Hannah's Dream (6 page)

Shopkeepers wanted happy, pretty girls working in their shops, so Becky began her career as a kitchen maid at the house of Marian's parents in Philadelphia.  When Marian married, Becky was sent with her to the house in New Beach where she worked as both housekeeper
and
ladies' maid.  She and Marian had grown close since Randall died, and every night, before going to sleep, she thanked God for bringing them together.

She looked at Hannah's sweet face and sighed.

"Men think they rule the world.  Wouldn't it be something if they knew the truth?"

"He's leaving, Becky," Hannah said.  "His father is sending him to New Brunswick to some private school to prepare him for college."

"That sounds like a good idea.  Give the boy a leg up on the others."

"But I didn't think he was leaving until next year."

Becky saw one tear roll down Hannah's face.

"Now, don't go getting all upset," Becky said as she patted Hannah's hand.  "Did he say he'd write to you?"

Hannah nodded.

"He even asked me to wait for him."

"Well, now, see?"

"I know, but he's my best friend.  What will I do without him?"

"You'll find a new friend.  Maybe some nice girl who has no friends, too."

"I've never been close to a girl.  All they talk about is getting married."

"Well, I've got nothing to say to that.  I saw you come up the stairs and came out to tell you lunch is ready."

Becky got up and went inside, leaving Hannah on the porch to brood.  John was walking past her house and she stood up, glared at him, went inside, and slammed the door so he'd know she was still angry with him.

Chapter 9

John Liberty left New Beach in a hired carriage that would take him to the train in Red Bank.  He left early in the morning, and he was still upset with Hannah for not seeing him the night before.  He had gone to her porch to say goodbye, and Becky said she was indisposed, but John knew she was just being stubborn.  He asked Becky to tell her goodbye for him, and she smiled and said she would.  She also wished him luck.

Hannah woke to the sound of the carriage pulling away from the Liberty home and she jumped out of bed and looked out her window.  After the big hurricane broke Hannah's window, Horace Beecham had installed a window seat under the window and her bed remained in the middle of the room.  She kneeled on the window seat and looked out in time to see John as the carriage passed her house.  She couldn't get the window open fast enough to wave to him and she felt remorse over not seeing him the night before.

Marian had also arranged for a carriage to come to their house at eight a.m.  She was taking Hannah to Red Bank so they could buy some new clothes, shoes, and other things Hannah would need for school.  They would have lunch at Nielsen's Restaurant, visit J. J. Donahay's dry goods store, look for shoes at White and Knapp, and last but not least, go to Mrs. E. Weis' Red Bank Temple of Fashion.  Marian had looked forward to visiting the newly built millinery store since reading about it in the paper.  

Mrs. Weis had lost two retail stores to fires and decided to build her new store out of brick.  It was said that the new store was something to see with its ornate brickwork and the huge forged sign above the door.

"Hannah, the carriage is here," Marian called up the stairs.

She had donned her hat and gloves, and was waiting for Hannah as the girl descended the stairs.  Marian looked at her face and sighed.

"You look so glum," she said.

"He didn't say goodbye," Hannah replied.

Marian put her arms around Hannah's shoulders and hugged her.

"To be fair, he did come to see you and you refused to come to the porch."

"I know, but I thought I would have time to see him this morning."

"See what pride does?  It caused you to make foolish decisions that can't be undone.  You'll have to ask his mother for his address and write him as soon as we get home."

"He probably won't read my letters."

"Oh, Hannah, John wouldn't hold a grudge.  He's a kind boy and always has been.  And I think he cares for you."

Hannah's face brightened.

"Do you truly think so?"

"I do.  Now, the carriage is waiting and we have to go."

Marian walked to the kitchen door and opened it to find Becky at the sink peeling potatoes.

"We're leaving now, Becky."

"Have a good time.  Dinner will be ready when you get back."

Marian went out to the carriage where Hannah was waiting for her and the driver, a kindly, tall, older man named Edward, who wore a top hat, helped Marian up the step.  She sat next to Hannah so they could both ride forward and took her hand.

"I can't wait to see the Temple of Fashion," she said.

"I want to see the art supplies at the dry goods store.  Mr. Rousseau said since I love color so much, I should try painting."

"What type of supplies will you need?"

"An easel, paint, brushes, things like that."

Marian hadn't discouraged Hannah's love of the arts, but she was a bit concerned that her daughter might be considering a "career," or thinking she would work in a museum.  While Marian sympathized with women who couldn't find a husband and needed to work to support themselves, she couldn't imagine Hannah, whom she thought to be the prettiest girl in town, would become a spinster like Becky.

Becky often spoke of women's suffrage and the need for women to vote.  As a single, working woman, she wanted a say in who would run her country.  Marian listened to Becky and  thought there were sound reasons for giving the vote to women.  She herself read the paper weekly and knew the issues.  She was sure she could make a thoughtful and intelligent choice regarding an elected official and didn't understand why men were so reticent to extend the vote to women.

Still, Marian had been thinking it would be nice to marry again.  She had no issue with being a dutiful wife who ran her husband's household while he supported her.  She was still young and wanted to have another child, but all the men in New Beach were either married or too young, and she despaired of ever finding another husband if she continued to live there.

Hannah's need to create and study art concerned Marian.  Her daughter's intense drive to learn all she could about art was a mystery to Marian, who had always been content to read, tend her garden, or host a ladies' tea.

The carriage rolled over the dirt road that led to the main highway leading to Red Bank.  The women were jostled and rocked from side to side.  They looked straight ahead as Edward guided the horse across a small bridge, and Hannah looked over the side at the water running under the bridge.  She loved the deep blue-green color of the water and decided she would try to copy it with paint.

"Does Mr. Rousseau paint?" Marian asked.

"He draws things.  He drew a picture of Mavis Bartles.  Everyone thinks she's so pretty because of her blond hair and her blue eyes."

"Mavis is pretty, but you're pretty, too."

"I'm not pretty like she is."

"Hannah, you're very pretty."

"You say that because you're my mother and you have to."

Marian turned toward Hannah and put her hand under the girl's chin, turning Hannah's face toward her.

"You are pretty, Hannah.  I don't say that because I'm your mother.  I say it because it's true."

Hannah looked into her mother's eyes.  She wanted to believe her mother's words, but the face she saw in the mirror every morning disproved them.  Instead of arguing, though, Hannah just smiled.

"I know," she said, hoping that would be the end of it.

"Good, now let's think about what we have to buy today.  You need new shoes and," she lowered her voice, "underwear."

"Mother!"

"And you'll also need dresses."

"May we look at the shoes with higher heels this time?" Hannah asked.

Hannah was short for her age and longed to be taller.  Marian had always discouraged her from wearing higher heels as it was Marian's belief that the shoes would cause Hannah's legs to weaken.  While she had no proof that this was so, she still maintained that the higher heels were dangerous and refused to buy them for Hannah.

"You're still growing," Marian said.  "Perhaps next year."

Hannah frowned.  They passed a sign that said "Red Bank Three Miles," and she decided to wait until they were in the store to continue her campaign.  The salesman would help her sway Marian to her side.

The ride to Red Bank took two and a half hours, and when they arrived in the bustling town, Marian asked Edward to drop them off at Nielsen's so they could eat before shopping.  He had been hired for the day and would wait outside the restaurant.

After they ate, Marian asked Edward to take them to Cooper and Sneden's Pharmacy where she purchased a newspaper.  She and Hannah sat at the soda fountain and Hannah had an Orange Breeze while Marian looked at the advertisements.  When Hannah had finished her soda, Marian asked Edward to take them to White and Knapp for shoes.  Hannah didn't like getting new shoes.  It always took so long to break them in, and she had to wear them every day until school began.

As they entered the shoe store, Marian went to look at the sturdy button shoes, while Hannah was drawn to the high heeled shoes with straps.  Today, however, she saw a display with shoes that didn't have buttons or straps -- they were slippers.  The slippers she was attracted to first were pretty colors with bows and ornate stitches depicting flowers with green tendrils wrapping around the front of the shoe.  She looked over at her mother, who was conversing with a salesman while holding a pair of brown button shoes.  Hannah winced.  She wouldn't mind an ugly pair of shoes if she could lace them, but Marian was a bit old-fashioned and always chose a well-made button shoe.

Hannah walked past a row of laced shoes and found a pair in red.  While not as pretty as the slippers, at least they were a color, and she picked them up and walked over to Marian and the salesman.

"May I try these on?" she asked, holding up the shoes so Marian could see them.

Marian narrowed her eyes and pretended to examine the shoes, but Hannah could see she had already decided on the buttoned pair.  Then Hannah had a thought.

"I could try on both pairs."

The salesman's eyes lit up at the thought of selling two pairs of shoes, and he began to plead Hannah's case for her.

"Why don't we measure the young lady's foot," he said.

Hannah sat on the hard wooden bench and took off her shoes.  The salesman held a demarcated size-stick near her foot and measured.

"Size two," he said.

As he walked away in search of the shoes, Marian looked down at Hannah.

"You need sturdy shoes," she said.

"The lace shoes are sturdy, Mama.  And I like them so much."

"You only like them because they're red."

"What's wrong with that?"

Marian was unsure how to answer, and when the man returned with the shoes and placed the red-laced pair on Hannah's foot, Marian had to admit they were quite stylish and did look sturdy.

"Do I have to try on the buttons?" Hannah asked.  "These are very comfortable."

They were, in fact, very uncomfortable, and would be for several days until they conformed to Hannah's feet.

"How much are they?" Marian asked.

"Two dollars," the man said.

"My, that's dear. Are they all so expensive?"

"These are good quality shoes, ma'am.  You won't find a better pair of shoes in all of Red Bank.  Besides, the young miss will be wearing them for a long time.  Does she walk to school?"

"Of course she walks to school," Marian said.

She thought it was a foolish question.

"Then she'll need shoes that last with good thick soles."

Marian looked at Hannah's face.  It was obvious how much the girl wanted the shoes, and Marian was seldom able to deny Hannah what she truly wanted.

"We'll take them.  But you won't wear them until we get home."

Hannah grinned and jumped up.  She put her arms around Marian's neck and squeezed her tightly.

"Oh, thank you, Mama, thank you," she cried.

"You're welcome," Marian said.  "I just hope they last."

"Oh, they will, they will, I promise."

After the salesman, whose disappointment over selling only one pair of shoes was evident on his face, rang them up, they went to the carriage and Marian told Edward to take them to the Temple of Fashion.  Now it was Marian's turn to get excited as she would see the brand new building she'd read so much about.

Chapter 10

The driver stopped in front of Hannah's house, then he helped Marian down the step to the street.  Hannah jumped out of the carriage unassisted and began to gather the art supplies her mother had bought her.  The easel was a little big, but she managed to get it out of the carriage and was trying to carry it when Edward took it out of her hands.

"I'll take that, little lady," he said.

Hannah smiled and let go of the easel, but she kept her eyes on Edward, making sure he got it safely into the house.  She then gathered the rest of the bags and went inside.

"She's been here since early this afternoon," Becky said.

She and Marian were standing in the hallway in front of the parlor door, which was closed.

"She wouldn't tell me her business.  She just sashayed in with the boy and wouldn't budge.  She said she had business with
Mrs
. Dawes."

"Well, then I'll have to speak with her.  Bring us some tea, Becky."

"Tea for the likes of her!"

"She's a guest in my home."

Becky knew from Marian's tone that she was serious and went to the kitchen to make some tea.  Marian looked at Hannah and smiled.

"Edward took your easel upstairs.  Why don't you see if he needs some help."

She then opened the parlor door and went inside.  Hannah stood at the door and tried to hear the conversation from within, and noticed that Marian had left the door slightly ajar.  She peeked inside the room and saw a boy sitting on the settee.  She saw the skirt of a woman, but couldn't see what she looked like.  The boy looked sad and there were dark circles under his large brown eyes.  He had long brown hair that looked as though it had not been cut in a long time.  He reminded Hannah of a Jenny Frye's Bassett hound.