The Contralto

Rev. Charles Maloy, C. M.
St. Joseph's Parish, Emmitsburg, Md.

Chapter 21 | Chapter 20 | Chapter 1

Marion Tyson, though calm and unruffled exteriorly, leading the unexciting life of Emmitsburg's higher set, varied now by the Professor's social innovations, found it irksome waiting for him to find his soul. She was too solidly sensible to allow him to understand there was more than a fighting chance. She, as all brilliant women in like crises, would suffer him to play his heroics for a time, knowing that all his scruples would ultimately vanish in thin air. She was not over anxious to put her master stroke to the test. In the first moment of weakness, on learning his lack of dominance, she had been on the verge of admitting her mother into her secret, but once recovered, determined to hold her own counsel. Yet waiting was a tedious game for one so strong to play.

The village was too busy with questions of its own regeneration to worry about the heart problems of its sons or daughters. The power of example was working as a leaven, and to quote the editor, "citizens who had lay back, waiting for the Lord to drop biscuit into their mouths," now began to hustle for business. Dukehart's carriage repair shop took on a new lease of life, the proprietor drove through the resorts on the mountain in search of vehicles which needed doing up. Stoner and Carrigan were employed so steadily that scenery painting was done at night and on holidays, while Elder's seldom saw them.

Dukeharts Carriage Works ~ 1911

A foreign capitalist discovering through arguments advanced in the Chronicle that Emmitsburg was an excellent center for the distribution of wheat, for which George county was famous, began the erection of an elevator. A tradition that coal in paying quantities could be found in the hills revived, and several of the townsfolk talked of prospecting. The Professor was the consultant in each project, finding many opportunities to smile cynically at his growing reputation for business acumen. There was a demand for men and the quota of Emmitsburg who sought the hospitality of the sheriff for the winter months was exceedingly small.

"Loot Betty's back, Professor," Bob told him one morning in delivering the mail. "I saw him at the post office, and gee! Professor, it was funny' Mr. Welty who lives out near the toll-gate was in town for the first time in months. When he gets jiggered his wife coops him up for a term. He was shaking hands with everybody when Loot came in. 'Hello Loot!' he says, 'when did you get out?' Loot says 'I done 'bout as much time this trip as you did, Mistah Pelty,' and gee! everybody laughed."

"I don't enjoy the pleasure of Loot's friendship, Bob," said Harry, "nor the knowledge that would place me au courant with his recent whereabouts," smiling at the freckled one's attempt to understand his words. Robert had been essaying to acquire a command of English undefiled, practising on Mary much to that good woman's consternation. Now, Rowever, under stress of a feverish desire to communicate a piece of news he talked as of yore.

"Loot's a nigger who's been doin' time in jail."

"What was the nature of said Loot's high crime or misdemeanor?"

"I don't know, but he was sent up for stealin' a hoss, and they say Squire Rowe has another charge again him."

Harry only mildly interested in Loot's fate, started for the Chronicle office without any intention of interfering in the course of justice, especially where a horse thief was in the toils. He had a detestation for such a criminal, acquired on the plains. In the Square, Rowever, he noticed evidence of unusual excitement and paused to inquire the cause. Peter Burket was explaining when an old mammy, weeping, said:

"Ah was jest gob' to see you, 'Fessor. My boy, Lieutenant, they calls him Loot, done's 'rested and they're gob' to send him back to jail."

"What's the charge, Mammy," he asked, all sympathy.

'They say he's done commit brigamy, done married 'nother woman, and he ain't never married nobody. Squiah Rowe's got him in he's office now."

Rowe's Boot & Shoe Store, East Main Street ~ 1886

"We should have a lawyer," said the Professor to no one in particular, as he and the Mammy left the group bound for court in session in Rowe's Notion Store. Here he found Jack Rabbit Eichelberg presenting the case, assisted by Annan. Burket did not follow immediately but repaired to Seabold's office in search of Emmitsburg's most feared and hated citizen. The trial was proceeding in utter disregard for law when the grocer and lawyer entered, a fact which made Mr. Annan recoil from too open participation in the process. No female was present to claim partnership in Loot's joys and sorrows, but the shyster was bent on returning him to duress for the general good of the place. Squire Rowe, in a quandary as to the disposition of the case, asked if there was anyone to undertake the defense of the accused. To the surprise of all Seabold moved forward, taking a chair beside the stolid negro, who from many experiences had no hope of acquittal. The charge of bigamy was soon disposed of and when Eichelberg endeavored to have him held on an accusation as a suspicious character, the jeering of the audience anticipated the Judge's verdict. Loot was too perplexed to thank his champion until someone reminded him, then the lawyer waved him aside good-naturedly and he, the Professor and Burket moved down the street, while Mr. Annan hurried to the bank.

Daisy, on the lookout, admitted the Professor and ushered him into her father's den. The greetings over, the lawyer pointed to a decanter and glasses, inviting his guest to help himself, the latter declining with a smile:

"I have consumed all that stuff that was intended for me."

"That so?" pouring himself a drink, the while studying the other's face which was smilingly honest, "it does come a little fast for some of us. It's best to recognize the fact."

"I worked overtime consuming my share, leaving nothing for my declining years."

The dinner was a success under Miss Daisy's management, she deeming it part of her duty to direct the subjects of conversation. In the procedure she extracted an expression of opinion from the guest of honor on many topics, especially on the propriety of slang. Marion Tyson was the only one, outside the family, to share the child's feast, and was much pleased with the Professor's efforts to find his soul under the Tomboy's guidance. Mrs. Seabold was the happiest of the group, enthusing amidst the prattle of her baby, the father showing his delight in sundry admonitions to his Puss to hold her tongue.

When the ladies left the men to the enjoyment of their cigars, Seabold unbosomed himself.

"Those children are worth living for, Professor." "Indeed, they are, Mr. Seabold," with fervor.

"I have never thought to thank you for your kindness to Vinny; she is improving wonderfully under your regime. Puss insists she too is in need of the Indian club exercises to the jeopardy of the windows."

"Daisy and I are kindred spirits," endeavoring to turn the conversation from the thanks-receiving phase.

"In your rides through the mountains, did you ever come across a tumbledown shack beyond the toll gate on the Fairfield road? I was born in that house. Not much of a start for an ambitious boy, but that's all, except good blood, there was for me. I got a position as assistant gardener at the College when I was fourteen, taking my wages out in schooling. The faculty was very kind to me, though I paid in labor for all I received. After finishing here I studied law at the U. of M., then returned and set up to make a living. My old teachers resented this, for they objected to a man of the people becoming a figure in the territory."

"They were at it in those early days, eh?"

"Communities, like individuals," continued Siebold, "have a predominant vice, to succeed one must avoid it. It takes the form of too much talking in Emmitsburg, so by keeping my tongue in my jaw, I soon forged to the front though a more thoroughly disliked man than myself would be hard to find. My wife married me against the protests of her relatives, for she was of a higher class than the boy born in a log house, and to give her a fitting home became my ambition. Then the children came, a new spur to effort. For these I have worked, I may say, fought ever since. I fight with the weapons I find to hand, not always altruistic, but powerful in winning battles."

"Life is a series of compromises," declared the Professor sententiously, feeling some comment expected.

"Take the post office for example. I am a democrat in federal politics, yet I was able to wrest control from the Annans and put in a woman whose husband fought all through the war. Incidentally I leased my own building to the Government and am called a robber. Old Elder made me trustee for his son James Elder, saying he did not want the worthless fellow to die in the poorhouse. I have done all I could to keep a roof over his head and those of his children, yet the classic case of Seabold's crookedness for the town is his handling of the Elder will. And were I to withdraw from the trusteeship, in six months Ike Annan would have the Spangler Hotel through a poker game."

"Is Jim playing poker now?"

"I believe not, since someone threatened to break every bone in Annan's damned carcass."

"It's too bad that coterie dominates the town." "I don't think it will be for long; Gerry and George Perry both owe me something since November," rising to join the ladies.

They found Mrs. Forman with the others, she effusively greeting Harry while giving to and receiving a very distant nod from the lawyer. Miss Daisy was directing the entertainment still, and seated the Professor between herself and Marion. Her father suggesting music, she led the dentist's wife to the piano while Vinny joined her to turn the score. As soon as the dainty lady touched the keys, and she was a finished performer, Daisy whispered to the Professor:

"It's frightfully mean in me to say it, but I wish Anita Forman had remained home this evening." "Why, sweetheart?"

"Because we wanted you all to ourselves."

"Thank you, dear," while Mrs. Seabold frowned disapprobation at the child, who refrained from talking during the remainder of the performance. When it was over she again whispered:

"Do you know why I kissed you the other day?"

"I flattered myself it was because you liked me."

"Well it was, but there was another reason; I bet Marion a box of candy that I would be the first girl in Emmitsburg to do it."

"Did you get the candy?"

"She brought it this evening."

"What is the meaning of this tete-a-tete?" asked Mrs. Forman.

"I was getting the Professor's opinion of Alice in Wonderland," unblushingly declared the enfant terrible jumping up and crossing over to her father, while the lady dropped into the seat she vacated.

During a series of songs by Marion and Vinny, the Professor was pelted unceasingly with questions, for there was no frowning mother present to induce Mrs. Forman to observe the proprieties. She ran the gamut of possible subjects from gambling on horses, to which her husband was inclined, to the financial prospects of the cinematograph, into which business he was about to launch. Within the sacred precincts of his own home she attacked the lawyer's reputation because he had kept the dentist out of the factory corporation. Having exhausted this topic and remarking the disgust with which it was received, she bluntly asked:

"What has arisen between you and Marion?"

"Between me and Marion?" in astonishment.

"Oh! come now, Professor; there has been something, a little tiff, some lover's quarrel; you cannot deceive me."

"Really, Mrs. Forman, you are talking of a subject of which I am absolutely ignorant; Miss Tyson and I are as good friends as we ever were."

"Really!" she exclaimed and Vinny was to the rescue before he could taste more of the tortures of the inquisition, suggesting a tour of inspection of her improvised gymnasium. It was at the top of the house, in the old nursery; Daisy led the way, declaring she would give him an exhibition of her ability to swing clubs. As they followed in her wake the older girl asked in an undertone:

"You do like father, don't you?"

"Immensely, Miss Seabold."

"And you don't believe that nonsense about Elder's will?"

His answer was communicated by a look, though in his soul rose up an oath for those who persecuted this beautiful young creature with their tongues. Vinny impulsively put out her hand, which he took and held long enough for Daisy to turn and see. The inspection and exhibition over, the child insisted on the lights being extinguished by the Professor and as her sister descended the stairs, she gave him another kiss and hug, which she avowed were absolutely for himself.

The party broke up, Mrs. Forman was left at her own door, the Professor escorting Marion home. He was compelled to take her arm to prevent her from slipping on the icy pavements, his clutch being stronger than the danger justified. They slid along for some time in silence, then the girl spoke:

"You are pensive tonight, Harry."

"I presume it is the Christmas spirit and the fact that I am away from home for the first time in years."

"Why did you not go back?"

"It would not be good for me."

"You poor boy!" putting a world of pity in her tone.

He was touched and searched for something that would respond to her sympathy. The best he could do was:

"Many people are interested in our welfare." "Who may they be?"

"Mr. Halm says we are in love, and Mrs. Bowman—"

"But, Harry dear, we are way above the vapid vaporings of the voeis popali, good-night."

Daisy and Vinny knelt in prayer together before the baby retired to her own room. On rising from their knees, with her plaits sticking out on either side, the child gave what she called an imitation of Sis Hopkins, in the midst of which she paused, looking hard at her sister:

"I saw you tonight, Vinny."

"When, dear?"

"When you and the Professor were holding hands; is it all right?"

"Is what all right, Puss?"

"Do you love him?" Never questioning that he must love her darling sister.

"He did something for me tonight which is greater than the kind of love you mean. He has taught me renewed confidence where perhaps I was beginning to falter."

"I mean did he propose?" bewildered somewhat. "No, no, child dear," with a shade of annoyance. "Oh piffle! and that's why I kissed him."

Chapter 22

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