Springtime was slowly advancing over the earth, sweeping before it a promise of warmer, brighter days. But there was little brightness in the outlook of Philip DuFrow as he walked slowly toward the small church.
As he took his place with the class of young men, some of whom were of the second generation he had taught since entering this work, his thoughts were dark indeed. But his interpretations and explanations, his visions and inspirations, were up to his usual standards. The responses and eager questions he received were the means by which he was partly sustained during the ordeal he was passing through. He looked up to see Maggie in another class and wondered how she could reconcile her professed religious beliefs with her real actions.
With the conclusion of the service, Philip stopped to speak with his father. After inquiring for his mothers' welfare, he decided to tell his father of his plans to sell his home.
The elder DuFrow was perplexed. "But why, Philip, why, when you have one of the nicest and most modern homes in town, why give it up?"
"There are reasons, father, that I would rather not go into."
Anxiously, he asked, "Is it financial, Phil?"
"No, nothing like that, if it were, I could find a way to deal with it, but I'm afraid you would not understand if I tried to tell you." After a pause in which neither one spoke, Philip said again, "I'm afraid I don't understand it myself."
Another pause, then, "Is it Maggie?"
"I would rather not talk of it now, dad, maybe another time. Tell mother I'll see her soon." With that he walked quickly away, leaving his father to look after him with very sad eyes.
Edward DuFrow looked up from his luncheon plate to find his wife's eyes fastened on his face. When their eyes met, she asked, "What troubles you, Edward?"
"Well, I guess I may as well tell you that Phil is going to sell his home and move into one of those new apartments in Northwood."
Nelda DuFrow was aghast. "Oh, no, Edward!"
"Yes, that's right, he wouldn't tell me the reason, but it's not hard to guess."
Tears came into Nelda's eyes as she exclaimed, "Maggie is a devil!"
"Those are pretty strong words, Nelda."
Anger flared in Nelda. "They are not strong enough to express what I feel. I don't see how we could have been so deceived by her."
"I often wonder too, but it's too late now to speculate, we must continue treating her as we always have."
In Philip's home they were all seated at the luncheon table, all but Maggie, who was eating alone in the kitchen, as she had for some time. The children had become accustomed to this arrangement by now, having been told that their mother was in a nervous state, and it was necessary for her to be quiet, especially at meals. If they had their own opinions on this, they kept them to themselves. It was never mentioned after the first two or three days. Their father hated this with all his soul, but felt helpless in the situation. He knew he could never tell them the truth. To tell them it was because their mother hated him, and felt contaminated in his presence for having (in her own words) forced a large family on her, and that in her belief, they were not really married, was unthinkable.
It was still early evening when Philip walked down the street on his way to the hardware store. Passing the Kenwick home, he saw Tom and Mary in the yard, trimming the shrubbery, and decided to stop and chat for a short while.
He was greeted by his father-in-law, saying, "Well, how's the preacher."
Irked, Phil replied, "I am not a preacher, Kenwick, and as I have said before, I would thank you to stop referring to me as such."
Tom Kenwick looked down from his greater height, as if seeing Phil for the first time. "I don't know why I allowed my girl to marry you in the first place."
Philip had been insulted by this man so many times, that he had come to the place where he could ignore it, but now replied with cold sarcasm, "Maggie was old enough to marry without your consent, and you wanted a son-in-lay who would be an easy tough for a loan."
'Not don't be a smart alek, runt."
Anger rose in Phil like a strong wind. He was not a runt, but certainly much shorter than the big man who stood before him. "Alright, so I'm a runt, but I can beat hell out of your anytime you are ready." With blazing eyes he stood waiting, but when the other once did not move, he walked away.
Mary, with the small wrinkled face and sad eyes, hurried after him. "Philip, don't be angry with Tom. He don't mean the things he says, though I know he shouldn't say them." She placed her hand on his arms as she spoke. Now he looked into the troubled eyes, as he said, "Never mind, little mother, I'll just forget it, but I'll not be coming around again. No use antagonizing each other over nothing, and you take good care of yourself," He gave her hand an affectionate squeeze and left.
He had always liked this small woman, who was in constant struggle to appease her husbands' belligerence. Tom Kenwick reveled in the situation. Thrusting him into the center of attention from his family as it did, gave him a sense of satisfaction, and at times, as of this evening, as feeling of unholy glee.
Tom did not dislike Philip, it was his way of bringing other people, as he expressed it, down to earth. That certain ones needed this assistance always puzzled them, especially to be brought down by one like Tom.
Philip entered the hardware store of Rodney Benson, finding himself the only customer at the moment, and being greeted by Rod. "I was beginning to wonder if it paid to stay open in the evenings. You're the first customer I've had in half an hour."
"Well, I'm glad you are open tonight anyway, I couldn't find the time today, and I need a new lock for my garage door. Someone broke the one I had, got in, and some of my tools have disappeared."
"That's hard luck, Phil, do you have any idea of who did it?"
"Not, I don't, not the slightest. I know almost everyone in town and I haven't the least suspicion of who it could have been."
"Well, you know, there are a lot of new people coming in faster than we can provide housing for them, and that new town at Northwood is bringing in all kinds."
"I know, Rod, and it is bringing in new business for us. The Bellfried Lumber Co. business has just about doubled for us."
"That's great, but what's this I hear about your selling your home?"
"You've heard it right, Rod, I'm selling and moving into an apartment in Northwood."
Rod Benson looked at his friend with unbelieving eyes, "But why, Phil, you have a beautiful home, and practically new, besides, this is your home."
"I know all that, Rod, and please don't ask me why, all I can say is that it is not my wish."
"Just as you say, Phil, but I think it a darned shame. We'll miss you."
Phil tried making it sound casual, but his voice had a slight huskiness as he replied, "Oh, I'll be back every day, I expect to keep my place in the business." Rod Benson watched his friend walk toward the street, and was sure his steps were not as brisk as usual.
The following morning Grace Benson made a call on her friend, Lois Elliot. "I just had to tell you, Lois, that it's true that the DuFrows are leaving town. Phil told Rod last night, but he also told him it was not by his choice they were going, so what do you make of that?"
Wonderingly, Lois replied, "Well, if not his wish, who is left to make such a decision but Maggie."
"You're right, but why Maggie, why does she want to leave?"
"I'm sure I wouldn't know, Grace, and I have had no intention of mentioning this to anyone, but since this has come about, I'm asking you if you have notice anything strange about Maggie recently?"
"Well, yes, in a certain way...but she continues to be the same kind of considerate person she's always been."
Lois was thoughtful for a moment, then said, "Now Grace, I don't want to start anything, an unpleasant rumor, so say nothing, but has it occured to you that she and Philip are having marital difficulties?"
"I'll confess I've had a thought about that, but never entertained it long, because they both are such fine persons, that it really could not be."
"I'm glad you feel that way, I would hate to see it happen."
"Me too, Lois, but now I must get home again, I just wanted you to know it was true they are going."
That evening the household of Philip and Maggie was thrown into a state of excitement by a telephone call from David Douglas with the news that a baby boy had been born to Betsy and himself. Both the mother and infant were doing fine.
Ruth was especially happy. "At last we have a cousin, I thought that was never going to happen." Young Edward advanced the thought that it would "be a long time before he could be a cub scout." Jennifer wondered what his name would be. Paul was "Sure Aunt Betsey would be a good mother." Maggie's only remark - "Betsy had as much right to have a baby as anyone else, and I never understood why Susan never had one." That comment was not exactly one for family discussion, which thus dribbled into silence. Philip noticed a note of spite in Maggie's voice when she spoke of Susan, so said nothing. He was happy for Betsy and David.
Kerry Kenwick was thirty-two, five years younger than his sister Maggie. Never having married, he now felt he had found a girl he wished to make his own. Kerry was tall and sturdy like his father, but bore his mother's nature, with the dark handsomeness of many Irishmen. Polly Dixson was tall and blond and very much in love with Kerry. His mother was pleased, as she felt he should marry and sometimes wondered if he ever would find one whom he wanted. The wedding would be in June.
When Philip and Maggie learned of their plans, Philip was first to offer congratulations. "I'm happy for both of you, Kerry, but we'll be in Northwood by that time."
Kerry was surprised. "You mean you are going through with that, Phil?"
"Yes, that's right, and I don't mind telling you that I have no choice if I want to keep my family."
Kerry turned to his sister with a look in his eyes such as she had never seen before. She cringed as he said, "Maggie, you're a fool!" Never had he spoken to her in that manner. Now she was hurt and humiliated. As brother and sister, they had been found of each other, now she didn't understand. As she turned away, she replied, "You know nothing about it, so keep your opinions to yourself."
And Kerry did. Never again did he mention the subject between his sister and Philip, but secretly, he was in sympathy with Philip. The two men walked slowly across the lawn that was already turning green, when Kerry said, "It's too bad you are leaving before the wedding, because I was going to ask permission to have the reception in your garden. It's the loveliest spot in this town."
Phil didn't look up. "You know, Kerry, I've put as many work hours into this garden as it took to build the house."
"And that is not included in the selling price?"
"No, Kerry, there is no price for that, it has all been a work of love, first because I wanted my family to have it, secondly, I like creating things with my own hands." Phil's voice ended on a sad note which did not escape the man beside him.
"Well, Phil, all I can say is, that your giving it up is the damnedest arrangement I ever heard of." Philip did not answer and the two walked in silence to the sidewalk. "I'll see you later, Phil." "Sure, Kerry."
Philip watched the other disappear, then turned slowly and walked to the back of the house where he had been mulching the soil around the rose bushes, remembering this would be the last time he would be performing this task. And why he was doing it now, he didn't know, except he loved doing the work. Perhaps the new owner would permit him to come back in the summer and sit awhile.
He was not well acquainted with the man, only the hour or two when he had shown him the house and premises, which had been his only contact with him. All transactions had been carried out with an agent. Philip know only that he was an official of the new steel mill at Northwood, and that he must vacate by the first of May.
The stone that had lodged in his heart a long time ago, grew in weight each day. He was seeing his garden now as it would be in summer. He had traveled many miles to acquire rare plants and shrubbery to feast their eyes on. The pool yawned empty, but later would be filled with sparkling water where the lillies would lift their pure white faces with their golden hearts, and gold fish would cavort. The big fat frogs that had so delighted the children, would sound off with the mournful croaking of their loneliness. The rustic furniture he had himself built, would be in plance for others to enjoy. It all added up to a pain that at times became all but unbearable.
No comments:
Post a Comment