Raspberry Jam Part 4

"Why, Auntie, you're telling the 'whole story of my life and what's my real name!'--Sanford knows all this, and knows that he cut out the other two--though I'm not saying they wanted to marry me."

"It goes without saying," and her husband gave her a gallant bow. "But, great heavens, Eunice, if you'd married those other two--I mean one of 'em--either one--you'd have been decidedly out of your element.

Hendricks, though a bully chap, is a man of impossible tastes, and Elliott is a prig--pure and simple! I, you see, strike a happy medium.

And, speaking of such things, are your mediums always happy, Aunt Abby?"

"How you do rattle on, Sanford! A true medium is so absorbed in her endeavors, so wrapped up in her work, she is, of course, happy--I suppose. I never thought about it."

"Well, don't go out of your way to find out. It isn't of vital importance that I should know. May I be excused, Madam Wife? I'm called to the busy marts--and all that sort of thing." Embury rose from the table, a big, tall man, graceful in his every motion, as only a trained athlete can be. Devoted to athletics, he kept himself in the pink of condition physically, and this was no small aid to his vigorous mentality and splendid business ac.u.men.

"Wait a minute, San," and for the first time that morning there was a note of timidity in Eunice's soft voice. "Please give me a little money, won't you?"

"Money, you grasping young person! What do you want it for?"

"Why--I'm going to Newark, you know--"

"Going to Newark! Yes, but you're going in Hendricks' car--that doesn't require a ticket, does it?"

"No--but I--I might want to give the chauffeur something when I get out--"

"Nonsense! Not Hendricks' chauffeur. That's all right when you're with formal friends or Comparative strangers--but it would be ridiculous to tip Hendricks' Gus!"

Embury swung into the light topcoat held by the faithful Ferdinand.

"But, dear," and Eunice rose, and stood by her husband, "I do want a little money," she fingered nervously the breakfast napkin she was still holding.

"What for?" was the repeated inquiry.

"Oh, you see--I might want to do a little shopping in Newark."

"Shop in Newark! That's a good one! Why, girlie, you never want to shop outside of little old New York, and you know it. Shop in Newark!"

Embury laughed at the very idea.

"But--I might see something in a window that's just what I want."

"Then make a note of it, and buy it in New York. You have an account at all the desirable shops here, and I never kick at the bills, do I, now?"

"No; but a woman does want a little cash with her--"

"Oh, that, of course! I quite subscribe to that. But I gave you a couple of dollars yesterday."

"Yes, but I gave one to a Red Cross collector, and the other I had to pay out for a C.O.D. charge."

"Why buy things C.O.D. when you have accounts everywhere?"

"Oh, this was something I saw advertised in the evening paper--"

"And you bought it because it was cheap! Oh, you women! Now, Eunice, that's just a case in point. I want my wife to have everything she wants--everything in reason, but there's no sense in throwing money away. Now, kiss me, sweetheart, for I'm due at a directors' meeting in two shakes--or thereabouts."

Embury snapped the fastening of his second glove, and, hat in hand, held out his arms to his wife.

She made one more appeal.

"You're quite right, San, maybe I didn't need that C.O.D. thing. But I do want a little chickenfeed in my purse when I go out to-day. Maybe they'll take up a collection."

"A silver offering for the Old Ladies' Home,--eh? Well, tell 'em to come to me and I'll sign their subscription paper! Now, good-by, Dolly Gray! I'm off!"

With a hearty kiss on Eunice's red lips, and a gay wave of his hand to Aunt Abby, Embury went away and Ferdinand closed the door behind him.

"I can't stand it, Aunt Abby," Eunice exclaimed, as the butler disappeared into the pantry; "if Sanford were a poor man it would be different. But he's made more money this year than ever before, and yet, he won't give me an allowance or even a little bit of ready money."

"But you have accounts," Aunt Abby said, absently, for she-was scanning the paper now.

"Accounts! Of course, I have! But there are a thousand things one wants cash for! You know that perfectly well. Why, when our car was out of commission last week and I had to use a taxicab, Sanford would give me just enough for the fare and not a cent over to fee the driver.

And lots of times I need a few dollars for charities, or some odds and ends, and I can't have a cent to call my own! Al Hendricks may be of coa.r.s.er clay than Sanford Embury, but he wouldn' treat a wife like that!"

"It is annoying, Eunice, but Sanford is so good to you--"

"Good to me! Why shouldn't he be? It isn't a question of goodness or of generosity--it's just a fool whim of his, that I mustn't ask for actual cas.h.!.+ I can have all the parties I want, buy all the clothes I want, get expensive hats or knick-knacks of any sort, and have them all charged. He's never even questioned my bills--but has his secretary pay them. And I must have some money in my purse! And I will! I know ways to get it, without begging it from Sanford Embury!"

Eunice's dark eyes flashed fire, and her cheeks burned scarlet, for she was furiously angry.

"Now, now, my dear, don't take it so to heart," soothed Aunt Abby; "I'll give you some money. I was going to make you a present, but if you'd rather have the money that it would cost, say so."

"I daren't, Aunt Abby. Sanford would find it out and he'd be terribly annoyed. It's one of his idiosyncrasies, and I have to bear it as long as I live with him!"

The gleam in the beautiful eyes gave a hint of desperate remedies that might be applied to the case, but Ferdinand returned to the room, and the two women quickly spoke of other things.

Hendricks' perfectly appointed and smooth-running car made the trip to Newark in minimum time. Though the road was not a picturesque one, the party was in gay spirits and the host was indefatigable in his efforts to be entertaining.

"I've looked up this Hanlon person," he said, "and his record is astonis.h.i.+ng. I mean, he does astonis.h.i.+ng feats. He's a juggler, a sword swallower and a card sharp--that is, a card wizard. Of course, he's a faker, but he's a clever one, and I'm anxious to see what his game is this time. Of course, it's, first of all, advertis.e.m.e.nt for the paper that's backing him, but it's a new game. At least, it's new over here; they tell me it's done to death in England."

"Oh, no, Alvord, it isn't a game," insisted Miss Ames; "if the man is blindfolded, he can't play any tricks on us. And he couldn't play tricks on newspaper men anyway--they're too bright for that!"

"I think they are, too; that's why I'm interested. Warm enough, Eunice?"

"Yes, thank you," and the beautiful face looked happily content as Eunice Embury nestled her chin deeper into her fur collar.

For, though late April, the day was crisply cool and there was a tang in the bright suns.h.i.+ny air. Aunt Abby was almost as warmly wrapped up as in midwinter, and when, on reaching Newark, they encountered a raw East wind, she shrugged into her coat like a s.h.i.+vering Esquimau.

"Where do we go to see it?" asked Eunice, as later, after luncheon, she eagerly looked about at the crowds ma.s.sed everywhere.

"We'll have to reconnoiter," Hendricks replied, smiling at her animated face. "Drive on to the Oberon, Gus."

As they neared the theatre the surging waves of humanity barred their progress, and the big car was forced to come to a standstill.

"I'll get out," said Hendricks, "and make a few inquiries. The Free Press office is near here, and I know some of the people there."

He strode off and was soon swallowed up in the crowd.