WOMAN-HATERS
“But what,” asked Ruth, as they entered the bungalow together, “has
happened to Mr. Atkins, do you think? You say he went away yesterday
noon and you haven't seen him or even heard from him since. I should
think he would be afraid to leave the lights for so long a time. Has he
ever done it before?”
“No. And I'm certain he would not have done it this time of his own
accord. If he could have gotten back last night he would, storm or no
storm.”
“But last night was pretty bad. And,” quite seriously, “of course he
knew that you were here, and so everything would be all right.”
“Oh, certainly,” with sarcasm, “he would know that, of course. So long
as I am on deck, why come back at all? I'm afraid Atkins doesn't share
your faith in my transcendent ability, dear.”
“Well,” Miss Graham tossed her head, “I imagine he knew he could trust
you to attend to his old lighthouses.”
“Perhaps. If so, his faith has developed wonderfully. He never has
trusted me even to light the lanterns. No, I'm afraid something has
happened--some accident. If the telephone was in working order I could
soon find out. As it is, I can only wait and try not to worry. By the
way, is your housekeeper--Mrs. What's-her-name--all serene after her wet
afternoon? When did she return?”
“She hasn't returned. I expected her last evening--she said she would be
back before dark--but she didn't come. That didn't trouble me; the storm
was so severe that I suppose she stayed in the village overnight.”
“So you were alone all through the gale. I wondered if you were; I was
tremendously anxious about you. And you weren't afraid? Did you sleep?”
“Not much. You see,” she smiled oddly, “I received a letter before I
retired, and it was such an important--and surprising--communication
that I couldn't go to sleep at once.”
“A letter? A letter last night? Who--What? You don't mean my letter? The
one I put under your door? You didn't get THAT last night!”
“Oh, yes, I did.”
“But how? The bungalow was as dark as a tomb. There wasn't a light
anywhere. I made sure of that before I came over.”
“I know. I put the light out, but I was sitting by the window in the
dark, looking out at the storm. Then I saw some one coming up the hill,
and it was you.”
“Then you saw me push it under the door?”
“Yes. What made you stay on the step so long after you had pushed it
under?”
“Me? . . . Oh,” hastily, “I wanted to make sure it was--er--under. And
you found it and read it--then?”
“Of course. I couldn't imagine what it could be, and I was curious,
naturally.”
“Ruth!”
“I was.”
“Nonsense! You knew what it must be. Surely you did. Now, truly, didn't
you? Didn't you, dear?”
“Why should I? . . . Oh, your sleeve is wet. You're soaking wet from
head to foot.”
“Well, I presume that was to be expected. This water out here is
remarkably damp, you know, and I was in it for some time. I should have
been in it yet if it hadn't been for you.”
“Don't!” with a shudder, “don't speak of it. When I saw you fall into
that tide I . . . But there! you mustn't stay here another moment. Go
home and put on dry things. Go at once!”
“Dry things be hanged! I'm going to stay right here--and look at you.”
“You're not. Besides, I am wet, too. And I haven't had my breakfast.”
“Haven't you? Neither have I.” He forgot that he had attempted to have
one. “But I don't care,” he added recklessly. Then, with a flash of
inspiration, “Why can't we breakfast together? Invite me, please.”
“No, I shall not. At least, not until you go back and change your
clothes.”
“To hear is to obey. 'I go, but I return,' as the fellow in the play
observes. I'll be back in just fifteen minutes.”
He was back in twelve, and, as to make the long detour about the
marshes would, he felt then, be a wicked waste of time and the marshes
themselves were covered with puddles left by the tide, his “dry things”
were far from dry when he arrived. But she did not notice, and he was
too happy to care, so it was all right. They got breakfast together, and
if the coffee had boiled too long and the eggs not long enough, that was
all right, also.
They sat at opposite sides of the little table, and he needed frequent
reminding that eating was supposed to be the business on hand. They
talked of his father and of Ann Davidson--whom Ruth declared was to be
pitied--of the wonderful coincidence that that particular paper, the one
containing the “Personal” and the “Engagement in High Life” item, should
have been on top of the pile in the boathouse, and--of other things.
Occasionally the talk lapsed, and the substitute assistant merely
looked, looked and smiled vacuously. When this happened Miss Graham
smiled, also, and blushed. Neither of them thought of looking out of the
window.
If they had not been so preoccupied, if they had looked out of that
window, they would have seen a horse and buggy approaching over the
dunes. Seth and Mrs. Bascom were on the buggy seat, and the lightkeeper
was driving with one hand. The equipage had been hired at the Eastboro
livery stable. Joshua was undergoing repairs and enjoying a much-needed
rest at the blacksmith shop in the village.
As they drew near the lights, Seth sighed contentedly.
“Well, Emeline,” he observed, “here we be, safe and sound. Home again!
Yes, sir, by jiminy crimps, HOME! And you ain't goin' to Boston to-day,
neither.”
Mrs. Bascom, the practical, moved toward the edge of the seat.
“Take your arm away, Seth,” she cautioned. “They'll see you.”
“Who'll see me? What do I care who sees me? Ain't a man got a right to
put his arm around his own wife, I'd like to know?”
“Humph! Well, all right. I can stand it if you can. Only I cal'late your
young Brown man is in for somethin' of a shock, that's all. HE don't
know that I'm your wife.”
Seth removed his arm. His expression changed.
“That's so,” he admitted. “He will be set back three or four rows, won't
he?”
“I shouldn't wonder. He'll think your woman-hate has had a relapse, I
guess.”
The lightkeeper looked troubled; then he nodded grimly.
“His ain't what you'd call a desp'rate case,” he declared. “Judgin' by
what I've seen in the cove for the last month, he's gettin' better of
it fast. I ain't no worse than he is, by time! . . . Wonder where he is!
This place looks deader'n the doleful tombs.”
He hitched the horse to the back fence and assisted his wife to alight
from the buggy. They entered the kitchen. No one was there, and Seth's
hurried search of the other rooms resulted in finding them untenanted
likewise.
“Maybe he's out in one of the lights,” he said, “wait here, Emeline, and
I'll go see.”
But she would not wait. “I'm goin' right over to the bungalow,” she
said. “I'm worried about Miss Ruth. She was alone all last night, and
I sha'n't rest easy till I know nothin's happened to her. You can come
when you find your young man. You and me have got somethin' to tell 'em,
and we might as well get the tellin' done as soon as possible. Nothin's
ever gained by putting off a mean job. Unless, of course,” she added,
looking at him out of the corners of her eyes, “you want to back out,
Seth. It ain't too late even now, you know.”
He stared at her. “Back out!” he repeated; “back out! Emeline Bascom,
what are you talkin' about? You go to that bungalow and go in a hurry.
Don't stop to talk! go! Who's runnin' this craft? Who's the man in this
family--you or me?”
She laughed. “You seem to be, Seth,” she answered, “just now.”
“I am. I've been a consider'ble spell learnin' how to be, but I've
learned. You trot right along.”
Brown was in neither of the light towers, and Seth began to be worried
about him. He descended to the yard and stood there, wondering what
on earth could have happened. Then, looking across the cove, he became
aware that his wife was standing on the edge of the bluff, making
signals with both hands.
He opened his mouth to shout a question, but she frantically signaled
for silence. Then she beckoned. He ran down the path at full speed. She
met him at the other side of the cove.
“Come here!” she whispered. “Don't say a word, but just come--and look.”
He followed her, crept close to the bungalow window and peeped in. His
helper, “John Brown,” and Miss Ruth Graham were seated at the table.
Also the substitute assistant was leaning across that table with the
young lady's hand in his; the pair were entirely oblivious of anything
in the world except each other.
A few moments later a thunderous knock shook the bungalow door. The
knock was not answered immediately; therefore, Seth opened the door
himself. Miss Graham and the lightkeeper's helper were standing some
distance apart; they gazed speechlessly at the couple who now entered
the room.
“Well,” observed Seth, with sarcasm, “anybody got anything to say?
You,” turning to the young man, “seems to me you ought to say SOMETHIN'.
Considerin' a little agreement you and me had, I should imagine I
was entitled to some triflin' explanation. What are you doin' over
here--with HER? Brown--”
The young gentleman came to himself with a start. He walked across to
where Miss Graham was standing, and once more took her hand.
“My name is not Brown,” he said firmly. “It is Brooks; and this is the
young lady I am to marry.”
He naturally expected his superior to be surprised. As a matter of
fact, he was the surprised party. Seth reached out, drew the bungalow
housekeeper toward him, and put his arm about her waist. Then he
smiled; and the smile was expressive of pride, triumph, and satisfaction
absolute.
“ATKINS!” gasped Brooks.
“My name ain't Atkins,” was the astonishing reply; “it's Bascom. And
this,” indicating by a tightening of his arm the blushing person at his
side, “is the lady I married over five year ago.”
After the stories had been told, after both sides had told theirs and
explained and been exclaimed over and congratulated, after the very last
question had been asked and answered, Brown--or Brooks--asked one more.
“But this other fellow,” he queried, “this brother-in-law--By George,
it is perfectly marvelous, this whole business!--where is he? What has
become of him?”
Seth chuckled. “Bennie D.?” he said. “Well, Bennie D. is leavin'
Eastboro on the noon train. I paid his fare and give him fifty dollars
to boot. He's goin' somewhere, but he ain't sartin where. If you asked
me, I should say that, in the end, he'd most likely have to go
where he's never been afore, so far's I ever heard--that's to work.
Now--seein' as the important business has been talked over and
settled--maybe you'll tell me about the lights, and how you got along
last night.”
But the lighthouse subject was destined to be postponed for a few
minutes. The person in whose care the Lights had been left during the
past twenty hours or so looked at the speaker, then at the other persons
present, and suddenly began to laugh.
“What are you laughing at?” asked Miss Graham. “Why, Russell, what is
it?”
Russell Agnew Brooks, alias “John Brown,” ex-substitute assistant at
Eastboro Twin-Lights, sank into a chair, shaking from head to heel.
“It is hysterics,” cried Ruth, hastening to his side. “No wonder, poor
dear, considering what he has been through. Hush, Russell! don't, you
frighten me. What IS it?”
Her fiance waved a reassuring hand. “It--it's all right,” he gasped.
“I was just laughing at . . . Oh,” pointing an unsteady finger at the
lightkeeper, “ask him; he knows.”
“Ask him?” repeated the bewildered young lady. “Why, Mr. Atkins--Bascom,
I mean--what. . . .”
And then Seth began to laugh. Leaning against the doorpost, he at first
chuckled and then roared.
“Seth!” cried his wife. “Seth, you old idiot! Why, I never see two such
loons in my life! Seth, answer me! What are you two laughin' at?”
Seth Atkins Bascom wiped the tears from his eyes. “I cal'late,” he
panted, “I rather guess--Ho, ho!--I rather guess we're both laughin' at
woman-haters.”