Elsie's Kith and Kin

  ELSIE'S KITH AND KIN

  by

  MARTHA FINLEY

  1886

  CHAPTER I.

  "O married love! each heart shall own; Where two congenial souls unite,Thy golden chains inlaid with down, Thy lamp with heaven's own splendor bright."LANGHORNE.

  "There, there, little woman! light of my eyes, and core of my heart! ifyou don't stop this pretty soon, I very much fear I shall be compelledto join you," Edward Travilla said, between a laugh and a sigh, drawingZoe closer to him, laying her head against his breast, and kissing hertenderly on lip and cheek and brow. "I shall begin to think you alreadyregret having staid behind with me."

  "No, no, no!" she cried, dashing away her tears, then putting her armsabout his neck, and returning his caresses with ardor of affection."Dear Ned, you know you're more than all the rest of the world to yoursilly little wife. But it seems lonely just at first, to have them allgone at once, especially mamma; and to think we'll not see her again formonths! I do believe you'd cry yourself, if you were a girl."

  "Altogether likely," he said, laughing, and giving her another hug;"but, being a man, it wouldn't do at all to allow my feelings toovercome me in that manner. Besides, with my darling little wife stillleft me, I'd be an ungrateful wretch to repine at the absence of otherdear ones."

  "What a neat little speech, Ned!" she exclaimed, lifting her head tolook up into his face, and laughing through her tears--for her eyes hadfilled again. "Well, you know I can't help feeling a little lonely andsad just at first; but, for all that, I wouldn't for the world beanywhere else than here in your arms:" and with a sigh of content andthankfulness, she let her pretty head drop upon his breast again.

  "My darling! may it ever be to you the happiest place on earth! Godhelping me, I shall always try to make it so," he said, with a suddenchange to gravity, and in low, moved tones.

  "My dear, dear husband!" she murmured, clinging closer to him.

  Then, wiping her eyes, "I sha'n't cry any more; for, if I'm not thehappiest woman in the world, I ought to be. And what a nice time weshall have together, dear Ned! each wholly devoted to the other allwinter long. I have it all planned out: while you are out about theplantation in the mornings, I'll attend to my housekeeping and mystudies; and in the afternoons and evenings,--after I've recited,--wecan write our letters, or entertain ourselves and each other with musicor books; you can read to me while I work, you know."

  "Yes: a book is twice as enjoyable read in that way--sharing thepleasure with you," he said, softly stroking her hair, and smiling downinto her eyes.

  "Especially if it is a good story, or a bit of lovely poetry," sheadded.

  "Yes," he said: "we'll have both those in turn, and some solid readingbesides."

  "I don't like solid reading," she returned, with a charming pout.

  "One may cultivate a taste for it, I think," he answered pleasantly.

  "But you can't cultivate what you haven't got," she objected.

  "True enough," he said, laughing. "Well, then, we'll try to get a littlefirst, and cultivate it carefully afterward. I must go now, love," headded, releasing her: "the men need some directions from me, in regardto their work."

  "And the women some from me," said Zoe. "Oh! you needn't laugh, Ned,"shaking her finger at him, as he turned in the doorway to give her anamused glance: "perhaps some of these days you'll find out that I amreally an accomplished housewife, capable of giving orders anddirections too."

  "No doubt, my dear; for I am already proud of you in that capacity," hesaid, throwing her a smiling kiss, then hurrying away.

  Zoe summoned Aunt Dicey, the housekeeper, gave her orders for the day,and the needed supplies from pantry and storeroom, they went to thesewing-room, to give some directions to Christine and Alma.

  She lingered there for a little, trying on a morning-dress they weremaking for her, then repaired to her boudoir, intent upon beginning herstudies, which had been rather neglected of late, in the excitement ofthe preparations for the departure of the greater part of the family fora winter at Viamede.

  But she had scarcely taken out her books, when the sound of wheels onthe avenue attracted her attention; and glancing from the window, shesaw the Roselands carriage draw up at the front entrance, and Ella Conlyalight from it, and run up the veranda steps.

  "There, I'll not do much studying to-day, I'm afraid," said Zoe, halfaloud; "for, even if it's only a call she has come for, she'll not leaveunder an hour."

  She hastily replaced the books in the drawer from which she had takenthem,--for she had a feeling, only half acknowledged even to herself, ofrepugnance to having Ella know of her studies,--Ella, who had graduatedfrom boarding-school, and evidently felt herself thoroughlyeducated,--and hurried down to meet and welcome her guest.

  "I told Cal and Art, I thought you'd be sure to feel dreadfully lonelyto-day, after seeing everybody but Ned start off on a long journey, andso I'd come and spend the day with you," said Ella, when the two hadexchanged kisses, and inquiries after each other's health.

  "It was very kind and thoughtful in you," returned Zoe, leading the wayinto the parlor usually occupied by the family, where an open wood fireblazed cheerily on the hearth.

  "Take this easy-chair, won't you?" she said, wheeling it a littlenearer the grate; "and Dinah shall carry away your wraps when it suitsyou to doff them. I wish cousins Cal and Art would invite themselves todine with us too."

  "Art's very busy just now," said Ella: "there's a good deal of sickness,and I don't believe he's spent a whole night at home for the last weekor more."

  "Dear me! I wouldn't be a doctor for any thing, nor a doctor's wife!"exclaimed Zoe.

  "Well, I don't know: there's something to be said on both sides of thatquestion," laughed Ella. "I can tell you, Art would make a mighty goodhusband; and it's very handy, in ease of sickness, to have the doctor inthe house."

  "Yes; but, according to your account, he's generally somewhere else thanin his own house," returned Zoe playfully.

  Ella laughed. "Yes," she said, "doctors do have a hard life; but, if yousay so to Art, he always says he has never regretted having chosen themedical profession, because it affords so many opportunities for doinggood. It's plain he makes that the business of his life. I'm proud ofArt. I don't believe there's a better man anywhere. I was sick lastsummer, and you wouldn't believe how kindly he nursed me."

  "You can't tell me any thing about him that I should think too good tobelieve," said Zoe. "He's our family doctor, you remember; and, ofcourse, we are all attached to him on that account, as well as becauseof the relationship."

  "Yes, to be sure. There, Dinah, you may carry away my hat and cloak,"Ella said, divesting herself of them as she spoke, "but leave thesatchel. I brought my fancy-work, Zoe: one has to be industrious now, asChristmas is coming. I decided to embroider a pair of slippers for eachof my three brothers. Walter does not expect to get home; so I made hisfirst, as they had to travel so far. I'm nearly done with Art's, andthen I have Cal's to do."

  "Oh, how pretty!" exclaimed Zoe, examining the work: "and that's a newstitch; won't you teach it to me?"

  "Yes, indeed, with pleasure. And I want you to teach me how to crochetthat lace I saw you making the other day. I thought it so pretty."

  The two spent a pleasant morning chatting together over theirfancy-work, saying nothing very wise, perhaps, but neither did they sayany thing harmful: an innocent jest now and again, something--usuallylaudatory--about some member of the family connection, and remarks anddirections about their work, formed the staple of their talk.

  "Oh! how did it come that you and Ned staid behind when all the restwent to Viamede for the winter?" asked Ella.

  "Business kept my husband, and love for him and his socie
ty kept me,"returned Zoe, with a look and smile that altogether belied any suspicionElla might have had that she was fretting over the disappointment.

  "Didn't you want to go?"

  "Yes, indeed, if Edward could have gone with me; but any place with himis better than any other without him."

  "Well, I don't believe I should have been willing to stay behind, evenin your place. I've always had a longing to spend a winter therevisiting my sister Isa, and my cousins Elsie and Molly. Cal and Art say,perhaps one or both of them may go on to spend two or three weeks thiswinter; and in that case I shall go along."

  "Perhaps we may go at the same time, and what a nice party we willmake!" said Zoe. "There," glancing from the window, "I see my husbandcoming, and I want to run out and speak to him. Will you excuse me amoment?" and scarcely waiting for a reply, she ran gayly away.

  Meeting Edward on the threshold, "I have no lessons to recite thistime," she said; "but you are not to scold, because I've been preventedfrom studying by company. Ella is spending the day with me."

  "Ah! I hope you have had a pleasant time together--not too much troubledby fear of a lecture from the old tyrant who bears your lessons," hesaid laughingly, as he bent his head to press a kiss of ardent affectionupon the rosy lips she held up to him.

  "No," she laughed in return: "I'm not a bit afraid of him."

  Zoe had feared the hours when Edward was unavoidably absent from herside would be very lonely now while the other members of the Ion familywere away; but she did not find it so; her studies, and the work ofmaking various pretty things for Christmas gifts, keeping her very busy.

  And, when he was with her, time flew on very rapid wings. She had grownquite industrious, and generally plied her needle in the evenings whilehe read or talked to her. But occasionally he would take the embroidery,or whatever it was, out of her hands, and toss it aside, saying she wastrying her eyes by such constant use; and, besides, he wanted herundivided attention.

  And she would resign herself to her fate, nothing loath to be drawnclose to his side, or to a seat upon his knee, to be petted andcaressed like a child, which, indeed, he persisted in calling her.

  This was when they were alone: but very frequently they had company tospend the day, afternoon, or evening; for Ion had always been noted forits hospitality; and scarcely a week passed in which they did not pay avisit to the Oaks, the Laurels, the Pines, or Roselands.

  Also a brisk correspondence was carried on with the absent members ofthe family. And Zoe's housekeeping cares and duties were just enough tobe an agreeable variety in her occupations: every day, too, when theweather permitted, she walked or rode out with her husband.

  And so the time passed quite delightfully for the first two months afterthe departure of the Viamede party.

  It was a disappointment that Edward found himself too busy to make thehoped-for trip to Viamede at Christmas-time; yet Zoe did not fret overit, and really enjoyed the holidays extremely, giving and receivingnumerous handsome presents, and, with Edward's assistance, making it amerry and happy time for the servants and other dependants, as well asfor the relatives and friends still in the neighborhood.

  The necessary shopping, with Edward to help her, and the packingand sending off of the Christmas-boxes to Viamede, to thecollege-boys,--Herbert and Harold,--and numerous other relatives andfriends far and near, Zoe thought altogether the most delightfulbusiness she had ever taken in hand.

  A very merry, happy little woman she was through all those weeks andmonths, Edward as devoted as any lover, and as gay and light-hearted asherself.

  "Zoe, darling," Edward said one day at dinner, "I must drive over intoour little village of Union--by the way, do you know that we have morethan a hundred towns of that name in these United States?"

  "No, I did not know, or suspect, that we had nearly so many," sheinterrupted, laughing: "no wonder letters go astray when people are notparticular to give the names of both county and State. But what were yougoing to say about driving over there?"

  "I must see a gentleman on business, who will be there to meet thefive-o'clock train, and leave on it; and, in order to be certain ofseeing him, I must be there at least fifteen or twenty minutes before itis due. Shall I have the pleasure of my wife's company in the carriage?I have ordered it to be at the door by fifteen or twenty minutes pastfour, which will give us plenty of time, as it is an easy matter todrive from here to Union in ten minutes."

  "Thank you," she said. "I accept the invitation with pleasure, andpromise to be ready at the minute."

  "You are the best little woman about that," he returned, with anappreciative look and smile. "I don't remember that you have ever yetkept me waiting, when told beforehand at what time I intended to start."

  "Of course not," she said, with a pleased laugh; "because I was afraid,if I did, I shouldn't be invited so often: and I'm always so glad to gowith you."

  "Not gladder than I am to have you," he said, with a very lover-likeglance and smile. "I always enjoy your society, and am always proud toshow my friends and acquaintances what a dear little wife I have. I daresay I'm looked upon as a very fortunate fellow in that respect, andsometimes envied on account of having drawn such a prize in thematrimonial lottery."

  They had left the table while he spoke, and with the last words hepassed his arm round her waist.

  "Dear me, Ned, what a gallant speech!" she said, flushing with delight;"you deserve a reward:" and she held up her face for a kiss.

  "I am overpaid," he said, when he had bestowed it.

  "In spite of the coin being such as you have a right to help yourselfto whenever you will?" she returned with a merry laugh. "O Ned, mylover-husband!" she added, laying her head on his breast, "I am so happyin belonging to you, and I can never love you enough for all yourgoodness to me!"

  "Darling, are you not equally good and loving to me?" he asked in tendertones, and holding her close.

  "But I owe every thing to you," she responded with emotion. "If you hadnot come to my aid when my dear father was taken from me, what wouldhave become of me, a mere child, without a near relative in the world,alone and destitute in a foreign land?"

  "But I loved you, dearest. I sought my own happiness, as well as yours,in asking you to be my wife. So you need never feel burdened by the ideathat you are under any special obligation to me, to whom you are thevery sunshine of life."

  "Dear Ned, how very kind in you to say so," she responded, gazing withardent affection into his eyes; "but it isn't burdensome to be underobligation to you, any more than it is a trial to be ruled by you," sheadded, with playful tenderness; "and I love to think of all yourgoodness to me."

  It was five minutes past four by Zoe's watch, and she just about to goto her dressing-room to put on her hat and cloak, when visitors wereannounced,--some ladies who always made a lengthened call at Ion; soshe at once resigned herself to the loss of her anticipated drive withher husband.

  "O Ned!" she whispered in a hasty, vexed aside, "you'll have to goalone."

  "Yes, dear," he returned; "but I'll try to get back in time to take youa drive in the other direction."

  They stepped forward, and greeted their guests with hospitablecordiality.

  They were friends whose visits were prized and enjoyed, though theircoming just at this time was causing Zoe a real disappointment. However,Edward's promise of a drive with him at a later hour so far made amendsfor it, that she could truthfully express pleasure in seeing her guests.

  Edward chatted with them for a few moments, then, excusing himself onthe plea of business that could not be deferred, left them to beentertained by Zoe, while he entered his waiting carriage, and went onhis way to the village, where he expected to meet his businessacquaintance.