That Mother-in-Law of Mine Part 11

T. G. DESMOND.

I could find no objection to accepting this kindly offer, so delicately made, but I did not dare to do so before consulting Bessie and her mother, so I stepped into the carriage and had John drive me to the cottage. There was a consultation, and after I had overcome some feeble scruples on Mrs. Pinkerton's part, which I am afraid were hypocritical, we decided to take advantage of Mr. Desmond's generosity. I sent a note of thanks back by John, and thenceforth we took our rides behind "old Dives's" black ponies. Occasionally the old gentleman himself came out in the carriage, and proved himself as trustworthy and careful a driver as John, handling the "ribbons" with the air of an accomplished whip.

The rides were very pleasant, those beautiful summer days, and the change from a hired "team" to the sumptuous establishment of Mr. Desmond was extremely grateful.

Mr. Desmond was doubtless very lonely without his niece. She had been the light of his home, and her absence was probably felt by the old gentleman with more keenness than he had antic.i.p.ated at the outset. His large and beautifully furnished mansion needed the presence of just such a person of vivacious and cheery character as Clara, to prevent it from becoming cheerless in its grandeur. He intimated as much, and appeared unusually restless and low-spirited for him. He sought to make up for the absence of the suns.h.i.+ne and joyousness that "Miss Van" had taken away with her, by applying himself with especial diligence to business; but he really had not much business to engross his attention, beyond collecting his interest and looking out for his agents, and it failed to fill the void. He betook himself to his club, and killed time a.s.siduously, talking with the men-about-town he found there, playing whist, and running through the magazines and reviews in search of wit and wisdom wherewith to divert himself. The dull season had set in; there was little doing, in affairs, commerce, politics, or literature; and direct efforts at killing time always result in making time go more heavily than ever. Mr. Desmond's attempt was like a curious _pas seul_, executed by a nimble actor in a certain extravaganza, the peculiarity of which is that at every forward step the dancer slides farther and farther backward, until finally an unseen power appears to drag him back into the flies.

It was during one of our afternoon drives, when Mr. Desmond usurped the office of his coachman, that he confided to us a plan which he had devised to cure his _ennui_.

"I have made up my mind," he said, "to go abroad for a good long tour.

It will be the best move I could possibly make."

"I don't doubt it," I said. "How soon do you propose to go?" And Bessie sighed, "O dear, how delightful!"

"My plans are not matured," Mr. Desmond continued, "but I think I shall sail early next month. My favorite steamer leaves on the 6th."

"I hope you will enjoy a pleasant voyage, and a delightful trip on the other side," said Mrs. Pinkerton politely.

Mr. Desmond returned thanks. Nothing more was said that day concerning his project. When he left us at the cottage, he remarked,-

"By the way, Mr. Travers, I wish you would call at my office to-morrow morning at or about eleven o'clock, if you can make it convenient to do so."

"I will do so," I replied, wondering what he could want of me.

At the appointed hour the next day I was on hand at his office. He motioned to me to be seated and then said,-

"Yesterday morning I met John K. Blunt, of Blunt Brothers & Company, at my club, and he told me that their cas.h.i.+er had defaulted. An account of the affair is in this morning's papers. They want a new cas.h.i.+er. I have mentioned your name, and if you will go around to their office with me, we will talk with Blunt."

"Mr. Desmond-" I began, but he stopped me.

"Don't let's have any talk but business," he said. "The figures will be satisfactory, I am confident."

Satisfactory! They were munificent! Blunt liked me, and only a few short and sharp sentences from such a man as Desmond finished the business. I saw a future of opulence before me. My head was almost turned. I tried to thank Mr. Desmond, but he would not listen to my earnest expressions of grat.i.tude.

"I have engaged pa.s.sage for the 6th," he told me when we were parting; "I will try to call at your cottage before I get off. I am busy settling up some details now. Good day."

I hastened home with my good news. Bessie's eyes glistened when she heard it, and even my mother-in-law showed a faint sign of pleasure at my good luck.

The following Sat.u.r.day evening Mr. Desmond came out to see us.

"Don't consider this my farewell appearance," he said. "I merely wished to tell you that my friends have inveigled me into giving an informal party Tuesday evening, at which I shall expect you all to appear."

He talked glibly, for him, and gave us an outline sketch of his proposed tour. I thought he seemed strangely restless and nervous, and I pitied him.

His "informal party" was really a noteworthy affair, and the wealth and respectability of the city were well represented. Bessie could not go, on account of the baby, so I acted as escort to Mrs. Pinkerton, who made herself amazingly agreeable. There were not many young people present, and the affair was quiet and genteel in the extreme. Bank presidents, capitalists, professional men, and "solid" men, with their wives, attired in black silks, formed the majority of the guests. They were Mr.

Desmond's personal friends. My mother-in-law was in congenial company, and I believe she enjoyed the evening remarkably. Most of the conversation turned, very naturally, upon European travel. Americans who are possessed of wealth always have done "the grand tour," and they invariably speak of "Europe" in a general way, as if it were all one country.

"When I returned from my first tour abroad, a friend said to me that he 'supposed it was a fine country over there,'" said Mr. Desmond to me, laughing.

Some one asked him where he had decided to go.

"I shall land at Havre, and go straight to Paris," he answered. "I flatter myself I am a good American, and as I have been comparatively dead since my niece left me, I am ent.i.tled to a place in that terrestrial paradise."

I thought I had never seen Mrs. Pinkerton appear to so good advantage as she did on this occasion. Her natural good manners and her intelligence made her attractive in such a company, and she was the centre of a bright group of middle-aged Brahmins throughout the entire evening. Mr.

Desmond appeared grateful for the a.s.sistance she rendered in making his party pa.s.s off pleasantly, and as for me, I began to feel that I had never quite appreciated her best qualities. She was a woman that one could not wholly know in a year, perhaps not in a lifetime. "Who knows?"

I thought; "perhaps I have wronged my mother-in-law."

CHAPTER XIII.

A SURPRISE.

We were feeling a little solemn at the cottage. George, with his lively ways, and Clara, with her sparkling vivacity, were away on their wedding tour, and our good friend, Mr. Desmond, to whom we had taken a great liking, was about to sail for an indefinite absence in foreign lands.

Though the mother-in-law's presence was less oppressive than formerly, there was now a pensiveness, an air of departed glory about it, that was not cheerful. There was danger of settling down to a humdrum sort of life, free from strife, perhaps, but at the same time devoid of that buoyancy which should make the home of a young couple joyous.

I was a little doubtful of making a vacation in the country this summer.

To be sure, when George went away, it was agreed that after he had gone the round of the White Mountains, the attractions of Canada, Niagara Falls, and Saratoga, he would return for a quiet stay of a few weeks, at the close of the season, to the little resort which we had visited a year ago, and there, if Bessie's health would permit, and I could arrange for a sufficient absence from business, we would join them. But I almost dreaded taking Mrs. Pinkerton with us, and doubted whether she would go; at the same time, I did not like to propose leaving her behind to take care of the cottage. I was in perplexity, and, notwithstanding my splendid new prospects in business, was not feeling cheerful.

Coming home from a restless round of the city on the Fourth of July, where I had found the great national holiday a bore, I noticed Mr.

Desmond's team coming up to the garden gate with a brisk turn. That fine old gentleman-I always feel like calling him old on account of his gray whiskers, though he was little more than fifty-came down the walk and with stately politeness a.s.sisted Bessie and the baby out of the carriage. I looked to see Mrs. Pinkerton follow, but she was not there, and clearly Mr. Desmond had not been to ride. It struck me as a little queer, not to say amusing, that they had been having a quiet _tete-a-tete_ together in the cottage while John gave Bessie and the baby their airing. But then, it was not so strange either, for was he not going to leave us in two days? It was no uncommon thing for Mrs.

Pinkerton to stay within while Bessie was out, and he had probably dropped in late in the afternoon, expecting to find us all at home, as it was a holiday. I bade him good by in case I did not see him again, as he got into the carriage to ride back to the city.

"Oh, I shall see you to-morrow," he said in a brisk tone which had not been habitual with him of late.

That evening my mother-in-law was uncommonly gracious, a little absent-minded, and more pleasant in spirit than I had ever known her.

She seemed to be filled with an inward satisfaction that I could not make out at all. Bessie and I both remarked it, but could not surmise any cause for the apparent change that had come over the spirit of her dream.

Next morning, on reaching town, I found a note asking me to step over to Mr. Desmond's office when I could find time. I went at my leisure, wondering what was up. As I entered, he seemed remarkably cordial and happy.

"I find that Blunt," he said in a business-like way, "would like to have you take hold at once, if possible. Their affairs are in some confusion and need an experienced hand to straighten them out. It will be necessary for you to give a bond, which I have here all prepared, with satisfactory sureties, and you need only give us your signature, which I will have properly witnessed on the spot."

"Oh, is that it?" I thought. Strange I didn't think of its having something to do with my new position. I knew I could get away from my old place at a week's notice, as I had already made known my intention to leave, and there were several applicants for the position. The bond was executed without hesitation.

"You will not lose your vacation," Mr. Desmond said, "though your salary will begin at once. As soon as you can get matters in order, which may take a month or more, you are to be allowed a few weeks' absence to recuperate and get fully prepared for your new responsibilities."

Thanking him for his kindness, I was about to go, when he said, "Sit down, Mr. Travers. I have something else to say to you."

"What's coming now?" I wondered, as I took my seat again. Mr. Desmond seemed a little at a loss how to begin his new communication, and came nearer appearing embarra.s.sed than I should have thought possible for him.

"The fact is," he said at last, "I have changed my mind about going abroad."

I have no doubt I looked very much surprised and puzzled, and smiling at the expression of my face, he went on,-

"Your mother-in-law, Mrs. Pinkerton, is a very worthy woman; in fact, a remarkably worthy woman."

I couldn't deny that; but why should he choose such a time and place to compliment her?