Part 31 (1/2)
Douglas was greatly pleased when Nell at last consented to stay. He went out to bring in Jake, and when he returned, he found Nell playing with the Jukes' children. Her face was bright and animated, and she seemed to have forgotten all about her recent troubles. The little ones were delighted at the stories she told them, as well as the games she knew, and they would not leave her when supper was ready, but insisted on sitting next to her at the table. Douglas sat opposite, and he was perfectly content to let the others talk. Nell was near; he could look upon her face, and listen to what she said, and he was satisfied.
Jake was in great spirits when he learned what had happened.
”Great punkins!” he exclaimed. ”I wish I'd been there to have seen it.”
”But what about the corn?” Douglas asked. ”It didn't get much hoeing to-day.”
”Never mind about the corn, John. Ye kin hoe it agin, but ye might never git another chance to roll Ben Stubbles in the dust. Ho, ho, that was a good one!”
When Nell left to return home, it was but natural that Douglas should accompany her. He asked permission to do so, and her acceptance brought a great joy to his heart.
The Jukes watched them as they walked toward the road.
”That's settled, all right,” was Mrs. Jukes' comment.
”What?” Jake asked.
”Why, can't you see for yourself? They're deep in love with each other, that's what it is.”
”Umph!” Jake grunted. ”I never thought of it before. It takes a woman to see sich things. My, John'll git a prize if he hooks Nell. Strange that she takes to him, an' him only a hired man. Why, she's fit fer a parson's wife.”
”I don't believe he's only a hired man,” his wife replied.
”Woman, what d'ye mean?” Jake demanded in surprise.
”Oh, I don't exactly know. But he's the queerest hired man I ever saw.
He's got a good education, and just think how he plays the fiddle.
Why, he is wasting his time working as a hired man for small wages, when he might be earning big money somewhere else. That's what's been puzzling me for days.”
”Mebbe he's a dook or a prince, Susie, in disguise. I've heered of sich things. But he's a prince all right, fer I don't know when I met a man I think as much of as him. An' as fer farm work, why he can't be beat. He knows it from A to Z, an' that's sayin' a good deal.”
”I wonder what Ben will do now?” Mrs. Jukes mused. ”He must be about wild. I saw him go up the road in his car just before supper, and he was driving like mad.”
”He'll do something, mark my word,” Jake replied. ”He'll try to git even with John somehow. I should have given him warnin'. He shouldn't be out at night. It isn't safe.”
”Oh, he can take care of himself, all right. I'm not anxious about him, though I am quite nervous concerning Nell. Ben and the rest of the Stubbles will do their best to make it hard for her.”
Nell and Douglas did not go up the road, but walked slowly down across the field toward the river. It was a roundabout way, but that suited them both, as they would have more time together, and this latter was far more private. For the time being, they were happy, talking and laughing like two joyous children. Their faces were radiant, and their eyes were filled with animation when at length they reached the river and stopped by the old tree where Douglas had first seen Nell.
”This has been a wonderful day to me,” he remarked, as he stood looking out over the water. ”I little realised this morning that we would be standing here now. It was here that I first saw you, and heard you playing over by that tree.”
”Don't mention that night,” Nell pleaded. ”I want to forget it, and everything that is past.”
”And this afternoon, too?”
”Everything except your great kindness to me. I shall never forget that, and I don't want to, either.”
”I am so glad that I was able to rescue you from that brute. My only regret is that I was not near to save you from harm last night. If I had been there, that would not have happened,” and he motioned to her wounded arm.
Nell turned her face quickly to his and her eyes expressed a great wonder.