A Call by Grace MacGowan Cooke
Section [1 | 2]
eyes discerned the two Claiborne girls walking serene in Sunday trim under the trees at_the edge of_the lawn .Arms entwined, they were whispering together and giggling a little .a caller, Ross dared not use his voice to shout nor his legs to run toward them .

" why don't you go and talk to_the girls, Rossie ? " aunt Missouri asked, in_the kindness of her heart ."Don't be noisy-- it's Sunday, you_know-- and don't get to playing anything that'll dirty up your good clothes ."

Ross pressed his lips hard together; his heart swelled with_the rage of_the misunderstood . had the card been in_his possession, he_would, at_that instant, have laid it on aunt Missouri without a qualm .

" what_is it ? " demanded the old gentleman, a bit testily .

" the girls want to hear you read, father," said aunt Missouri, shrewdly; and she got up and trotted on short, fat ankles to_the girls in_the arbor . the three returned together, Alicia casting curious glances at_the uncomfortable youths, Champe threatening to burst into giggles with every breath .

Abner sat hard on_his cap and blushed silently .Ross twisted his hat into a three- cornered wreck .

the two girls settled themselves noisily on_the upper step . the old man read on and on . the sun sank lower . the hills were red in_the west as_though a brush fire flamed behind their crests .Abner stole a furtive glance at his companion in misery, and_the dolor of Ross's countenance somewhat assuaged his anguish . the freckle- faced boy was thinking of_the village over the hill, a certain pleasant white house set back in a green yard, past whose gate, the two- plank sidewalk ran . he_knew lamps were beginning to wink in_the windows of_the neighbors about, as_though the houses said, " our boys are all at home-- but Ross Pryor's out trying to_call on_the girls, and can't get anybody to understand it ." Oh, that he were walking down those two planks, drawing a stick across the pickets, lifting high happy feet which could turn in at_that gate ! he wouldn't care what the lamps said then . he wouldn't even mind if_the whole Claiborne family died laughing at him-- if only some power would raise him up from_this paralyzing spot and put him behind the safe barriers of_his own home !

the old man's voice lapsed into silence; the light was becoming too dim for_his reading . aunt Missouri turned and called over her shoulder into_the shadows of_the big hall: " you Babe ! go put two extra plates on_the supper- table ."

the boys grew red from_the tips of_their ears, and as far as any_one could_see under their wilting collars .Abner felt the lump of gum come loose and slip down a cold spine . had their intentions but been known, this inferential invitation would_have_been most welcome . it_was but to rise up and thunder out, " we came to_call on_the young ladies ."

they_did_not rise . they_did_not thunder out anything .Babe brought a lamp and set it inside the window, and Mr Claiborne resumed his reading .Champe giggled and said that Alicia made her .Alcia drew her skirts about her, sniffed, and looked virtuous, and said she didn't see anything funny to laugh at . the supper- bell rang . the family, evidently taking it for granted that_the boys would follow, went in .

alone for_the first time, Abner gave up ." this ain't any use," he complained ." we ain't calling on anybody ."

" why didn't you lay on_the card ? " demanded Ross, fiercely ." why didn't you say: ' we've- just-dropped- into- call- on- miss-Champe . it's-a - pleasant- evening . we- feel- we- must- be- going,' like you said you_would ? then we_could_have lifted our hats and got away decently ."

Abner showed no resentment .

"Oh, if_it's so easy, why didn't you_do it yourself ? " he groaned .

" somebody's coming," Ross muttered, hoarsely ." say it now . say it quick ."

the somebody proved to_be aunt Missouri, who advanced only as far as_the end of_the hall and shouted cheerfully: " the idea of agrowing boy not coming to meals when_the bell rings ! i_thought you two would_be in there ahead of us . come on ." and clinging to_their head-coverings as_though these contained some charm whereby the owners might_be rescued, the unhappy callers were herded into_the dining- room . there were many things on_the table that boys like . both were becoming fairly cheerful, when aunt Missouri checked the biscuit- plate with: "I treat my neighbors' children just like I'd want children of_my own treated . if your mothers let you eat all you_want, say so, and I don't care; but if either of_them is a little bit particular, why, I'd stop at six ! "

still reeling from_this blow, the boys finally rose from_the table and passed out with_the family, their hats clutched to_their bosoms, and clinging together for mutual aid and comfort . during the usual Sunday- evening singing Champe laughed till aunt Missouri threatened to send her to bed .Abner's card slipped from_his hand and dropped face up on_the floor . he fell upon it and tore it into infinitesimal pieces .

" that must_have been a love- letter," said aunt Missouri, in a pause of_the music ." you boys are getting ' most old enough to_think about beginning to_call on_the girls ." her eyes twinkled .

Ross growled like a stoned cur .Abner took a sudden dive into Hints and Helps_, and came up with, " you flatter us, miss Claiborne," whereat Ross snickered out like a human boy . they all stared at him .

" it sounds so funny to_call aunt Missouri 'Mis' Claiborne,'" the lad of_the freckles explained .

" funny ? " aunt Missouri reddened ."I don't see any particular joke in my having my maiden name ."

Abner, who instantly guessed at what_was in Ross's mind, turned white at_the thought of what they had escaped . suppose he had laid on_the card and asked for miss Claiborne !

" what's the matter, Champe ? " inquired Ross, in a fairly natural tone . the air he had drawn into his lungs when he laughed at Abner seemed to relieve him from_the numbing gentility which had bound his powers since he joined Abner's ranks .

" nothing .I laughed because you laughed," said the girl .

the singing went forward fitfully .Servants traipsed through_the darkened yard, going home for Sunday night . aunt Missouri went out and held some low- toned parley with_them .Champe yawned with insulting enthusiasm . presently both girls quietly disappeared . aunt Missouri never returned to_the parlor--evidently thinking that_the girls would attend to_the final amenities with their callers . they were left alone with old Mr Claiborne . they sat as_though bound in their chairs, while the old man read in silence for a while . finally he closed his book, glanced about him, and observed absently:

" so you boys were to_spend the night ? " then, as he looked at their startled faces: "I'm right, am I not ? you_are to spent the night ? "

Oh, for courage to_say: " thank_you, no . we'll be going now . we just came over to_call on miss Champe ." but thought of how this_would sound in face of_the facts, the painful realization that_they dared not say it because they had_not said it, locked their lips . their feet were lead; their tongues stiff and too large for their mouths . like creatures in a nightmare, they moved stiffly, one might_have said creakingly, up the stairs and received each--a bedroom candle !

" good night, children," said the absent- minded old man . the two gurgled out some sounds which were intended for words and doged behind the bedroom door .

" they've put us to bed ! " Abner's black eyes flashed fire . his nervous hands clutched at_the collar Ross had lent him ." that's what I get for coming here with_you, Ross Pryor ! " and tears of humiliation stood in_his eyes .

in_his turn Ross showed no resentment ." what I'm worried about is my mother," he confessed ." she's so sharp about finding out things . she wouldn't tease me-- she'd just be sorry for_me . but she'll think I went home with_you ."

"I'd like to_see my mother make a fuss about_my calling on_the girls ! " growled Abner, glad to let his rage take a safe direction .

"Calling on_the girls ! have we called on any girls ? " demanded clear- headed, honest Ross .

" not exactly-- yet," admitted Abner, reluctantly ." come on-- let's go to bed .Mr Claiborne asked us, and he's the head of_this household . it isn't anybody's business what we came for ."

"I'll slip off my shoes and lie down till Babe ties up the dog in_the morning," said Ross ." then we_can get away before any of_the family is up ."

Oh, youth-- youth-- youth, with its rash promises ! worn out with misery the boys slept heavily . the first sound that either heard in_the morning was Babe hammering upon their bedroom door . they crouched guiltily and looked into each_other's eyes ." let pretend we ain't here and he'll go away," breathed Abner .

but Babe was_made of sterner stuff . he rattled the knob . he turned it . he put in a black face with a grin which divided it from ear to ear ."Cady say I mus' call dem fool boys to breakfus'," he announced ."I never named you- all dat .Cady, she say dat ."

" breakfast ! " echoed Ross, in adaze .

"Yessuh, breakfus'," reasserted Babe, coming entirely into_the room and looking curiously about him ."Ain't you- all done been to bed at all ? " wrapping his arms about his shoulders and shaking with silent ecstasies of mirth . the boys threw themselves upon him and ejected him .

"Sent up a servant to_call us to breakfast," snarled Abner ." if_they'd only sent their old servant to_the door in_the first place, all this wouldn't 'a' happened .I'm just that way when I get thrown off the track . you_know how it_was when I tried to repeat those things to_you--I had to_go clear back to_the beginning when I got interrupted ."

"Does that mean that you're still hanging around here to_begin over and make a call ? " asked Ross, darkly ."I won't go down to breakfast if_you_are ."

Abner brightened a little as he_saw Ross becoming wordy in_his rage ."I dare you to walk downstairs and say, ' we- just-dropped- in- to- call- on- miss-Champe' ! " he_said .

"I--oh--I--darn it all ! there goes the second bell . we_may as_well trot down ."

"Don't leave me, Ross," pleaded the Jilton boy ." I_can't stay here-- and I_can't go down ."

the tone was hysterical . the boy with freckles took his companion by_the arm without another word and marched him down the stairs ." we_may get a chance yet to_call on Champe all by herself out on_the porch or in_the arbor before she goes to school," he suggested, by way of putting some spine into_the black- eyed boy .

an emphatic bell rang when_they were half- way down the stairs .Clutching their hats, they slunk into_the dining- room . even Mr Claiborne seemed to notice something unusual in their bearing as_they settled into_the chairs assigned to_them, and asked them kindly if_they had slept well .

it_was plain that aunt Missouri had_been posting him as_to her understanding of_the intentions of_these young men . the state of affairs gave an electric hilarity to_the atmosphere .Babe travelled from_the sideboard to_the table, trembling like chocolate pudding .Cady insisted on bringing in_the cakes herself, and grinned as she whisked her starched blue skirts in and out_of_the dining- room .a dimple even showed itself at_the corners of pretty Alicia's prim little mouth .Champe giggled, till Ross heard Cady whisper:

" now you got one dem snickerin' spells agin . you gwine bust yo' dress buttons off in_the back ef you don't mind ."

as_the spirits of_those about_them mounted, the hearts of_the two youths sank-- if_it_was like this among_the Claibornes, what would it be at school and in_the_world at large when their failure to connect intention with result became village talk ? Ross bit fiercely upon an unoffending batter- cake, and resolved to_make a call single- handed before he left the house .

they went out_of_the dining- room, their hats as ever pressed to_their breasts . with no volition of_their own, their uncertain young legs carried them to_the porch . the Claiborne family and household followed like small boys after a circus procession . when_the two turned, at bay, yet with nothing between_them and liberty but ahypnotism of_their own suggestion, they saw the black faces of_the servants peering over the family shoulders .

Ross was_the boy to_have drawn courage from_the desperation of_their case, and made some decent if_not glorious ending . but at_the psychological moment there came around the corner of_the house that most contemptible figure known to_the southern plantation, a shirt- boy--a creature who_may_be described, for_the benefit of_those not informed, as apickaninny clad only in a long, coarse cotton shirt . while all eyes were fastened upon him this inglorious ambassador bolted forth his message:

"Yo' MA say"-- his eyes were fixed upon Abner--"ef yo' don' come home, she gwine come after yo'-- an' cut yo' into inch pieces wid a rawhide when she git yo' .Dat jest what miss Hortense say ."

as_though such a book as Hints and Helps had never existed, Abner shot for_the gate-- he_was but ahobbledehoy fascinated with_the idea of playing gentleman . but in Ross there were the makings of a man . for a few half-hearted paces, under the first impulse of horror, he followed his deserting chief, the laughter of_the family, the unrestrainable guffaws of_the negroes, sounding in_the rear . but when Champe's high, offensive giggle, topping all the others, insulted his ears, he stopped dead, wheeled, and ran to_the porch faster than he had fled from_it . white as paper, shaking with inexpressible rage, he caught and kissed the tittering girl, violently, noisily, before them all .

the negroes fled-- they dared not trust their feelings; even Alicia sniggered unobtrusively; grandfather Claiborne chuckled, and aunt Missouri frankly collapsed into her rocking- chair, bubbling with mirth, crying out:

" good for_you, Ross ! Seems you_did know how to_call on_the girls, after all ."

but Ross, paying no attention, walked swiftly toward the gate . he had served his novitiate . he_would never be afraid again . with cheerful alacrity he dodged the stones flung after him with friendly, erratic aim by_the girl upon whom, yesterday afternoon, he had come to_make a social call .

Section [1 | 2]