Short stories; United States -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction
“He won't mind,” promised Aunt Olivia for the minister. She went away
presently and cut out Rebecca Mary's new nightgowns. She sat and
stitched them, far into the night, and stitched her sad little bodings
in, one by one. Already desolation gripped Aunt Olivia's heart.
Rebecca Mary's dreams that night were marvelous ones. She dreamed she
saw herself in a glass after she had learned all the things there were
to learn, and she looked like the minister! When she spoke, her voice
sounded deep and sweet like the minister's voice. Somewhere a voice like
the minister's wife's seemed to be calling “Robert! Robert!”
“Yes?” answered Rebecca Mary, and woke up.
There were many preparations to make. The days sped by busily, and to
Rebecca Mary full of joyous expectancy. Aunt Olivia made no moan. She
worked steadily over the plain little outfit and thrust her Dreads away
with resolute courage, to wait until Rebecca Mary was gone. Time enough
then.
“You're doing right—that ought to comfort you,” encouraged Duty, kindly.
“Clear out!” was what Aunt Olivia cried out, sharply, in answer. “You've
done enough—this is all your work! Don't stand there hugging yourself.
YOU'RE not going to miss Rebecca Mary—”
“I shall miss her,” Duty murmured. “I was awake all night, too, dreading
it. You didn't know, but I was there.”
The last day, when it came, seemed a little—a good deal—like that other
day when Aunt Olivia went away, only it was the other way about this
time. Rebecca Mary was going away on this day. The things packed snugly
in the big valise were her things; it was she, Rebecca Mary, who would
unpack them in a wondrous, strange place. It was Rebecca Mary the
minister's wife and Rhoda came to bid good-bye.
Aunt Olivia went to the station in the stage with the child. She did not
speak much on the way, but sat firmly straight and smiled. Duty had told
her the last thing to smile. But Duty had not trusted her; unseen and
uninvited, Duty had slipped into the jolting old vehicle between Aunt
Olivia and Rebecca Mary.
“She isn't the Plummer she was once,” sighed Duty.
But at the little station, in those few final moments, two Plummers, an
old one and a young one, waited quietly together. Neither of them broke
down nor made ado. Duty retired in palpable chagrin.
“Good-bye, my dear,” Aunt Olivia said, steadily, though her lips were
white.
“Good-bye, Aunt Olivia,” Rebecca Mary Plummer said, steadily. “I'm very
MUCH obliged to you for sending me.”
“You're—welcome. Don't forget to wear your rubbers. I put in some
liniment in case you need it—don't get any in your eyes.”
Outside on the platform Aunt Olivia sought and found Rebecca Mary's
window and stood beside it till the train started. Through the dusty
pane their faces looked oddly unfamiliar to each other, and the two
pairs of eyes that gazed out and in had a startled wistfulness in them
that no Plummer eyes should have. If Duty had staid—
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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