Joseph Crosby Lincoln

“ For Georgie's “Santa Claus” was her brother, the brother who had run away from her home so long ago to seek his fortune in the Klondike; whose letter, written in San Francisco and posted in Omaha, had reached her the month before; whom the police of several cities were looking for at her behest.
“Auntie!” cried Emily again.
Thankful shook her head. “Help me to a chair, Emily,” she begged weakly. “This—this is—my soul and body! Jedediah come alive again!” ”

“ Where is Imogene?”
“She's up in her room. She went to bed early. Goodness! Hear that wind. It cries like—like somethin' human.”
“It's dreadful. It is enough to make anyone think. . . . There! If you and I talk any longer we shall both be behaving like children. Good night.”
“Good night, Emily. Is Georgie asleep at last?”
“I think so. I haven't heard a sound from him. Call me early, Auntie.”
Thankful lit her own lamp; Emily took the one already lighted and hastened down the hall. Thankful shut the door and prepared for bed. The din of the storm was terrific. ”

“ Thankful would have protested once more, but Emily put a hand on her arm.
“I'll go into the living-room with Georgie, Auntie,” she whispered. “Yes, I shall.”
She went and closed the door behind her. Thankful sat down in a chair, wondering what was coming next. Solomon did not look at her, but, after a moment, he spoke.
“Thankful Cahoon,” he said, calling her by her maiden name. “I—I've been a bad man. I'm goin' to hell.”
Thankful jumped. “Mercy on us!” she cried. “What kind of talk—”
“I'm goin' to hell,” repeated Solomon. “When a man does the way I've done that's where he goes. ”

“ Jedediah went away in a storm and he's come back in a storm. And now if UNCLE ABNER'S comin' back. . . . There I go again! Emily, do you feel like goin' to bed?”
“To BED! After THAT? Auntie, how can you!”
“All right, then we'll set up till mornin'. Turn that lamp as high as you can and we'll set by it and wait for daylight. By that time we may have some of our sense back again and not behave like two feeble-minded fools. Turn that wick up—WAY up, Emily Howes! And talk—talk just as hard as you can—about somethin' or somebody that's ALIVE.” ”

“ Imogene and Emily were together in the kitchen. The “engaged” young lady had expressed a desire to speak with Miss Howes alone.
John and the captain were still chuckling, but Thankful refused to see the joke; she was almost in tears.
“It's dreadful!” she declared. “Perfectly awful! And Imogene! To act and speak so to our next-door neighbor! What WILL come of it? And how COULD she? How could she get engaged to THAT man, of all men? He's old enough to be her father and—and she CAN'T care for him.” ”

“ Suddenly Caleb slapped his knee.
“It's all right,” he said. “It's fine—and it's commonsense, too. Hannah, what's the matter with you and me gettin' married?”
Hannah stared at him.
“Married!” she repeated. “Me get married! Who to, for the land sakes? Are you out of your head?”
“Not a mite. What's the matter with you marryin' me?”
“My soul! Is this a funny-paper joke, or are you—”
“'Tain't a joke; I mean it. Is there any reason why we shouldn't marry and settle down together, you and me? I don't see none. ”

“ For just an instant Emily glanced at Captain Bangs. The captain's face expressed alarm and embarrassment. He was standing where Mrs. Barnes could not see him and he shook his head warningly. Miss Howes' eyes twinkled, but she did not smile.
“Oh, I knew!” she repeated.
“But HOW did you know? I never wrote you such a thing, sartin.”
“Of course you didn't. But I knew because—well, just because. Everyone who takes boarders needs help. It's a—it's a chronic condition. Now, Auntie, don't you think you could find some supper for me? Not much, but just a little. ”

“ Where did she come from? If she was only a cousin, why did she call Mrs. Barnes “Auntie”? And many others.
Captain Obed answered as best he could.
“She's real pretty, isn't she,” affirmed Miss Timpson. “I don't know when I've seen a prettier woman. Such eyes! And such hair! Ah hum! When I was her age folks used to tell me I had real wonderful hair. You remember that, don't you, Mr. Hammond?”
Mr. Hammond chuckled. “I remember lots of things,” he observed diplomatically.
“You think she's pretty, don't you, Mr. Daniels?” persisted Miss Timpson.
East Wellmouth's legal light bowed assent. ”

“ Emily, as she listened, felt the cold shivers running up and down her spine. It is one thing to scoff at superstition in the bright sunlight; it is quite another to listen to a tale like this on a night like this in a house a hundred years old. Miss Howes scoffed, it is true, but the scoffing was not convincing.
“Nonsense!” she said, stoutly. “A ghost that snores? Who ever heard of such a thing?”
“Nobody ever did, I guess,” Thankful admitted. “It's all too silly for anything, of course. I KNOW it's silly; but, Emily, there's SOMETHIN' queer about that room. ”

“ Caleb gathered the reins in his hands preparatory to driving on, when a new thought came to him.
“Say, Hannah,” he observed, “I suppose you left that note for Kenelm, didn't you?”
Miss Parker uttered a faint shriek.
“Oh, my soul!” she cried. “I didn't! I didn't! I wrote it, but I was so upset when I found I couldn't get the doorkey and get out that way that I left the note in my bureau drawer.”
“Tut, tut! Huh! Well, he may find it there; let's hope he does.”
“But he won't! He WON'T! He never finds anything, even if it's in plain sight. ”

“ They fed the hens and gave George Washington a liberal measure of oats and a big forkful of hay.
“Don't want him to go hungry Christmas Day,” said Captain Obed. “Now let's cruise around and see if Patrick Henry is singin' out for liberty or death.”
The pig was not, apparently, “singing out” for anything. When they reached the wall of the pen by the washshed he was not in sight. But they heard him, somewhere back in the darkness beneath the shed, breathing stertorously, apparently sound asleep.
Georgie laughed. “Hear him,” he said. “He's so fat he always makes that noise when he's asleep. ”

“ The High Cliff boarders—Miss Timpson and Caleb Hammond especially—spent a great deal of time peering from the living-room windows and watching what they called the “goin's on” at the Kendrick estate. Occasionally they caught a glimpse of E. Holliday himself. The great man was inclined to greatness even in the physical meaning of the word, for he was tall and stout, and dignified, not to say pompous. ”

“ Abbie Larkin had been altogether too happy; it grated on him. He was miserable and he wanted company of his own kind. He stopped, hesitated, and then turned in at the Parker gate.
Hannah opened the door.
“Good mornin', Caleb,” she said. “Come in, won't you? It looks sort of chilly outdoor.”
This WAS a kindred spirit. Mr. Hammond entered the Parker sitting-room. Hannah motioned toward a chair and he sat down.
“Mornin', Hannah,” said Caleb. “'Tis chilly. It'll be a mercy if we don't catch our deaths, dressed the way some of us be. How's things with you?” ”

“ Georgie rose, tiptoed to his door and listened. There were no sounds except those of the storm. Then, still on tiptoe, the boy crept along the hall to the front stairs, down these stairs and into the living-room. The fire in the “airtight” stove showed red behind the isinglass panes, and the room was warm and comfortable.
Georgie did not hesitate; his plan was complete to the minutest details. By the light from the stove he found his way to the sofa which stood against the wall on the side of the room opposite the windows. There was a heavy fringe on the sofa which hung almost to the floor. ”

“ They had left South Middleboro that afternoon. The rain began when the train reached West Ostable. At Bayport it had become a storm. At Wellmouth Centre it was a gale and a miniature flood. And now, shut up in the back part of the depot-wagon, with the roaring wind and splashing, beating rain outside, Thankful's references to fish and ducks and mermaids, even to Mount Ararat, seemed to Emily quite appropriate. They had planned to spend the night at the East Wellmouth hotel and visit the Barnes' property in the morning. But it was five long miles to that hotel from the Wellmouth Centre station. ”

“ Did you?”
“Obed, please!”
“Thankful, I've come to care for you more'n anything else in the world. I don't pity you. I've been pityin' myself for the last month because I couldn't have you—just you. I want you, Thankful Barnes, and if you'll marry me I'll be the happiest critter that walks.”
“Oh, Obed, don't make it so hard for me. You said you wouldn't. And—and you can't care—really.”
“I can't! Do you care for me? That's what I want to know.”
“Obed, you and I ain't young folks. We're gettin' on towards old age. ”

“ But even Kenelm confessed to a liking for the “pesky little nuisance.” Captain Obed idolized him and took him on excursions along the beach or to his own fish-houses, where Georgie sat on a heap of nets and came home smelling strongly of cod, but filled to the brim with sea yarns. And Thankful found in the boy the one comfort and solace for her increasing troubles and cares. Altogether the commodore was in a fair way to become a thoroughly spoiled officer.
With November came the rains again, and, compared with them, those of early September seemed but showers. ”

“ A ghost that snores ought, by rights, to be one that's asleep, and a sound-asleep ghost ought to be easy to locate. Oh, yes! I can make fun NOW. I told you I was as brave as a lion—in the daytime.”
It was easy to talk now, and they drifted into a discussion of many things. Thankful retold the story of her struggle to keep the High Cliff House afloat, told it all, her hopes, her fears and her discouragements. They spoke of Captain Bangs, of his advice and help and friendship. Emily brought the captain into the conversation and kept him there. ”

“ But Thankful was in a measure herself again.
“Don't talk so, Solomon,” she cried. “You have got somebody of your own blood. I'm a relation of yours, even if 'tis a far-off relation. I—I don't know how to thank you for this. I—”
He interrupted again.
“Yes,” he wailed, “you're my relation. I know it. Think that makes it any better? Look how I've treated you. No, no; I'm goin' to die and go—”
“You're goin' to have breakfast, that's what you're goin' to have. And it shan't be warmed up fried clams either. Emily, you stay with him. I'm goin' to the kitchen.” ”

“ Five minutes later they were seated in the buggy and George Washington was jogging with dignified deliberation along the road toward East Wellmouth.
“And why,” demanded Captain Obed, “have you come to Wellmouth again, after all these years?”
Mr. Kendrick smiled.
“Well, Captain Bangs,” he said, “it is barely possible that I've come here to stay.”
“To stay! You don't mean to stay for good?”
“Well, that, too, is possible. Being more or less optimistic, we'll hope that if I do stay it will be for good. I'm thinking of living here.” ”

“ Captain Obed slapped his knee.
“Kill him!” he repeated: “I should say not! Why, he's your Uncle Abner and Rebecca Timpson's sister Medora and old Laban Eldredge and I don't know how many more. Killin' him would be a double back-action massacre. No indeed, we won't kill him! Come on, let's go out and have a look at him now. I'd like to shake his hand, if he had one.”
“But, Obed, it's rainin'.”
“What of it? We don't care for rain. It's goin' to be all sunshine for you after this, my lady. I'm the weather prophet and I tell you so. God bless you, Thankful Barnes.” ”

“ It was Hannah Parker who had recommended her brother for the position. She had coaxed and pleaded and, at last, Thankful had consented to Kenelm's taking the place on trial.
“You'll need a nice, trustworthy man to do chores,” said Hannah. “Now Kenelm's honest; there ain't a more honest, conscientious man in East Wellmouth than my brother, if I do say it. Take him in the matter of that umbrella he lost the night you first came, Mrs. Barnes. Take that, for instance. He'd left it or lost it somewheres, he knew that, and the ordinary person would have been satisfied; but not Kenelm. ”

“ Thankful drew a long breath. “All right, Jed,” she said. “You can go out in the barn and feed the horse if you want to. Kenelm—Mr. Parker—generally does it, but he probably won't be here for quite a spell yet. Go ahead. Imogene'll show you what to do. . . . But, say, hold on,” she added, with emphasis. “Don't you go off the premises, and if you see anybody comin', keep out of sight. I don't want anybody to see a brother of mine in THOSE clothes. Soon's ever I can I'll go up to the village and buy you somethin' to wear, if it's only an 'ilskin jacket and a pair of overalls. ”

“ Captain Obed's first act after E. Holliday's departure was to rush over, seize the young man's hand with one of his own, and thump him enthusiastically upon the back with the other.
“I said it!” he crowed. “I knew it! I knew you was all right and square as a brick all the time, John Kendrick! NOW let me meet some of those folks that have been talkin' against you! You never did a better day's work in your life. HE'S down on you, but every decent man in Ostable County'll be for you through thick and thin after this. Hooray for our side! John, shake hands with me again.” ”

“ Oh, it is all right, Auntie; she knows what she is doing, or she thinks she does. And, at any rate, I think there is no danger of Mr. Parker's giving up his situation here until you are ready to have him do it. There! I mustn't say another word. I have said too much already.”
Captain Obed rose to his feet.
“Well,” he said, “it's too thick off the bows for me to see more'n a foot; I give in to that. But I will say this: If that Imogene girl don't know what she's up to it's the fust time since I've been acquainted with her. And she sartin has spiked Hannah's guns. ”