Drusilla with a Million. Elizabeth Cooper
Drusilla said quietly; "and he's come to take me away. I come to say good-by."
The women sat forward in their chairs and stopped their knitting or darning, so that they would not miss a word.
"Well, I swan! A million dollars! A million dollars!"
"Is it true, Drusilla? Do you think it can be so much?"
"I don't know—that's what he said. He's waitin' for me and I must be goin'. Good-by, dear Harriet. Good-by, Caroline. Good-by, Mis' Graham; you always been good to me. Good-by, Mis' Fisher; I ain't never goin' to fer-get how good you was to me when I was sick. Good-by all, good-by. I'm comin' often to see you. Good-by."
She looked slowly around on her friends, then walked down the veranda to the waiting motor. Just as she reached it old Barbara came shuffling up to her. "Oh, Drusilla," she mumbled, taking her hand, "I'm so glad for you, I'm so glad. I hope it is a million dollars."
The loving touch was too much for tired Drusilla. The tears sprang to her eyes and she clasped Barbara's hands in both of her own.
"Oh, Barbara," she said, "it gives me a hurt inside my heart to leave you all behind! Listen, Barbara! Whether it's a million dollars or only a hundred, you shall have new store teeth. Good-by!"
To Drusilla's embarrassment both Mr. and Mrs. Smith were waiting for her beside the motor to say good-by, and were effusive in their farewells.
"You will come to see us, won't you, Miss Doane, and you won't forget us"—and Drusilla was tucked into the luxurious motor, a footstool found for her feet, a soft rug wrapped around her and they drove away.
She was quiet for the greater part of the journey, and Mr. Thornton left her to her own thoughts. Finally she sat more upright and began to take an interest in the fittings of the car. Mr. Thornton watched her.
"Do you like the car?" he asked
"It's beautiful. You know it's the first time I been in one."
"Why, is it possible? I thought every one had been in a motor."
"No, not every one, Mr. Thornton; I don't think that more'n two of the ladies in the home have been in one. This is fixed up real nice."
"I am glad you like it," Mr. Thornton said. "It is yours."
Drusilla sat back suddenly in her seat.
"This—this—mine?"
"Yes, this is yours, and you have two more at your home."
Drusilla gasped.
"Two more like this?"
"No, not exactly the same. One is an open car and one is a small town car."
"Why—why—what'll I do with three? I can't ride in 'em all at once."
"No, but you will find that you can use them all."
"Can I use them whenever I want to?"
"Certainly; they are yours. All you have to do is to send word to one of the chauffeurs and they will be ready for you."
"Send word to who?"
"The chauffeur, the man who is driving."
"Is he mine, too?"
"Yes; you have two men."
"What'll I do with two?"
"One will be on duty a certain number of hours, and then the other takes his place."
"Oh—" She was quiet for a time. "Can I take them anywhere I want to?"
"Certainly. They are yours."
"Then, I know what I'll do! I'll take the old ladies for a ride! Wouldn't Mis' Graham love it, and old Grandma Perkins—we could bundle her up; and Barbara might even ferget her teeth."
Drusilla settled back among the cushions and mused upon the joy she could give with this new wonder machine that was hers to do with as she wished, and the frightened look died from her face and a happy smile seemed trying to crowd the wrinkles from the corners of her mouth. She said nothing more for a long time; then:
"Are we goin' very fast, Mr. Thornton?"
"No; not so very fast. Are you nervous? I will have the chauffeur drive slower. I forgot you were not used to it."
Drusilla stopped him as he started to speak to the chauffeur.
"No; I wasn't thinking of that. I ain't nervous, I was just wonderin' if he couldn't go a little faster."
Mr. Thornton looked somewhat surprised, but he gave the order.
Drusilla again sat back among the cushions, a slight flush on her face. Soon she leaned forward once more.
"Mr. Thornton, couldn't he let her out jest a leetle more?"
Thornton laughed.
"We'll go as fast as you like; only I hope we won't be arrested."
Drusilla sighed.
"I'd be willin' to go to jail to pay fer feelin' like this. I always thought I'd have to wait till I got to Heaven before I'd git a chance to fly, but now they'll have to offer me something new."
She said nothing more on the journey, but showed by the bright flush on her cheeks and the sparkle in her eyes that she was enjoying every moment of the ride. At last they turned, passed a pair of big gate-posts and up a graveled driveway, and the car stopped before a door.
When a man came from the house and opened the door of the car, Drusilla came to herself with a start.
"Are we there already? I was kind of hopin' it'd never stop."
Mr. Thornton gravely helped Drusilla to the door.
"Welcome to your home, Miss Doane," he said. "I think we will find my daughter inside."
They entered a large hall and Drusilla stood hesitatingly, not knowing what to do. In a moment a voice was heard from above:
"Is that you, Father?" and a laughing face peered over the railing, and was followed by a slim young figure that seemed to fly down the stairs. "Oh, you were such a long time, Father. Welcome home, Miss Doane! we are so glad to have you. We have all been waiting such a long time. Father is always so slow;" and she flew in her pretty, impulsive way to Drusilla and took both her hands. "I am so glad to have you come, Miss Doane."
Drusilla looked at the pretty face before her that seemed to show such real welcome, and her eyes filled with tears.
"I'm real glad to come, but—but—I guess I'm a little bit scared."
"No, you aren't going to be frightened at all. You come right up with me and take off your hat in your room. Oh, here is Mrs. Perrine. She is your housekeeper, Miss Doane. And that is James, the butler; and that is Mary; and Jeanne is waiting for you upstairs. Come with me."
Drusilla followed as well as she could the flying feet up the broad stairs and was taken to a room that seemed to her a palace. It was all in soft shades of gray with a touch of blue here and there, and there were flowers everywhere. The chairs were upholstered in gray and blue chintz, and at the windows hung gray silk curtains with just a hint of the blue showing beneath them. Near the fireplace was a big couch with a soft gray silk quilt spread upon it, and pillows that invited one to rest. Drusilla stopped in delight.
"Oh—oh—what a pretty room! What a pretty room!"
Miss Thornton dimpled all over her pretty face.
"Do you like it? Oh, please say you like it! I arranged these rooms myself. This was a bachelor house, and there wasn't a pretty room in the place. I made Father let me fix them for you. You do like them, don't you?"
"I never saw nothin' like it before in my life."
"You don't think it too gay, do you? Mother said I ought not have the blue, that they