Dawn Eleanor Porter (free novels to read txt) 📖

When she had bowed them out and closed the door behind them, she cameback to Keith, intending to remonstrate with him for his veryungracious behavior. But before she could open her lips Keith himselfhad the floor.

"Susan Betts," he began passionately, as soon as she entered the room,"don't you ever let those girls in again. I won't have them. I WON'THAVE THEM, I tell you!

"Oh, for shame, Keith!—and when they were so kind and thoughtful,too!"

"It wasn't kindness and thoughtfulness," resented the boy. "It wasspying out. They came to see how I took it. I know 'em. And thatDorothy Parkman—I don't know WHY she came. She said long ago that shecouldn't bear—to look at 'em."

"Look at them?"

"Yes—blind folks. Her father is a big oculist—doctors eyes, youknow. She told me once. And she said she couldn't bear to look atthem; that—"

"An eye doctor?—a big one?" Susan was suddenly excited, alert.

"Yes, yes. And—"

"Where's he live?"

"I don't know. Where she does, I s'pose. I don't know where that is.

She's here most of the time, and—"

"Is he a real big one?—a really, truly big one?"

"Yes, yes, I guess so." Keith had fallen wearily back in his chair,his strength spent. "Dad said he was one of the biggest in thecountry. And of course lots of—of blind people go there, and she seesthem. Only she says she can't bear to see them, that she won't look atthem. And—and she shan't come here—she shan't, Susan, to look at me,and—"

But Susan was not listening now. With chin up-tilted and a new fire inher eyes, she had turned toward the kitchen door.

Two days later, on her way to the store, Susan spied Dorothy Parkmanacross the street. Without hesitation or ceremony she went straightacross and spoke to her.

"Is it true that your father is a big occultist, one of the biggestthere is?" she demanded.

"A—what?" Dorothy frowned slightly.

"Occultist—doctors folks' eyes, you know. Is he? I heard he was."

"Oh! Y-yes—yes, he is." Miss Dorothy was giggling a bit now.

"Then, listen!" In her eagerness Susan had caught the girl's sleeveand held it. "Can't you get him to come on an' see you, right away,quick? Don't he want to take you home, or—or something?"

Dorothy laughed merrily.

"Why, Susan, are you in such a hurry as all that to get rid of me? Did

I act so bad the other day that—"A sudden change crossed her face.

Her eyes grew soft and luminous. "Was it for—Keith that you wanted

father, Susan?"

"Yes." Susan's eyes blurred, and her voice choked.

"Well, then I'm glad to tell you he is coming by and by. He's comingto take me home for Christmas. But—he isn't going to stay long."

"That's all right—that's all right," retorted Susan, a littlebreathlessly. "If he'd jest look at the boy's eyes an' tell if—if hecould fix 'em later. You see, we—we couldn't have it done now, 'causethere ain't any money to pay. But we'll have it later. We'll sure haveit later, an' then—"

"Of course he'll look at them," interrupted Dorothy eagerly. "He'lllove to, I know. He's always so interested in eyes, and new cases.And—and don't worry about the other part—the money, you know,"nodded Dorothy, hurrying away then before Susan could protest.

As it happened Keith was more "difficult" than usual that afternoon,and Susan, thinking to rouse him from his lassitude, suddenlydetermined to tell him all about the wonderful piece of good fortunein store for him.

"How'd you like to have that little Miss Dorothy's daddy see youreyes, honey," she began eagerly, "an' tell—"

"I wouldn't let him see them." Keith spoke coldly, decisively.

"Oh, but he's one of the biggest occultists there is, an'—"

"I suppose you mean 'oculist,' Susan," interrupted Keith, still morecoldly; "but that doesn't make any difference. I don't want him."

"But, Keith, if he—"

"I tell you I won't have him," snapped Keith irritably.

"But you've got to have somebody, an' if he's the biggest!" All theeager light had died out of Susan's face.

"I don't care if he is the biggest, he's Dorothy Parkman's father, andthat's enough. I WON'T HAVE HIM!"

"No, no; well, all right!" And Susan, terrified and dismayed, hurriedfrom the room.

But though Susan was dismayed and terrified, she was far from beingsubdued. In the kitchen she lifted her chin defiantly.

"All right, Master Keith," she muttered to herself. "You can say whatyou want to, but you'll have him jest the same—only you won't knowhe's HIM. I'll jest tell him to call hisself another name for you. An'some time I'll find out what there is behind that Dorothy Parkmanbusiness. But 'tain't till Christmas, an' that's 'most two months offyet. Time enough for trouble when trouble knocks at the door; an' tillit does knock, jest keep peggin' away."

CHAPTER XIII

FREE VERSE—A LA SUSAN

And persistently, systematically Susan did, indeed, keep "peggin'away." No sooner had she roused Keith to the point of accomplishingone task than she set for him another. No sooner could he pilothimself about one room than she inveigled him into another. And whenhe could go everywhere about the house she coaxed him out into theyard. It was harder here, for Keith had a morbid fear of being staredat. And only semi-occasionally would he consent at all to going out.

It was then that with stern determination Susan sought Daniel Burton.

"Look a-here, Daniel Burton," she accosted him abruptly, "I've doneall I can now, an' it's up to you."

The man looked up, plainly startled.

"Why, Susan, you don't mean—you aren't—GOING, are you?"

"Goin' nothin'—shucks!" tossed Susan to one side disdainfully. "Imean that Keith ain't goin' to get that good red blood he's needin'sittin' 'round the house here. He's got to go off in the woods an'walk an' tramp an' run an' scuff leaves. An' you've got to go withhim. I can't, can I?"

The man shifted his position irritably.

"Do you think that boy will let me lead him through the streets,

Susan? Well, I know he won't."

"I didn't say 'lead him.' I said go WITH him. There's an awful lot ofdifference between leadin' an' accommodatin'. We don't none of us liketo be led, but we don't mind goin' WITH folks 'most anywheres.