Wayside Courtships | Page 6

sprang out to meet a tall old man with head muffled up. "Hello,
dad! Take the team. We're just naturally froze solid--at least I am. This
is Mr. Stacey, the new teacher."
"How de do? Run in; I'll take the horses."
Herman and Wallace stumbled toward the house, stiff and bent.
Herman flung his arms about a tall woman in the kitchen door. "Hello,
muz!" he said. "This is Mr. Stacey, the new teacher."
"Draw up to the fire, sir. Herman, take his hat and coat."
Mattie came in soon with a boyish rush. She was gleeful as a happy
babe. She unwound the scarf from her head and neck, and hung up her
cap and cloak like a man, but she gave her hair a little touch of
feminine care, and came forward with both palms pressed to her
burning cheeks.
"Did you suffer, child?" asked Mrs. Allen.
"No; I enjoyed it."
Herman looked at Stacey. "I believe on my life she did."
"Oh, it's fun. I don't get a chance to do anything so exciting very often."
Herman clicked his tongue. "Exciting? Well, well!"
"You must remember things are slower here," Mattie explained.

She came to light much younger than Stacey thought her. She was not
eighteen, but her supple and splendid figure was fully matured. Her hair
hung down her back in a braid, which gave a subtle touch of
childishness to her.
"Sis, you're still a-growin'," Herman said, as he put his arm around her
waist and looked up at her.
She seemed to realize for the first time that Stacey was a young man,
and her eyes fell.
"Well, now, set up the chairs, child," said Mrs. Allen.
When the young teacher returned from his cold spare room off the
parlor the family sat waiting for him. They all drew up noisily, and
Allen said:
"Ask the blessing, sir?"
Wallace said grace.
As Allen passed the potatoes he continued:
"My son tells me you are a minister of the gospel."
"I have studied for it."
"What denomination?"
"Tut, tut!" warned Herman. "Don't start any theological rabbits to-night,
dad. With jaw swelled up you won't be able to hold your own."
"I'm a Baptist," Stacey answered.
The old man's face grew grim. It had been ludicrous before with its
swollen jaw. "Baptist?" The old man turned to his son, whose smile
angered him. "Didn't you know no more'n to bring a Baptist preacher
into this house?"

"There, there, father!" began the wife.
"Be quiet. I'm boss of this shanty."
Herman struck in: "Don't make a show of yourself, old man. Don't
mind the old gent, Stacey; he's mumpy to-day, anyhow."
Stacey rose. "I guess I--I'd better not stay--I----"
"Oh, no, no! Sit down, Stacey. It's all right. The old man's a little acid
at me. He doesn't mean it."
Stacey got his coat and hat. His heart was swollen with indignation. He
felt as if something fine were lost to him, and the cold outside was so
desolate now.
Mrs. Allen was in tears; but the old man, having taken his stand, was
going to keep it.
Herman lost his temper a little. "Well, dad, you're a little the cussedest
Christian I ever knew. Stacey, sit down. Don't you be a fool just
because he is----"
Stacey was buttoning his coat with trembling hands, when Martha went
up to him.
"Don't go," she said. "Father's sick and cross. He'll be sorry for this
to-morrow."
Wallace looked into her frank, kindly eyes and hesitated.
Herman said: "Dad, you are a lovely follower of Christ. You'll
apologize for this, or I'll never set foot on your threshold again."
Stacey still hesitated. He was hurt and angry, but being naturally a
sweet and gentle nature, he grew sad, and, yielding to the pressure of
the girl's hand on his arm, he began to unbutton his overcoat.
She helped him off with it, and hung it back on the nail. She did not

show tears, but her face was unwontedly grave.
They sat at the table again, and Herman and Mattie tried to restore
something of the brightness which had been lost. Allen sat grimly
eating, his chin pushed down like a hog's snout.
After supper, as his father was about retiring to his bedroom, Herman
fixed his bright eyes on him, and something very hard and masterful
came into his boyish face.
"Old man--you and I haven't had a settlement on this thing yet. I'll see
you later."
Allen shrank before his son's look, but shuffled sullenly off without
uttering a word.
Herman turned to Wallace. "Stacey, I want to beg your pardon for
getting you into this scrape. I didn't suppose the old gentleman would
act like that. The older he gets, the more his New Hampshire granite
shows. I hope