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He had a round red face under his plug hat, twinkling blue eyes, and a little pursed-up mouth, the shape of which was partly due to nature and partly to much whistling. Jedediah's pudgy body was clothed in a suit of large, light checks, and he wore a bright pink necktie and an amethyst pin.
"Who's that man," she asked; "the one in the next room to mine, up attic? Is he a new boarder? He must have come awful late. I heard you and him talkin' in the middle of the night. Who is he?" When told the story of Jedediah's return she was greatly excited. "Why, it's just like somethin' in a story!" she cried. "Long-lost folks are always comin' back in stories.
But what makes me feel the worst," she added, "is to think of Jedediah's cruisin' up to the village dressed in the rags he was wearin'. He looked like like somethin' the cat brought in. And everybody'll want to know who he is; and when they find he's my brother! And on Christmas Day, too!" "Imogene!" it was Emily's voice. "Imogene, where are you?" Captain Obed roared a greeting.
Jedediah climbed down from his lofty seat and walked dubiously to a side door that looked more friendly, despite its prim screen, than the classical front porch. As he drew near he saw a woman sitting behind the screen a woman who rose as he approached and opened the door. Jedediah's heart had been beating a wild tattoo as he crossed the yard.
The former and Miss Emily said very little and their appetites were not robust, but they appeared to be very happy indeed. Georgie certainly was happy and Jedediah's appetite was all that might have been expected of an appetite fed upon the cheapest of cheap food for days and compelled to go without any food for others.
I came away and left him praying. Oh, Auntie, isn't it wonderful! Isn't it splendid!" Thankful sighed. "It's so wonderful I can scarcely believe it," she said. "To think of his givin' up money givin' it away of his own accord! I said last night that Jedediah's comin' home was a miracle. This one beats that all to pieces. I don't know what to do about takin' that thousand from him," she added.
"I don't make many mistakes," he observed, slowly; "but I guess I've made one. You're a whole lot deeper'n I thought you was." So much for the proletariat. I heard from the plutocrats next day. Sim Eldredge dropped in on me. After much wriggling about the bush he intimated that he knew of Captain Jedediah's call and what had taken place. "You done just right, Ros," he whispered.
As he finally told about Jedediah's wounded virtue on his deathbed that outcry which seemed to me the most brazen part of the whole imposture suddenly my heart softened, and I, too, believed that by that time of his life old Jed was I really don't know just what it was that I believed, but it was something as comforting as the quiet warmth of the sunshine.
He seems to be thinking of buying some of our property." I told her of Jedediah's interest in the Shore Lane and his hint concerning its possible purchase. She listened and then said thoughtfully: "What have you decided to do about it, Roscoe?" "I haven't decided at all. What do you think, Mother?" "It seems to me that I shouldn't sell, at least until I knew his reason for wanting to buy.
A last wave of Thankful's hand, the answering wave of a handkerchief from the rear seat of the depot-wagon, and the parting was over. Thankful went into the house. Lonely! She had never been more lonely in her life, except when the news of her husband's death was brought to her. The pang of loneliness which followed her brother Jedediah's departure for the Klondike was as nothing to this.
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