the finance committee I have called the latter together and talked
with them concerning this proposition of an issue of bonds which I
knew would be brought before you to-night. We agreed to recommend it
heartily, and I move that the question be put at once."
The motion, made and carried quickly, was greeted with deafening
applause by the visitors sitting, standing, or balanced in the window-
seats, and then some one moved for an executive session, and slowly
the crowd began to stir and go out.
"It's going to be all right, Mary." Mr. Moon patted the latter's hands
encouragingly. "We are going to increase the taxes, accept the money,
and build the schools, and if you will please take Mrs. Moon home I will
be obliged. Her face has been like a beet all the evening. Oh, how do
you do, Mrs. McDougal?" and he shook kindly the rough red hand held
out toward him.
"And I'm glad to see you, Mr. Moon. I tell you this has been a night,
ain't it? I've had a fine time, though I'd had a finer if an edjucatid
tongue was in my mouth, and I could have mentioned some of the things I
know of as Yorkburg needs. What we goin' home for, being you ain't
through, they say? I hope you will tell those men who are to act on
something that if they don't act right they'll never get a vote from my
boys when they turn twenty-one. I ain't sayin' I understood all what
Miss Cary said to-night about bonds and things, but I'd follow her in
the dark, and ain't anybody such a fool as not to know what fifty
thousand dollars could do for a place or a person. Of course, being just
a woman--and men think women is just canary birds or dray horses--I
don't have no say in things like this, but I've borned five sayers, and
I'm goin' to keep my eye on 'em to see what they do when they get a
chance. Yes, sir, there's to be a knowin' why if she don't get what she
wants. In the four factories there's two hundred and ninety-three
voters, John Armitage says, and they're solid to a man for Miss Cary.
Just tell 'em that for me, will you? Good-night. Come on, children! I
wonder where McDougal is? A dead chicken's got more spirit in company
than he has! Good-night, Miss Cary, and don't forget we're expectin' of
you to tea to-morrow night. Peggy ain't slept for a week thinkin' about
it."
At the door a group of men stood talking. "Regular hunks, weren't
they?" said Mr. Jernigan, taking his pipe out of his pocket and knocking
the bowl against the palm of his hand. "And she didn't waste words in
throwing them out, either. Fifty thousand dollars in bonds asked for as
cool as snow, and looking like a blush-rose when she did it. Fifty
thousand dollars, too, handed out for a gift like 'twas an every-day
thing for Yorkburg to get it. She said she had a surprise for us. 'Twas
a cracker-jack. Wish one of that kind would knock me in the head! Taxes
increased from $1.25 to $1.35! George, it does you good to hear the
stuff called for like that. Them that's got it ought to pay for having!"
"But she believes in everybody paying. Don't you remember the day she
come down to the mills at lunch-time and told us we oughtn't to ask for
a reading-room where books from the library up on King Street could
be got without our goin' for 'em, unless we were willin' to help pay
for the keep of the room? Don't you remember? I do." And Mr. Flournoy
took the match held out by Mr. Jernigan and passed it on to the man
standing next.
"Yes, I remember. She made us all chip in. Right, too. It costs forty
dollars a month to run that room, and we don't pay but twenty. Don't
know where the other twenty comes from, but she does, and that goes
in mill-town."
"She's got a clear head, Miss Cary has. And the reason I like to hear
her talk is I can hook on to what she says." Mr. Flournoy walked over
to the window and measured the distance to a given spot below with his
lips. "No beatin' round to keep you from knowin' what she means. What
kind of slush was that Bailly Ass Brickhouse tryin' to get off, anyhow?
Any of you catch on?
"Didn't listen. Heard his junk before. He says he traces himself back
to Adam in this town, but if he ever give it as much as a ginger-cake
it's been kept a secret. Here comes Miss Cary now."
Mr. Jernigan took off his hat, and on his finger twirled it round and
round. "My wife's been sick in bed ten weeks come Friday," he said,
presently, "and there ain't been a one of 'em Miss Cary hasn't been to
bring her some outdoor thing, as well as other kinds. Mollie says when
she comes in the room, spring things come with her."
He stood aside, then took the hand held out as she came toward him.
"Didn't we have a grand meeting?" she said, nodding lightly to first one
and then the other. "I believe it's going to be all right, and you can
tell your wives their children will go to a high-school yet. I'm so glad
all you men came. Thank you very much--"
"You didn't need us." The man standing next to the steps laughed. "The
work was done before to-night. You had your ducks in a row all right."
"And not a single one quacked wrong! Didn't they do beautifully? Thank
everybody for coming. Good-night." And in the darkness they could
hear her laughing with Mrs. Moon and Mrs. Corbin as they went
together down the street.
A few minutes later in Miss Gibbie's library she was dancing that lady
of full figure round and round the room, and not for some seconds would
she stop.
"Oh, Miss Gibbie, if you'd just been there! Not a sign of fight from
any one, and as to fireworks, there wasn't a pop-cracker! Mr. Benny
Brickhouse orated, of course, and Mrs. McDougal was irrepressible,
but without them it would have been solemn--/solemn!/ I tried not
talk too much. Men don't like it; they like women to listen to them,
but to-night they--"
"Like sheep before their shearer, were dumb--as I'll be dead if you
don't sit sown. Sit down!"
"I can't." And Miss Gibbie was waltzed around once more. "I don't
understand, but it's going to be all right. Men are certainly funny.
For weeks every member of the council has pooh-hooded me, thought my
audaciousness was outrageousness, shook their heads and waved me
out, and didn't begin to listen seriously until a week ago. To-night
they were little lambs!"
"If you'll stop butting round like a goat and go to bed I'll hear about
these lambkins to-morrow. I sat up to tell you good-night, not to hear
you talk. It's nearly twelve o'clock. Of course they came round!
Wind-watchers, all of them! That 3 per cent. got them. I told you if
you made it 4 it wouldn't go through."
"Some one wanted to know who Mr. Black was, and Mr. Billisoly
asked if your name was on the taxpayers' petition. It's like a play
with the principal character left out. Suppose--"
"Suppose nothing! Go to bed and go to sleep! Your eyes are as big as
saucers, blue saucers at that. I don't want to hear another word,"
and with a kiss as quick as the look that swept the flushed face
was scrutinizing, Miss Gibbie waved her to the door.
"But aren't you coming? It's nearly twelve o'clock!"
"And why do I live alone save to do as I please? No, I'm not coming.
Go to bed!"
At the door, hand on knob, Mary Cary turned. "How did Mr. Milligan
know about my English grandfather? Who told him he was a chief
justice?"
"I did. And for good reasons. I don't tell my reasons. Go to bed!"
"When did you tell him?"
"This morning after I left you. /Are/ you going to bed?"
"I don't see what you told him for. I don't like my grandfathers. I
can't imagine--"
"There are many things you can't imagine, and more you don't
understand. /Go to bed!/"
In her room Mary Cary stood before the tall, old-fashioned bureau,
with its small swinging glass, and brushed her hair mechanically and
with thoughts afar off; then putting down her brush laid it on a letter
she had not seen before.
"Why, it's John's!" she said. "I wonder how it got here?" She held it
up, then put it back again. "It must have come on the last mail and
Hedwig brought it in. Silly!"
She braided her hair slowly, tied on its ribbons, then knelt by the big
tester bed to say her prayers. Her face rested sideways on the open
palms of her hands, crossed one on the other, and her eyes closed
sleepily.
"I'm too tired to read it to-night, and to-morrow I will be too busy.
But I'm glad it's here. In case of trouble--or anything, John is such--
a sure help."