The Contralto

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

Chapter 11 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 1

The mania for travel, so characteristic of Americans, was not strongly developed amongst those who made Emmitsburg their home. Financial stringency was paramount in preserving them from this aberration and a trip to the neighboring city was an event in the lives of most. Once a year the Western Maryland ran an excursion at a rate of fare which licensed indulgence on the part of the inhabitants, and preparations were made weeks in advance. Many grew to man's estate, however, before being able to avail them-selves of the railroad's beneficence, while for others their first visit to the city came when they responded to the call for a decent livelihood. Of these a few came back periodically to dazzle the stay-at-homes with evidences of success and stories of the great world beyond the mountains; others, for whom the struggle was too strenuous, crawled back to die; most never returned. One or two who came home, still clung to the peroxide tints, and stories were whispered which bore out Miss Tyson's assertion of the lure of money's flash.

The older people were loath to wander, hence the Professor was surprised one morning when Uncle Bennett accosted him with:

"Going to Wash'inton, Professor, soon as I get through with this job."

"That will be splendid, have you ever been there?"

"Never, got a brother there way up in gove'ment contract work, been asking me to come for years, but I ain't had time before. Had a chance when I was mustered out of the service, but was needed here."

"You shall enjoy it very much; you will see the Capitol, the Library and the other public buildings, perhaps have a handshake with the President."

"I ain't got any hankering to shake hands with the gentleman," emphasing his remark with a blow of the hammer. "I didn't vote for him and I got more important business anyhow."

"It would be something to talk about afterwards."

"There's too darn much of that kind of boasting in this town already, what I want to see is their observ'tory and how they get their standard time."

The motive for the journey being now patent, Harry was sore afraid the authority of the Hagerstown Almanac, Olmstead's Physics, and the sun-dial was fated to fall. The watches of the village had led the carpenter to contemplate a trip which neither patriotism nor curiosity could. Gently touching on this he evoked the following from his homely philosopher friend:

"It's this way, some of these people get a trip to Brookville now and then and more stop in to Miss Rowe's telegraph office and get what they call standard time. Jack Rabbit Adlesberger, he's the shyster who Seabold makes a monkey of, was giving me guff last evening about being fast. I says, 'Adlesberger, you 'mind me of Mr. Berry, when he was painting his fence. Everyone who come along had a new color to suggest. Mr. Berry listened, then went to Zimmerman's and bought five cents worth of that color and painted one board. When they was all through with their advices he finished the fence in his own choice of paint. Then he got two signs made, one said, "Mr. Berry's Fence," the other "Everybody's Fence." Now, I says, 'Adlesberger, the men who made that clock know all about their business just as you're supposed to know all about the law, but when it comes to clock building you ain't got brains enough to have a headache.' "

For once Bennett's feelings caused him to desist momentarily from work, thus Harry appropriated a chapter from the annals of Emmitsburg's deceased prophet without undue effort.

Dr. Forman came into the hall whistling an air from the operetta, made a suggestion to the scenic artists which was received without warmth, then turned his attention to the carpenter:

"We shall need stringers to hang our drops from," pointing above the stage.

"That's all provided for in the plans, Doc," curtly.

"Hadn't I better go up and measure off so you can strike the joists sure?"

"I built this hall, I could strike those joists with my eyes shut; let me show you."

Taking a step-ladder which he ordered the dentist to steady, he climbed up, hammer in hand, to make soundings. At last he drove a nail into the plaster but the second or third stroke showed that it met no solid resistance. Another attempt was like disastrous, then the old man from his perch on the ladder said indignantly:

"I wish you'd stay down in your office and tend to your teeth-making and not be poking in other peoples' business."

It was a heartbreaking incident in Bennett's career, for well he knew it would be reported, would come to Whitmore's ears and be a sweeter triumph than a theological victory. To have failed in a matter of his beloved avocation, one which the Saviour had graced, was more than disconcerting, it took several days for the first poignant sting to subside.

The Professor silenced, with a look, the guffaw which greeted the old man's discomforture, leading the dentist out of the hall through the churchyard, where he reverently raised his hat in passing the grave of a long-forgotten poet who had produced a medium deemed worthy of the histrionic ability of Edwin Forrest. Out on Main Street they parted, Forman entering his workshop, Harry walking towards the Chronicle office. Passing the store, Peter Burket hailed him:

"Like to speak to you, Professor."

"At your service, Mr. Druckett."

"Look at them bags," pointing to several crumpled grocery papers that lay on the counter, "at the mark, the maker's name."

"I have it, what's the point?"

"I sold sugar to a woman from the country, when she come to pay for it she claimed I give her short weight. She brings them bags, and if you notice they ain't the make I use at all. Now I want to know whether I should sue her?"

"What is the amount?" with solemn interest.

"Tain't only thirteen cents, but I ain't thinking about the money, it's the principle of the thing. She questions my honesty and that's something I won't stand for."

"I cannot blame you, Mr. Brucket," seriously, "but just at this time when we are trying to promote an era of good feeling, will it be worth while to start a lawsuit? The scandal will not tend to the social harmony of the town."

"That's all well and good, Professor, but I got my reputation for honesty to look out for. My father ran this store before me and I been here twenty years. He taught me to add on fifteen per cent to the wholesale cost for my investment; I'd sooner burn stuff in my back yard than sell below that. This woman's trying to come a crooked game on me and I don't think I ought to stand for it. Of course," he continued after a pause, "if you say drop it, I'll do so, but that woman can't buy another five cents' worth in this store," and the determination of voice and eyes made it evident that the lady in question would henceforth deal elsewhere.

While they talked, a bargain hunter entered:

"How much is your lye, Mr. Brucket?"

"Eight cents a can, ma'am."

"Why, Annan's are advertising it three cans for a quarter."

"Go up to Annan's and get it, ma'am," without the least hesitation.

Annan & Brother's Building is present day Ott House Restaurant

As she withdrew Harry thought Peter's reputation for honesty was worth a lawsuit for its preservation. Human nature was not all vitiated, the better elements were to be found in the most unexpected places. It was a lesson which did not fail to cause a readjustment of values in his soul, to help him to break away from his egoistic pessimism. His education in the broad university of life was going forward, mere children, as far as the higher learning was concerned, were leading him.

It occurred that in the grocer he had the proper person to fill the position of treasurer of the Dramatic Society. Out of his own exchequer he had borne the expenses so far, but as the tickets for the first performance were about to be issued, he deemed it advisable to hand over the financial affairs to some-one else. He broached the subject to Peter.

"I usually hold that position in the parish doings and I'm willing to serve you, Professor."

"Very well, I shall give the tickets into your charge for distribution. "

"Give me an itemized account of expenses so far."

"Never mind those, I shall pay for the stage and scenery, we can begin the performances with a dean slate."

"I don't believe in that sort of thing, Professor, it ain't good policy, these people won't appreciate it. You don't do them no good by giving 'em something for nothing, that's what keeps 'em always beggars. Just you jot down what money you've spent and we'll refund it from the proceeds of the show."

"I could never make a list, Mr. Brucket," hopelessly.

"Then I'll do it," said Peter, taking an account book illustrated with the picture of a fat butcher surrounded by the denizens of a farm yard and duly inscribing it. "I'll get Bennett's bill and Stoner and Carrigan's and," with a wink, "Jim Elder's for sundries supplied the painters."

This matter settled to their satisfaction the Professor was about to pass to his duties at the office when he was again halted:

"Dr. Brawner was in this morning, says they're talking of allowing the college boys to come to the show if you give a matinee."

"That's good," thinking he saw signs of a rapprochement.

"Don't know about that, wouldn't put it past them to raise Cain and break up the play; Dr. Brawner hinted as much."

"We shall give a matinee," a steady look in his blue eyes, "we shall invite the boys to be our guests, we shall be fully prepared for the contingency of a rough-house, we have dealt with such before."

The suppressed indignation faded from his countenance, while the grocer broke into a smile which had nothing commercial in it, as Miss Seabold entered the store. The graceful young girl, dressed in a garment which seemed to emphasize her habitual languor, bowed to the Professor who quickly moved out of earshot to avoid hearing the object of her purchase, lingering, however, at the door, to have a few words with his whilom companion of the tea. Burkett waiting on her, asked in a tone that was meant to reach the other man:

"Heard the rumor, Vinny? They say the college boys are coming to the show if you give a matinee."

That is rather interesting," smiling at Harry.

'I fully approve, we shall be stirred to our best efforts by having experts in the audience," with a shade of sarcasm in his voice.

"Guess you won't have nothing to fear on that score," declared Peter, as the Professor held the door open for the girl to pass out. On the street, he asked:

"Have you made any arrangements for our mountain climbing?"

"I have been waiting for you and Marion." "Shall we need a chaperon?"

"Marion shall have a chap-her-own and I shall be the chaperon," she said archly, but noticing the blush beginning to mantle his face, hastened to add, "pardon me, I just read that wicked pun in the paper and could not refrain from working it off. I am sure Mrs. Forman will come, she is a dear little soul and anxious to meet you."

"Mrs. Forman shall assume the responsibility of guarding Emmitsburg's sense of propriety then. When do we do our first Alpine stunt—I mean when do we go for our first climb?"

"You seem to find difficulty in wrestling with slang, but it really isn't necessary to translate for me, I am a graduate in that school. Suppose we do our first Alpine stunt this afternoon?"

"As you say; will you notify the other tourists?" "We shall be ready at one, our house shall be the rendezvous."

At the office, the editor was in high good spirits; the first reform effort had met with partial success and Mr. Galt waited impatiently to communicate the news of his assistant. As part of the campaign against the Western Maryland they had dispatched to the postal authorities at Washington a detailed list of delays in the delivery of mails to Emmitsburg. The Government had responded by fining the railroad corporation nine hundred dollars, an account of which was published in the morning paper. He had also received a letter requesting that he and another reputable citizen repair to the Capital to answer certain questions relative to this matter. The editor was insistent that the reputable citizen could be none other than his assistant and as their presence at Washington was called for the second day after the performance of the operetta there could be no excuse on the Professor's part. Argument was required to drag him away from the safety of the "water-tank," but the persuasive powers of Galt at length overcame all objections and the trip was decided upon.

The paper was being run off, the press working to its capacity, Higbee shouting orders to make himself heard above the din of machinery and the explosions of the gasoline engine, at the same time folding copies for the mailing list. Harry coming from the editorial room moved about exchanging greetings with the ink-begrimed employees. A youngster, well known in the village for his ability to turn an honest penny, rushed into the building, breathless:

"How much for a hundred papers?" he shouted addressing the foreman.

"For whom do you want them?"

"Mother's layin' carpets," with a perceptible wink.

Higbee seemed to understand and struck a bargain with the juvenile baron of finance, who having received the papers still wet from the press, left by the rear door making off across the fields to the south. The transaction was not lost on the Professor. Addressing Higbee he inquired:

"What was your subscription list over there?" "About fifty or sixty."

"It has increased to a hundred and next week will probably reach two hundred. Trust Young America to exercise the time honored instinct anent forbidden fruit."

Chapter 12

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