Susan Clegg and Her Friend Mrs. Lathrop | Page 5

you know 's well as I do 't I never was give to wastin' my
breath, so I out 'n' told him 't I was n't giv' to wastin' my time either, 'n'
then I stood up 'n' he did too. 'N' then I got even with him, 'n' I c'n
assure you 't I enjoyed it, f'r I out 'n' told him 't I 'd changed my mind
about the quarter. So he had all that long walk for nothin', 'n' I can't in
conscience deny 't I was more 'n rejoiced, for Lord knows I did n't
consider 't he'd acted very obligin'."
Mrs. Lathrop ceased to chew and looked deeply sympathetic.
There was a brief silence, and then she asked, "Was you thinkin' o'
tryin' any--"
Miss Clegg stared at her in amazement.
"Mrs. Lathrop! Do you think I'd give up now, 'n' let the minister see 't
my marryin' depended on his say-so? Well, I guess not! I'm more
dead-set 'n' ever, 'n' I vow 'n' declare 't I'll never draw breath till after
I've stood up right in the face o' the minister 'n' the whole congregation
'n' had 'n' held some man, no matter who nor when nor where. Marryin'
was goin' to have been a pleasure, now it's a business. I'm goin' to get a
horse 'n' buggy this afternoon 'n' drive out to Farmer Sperrit's. I've
thought it all over, 'n' I c'n tell father 't I'll be choppin' wood; then 'f he
says afterwards 't he called 'n' called, I c'n say 't I was makin' so much
noise 't I did n't hear him."
"You'll have to hire--" suggested Mrs. Lathrop.

"I know, but it won't cost but fifty cents, 'n' I saved a quarter on the
minister, you know. I'd like to ask you to drive out with me, Mrs.
Lathrop, but if Mr. Sperrit's got it in him to talk like the minister did,
I'm free to confess 't, I'd rather be alone to listen. 'N' really, Mrs.
Lathrop, I must go in now. I've got bread a-risin' 'n' dishes to do, 'n', as I
told you before, this is father's day to be all but scraped 'n' varnished."
Mrs. Lathrop withdrew her support from the fence, and Miss Clegg did
likewise. Each returned up her own path to her own domicile, and it
was long after that day's tea-time before the cord of friendship got
knotted up again.
"Did you go to the farm?" Mrs. Lathrop asked. "I was to the Sewin'
So--"
"Yes, I went," said Miss Clegg, her air decidedly weary; "oh, yes, I
went. I had a nice ride too, 'n' I do believe I saw the whole farm, from
the pigs to the punkins."
There was a pause, and Mrs. Lathrop filled it to the brim with
expectancy until she could wait no longer.
"Are you--" she finally asked.
"No," said her friend, sharply, "I ain't. He wasn't a bit spry to hop at the
chance, 'n' Lord knows there wa'n't no great urgin' on my part. I asked
him why he ain't never married, 'n' he laughed like it was a funny
subjeck, 'n' said 's long 's he never did it 't that was the least o' his
troubles. I didn't call that a very encouragin' beginnin', but my mind
was made up not to let it be my fault 'f the horse was a dead waste o'
fifty cents, 'n' so I said to him 't if he'd marry any woman with a little
money he could easy buy the little Jones farm right next him, 'n' then 't
'd be 's clear 's day that it 'd be his own fault if he didn't soon stretch
right from the brook to the road. He laughed some more 't that, 'n' said 't
I didn't seem to be aware 't he owned a mortgage on the Jones farm 'n'
got all 't it raised now 'n' would get the whole thing in less 'n two
years."

Mrs. Lathrop stopped chewing.
"They was sayin' in the Sewin' Society 's he's goin' to marry Eliza Gr--"
she said mildly.
Miss Clegg almost screamed.
"Eliza Gringer, as keeps house for him?"
Her friend nodded.
Miss Clegg drew in a sudden breath.
"Well! 'f I'd knowed that, I'd never 'a' paid fifty cents for that horse 'n'
buggy! Eliza Gringer! why, she's older 'n' I am,--she was to 'Cat' when I
was only to 'M.' 'N' he's goin' to marry her! Oh, well, I d'n' know 's it
makes any difference to me. In my opinion a man as 'd be fool enough
to be willin' to marry a woman 's ain't got nothin' but herself to give
him, 's likelier to be happier bein' her