Lavender and Old Lace

Reed, Myrtle

• Publisher: pubOne.info
• Year: 2010
• eBook ISBN: 9782819930747
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Westerns
• Index: Literature

pubOne.info present you this new edition. A rickety carriage was slowly ascending the hill, and from the place of honour on the back seat, the single passenger surveyed the country with interest and admiration. The driver of that ancient chariot was an awkward young fellow, possibly twenty-five years of age, with sharp knees, large, red hands, high cheek-bones, and abundant hair of a shade verging upon orange. He was not unpleasant to look upon, however, for he had a certain evident honesty, and he was disposed to be friendly to every one.

XIII. Plans

Hepsey had been gone an hour before Mrs. Ball realised that she had sent away one of the witnesses of her approaching wedding. “It don't matter, ” she said to Ruth, “I guess there's others to be had. I've got the dress and the man and one of 'em and I have faith that the other things will come. ”

Nevertheless, the problem assumed undue proportions. After long study, she decided upon the minister's wife. “If 'twa'nt that the numskulls round here couldn't understand two weddin's, ” she said, “I'd have it in the church, as me and James first planned. ”

Preparations for the ceremony went forward with Aunt Jane's customary decision and briskness. She made a wedding cake, assisted by Mr. Ball, and gathered all the flowers in the garden. There was something pathetic about her pleasure; it was as though a wedding had been laid away in lavender, not to see the light for more than thirty years.

Ruth was to assist in dressing the bride and then go after the minister and his wife, who, by Aunt Jane's decree, were to have no previous warning. “'T ain't necessary to tell 'em beforehand, not as I see, ” said Mrs. Ball. “You must ask fust if they're both to home, and if only one of 'em is there, you'll have to find somebody else. If the minister's to home and his wife ain't gaddin', he'll get them four dollars in James's belt, leavin' an even two hundred, or do you think two dollars would be enough for a plain marriage? ”

“I'd leave that to Uncle James, Aunty. ”

“I reckon you're right, Ruth— you've got the Hathaway sense. ”

The old wedding gown was brought down from the attic and taken out of its winding sheet. It had been carefully folded, but every crease showed plainly and parts of it had changed in colour. Aunt Jane put on her best “foretop, ” which was entirely dark, with no softening grey hair, and was reserved for occasions of high state. A long brown curl, which was hers by right of purchase, was pinned to the hard, uncompromising twist at the back of her neck.

Ruth helped her into the gown and, as it slipped over her head, she inquired, from the depths of it: “Is the front door locked? ”

“Yes, Aunty, and the back door too. ”

“Did you bring up the keys as I told you to? ”

“Yes, Aunty, here they are. Why? ”

There was a pause, then Mrs. Ball said solemnly: “I've read a great deal about bridegrooms havin' wanderin' fits immediately before weddin's. Does my dress hike up in the back, Ruth? ”

It was a little shorter in the back than in the front and cleared the floor on all sides, since she had grown a little after it was made, but Ruth assured her that everything was all right. When they went downstairs together, Mr. Ball was sitting in the parlour, plainly nervous.

“Now Ruth, ” said Aunt Jane, “you can go after the minister. My first choice is Methodis', after that Baptis' and then Presbyterian. I will entertain James durin' your absence. ”

Ruth was longing for fresh air and gladly undertook the delicate mission. Before she was half way down the hill, she met Winfield, who had come on the afternoon train.

“You're just in time to see a wedding, ” she said, when the first raptures had subsided.

“Whose wedding, sweetheart? Ours? ”

“Far from it, ” answered Ruth, laughing. “Come with me and I'll explain. ”

She gave him a vivid description of the events that had transpired during his absence, and had invited him to the wedding before it occurred to her that Aunt Jane might not be pleased. “I may be obliged to recall my invitation, ” she said seriously, “I'll have to ask Aunty about it. She may not want you. ”

“That doesn't make any difference, ” announced Winfield, in high spirits, “I'm agoin' to the wedding and I'm a-goin' to kiss the bride, if you'll let me. ”

Ruth smothered a laugh. “You may, if you want to, and I won't be jealous. Isn't that sweet of me? ”

“You're always sweet, dear. Is this the abode of the parson? ”

The Methodist minister was at home, but his wife was not, and Ruth determined to take Winfield in her place. The clergyman said that he would come immediately, and, as the lovers loitered up the hill, they arrived at the same time.

Winfield was presented to the bridal couple, but there was no time for conversation, since Aunt Jane was in a hurry. After the brief ceremony was over, Ruth said wickedly:

“Aunty, on the way to the minister's, Mr. Winfield told me he was going to kiss the bride. I hope you don't mind? ”

Winfield looked unutterable things at Ruth, but nobly fulfilled the obligation. Uncle James beamed upon Ruth in a way which indicated that an attractive idea lay behind it, and Winfield created a diversion by tipping over a vase of flowers. “He shan't, ” he whispered to Ruth, “I'll be darned if he shall! ”

“Ruth, ” said Aunt Jane, after a close scrutiny of Winfield, “if you' relayin' out to marry that awkward creeter, what ain't accustomed to a parlour, you'd better do it now, while him and the minister are both here. ”

Winfield was willing, but Ruth said that one wedding at a time was enough in any family, and the minister, pledged to secrecy, took his departure. The bride cut the wedding cake and each solemnly ate a piece of it. It was a sacrament, rather than a festivity.

When the silence became oppressive, Ruth suggested a walk.

“You will set here, Niece Ruth, ” remarked Aunt Jane, “until I have changed my dress. ”

Uncle James sighed softly, as she went upstairs. “Well, ” he said, “I'm merried now, hard and fast, and there ain't no help for it, world without end. ”

“Cheer up, Uncle, ” said Winfield, consolingly, “it might be worse. ”

“It's come on me all of a sudden, ” he rejoined. “I ain't had no time to prepare for it, as you may say. Little did I think, three weeks ago, as I set in my little store, what was wuth four or five hundred dollars, that before the month was out, I'd be merried. Me! Merried! ” he exclaimed, “Me, as never thought of sech! ”

When Mrs. Ball entered, clad in sombre calico, Ruth, overcome by deep emotion, led her lover into the open air. “It's bad for you to stay in there, ” she said gravely, “when you are destined to meet the same fate. ”

“I've had time to prepare for it, ” he answered, “in fact, I've had more time than I want. ”

They wandered down the hillside with aimless leisure, and Ruth stooped to pick up a large, grimy handkerchief, with “C. W. ” in the corner. “Here's where we were the other morning, ” she said.

“Blessed spot, ” he responded, “beautiful Hepsey and noble Joe! By what humble means are great destinies made evident! You haven't said you were glad to see me, dear. ”

“I'm always glad to see you, Mr. Winfield, ” she replied primly.

“Mr. Winfield isn't my name, ” he objected, taking her into his arms.

“Carl, ” she whispered shyly, to his coat collar.

“That isn't all of it. ”

“Carl— dear— ” said Ruth, with her face crimson.

“That's more like it. Now let's sit down— I've brought you something and you have three guesses. ”

“Returned manuscript? ”

“No, you said they were all in. ”

“Another piece of Aunt Jane's wedding cake? ”

“No, guess again. ”

“Chocolates? ”

“Who'd think you were so stupid, ” he said, putting two fingers into his waistcoat pocket.

“Oh— h! ” gasped Ruth, in delight.

“You funny girl, didn't you expect an engagement ring? Let's see if it fits. ”

He slipped the gleaming diamond on her finger and it fitted exactly.

“How did you guess? ” she asked, after a little.

“It wasn't wholly guess work, dearest. ” From another pocket, he drew a glove, of grey suede, that belonged to Ruth's left hand.

“Where did you get that? ”

“By the log across the path, that first day, when you were so cross to me. ”

“I wasn't cross! ”

“Yes you were— you were a little fiend. ”

“Will you forgive me? ” she pleaded, lifting her face to his.

“Rather! ” He forgave her half a dozen times before she got away from him. “Now let's talk sense, ” she said.

“We can't— I never expect to talk sense again. ”

“Pretty compliment, isn't it? ” she asked. “It's like your telling me I was brilliant and then saying I wasn't at all like myself. ” “Won't you forgive me? ” he inquired significantly.

“Some other time, ” she said, flushing, “now what are we going to do? ”

“Well, ” he began, “I saw the oculist, and he says that my eyes are almost well again, but that I mustn't use them for two weeks longer. Then, I can read or write for two hours every day, increasing gradually as long as they don't hurt. By the first of October, he thinks I'll be ready for work again. Carlton wants me to report on the morning of the fifth, and he offers me a better salary than I had on The Herald. ”

“That's good! ”

“We'll have to have a flat in the city, or a little house in the country, near enough for me to get to the office. ”

“For us to get to the office, ” supplemented Ruth.

“What do you think you're going to do, Miss Thorne? ”

“Why— I'm going to keep right on with the paper, ” she answered in surprise.

“No you're not, darling, ” he said, putting his arm around her. “Do you suppose I'm going to have Carlton or any other man giving my wife an assignment? You can't any way, because I've resigned your position for you, and your place is already filled. Carlton sent his congratulations and said his loss was my gain, or something like that. He takes all the credit to himself. ”

“Why— why— you wretch! ”

“I'm not a wretch— you said yourself I was nice. Look here, Ruth, ” he went on, in a different tone, “what do you think I am? Do you think for a minute that I'd marry you if I couldn't take care of you? ”

“'T isn't that, ” she replied, freeing herself from his encircling arm, “but I like my work and I don't want to give it up. Besides— besides— I thought you'd like to have me near you. ”

“I do want you near me, sweetheart, that isn't the point. You have the same right that I have to any work that is your natural expression, but, in spite of the advanced age in which we live, I can't help believing that home is the place for a woman. I may be old-fashioned, but I don't want my wife working down town— I've got too much pride for that. You have your typewriter, and you can turn out Sunday specials by the yard, if you want to. Besides, there are all the returned manuscripts— if you have the time and aren't hurried, there's no reason why you shouldn't do work that they can't afford to refuse. ”

Ruth was silent, and he laid his hand upon hers. “You understand me, don't you, dear? God knows I'm not asking you to let your soul rust out in idleness, and I wouldn't have you crave expression that was denied you, but I don't want you to have to work when you don't feel like it, nor be at anybody's beck and call. I know you did good work on the paper— Carlton spoke of it, too— but others can do it as well. I want you to do something that is so thoroughly you that no one else can do it. It's a hard life, Ruth, you know that as well as I do, and I— I love you. ”

His last argument was convincing. “I won't do anything you don't want me to do, dear, ” she said, with a new humility.

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Table of contents

• LAVENDER AND OLD LACE
• I. The Light in the Window
• II. The Attic
• III. Miss Ainslie
• IV. A Guest
• V. The Rumours of the Valley
• VI. The Garden
• VII. The Man Who Hesitates
• VIII. Summer Days
• IX. By Humble Means
• X. Love Letters
• XI. The Rose of all the World
• XII. Bride and Groom
• XIII. Plans
• XIV. “For Remembrance”
• XV. The Secret and the Dream
• XVI. Some One Who Loved Her
• XVII. Dawn
• Copyright