The Storyteller

New Zealand Tablet, 25 July 1912, Page 5

The Storyteller

AFTER THE WATERMELON

Don't you think you could straighten out that watermelon affair with Tom's wife, Constance ? There's no use talking; I'm in a hole. I need to consult with him, but he avoids me everywhere. He's even been going in on another train ever since it happened.' ■;, Mrs. Irwin's blue eyes had a stricken look as she gazed at her husband across the -laden floor. He stood deliberately smoothing out his thirty-five-cent necktie before putting it on; he would never spend more than thirty-five cents for a necktie, although she longed to see him in the luxurious dollar kind that Tom wore. Talbot was a stalwart young man, with nice brown eyes, which now smiled suddenly down at her through their anxiety, in recognition of her comradeship. '.l've tried my best to apologise for it,' she asserted, dejectedly. ' I wrote her a note at once, saying 4 how sorry I was. Of course it was the kind of thing jM' "you couldn't really explain. And then, when I called, she was out, just as she was before. You know how some people are; they never give you credit for calling if they don't see you! And I sent Matilda over with roses, and wrote her a special invitation to the tea, and ~ telephoned besides, asking her to receive with me; but she sent an excuse. It seems as if the A more I did the more unresponsive she became.'

Constance paused, and then, as her husband kept silent, went on remorsefully: ' Of course I know that watermelon was just the climax. I ought to have gone to see her the moment she came here as a bride— our being so intimate with Tom, and his bringing her to see us before they took the house. I always meant to, but what with Billy's croup and your sister's visit and the plaster falling down, it did seem as if I had all I could contend with. I couldn't believe that six weeks had passed!'

' Yes, I know all that,' said Mr. Irwin, gravely. ' It was nice of her to send that unfortunate watermelon, although I'm sure I wish she hadn't— a time as it has made! But she's the rigidly correct, conventional kind that simply can't make allowances for anything.' Constance looked again at her husband's worried face and bent brows. 'Dear, it's,a shame,' she declared. _ ' She shall not keep Tom from you! I'll make it all right.' Constance had a happy faith in her own powers of pleasing. 'l'll take my courage in both hands and go to see her this very day.' The truth was, as she felt with a twinge, that if Talbot lost his friend it would be, despite all excuses, her fault, and it would hurt Talbot financially if Tom should hold aloof from him now. She knew that many wives are answerable, openly or secretly, for the success or the failure of the careers of their husbands; she had always thought of herself as being in the helpful category. The matter was difficult of adjustment—all the more because it was apparently so trivial. After that first long-delayed exchange of calls, Constance had made no hospitable effort to follow up the acquaintance, although she had planned to do so every day; and the fact that she lived so near had made the omission seem pointed. She had got into the habit of sending the youthful Billy or Matilda to say that she was coming over soon. Then the affair happened. Constance was ill for a couple of days, and Talbot told Tom of the fact. The next afternoon a neat maid brought over a plate on which were two slices of ripe, fancifully-cut watermelon— was very early in the season for watermelon,— Mrs. Bradford's compliments and the hope that Mrs. Irwin would find them refreshing. Constance . sent down her thanks by the new girl' who brought'it up to her. The fruit was charmingly arranged on crepe paper of pink, green, and white, to match the watermelon ; the high, threefold frill at the edge was tied in by narrow pink and green ribbon. As it happened, Constance disliked watermelon, and Minna forgot to give the fruit, to Mr. Irwin for his dinner, as she had been told to do. When Constance, several days afterward, went languidly downstairs, she found that it had been left uneaten on a high shelf m the hot butler's pantry, and was in anything but an appetising condition. She ordered Minna to throw it away at once. - 'All?' Minna inquired stolidly, and Constance had replied, ' Yes, all of it.' ' • _ A few hours later, happening to go idly to the window, she saw two ladies stop to stare curiously at what seemed to be an unusual display on the curb. As they went on, her own gaze also became fixed. The ash-can, placed there for the coming garbage man, was topped with a high crown of pink and green and white crepe paper, in the centre of which rested the withered watermelon; long loops of the encircling ribbon whipped in the breeze. rr ■■■

_ Mrs. Bradford, of course, was one of the women who had seen it. With gossipy Mrs. Slater's help, news of the incident went all over the town, with fantastic additions and humorous descriptions of the donor's expression as she regarded her gift. It was laughed at in tne trains, where gossip interests both men and women No number of apologies, then or afterward, no matter how politely they might be received, could overcome the impression made by the patent fact that the gift had not been wanted,. and had been carelessly regarded. The incident capped the climax of all that had gone before. • _. •

This : afternoon, Constance, as she walked along in the flickering;shade of the river street, with its houses on one. side and its border of willows on the other, felt very glad that she had made up her mind to end the "estrangement that day. She had prepared for the ,A~isit as if for a rite; she had put on her new blue-and-white Dutch-necked, elbow-sleeved summer silk, with the white, straw hat and the big blue velvet bow to match. ,j She. felt very clean and stylish and good—capable of sweetly winning over any number of Mrs. Bradford's, no matter how chill and elegant they might ' be. ' r.:; : ■/;-■■;- '

, ' '.No, Togo, you mustn't come with me,' she said, reprovingly, to the Scotch terrier that was bolting along beside her. 'Togo! Go home, sir!' Strangers did not appreciate Togoa hairy, beadyeyed mass of indiscreet activity, who had a snobbish, wholly unconcealed dislike of anyone that was poorly dressed, and a wicked delight in frightening the old or the timid.

'Going out calling this, afternoon V said a voice near her.

O, Mrs. Morris!' Constance turned to see a pleasant-faced, older woman overtaking her. ' How are you?' Yes, I'm . going to ; Mrs. Bradford's Really, I've been so remiss about her, her husband and mine were always such friendsl blame myself for not knowing her better.' : Mrs. Morris nodded, sagaciously; she knew all about the watermelon.

Well, she's a difficult person to know,' she remarked. Oh, yes, she's polite enough when you meet ""-' her, but there's a sort of stiffness about heryou never get any further. I offered to run in and see her any .time, but she never took me 'up at all! Of course she comes from Boston ! These people you have to work over so to get at them, I don't think it's worth the trouble half the time—nine cases out of ten there's nothing in. them when you do get at them ! I like people who meet you haif-way myself, and don't leave you to do all the work.' ' She's very handsome,' said Constance, generously, as the two walked along together. ' I believe she's very fond of musicand art.' Mrs. Morris's eyes grew thoughtful. 'Your husband isn't looking very well lately, I think. You ought to make him take a rest. Men worry so over business' Well, good-bye!' . - J ; 'Good-bye!' said Constance, with a twinge at the ; last words. A few steps took her to her own destination. Mrs. Bradford was a tall, straight young woman, —she was an older bride than Constance had "been,— with dark, beautifully arranged hair above a square forehead, large dark eyes, and a square chin. As the maid was out, she answered the bell • herself, in a stiff white skirt and a mannish shirt-waist, that somehow made feel her own attire foolish and as she ushered the guest into the small parlor, she managed to invest her action with a certain elegance and state. •Ihe parlor opened into the dining-room. Both rooms were furnished in mahogany, but there were two wicker chairs with brilliantly new cretonne cushions; large glass candelabra gleamed from among the handsome ornaments. on the mantelpiece, over which hung an exquisite darkly-framed photograph of Titian's Assumption,' a proof of Mrs. Bradford's appreciation of art; the score of Beethoven's 'Fifth Symphony' stood open on the upright piano-evidence of her_taste :. in music. On the lace centrepiece of the dining-table stood a tall rock crystal vase, with a stalk of cool white lilies another rock-crystal vase, also filled with lilies, stood on the little mahogany stand by the window which reached to the floor f and had the Shadows of the gliding; trees outside waving across it. Everything poke of peace immaculate order, and wedding presents Mrs. Bradford herself had a chill perfection -- Alter the first greetings there came a pause, and Constance's heart sank. : She looked at the hand ome impassive features of her hostess, sitting opposite wTth bUT. • and ! folded, She * ave impression of being clad m quite impervious social armor.

'l'm so. glad I've found you in! -I have been wanting so much lately to see you'.' . '-'' . .".'■' You're very kind,' said Mrs. Bradford courteously. ,; . ' „ H ' Of course your husband .and mine being so. intimate,'—an inexplicable flicker touched the corner of Mrs. Bradford's lips— he has always been at our house so much—'Constance felt that she was bungling she plunged further in: 'We have always been so fond of him— wanted to know you just as well.' ' Don't you think a friendship has to be a matter of growth?' asked Mrs. Bradford dispassionately. 'Yes, oh, yes! But sometimes— people are easier to get acquainted with than others—but what I wanted to say was—l want to say how sorry I have always been that—that things were in such an unfortunate state at home when you came here that ■ I really didn't have a minute to do anything I wanted to— I had always thought I'd see so much of you when you came. And it's been so unfortunate since— I have never known how to explain ' She stopped. Although ' her hostess' looked unresponsive, no one could say that she was in the.least rude. Constance could not help admiring, while she resented, the perfection of that polite calm. 'I can never tell you how I felt about that watermelonhow terribly sorry I was!' t A faint flush rose to Mrs. Bradford's smooth cheek Indeed, you have told me—pray don't mention it. Is that your, dog out there? Shall I let him in?' ' ,__..■' please don't!' cried Constance, in alarm How very annoying ! I told him to go home. If w © pay no attention to him he may run off again ' Mrs. Bradford, who had-half risen, sank back into her seat. There was a pause for a moment, filled with .the barking of Togo and his clawing at the screen doorConstance was beginning to feel the hopelessness of" her . mission; she experienced suddenly that sick,' dread tailing of the heart that comes when we face the irreparable effect of our own neglect. Her charm of manner, her real desire to please; that had always served her so well until now, were powerless m the case of the frigid, unresponsive woman. hose roses that you sent me last week were exquisite, said Mrs. Bradford. 'l'm. sure I haven't thanked you half enough for.them. At my own home' that flicker passed over her face again—' we had such a beautiful old rose-garden—l've missed it so much here.' • -

We are very fond of our roses,' said Constance, lamely; not that we .have so very many, I—your husband helped us to set them out when we came here ' She flushed scarlet; she had said the wrong thing again. ' .' And I regretted so much not being able to accept the invitation to receive at your tea,' continued the hostess, 'but it was my husband's birthday, and we took a little trip out of town. I heard from Mrs Morris that it was very pretty, and that Mrs. Stanhope sang beautifully. r with another attempt at warmth. Her eye indicated the open score on the piano. 'Do you practise a great

m Why, of late years I really didn't get the chance to practise much at home; there was so much going on but since I've been here I often practise half the day,'just for myself, you know— husband doesn't care for musics Please don't worry about your doe:; I don't mmd him in the least.'

m He's on that side piazza. I'm afraid he'll, push in the screen of your dining-room window,' said Constance, miserably. Togo! Togo! Go home, sir f Go home! I think I'd better go now myself and take him back with me. He gets so excited.' _ 'lndeed you mustn't go without having some tea * said Mrs. Bradford. ' Please excuse me for just a moment. No, it's no, trouble, I assure you!' she answered Constance's expostulation. 'I always have it for myself. J I'll close-the window in there, and then you won't worry about your dog.' ' " - ,-. , .Through the closed window : Constance could see the leaping, frenzied Togo, with, his black, beady eyes

shining through a whirl of shaggy hair. She rose and waved at him imperiously, and for the moment he sank down, sullen, prostrate, and panting. Seating herself again, she looked round the room once again. It became eloquent in its silence and order — all the pretty bridal things could not conceal the homesickness that lurked among them, and that Mrs. Bradford had shown unconsciously in her eyes and voice. To practise half the day because you had so much time! Constance contrasted her own happily crowded hours with the pathetic lonesomeness of the bride, uprooted from all the dear familiar things and people and duties, and obliged to spend the long, empty days just waiting for the sole person in the town to whom she meant anything. , Constance wished that she had really ( got at' Mrs. Bradford at once, for her own sake, as well as for Talbot's, and at the sight of her hostess coming in with the prettily set silver tray, realised with a fresh pang that the opportunity had gone. What a lovely little old-fashioned silver teapot!' That belonged to one of my great-great-grand-mothersit remained on her shelf for a long, long time after the Boston Tea-Party,' said Mrs. Bradford, setting the tray down on a little mahogany table and taking her seat beside it. 'l'm very proud of it.' And what perfectly beautiful teacups ! Constance gazed with undisguised admiration at the goldrimmed egg-shell china, of exquisite shape, overlaid with pink and blue flowers. . ' They belonged to my great-grandmother,' said Mrs. Bradford. ' I have four for my share.' ' Four ! How did they ever last so long ?' 'Oh, we never break anything in our family!' declared Mrs. Bradford. 'Of course we always were such thingsheirloomsourselves. ' Even then—' said Constance, expressively. She had only one desireto drink her tea and go, for every minute was becoming a torture, although she could not but appreciate Mrs. Bradford's courtesy in bringing out the best cups-, even if, like all her courtesy, it seemed to set her farther away. She.sought once more to show a pursuasive warmth. 'I wish you and T — your husband would come to dinner with us to-morrow night, or any other night this week that might be more convenient for you.' ' Thank you very much,' said Mrs. Bradford. Constance could see her stiffen in spite of the composure of her manner. ' But Mr. Bradford is so busy just now we go away on his vacation on the twenty-fifth,— and he gets home so late, that I think I had better not make any engagement for him at present.' the refusal precluded any insistence. She dashed into a new subject: ' The twenty-fifth ! It doesn't seem possible that the summer is going so fast ! Have you seen the new fall hats in town— already? The colors are so brilliant there's a green hits you in the face ! And there's a deep pink, they call it watermelon pink—' Constance stopped short; the color flushed her face again. Would that watermelon never rest? She made

an unconscious movement. The cup in her right hand tipped slightly; she put out her other hand to steady it. The cup shot from its saucer; toppled over, and spilling its contents in her lap, fell' to the floor, and smashed into a dozen pieces. 'Oh! oh!' cried Constance, in horror, while she mechanically guarded the pool of tea in her silken lap so that it should not overflow on the bright cushions or on the rug, as she sought to rise. 'Sit still commanded her hostess, briefly. She slipped to her knees by her visitor, and tried to scoop up the fluid with a teaspoon and transfer it to the saucer, while Togo, unheeded, barked madly by the closed window.

'You'll get it all over your white dress!' moaned Constance. • 'No, I won't—and it doesn't matter if I do,' said Mrs. Bradford, quickly. 'Your pretty, pretty silk!' It's too bad.'

Oh,' cried Constance, in anguish, ' that's nothing —nothing!' She moved her head from side to side.

' Your cup—your cup— cup ! What can I say ? What can I do? I'll have it reproduced in some way, if it's possible, but even then it won't be the same! To think that I—' \ ' ' Now don't let that worry you in the least,' commanded Mrs. Bradford. There was a color in her pale cheeks; the benevolent, almost caressing emphasis with which she spoke seemed to reveal a slight dimple in one of them. ' The idea of talking about having it reproduced!' she went on, with increasing lightness, as she still tried to dip up the liquid. 'Why, what is it? Only a cup ! Cups break every day. And I have three of them left.'. She took a swift glance at her visitor's trembling lip. 'I am really glad this one is broken, for now I can use the saucer for olives, or almonds, as fve always wanted to do. Please don't bother about it.'

Its very, very good of you!' said Constance, utterly spent and jarred with the force of her emotions. While still thinking what she could do to make up for this terrible catastrophe, she mechanically let Mrs. Bradford use a napkin wrung out in hot,water from the teapot to get out the stain from her gown. ' There,' said Mrs. Bradford, ' I don't believe it will show any spot at all.' She was still kneeling on the floor, but now she was deftly sweeping up the bits of china with the hearth-brush. '- I was just thinking ' —the words came with an effort—' it really isn't good for my husband to work so hard as he does. If you are still kind enough to want us for dinner some night this week, I'm sure we can arrange it, if you still wish US to.' ; ;.;-:"■■

'Oh, yes, yes!' declared Constance. 'We shall be delighted to have you—if only I hadn't—' Her eyes rested on the saucer that had been bereft of its cup. ' I wish Togo wouldn't bark so! Be still, Togo! .He thinks something is happening to that's why he is going on so. Go home!' Her voice rose shrill and commanding. For a moment Togo dropped into a shaggy ball on the verandah. ' Talbot will be so pleased to have you to-morrow. You're so kind to say you'll come after— My goodness! What's that?' A tremendous crash, mixed with the shivering of glass, smote her ears. In one supreme effort to leap through the barrier that separated him from his mistress, Togo had broken through the window pane and knocked down the screen. This had sent the light stand and the crystal vase sprawling—a mass of broken glass, rills of water and scattered flowers. The frightened Togo was but a vanishing tail in the distance. 'My goodness!' repeated Constance. Her eves sought those of Mrs. Bradford. 'Oh, it's nothing,' began the other, with her indestructible courtesy, which seemed, however, to cover some deep emotion; and then, all at once, sinking into a heap on the floor, she broke into peal after peal of hysterical laughter. 'Oh, it's so funny! Oh, it's so funny!' . ' • _ In another instant Constance's ringing voice had joined here. They rocked backward and forward, shuddering with convulsive gasps; they tried to speak, and could not; every glance they took at the wreckage in the other room set them off in a fresh outburst. 'You poor thing!' said Mrs. Bradford, at last struggling to her feet. She put her arm round Constance. « I haven't laughed like this since I came here I d forgotten that I could !' 'You're a dear!' said Constance, warmly. Her voice shook, but this time not with laughter. ' When I

'No, don't think!' said the other, quickly 'I really understood all the time. It was Tom who minded most—for me—about that absurd watermelon, and everything only I was disappointed— after all Tom had told me about you! I didn't want you to be iusfc polite; I longed to have you like me, the way you did him. Ive been so homesick daytimes! Let's begin from

™ ' Then , we went to work and cleaned up that other room together,' said Constance. P • t. El 6 7m ?f citin & the day's performance, to a deeply interested Talbot, with Billy and Matilda ; hanging

her in breathless interest; her own hand was tucked into her husband's. _ -

;';"'■' She and Tom are coming over to-night after dinner; she says he has some things he wants to talk over with you. And,.Talbot,'—her tone was firm in view of success, even if it was not her success,-'I want .you •to take this money,—l don't . care what you say!—and buy yourself a mauve necktie to-morrow at Haskin's. Nina Bradford says they're selling their twodollar kind now for: a dollar; she says Tom bought one yesterday. She is the dearest —just that delightful way Boston people are when you really get to know !'— -Youth's Companion.