"Yes," says Bonnie Bell; "and, as far as that goes, if I could get you
to come with me I would always ride a horse and not go in a car or
boat."
"Boat?" says Miss Kimberly. "Oh, of course you have 'em too."
"Come down," says Bonnie Bell, "and you and I can look at my horses and
boat and things. After that I'll take you home."
"Oh, may I go?" says this Katherine girl. "You see, I suppose I must get
home before they tell mommah."
Well, she hadn't more than got out on our porch than she knew in a
minute where she was. This was where she showed she was a lady born and
a good girl too. She never let on beyond that first look--she seen she
had been brought into the house of us can-nyes. This was the house with
the wall, where nobody of the Row ever went.
"How lovely it is!" says she. "Do you know you have the nicest place on
this whole street? It's tasteful. I like this little sunken garden--it's
a dear! And see how the ivy grows on the wall! And over there's the
boathouse. May I see your things?"
Now what she said last wasn't any bluff. It was just the girl in her
talking to another girl. I seen Bonnie Bell give her another look, kind
of asting like--she herself was free and friendly every way; but she
hadn't been used to this right along lately. So she looks at this
Katherine Kimberly right close for about half a second, till she seen
she was on the square.
Then this Kimberly girl puts her arm round Bonnie Bell. That was the way
them two went down to the boathouse--their arms around one another. When
they come back, in about ten minutes or so, they was talking so fast
neither one of them could of heard what the other was saying.
"Oh, my goodness!" says Katherine after a little. "I must be going home.
It isn't far, you know."
"Yes; I know," says Bonnie Bell, quiet.
"And you said you'd take me home in your car?"
"And you want me to?" says Bonnie Bell, kind of funny.
"I wish you would--if you will. Of course I could walk."
"Does your head hurt now?" ast Bonnie Bell.
The girl looked at her straight. Then I knew she was on the square.
"No, it don't," says she; "but I'd like it if you would take me home in
your car," says she. "I want you to come in and meet my mommah. We want
to come down here if you'll let us, all of us. Will you let us? Will you
let us, Bonnie?" says she.
Now, ain't it funny how much can happen quiet and easy? I expect more had
happened for Bonnie Bell this last hour or so than had in a whole year
before--and all by accident, like most good things comes to us. Not a
woman in that block had ever called on Bonnie Bell and it didn't look
like they ever would. We wasn't on the map--even me, that ain't got any
brains at all, knowed that.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account