Stranger within the Gates (7 page)

"That must be wonderful," said the young man wistfully. "I always thought it would be great to belong to a large family. I have been keeping as busy as I could this last year so I wouldn't feel lonely, but I shall enjoy knowing some real people. That's one trouble with attending a city university and not living in the dormitory with the rest; you don't get to know many intimately. And to tell the truth, those you do know are not always the kind you would select. Well, here we are again. It's seemed a shorter distance than usual. That's what it is to have company on the way." He gave her a bright smile as they rose to get out of the bus.

"I'm so glad you are going to be able to go Saturday night," he said as they fell into step again entering the university grounds. "I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I'm going to. I was almost afraid I would have to take the poor old legendary musician as my companion. His eyes twinkled in amusement.

The look in his eyes stayed with Sylvia all the morning as she went about her work, and it seemed to lighten her heart and keep her mind away from the possibilities of the immediate future. Though whenever she thought of taking Rance Nelius home to meet them all at Christmas and what a happy thing it could be, there would be a sudden dashing of her hopes at the thought of Rex. Could she possibly be glad to introduce her handsome brother Rex to Rance? Could she ever explain his foolishness in marrying while he was still in college? And then her young heart would cry out quietly to God:
Oh, God! Won't You please help us? Somehow save Rex from this awful thing that he has done! Somehow make it come out right for us all!
Again and again she found herself praying this, as she sat studying or while she was driving herself through the examination that filled the closing hours of the morning session.

Sylvia was a beautiful girl, perhaps after the old-fashioned idea of beauty more than the modern one. Her complexion was clear and healthy, with a lovely flush of her own that was not applied daily. Her eyes were wide and blue with dark lashes and delicate dark, straight brows. They were eyes that looked at you levelly and unafraid. Her lips were their own natural color, curved often into merry smiles and bringing along a dimple or two when her heart was glad. Her hair was golden brown and needed no permanent wave, as one had come with her when she was born, and bright little tendrils of curls fluffed about her face making a soft setting for her every expression. Even her brothers were wont to think of her as beautiful, though Sylvia had no notion of it herself. The most of her thoughts were for the others, her dear family; if they were happy, it always made her as glad as if the happiness had been hers personally.

That morning as she sat at her work, there was something unusually lovely about her, as if a fairy gift had been given her. Sometimes she found herself wondering why she was so pleased that Rance was glad to have her go. At any rate, little by little she ceased to be worried about the situation at home and what it might be when he came after her. She had a feeling of assurance that whatever happened, Rance would understand and take it all in good part. She did not know that more than once that morning Rance Nelius made an errand past the door of the room where she was and turned his head to get a glimpse of her.

The last class in the afternoon was the one that they had together, and when Sylvia gathered up her books and started toward the cloakroom, her glance met his, and she was not surprised when she came out into the hall to find him standing by the outer door waiting for her.

"Do you mind if I walk a little way and find out where I am to come Saturday night?" he asked as they went down the walk to the entrance together.

"Mind?" said Sylvia. "Why, that would be delightful. Let's walk all the way! I feel as if I had been cramped up for a week! It will be nice to get some exercise. Unless that will keep you too long from something."

"No," he said happily. "I haven't anything to be kept from for once. Just one more exam tomorrow afternoon, and I'm fairly sure of that. It's my major, so I'm not going to worry. How did it go with you this afternoon? Those questions weren't so bad, were they?"

"No," said Sylvia with a little laugh of relief. "I was surprised. I expected they would be terrible. I think perhaps I did fairly well, all but the second question. I wasn't at all sure of that. I suppose you knew it all and didn't have to hesitate."

"No," said Rance, "I wasn't sure of everything. That second question I thought was rather tricky."

And then they launched into a discussion of their studies, and Sylvia felt the thrill of being on a level with this young man who was considered bright, though he seemed utterly humble and unconscious of his superior knowledge. So she chattered on just as she would have done with one of her brothers.

As they came to the corner where Sylvia usually met Stan and Fae, she gave a quick look around. What would they think if they saw her coming with a strange man? Would Stan be apt to frown and think she was starting something like Rex's affair?

But neither of the children were in sight, and then she remembered. The university class had been much longer than usual, and perhaps Stan and Fae had been dismissed early that afternoon, or more likely kept for some Christmas doings. Well, it was just as well. She didn't want things complicated.

They were getting very well acquainted on this walk. They liked many of the same things, had enjoyed the same books and the same lectures, and they seemed to have made much the same judgments about their professors. They spoke the same language. Both of them realized that.

"This part of the city is beautiful, isn't it?" said Rance, looking around admiringly. "I haven't been out this way before."

"Why, yes," said Sylvia, looking up half in wonder. "I suppose it is. I never think about it much. We've lived here all our lives and got used to it, I guess. The houses are rather old-fashioned, but they are big and pleasant and have ground around them. There are a few beautiful gardens. We all went to school first down that street, about three blocks away, and the high school was in the same direction. Yes, it's been nice here, and we love it. This is our house," Sylvia said, turning in at the big stone gateway. Then suddenly it came upon her what might have happened since she left that morning! Had Rex come home yet? Should she risk inviting Rance to come in? Yet it was so awkward not to do it. Rance walked with her up to the house, studying it, noting the homelike-ness of the place, the tall perimeter nets of the snowbound tennis court, the outlines of the garden beds.

"It looks like such a pleasant home," he said with a wistfulness in his eyes and tone that was most appealing. She couldn't help inviting him in.

"You'll come in and meet Mother?" she said, trying to speak in an easy manner. "I hope she's home this afternoon."

He smiled down at her.

"Not this afternoon," he said. "I'll save that pleasure for Saturday night, if I may. I wanted to find out just where I was coming. Now I shall not miss my way. You have a lovely home," he added, giving an admiring glance up at the house again. "I like it." His eyes met hers once more, with a satisfied look that gave her a little breathless feeling. "Good-bye. I'll see you in the morning," he said, and with a wave of his hand he was gone. Sylvia stood still and watched him walk briskly down the drive and out the gate, thinking what a good time she had had for the last hour, in fact for the whole day, so far. Now, what would be coming next?

She walked slowly into the house, almost afraid to stop and listen. But when she got inside the hall, there was no sound anywhere except the canary in the dining room yelling till it seemed he would fairly split his yellow throat.

She ran upstairs to her mother's room, but she was not there. She called and looked about, but there came no answer. She could hear Selma down in the kitchen putting away pots and pans.

She went into her own room, and there on her desk she found a little note:

 

Sylvia dear,

 

No developments. I have gone to the church to help with the Christmas luncheon for the mothers of the mission primary class. Will be back about five. Get your Christmas things finished, and don't worry.

 

Mother

 

She drew a deep breath of relief. Nothing happened yet! Perhaps, after all, there wasn't anything. Maybe it was just one of Rex's jokes. She hadn't been able to think that before, because Rex was too kindhearted and loved Mother too much to keep her in anxiety all this time. But surely he must have meant it for a joke and was sure she would understand. Oh, if it could only be that!

So Sylvia got out her Christmas cards and went at addressing the ones she hadn't yet finished. One of them she lingered over--a charming artistic card, not very large, but lovely. It was a soft, beautiful etching of the wise men following a star, and a brief text in script: "We have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him." She had set it aside with Rance Nelius in mind, and now she addressed it to him with a pleasant sense that it was all right. Mother would approve, she was certain. Somehow that walk home had made her entirely sure of that.

Then she went happily to work on an unfinished bureau set she had been making for Fae's room. While she worked she kept thinking of things they had talked about on the way home. Rance was very nice. Oh, if only everything were all right so they could have the party of old friends they had planned, and she might invite Rance. She knew they would all like Rance. He would fit in perfectly. But now--!

Then her mind trailed off, wondering if she could bring herself to tell Rance about Rex. Suppose he came here for her Saturday night and Rex and his new wife should walk in! Rex looking so young and boyish and having a wife! She couldn't bear the thought of having to tell Rance Nelius that her brother had done such a wild thing as to get married that way. Oh, if it only didn't have to be!
Then she heard the children's voices, Fae's pitched high with excitement. She remembered that Fae's school was to have their Christmas play rehearsal that afternoon. That was why the house had been so empty.

She hurried to put away her work so that Fae wouldn't see it. She could finish it tonight after Fae had gone to bed.

The children hunted her up at once.

"Anything happen yet, Syl?" asked Stan.

"Not that I know of," said Sylvia. "There's Mother's note I found when I got home. I haven't seen her yet, of course."

"Heck! How long's this thing going to last?" said Stan with a frown. "Seems like it wasn't worthwhile planning any fun or anything."

"It can't last much longer," said Sylvia. "Tomorrow's the last day of school. I should think they'd be coming home tomorrow night, or Saturday morning at the latest."

"Well, it's the limit to have our holidays spoiled this way," said Fae. "Other people are having good times, and we just have to hold our breaths all the time. I don't see why Rex didn't know what he'd done."

"Maybe he does," said Stan soberly. "Maybe he's sorry as the dickens by this time. Maybe he's sore at himself. I've felt that way myself when I know I've done something wrong. Say, I'm going down to get an apple. Who wants one?"

"I do," said Fae.

"Bring me one, too, Stan," said Sylvia.

And presently Stan came back with a plate of shining red apples, and they all fell to enjoying them.

When they sighted their mother turning into the gateway, they all raced down the drive to meet her, even Sylvia. But they did not talk about their worries on the way to the house. They smiled and talked cheerfully, for they all saw their mother was very tired. Fae told about how the play was going and that she had to make a presentation speech tomorrow for the teacher's present. It was a beautiful, big photograph album of real leather, with the picture of the whole class pasted in the front. Fae was very much excited about it. And then Stan had to tell about the tree he trimmed and how Mary Elizabeth Remley had helped him. Fae chimed in again about how mean Betty Lou had been about wanting to wear her new pajamas, how she stayed away from rehearsal, how Miss Jenkins had made Fae take Betty Lou's part, and how if Betty Lou didn't turn up and apologize, she would be cut and Fae would have to keep it.

Mary Garland listened to them all, smiling, gentle, her tired eyes on first one and then the other. Then she looked at her eldest girl. Sylvia wasn't saying anything, but her face had happy curves, and the strained, anxious look was gone. The others sighed as she entered the house and looked anxiously on the hall table for a letter. But there was no letter. Too many things going on at college for Paul to think of writing, and, of course, she hadn't called him again. She was glad of that, for now she wouldn't have to worry about his trying to discipline Rex. Undoubtedly, Rex needed discipline, but college was not the place to give it, under the circumstances, and Paul was not the one to administer it at present. She was, however, feeling the strain of Rex's silence greatly. It had seemed to her that the hours since Rex's letter had first arrived had been the longest she had ever experienced, the days interminable and the nights a torture. There was a sad, sweet, strained look on her face that the children could readily read, and their resentment against their once adored brother was growing day by day.

They ate their supper quietly. Mother was not eating much. They all noticed that, and they got up from the table with a kind of apathy toward the evening. Mary Garland saw that their nerves were getting raw, too, and that she must rise to the occasion; so she rose. It was what she had been doing ever since their father had died, rising to occasions, and somehow doing that had the power to erase from her brow the new lines of care and give her a kind of loving radiance that drew them all within its power.

"Now, boys and girls," she said playfully, "have any of you any homework that has to be done tonight?"

"Not a scratch," said Stan triumphantly.

"Oh, no!" laughed Fae.

"I got it done early this morning," said Sylvia.