Some of the guests who came from a distance were still sitting in the best room when we went in to take leave of the master and mistress of the house.We all said eagerly what a pleasant day it had been, and how swiftly the time had passed.Perhaps it is the great national anniversaries which our country has lately kept, and the soldiers' meetings that take place everywhere, which have made reunions of every sort the fashion.This one, at least, had been very interesting.I fancied that old feuds had been overlooked, and the old saying that blood is thicker than water had again proved itself true, though from the variety of names one argued a certain adulteration of the Bowden traits and belongings.
Clannishness is an instinct of the heart,--it is more than a birthright, or a custom; and lesser rights were forgotten in the claim to a common inheritance.
We were among the very last to return to our proper lives and lodgings.I came near to feeling like a true Bowden, and parted from certain new friends as if they were old friends; we were rich with the treasure of a new remembrance.
At last we were in the high wagon again; the old white horse had been well fed in the Bowden barn, and we drove away and soon began to climb the long hill toward the wooded ridge.The road was new to me, as roads always are, going back.Most of our companions had been full of anxious thoughts of home,--of the cows, or of young children likely to fall into disaster,--but we had no reasons for haste, and drove slowly along, talking and resting by the way.Mrs.Todd said once that she really hoped her front door had been shut on account of the dust blowing in, but added that nothing made any weight on her mind except not to forget to turn a few late mullein leaves that were drying on a newspaper in the little loft.Mrs.Blackett and I gave our word of honor that we would remind her of this heavy responsibility.The way seemed short, we had so much to talk about.We climbed hills where we could see the great bay and the islands, and then went down into shady valleys where the air began to feel like evening, cool and camp with a fragrance of wet ferns.Mrs.Todd alighted once or twice, refusing all assistance in securing some boughs of a rare shrub which she valued for its bark, though she proved incommunicative as to her reasons.We passed the house where we had been so kindly entertained with doughnuts earlier in the day, and found it closed and deserted, which was a disappointment.
"They must have stopped to tea somewheres and thought they'd finish up the day," said Mrs.Todd."Those that enjoyed it best'll want to get right home so's to think it over.""I didn't see the woman there after all, did you?" asked Mrs.
Blackett as the horse stopped to drink at the trough.
"Oh yes, I spoke with her," answered Mrs.Todd, with but scant interest or approval."She ain't a member o' our family.""I thought you said she resembled Cousin Pa'lina Bowden about the forehead," suggested Mrs.Blackett.
"Well, she don't," answered Mrs.Todd impatiently."I ain't one that's ord'narily mistaken about family likenesses, and she didn't seem to meet with friends, so I went square up to her.'Iexpect you're a Bowden by your looks,' says I.'Yes, I can take it you're one o' the Bowdens.' 'Lor', no,' says she.'Dennett was my maiden name, but I married a Bowden for my first husband.Ithought I'd come an' just see what was a-goin' on!"Mrs.Blackett laughed heartily."I'm goin' to remember to tell William o' that," she said."There, Almiry, the only thing that's troubled me all this day is to think how William would have enjoyed it.I do so wish William had been there.""I sort of wish he had, myself," said Mrs.Todd frankly.
"There wa'n't many old folks there, somehow," said Mrs.
Blackett, with a touch of sadness in her voice."There ain't so many to come as there used to be, I'm aware, but I expected to see more.""I thought they turned out pretty well, when you come to think of it; why, everybody was sayin' so an' feelin' gratified,"answered Mrs.Todd hastily with pleasing unconsciousness; then Isaw the quick color flash into her cheek, and presently she made some excuse to turn and steal an anxious look at her mother.Mrs.
Blackett was smiling and thinking about her happy day, though she began to look a little tired.Neither of my companions was troubled by her burden of years.I hoped in my heart that I might be like them as I lived on into age, and then smiled to think that I too was no longer very young.So we always keep the same hearts, though our outer framework fails and shows the touch of time.
"'Twas pretty when they sang the hymn, wasn't it?" asked Mrs.
Blackett at suppertime, with real enthusiasm."There was such a plenty o' men's voices; where I sat it did sound beautiful.I had to stop and listen when they came to the last verse."I saw that Mrs.Todd's broad shoulders began to shake."There was good singers there; yes, there was excellent singers," she agreed heartily, putting down her teacup, "but I chanced to drift alongside Mis' Peter Bowden o' Great Bay, an' I couldn't help thinkin' if she was as far out o' town as she was out o' tune, she wouldn't get back in a day."
