Thirty-One

 

Jennie giggled at the sight of Victor being off-balance. She arose from her chair, manners dictating she do so because an elder was standing nearby. The same forces required her to ask her aunt if she would like to join them. Victor brought a nearby rocking chair close to the porch swing and wicker chair.

“Would you care to sit here,” he indicated the rocker, “or perhaps on the swing?”

“Thank you, Mr.… Hornback was it? Jennie, if you do not mind, I prefer your wicker chair because it is the easiest one from which I can later arise.”

Victor quickly maneuvered the wicker chair so that they formed a little circle. He held onto it until the elder lady was seated.

“Yes, it is Hornback. I believe that when you visited the Brookfield Methodist Church, you met my mother.”

“Oh, now I do recall the occasion. A fine Christian lady, your mother. I believe she travelled a lot, and she regaled us with tales of her adventures.”

“Well, yes, she often visits our distant relatives and friends. Since my father passed away, she has not been keen to remain out in the country. She never was a farm girl, but somehow, my father convinced her to settle down with him. Once he was gone, she became antsy.”

“Sorry to learn about your father. My condolences. Was this recently?”

“Several years ago.”

“Jennie, would you be so kind as to bring a pitcher with more tea and an additional glass? I had not earlier thought I would join the two of you, but the conversation is delightful.”

Victor Hornback pushed back an unruly lock of hair off his forehead. His hair was the subject of much teasing from classmates, so thick and wavy, and when not tamed with pomade it became a separate character others addressed.

As soon as Jennie closed the front door behind her, Aunt Ella set to further interrogation.

“How is it you came to know our Miss Jennie? I assumed from the party you were a classmate at the university, but perhaps that is not the case?”

“Miss Stark and I made our acquaintance in Chillicothe. She began high school there when I was a Sophomore and she, a Freshman. She is musically inclined, and she joined our double mixed quartet once we found ourselves without an alto.”

“I see.” Ella Stark’s forehead creased into parallel horizontal furrows. “And your friendship continued at the university?”

“Not exactly. I graduated from high school in ’08 and studied in both the journalism and agricultural schools. Miss Stark entered one year after me and was in the arts and science school. We rarely saw each other. Except at church and when she came to hear my trio sing.”

Victor Hornback omitted the fact he rarely went to church. Also, he did not divulge his belief that Jennie’s actual object of admiration was another member of the trio, Albert Heinz. Once Albert married and left to teach in China, Victor arranged for another to join his trio. Jennie still attended some of his musical engagements, so he was encouraged to think he might have a chance at courting her. But the occasion never arose. Until that week.

Ella continued, “But at some point, you became part of the same graduating class?”

“That is correct, Miss Stark. My additional credits with the journalism school required an additional year to graduate. I am fortunate that such a circuitous route has resulted in a mighty fine opportunity.”

Mr. Victor Hornback and Aunt Ella Stark each sipped their tea, the latter finding it acceptable to appropriate her niece’s glass. As moments passed with no further conversation, Victor was disappointed the matron had not inquired of the nature of his opportunity.

Jennie reappeared with a pitcher and additional glass. Seeing her aunt sipping from her previous vessel, Jennie poured a refill for the two others, then poured a glass for herself. She settled into the rocking chair.

“Now that you both are present, I am happy to fill in some of the details about my upcoming employment in Chicago.”

“Oh, dear me,” interjected Aunt Ella, “so far away? Isn’t your farm only a few miles from here, with no one to adequately run it?”

The raised eyebrows on Jennie’s face should have signaled that she, too, wondered the same thing. But Victor’s attention was on her aunt.

“We have a hired hand who manages the farm. And, as you have already noted, my mother travels frequently. One destination is Chicago where we have relations. So, when they offered this position, I had little reason to refuse. They will be paying a munificent sum!”

Jennie privately wondered at the flowery language. Would her aunt find him a boor? Or a fascinating, well-educated gentleman? She hoped the second possibility to be true.

Aunt Ella’s lips drew thin, but one could detect the corners were upturned.

“Mr. Hornback, are you hinting that you will be able to adequately support a wife?”

Jennie’s jaw dropped open as she opened her eyes widely at her aunt. To what end was Aunt Ella’s nosiness?

“Well, Miss Stark, I was not intending to telegraph such a thought. But,” he glanced at Jennie before continuing, “I could indeed support a wife. My mother would be happy at such a prospect. She often tells me she is ready for someone else to take over her job of worrying.”

The rocking chair creaked during the silence which followed. Back and forth it went as Jennie considered whether she should speak. She cleared her throat.

“Mr. Hornback, you might recall I have a teaching position awaiting me in Linneus. It provides me with the experience I will need to teach in larger schools. I truly anticipate it will be a very satisfying venture.”

Victor rubbed his chin, clean-shaven that morning, but with a small nick which threatened to reopen.

“Miss Stark, I agree that teaching is a fine profession for a woman, at least until she is married or is expectant. I am certain, of course, that you will be able to find a satisfactory position in Illinois. Preferably, within Chicago itself.”

Jennie leaned forward far enough to place her glass upon the porch rail. Then, she resumed rocking, this time at a slower pace as she contemplated what she thought was Victor’s intention as compared to the career she mapped out for herself during her eight long years at both Chillicothe High School and the University of Missouri.

Ella arose.

“Please, stay seated. I have chores and am neglectful.” The elder held onto her glass and receded as the other two partially arose.

“Miss Stark, I wonder if I might start calling you ‘Miss Jennie’? It would be less confusing in situations such we just found ourselves with two Misses Stark. And besides, I have known you as a friend for many years now. We should be familiar enough with each other by now to use our Christian names.”

“I don’t know how to answer, or what to even think.”

The pace of Jennie’s rocking picked up, but then suddenly came to a halt. She stood, arms crossed over her chest. Victor then also regained his upright stance as being a gentleman requires.

“First of all, yes, it would be convenient if you called me by my Christian name, I suppose.” Jennie sat down again, this time in the wicker chair, Victor Hornback resuming his position on the swing. “Secondly, I am provisionally licensed to teach only in Missouri. And if I am to understand you correctly, Mr. Hornback—Victor—you are considering a wife whom you can establish in Chicago. Such a person being me. Or have I misread your statements?”

Victor leaned forward, elbows on knees, gazing upward to meet Jennie’s blue-gray eyes.

“Though I have not yet sought permission from your father, being unsure if he is the proper person to ask, yes, Miss Jennie, it is my sincerest hope you will become my wife by the time I leave for Chicago in August. I realize that is only some weeks from now, but surely, given how long we have known each other, such a time is not too brief. And please, call me Vic.”

He extended his hand toward Jennie who briefly placed her hand in his before withdrawing it. Jennie twisted her mouth, then, sensing an overwhelming storm was brewing within, she abruptly stood up and withdrew inside.