CHAPTER XXVII
ARCHIE EATON RETURNS
Liz, returning from her "afternoon's work at the meeting house, blewbreathlessly into the Hopworth kitchen.
"As I live, Archie Eaton's comin' home--this blessed day! His ma got atelegram last night; Sammy Todd brought it over from Nor' Hero on hisbicycle. And Webb's put a notice in the post-office--he wants everyman, woman and child to meet on the Common to-night at seven to sort o'welcome Archie to home."
"Everybody? Me and Davy," broke in Nonie, excitedly.
"Of course, when Webb says every man, woman and child it means all ofus," answered Liz with importance, smoothing out her gingham apron.
Three days had entirely made over Liz Hopworth. Sarah Hopkins' deathhad given Liz, hitherto an outcast, a position of importance in thecommunity. However unfitting Freedom's ladies might have thought it,nevertheless it was an undisputable fact, and everyone knew it, thatLiz's hands had "done for" the stricken family; she had cleaned andcomforted, dusted and baked and stitched together suitable mourning forpoor Jennie, the oldest Hopkins girl. At the simple funeral it hadbeen Liz who had greeted the neighbors and had urged them to "just lookat Sarah Hopkins--you'd think she was enjoyin' it all, she's that happylookin'!" What no one else knew was that it had been Liz who had puther arms around Jennie Hopkins when a complete realization of her losshad swept over the girl and had bade her "just lay your poor littlehead right here and cry all you want to!" Never in all her life hadLiz's arms known such a labor of love. Jennie _had_ cried all shewanted to--great, heart-breaking sobs that had, though they exhausted,finally soothed her.
From his corner where old Dan'l, with hanging head waited his supper,came a grunt of unbelief. Liz turned reprovingly.
"Anyway, Archie Eaton's a soldier even if he be an Eaton!" Then, toNonie: "I met Mis' Sniggs comin' up the village and she wants all thelittle girls to wear white and throw bouquets at Archie as he's gettin'off the stage and sing America. She's goin' to get the flowers at Mis'Todd's and Mis' Brown's. Miss Nancy's white's too nice, but I guessyour gingham's faded most white 'nough. Anyways, it's plenty good."
"Have I time to run up and tell Miss Nancy?"
"Lan' sakes, no! We gotta get supper spry so's to have the workcleared away. Nancy Leavitt knows it, I callate--ain't much happensWebb doesn't carry straight off up to Happy House. I guess maybethey're pretty busy, too. Things is certainly changin', I said, whenSabriny Leavitt goes to poor Sarah Hopkins' funeral, sittin' right onthe plush chair over in the right-hand corner near the waxed flowers.And sure's I'm alive, she's taken the Hopkins baby up to Happy House todo for. She wanted it to keep regular like her own, but TimothyHopkins wouldn't listen for a minit--his children wa'nt a goin' to beseparated if they all starved! Seems to me he was foolish, but he wasawful set and mebbe he was right. Dan'l Hopworth, take off yourslippers! Of course you're goin' to see Archie Eaton come home! Iguess you're as patriotic as any other folks."
Liz's determination won its point so that a little before seven theentire Hopworth family joined every other "man, woman and child" on thevillage common. The common presented a pretty sight, big and smallflags fluttering, the weather-worn service flag again hoisted to itsplace of honor and women and children in their best attire. Mrs.Eaton, upon whom every glance turned with frank curiosity, did not needher gorgeous purple poplin with its lace ruffles swelling over herproud bosom, to make her the most conspicuous figure in thegathering--that she was the mother of the returning soldier was enough!And her eyes, as they strained down the road like the others, for afirst glimpse of Webb's horses, were wet with tears.
Someone saw a little cloud of dust and set up a shout: "He's comin'!"Others took up the cry. Mrs. Sniggs frantically gathered her flock oflittle singers around the carriage-block in front of the meeting-house,where Webb had promised to pull up his team. Some one pushed Mrs.Eaton toward the spot.
"_There_ he is," piped a small boy, pointing to the khaki figure thatleaned out of the stage, violently waving a hat.
"Who's the other fellar?" asked Mr. Todd, but no one around him seemedto know.
All ceremony was thrown to the four winds; the hysterical piping of thelittle girls was lost in the wild rub-a-dub dub of the Freedom'sdrummers and the clamor of excited voices from the pushing, jostlingcrowd. However, Archie Eaton was utterly unconscious of it all, for inless than a second he was tightly enveloped in folds of purple poplin!
After a moment he sprang back to the step of Webb's wagon and raisedhis hand.
"Mebbe you think it ain't good to get home! _I'll_ say it is! I'velaid awake nights dreamin' of this. I ain't goin' to make a speech,folks, but I've got to tell you something. I wanted to send word toyou back a time but my buddy here wouldn't let me! Mebbe you don'tremember my buddy--he's changed a lot, I guess, but he's from Freedom,all right!" He pulled at the arm of his companion. "Stand up, sofolks can see you! Give a cheer, now, for Eric Hopworth, the best andbravest soldier in Uncle Sam's army!"
Not a throat in Freedom could have made a sound for utter surprise.They gaped at the big, bronzed fellow in khaki while Archie Eaton wenton, speaking rapidly.
"Mebbe you folks up here don't know yet that he led a bunch of us aftera machine gun nest that was holdin' back the fellows there in theArgonny and that when every man of us dropped he went on single-handed,with a nasty hole in his side, and got every Jerry of 'em! But I guessbefore he done that he pulled Archie Eaton back where the Jerriescouldn't finish me with their shot pepperin' the lot of us as we laythere and--well, he's done a lot more'n that and mebbe you don't knowthat the other day some fellers down at Washington gave him aDistinguished Service Medal which I guess puts him pretty near next toEthan Allen himself! So set up a shout that'll split your throats forEric Hopworth, 'cause if it wasn't for him Archie Eaton wouldn't behere holdin' his mother's hand and cryin' real tears, he's that tickledto be home, and this old North Hero wouldn't be on the map like 'tis!So let her rip, fellows! _My_ buddy, Eric Hopworth!"
Something, pent up while Archie Eaton was speaking, burst with a roar.Each person, big or small, tried to shout louder than anyone else; eachtried to press close enough to lay a hand on the hero. And, strangesight, Mrs. Eaton was now clasping Eric Hopworth in her arms!
Nancy, standing a little apart with Miss Sabrina, shouting like theothers, suddenly felt her throat choke with a sob, for she saw Dan'l,stung to life, leap forward through the crowd to reach his son, hisface lifted and lighted by a great pride. Then, as they clasped hands,the crowd parted suddenly, and through it flashed two small figures.In less than a moment Nonie and Davy were both in their father's arms.
No one stopped to recall the stories of Eric Hopworth's youth nor ofhis bringing the two babies back to his father. It was enough that hewas there among them, one of the country's heroes.
Mrs. Eaton was excitedly begging everyone to come to her home and haveice cream and cake, and there was a general movement of young and oldto accept her hospitality. But when she urged Eric Hopworth he shookhis head, slipping one arm over his father's shoulder.
"I guess we want to go home," he explained, a little embarrassed. "Yousee, it's been a long time--Pa and I have got a lot to say to eachother! And _we've_ got to get acquainted," nodding at the youngsterswho were clinging to his arm.
There was a great deal that Eric Hopworth could not tell his father,for the simple reason that he had _not_ at his command the words thatcould tell of the lessons the war had taught him. But in one simple,awkward sentence he tried to express his remorse and penitence.
"Well, Pa," they had stopped before the door of the dilapidated house,"I guess it took the war to make a man of me! I went into it 'cause itlooked pretty excitin', but it didn't take me long to find out it was abig job and the kind of a job that meant a fellow had to give the verybest in him--and only the best! I've had time to think a lot andthings sort a come to me different, over there. I guess I know nowthat I've got a job right here most as big a
s the war and I'm goin' todo it! I'm goin' to make a home for you and Liz and the kids--a _real_home!"
Nonie, standing off, a little shyly and uncertainly, was steelingherself for a test. Out of a clear sky had dropped a real father. Helooked very big, but his face was kind, and he had a nice voice.Perhaps--_perhaps_ one of her dreams was coming true! She slipped awayto her room and made ready for bed with trembling fingers. For a longtime she lay listening to the voices below. After a little Davy camein and crawled sleepily into the cot in the corner. Still she waited,her hands clasped tightly under the covers. At last she heard astep--not like her grandfather's, nor Liz', she knew theirs--acautious, tip-toey step. As it came nearer she shivered with exquisiteanticipation.
Eric Hopworth leaned over the bed. He had thought Nonie would beasleep. She held her eyes shut tight for a moment. He laid his handon her head with a shy, caressing movement. Suddenly the child threwher two arms around his neck. He held her close, then he kissed herand laid her gently back upon the pillow.
"Good night, kiddie," he whispered softly, and tip-toed out of the room.
Nonie gave one long, happy sigh, then, cuddling down under the covers,dropped off into dreamless slumber.