satisfied if the way is opened for me to go to highschool," Ruth declared, smiling. "Uncle has said nothing against it,and I shall begin next week walking in to Miss Cramp's to recite."
Helen asked very minutely about Ruth's plans for going to Cheslow torecite, and the very first day of the next week, when the girl of theRed Mill started for town, who should overtake her within half a mileof the mill, but Helen and her governess going to Cheslow on ashopping errand, and drawn by Tubby, the pony. Of course, there wasroom for Ruth in the phaeton, and Helen and Mrs. Murchiston remainedin town as long as Ruth did and brought her back with them. Ruth hadtime to run in and see Mercy Curtis.
"I'm coming out to the Red Mill, so now!" declared the lame girl. "Iasked Doctor Davison, and he says yes. And if he says so, that uncleof yours, Dusty Miller, will have to let me. Folks have to do asDoctor Davison says, you know. And your uncle--isn't he just an uglydear? Does he look just that cross all the time? I bet he neverforgives his Enemy!"
This novel reason for liking Uncle Jabez would have been amusing hadthere not been a serious side to it. This odd child, with her warpedand twisted fancies, was to be pitied, and Ruth secretly pitied herwith all her heart. But she was careful now not to show Mercy that shecommiserated her condition; that way was not the way to the cripple'sheart.
Nevertheless, being a little less afraid of Uncle Jabez than she oncewas, that very evening she mentioned Mercy's desire to him. UncleJabez never smiled, but it could be said that his face relaxed whenshe called up the memory of Sam Curtis' crippled daughter.
"Yes; why not?" rejoined Aunt Alvirah. "Have the poor leetle creeturout here, Jabez. She'll be no bother to you. And she kin sleep withRuthie."
"How'll she get up and down stairs?" demanded the miller, quitesurprising Ruth and Aunt Alvirah by considering this phase of thematter. "You'll have to open the East bedroom, Alviry."
"Jest as you say, Jabez," answered the old woman, very meekly, but herbright eyes sparkling as she glanced aside at Ruth. "She kin rollherself in her chair in and out of that room, and onto the porch."
"I'll see Doc. Davison when he drives by to-morrer," promised UncleJabez, with his usual bruskness. "If he says it's all right, she cancome. I'll bring her chair and her luggage out in the wagon onSaturday. The Doc. will arrange about her being brought outcomfortably."
All this was so amazing that Ruth could not speak. Except when he hadbeen angry, or at the time his cash-box was lost when the flood camedown the river, she had never heard Uncle Jabez make so long a speech.Aunt Alvirah was no person with whom she could discuss this greatchange in the miller; and when Doctor Davison was hailed by Mr. Potterthe next day and stopped at the mill for quite half an hour to conferwith him, Ruth was still more amazed.
Every other day Ruth was to go to town, if it was fair. Uncle Jabezmade no comment upon her absence; nor did he put himself out in theleast to arrange for any means of transportation for his niece. Heseldom went to Cheslow himself, save on Saturdays.
Ruth's next trip to Miss Cramp's was on a very hot day indeed. Therewas a glare of hot sun on the long hill and just enough fitful breezeto sift the road-dust all over her as she walked. But--and howfortunate that was!--before she had gone far the purring of amotor-car engine aroused her attention and Tom Cameron ran alongbeside her in his father's auto and stopped.
"Ain't I lucky?" he cried. "Get in here, Ruthie, and I'll take you totown in a jiffy."
"I'm the lucky one, I think," said Ruth, smiling in return as sheslipped into the seat beside him. "And I almost believe, TommyCameron, that you knew I was starting for town and came along just togive me a lift."
He grinned at her. "Don't you think you're mighty important?" heteased. "Suppose I haven't anything else to think about but yougirls?"
Just the same, Ruth stuck to this belief. But she had to confess thatshe was glad of the ride to town. It would have been very, very hot inthe sun and dust.
"And it's real summer, now," she said. "It will be hot in town. I'm soglad Mercy is going to get out of it."
"What do you mean?" demanded Tom. "Is she going to be taken away?"
Ruth told him of the remarkable interest Uncle Jabez had taken in thecrippled girl. Tom could scarcely have been more surprised.
"Why, the old curmudgeon has got a decent streak in him, after all;hasn't he?" he exclaimed, rather thoughtlessly.
"Don't speak that way of him, Tom," urged Ruth. "I know you've gotreason for disliking him--"
"What do you mean?" demanded Tom, turning on her sharply.
"Oh, I--Well, Tom, you know I believe I could easily find the man whoalmost drove the team over you the night you were hurt? And you'veknown it all the time, and kept still about it!"
"That mean, contemptible Jasper Parloe! He's told!" gasped Tom.
"Jasper Parloe told?" repeated Ruth. "Not me."
"Then--"
"You muttered it when they carried you to the doctor's house thatnight. You said it was my uncle," said Ruth, quietly. "I have known itall along, and so has Parloe, I suppose. He and I were the onlypersons who heard what you said when you were but half conscious.You've kept still about it so as to shield Uncle, and I thank you."
Tom looked abashed; but he was angry, too. "Confound that Parloe!" heexclaimed again. "He's been bleeding me, too! Threatened to go to myfather and tell about it--and Dad would have been pretty hot withyour uncle, I expect."
"It was just fine of you, Tommy," Ruth said, admiringly. "But I'd letthat Parloe tell anything he liked. Uncle Jabez never meant to run youdown, I'm sure."
"I tell you what," said Tom. "I'll go to him myself and talk with him.Guess I can do a little bargaining on my own hook. If I don't make himany trouble about my accident, he ought to let you and Helen be spoonsagain. She's just about worrying herself sick over you."
"It will come right, Tom, in the end," returned Ruth, quietly, andrepeating Aunt Alvirah's favorite word of cheer. "Uncle is changed, Ibelieve. Think of his taking so much interest in Mercy!"
"I'll see Doctor Davison," said Tom, eagerly; "and perhaps I'll bringthe sick girl out on Saturday. She ought to be very comfortable inthis machine. Helen would be glad to do something for her, too."
"But you don't want to make any show of doing anything for Mercy,"returned Ruth, shaking her head as she got out before the stationmaster's cottage. "There she is at the window. She'll be curious aboutyou, I've no doubt."
She only ran in for a few moments to see Mercy before going on to MissCramp's.
"That's that Cameron boy," said the crippled girl, in her sharp way."I see him and that sister of his whizzing through this street beforein their car. Wish it'd blow up some day when they're showing off."
Ruth had got so now that she never showed surprise at Mercy's harshspeeches. She refused to admit that she took the lame girl seriouslyin her ugly moods.
"Now, you'd better not wish that, Mercy," she laughed. "Tom wants totake you out to the Red Mill on Saturday in that same automobile.Uncle Jabez is going to take the wheel chair and your baggage. You'lllike riding in the car well enough."
For a moment the cripple was silent and her eyes fell before Ruth'sgaze. Suddenly the guest saw that Mercy's shoulders shook and thattears were actually dropping from Mercy's eyes.
"My dear!" she cried.
"Go away!" murmured the crippled girl. "I want to be alone. I ain'tnever believed," she went on, with more vigor than grammar, "that I'dever get out to your house. Is--is it really so that I can?"
"Uncle Jabez is determined you shall come. So is Doctor Davison. So amI. Everybody is helping. Why, Mercy, you'd have to come to the RedMill on a visit now, even if you didn't want to!" cried Ruth, laughinghappily.
CHAPTER XXIII
IN OLAKAH GLEN
And Mercy Curtis really came to the Red Mill. Perhaps it was becauseof Doctor Davison, for it was notorious that when the good physicianset out to do a thing, or to have it done, it was accomplished.
Yet in this case it seemed as though the miller himself
had as much todo with the successful outcome of the plan as anybody. He had littleto say about it--or little to say at first to the crippled girl. Buthe saw that Aunt Alvirah and Ruth had the east bedroom ready forMercy's occupancy before he started to town with his usual load offlour and meal on Saturday afternoon; and he was at home in goodseason for supper with the empty grain sacks, the fruits of hisSaturday's trading,