Dowdy

“ He was already shucking his hat and mittens and boots and snow pants and coat. His skin flushed with the warm vapors coming off of the sulfur spring.
“You live here?” she said. The light from the flashlight was dimming and he reached over and gave it a couple of squeezes, then handed it back to her.
“I live here. It’s complicated.”
Davey’s eyes were open and he was staring at them with squinted eyes and a frown.
“Where are your parents?” she said.
“It’s complicated,” he said again, as though that explained everything. “This is my secret. No one else knows it.” ”

“ DOWEY, grimly, ‘That’s great.’
Mr. Willings ascends the stair without one backward glance, like the good gentleman he is; and the Doweys are left together, with nearly the whole room between them. He is a great rough chunk of Scotland, howked out of her not so much neatly as liberally; and in his Black Watch uniform, all caked with mud, his kit and nearly all his worldly possessions on his back, he is an apparition scarcely less fearsome (but so much less ragged) than those ancestors of his who trotted with Prince Charlie to Derby. ”

“ That somebody was Doughgod. I finds him setting in the middle of the road with the brim of his hat down around his neck and a fool look on his face. As I come up, he holds up the letter he’s hanging on to and he says to me:
“Huh-Henry, she ain’t—ain’t coming here. She’s gug-got a bub-better job. She ain’t coming here, Henry.”
“She shows a lot of sense,” says I, and I lopes on.
I seen Telescope and Chuck and Muley gallop off the street and cut across the hills; so I puts on more speed and catches them.
“Bill McFee is up there,” pants Telescope when we slows to a walk. ”

“ Red and shining, his hair slicked down stylishly with bear's grease, his best homespun suit on, Doby mounted a borrowed horse to sit behind his mother, and formed one of a company who fared away to the grove where the meeting was held.
His shoes were tied round his waist by a thong. They were ready to put on when he came in sight of the meeting-place. Cobbled [113] shoes of leather were the most expensive luxury a pioneer boy could own. Neither Doby nor any other backwoods fellow would think of wearing them if he could possibly go barefoot or use his moccasins. ”

“ Dodge, dressed in harmony with her house, came in with a rustle and a flourish. She was a big woman, with hair so yellow and cheeks so rosy, that she seemed the very person to preside over this gaily-coloured establishment.
At a sign from Miss Saxon, Elsie took the questioning into her own hands. She described the table to begin with.
Mrs. Dodge was bland and civil. She had taken the house of her aunt, an old lady who was getting too infirm to attend to lodgers. It was filled from top to bottom with the most hideous old things, and she had put them all into the broker's hands. ”

“ The old man turns at the barn, but Mike comes on down to us.
“Howdy,” says Mike. “How’s everything, boys?”
“Ain’t able to kick,” says Telescope. “How’s it with you?”
“Tolable. See Doughgod in town?”
“He was there the last we seen of him,” admits Muley. “Why?”
“Going down to see him. Dang this trustee business, anyway. Nothing but trouble. Me and the old man have decided to accept that teacher that wrote to Doughgod, even if she is a female. Never mix into the school-teacher business, boys. She’s ——!”
“She is,” agrees Muley, and we all nods. ”

“ Blue scowled. “Why he was in the French army, and he wears epaulets!”
The policeman gave a short laugh.
“I’m not saying he isn’t all right, am I? I’m telling you to let him alone, and not to breathe a syllable outside—that’s all!”
“It’s too bad!” Blue’s forehead puckered into deep lines and ridges.
“It is that!” agreed the officer, shaking his head sorrowfully, thinking of Doodles.
The boy went home in a frenzy. What should he tell his brother? How would he take it?
“Blue Stickney! where have you been? What makes you so late? Did you have to stay after school? Where’s Joseph?” ”

“ As Doby eyed the savage he thought: "How handsome he is and how powerful! Perhaps Tecumseh had the same appearance."
Under the boy's admiring stare the Indian stood absolutely and perfectly still, minute after minute, minute after minute, until Doby became possessed of an impulse to test that stolidity, to shock that dignity. So he impishly blew into the pig's-bladder whistle. Its blast rent the air.
With snake-like quickness the Indian's hand shot out. He grabbed the whistle and hid it in his blanket. He offered a blue-jay feather in exchange. ”

“ DOBY WHIPPED OUT HIS KNIFE AND CUT THE THONGS
[117]
With immense nervous energy, even while they stood staring, he retrieved his horse, which had been stampeded farther into the wood. Then he fixed his rummaged saddle-bags, mounted, and galloped off, singing a hymn so loudly and triumphantly that it echoed in their ears like a battle-call.
"His name is Lorenzo Dow. He is not afraid of man or devil," said the mother, half in praise, half in criticism of this great Methodist preacher. "His manner is strange beyond belief; yet he sways all hearts toward righteousness." ”

“ Blue smiled, pausing to pour a dipper of hot water over the soapy cups and plates.
“Seems sometimes’s if he never would,” Doodles put in with a wee sigh.
“Oh, I haven’t half tried yet!” resumed the other. “Don’t you worry one mite, old feller! Ther’ ’s lots o’ dandy names, if I could only think of ’em, and I’m goin’—going to do my honor best to-day, sure!”
Doodles laughed softly, to accompany his brother’s louder chuckle, and rested in the promise, for, as he had reason to know, Blue’s “honor best” was apt to be very good, indeed ”

“ Doodles dropped back on his pillows, and shut his eyes.
“Whew, if this isn’t a roaster!” fumed Blue, jerking off his blouse. “That thing don’t go on again till it’s cooler!”
“You’ll have to wear it when you deliver your papers,” said Doodles mildly, opening his eyes.
“I won’t,” declared Blue savagely. “I’m not goin’ to swelter for fashion! Mother’s got the best of it this afternoon in the shop. They’ll git a breeze there if ther’ is any. Don’t you want to lie down and take a nap?” ”

“ As the lightning scorns the oak, as the fire triumphs over the venerable pile, as the swollen river scoffs at the P. W. D., while arch after arch tumbles into its gurgling whirlpools, so the Dhobie, dashing your cambric and fine linen against the stones, shattering a button, fraying a hem, or rending a seam at every stroke, feels a triumphant contempt for the miserable creature whose plodding needle and thread put the garment together. This feeling is the germ from which the Dhobie has grown. ”

“ I whacked at a nettle with my stick.
"I shall break off my engagement after dinner, so that Douglas can have a good night's rest. I'm afraid he has been brooding on the future a good deal. It will be a great relief to him."
"Oh, no," I said.
"Oh, yes. I know exactly how he feels. He thought he could carry me off, but he finds he overestimated his powers. He has remembered that he is a Craye. I imagine that the fact has been pointed out to him."
"If you ask my opinion," I said—I was feeling pretty sore about it—"that woman Florence is an absolute cat." ”

“ The crowd gathered about, glad of a diversion, and the news travelled across the street to Mrs Yabsley on her veranda. Doughy the baker, stepping down unexpectedly from the Woolpack to borrow a shilling from his wife, had found her drinking beer in the kitchen with Happy Jack. And while Doughy was hammering on the front door, Happy Jack had slipped out at the back, and was watching Doughy's antics over the shoulders of his pals. Presently Doughy grew tired and, crossing the street, sat on the kerbstone in front of Mrs Yabsley's, with his eye on the door. ”

“ Doodles went on enthusiastically, his fair face pink with excitement, and his brown eyes luminous with hope.
The policeman’s lips parted—and came together. Then he said quietly:—
“It would, sure!”
“I guess I shall,” Doodles smiled. “The doctor thinks so. It is going to cost a good deal, five dollars a time; but mother says she doesn’t begrudge the money, if he can do me a bit of good. Oh, I’ve wondered and wondered what it would feel like to jump right up and run across the room, as Blue does—and to think I shall know!” ”

“ Doughgod wanders away, hugging himself, so me and Chuck buys a drink. We meets “Muley” Bowles and “Telescope” Tolliver, and Chuck tells them about the trustee meeting.
“That's a danged shame,” states Telescope. “This here country is pining for the touch of a woman's gentle hand. Now, when she shows up, we got to tell her to pilgrim along. Just 'cause them two old, dried-up specimens don't want women, it ain't no reason why we don't.”
“Dogs in a manger,” says Muley, shaking his fat face until it wobbles. Muley had had about enough cheer for a fat man, and he ain't none too secure on his feet. ”

“ Art thou also a worshipper of the great Gowf?" "Am I!" cried the King. "Am I!" He broke off. "Listen!"
From the minstrels' room high up in the palace there came the sound of singing. The minstrels were practising a new paean of praise—words by the Grand Vizier, music by the High Priest of Hec—which they were to render at the next full moon at the banquet of the worshippers of Gowf. The words came clear and distinct through the still air:
"Oh, praises let us utter To our most glorious King! It fairly makes you stutter To see him start his swing! Success attend his putter! ”

“ Granny’s hard old hand caught Blue’s little wiry one in a grip more emphatic than her words.
Mrs. Stickney listened to her boy’s story with growing joy, until when he repeated the chief’s message she dropped into a chair and hid her face in her hands.
“What in the world’s the matter?” gasped Blue.
“Why, she’s so happy!” piped Doodles, tears trickling down his flushed cheeks.
“And you too!” rallied his brother. “Well, if you folks ain’t the queerest! ”

“ Doodles had appeared.
The woman stepped forward to meet him. "Excuse me," she hesitated, "but are you the one who sang that solo, 'Take heart, ye weary'?"
The boy smiled his modest answer.
"Oh, I want to thank you for it! I've been waiting till you came, and I was so afraid I'd missed you after all, for I probably shan't have another chance. I wanted you to know how much good it has done me."
"Has it?" Doodles looked his pleasure.
"Oh, it was beautiful!" she said tremulously. "I never heard anything like it! I always enjoy your singing, and am so disappointed when you don't sing alone ”

“ Jowett's telling of the tale made no one smile.
Muriel leant forward, genuinely distressed. "I'm so frightfully sorry, Mrs. Jowett; you'll miss dear old Rover dreadfully."
"It's a beastly business putting away a dog," said Lewis Elliot. "I always wish they had the same lease of life as we have. 'Threescore and ten years do sum up' ... and it's none too long for such faithful friends."
"You must get another, Mrs. Jowett," her hostess told her bracingly. "Get a dear little toy Pekinese or one of those Japanese what-do-you-call-'ems that you can carry in your arms: they are so smart." ”

“ Next morning he bade his mother and Blue an early good-bye, his face radiant with joy.
The hour appointed was three in the afternoon, and Dorothy and Doodles were waiting at a front window when Mr. Gaylord drove up. On the way the boy wondered for the hundredth time how Dr. Dudley would look, if he would wear epaulets, like the doctor at Hotel Royal, and whether he would hurt him very, very much, or simply pass his hand up and down his back, as the other doctor did.
“They are building a new hospital, or rather Mrs. Gresham is,” Dorothy told him; “it is to be exclusively for children. ”

“ Dhoya, I have left my world far off. My people—on the floor of the lake they are dancing and singing, and on the islands of the lake; always happy, always young, always without change. I have left them for thee, Dhoya, for they cannot love. Only the changing, and moody, and angry, and weary can love. I am beautiful; love me, Dhoya. ”

“ She’s true-blue, just like you!”
Blue began to whistle. Then his eyes twinkled, and the whistling was cut short.
“Doodles, I think you’d be a better match for Daphne,—you are nearer her age.”
“Oh, no!” cried Doodles. “I’d rather marry Polly—Polly Dudley!”
“Cracketywhack! You’ve got ahead o’ me! Picked out a wife already!” Blue laughed himself almost out of his chair.
Doodles laughed a little in sympathy, yet he said:—
“I don’t see anything very funny about that! If I like Polly and Polly likes me, why can’t we marry each other when we get old?” ”

“ Davey gave him the absolutely willies, making his testicles draw up and the hair on the back of his arms prickle.
“Set the chair down there,” Alan said, pointing. He hoisted Davey up by his dry, papery armpits and sat him in the seat. He took some duct tape out of a utility drawer under the basement staircase and used it to gum Danny down in the chair.
“Davey,” he said again. “I know you can hear me. Stop pretending.”
“That’s your brother?” Kurt said. “The one who—”
“That’s him,” Alan said. “I guess you believe me now, huh?” ”

“ Doodles asked a bit anxiously.
“Sure, old feller! Don’t you be worryin’ ’bout that! She’ll come all right pretty soon.”
Blue loitered on a side street until the clanging of the school bell had ceased; then he boldly faced the throngs on the principal thoroughfare. He applied at a dozen or more offices for something to do, meeting only curt refusals. Finally a man more observing than the rest asked abruptly:—
“See here, why ain’t you in school? You’re not fourteen yet?” ”