STRANGE ACQUAINTANCES.
An hour passed without a word being spoken by his singular hostess. She
went to the window from time to time, and looked out as if expecting
some one. At length Walter determined to break the silence, which had
become oppressive. It did not seem natural for two persons to be in the
same room so long without speaking a word.
"I should think you would find it lonely living in the woods away from
any neighbors," he said.
"I don't care for neighbors," said the woman, shortly.
"Have you lived here long?"
"That's as people reckon time," was the answer.
Walter found himself no wiser than before, and the manner of his hostess
did not encourage him to pursue his inquiries further on that subject.
"You don't have far to go for fuel," was the next remark of our hero.
"Any fool might see that," said the woman.
"Not very polite," thought Walter.
He relapsed into silence, judging that his hostess did not care to
converse. Soon, however, she began to ask questions.
"Did you say you was a book-peddler?" she inquired.
"I am a book-agent."
"Where are your books,--in that carpet-bag?"
"No, I have sold all my books, and sent for some more."
"Where did you sell them?"
"In C----."
"Have you come from there?"
"Yes, I started from there this forenoon."
"Where did you stop?"
"At the tavern."
"Is your business a good one?" she asked, eying him attentively.
"I have done very well so far, but then I have been at it only a week."
"It's a good thing to have money," said the woman, more to herself than
to Walter.
"Yes," said Walter, "it's very convenient to have money; but there are
other things that are better."
"Such as what?" demanded the woman abruptly.
"Good health for one thing."
"What else?"
"A good conscience."
She laughed scornfully.
"I'll tell you there's nothing so good as money. I've wanted it all my
life, and never could get it. Do you think I would live here in the
woods if I had money? No, I should like to be a lady, and wear fine
clothes, and drive about in a handsome carriage. Why are some people so
lucky, while I live in this miserable hole?"
She looked at Walter fiercely, as if she held him responsible for her
ill-fortune.
"Perhaps your luck will change some day," he said, though he had little
faith in his own words. He wondered how the tall, gaunt woman of the
backwoods would look dressed in silks and satins.
"My luck never will change," she said, quickly.
"I must live and die in some such hovel as this."
"My luck has changed," said Walter, quietly; "but in a different way."
"How?" she asked, betraying in her tone some curiosity.
"A year ago--six months ago--my father was a rich man, or was considered
so. He was thought to be worth over a hundred thousand dollars. All at
once his property was swept away, and now I am obliged to earn my own
living, as you see."
"Is that true?" she asked.
"Yes, it is true."
"How did your father lose his money?"
"By speculating in mines."
"The more fool he!"
"My father is dead," said Walter, gravely. "I cannot bear to hear him
blamed."
"Humph!" ejaculated the woman; but what she intended to convey by this
utterance Walter could not tell.
Again the woman went to the window and looked out.
"It's time for Jack to be here," she said.
"Your son?" asked Walter.
"No, my husband."
"He'll be pretty wet when he comes in," Walter ventured to say; but his
remark elicited no response.
After a while his hostess said, in her usual abrupt tone, "I expect you
are hungry."
"Yes," said Walter, "I am, but I can wait till your husband comes."
"I don't know when he'll come. Likely he's kept."
She took out from a small cupboard a plate of bread and some cold meat,
and laid them on the table. Then she steeped some tea, and, when it was
ready, she put that also on the table.
"Set up," she said, briefly.
Walter understood from this that supper was ready, and, putting on his
shoes, which were now dry, he moved his chair up.
"Likely you're used to something better," said the woman.
This was true, but our hero politely said that the supper looked very
good, and he did not doubt he would enjoy it.
"That's lucky, for it's all you will get," said the woman.
"There's not much use in wasting politeness on her," thought Walter.
"She won't give any in return, that's certain."
The woman poured him out some tea in one of the cracked cups.
"We haven't got no milk nor sugar," she said. "My man and I don't care
for them."
The first sip of the tea, which was quite strong, nearly caused a wry
expression on Walter's face, but he managed to control himself so far as
not to betray his want of relish for the beverage his hostess offered
him. The only redeeming quality it had was that it was hot, and, exposed
as he had been to the storm, warm drink was agreeable.
"There's some bread and there's some meat," said the woman. "You can
help yourself."
"Are you not going to eat supper with me?" asked Walter.
"No, I shall wait for Jack."
She sat down in a chair before the fire, leaving Walter to take care of
himself, and seemed plunged in thought.
"What a strange woman!" thought Walter. "I wonder if her husband is
anything like her. If he is, they must be an agreeable couple."
He ate heartily of the food, and succeeded in emptying his cup of tea.
He would have taken another cup if there had been milk and sugar, but it
was too bitter to be inviting.
"Will you have some more tea?" asked the hostess, turning round.
"No, I thank you."
"You miss the milk and sugar?"
"I like them in tea."
"We can't afford to buy them, so it's lucky we don't like them."
There was a bitterness in her tone whenever she talked of money, which
led Walter to avoid the topic. Evidently she was a discontented woman,
angry because her lot in life was not brighter.
Walter pushed his chair from the table, and sat down again before the
fire. She rose and cleared the table, replacing the bread and meat in
the cupboard.
"Where are you going next?" she asked, after a pause.
Walter mentioned the name of the place.
"Have you ever been there?" he asked.
"Yes."
"Is it a flourishing place?"
"Yes, good enough, but I haven't been there for a year. It may have
burned down for all I know."
"I wonder what sort of a woman she was when she was young?" thought
Walter. "I wonder if she was always so unsociable?"
There was silence for another hour. Walter wished it were time to go to
bed, for the presence of such a woman made him feel uncomfortable. But
it was too early yet to suggest retiring.
At length the silence was broken by a step outside.
"That's Jack," said the woman, rising hastily; and over her face there
came a transient gleam of satisfaction, the first Walter had observed.
Before she could reach the door it was opened, and Jack entered. Walter
looked up with some curiosity to see what sort of a man the husband of
this woman might be. He saw a stout man, with a face like a bull-dog's,
lowering eyes, and matted red hair and beard.
"They are fitly mated," thought our hero.
The man stopped short as his glance rested upon Walter, and he turned
quickly to his wife.
"Who have you got here, Meg?" he asked, in a rough voice.
"He was overtaken by the storm, and wanted me to take him in, and give
him supper and lodging."
"He's a boy. What brings him into these woods?"
"He says he's a book-peddler."
"Where are his books?"
"I have sold them all," said Walter, feeling called upon to take a
personal share in the conversation.
"How many did you have?"
"Twenty."
"How much did you charge for them?"
"Three dollars and a half apiece."
"That's seventy dollars, isn't it?"
"Yes."
"Well, you can stay here all night if you want to. We aint used to
keepin' a tavern, but you'll fare as well as we."
"Thank you. I was afraid I might have to stay out all night."
"Now, Meg, get me something to eat quick. I'm most famished."
While his wife was getting out the supper again, he sat down beside the
fire, and Walter had a chance to scan his rough features. There was
something in his appearance that inspired distrust, and our hero wished
the night were past, and he were again on his way.