He was completely nonplused, as a lawyer friend of mine said one day when he wanted me to think he knew Latin.
For a few days more everything at the bindery went on as usual, and then there came another telegram.
Miss Hattie looked exceedingly joyous over this, and now told Mr. Jones that the branch bindery was going nicely, and that Mr. W—— was coming home, and would be there in just seven days if no accident occurred on the way.
And then she told him that she should close up all her work and leave the bindery on the next day. She would arrange his books and pay-rolls as she had been doing all the time, up to the end of the week, and then it would be easy for him to run matters until Mr. W—— was in the shop again.
Here was another poser for poor Mr. Jones. Why should Hattie Butler post off to Boston, as she said she was going there, when Mr. W—— was expected home?
“I thought she set a heap o’ store by him and he by her,” said Jones, talking it over to his wife. “And now when he is coming back, she puts right out as if she didn’t want to see him at all.”
“It’s a sure sign she loves him—she is bashful like, as I was once,” said Mrs. Jones. “You’ll see. He’ll follow her to Boston, there’ll be a short bit o’ courtin’, and then a grand weddin’, and Mr. W—— will come back with his bride on his arm as proud as you was when you kissed me before the parson could get a chance.”
And that was all the good woman knew about it.
There was tribulation that night at the supper-table at Miss Scrimp’s. Hattie Butler, in a tone of deep feeling, told all the girl boarders she was about to leave them forever. She called each one to her and kissed her, after supper, and gave her a gold ring, with the name of “Hattie” on it, as a remembrance, and she told them, while she thanked them for their ever kind feeling to her, she would not forget them in the distant home to which she was going. If any of them ever was sick, or in distress, if they would send a note to Hattie Butler, care of Mr. W——, at the bindery, it would reach her, and she would relieve them, for God had been good to her; she was rich now, and willing to serve Him by sharing her riches with those who were in want or suffering.
The girls kissed her, and wept over her. It seemed as if they could not let her go.