THE MARSHES PAY A DEBT
Mrs. Marsh, her day’s work completed, was doing some sewing. Her
thoughts often turned to her beloved son, twice beloved, since he was
not about. Ted had sent her a picture of himself on horseback and she
was looking proudly at it. It was an unusually long letter she had
received that morning. Ted had told of Red Mack, Smiles, Pop, and the
others. How his horse, Scout, and he were great chums, and how Wolf had
grown and was a dog any boy could be proud of. How fine and important
Mr. Dean was and how good to him Mrs. Dean was, always. Throughout
the boyish letter, the mother read of the boy’s happiness in his new
surroundings. But Ted also made her feel that he missed her and that he
missed Helen.
What a fine picture it was of him. How manly he looked. The mother was
quite sure there never was a boy like her Ted. But she missed him so.
And, thinking about how much she missed him, she looked for a moment as
if she would cry.
But instead of crying, she suddenly smiled.
“I must not be selfish, as Helen says. It is his chance. Bless the
Deans.”
Ted in his first letter of that week had written about the Academy at
Wayland and that he was to arrive there on May 1st. She knew that Mrs.
Dean had kept him up in his studies in the eight months he had been
away from school, but she was glad to know that he was again to get
back to a regular school.
After a while she started to set the table. Helen would soon be home
and Mrs. Marsh was always sure to have things ready for the hungry girl
when she reached home. After the table was set, Mrs. Marsh reopened the
letter received that morning from Ted and placed it conspicuously, so
that Helen could not fail to see it.
Her thoughts still stayed with Ted. She did not mind receiving the
monthly remittance from the Deans, she mused, just as had been
arranged, before they left for the West, yet she was glad that it would
not be necessary to receive this money very much longer. What they had
accepted up to now would be paid back by the three of them, the mother,
Helen and Ted. But both of them were very anxious to pay back at once
the hundred dollars Mr. Dean had insisted that she take when Ted had
gone to the hospital. That was a burden which the Marshes were anxious
to clear as soon as possible.
The bell rang. “It cannot be Helen. She does not ring. I wonder who it
is?”
She pushed the button that opened the door below. After a time there
was a knock at the door.
She opened it and a man stepped in.
“Mrs. Marsh?” he asked.
“I am Mrs. Marsh,” she answered.
“I am the insurance adjuster and I want to settle as to your losses
through that fire. The company wants to offer you $25.00, which I think
is very fair.”
“But it was supposed to be $100.00,” said Mrs. Marsh, uncertainly.
“We cannot make it $100.00; we do not intend to give more than $25.00.
You can take it or leave it.”
The man made a move as if to go. Mrs. Marsh, uncertain, wished for Ted
or even for Helen, and as if in answer to her wish Helen stepped into
the room.
“Hello, mother!” She kissed her lovingly, then saw the stranger. She
looked up at the man.
The mother explained.
“We will not take less than the $100,” said Helen decisively.
“We will give you $50, no more,” said the man.
Helen shook her head.
“You take $75 now, or $25 if I once leave the room.” The man started
for the door. Helen let him go. He opened the door and went out.
“You should have taken the $75,” said the mother tearfully. “We need it
badly, you know.”
“I think we will get the $100, mother,” quietly answered the girl.
The man came back into the room. He pulled out a paper, then five
twenty dollar bills, and showed Mrs. Marsh where to sign.
Mrs. Marsh did so after Helen had first read the paper and had approved
of it. The man left.
Mother and daughter looked at each other, happily.
“Do you know, mother, I just wish we could send it off tonight. It will
feel so fine to get the burden of this big debt from our shoulders.
Isn’t it fun to be able to pay your debts?”
“I am so glad,” said the mother, no less enthusiastic. “It worried me
so.”
“Yes, mother, and I have some more good news. I have been given a raise
and my pay is to be ten dollars a week.”
“It’s wonderful, but no more than you deserve,” said the mother,
loyally.
“Why,” said Helen, “here is a letter from Ted and you never told me.
What a perfectly fine picture.” There was silence while the sister read
the letter and the mother watched her appreciation.
“Ted is going to be a great man some day, mother; I know it.”
“And you will be a fine woman, too,” said the proud mother.
“I wish we could go out there and join Ted. In another month we ought
to be able to tell the Deans we do not need their help. My, that will
be so fine.”
“Yes, Helen, and the first thing in the morning I am going to send this
money to them and get through with that.”