Page:Mary Foote Arnold - How Miss Jenny Astonished the Natives.pdf/1



S Miss Jenny folded her work she said to her Aunt beth: "I've a great mind to run into town to see those blessed babies."

Now, Aunt Elizabeth was nothing if not prudent; she remonstrated vigorously:

"My dear! It is almost dark now, and you will not reach there for two hours at least; Jack and Laura will be horrified to have you arrive alone; besides, I am afraid it is too late to catch the train."

"Jack and Laura will not care a bit," declared Miss Jenny. "As this is my fortieth birthday it stands to reason that I am old enough to take care of myself. Besides," she added, "I want to do something to celebrate the fact that I've arrived at the age of discretion. I think I shall put on my new gown and astonish the natives."

So saying she ran lightly up-stairs to begin preparations, for, though Miss Jenny was forty, she was still supple and attractive.

The new gown, a dark brown cloth, fitted her shapely figure to perfection, and it gave out a pleasant silken rustle as she stepped briskly to and fro, while a brown velvet bonnet crowned with autumn-tinted foliage, added the finishing touch to a most becoming toilet.

Then, dress-suit case and wrap in hand, she descended the stairs with a rush, bestowed a flying kiss on Aunt Elizabeth, and was off. She reached the station, a block distant, in time to catch the train, and all would have gone well had not the wreck of a freight train ahead delayed her about an hour. However, she spent the interval very pleasantly in wondering where Gerald Holmes was keeping himself. Not that it mattered to her, but———

So absorbed was she in trying to find a reason for Mr. Holmes's peculiar, though (to her) uninteresting actions, that the train resumed motion and reached its destination in what seemed an incredibly short time; still it was eight o'clock when the cab was driven away which had brought Miss Jenny to her brother's door. She noted with satisfaction that the light was still burning in the nursery; then, having ascended the steps, she was about to ring when a glance through the half drawn curtains of the library window caused her to withdraw her hand from the bell button, For there on the divan, with pillows disposed gracefully about her, conversing animatedly with Jack and Laura, sat Mrs. Summers.

Now Mrs. Summers was a widow whom Miss Jenny greatly disliked; more, she distrusted her, and she had advised Laura to have nothing to do with her. Laura, on her part, was capable of putting two and two together; however, if she suspected that the widow's evident admiration for Mr. Gerald Holmes had anything to do with the attitude assumed by her sister-in-law, she said nothing about it. Being in the confidence of Mr. Gerald Holmes she continued to enjoy the friendship of Mrs. Summers, and watched with interest the little drama that was being played before her eyes.

But Miss Jenny did not understand the situation, and resented it; and she disliked Mrs. Summers, more and more. Now as she looked at the cheerful group in the library, she determined to stay outside in the cold rather than meet Mrs. Summers. So she went around to the side porch, and putting on her wrap, sat down on the steps. But a left-out-in-the-cold sort of atmosphere, which soon became unendurable, seemed to pervade everything. Then she thought of the kitchen entrance and wondered if she could get in that way; once inside she could slip up the back stairs, make herself comfortable until Mrs. Summers should depart, and then surprise Jack and Laura. Thus consoling herself, she went cautiously around the house only to find the kitchen door locked and the lights out. She tried the fastenings of the windows and of the basement door; all locked. By this time Miss Jenny began to feel very much abused; it was hard to be out in the dark and cold while within her unfeeling relatives made merry with her enemy. She determined to make one more effort to get into the house; if that failed—she did not know what she would do.

She tiptoed back to the side porch and turned the knob of the dining-room door; it was unfastened. Through the door leading from the dining room into the library was open, she decided, after reconnoitering, to slip into a chair which stood at the end of the sideboard farthest from the library, and await developments. Scarcely had she settled herself in the chair, however, when she was startled by a voice proceeding from the library. It is that of Gerald Holmes.

Miss Jenny arose and made a frantic effort to reach the door through which she had just come, but she was arrested by the sound of approaching footsteps. Like a hunted creature she looked about for a means of escape; then, in the twinkling of an eye, she dropped to her knees and crawled under the dining table drawing her bag after her. No sooner was this done, than she wished it undone; she trembled behind the table cover as Jack entered the room. What if he should look under the table! What if—Jack went back to the library.

"Strange, I thought I heard a noise," he said.

Miss Jenny became more and more miserable. Her head was craned forward, she was uncomfortably warm, and she was possessed by awild desire to sneeze. Added to that, the quartette in the next room began to talk about playing whist; that meant two hours more at the very least. In the midst of her reflections she heard the soft voice of Mrs. Summers drawl:

"When did you hear from that handsome sister of yours, Mr. Pembroke?"

"Last week, Mrs. Summers; we're hoping to have a visit from her before long," answered Jack.

"I have a great admiration for your sister, Mr. Pembroke; she is so—so altogether unusual—and original—don't you know," gushed the widow.

Mr. Pembroke's handsome sister under the table suddenly sat up—to the detriment of her bonnet.

"Limagined once that Gerald had a penchant that way," added the widow playfully.

Mr. Pembroke's sister collapsed again. "Imagined once!" So Gerald had gone over to the enemy. That accounted for many things.

A mist came before her eyes; she swallowed with difficulty. Then she remembered the equivocal position in which she had placed herself, and she decided that she must get away from there at all hazards. With this object in view, she peered from under the table-cover to find a way of unobserved retreat. Two doors on the opposite side of the room opened, respectively, into the kitchen and the pantry. To reach the kitchen was out of the question, but the pantry was nearer and the door was slightly ajar; the table would hide her movements, and, once in the panty, she could go upstairs by way of the back hall. Carefully pinning up her dress she proceeded stealthily on all-fours, then drew a long breath, as, once more upright, she quietly closed the pantry door.

But fate was indeed unkind to Miss Jenny, for the door leading from the pantry into the back hall was locked, and the key was on the other side. If she should stay there until the visitors had gone she realized that it would be necessary to explain to Jack and Laura more than she cared to explain; whereas, if she could get upstairs they need know nothing but what she choose to tell them. Besides, Laura might come into the pantry in search of refreshment for the whist players; of course, she would be startled and would scream, the others would rush in, and there would be a scene, with Miss Jenny Pembroke as leading lady and Mrs. Summers and Gerald Holmes as audience The thought was maddening. Why, oh why, had she left a peaceful and happy home to become a fugitive in a butler's pantry! Then she thought of the slide between the pantry and the kitchen, and eagerly felt for the little door; it was pushed back and the opening was free from obstacles.

Never before in her wildest flights of fancy had Miss Jenny thought such a feat of agility was possible to her; yet now she prepared for it with the nerve of a profesional acrobat. She took off her new gown and placed it, with her bag, ona chair which stood within reach on the kitchen side. Then she climbed on the shelf and with some difficulty got her head and shoulders through the aperture. She was wondering what she should do next when a key grated in the lock of the kitchen door. Miss Jenny tried to draw back but could not; neither could she move forward. Humiliating as it was, there was nothing to do but to appeal to the generosity of the cook; she remembered that, fortunately, Mary was sensible and level-headed. So she waited until the newcomer had lighted the gas before she uttered a warning "Sh-sh!" Horrors! Instead of Mary, a new cook, whom she had never seen, faced her in astonishment.

"For the land's sake!" ejaculated the new cook.

"Be quiet, my good woman; I will explain everything. But first turn out the gas for fear some one might come in," said poor Miss Jenny, trying to speak naturally.

"I guess you'll explain to the perlice if you ain't careful," threatened the cook. Then she gave way to mirth: "My, but you're a bird! Wisht I had a kodak; I'd like to take your pictur."

Miss Jenny fairly writhed; that is, she would have writhed had there been room.

"This is all a mistake," said she, desperately. "I am Mr. Pembroke's sister; I arrived late this evening, and seeing company in the library, and not wishing to meet anyone, I foolishly attempted to ciimb through here as you see."

"It's as clear as mud," responded the new cook, unfeelingly.

"And, if you will help me out of here and