When the girls came clamoring in from school Mr. Artman had not
appeared, so Doris served them with hands that trembled, and finally,
when she saw that father would not come in time to break his own good
news, she said:
"Mr. Davison left a will and father gets a Jersey cow or the red
car--which?"
There was no more dinner after that--for the girls all began talking at
once--except Treasure, who looked volumes, but never had an opportunity
to break into the conversation--and how cross they were at father for
not coming home to share the excitement. But maybe he was learning to
drive the red car, or--
"Milk the cow," faltered Rosalie. "You don't suppose father would let
them talk him into taking the silly old cow, do you?"
"Absolutely not," said Doris imperturbably. "Father knows better than
to decide such a thing by himself. He will come straight home--and I
choose the car."
So the girls reluctantly went off to school again.
At one o'clock a neighbor ran in. "Well, what do you think of that? Did
you ever hear of such a thing? Would anybody but old Davison ever think
of leaving a preacher anything in his will?"
"Mr. Davison was very thoughtful in many ways," said Doris with dignity.
"Yes, I suppose so. Well, it certainly is wonderful luck for you folks.
It is a good cow, one of the best in the county. Everybody says so.
Worth two hundred dollars, and only three years old. And think of the
nice milk and cream and butter and--"
"You don't mean to say father took the cow," gasped Doris.
"Why, I don't know--I suppose so--I should think he would. Whatever
would your poor father do with that devilish little red car? Of course
he will take the cow."
"You scared me for a minute. I thought maybe father had a mental
aberration and did it! No, he will not take the cow--not by any
means. He will take the car, and take it just as fast as ever he can,
and--and--and--"
Of course, the neighbor lady was sure dear Doris was quite daft, but
Doris was tranquilly confident. Her faith in her father's wisdom
remained unshaken--he would come to her, and she had already chosen the
car. It certainly was a General's prerogative--choosing things.
At four o'clock he came, smiling, his face flushed, his eyes bright and
boyish.
"Most fun I've had in ten years," he said, mopping his brow. "I think
if the parishioners knew how much fun it is, more of them would die,
and remember me in their wills."
"You mean--"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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