CHAPTER XIV

Lifecannotstopbecausetragedyentersit.Mealsmustbemadereadythoughasondiesandporchesmustberepairedevenifyouronlydaughterisgoingoutofhermind.Mrs.Frederick,inhersystematicway,hadlongagoappointedthesecondweekinJunefortherepairingofthefrontporch,theroofofwhichwassaggingdangerously.RoaringAbelhadbeenengagedtodoitmanymoonsbeforeandRoaringAbelpromptlyappearedonthemorningofthefirstdayofthesecondweek,andfelltowork.Ofcoursehewasdrunk.RoaringAbelwasneveranythingbutdrunk.Buthewasonlyinthefirststage,whichmadehimtalkativeandgenial.TheodourofwhiskyonhisbreathnearlydroveMrs.FrederickandCousinStickleswildatdinner.EvenValancy,withallheremancipation,didnotlikeit.ButshelikedAbelandshelikedhisvivid,eloquenttalk,andaftershewashedthedinnerdishesshewentoutandsatonthestepsandtalkedtohim. Mrs.FrederickandCousinSticklesthoughtitaterribleproceeding,butwhatcouldtheydo?Valancyonlysmiledmockinglyatthemwhentheycalledherin,anddidnotgo.Itwassoeasytodefyonceyougotstarted.Thefirststepwastheonlyonethatreallycounted.TheywerebothafraidtosayanythingmoretoherlestshemightmakeascenebeforeRoaringAbel,whowouldspreaditalloverthecountrywithhisowncharacteristiccommentsandexaggerations.Itwastoocoldaday,inspiteoftheJunesunshine,forMrs.Fredericktositatthedining-roomwindowandlistentowhatwassaid.ShehadtoshutthewindowandValancyandRoaringAbelhadtheirtalktothemselves.ButifMrs.Frederickhadknownwhattheoutcomeofthattalkwastobeshewouldhavepreventedit,iftheporchwasneverrepaired. Valancysatonthesteps,defiantofthechillbreezeofthiscoldJunewhichhadmadeAuntIsabelavertheseasonswerechanging.Shedidnotcarewhethershecaughtacoldornot.Itwasdelightfultositthereinthatcold,beautiful,fragrantworldandfeelfree.Shefilledherlungswiththeclean,lovelywindandheldoutherarmstoitandletittearherhairtopieceswhileshelistenedtoRoaringAbel,whotoldherhistroublesbetweenintervalsofhammeringgailyintimetohisScotchsongs.Valancylikedtohearhim.Everystrokeofhishammerfelltruetothenote. OldAbelGay,inspiteofhisseven