Books: Miss Gibbie Gault
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Kate Langley Bosher >> Miss Gibbie Gault
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As they came nearer, those on the railing jumped down; those leaning
against the wall straightened, and those in front made way, while hats
came off and spitting ceased.
"Good-evening," she said. "We are going to have a mice meeting, aren't
we?" She held out her hand. "How do you do, Mr. Jernigan. Is Jamie
better to-night?"
"Yes, ma'am; thank you, ma'am. He's right sharp better to-night. He's
pleased as Punch over those drawings things you sent him. Been at 'em
all day."
"That's good." She reached the door, them turned, taking off her long,
light coat which covered the white dress. "Aren't you men coming in?"
"Yes'm--that is, those of us what can." It was Mr. Flournoy, foreman
of the woolen mills, who spoke. "There ain't much room in there left
and they say some more ladies is coming, so we thought we might as
well stay out as come out. We can hear all right."
"I'm sorry. The women ought not to take the men's places. Can't you--"
"Oh, that's all right." Mr. Jernigan waved his hat toward her. "We done
our work before we come here. Ain't a man in the council what don't
know how we stand, and what we won't do for them is a plenty if they
don't tote square. You just go on in, Miss Cary--you and Mrs. Corbin."
As they entered the room there was much uprising and many seats were
offered, but with a nod here and there they made their way toward a
window near which Mrs. Webb and Mrs. Moon were sitting and took
two chairs which had been kept for them. To the left were Mrs. Brent
and Mrs. Burnham, to the right Miss Mittie Muncaster and Mrs. Dunn,
while behind was Miss Amelia Taylor, president of the Mother's Club,
with Miss Victor Redway, the new kindergarten teacher from Kentucky.
A dozen other women, scattered in groups here and there, were
whispering as if at a home funeral, and along the walls men, ranged in
rows, hats in hands, chewed with something of nervous uncertainty as to
the wisdom of the innovation which they were about to witness. In a
large chair on a small platform Mr. Chinn, president of the council,
sat in solemn silence, gavel in hand, waiting for the hour to strike,
and for once in its history all ten of the city fathers were on time
and in place.
"You may not mind this, Mary, but I do," said Mrs. Moon half under her
breath. "I'm not used to these new-fashioned ways of doing things. I
feel like I haven't got on all my clothes. I came because you told me I
ought to, and of course women should take interest in things of this
sort, but I don't like it. I--"
"Then you were dear to come." And Mary gave the soft, pretty hands a
squeeze. "I don't like it either, but neither do I like Yorkburg's not
having a high school. Don't look so uneasy. Nobody is going to bite.
Have you seen Mr. Milligan? A frog couldn't look more like a frog.
He'll pop presently, he's so pleased about something. There--they're
going to begin."
She leaned back in her chair, and as Mr. Chinn rose in his seat and
rapped on the table the crowd in the passage pressed closer to the
door. All who could came inside, but no longer was there standing-
room, and the air that might have come through the open windows was
kept back by the men who had climbed up in them and were swinging
their feet below.
The gavel again sounded. "The meeting will come to order!"
Mr. Chinn, in his long frock-coat and white string tie, stood a moment
surveying with mournful eye the crowded room, and in his voice as he
repeated "The meeting will come to order!" was the assurance that all
flesh is as grass, and though in a field it may flourish it will finally
be cut down.
But not yet could the meeting come to order. As Mr. Simson, the clerk,
stood up and began to call the roll there was the shuffle of many feet
in the hall and the men near the door parted to make way for late but
determined arrivals.
"Mrs. McDougal and every blessed member of her family!"
Under her breath Mary Cary laughed, then beckoned, and in pressed
Mrs. McDougal and made her way toward the platform, undismayed by
the gazing, smiling crowd. Behind were her five boys and four girls,
and behind them Mr. McDougal, but in the shelter of Mr. Blick's broad
back Mr. McDougal stopped and was seen no more.
But Mrs. McDougal was seen. Ushering the children ahead, she placed
them one by one on the edge of the platform, at the feet of Mr. Chinn,
all but Susie, who with flaming face had sought refuge on half of Mary
Cary's chair, then she waved to Mr. Simson, the clerk.
"Please hold on a minute, Mr. Simson," she called. "I'm awful sorry
we're late, but them five voters to be was hard to get fixed in time.
They know what they're here for and I don't want 'em to miss a word. Sit
still there, Jeff!" She jabbed the latter, who was wriggling, back in
his place and took from Billy the cap he was nervously chewing, then
seating herself between the younger set of twins she again waved her
hand.
"Now you can go on."
Thus permitted, Mr. Simson began the reading of the minutes of the last
meeting in quick staccato sentences, and as he took his seat Mr. Chinn
again sounded the gavel and in an attitude of resignation asked of there
were corrections.
None being suggested, the minutes were approved. The regular business
of the meeting forthwith began, and the atmosphere, which had been a
little tense, relaxed. As if to show his ease and familiarity with an
unusual situation, Mr. Mowry cut off a large piece of tobacco, crossed
his hands behind his head, and lifted his right leg on the top of the
small oak desk which was supposed to contain pen and paper for personal
use, but which had thus far served only as a footstool; and as he did
so he winked at young Armitage, whose face was a fiery flame, and
whose hands, wet with perspiration, were twisting in nervous knots a
handkerchief of highly colored border.
Little by little routine matters were disposed of, and, finally, there
being no further excuse for delay, the call for new business was made
and Mr. Milligan arose. With fingers in the armholes of his vest, with
shoulders back and chest expanded, he bowed with smiling eyes to the
platform, to the crowded room, to the ladies at his right, and as he
bowed there was stir and rustle and the straining forward of necks and
heads.
"Mr. President"--his heels were lifted from the floor and he balanced
himself on tiptoe--"Mr. President, members of the Yorkburg Council,
fellow-citizens, and ladies"--again he bowed profoundly--"a
distinguished honor has been bestowed upon me to-night, and as long as
life shall last I will look back upon this occasion as the proudest
moment of my life. We have met to-night not only to do our plain duty as
citizens of a noble town, but to look with far-seeing eyes into that
great future which stretches endlessly and forever on, and which can be
made as beautiful as--er, as--er the New Jerusalem or--er, or--er
Richmond or New York. We must show the watching world that we citizens
of old Yorkburg"--his right hand made a wide inclusive sweep--"we
citizens are awake, are up and looking around. We are no longer dead
poor. Money is nine-tenths of much in life, but the other tenth is a
busting big part. It's made of sense and hustle, and it's up to us to
prove it! We've been excusin' of ourselves by saying poverty has
paralyzed us, and we couldn't do this and we couldn't do that, because
we didn't have the cash. Well, I'm here to say it ain't so. What we've
been lackin' ain't so much the money as the spirit, and it's took a
woman to make us find it out."
Back from the windows came a clapping of hands, from the doors a
stamping of feet, and in the enforced pause Mr. Milligan wiped his
shining face and swallowed hastily from the glass of water on the table.
"In my poor way, members of the Yorkburg Council," he began again--
this time fingers interlaced and resting on his breast--"in my poor way
I am here to present this lady to you. She don't need to be introduced
to man, woman, or child in this community. She used to live here, and
when she went away something left Yorkburg that everybody wished
would come back. 'Twas a sort of sunshine. We didn't think she'd ever
find the way back. There was a heap to make her forget, but she didn't
forget. Love found the way, and she's back. Since she left she's seen a
lot of life. She's been around the world, in the big cities and the
little cities, and she's kept her eyes open and her mind open and her
heart open, and there's much she could tell about what's wrong with us,
but that ain't her way. She is here to-night to bring some matters to
your attention which I hope you will consider with intelligence and
appreciation, and just here I'd like to say that even if I didn't know
what they were I would say in advance, 'You could put my vote down for
'em, Mr. Clerk.' I ain't saying all women have business sense. They
ain't got it, but when they have, it's the far-seeingest sense on earth,
and there ain't a star in the heavens a man can't climb to when a woman
of that kind gives him a lift!"
Again a shuffle of feet, but Mr. Chinn's gavel came down heavily. He
turned in his chair and looked first at Mr. Milligan and then at the
clock.
"Oh, I know I'm talking too long, but, being started, it's hard to
stop," and Mr. Milligan wiped his perspiring face and nodded
good-naturedly at solemn Mr. Chinn. "I'm through, but I know I voice
the sentiments of every member of this honorable body when I say it is
highly honored by the presence here to-night of lovely woman! What would
life be without her? As babies, she borns us; as boys, she bosses us;
as men, she owns us; at death, she buries us, and she alone puts flowers
on man's grave! Man was made to do her bidding, Mr. President, and if
he's smart he'll do it quick. Members of the council, ladies, and
gentlemen, I have the honor of presenting to you Miss Mary Cary, the
granddaughter of a once chief justice of England and of Mayor Alden, a
distinguished citizen of Virginia."
Chapter V
IN WHICH MARY CARY SPEAKS
The flourish of Mr. Milligan's hand as Mary Cary rose and came toward
the platform was not to be resisted by Mrs. McDougal, who was
clapping vehemently. She gave the hand a resounding smack.
"Fine words, Mr. Milligan, fine words! But a dead Irishman would make
a good speech if you'd touch his tongue. You're an orationer, you are.
Set down, quick! Miss Cary is going to speak."
"Mr. President, gentlemen of the council." The clear, fresh voice
carried to the far corners of the room and upon the latter fell
vibrating silence. "Yorkburg's fiscal year ending in June in the next
few weeks, the annual budget for the coming twelve months will be fixed
by you. Before this budget is made up I am going to ask you to act upon
three propositions. Last year the total revenue of the town was
$16,907.23, and your expenditures something under one thousand dollars
less than your income. Out of your sinking-fund you retired a large
proportion of your outstanding bonds, with the result that your
indebtedness is now sufficiently small to justify your increasing it. I
am here to-night to ask you to issue, during the next three months,
fifty thousand dollars' worth of city bonds, interest on which is to be
3 per cent., payable semi-annually. If you will agree to do this
promptly, Bartlett, Cramp & Company, of New York, will take the entire
amount at once. At the expiration of twenty years these bonds are to be
retired."
"In the name of glory!"
The words, half smothered, sounded even to the platform, and Mary
Cary, catching them, laughed and nodded toward the source from which
they came.
"Is there anything you wish to say, Mr. Billisoly, before I go on?"
The latter rose to his feet, put his hand to his mouth, coughed, and
looked at Mr. Chinn.
"Yes'm, there is. Fifty thousand dollars is a powerful lot of money to
borrow at one clip, and--"
"Three per cent. interest is powerful little money to pay for its use,"
she answered, smiling. "But that isn't all I am here to say. If you
don't mind and will let me get through it will save time, and then
questions can be asked and answered. Last year the rate of interest on
all taxable property was one dollar and twenty-five cents per one
hundred dollars. This year, Mr. Councilmen, if you really love Yorkburg,
you will raise it to one dollar and thirty-five cents.
"Oh, I know," She laughed and lifted her hand as if to stop the unspoken
protest of certain stirrings. "I know the name of taxes isn't truly
pleasant to any one. But I have with me a list of taxpayers who agree to
the increase asked for, and if you would like to see it, there is no
objection to your doing so."
She opened her bag and took from it a roll of paper, and as she
unwound it she threw one end to Mr. Ash, the chairman of the finance
committee.
"This," she said, "is a list of the people who love their town enough to
put their hands in their pockets to prove it. A truly trying test!" She
held up her end of the paper. "There," she said, "there is the list."
Instinctively many leaned forward to see the paper which for reasons of
her own she had made in one long, narrow ribbon, and as they did so
she laughed again and nodded to the men at the desks. "The will of your
constituents.
"And now"--she stepped back--"there is one thing more. Yorkburg has
a friend who is greatly interested in its welfare. This friend believes
the time has come when the town should take stock of itself, should look
itself in the face and see just what sort of a town it is, and what it
may be. As a friend of this friend of Yorkburg I am authorized to say
that if this issue of fifty thousand dollars' worth of bonds be made
promptly, the like amount of fifty thousand dollars will be at once
deposited by Bartlett, Cramp & Company to the credit of your finance
committee, said amount to be used for the relaying out of the town,
the proper paving of streets, the planting of shade-trees, and the
cleaning up of dirty places."
For a moment there was palpitating silence. No one moved. Eyes were
fixed on her as if ears had not heard aright. The heads of some leaned
forward, the bodies of others leaned back, then the clearing of throats
and the shuffling of feet broke the pause that followed the statement
which had just been heard, and back toward the door Mr. Benny
Brickhouse arose.
"If he ain't the spittin' image of an orange with two peanuts
underneath and one peanut on top, I never seen one," said Mrs. McDougal
in a voice none too low, "and the top peanut ain't got a thing in it.
Just listen at his cambric-needle squeak!"
"Mr. President." The thin, piping tones caused many to look around.
"Mr. President, never before in its history has the council of Yorkburg
heard from its platform such astounding propositions as have been made
before it to-night. The young lady who has made them is doubtless
actuated by high and lofty motives, but it is not to be expected that
she should know what she is doing. It is out of her sphere, sir, the
sphere in which God put woman and meant her to stay--"
"Please, sir, Mr. Chinn, may I ask Mr. Brickhouse if God Almighty told
him He put woman in a sphere, or if a man told him?" and Mrs.
McDougal, on her feet, held up her hand as a child in a classroom who
asks to speak.
Mr. Chinn's gavel came down heavily and squelched the titter which
threatened to be something more. "Mr. Brickhouse has the floor, Mrs.
McDougal."
"And likely to keep it, sir. But go on, Mr. Brickhouse, go on! I
thought maybe you'd just heard from the Lord. Beg your pardon, sir."
She sat down, waving her hand toward the round little man, speechless
with amazement, then turned in a half whisper to the girl at her side.
"Let him talk, Miss Cary. Nothing shows the kind of fool you are as
quick as your tongue. Balaam's Brickhouse won't hurt you."
"Mr. President"--the interruption was ignored, and only the trembling of
the fine, thin voice gave evidence of anger--Mr. President, Yorkburg is
no pauper, and does not need the gift which has been offered it
to-night, provided it will acknowledge it needs to be cleaned up.
Yorkburg is a very clean place. Its streets were good enough for our
fathers, and I, for one, protest against the supplanting of the trees
they planted by the planting of more! We don't want more! And who is the
person who offers this gift? Why is his name withheld? Is he ashamed of
it, or is there a string tied to it which we don't see yet? What does
the party want of us in return for this sum of money, gotten we know not
how? It may be tarnished, sir, it any be tarnished!" His pudgy little
hands smote the air with something of vehemence; then remembering that
excitement was inelegant he wiped them carefully with his handkerchief,
clasped them righteously together, and laid them on his stomach.
"And I would like to ask why this honorable body is called on to pass a
measure which will plunge this old and distinguished town in such
enormous indebtedness?" he began again, after a pause which he
thought impressive. "Why should fifty thousand dollars' worth of bonds
be issued? For what purpose will the money be used? Why should this
great increase in taxes by made? What is to be done with the money
drained from our people, who are not worshippers of Mammon and
who set not their hearts on mere material things? I beg this honorable
body not to be led astray. It will be a sad day for this city of a
precious past--"
He stopped. Mary Cary's eyes, which in the beginning of his speech had
been bent on a letter held in her hand lest the laughter in them be
seen, were raised, and she was now looking at him with a steadiness
which was disconcerting, and the words died upon his lips.
"Are you through, Mr. Brickhouse?"
He sat down, wiping his moist face limply. "Yes, I am through."
This time Mary Cary, who had been standing below the platform,
stepped upon it, and the letter she had been holding was laid upon the
table.
"I am very much obliged to Mr. Brickhouse for asking the questions he
has asked," she began. "Except the name of the person giving this money
to Yorkburg there is no one of them that will not be answered readily,
as they should be rightly. Whether we are entitled to peculiarities, or
not, all of us possess them, and one of this friend of Yorkburg's is
that the gift and the giver should not be associated together;
therefore, the name of this friend will not be known. Another
characteristic of this same person is that before a place can be
properly beautiful it should be made sound and solid and healthy. The
foundation must come first, and the foundation of any town which would
have a future is to know Yorkburg is badly laid out. It isn't laid out
at all, and many of its streets start and end as they please. An
elemental need of Yorkburg is that it should be laid out anew, and by a
competent civil engineer who knows what he is about. This engineer will
be provided when you agree to use his services. Mr. Brickhouse says we
have a precious past. That is true, but a precious past doesn't make
good walking, and, not being dead, our feet have some rights. There is
no string tied to this gift of fifty thousand dollars save the
restriction that the money be expended for the purposes mentioned.
"You see"--she turned to the councilmen in front and nodded to them--
"when the matters brought before you to-night were mentioned to Mr.
Brickhouse he was not interested, and did not care to put his name to
the list of taxpayers who are willing to increase their taxes in order
that Yorkburg may get a new bonnet and gloves and good stout shoes for
its feet. He thinks they are not needed, and instead of expenditure,
economy should be your keynote." She shook her head. "There are
times when too much economy is as ruinous as too great expenditure.
Some women die from it every year.
"But before coming here to-night I did try to understand what I was
about." She tucked a curl which had slipped from under her hat back in
place. "I learned from your mayor that the town is financially able to
do what it is asked to do. We need two new school-buildings--one for
primary and grammar grades, one for a high-school. The increase of
taxes is needed to pay the interest on the new bonds, needed for many
more things than it will supply."
For a half moment she looked around the room, then again turned to the
men immediately in front, and her hands made a swift, appealing gesture.
"Gentlemen, you have done so splendidly. For so long there was so little
to do with. For many years the struggle for life and honor gave your
fathers no time for thought of other things, but they held their heads
up through it all, and you--you are your fathers' sons! In the years I
have been away I never saw anything beautiful or useful or splendid,
never saw good streets, schools, libraries, churches, parks,
playgrounds, galleries, museums, baths, kindergartens, never saw a good
idea in operation, or anything that made life nicer and better that I
didn't wish Yorkburg had it. I was always wishing it could be the
cleanest, prettiest, happiest of all places on this earth to live in,
and when I came back and saw what you had done, saw there was good
water, good sewerage, good lights, a few good streets, I was as proud
and pleased as if--as if I'd been your mother!"
She joined in the laugh that followed, then shook her head. "But,
gentlemen, people who don't do anything keep at it. A big idea means
big things, and if everybody pulls together we can do lots for Yorkburg.
And you don't really love what you don't work for, don't deny yourself
a little bit for, don't take some risk with. Some say there's risk in
marriage, but people get married. They want to. We can do anything for
Yorkburg we want to if we just want hard enough. Everybody agrees that
we need a high-school and a new grammar school. We've needed them for
years, and there were few people who pay taxes who didn't sign this
petition readily. Nearly everybody wants children to have a chance."
"Did the biggest taxpayer in Yorkburg sign it?" It was Mr. Billisoly
who asked the question.
"Who is that?"
"Mr. John Maxwell, owner of the Yorkburg shoe factory, ice factory,
electric-light plant; owner of more than any one man in town, if he
don't live here."
Mary Cary took up her end of the paper and examined it. "His name is
the first on the list. Next is Mr. Moon, then Mr. Walstein, Mr. Ash,
Mr. Wilson, Mr.--"
"Is Miss Gibbie Gault's name there?"
"It is."
"Wonder!" Mr. Billisoly blew his nose and turned to the man at his side.
"Looks like she's got it all there. If she could land Miss Gibbie the
rest were easy."
"Tell me she and Miss Cary are great friends. They say the old lady is
as smart as the devil and he'd be much more apt to get out of her way
than she out of his if they met. Listen, there goes Sunny Chinn. Ain't
he a cheerful thing to look at?"
The latter had risen, and again the table was struck by the gavel, which
through the evening his hand had not relinquished. "Are there any
further remarks to be made? If not--"
"Yes, sir." Mr. Ranlet, owner and proprietor of the Yorkburg bakery,
rose from his seat. "I'd like to ask something about this firm of
Bartlett, Cramp & Company, who is willing to buy bonds that only pay
3 per cent. How does Miss Cary know that?"
"I have a letter to that effect." She opened her bag and took from it
a letter. "This," she said, holding it up, "is the letter which states
that they will make this purchase for a customer, provided it can be
done promptly. Mr. Moon, Mr. Walstein, any one doing business in New
York can tell you the character and reputation of this company."
"I suppose the name of the customer is not mentioned?"
"Yes. It is a Mr. Black, of Brooklyn."
"The same one who has been buying property around here lately?"
"The same one. I understand he is thinking of coming here to live."
"Must have plenty of money. Not many people jump at 3-per-cent.
town bonds."
"Then we ought to jump quick lest he change his mind."
"I move the matter be referred to the finance committee." It was Mr.
Mowry who spoke, and instantly Mr. Ash, who had said nothing so far,
was on his feet.
"Mr. President, such reference would be a waste of time. As chairman
of the finance committee I have called the latter together and talked
with them concerning this proposition of an issue of bonds which I
knew would be brought before you to-night. We agreed to recommend it
heartily, and I move that the question be put at once."
The motion, made and carried quickly, was greeted with deafening
applause by the visitors sitting, standing, or balanced in the window-
seats, and then some one moved for an executive session, and slowly
the crowd began to stir and go out.
"It's going to be all right, Mary." Mr. Moon patted the latter's hands
encouragingly. "We are going to increase the taxes, accept the money,
and build the schools, and if you will please take Mrs. Moon home I will
be obliged. Her face has been like a beet all the evening. Oh, how do
you do, Mrs. McDougal?" and he shook kindly the rough red hand held
out toward him.
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