Chapter XIX. Tom's Success

by Louisa May Alcott

　　Chapter XIX. Tom's Success"Come, Philander, let us be a marching, Every one his true love asearching,"Would be the most appropriate motto for this chapter, because,intimidated by the threats, denunciations, and complaintsshowered upon me in consequence of taking the liberty to end acertain story as I liked, I now yield to the amiable desire of givingsatisfaction, and, at the risk of outraging all the unities, intend topair off everybody I can lay my hands on.Occasionally a matrimonial epidemic appears, especially towardspring, devastating society, thinning the ranks of bachelordom, andleaving mothers lamenting for their fairest daughters. That springthe disease broke out with great violence in the Shaw circle,causing paternal heads much bewilderment, as one case afteranother appeared with alarming rapidity. Fanny, as we have seen,was stricken first, and hardly had she been carried safely throughthe crisis, when Tom returned to swell the list of victims. As Fannywas out a good deal with her Arthur, who was sure that exercisewas necessary for the convalescent, Polly went every day to seeMrs. Shaw, who found herself lonely, though much better thanusual, for the engagement had a finer effect upon her constitutionthan any tonic she ever tried. Some three days after Fan's joyfulcall Polly was startled on entering the Shaws' door, by Maud, whocame tumbling down stairs, sending an avalanche of words beforeher, "He's come before he said he should to surprise us! He's up inmamma's room, and was just saying,'How's Polly?' when I heardyou come, in your creep-mouse way, and you must go right up. Helooks so funny with whiskers, but he's ever so nice, real big andbrown, and he swung me right up when he kissed me. Never mindyour bonnet, I can't wait."And pouncing upon Polly, Maud dragged her away like a capturedship towed by a noisy little steam-tug."The sooner it's over the better for me," was the only thought Pollyhad time for before she plunged into the room above, propelled byMaud, who cried triumphantly, "There he is! Ain't he splendid?"For a minute, everything danced before Polly's eyes, as a handshook hers warmly, and a gruffish voice said heartily, "How areyou, Polly?" Then she slipped into a chair beside Mrs. Shaw,hoping that her reply had been all right and proper, for she had notthe least idea what she said.Things got steady again directly, and while Maud expatiated on thegreat surprise, Polly ventured to look at Tom, feeling glad that herback was toward the light, and his was not. It was not a largeroom, and Tom seemed to fill it entirely; not that he had grown sovery much, except broader in the shoulders, but there was a brisk,genial, free-and-easy air about him, suggestive of a stirring,out-of-door life, with people who kept their eyes wide open, andwere not very particular what they did with their arms and legs.The rough-and-ready travelling suit, stout boots, brown face, andmanly beard, changed him so much, that Polly could find scarcelya trace of elegant Tom Shaw in the hearty-looking young man whostood with one foot on a chair, while he talked business to hisfather in a sensible way, which delighted the old gentleman. Pollyliked the change immensely, and sat listening to the state ofWestern trade with as much interest as if it had been the mostthrilling romance, for, as he talked, Tom kept looking at her with anod or a smile so like old times, that for a little while, she forgotMaria Bailey, and was in bliss.By and by Fanny came flying in, and gave Tom a greater surprisethan his had been. He had not the least suspicion of what had beengoing on at home, for Fan had said to herself, with girlish malice,"If he don't choose to tell me his secrets, I'm not going to tellmine," and had said nothing about Sydney, except an occasionalallusion to his being often there, and very kind. Therefore, whenshe announced her engagement, Tom looked so staggered for aminute, that Fan thought he did n't like it; but after the firstsurprise passed, he showed such an affectionate satisfaction, thatshe was both touched and flattered."What do you think of this performance?" asked Tom, wheelinground to Polly, who still sat by Mrs. Shaw, in the shadow of thebed-curtains."I like it very much," she said in such a hearty tone, that Tomcould not doubt the genuineness of her pleasure."Glad of that. Hope you'll be as well pleased with anotherengagement that's coming out before long"; and with an oddlaugh, Tom carried Sydney off to his den, leaving the girls totelegraph to one another the awful message, "It is Maria Bailey."How she managed to get through that evening, Polly never knew,yet it was not a long one, for at eight o'clock she slipped out of theroom, meaning to run home alone, and not compel any one toserve as escort. But she did not succeed, for as she stood warmingher rubbers at the dining-room fire, wondering pensively as she didso if Maria Bailey had small feet, and if Tom ever put her rubberson for her, the little overshoes were taken out of her hands, andTom's voice said, reproachfully, "Did you really mean to run away,and not let me go home with you?""I'm not afraid; I did n't want to take you away," began Polly,secretly hoping that she did n't look too pleased."But I like to be taken away. Why, it's a whole year since I wenthome with you; do you remember that?" said Tom, flapping therubbers about without any signs of haste."Does it seem long?""Everlasting!"Polly meant to say that quite easily, and smile incredulously at hisanswer; but in spite of the coquettish little rose-colored hood shewore, and which she knew was very becoming, she did not look orspeak gayly, and Tom saw something in the altered face that madehim say hastily, "I'm afraid you've been doing too much thiswinter; you look tired out, Polly.""Oh, no! it suits me to be very busy," and she began to drag on hergloves as if to prove it."But it does n't suit me to have you get thin and pale, you know."Polly looked up to thank him, but never did, for there wassomething deeper than gratitude in the honest blue eyes, that couldnot hide the truth entirely. Tom saw it, flushed all over his brownface, and dropping the rubbers with a crash, took her hands,saying, in his old impetuous way, "Polly, I want to tell yousomething!""Yes, I know, we've been expecting it. I hope you'll be veryhappy, Tom;" and Polly shook his hands with a smile that wasmore pathetic than a flood of tears."What!" cried Tom, looking as if he thought she had lost her mind."Ned told us all about her; he thought it would be so, and whenyou spoke of another engagement, we knew you meant your own.""But I did n't! Ned's the man; he told me to tell you. It's justsettled.""Is it Maria?" cried Polly, holding on to a chair as if to be preparedfor anything."Of course. Who else should it be?""He did n't say you talked about her most and so we thought "stammered Polly, falling into a sudden flutter."That I was in love? Well, I am, but not with her.""Oh!" and Polly caught her breath as if a dash of cold water hadfallen on her, for the more in earnest Tom grew, the blunter hebecame."Do you want to know the name of the girl I've loved for morethan a year? Well, it's Polly!" As he spoke, Tom stretched out hisarms to her, with the sort of mute eloquence that cannot beresisted, and Polly went straight into them, without a word.Never mind what happened for a little bit. Love scenes, if genuine,are indescribable; for to those who have enacted them, the mostelaborate description seems tame, and to those who have not, thesimplest picture seems overdone. So romancers had better letimagination paint for them that which is above all art, and leavetheir lovers to themselves during the happiest minutes of theirlives.Before long, Tom and Polly were sitting side by side, enjoying theblissful state of mind which usually follows the first step out of ourwork-a-day world, into the glorified region wherein loversrapturously exist for a month or two. Tom just sat and looked atPolly as if he found it difficult to believe that the winter of hisdiscontent had ended in this glorious spring. But Polly, being atrue woman, asked questions, even while she laughed and cried forjoy."Now, Tom, how could I know you loved me when you went awayand never said a word?" she began, in a tenderly reproachful tone,thinking of the hard year she had spent."And how could I have the courage to say a word, when I hadnothing on the face of the earth to offer you but my worthlessself?" answered Tom, warmly."That was all I wanted!" whispered Polly, in a tone which causedhim to feel that the race of angels was not entirely extinct."I've always been fond of you, my Polly, but I never realized howfond till just before I went away. I was n't free, you know, andbesides I had a strong impression that you liked Sydney in spite ofthe damper which Fan hinted you gave him last winter. He's sucha capital fellow, I really don't see how you could help it.""It is strange; I don't understand it myself; but women are queercreatures, and there's no accounting for their tastes," said Polly,with a sly look, which Tom fully appreciated."You were so good to me those last days, that I came very nearspeaking out, but could n't bear to seem to be offering you a poor,disgraced sort of fellow, whom Trix would n't have, and no oneseemed to think worth much.'No,' I said to myself,'Polly ought tohave the best; if Syd can get her, let him, and I won't say a word. I'll try to be better worthy her friendship, anyway; and perhaps,when I've proved that I can do something, and am not ashamed towork, then, if Polly is free, I shan't be afraid to try my chance.' So Iheld my tongue, worked like a horse, satisfied myself and othersthat I could get my living honestly, and then came home to see ifthere was any hope for me.""And I was waiting for you all the time," said a soft voice close tohis shoulder; for Polly was much touched by Tom's manly effortsto deserve her."I did n't mean to do it the first minute, but look about me a little,and be sure Syd was all right. But Fan's news settled that point, andjust now the look in my Polly's face settled the other. I could n'twait another minute, or let you either, and I could n't helpstretching out my arms to my little wife, God bless her, though Iknow I don't deserve her."Tom's voice got lower and lower as he spoke, and his face was fullof an emotion of which he need not be ashamed, for a very sincerelove ennobled him, making him humble, where a shalloweraffection would have been proud of its success. Polly understoodthis, and found the honest, hearty speech of her lover moreeloquent than poetry itself. Her hand stole up to his cheek, and sheleaned her own confidingly against the rough coat, as she said, inher frank simple way, "Tom, dear, don't say that, as if I was thebest girl in the world. I've got ever so many faults, and I want youto know them all, and help me cure them, as you have your own.Waiting has not done us any harm, and I love you all the better foryour trial. But I'm afraid your year has been harder than mine, youlook so much older and graver than when you went away. Younever would complain; but I've had a feeling that you were goingthrough a good deal more than any of us guessed.""Pretty tough work at first, I own. It was all so new and strange, I'm afraid I should n't have stood it if it had not been for Ned. He'dlaugh and say'Pooh!' if he heard me say it, but it's truenevertheless that he's a grand fellow and helped me through thefirst six months like a well, a brother as he is. There was no reasonwhy he should go out of his way to back up a shiftless party likeme, yet he did, and made many things easy and safe that wouldhave been confoundedly hard and dangerous if I'd been left tomyself. The only way I can explain it is that it's a family trait, andas natural to the brother as it is to the sister.""It's a Shaw trait to do the same. But tell me about Maria; is Nedreally engaged to her?""Very much so; you'll get a letter full of raptures tomorrow; hehad n't time to send by me, I came off in such a hurry. Maria is asensible, pretty girl and Ned will be a happy old fellow.""Why did you let us think it was you?""I only teased Fan a little; I did like Maria, for she reminded me ofyou sometimes, and was such a kind, cosy little woman I could n'thelp enjoying her society after a hard day's work. But Ned gotjealous, and then I knew that he was in earnest, so I left him a clearfield, and promised not to breathe a word to any one till he had gota Yes or No from his Maria.""I wish I'd known it," sighed Polly. "People in love always do suchstupid things!""So they do; for neither you nor Fan gave us poor fellows the leasthint about Syd, and there I've been having all sorts of scares aboutyou.""Serves us right; brothers and sisters should n't have secrets fromeach other.""We never will again. Did you miss me very much?""Yes, Tom; very, very much.""My patient little Polly!""Did you really care for me before you went?""See if I did n't;" and with great pride Tom produced a portlypocket-book stuffed with business-like documents of a mostimposing appearance, opened a private compartment, and took outa worn-looking paper, unfolded it carefully, and displayed a smallbrown object which gave out a faint fragrance."That's the rose you put in the birthday cake, and next week we'llhave a fresh one in another jolly little cake which you'll make me;you left it on the floor of my den the night we talked there, and I've kept it ever since. There's love and romance for you!"Polly touched the little relic, treasured for a year, and smiled toread the words "My Polly's rose," scribbled under the crumblingleaves."I did n't know you could be so sentimental," she said, looking sopleased that he did not regret confessing his folly."I never was till I loved you, my dear, and I'm not very bad yet, forI don't wear my posy next my heart, but where I can see it everyday, and so never forget for whom I am working. Should n'twonder if that bit of nonsense had kept me economical, honest,and hard at it, for I never opened my pocket-book that I did n'tthink of you.""That's lovely, Tom," and Polly found it so touching that she feltfor her handkerchief; but Tom took it away, and made her laughinstead of cry, by saying, in a wheedlesome tone, "I don't believeyou did as much, for all your romance. Did you, now?""If you won't laugh, I'll show you my treasures. I began first, and I've worn them longest."As she spoke, Polly drew out the old locket, opened it, and showedthe picture Tom gave her in the bag of peanuts cut small and fittedin on one side on the other was a curl of reddish hair and a blackbutton. How Tom laughed when he saw them!"You don't mean you've kept that frightful guy of a boy all thistime? Polly! Polly! you are the most faithful'loveress,' as Maudsays, that was ever known.""Don't flatter yourself that I've worn it all these years, sir; I onlyput it in last spring because I did n't dare to ask for one of the newones. The button came off the old coat you insisted on wearingafter the failure, as if it was your duty to look as shabby aspossible, and the curl I stole from Maud. Are n't we silly?"He did not seem to think so, and after a short pause forrefreshments, Polly turned serious, and said anxiously, "Whenmust you go back to your hard work?""In a week or two; but it won't seem drudgery now, for you'll writeevery day, and I shall feel that I'm working to get a home for you.That will give me a forty-man-power, and I'll pay up my debts andget a good start, and then Ned and I will be married and go intopartnership, and we'll all be the happiest, busiest people in theWest.""It sounds delightful; but won't it take a long time, Tom?""Only a few years, and we need n't wait a minute after Syd is paid,if you don't mind beginning rather low down, Polly.""I'd rather work up with you, than sit idle while you toil away allalone. That's the way father and mother did, and I think they werevery happy in spite of the poverty and hard work.""Then we'll do it by another year, for I must get more salarybefore I take you away from a good home here. I wish, oh, Polly,how I wish I had a half of the money I've wasted, to make youcomfortable, now.""Never mind, I don't want it; I'd rather have less, and know youearned it all yourself," cried Polly, as Tom struck his hand on hisknee with an acute pang of regret at the power he had lost."It's like you to say it, and I won't waste any words bewailingmyself, because I was a fool. We will work up together, my bravePolly, and you shall yet be proud of your husband, though he is'poor Tom Shaw.' "She was as sure of that as if an oracle had foretold it, and was notdeceived; for the loving heart that had always seen, believed, andtried to strengthen all good impulses in Tom, was well repaid forits instinctive trust by the happiness of the years to come."Yes," she said, hopefully, "I know you will succeed, for the bestthing a man can have, is work with a purpose in it, and the will todo it heartily.""There is one better thing, Polly," answered Tom, turning her faceup a little, that he might see his inspiration shining in her eyes."What is it, dear?""A good woman to love and help him all his life, as you will me,please God.""Even though she is old-fashioned," whispered Polly, with happyeyes, the brighter for their tears, as she looked up at the youngman, who, through her, had caught a glimpse of the truest success,and was not ashamed to owe it to love and labor, two beautiful oldfashions that began long ago, with the first pair in Eden.Lest any of my young readers who have honored Maud with theirinterest should suffer the pangs of unsatisfied curiosity as to herfuture, I will add for their benefit that she did not marry Will, butremained a busy, lively spinster all her days, and kept house forher father in the most delightful manner.Will's ministerial dream came to pass in the course of time,however, and a gentle, bright-eyed lady ruled over the parsonage,whom the reverend William called his "little Jane."Farther into futurity even this rash pen dares not proceed, butpauses here, concluding in the words of the dear old fairy tales,"And so they were married, and all lived happily till they died."