CHAPTER XIII
The Goddess
On the same day Geraldine and Miss Upton were patronizing the departmentstores in the city and getting such clothing as was absolutely necessaryfor the girl. Geraldine's purchases were rigidly simple.
"I think you're downright stingy, child," commented Miss Upton when thegirl had overruled certain suggestions Miss Mehitable had made with thefear of Ben Barry before her eyes.
"No, indeed. Don't you see how it's counting up?" rejoined Geraldineearnestly. "All these things on your bill, and no telling how soon I canpay for them."
Miss Upton noticed how the salesgirls appreciated the beauty they had todeal with, and she was in sympathy with their efforts to dress Geraldineas she deserved.
There were some shops into which the girl refused to enter, and it wasplain to her companion that these had been the scenes of some of herrepulsive experiences.
Also they shunned the restaurant where they had met; and every minutethat they were on the street Geraldine held tight to Miss Upton'ssubstantial arm.
"I shall be so glad when we get home," she said repeatedly.
"Now, look here," said Miss Upton, "there's one thing you've got toaccept from me as a present. You're my little girl and I've a right togive you one thing, I hope."
"I'd much rather you wouldn't," returned Geraldine anxiously--"not untilI've paid for these."
She had changed the white dress she wore into town for a dark-blue skirtand jacket which formed the chief item of her purchases, and on her headshe had a black sailor hat which Miss Upton had procured in Keefe.
"I want to give you," said Miss Upton--"I want to give you a--a droopyhat!"
Geraldine laughed. "What in the world for, you dear? What do I need ofdroopy hats?"
"To wear with your light things--your white dress, and--and everything."
"Miss Upton, how absurd! I don't need it at all. Don't think of such athing. I shan't go anywhere."
"I don't believe you know what you'll do," returned Miss Mehitable."Just come and try one on, anyway. I want to see you in it."
So, coaxing, while the girl demurred, she led her to the millinerysection of the store they were in. Of course, putting hats on Geraldinewas a very fascinating game, which everybody enjoyed except the girlherself. There was one hat especially in which Miss Upton reveled,mentally considering its devastating effect upon Ben Barry. It was verysimple, and at the most depressed point of the brim nestled one soft,loose-leaved pink rose with a little foliage. Miss Upton's eyesglistened and she drew the saleslady aside.
"I've bought it," she said triumphantly when she came back.
"It isn't right," replied Geraldine, although it must be admitted thatshe herself had thought of Ben when she first saw the reflection of itin the glass.
"Don't you want me to have any fun?" returned Miss Mehitable, quiteexcited, for the price of the hat caused the matter to be portentous.
"Let him pay for it," she considered recklessly. "What's the harm aslong as he and I are the only ones who know it, and wild horses couldn'tdrag it out of me?"
So, Geraldine carrying the large hatbox, they at last pursued their wayto the railway station and with mutual sighs of relief stowed themselvesinto the train for Keefe.
"What you thinkin' about, child?" demanded Miss Mehitable after a longperiod of silence.
Geraldine met her regard wistfully. "I was wondering if anybody is everperfectly happy. Isn't there always some drawback, some 'if' that has tobe met?"
"Was you thinkin' about Mrs. Barry, Geraldine? I'm sorry she had one o'her haughty spells that day--"
"No, I was not thinking of her; it is Mr. Barry--Ben. He went on a verydangerous errand yesterday."
"You don't say so! Why, he came in as gay as a lark with those appleblossoms and he went out to his machine whistlin'. He couldn't have hadmuch on his mind. You know I told you yesterday he's as sensible as heis brave."
"What good is bravery against a madman with a gun--still he promised, hepromised me he would not go to the farm alone."
"Then he'll abide by it. You do give me a turn, Geraldine, talkin' aboutmadmen and guns."
The girl sighed.
"I haven't had anything but 'turns' ever since I first saw the Carderfarm; but it is unkind to draw you into it. Sometimes I wish I had nevermentioned Pete to Mr. Barry, yet it seems disloyal to leave the boythere when I owe him so much."
And then Geraldine told her friend in detail the part the dwarf hadplayed in her life.
* * * * *
Mrs. Barry was, of course, able to think of little else than the newelement which had come so suddenly into her calm, well-ordered life. Sheshrank fastidiously from anything undignified, and she felt that throughno fault of her own she was now in an undignified position. In her son'seyes she was a culprit. Even her humble friend, Mehitable Upton, hadrevealed plainly an indignation at her attitude. When Ben left yesterdaytelling her that he might be gone several days, without explaining whyor where, she felt the barrier between them even while he kissed hergood-bye. He had made a vigorous declaration of independence that nightat dinner, and now he had gone away to let her think it over, not evennoticing that her eyes were heavy from a sleepless night.
All that day, as she moved about her customary occupations, the thoughtof Geraldine haunted her; the way the girl had avoided her eyes aftertheir first encounter, how she had clung to Miss Upton, and how eagerlyshe had urged departure.
"So silly," thought Mrs. Barry while she fed her pigeons. "How absurd ofher to expect anything different from a civil reception."
Side by side with this condemnation, however, ran the consideration ofhow Ben had probably flung himself at her feet so far as the Scout planewould allow, and how he had even urged immediate matrimony. That hurttoo much! Mrs. Barry saw the pigeons through a veil of quick tears. Onemore night she slept or waked over the problem, and as her thoughtadjusted itself more to Geraldine, the practical side of the girl'ssituation unfolded to her consideration. There would seem to be noquestion of returning to the irate farmer to get her clothing, yet thatmight be the very thing Ben was doing now; risking his precious lifeagain for this stranger who was nothing to them. The more Mrs. Barrythought about it, the more restless she became. At last there was noquestion any longer but that her only peace lay in going to Miss Melody.After all, it was merely courteous to inquire how the girl had borne theexcitement of her escape; but in the back of Mrs. Barry's mind was thehope that she might discover where her boy had gone now.
She made a hasty toilet, jumped into her electric, and droveto Upton's Fancy Goods and Notions. The shades were drawn. Thetaking-account-of-stock notice was still on the door which resisted alleffort to open it.
Knocking availed nothing. Mrs. Barry's lips took a line of firmnessequal to her son's. Walking around to the back door, she found it openand entered the kitchen. It was empty.
She moved through the house into the shop. There was Mrs. Whipp, herhead tied up in a handkerchief, bending over a packing-box. She startedat a sound, raised her head, and stood amazed at the visitor's identity.
"I knocked, but you didn't seem to hear me," said Mrs. Barry withdignity.
"Yes'm, I did hear a knock," returned Charlotte, "but they pound thereall day, and o' course I didn't know't was you. I tell Miss Upton if wekept the door locked and the shades down all the time, we'd do a drivin'business. Folks seem jest possessed to come in and buy somethin' 'causethey can't. Did you want somethin' special, Mrs. Barry?"
"I came to see Miss Melody. I wished to inquire if she has recoveredfrom her excitement."
A softened expression stole over Charlotte's weazened face.
"She ain't here. They've gone to the city."
"Who--who did you say has gone?"
Mrs. Barry controlled her own start. Visions of two in that roadsterswept over her. Perhaps, she herself having forfeited her right toconsideration--there was no telling what might have happened by thistime. Mrs.
Whipp's smile was frightfully complacent.
"Miss Upton and her went together," was the reply. "Of course, all thegirl's clo'es was in the den o' that fiend she got away from, and shehad to git some more."
Mrs. Barry breathed freer.
"Miss Upton cal'lated to get some things from her customers and fix 'emover, but Mr. Barry, he wouldn't have it so."
"Are you referring to my son?"
"Yes, Miss Upton said he turned up his nose at hand-me-downs, so she hadto jest brace up and git 'em new."
Mrs. Whipp's eyes seemed to see far away and her expression under theprotecting towel was one quite novel.
Mrs. Barry cleared her throat.
"My son was here, then, before he went away on his--his little trip."
"Yes," replied Mrs. Whipp, appearing to perceive Dan Cupid over hervisitor's shoulder. "He come in to bring the apple blossoms and ask howGeraldine was, and that night sech a box o' candy as he sent her! You'dought to 'a' seen it, Mis' Barry. P'r'aps you did see it." Charlotte metthe lady's steady eyes eagerly.
"No, I did not see it."
"Well, that poor little girl she couldn't half enjoy them bon-bons,'cause she was so scared somethin' was goin' to happen to Mr. Barry."
"What do you mean?"
"Why, she was afraid he'd gone back to that farm where they murder folksas quick as look at 'em." Charlotte sniffed a sniff of excitedenjoyment.
"What would he go there for?" demanded Mrs. Barry. "Surely not to getthose foolish clothes!"
"I don't know. I only know Geraldine cried. Miss Upton said so; but shetold her how Mr. Barry was jest as smart as he was brave and she tookher to the city to git her mind off."
Charlotte smiled with as soft an expression as the unaccustomed lipscould reveal, and nothing but stamping her aristocratic foot could haveexpressed Mrs. Barry's exasperation.
"I am quite sure my son would not take any absurd and unnecessary step,"she said, with such hauteur that Mrs. Whipp came out of her day-dreamand realized that the great lady's eyes were flashing. Without anotherword the visitor turned and left the shop, her black and violet capesweeping through living-room and kitchen and back into her machine.
The rest of the day was spent by the lady in alternations of scorn,vexation, and anxiety.
Late in the afternoon she heard a motor enter the grounds, and hurryingto the door saw with a happy leap of the heart that it was Ben'sroadster. Her relief drove her to forgive and forget and to hurry out tothe piazza. The machine came on and she saw that her son was not alone.A boy sat beside him.
The roadster stopped. Ben jumped out and kissed his mother, thenbeckoned to Pete, who obediently drew near and stood on his curved legs,his hat in his hand. He looked up at the queenly lady, and his eyeswhich had ceased to wonder were still seeking.
"Is she here, Master?" he asked.
"No, but near by," replied Ben.
"Mother, I've engaged a new boy. His name is Pete. He is here forgeneral utility. He is very willing."
Mrs. Barry gazed in disapproval at the quaint, clean figure in hisbrand-new clothes. Pete's rough hands constantly twirled his straw hat.
"You should have asked me," she said. "We don't need any more help."
Ben put his arm around her and drew her close to him. "Yes, we do," hereplied cheerfully, "down at Keefeport. Pete will go there and keepthings in shape. You will wonder how you ever got along without him; butI need him first. He was one of the hands at the Carder farm--has beenthere from a child and he knows more about his master's devilment thananybody else."
"Ben!" His mother looked up reproachfully into the young fellow's happyeyes. "Why did you need to risk your life again--"
"Oh, not a bit of that," laughed Ben. "I picked Pete out of a grocerystore--"
"Where is she, Master?" The voice of the boy was pleading again.
"Pete was a good friend to Miss Melody, the only one she had, and nowhis reward is going to be to see her."
"You don't mean," exclaimed Mrs. Barry, "that you have spent a couple ofdays to get this boy and dress him up in order to allow him to see MissMelody?"
"No, not exactly. I kidnapped him as an information bureau."
"Why can't you let that disgusting farmer alone?" asked the ladydespairingly.
"Because if I do, he won't let us alone," returned Ben shortly. "Well,now, we've shown ourselves to you and we'll be off to keep my word toPete. Hop in, boy."
* * * * *
Miss Upton and Geraldine had reached home, hatbox and all, and were inthe dismantled shop answering Charlotte's questions when they heard anautomobile stop before the door and a cheery whistle sounded. Therepellent shades were still down at the windows.
"That's Ben Barry!" exclaimed Miss Mehitable. "Don't you dare to touchthat hat!" she added severely to Geraldine, whose cheeks flushed deeplyas a tattoo began on the locked door.
So the girl was standing in the middle of the room wearing the droopyhat when Ben came in, followed by the dwarf at whom Miss Mehitable andCharlotte stared.
Geraldine forgot her hat, and Ben Barry--forgot everything but the eageradoration in the face of the transformed slave. "Why, Pete, Pete!" shecried joyously, running to meet him.
The boy bit his lips to keep back the tears and his clumsy fingersworked nervously as his goddess rested both her hands on his shoulders.He couldn't speak, but gazed and gazed up into the eyes under the droopyhat.
Ben Barry, his arms folded, looked on at the tableau while Geraldinemurmured welcome and reassurance.
"Aren't we the happiest people in the world, Pete?" she finished softly.
He choked. "Yes, and I'm not going back," he was able to say at last.
"I should say not," put in Ben. "I've brought somebody to help you move,Mehit," he added. Miss Upton was still staring at the dwarf's legs.
"That's fine," said Geraldine. "Pete is just the right one for us."
The boy kept his eyes on hers.
"He can't ever get you again," he said, with trembling eagerness,"'cause I know all about the girls he had there before you, and how onejumped out the winder, and I know what hospital they took her to, for Idrove, and I'm goin' there with Mr. Barry, and he's goin' to--"
"Never mind, Pete," interrupted Ben quietly. "We're going to take careof that without troubling Miss Melody."
The dwarf dropped back as Ben advanced. Charlotte said afterward that itgave her a turn to see the manner in which the young man took both thegirl's hands and scanned her changed appearance.
"It looks perfectly absurd with this tailor suit," she said, blushingand laughing. "Miss Upton _would_ give it to me. So extravagant!"
The elaborate wink which Miss Mehitable bestowed on Ben as he glancedat her over his love's head was intended to warn him that he had a billto pay.
"Miss Upton has been your good fairy all along, hasn't she?" His lookwas so intense and he spoke so seriously that Geraldine glanced up athim half timidly and down again.
Charlotte pulled Miss Upton's dress and motioned with her head towardthe living-room; but, as Miss Mehitable said afterward, "What was thegood of _their_ goin' and leavin' that critter there?"
"Thank you for the candy, Mr. Barry," said Geraldine, meeting his eyesagain steadily, "but please don't. You have put me under everlastingobligation, but will you do me one more favor? Will you let me helpthese dear women and--and stay away, and--don't send me anything?"
Miss Mehitable understood this prayer, and she had a qualm as shethought of the price of the bewitching hat which was at the presentmoment doing its worst.
"Yes, for a little while," replied Ben. "Pete will get you moved andsettled at the Port and then he and I will take a trip. I don't knowhow long we shall be away; but when we return you will understand thatthe ogre's teeth have been extracted, the tiger's claws cut, and thespider's web rent. How's that?" He smiled down into the girl's graveeyes, still holding her hands close.
"If I could only find out what my father's debt to him
really is, Iwould consecrate my life to paying it," she said in a low tone.
Miss Mehitable felt that the atmosphere was getting very warm.
"Come here, Pete," she said. "I want to show you my kitchen." The dwarfwalked slowly backward to the door, his eyes on the young couple, as ifhe feared to let them out of his sight lest they vanish and he waken."Come on, Charlotte."
The three disappeared, Miss Mehitable urging Pete by the shoulder.
"I'll try to find out," returned Ben; "and if it is possible to do that,the debt shall be paid."
Geraldine caught her lip under her teeth and swallowed the rising lump.
"Oh, Mr. Barry--Ben," she said at last, "of course I have no words tothank you--"
"I don't wish to be thanked in words."
"You're too generous."
"Not in the least," returned Ben quietly. "I want to be thanked. I wanteach of us to thank the other all our lives. I to be grateful to you forexisting, and you to thank me for spending my days with the paramountthought of your happiness."
They looked at each other for a long silent minute.
"Mrs. Whipp says your mother came to call on me to-day," said Geraldineat last. "She described her manner so well that it is evident she cameat the point of your bayonet. I understand the situation entirely. I'vealready heard that she is the great lady of the town. You are her onlyson. Do you suppose I blame her when out of a clear sky you produced meand made your feeling plain to her? Is it any wonder that she made hersplain to me? I should think"--Geraldine gave an appealing pressure tothe hands holding hers--"I should think you could be generous enoughto--to let me alone."
Her eyes pleaded with him seriously.
"What am I doing?" asked Ben. "What do you suppose is the reason thatI'm wasting all these minutes when I might be holding you in my arms!"He had to stop here himself and swallow manfully. "If you knew how youlook at this moment--and I don't kiss you--just because I'm givingMother a little time, so that you will be satisfied--"
"Then you'll promise--will you promise--you kept your promise about thefarm?"
"Yes; I found Pete in the village."
"Then you do keep promises! Tell me solemnly that you will leave yourmother in freedom. If you don't, Ben--Sir Galahad--I'll run away. Ireally will--"
In her earnestness she lifted her face toward his, her eyes wereirresistible, and in an instant he had swept her into his arms and waskissing her tenderly, fervently, to the utter undoing of the droopy hatwhich fell unnoticed to the floor.
Voices approaching made him release her.
Very flushed, very grave, both of them, they looked into each other'seyes, and Geraldine, being a woman, put both hands up to her ruffledhair.
"I do promise you, Geraldine," he said, low and earnestly. "Whatever mymother does after this you may know is of her own volition."
Pete burst into the room wild-eyed, followed by Miss Mehitable, who wastalking and laughing.
"He was afraid you'd go away without him," she said--"Mercy's sakes,Geraldine Melody, look at your hat!" She darted upon it and snapped somedust off its chiffon. "You'd better be careful how you throw thisaround. We can't buy a hat like this every day."
"Oh, do forgive me, Miss Upton!" murmured the girl, her eyes verybright. "It was her present to me," she added to Ben. "I'm so sorry!"She went to Miss Mehitable and laid her cheek against hers, and MissUpton bestowed another prodigious wink upon the purchaser of the hat.
It did not break his gravity; a gravity which Miss Upton but just nownoticed.
"Come, Pete, we'll be going," said Ben, and his flushed, serious faceworried Miss Mehitable's kind heart, especially as no sign of his merrycarelessness returned in his brief leave-taking.
When they were gone and the door had closed after them, she looked atthe girl accusingly.
"Something has happened," she said, in a low tone not to attractCharlotte.
"Don't be cross with me about the hat," said the girl, nestling up closeto her again. "I just love it--much better even than I did in thestore."
Miss Mehitable put an arm around her, not because at the moment sheloved her, but because she was there.
"I wonder," she said, "if there's anything in this world that can makeanything but a fool out of a girl before it's too late. I know you'rejust as crazy about him as he is about you! If you wasn't, would youhave been snivellin' around because he might get hurt to the farm? Andyet jest 'cause o' your silly, foolish pride you've gone and refusedhim. It's as plain as the nose on his splendid face. As if in the longrun it mattered if Mrs. Barry was a little cantankerous. She's runeverything around here so long that she forgets her boy's a man with amind of his own. It's awful narrow of you, Geraldine, awful narrow!"
Upon this the girl lifted her head and smiled faintly into the accusingface.
"Won't it be nice to have Pete help us move," she said innocently.
Miss Upton's lips tightened. She dropped her arm, moved away, and putthe droopy hat back in its box.
"You're heartless!" she exclaimed. There was such a peachy bloom on thegirl's face. "I won't waste my breath."
"I love _you_," said Geraldine, meekly and defensively.
"Ho!" snorted her good fairy, unappeased.