CHAPTER XIX. TOM'S SUCCESS

ontheotherwasacurlofreddishhairandablackbutton.HowTomlaughedwhenhesawthem! “Youdon'tmeanyou'vekeptthatfrightfulguyofaboyallthistime?Polly!Polly!youarethemostfaithful'loveress,'asMaudsays,thatwaseverknown.” “Don'tflatteryourselfthatI'vewornitalltheseyears,sirIonlyputitinlastspringbecauseIdidn'tdaretoaskforoneofthenewones.Thebuttoncameofftheoldcoatyouinsistedonwearingafterthefailure,asifitwasyourdutytolookasshabbyaspossible,andthecurlIstolefromMaud.Aren'twesilly?” Hedidnotseemtothinkso,andafterashortpauseforrefreshments,Pollyturnedserious,andsaidanxiously,“Whenmustyougobacktoyourhardwork?” “Inaweekortwobutitwon'tseemdrudgerynow,foryou'llwriteeveryday,andIshallfeelthatI'mworkingtogetahomeforyou.Thatwillgivemeaforty-man-power,andI'llpayupmydebtsandgetagoodstart,andthenNedandIwillbemarriedandgointopartnership,andwe'llallbethehappiest,busiestpeopleintheWest.” “Itsoundsdelightfulbutwon'tittakealongtime,Tom?” “Onlyafewyears,andweneedn'twaitaminuteafterSydispaid,ifyoudon'tmindbeginningratherlowdown,Polly.” “I'dratherworkupwithyou,thansitidlewhileyoutoilawayallalone.That'sthewayfatherandmotherdid,andIthinktheywereveryhappyinspiteofthepovertyandhardwork.” “Thenwe'lldoitbyanotheryear,forImustgetmoresalarybeforeItakeyouawayfromagoodhomehere.Iwish,oh,Polly,howIwishIhadahalfofthemoneyI'vewasted,tomakeyoucomfortable,now.” “Nevermind,Idon'twantitI'dratherhaveless,andknowyouearneditallyourself,”criedPolly,asTomstruckhishandonhiskneewithanacutepangofregretatthepowerhehadlost. “It'slikeyoutosayit,andIwon'twasteanywordsbewailingmyself,becauseIwasafool.Wewillworkuptogether,mybravePolly,andyoushallyetbeproudofyourhusband,thoughheis'poorTomShaw.'” Shewasassureofthatasifanoraclehadforetoldit,andwasnotdeceivedforthelovingheartthathadalwaysseen,believed,andtriedtostrengthenallgoodimpulsesinTom,waswellrepaidforitsinstinctivetrustbythehappinessoftheyearstocome. “Yes,”shesaid,hopefully,“Iknowyouwillsucceed,forthebestthingamancanhave,isworkwithapurposeinit,andthewilltodoitheartily.” “Thereisonebetterthing,Polly,”answeredTom,turningherfaceupalittle,thathemightseehisinspirationshininginhereyes. “Whatisit,dear?” “Agoodwomantoloveandhelphimallhislife,asyouwillme,pleaseGod.” “Eventhoughsheisold-fashioned,”whisperedPolly,withhappyeyes,thebrighterfortheirtears,asshelookedupattheyoungman,who,throughher,hadcaughtaglimpseofthetruestsuccess,andwasnotashamedtooweittoloveandlabor,twobeautifuloldfashionsthatbeganlongago,withthefirstpairinEden. LestanyofmyyoungreaderswhohavehonoredMaudwiththeirinterestshouldsufferthepangsofunsatisfiedcuriosityastoherfuture,IwilladdfortheirbenefitthatshedidnotmarryWill,butremainedabusy,livelyspinsterallherdays,andkepthouseforherfatherinthemostdelightfulmanner. Will'sministerialdreamcametopassinthecourseoftime,however,andagentle,bright-eyedladyruledovertheparsonage,whomthereverendWilliamcalledhis“littleJane.” Fartherintofuturityeventhisrashpendaresnotproceed,butpauseshere,concludinginthewordsofthedearoldfairytales,“Andsotheyweremarried,andalllivedhappilytilltheydied.”