第80章

"Land sakes! no! What would Olindy be doin' down here? There ain't any brides to dress in this house, or bridegrooms either unless you're cal'latin' to be one, or Lute turns Mormon.That last notion ain't such a bad one," with a dry smile."Another wife or two to help me take care of him would come in handy.""Who did leave the note for me, then?"

"Nellie, of course.She wanted me to be sure you got it.

Somethin' about that wonderful weddin', I s'pose.I left it upstairs on your bureau."I found the note and put it in my pocket to read later on.I did not feel like reading it then.I did not feel like doing anything or seeing any one; yet least of all did I feel like being alone.

For if I was alone I should think, and I did not want to think.Iprowled about my room for a time and then went down and spent a short time with Mother.Her first question was concerning my day at the bank, and her second if I had seen any of the Coltons recently."I rather hoped Miss Mabel would come to see me to-day,"she added."I look forward to her visits so, I think she's a real friend of ours, Roscoe.I know you don't, dear, or you try to believe you do not; but she is--I am convinced of it.I wonder if she will come to-morrow."I could have put a stop to her wondering on that subject, but I was in no mood to do it then.I went into the dining-room.Dorinda warned me not to go far from the house because supper would be ready in a few minutes.The word "supper" reminded me of my unfortunate choice of an excuse and the sarcastic reference to our odd domestic arrangements; which reminded me, in its turn, of other sarcasms which had followed it.My "charming and cultivated society" was not necessary to her happiness...When she thought of how she had lowered herself...Other people did not necessarily regard me as seriously as I did myself...And so on...until Dorinda called me in to sit at the table, and pretend to eat while she and Lute commented on my lack of appetite and my absent-mindedness.

It was eight o'clock, and I had gone up to my room to escape from their solicitude and pointed questioning, when I happened to think of Nellie's note.I had not been curious concerning its contents, for, as I had agreed to act as best man at the wedding, I assumed, as Dorinda had done, that she had written on that, to her, all-important topic.I took the note from my pocket and tore open the envelope.

Nellie had not written about the wedding.Her letter was a long one, evidently written in great agitation and with words blotted and underscored.Its subject was the man she loved, George Taylor.

She was so anxious about him.Did I remember, that night when my mother was ill, how she had spoken of him to me and asked if I had noticed how troubled and worried he seemed of late?

"And, Roscoe," she wrote, "I have noticed it more and more since then.He IS in trouble.There is something on his mind, something that he will not tell me and that I can see is worrying him dreadfully.He is not like himself at all.I KNOW something is wrong, and I cannot find out what it is.I want to help him SOmuch.Oh, please, Roscoe, don't think this is just a foolish girl's imagination, and does not amount to anything.It does.Iknow it does.You are his best friend.Can't YOU find out what is troubling him and help him, for my sake? I have meant to speak to you about this ever so many times, but I seldom see you alone and Icould not speak while he was with me.So I decided to write this letter.If you will try, just TRY to find out what ails him and help him I shall never, NEVER forget your kindness.Perhaps he does not want to marry me.Perhaps he does not care for me as much as he thought he did and will not tell me because he does not want me to feel bad.If that is it tell him not to mind my feelings at all.I want him to be happy.If it would make him happier to have me give him up I will do it, even though I shall pray to die right away.Oh can't you help him and me, Roscoe? Please, PLEASE try.