Chapter V: Part 5

"It was a awful big funeral. Folks was there from all over. I drove out to the graveyard with old Dr. Lumb 'n' Dr. Cogswell from the city. The other one was Susy Carter, 'n' she's so deaf all I could do was to listen to the front seat. Dr. Cogswell said as it was a great pity that a superior man like Rufus Timmans should have had to live his life out on highways 'n' edges by circumstances probably beyond his control. Dr. Lumb said yes, a small community like Meadville could n't never offer nothin' like a addykit scope to a brain like Rufus's. He said he was surprised as Rufus's brain had managed to scratch along as well as it had under the circumstances. He said, with the exception of himself Rufus had never had no one to really talk to. He said, to be frank, he would in confidence remark to Dr. Cogswell as Bessy Timmans was a very inferior person an' no ways up to Rufus. He said as he should n't be personally surprised to know as her feelin's towards Rufus partook more of a element of impatience than of admiration. He said as one night when he was there he was most dumbfounded to see how little attention she paid with Rufus discoursin' on trilobites 'n their relations to the cursory strata. Dr. Cogswell sighed 'n' said he was afraid he'd have to admit as he feared that was mebbe only too likely to be true. He said he felt a sadness because every trilobite as was related by Rufus was of profound value to any scientific student. He said Rufus was one at whose feet them as is learned could easy sit and learn some more. He said Rufus ought to o' gotten out in the world thirty years ago,--but then he sighed again, 'n' said probably circumstances as no one knowed nothing of probably chained him here. It was easy to see as Dr. Lumb had a awful high opinion o' Rufus, but that 'd be only natural, him bein' married to Hannah as was so dead set agin' him, 'n' he shook his head then 'n' said as he believed as Dr. Cogswell had guessed pretty nigh to the truth. He said he knowed as Bessy was born in Meadville, 'n' as her property was there 'n' he said his own opinion was that with the shortsightedness common to her sex she had chained the eagle so as she might stay among her little circle o' petty friendships, 'n' so the noble bird had worn his soul away in captivity, so to speak.

"Dr. Cogswell said 'Ah!' 'n' then they both shook their heads together 'n' sighed together.

"Hannah did n't go out to the grave. She stayed with Bessy. She took me into the pantry afore we left 'n' said as the spirit o' relief hoverin' in the house was beyond all belief. She said Betty was goin' to take her mother home with her when she went. She said Betty said as she could come back to Meadville whenever she liked, but she said as Bessy said she'd never want to come back. Hannah says Bessy told her as all she asked was to live out her days some place where she 'd never have to hear again what a very superior man Rufus was.

"I stood aroun' an' talked with a lot more folks. The general feelin' was as it was a great honor to be buryin' Rufus, but nobody knowed just why. I thought about it comin' home a-jouncin' along over them walnuts. (My, but they was hard!) The truth seems to be as there 's some folks born to be superior 'n' to know as they're superior, 'n' other folks born to admire 'em, 'n' neither set sees jus' why."

"I--" said Mrs. Lathrop.

"Well, as long as you say so I may as well admit as I was thinkin' that very thing myself," said Susan; "but far be it from me to have said such a thing myself _of_ myself, Mrs. Lathrop--but as long as _you_ say it I can't but remark as no one in their senses could deny its bein' true o' me."

"I--" said Mrs. Lathrop.

"Oh, that's your misfortune," said Miss Clegg, graciously; "there ain't no need of apologizin' to a old friend like me. 'N' anyway, Mrs. Lathrop, I guess nobody could n't tell _me_ nothin' about your inferiorities--not after livin' next to you all the years as I have; but you know me, 'n' you know as nothin' ever changes my feelin's towards a friend--not even towards such a friend as you, Mrs. Lathrop."

Mrs. Lathrop was silent.

* * * * *

Other books by Anne Warner

THE REJUVENATION OF AUNT MARY

Always amusing and ends in a burst of sunshine.--_Philadelphia
Ledger_.

Impossible to read without laughing. A sparkling, hilarious
tale.--_Chicago Record-Herald_.

The love story is as wholesome and satisfactory as the fun. In its
class this book must be accorded the first place.--_Baltimore Sun_.

The humor is simply delicious.--_Albany Times-Union_.

Every one that remembers Susan Clegg will wish also to make the
acquaintance of Aunt Mary. Her "imperious will and impervious
eardrums" furnish matter for uproarious merriment.... A book to
drive away the blues and make one well content with the worst
weather.--_Pittsburg Gazette_.

Cheerful, crisp, and bright. The comedy is sweetened by a
satisfying love tale.--_Boston Herald_.

SUSAN CLEGG AND HER FRIEND MRS. LATHROP

It is seldom a book so full of delightful humor comes before the
reader. Anne Warner takes her place in the circle of American woman
humorists, who have achieved distinction so rapidly within recent
years.--_Brooklyn Eagle_.

Nothing better in the new homely philosophy style of fiction has
been written.--_San Francisco Bulletin_.

Anne Warner has given us the rare delight of a book that is
extremely funny. Hearty laughter is in store for every
reader.--_Philadelphia Public Ledger_.

Susan is a positive contribution to the American characters in
fiction.--_Brooklyn Times_.

Susan Clegg is a living creature, quite as amusing and even more
plausible than Mrs. Wiggs. Susan's human weaknesses are endearing,
and we find ourselves in sympathy with her.--_New York Evening
Post_.

No more original or quaint person than she has ever lived in
fiction.--_Newark Advertiser_.

A WOMAN'S WILL

It is a relief to take up a volume so absolutely free from
stressfulness. The love-making is passionate, the humor of much of
the conversation is thoroughly delightful. The book is as
refreshing a bit of fiction as one often finds; there is not a dull
page in it.--_Providence Journal_.

It is bright, charming, and intense as it describes the wooing of a
young American widow on the European Continent by a German musical
genius.--_San Francisco Chronicle_.

A deliciously funny book.--_Chicago Tribune_.

There is a laugh on nearly every page.--_New York Times_.

Most decidedly an unusual story. The dialogue is nothing if not
original, and the characters are very unique. There is something
striking on every page of the book.--_Newark Advertiser_.

A more vivacious light novel could not be found.--_Chicago
Record-Herald_.