A Call by Grace MacGowan Cooke
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A call

by grace MacGowan Cooke (1863- )

[ from harper's Magazine_, August, 1906 . copyright, 1906, by harper & Brothers .Republished by_the author's permission .]

a boy in an unnaturally clean, country- laundered collar walked down a long white road . he scuffed the dust up wantonly, for he_wished to veil the all- too- brilliant polish of_his cowhide shoes . also the memory of_the whiteness and slipperiness of_his collar oppressed him . he_was fain to look like one accustomed to social diversions, a man hurried from hall to hall of pleasure, without time between to_change collar or polish boot . he stooped and rubbed a crumb of earth on_his overfresh neck- linen .

this_did_not long sustain his drooping spirit . he_was mentally adrift upon_the Hints and Helps to young men in business and social Relations_, which had suggested to him his present enterprise, when_the appearance of a second youth, taller and broader than himself, with a shock of light curling hair and a crop of freckles that advertised a rich soil threw him alifeline . he put his thumbs to_his lips and whistled in a peculiarly ear-splitting way . the two boys had sat on_the same bench at Sunday- school not three hours before; yet what a change had come over the world for one_of_them since then !

"Hello ! where you goin', Ab ? " asked the newcomer, gruffly .

"Callin'," replied the boy in_the collar, laconically, but with carefully averted gaze .

" on_the girls ? " inquired the other, awestruck . in mount Pisgah you saw the girls home from night church, socials, or parties; you_could hang over the gate; and you_might walk with a girl in_the cemetery of a Sunday afternoon; but to ring a front- door bell and ask for miss heart's desire one must_have been in long trousers at_least three years-- and_the two boys confronted in_the dusty road had worn these dignifying garments barely six months .

"Girls," said Abner, loftily; "I don't know about girls--I'm just going to_call on one girl--Champe Claiborne ." he marched on as_though the conversation was at an end; but Ross hung upon his flank .Ross and Champe were neighbors, comrades in all sorts of mischief; he_was in doubt whether to halt Abner and pummel him, or propose to enlist under his banner .

" do_you reckon you_could ? " he debated, trotting along by_the irresponsive Jilton boy .

" run home to your mother," growled the originator of_the plan, savagely ." you ain't old enough to_call on girls; anybody can_see that; but I_am, and I'm going to_call on Champe Claiborne ."

again the name acted as a spur on Ross ." with your collar and boots all dirty ? " he jeered ." they won't know you're callin' ."

the boy in_the road stopped short in_his dusty tracks . he_was an intense creature, and he whitened at_the tragic insinuation, longing for_the wholesome stay and companionship of freckle- faced Ross ."I put the dirt on o' purpose so's to look kind of careless," he half whispered, in an agony of doubt ."S' pose I'd better go into your house and try to wash it off ? reckon your mother would let me ? "

"I've got two clean collars," announced the other boy, proudly generous ."I'll lend you one . you_can put it on while I'm getting ready .I'll tell mother that we're just stepping out to_do a little calling on_the girls ."

here was an ally worthy of_the cause .Abner welcomed him, in_spite of certain jealous twinges . he reflected with satisfaction that there were two Claiborne girls, and though Alicia was so stiff and prim that no boy would ever think of calling on her, there_was still the hope_that she might draw Ross's fire, and leave him, Abner, to make_the numerous remarks he had stored up in_his mind from Hints and Helps to young men in social and business Relations to Champe alone .

Mrs Pryor received them with_the easy- going kindness of_the mother of one son . she followed them into_the dining- room to kiss and feed him, with an absent "Howdy, Abner; how's your mother ? "

Abner, big with_the importance of_their mutual intention, inclined his head stiffly and looked toward Ross for explanation . he trembled a little, but it_was with delight, as he anticipated the effect of_the speech Ross had outlined . but it did_not come .

"I'm not hungry, mother," was_the revised edition which the freckle- faced boy offered to_the maternal ear ."I-- we_are going over to Mr Claiborne's-- on--er-- on an errand for Abner's father ."

the black- eyed boy looked reproach as_they clattered up the stairs to Ross's room, where the clean collar was produced and a small stock of ties .

" you'd wear a necktie--wouldn't you ? " Ross asked, spreading them upon_the bureau- top .

" yes . but make it fall carelessly over your shirt- front," advised the student of Hints and Helps ." your collar is miles too big for_me . say ! I've got a wad of white chewing- gum; would you flat it out and stick it over the collar button ? maybe that_would fill up some . you kick my foot if you_see me turning my head so's to knock it off ."

" better button up your vest," cautioned Ross, laboring with_the " careless" fall of_his tie .

"Huh-uh ! i_want ' that easy air which presupposes familiarity with society'-- that's what it says in my book," objected Abner .

" sure ! " Ross returned to_his more familiar jeering attitude ." loosen up all your clothes, then . why don't you untie your shoes ? Flop a sock down over one of 'em-- that looks ' easy' all right ."

Abner buttoned his vest ." it gives a man lots of confidence to_know he's good- looking," he remarked, taking all the room in front of_the mirror .

Ross, at_the wash- stand soaking his hair to_get the curl out of it, grumbled some unintelligible response . the two boys went down the stairs with tremulous hearts .

" why, you've put on another clean shirt, Rossie ! " Mrs Pryor called from her chair--mothers' eyes can_see so_far ! " well--don't get into any dirty play and soil it ." the boys walked in silence-- but it_was a pregnant silence; for as_the roof of_the Claiborne house began to peer above the crest of_the hill, Ross plumped down on a stone and announced, "I ain't goin' ."

" come on," urged the black- eyed boy ." it'll be fun-- and everybody will respect us more .Champe won't throw rocks at us in recess- time, after we've called on her . she couldn't ."

" called ! " grunted Ross ."I couldn't make a call any more than acow . what'd I_say ? what'd I_do ? I_can behave all right when_you just go to people's houses-- but a call ! "

Abner hesitated . should he give away his brilliant inside information, drawn from_the Hints and Helps book, and be rivalled in_the glory of_his manners and bearing ? why should he not pass on alone, perfectly composed, and reap the field of glory unsupported ? his knees gave way and he sat down without intending it .

"Don't you tell anybody and I'll put you on to exactly what grown- up gentlemen say and do when_they go calling on_the girls," he began .

" fire away," retorted Ross, gloomily ." nobody will_find out from me . dead men tell no tales . if I'm fool enough to_go, I don't expect to_come out of it alive ."

Abner rose, white and shaking, and thrusting three fingers into_the buttoning of_his vest, extending the other hand like an orator, proceeded to instruct the freckled, perspiring disciple at his feet .

"' hang your hat on_the rack, or give it to a servant .'" Ross nodded intelligently . he_could do_that .

"' let your legs be gracefully disposed, one hand on_the knee, the other--'"

Abner came to an unhappy pause ."I forget what a fellow does with_the other hand . might stick it in your pocket, loudly, or expectorate on_the carpet . indulge in little frivolity . let a rich stream of conversation flow .'"

Ross mentally dug within himself for sources of rich streams of conversation . he_found a dry soil ." what you goin' to_talk about ? " he demanded, fretfully ."I won't go a step farther till I_know what I'm goin' to_say when I get there ."

Abner began to repeat paragraphs from Hints and Helps ."' it_is best to remark,'" he opened, in an unnatural voice, "' how well you_are looking ! ' although fulsome compliments should_be avoided . when seated ask_the young lady who her favorite composer is .'"

" what's a composer ? " inquired Ross, with visions of soothing- syrup in_his mind .

"A man that makes up music .Don't butt in_that way; you put me all out--' composer is . name yours . ask her what piece of music she likes best . name yours . if_the lady is musical, here ask her to play or sing .'"

this chanted recitation seemed to_have a hypnotic effect on_the freckled boy; his big pupils contracted each_time Abner came to_the repetend, " name yours ."

"I'm tired already," he grumbled; but some spell made him rise and fare farther .

when_they had entered the Claiborne gate, they leaned toward each_other like young saplings weakened at_the root and locking branches to_keep what shallow foothold on earth remained .

" you're goin' in first," asserted Ross, but without conviction . it_was his custom to tear up to_this house a dozen times a week, on_his father's old horse or afoot; he_was wont to yell for Champe as he approached, and quarrel joyously with her while he performed such errand as he had come upon; but he_was gagged and hamstrung now by_the hypnotism of Abner's scheme .

"' walk quietly up the steps; ring the bell and lay your card on_the servant,'" quoted Abner, who had never heard of a server .

"'Lay your card on_the servant ! '" echoed Ross ."Cady'd dodge . there's a porch to cross after you go up the steps--does it say anything about_that ? "

" it says that_the card should_be placed on_the servant," Abner reiterated, doggedly ." if Cady dodges, it ain't any business of_mine . there_are no porches in my book . just walk across it like anybody . we'll ask for miss Champe Claiborne ."

" we haven't got any cards," discovered Ross, with hope .

" I_have," announced Abner, pompously ."I had some struck off in Chicago .I ordered 'em by_mail . they got my name pillow, but there's ascalloped gilt border around it . you_can write your_name on my card . got a pencil ? "

he produced the bit of cardboard; Ross fished up achewed stump of lead pencil, took it in cold, stiff fingers, and disfigured the square with eccentric scribblings .

" they'll know who it's meant for," he_said, apologetically, " because I'm here . what's likely to happen after we get rid of_the card ? "

" i_told you about hanging your hat on_the rack and disposing your legs ."

"I remember now," sighed Ross . they had_been going slower and slower . the angle of inclination toward each_other became more and more pronounced .

" we_must stand by each_other," whispered Abner .

" i_will-- if I_can stand at all," murmured the other boy, huskily .

"Oh, lord ! " they had rounded the big clump of evergreens and found aunt Missouri Claiborne placidly rocking on_the front porch ! directed to mount steps and ring bell, to lay cards upon_the servant, how should one deal with a rosy- faced, plump lady of uncertain years in arocking- chair . what should a caller lay upon her ? a lion in_the way could_not have_been more terrifying . even retreat was cut off . aunt Missouri had seen them ."Howdy, boys; how are_you ? " she said, rocking peacefully . the two stood before her like detected criminals .

then, to Ross's dismay, Abner sank down on_the lowest step of_the porch, the westering sun full in_his hopeless eyes . he sat on_his cap . it_was characteristic that_the freckled boy remained standing . he_would walk up those steps according to_plan and agreement, if at all . he accepted no compromise .Folding his straw hat into a battered cone, he watched anxiously for_the delivery of_the card . he_was not sure what aunt Missouri's attitude might_be if_it were laid on her . he bent down to_his companion ." go ahead," he whispered ."Lay the card ."

Abner raised appealing eyes ." in a minute . give_me time," he pleaded .

" Mars' Ross-- Mars' Ross ! head 'em off ! " sounded a yell, and Babe, the house- boy, came around the porch in pursuit of two half- grown chickens .

" help him, Rossie," prompted aunt Missouri, sharply ." you boys can stay to supper and_have some_of_the chicken if_you help catch them ."

had Ross taken time to_think, he_might_have reflected that gentlemen making formal calls seldom join in a chase after_the main dish of_the family supper . but the needs of Babe were instant . the lad flung himself sidewise, caught one chicken in_his hat, while Babe fell upon_the other in_the manner of a football player .Ross handed the pullet to_the house- boy, fearing that he had done something very_much out of character, then pulled the reluctant Negro toward to_the steps .

"Babe's a servant," he whispered to Abner, who had sat rigid through_the entire performance ."I helped him with_the chickens, and he's got to stand gentle while you lay the card on ."

confronted by_the act itself, Abner was suddenly aware that he_knew not how to_begin . he_took refuge in dissimulation .

" hush ! " he whispered back ."Don't you_see Mr Claiborne's come out ? -- he's going to read something to_us ."

Ross plumped down beside him ." never mind the card; tell 'em," he urged .

" tell 'em yourself ."

" no-- let's cut and run ."

"I-- i_think the worst of it_is over . when Champe sees us she'll--"

mention of Champe stiffened Ross's spine . if_it had_been glorious to_call upon her, how very terrible she_would make it should they attempt calling, fail, and_the failure come to her knowledge ! some things were easier to endure than others; he resolved to stay till the call was_made .

for half an hour the boys sat with drooping heads, and_the old gentleman read aloud, presumably to aunt Missouri and themselves . finally their restless eyes

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