To repay Ellen Ford for the many things that she had done for her for which she had refused to accept payment in money, Mahala had selected, from samples she had Jason bring her, a piece of attractive pink calico and a blue gingham and a finer piece of dainty white goods. From these she fashioned attractive dresses for Ellen. The white one she made foamy with lace and feathery with ruffles. Ellen was delighted. She made bold to throw her arms around Mahala and kiss her repeatedly in an effort to express her thankfulness for this gift. But when the Ford carriage passed the house on Sunday morning, taking the family to church, Mahala was surprised to see that Ellen was wearing the pink dress instead of the white one.
As she served Jason’s plate at dinner that day she said to him: “I thought Ellen would wear the white dress I made for her to-day, but I noticed as they passed that she wore the pink one.”
And Jason answered: “Perhaps she’s saving the white one for some very special occasion.”
“I suspect that is it,” said Mahala. “Maybe there’s going to be a picnic or a party.”
A few days later, sitting on her front steps in the soft air of evening, Mahala saw Ellen slowly coming down the road in her direction, and then she saw Jason coming from one of his fields carrying a hoe over his shoulder. His lithe leap carried him over the fence as Ellen was passing. She saw them stop and begin talking, and then she saw Jason lean his hoe in the fence corner, turn, and slowly walk back down the road with Ellen. He stood for a long time at her gate talking with her before he came back, picked up his hoe, and came on to the house.
For a long time Mahala sat thinking. Then she got up and went to her room. She shut the door, and lighting a lamp, stood before her mirror and looked intently at the reflection of her face. It was a very white face that she saw and it was gazing at her with wide, questioning eyes. Then slowly she undressed and went to bed without saying good-night to Jason.
For a few days Mahala went about her work in a sort of stupefied fashion. Sometimes she lifted her head and ran her hands over her face as if it were a numb thing that needed, in some way, to be galvanized into expression by an outside agency. And then, a few days later, there were steps on the veranda, the door opened, and Jason and Ellen Ford came in together. Ellen’s face was flushed, her eyes were dancing, and her red lips were laughing. The white dress was clothing her beautifully.
In a voice that was steady but slightly husky, Jason said: “Mahala, Ellen is my wife. We were married an hour ago. I am glad that you’ve learned already to love her.”
There is large advantage in having been born a thoroughbred. Mahala kissed Ellen’s pink cheeks. She patted down a white ruffle that was not quite in place. She said very quietly: “Indeed I have learned to love Ellen.”
She offered Jason a steady hand and hearty congratulations, and then she sat down and said evenly: “Now tell me about your plans.”