But Mary’s call was never made, for an hour later Mr. Benjamin Jarvis rode in to announce with an 222 air of mystery a barn-warming in his new building for that very evening.
“It’s short notice,” he explained to those who had met his invitation with instantaneous and delighted acceptance, “it’s short notice, but, when you come to think of it, there ain’t much time left. You ladies go back East in less than a week, and the threshers may come any day, so I says to Allan this mornin’ that seein’ the floor was laid we hadn’t better wait to get the windows in nor any finishin’ touches. It will be a farewell party from Bear Canyon to you, Miss Mary, and a welcomin’ one to the new teacher. I just rode past the school-house to see how she felt about to-night before invitin’ the others. She’s all set up an’ settled in the pine grove next the school, ain’t tired a mite, and says there’s nothing like a neighborhood party to get a person acquainted.”
Mary repeated her appreciation as the second trustee, having announced the time of assembling and probable other guests, turned his horse’s head homeward. Nor were the others slow to voice their own. Virginia was radiant. A real Wyoming 223 barn-warming, she told Mr. Jarvis, seemed the final joy in their collection of summer treasures, and she could not be grateful enough for his hospitality toward her guests.
Everybody for miles around would be there, she announced that evening as they hurried from supper to dress. All the people in the Canyon and the Valley, and even the forest rangers from Sagebrush Point and Cinnamon Creek. It would not be much like a Gordon dance or one at St. Helen’s, but she knew they would enjoy it. Yes, she said in response to Priscilla’s questions, it might really be quite like the one in The Virginian where they had swapped the babies.
Vivian, who had been burrowing in her closet for a stray blue satin slipper to match the gown spread upon her bed, was surprised a few moments later to see Virginia’s dismayed face.
“Oh, Vivian, dear,” she cried, “I thought you’d understand about dressing. You really can’t wear that, you know. Why, nobody will be dressed up like that! It’s for everybody, you see—Dick and Mr. Crusoe and William and the men at Keiths’. 224 They’ll all come in flannel shirts and chaps, and they’d all feel so queer and awkward if we dressed as we would at school. A clean middy is what you want. I’m going to wear that. You see, it’s so different out here, Vivian.”
It certainly was different out there, Vivian said to herself a little petulantly as she hung up the blue dress, and selected a fresh middy and some lighter shoes. Would she be expected to dance with the Bear Canyon forest ranger and his brethren from Cinnamon Creek and Sagebrush Point—with Dick and William and Mr. Crusoe? They were picturesque, and she would enjoy describing them as characteristic of the West when she returned home, but as for dancing with them, that—she was careful not to admit to the others—was quite another matter.
By seven they were off, Mr. Crusoe being the proud driver of the large rig, and the other men following on horseback. The Keith family with Carver and Jack joined them at the main road, and all together they journeyed up Bear Canyon which was populated beyond its wont with pedestrians 225 and equestrians, all bound for the barn-warming of Mr. Benjamin Jarvis.
Virginia’s prophecy was fulfilled. Everybody was there! Not a family in the Valley or Canyon had missed this opportunity. Babies, securely bundled against the night air, slumbered on fresh hay in the unused bins, and allowed their tired parents a few moments to greet their neighbors. Love for their old teacher, and interest in their new, divided the hearts of every child but two in the Bear Canyon school, those of the little girl in the pink apron and Allan Jarvis being immovably anchored. The rangers from Bear Canyon and Sagebrush, together with a bran-new man from Cinnamon Creek, were among the guests, and two cow boys from the great Biering ranch westward had, at the invitation of Mr. Benjamin Jarvis, driven their bunch of cattle into his corral, made camp on the nearby hillside, and stayed for the celebration.
The two guests of honor were escorted to seats on the center platform, expressly built for Mr. Samuel Wilson’s phonograph, which by elevation, it was believed, would furnish sufficient volume for dancing. 226 In the few intervals between the quickly succeeding introductions, Bear Canyon’s two school-mistresses began their acquaintanceship, and Mary found herself strangely fascinated by plain Miss Martha Bumps. A critical analysis failed to warrant the fascination. Certainly Miss Bumps’ appearance was not engrossing. To her, clothes were an economical and a social necessity. She wore her traveling gown of faded blue gingham, which of itself was inconspicuous, had it not been for two pockets of newer material on either side of the front. These proofs of unheeded Scriptural warning, being far different in size, gave the entire garment a sinister, cross-eyed effect, which did not fail to catch the eye of the most casual observer. After a surreptitious examination of the aforesaid pockets, Mary discovered that one was occupied by Miss Bumps’ ample handkerchief, and the other by her tatting.