This agent was not unused to girls, a college town is often invaded by hordes of smart young women, pretty girls and gay hoydens. Many Junes he had sold tickets or given information to hundreds of feminine inquirers but none had ever seemed quite like this one.
Best accommodations? he repeated stupidly.
You heard me, then! About when do you propose to reply?
Still he gazed at her in silence, running over in his mind the various boarding houses, and finding none he thought shed like.
Theres a rule of the Railroad Company that questions must be answered the same day theyre asked, she said, witheringly, and picking up her suitcase she started for the door, feeling that any one she might find would know more than this dummy.
Wait, oh, I say, miss, wait a minute.
I did, she said coolly, proceeding to the door.
But, oh, hold on, try Old Salt Adams, you couldnt do better.
Where is it? she deigned to pause a moment, and he replied quickly:
Hes right outside, hurry up out, you can catch him!
Here was something she could understand, and she hurried up out, just in time to see an old man with long white beard jump into his sleigh and begin to tuck fur robes about him.
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, she quoted to herself, and then cried out, Hey, there, Santa Claus, give me a lift?
You engaged for our house? the man called back, and as she shook her head, he gathered up his reins.
Cant take any one not engaged, he called back, Giddap!
Wait, wait! I command you! The sharp, clear young voice rang out through the cold winter air, and Old Saltonstall Adams paused to listen.
Ho, ho, he chuckled, you command me, do you? Now, I havent been commanded for something like fifty years.
Oh, dont stop to fuss, the girl exclaimed, angrily. Dont you see Im cold, hungry and very uncomfortable? You have a boarding house, I want board, now, you take me in. Do you hear?
Sure I hear, but, miss, weve only so many rooms and theyre all occupied or engaged.
Some are engaged, but as yet unoccupied? The dark eyes challenged him, and Adams mumbled, Well, thats about it.
Very well, I will occupy one until the engager comes along. Let me get in. No, I can manage my suitcase myself. You get my trunk, heres the check. Or will you send for that tomorrow?
Why wait? Mights well get it now if so be youre bound to bide. Fraid to wait in the sleigh alone?
Im afraid of nothing, was the disdainful answer, and the girl pulled the fur robes up around her as she sat in the middle of the back seat.
Shortly, old Salt returned with the trunk on his shoulder, and put it in the front with himself, and they started.
Dont try to talk, he called back to her, as the horses began a rapid trot. I cant hear you against this wind.
Ive no intention of talking, the girl replied, but the man couldnt hear her. The wind blew fiercely. It was snowing a little, and the drifts sent feathery clouds through the air. The trees, coated with ice from a recent sleet storm, broke off crackling bits of ice as they passed. The girl looked about, at first curiously, and then timidly, as if frightened by what she saw.
It was not a long ride, and they stopped before a large house, showing comfortably lighted windows and a broad front door that swung open even as the girl was getting down from the sleigh.
For the land sake! exclaimed a brisk feminine voice, this aint Letty! Who in the earth have you got here?
I dont know, Old Salt Adams replied, truthfully. Take her along, mother, and give her a nights lodging.
But where is Letty? Didnt she come?
Now cant you see she didnt come? Do you spose I left her at the station? Or dumped her out along the road? No since you will have it, she didnt come. She didnt come!
Old Salt drove on toward the barns, and Mrs. Adams bade the girl go into the house.
The landlady followed, and as she saw the strange guest she gazed at her in frank curiosity.
You want a room, I spose, she began. But, Im sorry to say we havent one vacant
Oh, Ill take Lettys. She didnt come, you see, so I can take her room for tonight.
Letty wouldnt like that.
But I would. And Im here and Letty isnt. Shall we go right up?
Picking up her small suitcase, the girl started and then stepped back for the woman to lead the way.
Not quite so fast if you please. What is your name?
As the landladys tone changed to a sterner inflection, the girl likewise grew dignified.
My name is Anita Austin, she said, coldly. I came here because I was told it was the best house in Corinth.
Where are you from?
New York City.
What address?
Plaza Hotel.
By this time the strange dark eyes had done their work. A steady glance from Anita Austin seemed to compel all the world to do her bidding. At any rate, Mrs. Adams took the suitcase, and without a further word conducted the stranger upstairs.
She took her into an attractive bedroom, presumably made ready for the absent Letty.
This will do, Miss Austin said, calmly. Will you send me up a tray of supper? I dont want much, and I prefer not to come down to dinner.
Land sake, dinners over long ago. You want some tea, n bread, n butter, n preserves, n cake?
Yes, thank you, that sounds good. Send it in half an hour.
To her guest Mrs. Adams showed merely a face of acquiescence, but once outside the door, and released from the spell of those eerie eyes, she remarked to herself, For the land sake! with great emphasis.
Well, what do you know about that! Old Salt Adams cried, when, after she had started him on his supper, his wife related the episode.
I cant make her out, Mrs. Adams said, thoughtfully. But I dont like her. And I wont keep her. Tomorrow, you take her over to Beltons.
Just as you say. But I thought her kinda interesting looking. You cant say she isnt that.
Maybe so, to some folks. Not to me. And Lettyll come tomorrow, so that girlll have to get out of the room.
Meanwhile that girl was eagerly peering out of her window.
She tried to discern which were the lights of the college buildings, but through the still lightly falling snow, she could see but little, and after a time, she gave up the effort. She drew her head back into the room just as a tap at the door announced her supper.
Thank you, she said to the maid who brought it. Set it on that stand, please. It looks very nice.
And then, sitting comfortably in an easy chair, robed in warm dressing gown and slippers, Miss Anita Austin devoted a pleasant half hour to the simple but thoroughly satisfactory meal.
This finished, she wrote some letters. Not many, indeed, but few as they were, the midnight hour struck before she sealed the last envelope and wrote the last address.
Then, prepared for bed, she again looked from the window, and gazed long into the night.
Corinth, she whispered, Oh, Corinth, what do you hold for me? What fortune or misfortune will you bring me? What fortune or misfortune shall I bring to others? Oh, Justice, Justice, what crimes are committed in thy name!