"Don't go, Roscoe," protested the matron."The Cap'n's here and he'll want to talk to you.He's dreadful interested in you just now.Don't talk about nobody else, scurcely.You set still and I'll go fetch him."But I refused to "set." I knew the cause of Captain Jedediah's interest, and what he wished to talk about.I rose and announced that I would stroll about a bit.Taylor spoke to me as I was leaving.
"Ros," he said, earnestly, "you think of what I told you, will you?"I saw a group of people hurrying toward the entrance of the grounds and I followed them, curious as to the cause of the excitement.An automobile had stopped by the gate.Sim Eldredge came hastening up and seized me by the arm.
"Gosh! it's Ros," he exclaimed, in his mysterious whisper."Ihadn't seen you afore; just got here myself.But I'm glad you AREhere.I'll see that you and him get a chance to talk private.""Who?" I asked, trying to pull my arm free.
"Why, Mr.Colton.Didn't you know? Yes, sir, that's his car.
He's come and so's his daughter and that young Carver feller.Ibelieve they've come to take in the sociable.There they be! See 'em! See 'em!"I saw them.Colton and Victor had already alighted and Miss Colton was descending from the tonneau.There were two other men in the car, beside Oscar, the chauffeur.
"Who are those other people?" I asked.
"I don't know," whispered Sim, excitedly."Stay where you be and I'll find out.I'll be right back, now.Don't you move."I did not move, not because he had ordered me to stay where I was, but because I was curious.The spot where I stood was in shadow and I knew they could not see me.
Colton and his daughter were talking with Victor, who remained by the step of the auto.
"Well, Mabel," observed "Big Jim," "here we are, though why I don't know.I hope you enjoy this thing more than I am likely to.""Of course I shall enjoy it, Father.Look at the decorations.
Aren't they perfectly WONDERFUL!"
"Especially the color scheme," drawled Victor."Mabel, I call your attention to the red, blue and purple lanterns.Some class? Yes?
Well, I must go.I'll be back in a very short time.If Parker wasn't starting for Europe to-morrow I shouldn't think of leaving, but I'm sure you'll forgive me, under the circumstances.""I forgive you, Victor," replied the girl, carelessly."But don't be too long.""No, don't," added her father."I promised Mrs.Colton that Ishould not be away more than an hour.She's very nervous to-night and I may be sent for any time.So don't keep us waiting.""No fear of that.I'll be back long before you are ready to go.I1
Sim's hat was in his hand and he was greeting Mr.Colton.
"Proud to see you amongst us, sir," said Sim, with unction."The Methodist folks are havin' quite a time to-night, ain't they?""How d'ye do, Eldredge," was the great man's salutation, not at all effusive."Where does all this crowd come from? Didn't know there were so many people in the neighborhood.""'Most everybody's out to-night.Church'll make consider'ble money.Good evenin', Miss Colton.Mr.Carver, pleased to meet you again, sir."The young lady merely nodded.Victor, whose foot was on the step of the car, did not deign to turn.
"Thanks," he drawled."I am--er--embalmed, I'm sure.All ready, Phil.Let her go, Oscar."The auto moved off.Mr.Colton gave his arm to his daughter and they moved through the crowd, Eldredge acting as master of ceremonies.
"It's all right, Elnathan," ordered Sim, addressing the gate-keeper."Don't bother Mr.Colton about the admission now.I'll settle with you, myself, later.Now, Mr.Colton, you and the lady come right along with me.Ain't met the minister yet, have you?
He said you wan't to home when he called.And you let me get you some strawberries.They're fust-rate, if I do say it."He led the way toward the tables.I watched the progress from where I stood.It was interesting to see how the visitors were treated by the different groups.Some, like Sim, were gushing and obsequious.A few, Captain Jed among them, walked stubbornly by, either nodding coldly or paying no attention.Others, like George Taylor and Doctor Quimby, were neither obsequious nor cold, merely bowing pleasantly and saying, "Good evening," as though greeting acquaintances and equals.Yes, there WERE good people in Denboro, quiet, unassuming, self-respecting citizens.
One of them came up to me and spoke.
"Hello, Ros," said Captain Elisha Warren, "Sim's havin' the time of his life, isn't he?""He seems to be," I replied.
"Yes.Well, there's some satisfaction in havin' a thick shell;then you don't mind bein' stepped on.Yet, I don't know; sometimes I think fellers of Sim's kind enjoy bein' stepped on, provided the boot that does it is patent leather.""I wonder why they came here," I mused.
"Who? the Coltons? Why, for the same reason children go to the circus, I shouldn't wonder--to laugh at the clowns.I laugh myself sometimes--though 'tain't always at their kind of clowns.Speakin'
of that, young Carver's in good company this evenin', ain't he?""Who were those fellows in the auto?" I asked.
"Didn't you recognize them? One was Phil Somers--son of the rich widow who owns the big cottage at Harniss.'Tother is a bird of the same flock down visitin' em.Carver's takin' 'em over to Ostable to say good-by to another specimen, a college mate, who is migratin' to Europe tomorrow.The chauffeur told Dan, my man, about it this afternoon.The chauffeur figgered that, knowin' the crowd, 'twas likely to be a lively farewell.Hello! there's Abbie hailin' me.See you later, Ros."I knew young Somers by reputation.He and his friends were a wild set, if report was true.
