tea.
“Just tell me,” Mr. Douglass stated, looking down at his periodical, slightly annoyed.
“Well, it appears that our son-in-law hasn’t…hasn’t consummated the marriage.” Brief but heavy silence filled the room. Mr. Douglass saw this as quite problematic since grandchildren were a part of the agreed arrangement.
“Come, Tabitha. We’re going to speak to Master Stewart.”
* * *
“Please, do come inside,” Master Stewart stated as he led Mr. and Mrs. Douglass to his elaborate dining room. Tabitha smiled then immediately excused herself to an adjoining room, leaving the men to their discussion. Master Stewart took notice of her departure.
“Please, sit down,” Master Stewart stated with a sincere grin across his weary face.
“John,” Mr. Douglass began, “I wish the terms of my visit were more joyous, however, something rather troubling has come to my attention.” Mr. Douglas held his hat in his hands, perched above his round stomach.
“What seems to be troubling you, William?” Master Stewart asked.
“I’ll cut to the chase. The matter is rather delicate, however.” Mr. Douglass stated, looking cautiously at Master Stewart above his thin-rim glasses.
“William, we’ve known each other for years. We’re now bonded by marriage. I consider Gayle, your wife, and you to be family. Please tell me whatever is necessary so that I may be of possible assistance,” encouraged Master Stewart. Mr. Douglass sighed.
“Your son hasn’t consummated his marriage with my daughter. You and I are both men. I think you know clearly what’s going on here,” Mr. Douglass said, trying to push down his irritation.
“And what might that be?” Master Stewart asked, adjusting himself in his seat.
“Your son is lying with someone else. He must have another woman. This is one of the few benefits of taking a wife – consummation and the steady relations that there follow. Your son is young and virile. He’d been away at war. He was highly sought after. There’s no other explanation. He surely is fulfilling his needs with another woman,” Mr. Douglas said flatly.
“That’s a strong accusation. We have to consider the fact that John doesn’t know Gayle very well and the possibility that there’s another reason. I do agree, however, that it’s puzzling. I’m not certain if it’d be appropriate for me to question him regarding this matter due to its personal nature, but I’ll overstep my bounds this once. I’ll speak to John. Please consider the matter resolved.” He stood up and shook Mr. Douglass’s hand.
“Thank you John. Please enjoy the rest of your day,” Mr. Douglass said nervously as he placed his hat back atop his rounded head. He retrieved his wife, who was eavesdropping, and returned to their homestead.
Master Stewart stood at the door, watching them leave. As soon as they were out of sight, he angrily slammed the front door and raced to his son’s bedroom. John was at the university. Master Stewart ransacked the room, trying to find a scrub of evidence to explain the odd behavior. He cast aside gun parts, periodicals, books, clothing, a hidden bottle of gin, and other irrelevant odds and ends. After coming up empty, he approached Mary who was ironing.
“Mary, I need a word with you,” he said sternly.
“Yes, Master Stewart,” she said as she looked up to face him. Mary studied his facial expression and bit the inside of her cheek. She felt a reprimand coming on.
“Please come this way,” he directed, leading her to the back porch. “Have a seat.”
“Mary, I’m going to ask you a question, and I demand an honest answer.” Master Stewart took a deep breath as he looked into his beloved’s tired eyes.
“Of course, Master Stewart,” Mary said with a bit of sarcasm.
“Do you have any reason to believe that Hannah and John have been spending evening time together?” He exhaled.
“No sir, I don’t.” Mary lied with a straight face,
“Just tell me,” Mr. Douglass stated, looking down at his periodical, slightly annoyed.
“Well, it appears that our son-in-law hasn’t…hasn’t consummated the marriage.” Brief but heavy silence filled the room. Mr. Douglass saw this as quite problematic since grandchildren were a part of the agreed arrangement.
“Come, Tabitha. We’re going to speak to Master Stewart.”
* * *
“Please, do come inside,” Master Stewart stated as he led Mr. and Mrs. Douglass to his elaborate dining room. Tabitha smiled then immediately excused herself to an adjoining room, leaving the men to their discussion. Master Stewart took notice of her departure.
“Please, sit down,” Master Stewart stated with a sincere grin across his weary face.
“John,” Mr. Douglass began, “I wish the terms of my visit were more joyous, however, something rather troubling has come to my attention.” Mr. Douglas held his hat in his hands, perched above his round stomach.
“What seems to be troubling you, William?” Master Stewart asked.
“I’ll cut to the chase. The matter is rather delicate, however.” Mr. Douglass stated, looking cautiously at Master Stewart above his thin-rim glasses.
“William, we’ve known each other for years. We’re now bonded by marriage. I consider Gayle, your wife, and you to be family. Please tell me whatever is necessary so that I may be of possible assistance,” encouraged Master Stewart. Mr. Douglass sighed.
“Your son hasn’t consummated his marriage with my daughter. You and I are both men. I think you know clearly what’s going on here,” Mr. Douglass said, trying to push down his irritation.
“And what might that be?” Master Stewart asked, adjusting himself in his seat.
“Your son is lying with someone else. He must have another woman. This is one of the few benefits of taking a wife – consummation and the steady relations that there follow. Your son is young and virile. He’d been away at war. He was highly sought after. There’s no other explanation. He surely is fulfilling his needs with another woman,” Mr. Douglas said flatly.
“That’s a strong accusation. We have to consider the fact that John doesn’t know Gayle very well and the possibility that there’s another reason. I do agree, however, that it’s puzzling. I’m not certain if it’d be appropriate for me to question him regarding this matter due to its personal nature, but I’ll overstep my bounds this once. I’ll speak to John. Please consider the matter resolved.” He stood up and shook Mr. Douglass’s hand.
“Thank you John. Please enjoy the rest of your day,” Mr. Douglass said nervously as he placed his hat back atop his rounded head. He retrieved his wife, who was eavesdropping, and returned to their homestead.
Master Stewart stood at the door, watching them leave. As soon as they were out of sight, he angrily slammed the front door and raced to his son’s bedroom. John was at the university. Master Stewart ransacked the room, trying to find a scrub of evidence to explain the odd behavior. He cast aside gun parts, periodicals, books, clothing, a hidden bottle of gin, and other irrelevant odds and ends. After coming up empty, he approached Mary who was ironing.
“Mary, I need a word with you,” he said sternly.
“Yes, Master Stewart,” she said as she looked up to face him. Mary studied his facial expression and bit the inside of her cheek. She felt a reprimand coming on.
“Please come this way,” he directed, leading her to the back porch. “Have a seat.”
“Mary, I’m going to ask you a question, and I demand an honest answer.” Master Stewart took a deep breath as he looked into his beloved’s tired eyes.
“Of course, Master Stewart,” Mary said with a bit of sarcasm.
“Do you have any reason to believe that Hannah and John have been spending evening time together?” He exhaled.
“No sir, I don’t.” Mary lied with a straight face,
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