Alice Hegan Rice

“ He was still too weak to do more than prepare his food and creep about doing small jobs. All afternoon he lay happily in a hammock on the vine-clad porch and watched the birds. They soon accepted as a friend the hollow-eyed little man who could lie still by the hour, if need be, a bit of bread on his palm, waiting for their confidence to be established.
Then Ted Mawkins discovered him, and making sure that Miss Gee was away, became a daily visitor. Other children, arch enemies of Miss Gee's, soon drifted in. Mr. Lukins attracted the children very much as he attracted the birds. ”

“ It was one thing for a woman to befriend a stranger, taken ill on her doorstep, and quite another for her to entertain him indefinitely after he was able to be up and about. Matters reached a climax on the opening day of the Hardin County Fair.
Miss Gee, as usual, had entered Bonnie Prince in the contest for “the best harness gelding driven to a buggy, the driver being accompanied by a lady.” When she dashed into the ring, head and reins held high, a thin, pale little man with large sunken eyes and sloping shoulders sat beside her. ”

“ Lukins' approval.
“I think you're a wonder!” he wheezed. I don't believe there's another lady in the State—no, nor a man either—that can put things over like you can.”
Incense was something new to Miss Gee. It had a strange effect upon her. She, who had waxed strong and aggressive under abuse, grew almost gentle under the ardent admiration and gratitude of Mr. Lukins. Whatever darts of cynicism now shot from her bow, they were never aimed at her patient.
It was inevitable that word should soon go abroad that Miss Gee had a beau. The news filled Purdyville with unholy glee. ”

“ The light broke upon Miss Gee, and she blazed into instant flame.
“So that's it, is it? A decent middle-aged woman can't take a sick stranger in and nurse him without getting a handful of pitch in her face! Who sent you here?”
“Gently, my friend,” urged the Doctor. “Your character has not been assailed. It is only that some of our congregation feel that if one of our flock is wandering, however innocently, into a false position, it is but right that a warning should be spoken. ”

“ Miss Gee substituted the word “protest” for “resignation.” In going about the poorer parts of the town and county selling her machines, she lost no chance to incite the proletariat to defend its rights. She urged the people to ask for sewers, for street lights, for paved streets, for more schools. The result was that before long the town's money, which had hitherto flowed to foreign missionary fields, began to go into taxes to meet the long-neglected needs of Purdyville.
The fight between Miss Gee and Dr. Mawkins reached a climax over the Danvers Fund. ”

“ It was Christmas Eve when she stepped off the train, gaunt as a hound, and gray, with tragedy deep-seated in her eyes. But her shoulders and her jaw were still square, and she swung out of the station with her old independent, mannish stride. ”

“ Lukins' features underwent a sudden spasm, and his Adam's apple began to work violently.
“You are still weak, I see,” said the Doctor kindly. “I am sorry Miss Gee and I couldn't have arranged this without you.”
“No—no!” he protested. “I am the one to act—and to act at once. I shall leave on the evening train.”
In vain did Miss Gee remonstrate, command and threaten. For once Mr. Lukins opposed his will to hers and remained firm in his decision. Even Dr. Mawkins forgot his own grievance in witnessing Mr. Lukins' anguish. ”

“ Maybe you can direct me to a hotel, and I can come back this afternoon and talk business.”
“Talk nothing!” said Miss Gee. “You haven't got breath enough to raise a feather.”
“I'll be better soon,” he urged hopefully “A business man can't afford to be sick, you know.”
Miss Gee scowled at him: “You'll be selling sewing machines to the angels the next thing you know. You look to me like you got a chill.”
“Well, as a matter of fact,” he admitted guiltily, “I believe I have!”
Miss Gee wasted no more time in talk. She thrust a strong hand under his arm and ordered him to get out of the car. ”

“ From that time on Miss Gee found herself equally unpopular with the Stained Glass contingent and with the People's Hall advocates. According to Purdyville standards she was not a perfect lady. Instead of attending missionary meetings and sewing societies, and occupying herself in collecting money for the church, she was always bringing up new and disturbing questions that had nothing whatever to do with religion. She seemed to belong to every organization in existence that militated against personal liberty. She objected to a man's beating his own horse ”

“ But Miss Gee ruthlessly dug up the tender budding romance in order to examine its roots, and it promptly died of exposure.
Soon after that Minnie left her, and from that time on, she lived quite alone, with no companionship except her dog and her chickens and her beloved horse. The affection that the average woman distributes among her friends and family she concentrated on Bonnie Prince. ”

“ Lukins. I aint like other folks. I'm hard and mean, and I don't know how to make people like me. The more I do for them, the more they hate me. But animals are different. They can't hear my mean tongue, but they sense my kind feeling. I got to have something to love and look after. I can't go on alone—”
Either in answer to prayer, or in response to the odor of the steaming mash which was momentarily becoming more potent, Bonnie Prince opened his eyes and feebly craned his neck in the direction of the bucket.
Instantly Miss Gee was on her feet. ”

“ But Miss Gee was no respecter of persons, ecclesiastical or otherwise. She argued the matter, at first in private, then in the courts. The decision went against her, and she had to console herself with an unsightly spite fence, both sides of which she utilized to advertise the sewing machines for which she was county agent.
Having once gotten on Dr. Mawkins' trail, she stayed there For a quarter of a century he had led his flock, and realizing the difficulty the rich had in entering the kingdom of heaven, he rather specialized on their salvation. ”

“ Lukins out in the road?”
“It has been suggested,” said Dr. Mawkins, “that he might return to his home.”
“Home, nothing!” said Miss Gee. “He hasn't got any home, nor any people. Where he's got to go, as soon as he's fit to travel, is to Arizona for the rest of his life.”
“In the mean season,” said the Doctor suavely, “if he is a gentleman, I feel sure he would not wish to compromise a lady by remaining here.”
At this moment a sound behind them caused them both to look up. Mr. Lukins, very white and agitated, stood in the doorway, supporting himself on a cane. ”

“ If you think that man's too sick to be moved, he aint going to be moved.”
“Well, I admit it would be a risk.”
“That settles it. If you and me can pull him through, we wont give a tinker's damn what the loose-lippers say.”
For two weeks Mr. Lukins hesitated about dying, just as he hesitated about everything else. One day it would seem as if he had really determined to go, and the next he rallied and again laid feeble hold on life.
It was Miss Gee who did not hesitate. up her mind he was going to get well. Abandoning all other activities, she devoted herself to the task of nursing. ”

“ The next day Miss Gee rented her house furnished, sold her beloved Bonnie Prince, and by the end of the week they were on their way to Arizona.
FOR a long time Purdyville knew Miss Gee no more. The town grew and prospered; the many seeds of reform she had planted bore a rich harvest, but no one thought of her in connection with them.
Almost two years after her departure Dr. McLean had received a post card from Mr. Lukins. It bore this message:
“Wish to advise you of the arrival of a little son. Mother and child doing well. Own health poorly.” ”