lavender and old lace-第18章

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〃Mebbe　not；〃　rejoined　Hepsey。　〃It　ain't　fer　sech　as　me　to　say　when　there's　courtin'　and　when　there　ain't；　after　havin'　gone　well　nigh　onto　five　year　with　a　country　loafer　what　ain't　never　said　nothin'。〃　She　stalked　into　the　house；　closed　the　door；　and　noisily　bolted　it。　Joe　stood　there　for　a　moment；　as　one　struck　dumb；　then　gave　a　long；　low　whistle　of　astonishment　and　walked　slowly　down　the　hill。



X。　Love　Letters

〃A　week！〃　Ruth　said　to　herself　the　next　morning。　〃Seven　long　days！　No　letter；　because　he　mustn't　write；　no　telegram；　because　there's　no　office　within　ten　milesnothing　to　do　but　wait！〃

When　she　went　down　to　breakfast；　Hepsey　did　not　seem　to　hear　her　cheery　greeting；　but　was　twisting　her　apron　and　walking　about　restlessly。　〃Miss　Thorne；〃　she　said；　at　length；　〃did　you　ever　get　a　love　letter？〃

〃Why；　yes；　of　course；〃　laughed　Ruth。　〃Every　girl　gets　love　letters。〃

Hepsey　brightened　visibly；　then　inquired；　with　great　seriousness：　〃Can　you　read　writin'；　Miss　Thorne？〃

〃That　depends　on　the　writing。〃

〃Yes'm；　it　does　so。　I　can　read　some　writin'I　can　read　Miss　Hathaway's　writin'；　and　some　of　the　furrin　letters　she's　had；　but　I　got　some　this　mornin'　I　can't　make　out；　nohow。〃

〃Where　did　you　find　'writing'　this　morning？　It's　too　early　for　the　mail；　isn't　it？〃

〃Yes'm。　It　was　stuck　under　the　kitchen　winder。〃　Hepsey　looked　up　at　the　ceiling　in　an　effort　to　appear　careless；　and　sighed。　Then　she　clutched　violently　at　the　front　of　her　blue　gingham　dress；　immediately　repenting　of　her　rashness。　Ruth　was　inwardly　amused　but　asked　no　helpful　questions。

Finally；　Hepsey　took　the　plunge。　〃Would　you　mind　tryin'　to　make　out　some　writin'　I've　got；　Miss　Thorne？〃

〃Of　course　notlet　me　see　it。〃

Hepsey　extracted　a　letter　from　the　inmost　recesses　of　her　attire　and　stood　expectantly；　with　her　hands　on　her　hips。

〃Why；　it's　a　love　letter！〃　Ruth　exclaimed。

〃Yes'm。　When　you　get　through　readin'　it　to　yourself；　will　you　read　it　out　loud？〃

The　letter；　which　was　written　on　ruled　note　paper；　bore　every　evidence　of　care　and　thought。　〃Hepsey；〃　it　began；　and；　on　the　line　below；　with　a　great　flourish　under　it；　〃Respected　Miss〃　stood；　in　large　capitals。

〃Although　it　is　now　but　a　short　interval；〃　Ruth　read；　〃since　my　delighted　eyes　first　rested　on　your　beautiful　form〃

〃Five　year！〃　interjected　Hepsey。

〃yet　I　dare　to　hope　that　you　will　receive　graciously　what　I　am　about　to　say；　as　I　am　assured　you　will；　if　you　reciprocate　the　sentiments　which　you　have　aroused　in　my　bosom。

〃In　this　short　time；　dear　Miss；　brief　though　it　is；　yet　it　has　proved　amply　sufficient　for　my　heart　to　go　out　to　you　in　a　yearning　love　which　I　have　never　before　felt　for　one　of　your　sex。　Day　by　day　and　night　by　night　your　glorious　image　has　followed　me。〃

〃That's　a　lie；〃　interrupted　Hepsey；　〃he　knows　I　never　chased　him　nowheres；　not　even　when　he　took　that　red…headed　Smith　girl　to　the　Sunday…school　picnic　over　to　the　Ridge；　a　year　ago　come　August。〃

〃Those　dark　tresses　have　entwined　my　soul　in　their　silken　meshes；　those　deep　eyes；　that　have　borrowed　their　colour　from　Heaven's　cerulean　blue；　and　those　soft　white　hands；　that　have　never　been　roughened　by　uncongenial　toil；　have　been　ever　present　in　my　dreams。〃

Ruth　paused　for　a　moment；　overcome　by　her　task；　but　Hepsey's　face　was　radiant。　〃Hurry　up；　Miss　Thorne；〃　she　said；　impatiently。

〃In　short；　Dear　Miss；　I　consider　you　the　most　surpassingly　lovely　of　your　kind；　and　it　is　with　pride　swelling　in　my　manly　bosom　that　I　dare　to　ask　so　peerless　a　jewel　for　her　heart　and　hand。

〃My　parentage；　birth；　and　breeding　are　probably　known　to　you；　but　should　any　points　remain　doubtful；　I　will　be　pleased　to　present　references　as　to　my　character　and　standing　in　the　community。

〃I　await　with　impatience；　Madam；　your　favourable　answer　to　my　plea。　Rest　assured　that　if　you　should　so　honour　me　as　to　accept　my　proposal；　I　will　endeavour　to　stand　always　between　you　and　the　hard；　cruel　world；　as　your　faithful　shield。　I　will　also　endeavour　constantly　to　give　you　a　happiness　as　great　as　that　which　will　immediately　flood　my　bing　upon　receipt　of　your　blushing　acceptance。

〃I　remain；　Dear　Miss；　your　devoted　lover　and　humble　servant；

〃JOSEPH　PENDLETON；　ESQ。〃

〃My！　My！〃　ejaculated　Hepsey。　〃Ain't　that　fine　writin'！〃

〃It　certainly　is；〃　responded　Miss　Thorne；　keeping　her　face　straight　with　difficulty。

〃Would　you　mind　readin'　it　again？〃

She　found　the　second　recital　much　easier；　since　she　was　partially　accustomed　to　the　heavy　punctuation　marks　and　shaded　flourishes。　At　first；　she　had　connected　Winfield　with　the　effusion；　but　second　thought　placed　the　blame　where　it　belongedat　the　door　of　a　〃Complete　Letter　Writer。〃

〃Miss　Thorne；〃　said　Hepsey；　hesitating。

〃Yes？〃

〃Of　course；　I'd　like　my　answer　to　be　as　good　writin'　as　his'n。〃

〃Naturally。〃

〃Where　d'you　s'pose　he　got　all　that　lovely　grammar？〃

〃Grammar　is　a　rare　gift；　Hepsey。〃

〃Yes'm；'t　is　so。　Miss　Thorne；　do　you　guess　you　could　write　as　good　as　that？〃

〃I'd　be　willing　to　try；〃　returned　Ruth；　with　due　humility。

Hepsey　thought　painfully　for　a　few　moments。　〃I'd　know　jest　what　I'd　better　say。　Now；　last　night；　I　give　Joe　a　hint；　as　you　may　say；　but　I　wouldn't　want　him　to　think　I'd　jest　been　a…waitin'　for　him。〃

〃No；　of　course　not。〃

〃Ain't　it　better　to　keep　him　in　suspense；　as　you　may　say？〃

〃Far　better；　Hepsey；　he'll　think　more　of　you。〃

〃Then　I'll　jest　write　that　I'm　willin'　to　think　it　over；　and　if　you'll　put　it　on　a　piece　of　paper　fer　me；　I'll　write　it　out　with　ink。　I've　got　two　sheets　of　paper　jest　like　this；　with　nice　blue　lines　onto　it；that　I've　been　a…savin'　fer　a　letter；　and　Miss　Hathaway；　she's　got　ink。〃

Ruth　sat　down　to　compose　an　answer　which　should　cast　a　shadow　over　the　〃Complete　Letter　Writer。〃　Her　pencil　flew　over　the　rough　copy　paper　with　lightning　speed；　while　Hepsey　stood　by　in　amazement。

〃Listen；〃　she　said；　at　length；　〃how　do　you　like　this？〃

〃MR。　JOSEPH　PENDLETON

〃Respected　Sir：　Although　your　communication　of　recent　date　was　a　great　surprise　to　me；　candour　compels　me　to　confess　that　it　was　not　entirely　disagreeable。　I　have　observed；　though　with　true　feminine　delicacy；　that　your　affections　were　inclined　to　settle　in　my　direction；　and　have　not　repelled　your　advances。

〃Still；　I　do　not　feel　that　as　yet　we　are　sufficiently　acquainted　to　render　immediate　matrimony　either　wise　or　desirable；　and　since　the　suddenness　of　your　proposal　has　in　a　measure　taken　my　breath　away；　I　must　beg　that　you　will　allow　me　a　proper　interval　in　which　to　consider　the　matter；　and；　in　the　meantime；　think　of　me　simply　as　your　dearest　friend。

〃I　may　add；　in　conclusion；　that　your　character　and　standing　in　the　community　are　entirely　satisfactory　to　me。　Thanking　you　for　the　honour　you　have　conferred　upon　me；　believe　me；　Dear　Sir；

〃Your　sincere　friend；

〃HEPSEY。〃

〃My！〃　exclaimed　Hepsey；　with　overmastering　pride；　〃ain't　that　beautiful！　It's　better　than　his'n；　ain't　it？〃

〃I　wouldn't　say　that；〃　Ruth　replied；　with　proper　modesty；　〃but　I　think　it　will　do。〃

〃Yes'm。　'Twill　so。　Your　writin'　ain't　nothin'　like　Joe's；〃　she　continued；　scanning　it　closely；　〃but　it's　real　pretty。〃　Then　a　bright　idea　illuminated　her　countenance。　〃Miss　Thorne；　if　you'll　write　it　out　on　the　note　paper　with　a　pencil；　I　can　go　over　it　with　the　ink；　and　afterward；　when　it's　dry；　I'll　rub　out　the　pencil。　It'll　be　my　writin'　then；　but　it'll　look　jest　like　yours。〃

〃All　right；　Hepsey。〃

She　found　it　difficult　to　follow　the　lines　closely；　but　at　length　achieved　a　respectable　result。　〃I'll　take　good　care　of　it；〃　Hepsey　said；　wrapping　the　precious　missive　in　a　newspaper；　〃and　this　afternoon；　when　I　get　my　work　done　up；　I'll　fix　it。　Joe'll　be　surprised；　won't　he？〃

Late　in　the　evening；　when　Hepsey　came　to　Ruth；　worn　with　the　unaccustomed　labours　of　correspondence；　and　proudly　displayed　the　nondescript　epistle；　she　was　compelled　to　admit　that　unless　Joe　had　superhuman　qualities　he　would　indeed　〃be　surprised。〃


The　next　afternoon　Ruth　went　down　to　Miss　Ainslie's。　〃You've　been　neglecting　me；　dear；〃　said　that　gentle　soul；　as　she　opened　the　door。

〃I　haven't　meant　to；〃　returned　Ruth；　conscience…stricken；　as　she　remembered　how　long　it　had　been　since　the　gate　of