Partners (18 page)

And when later the boy lay in the bed beside him, his young sweet breath wafting softly, regularly, Reuben began to think about what the child had said and to wonder if he himself was really "saved," or had he only accepted a form as a child and nothing more? And suddenly he found his heart going out in longing to be sure it was real.
Oh, Lord
, he cried in his heart,
if it didn't mean anything before, You know it does now! I take Jesus Christ as my Savior
now
!

He knew better than to expect any great feeling of exaltation. His mother had taught him better than that. But he did feel that God had really spoken to him through that little boy, and he was conscious of an inner quietness and rest.

Then he got to thinking about that girl Agnes. She used to be active in Sunday school and church affairs. He could remember her serving at the table one night when there was a young people's banquet in the church. He remembered how pretty she looked, wearing a bright scarlet dress, with a trifling scrap of a white apron and her cheeks scarlet like her dress. Yes, hadn't she taken some part in a meeting they had once? It seemed to him he could remember her standing up before a crowd reading a little item of missionary news. He couldn't remember what the item had been, but he did remember Agnes had a new hat with a wreath of tiny rosebuds around it and a broad floppy brim, and how charming her face looked beneath it. Yes, she had definitely been identified with the church's religious activities, though somehow he couldn't remember that he and she had ever talked about such things as this small boy had been discussing with him, as if he loved it.

This sister, Gillian, must be quite unusual to have taught a mere baby what sounded to him like theological doctrines.

Then suddenly the problems of the sister took possession of his mind, and he began to plan what he would do in the morning to get in touch with that detective and find out just what had been done and whether there was any danger that that old reprobate of an uncle might possibly appear on the scene and make trouble. It might be a good thing to get Dewitt, the company lawyer, in readiness to take over the matter if it should suddenly require expert services. Perhaps he would call him on the telephone, or still better, perhaps he might be coming down from New York on company business and he could get a few minutes with him.

And so, planning a campaign for the next day, Reuben soon fell asleep.

 

The next two days were filled with business. Twice he had to leave Noel with the patient and nurse while he went hither and yon to interview men who could advise him on what to do with Gillian's inheritance and just what would be the best and most lawful way to go about it for her.

Meantime Gillian was having perplexities of her own. The problem of her wardrobe suddenly appeared to her as something important when the nurse remarked Tuesday morning that she was going out shopping for a couple of hours that afternoon and was there anything that her patient would like her to get?

Then the paucity of her meagre outfit came sharply to mind.

"You know, you're going to the shore, and you can't get along very well on just one dress and a robe and a handful of underwear."

She might have called it a "handful of
badly worn
underwear," but she stopped just short of that. Still the idea got across to Gillian's distraught thoughts.

"Oh, I oughtn't to go!" said Gillian in despair. "I knew from the first that was a crazy idea. I really shouldn't have said I'd go. But of course, they've been so kind, perhaps I could get along for a couple of days with one dress, and I really don't mean to stay longer than that!"

"Nonsense!" said the nurse, quite vexed at herself for having brought up the subject. "You'll get along nicely all right on one good dress. Don't get that notion. When you think what wonders the sea air is going to do for you both! You don't need to think of clothes. But if it will make you feel any more comfortable, I could go to your rooming house and get some of your other things for you."

A scared flush came to Gillian's face then died away quickly and left her very white.

"No, thank you," she said with a sigh. "There isn't much there, either. I was running rather low because I was paying off debts after our mother died. But I've a little bit of money now, and I can buy what I really need when I get out again. I think I'll make out. I think perhaps Mr. Remington may be going near my rooming house tomorrow, and he can take Noel. I'll tell Noel a few things to get for me. I've my coat and dress, and that will be all I need for just a short time. There's a little cotton housedress, too, that will help out if it gets hot. It will do to work in."

"
Work!
" sniffed the nurse. "If that woman you're supposed to be going to visit lets you work much, she'll not be worth visiting! I'd like to go along and just tell her a few things about you, but I suppose I'd not be allowed to."

Gillian laughed.

"You're very kind, but I think I'll make out, and you know it's going to be wonderful just to get a glimpse of the sea."

"Yes, of course," agreed the nurse, pursing her lips. "I just asked in case there might be something you were worrying about and wouldn't know how to get. But I'm sure you'd get by anywhere. You're good-looking, and that makes a big difference."

"Good-looking!" exclaimed Gillian and burst into laughter. "I'm certainly not good-looking. I'm too thin and too dark under my eyes. I used to be a cute little girl, I guess, but that's long ago. I've had too many things to worry about to be good-looking, even if I was in the beginning."

"Well, you've got the makings of good looks all right," said the nurse, firmly. "Give you good food and good fresh air for a while, and a nice long rest, and you could stand up with anybody for good looks. Well, you think about it, and if you think of anything you'd like me to get for you, I'd be glad to do my best, and of course anything that you get nowadays you can always return if you decide you don't like it."

"Thank you," said Gillian quietly. "I don't think I'll need anything more just now."

The nurse went on her way while Gillian was eating her lunch, having taken careful note of the general size of her patient's garments, and when she returned, Gillian was asleep. Reuben and Noel had gone on errands, and she was storing up strength for the journey the next day, trying to forget such unhappy things as scant wardrobes.

But the nurse was a bit noisy around the room, and presently Gillian opened her eyes and smiled.

"You all right?" asked the nurse.

"Oh, yes," said Gillian. "Fine! I think I slept most of the time you were gone. Did you have a pleasant time?"

"Yes, I did!" said the nurse. "I found some lovely bargains. Would you like to see what I got?"

"Why, yes, that would be lovely!" said Gillian politely. "I haven't been shopping in so long that I haven't any idea what is being worn now. It would be fun to see a fashion show."

"Oh, this isn't much of a fashion show," laughed the nurse, "just plain little things. You know, this time of year there are lots of summer things going for a song, and I came on some lovely things. At least, I thought they were. You see, I have a young niece who rather depends on me to get her some bargains now and then, so I was real glad to find these. Why, some of these little dresses were only a dollar and thirty-nine cents! What do you think of that?"

"A dollar and thirty-nine cents!" gasped Gillian. "Why, that's almost cheap enough for me, if I weren't saving every cent to get Noel a new suit. But I don't suppose dresses as cheap as that are really worth buying, are they?"

"Oh, yes, they're really neat and pretty, and well cut, too. They've been much more expensive, of course. You know when there's a sale, there's always one or two real bargains, and if you have an eye for that sort of thing, you can tell which are worth buying. I was salesgirl in a department store for a year and a half before I took up nursing, so I generally can spot a bargain. Here, what do you think of this one? Isn't that neat?"

She broke the string, cast the wrapping aside, and spread out a cute little percale with tiny blue flowers over a white background. It had a bit of really attractive white lace edging at the neck and sleeves and was as pretty as could be.

"Why, that is lovely!" said Gillian interestedly. "But you didn't get that for a dollar thirty-nine!"

"Yes, I did! Isn't that wonderful? There were only three at that price that were attractive. Here's one in pink and white----pink background with white collar and cuffs and white buttons. Isn't that nifty? And this green one. I think that's the prettiest of all."

"They are all lovely," said Gillian. "I had no idea you could get anything as good as this for that price. If I had known that, I might have got one. I've a little bit of money, not much."

"Help yourself," said the nurse. "I only brought these out to look them over and decide what I thought Maysie would like best. But wait till you see the others. Here's a brown linen for four ninety-five, real bargains I call them, and a dark blue linen. That's only three ninety-eight because the belt is gone, but you could easily wear a leather belt, either white or black. Aren't they pretty!"

"Oh!" said Gillian wistfully. "I'm so glad you let me see them. Perhaps if I get well enough by next week to take a few minutes off for shopping, there will be some of them left yet. You know dresses like those last two could be worn in the office every day. They would be just the thing. Of course, I have to look neat and nice there!"

"Of course!" said the nurse. "Well, look them over! I shan't try to decide tonight. Of course, they are all returnable. And even if you want one that I had thought of, I can likely get another by just calling up. I got the saleswoman's number."

And then suddenly right into the midst of this fashion show walked Reuben and Noel, and the child was all eagerness.

"Oh, Gillian! I have a present!" he said in a little radiant breathless voice.

"A present!" said Gillian, watching the joy in his dear little face. "Why, how great! Where did you get a present?"

"From my Reuben!" he said exultantly.

Gillian gave one startled look at her little brother, and at the sizable suit box he held out, its cover removed showing an array of small garments. Then her eyes sought Reuben's.

"Oh, Mr. Remington!" she said reproachfully. "You have done so much already for Noel. Please don't make us utterly ashamed!"

"Oh!" said Reuben gently. "I hoped you wouldn't take it that way. Sometime pretty soon, perhaps on the way to the shore, I shall hope to have opportunity to tell you all that your brother has done for me, and then I think you will not grudge me the joy of getting a few things for him. It has been a great pleasure, truly! Of course, they may not be what your choice would have bought, but can't you let him wear them a little while for me? You can throw them away or give them away when summer is over and get more of the kind you would choose yourself, you know, and I would have great pleasure in having him wear these for me."

Gillian looked at him and saw that he genuinely meant it, and her eyes were wide with sudden tears flowing down her cheeks.

"Oh! I thank you!" she blurted out through her tears. "I can't refuse you if you ask that way. If it really has been a pleasure. But it's too wonderful! I can't think it has really happened to us!"

"Of course it's been a pleasure," said Reuben most earnestly. "I wonder if you ever thought how it must be to have nobody left in your family to care for or to buy things for. A little brother has been a wonderful blessing to me for these few days, and I'm going to miss him terribly after this time is over. So I hoped you would take this in the same spirit it is given, and not to think of it as anything great at all. Just a little gift to my little brother! They really are very simple, inexpensive things, and they will soon be outgrown, you know, and all too soon will be too thin for cooler weather. Can't you just take them and think no more of it?"

"Oh, yes," said Gillian, "but--Mr. Remington, please, by and by when I am able to save a little money and things are going better with me, will you promise to let me repay you for these things?"

He looked at her sadly a moment, and then he said, with just a shade of disappointment in his voice: "Why, of course, if that is the only way you will take them, I'll have to say yes; but it will really be a lot more joy to me to give these things outright to the boy whom I have come to love as if he were my own."

And then Gillian, looking into his eyes, saw that it was true as he said, and she dashed away her tears and put out her slender hand to his.

"Well, all right," she said sweetly, humbly, "if you really feel that way, then thank you more than words can tell!"

And Reuben stood there for a moment and held that frail young hand in his warmly and thought that suddenly, surprisingly, this girl seemed somehow to belong, too, to the whole scheme of things that was weaving a web about him and undoing his vacation.

Noel, during these few minutes of their conversation, had stood doubtfully, anxiously watching the two dear faces, fearful lest his new present was not to be really his after all. For, of course, he would not accept them if Gillian did not approve. But there was one thing that was gradually coming sharply to his consciousness as he listened, and that was that Gillian didn't really know his beloved Reuben the way he did, and it seemed a great pity to him. He wondered how he could remedy that.

And then he saw Gillian's tears. Why should his sister cry because he had a present, and such a nice present?

And then he saw their hands together in that strong clasp, and radiance grew in his beautiful young face.

"You do like my present, don't you, Gillian?" he said, and his voice was like a cherub's voice straight from the source of joy.

And suddenly Gillian turned an endearing smile toward him.

"Yes, dearest," she said and, leaning over, kissed him tenderly on his forehead. "Yes, oh, yes! It was wonderful of Mr. Remington to give you all this."