Gold Shoe by Grace Livingston Hill

Author:Grace Livingston Hill [Hill, Grace Livingston]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-62416-445-3
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2013-08-26T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

The night before Martha Robertson was to take the train to visit her old friend Marget Macdonald, she fell downstairs and broke her leg.

Out of the bewilderment and pain of her first oblivion, Martha roused with stern Scotch promptness to attend to her duty, and early the next morning sent for her niece Hesba Hamilton.

“How’d you like to take my place, Hesby?” she gasped from among the pillows, her thin, lined face anxious with her responsibility. She had promised Marget’s son to stay with her until he returned.

“It’ud be a nice vacation for you, Hesby,” she added anxiously as Hesba hesitated.

“Yes, but you know, Aunt,” said Hesba, turning her round, serious eyes toward the sufferer, “I’m right in the middle of my course of study in the training school, and it might put me back a whole year if I go.”

“Oh no, Hesby,” argued the old woman crossly, “you’re real bright. You can take your books along. Besides, there’s likely just as good a training school out in that city as here, and it’s a good thing to see the world a little, especially if you’re going off to teach in some college in China or Turkey. You’re young yet, you know, and you better see what you get a chance to see.”

Hesba considered.

“I might—” she said. “Of course, I’d have to ask our dean. I could telephone him.” She glanced at her wristwatch. “He’s in the office usually at this hour. I’d like to help you out, of course, if I could. How soon would I have to start?”

“The train leaves at five o’clock,” sighed the sufferer, a twinge of pain making her close her eyes and wince. “You’ll find the ticket and reservation in my purse in the upper drawer. You can take the handbag right along. It’s all packed, ready with everything, money, time table and all, clean handkerchief, and my traveling comb. Just take it. That will save you some time. I’ll be so glad to have you go. I couldn’t go back on my word, you know. You see, Marget and I used to go to school together back in the old country, and I’ve always meant to visit her. But this is just my luck. I’ll tell you, Hesby, if I get better before that son of hers gets home, I’ll come on and relieve you.”

“Son?” said Hesba, turning her round, tortoiseshell-rimmed eyes on her aunt. “Has she got a son? What’s he like?”

“I never saw him,” said the aunt wearily, “but they say he’s a fine fellow. He’s studying to be a preacher. You two ought to know each other, seeing you are both thinking of being some kind of a missionary someday. He might get back while you’re there, too, and take you round a little. It might turn out to be real pleasant, Hesby.”

“Oh, well,” said the girl strong-mindedly, “I’m not in this life for pleasure, you know, Aunty. But I’ll do my best to help you out at least till somebody else can be found to stay with your friend.

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