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Jathrop was her son who had fled from the town some years before, his departure being marked by peculiarly harrowing circumstances, and of whom or from whom she had never heard one word since. "Mr. Dill was n't sure," said Susan; "he said the more he thought about it the more sure he was that he was n 't sure a tall.
Miss Clegg screamed. "Ain't had no dinner! Why, I give it to Jathrop with my own hands. Everythin' hot, 'n' the whole tucked up nice in the cloth 't I put over the bird-cage nights. I made the tea awful strong so 's to keep up your strength, 'n' there was a scramble o' eggs, 'n' one was fresh, I know. Whatever c'n he have done with it, do you suppose?" "Maybe he ate " Mrs. Lathrop began.
Miss Clegg paused and compressed her lips firmly for a few seconds; then she gave herself a little shake and descended to the main question of the day. "Well, what did Jathrop say?" Mrs. Lathrop looked very uncomfortable indeed, and in lieu of an answer swallowed her clover. "You asked him, didn't you?" "Yes, I " "Well, what 'd he say?" "He ain't very " "My soul 'n' body! What reason did he give?"
"I guess I'll go 'n' get supper now," said her visitor, rising; "when it's got I'll bring you over some. I ain't goin' to trust Jathrop with nothin' again, I know. To think o' his eatin' your dinner! I must say, Mrs. Lathrop, 't if you was cut out to be a mother, it certainly seems a pity 't you never got beyond Jathrop, for no one 's ever see him could believe it of you.
'F I can't trust Jathrop to so much 's carry a tray after I've been to all the bother o' cookin' it, it stands to reason 's I must be kitin' with 'em all day long. I'm very friendly with you, Mrs.
I didn't have Jathrop, nor yet the cow, 'n' I don't see why I sh'd lay myself open to bein' snapped off any where, jus' because your son 's half a fool the head half." Mrs. Lathrop groaned. "Now there ain't no use in that" said Susan firmly; "lots o' things might be worse 'n they are. She might 'a' broken both your legs, or she may break both his when he tries to milk her to-night.
Then she rose to go. Susan rose too. They went out the kitchen door together, and down the steps. There they paused to part. "Do you believe 't it 'd be any use me thinkin' o' Jathrop any more?" the maiden asked the matron. "I believe I'd try the blacksmith if I was you; he looks mighty nice Sundays." Miss Clegg sighed heavily and turned to re-enter the house. Mrs.
I s'pose the long 'n' short of it would be 't I'd have to come over every mornin' 'n' hook it on to you, 'f it was left to Jathrop he'd probably have you half o' the time with your toes pointin' back 'n' your heel in front. C'n you feel it now?" "Yes; I " "Then it's still there, but, Lord! how that cow does kick 'n' pull 'n' moo! Why don't Jathrop do suthin' to her? She'd ought to be tended to.
"Do you suppose there'll be any trouble with Jathrop? Do you suppose it'll matter any to him which side o' the fence he lives on?" Mrs. Lathrop shook her head slowly. "I sh'd think he ought to be only too pleased to marry me 'f I want him to, all the days 't I tended him when he was a baby! My, but he was a cute little fellow! Everybody was lookin' for him to grow up a real credit to you then.
Believin' is cheap, you c'n believe the whole Bible 'n' it won't cost a cent 'n' is suthin' to your credit; but trustin' live folks is always expensive. 'F Lawyer Weskin says 's you c'n be sued, you 're pretty safe to feel it's so the more so 's it was him 's sent Jathrop off so slick. But I ain't so sure 't I 'd sit down 'n' let him sue me 'f I was you.
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