The abandoned farm, and Connie's mistake

by Mary Jane Holmes

“Let him have a play spell in his own house if he wants to, and you jine in when you can,” she said to Kenneth, who answered that as there was an unusual amount of sickness in town, as well as in Rocky Point, where he was now called in Dr. Catherin’s absence, he should not have much time to spend at the Morris house. He should, of course, be polite to Harry’s guests, and do what he could to make it pleasant for them.

With this his mother was content. She had been very busy, going many times a day across the road to see that the women hired from Millville were doing their work right, and herself washing the twelve windows of the ball-room, where the six cots were set up, giving it the look of a hospital ward, Kenneth said. Hal liked it and was in high spirits. Five had accepted his invitation, and were coming the next day. There was Tom Haynes from Lexington and Jim Drake from Louisville. There was George and Charlie Browne, brothers, from Boston, and Peter Pond, from he hardly knew where, except that he was English, and a big swell with plenty of money. He did not know him personally, but the Brownes did, and vouched for him, and that was enough.

These were the five young men who landed at the Millville station on a summer morning in July. Hal was there to meet them with two open carriages, and the greetings were rather boisterous as four of them seized Harry’s hand, calling him “Old Boy” and introducing the stranger as “Peter the Great.” He was a little dapper man, whose head was far too large for his small body, and whose light summer attire was faultless. He wore a monocle part of the time, and at once made use of it to look at Harry, assuring him that he intended to enjoy himself immensely. They were a jolly set, and the people near the station came to their doors to look at them as they talked and laughed and collected their dressing-cases, hand-bags, fishing tackle, guns, gymnasium clubs, a guitar, a violin and a mandolin, and two boxes marked “Glass,” all of which were piled into an express wagon which Harry called up.

“Now for Liberty Hall,” they said, as they took their seats in the carriage, giving, as they drove off, a college yell, the loud “Rah-rah-rah’s” making the people watching them wonder if they were crazy, and how the deacon and his wife would stand them for a week if they continued as noisy as they had commenced.

The deacon wondered, too, when he saw them alight and heard their shouts and jokes as they looked about them.

“I don’t know for sure, but I guess we or’to go over and welcome ’em. They are not exactly our company, but they are Hal’s,” Mrs. Stannard said to the deacon, urging him until, against his will, he started with her across the street.

Hal did not see them coming, but Charlie Browne did, and said to him, “Look, you are going to have a call. Who are the old coves coming up the walk?”

In a moment young Browne saw his mistake in Harry’s face, which was scarlet. He had wondered what his city friends would think of his uncle and aunt, of whom in his heart he was ashamed. Still if he had his house party he must have his uncle and aunt, too, and he had prepared the way somewhat by explaining that they were old-fashioned people of the pure New England type, but the best and kindest-hearted couple in the world. And here was Charlie Browne, the toniest one of the lot, calling them “old coves” and asking who they were. Rallying all the manhood there was in him, he answered curtly: “Those ‘old coves’ are my uncle and aunt, Deacon and Mrs. Stannard, the best people on earth, and worth half a dozen such cads as I am.”

“By George, I’ve put my foot in it,” Charlie said to himself, but he was equal to the emergency. “Of course. I just glanced at them. I see now, and they are the counterparts of my grandfather and grandmother. I shall be glad to know them.”

The deacon and his wife were in the hall by this time and being presented to the young men, who, having heard of Charlie’s blunder, smothered their laugh in time to be very gracious, declaring themselves delighted to meet Hal’s uncle and aunt, whom they hoped to know more intimately. Mrs. Stannard was completely won over, hoping they would be comfortable, and telling them if they wanted anything to call upon her. As she was leaving, her eye fell upon the two boxes marked “Glass.”