John was sincerely sorry for his wife’s misfortune, but when he heard that she would see through a glass darkly for the matter of a week or two, he made up his mind to act and act quickly.
They went out for a ride that he might test her vision. The horse he was driving was a gray, Roanoke by name.
“My dear,” said Mr. Tucker, “don’t you think that the gait of this black horse is very like that of Roanoke?”
“I’m sure I can’t tell,” said Martha. “With these dismal glasses on I’m not quite sure whether it’s a horse or a cow in the harness. I get a hazy outline of some animal, but no color and little form. Don’t ever touch poison-ivy if you value your sight.”
“Well, the doctor says you’ll be all right in a week or two. By the way, Martha, I’m going to run down to New York to-morrow on business. I’ll be back in the evening. If your eyes were all right you might come along, but as it is, I guess you’d better not go down.”
“No; driving around with James will do me more good than a stuffy train. Come home as soon as you can, dear, and--” She hesitated. “I hate the old things, but if you are so set on trying one of those automobiles, why don’t you do it to-morrow, when you are in New York?”
“Why, I believe I will, my dear. I wish I could overcome your prejudice against them.”
When Mr. Tucker reached New York, the first thing that he did was to visit an automobile repository.
“Would it be possible for you to let me have an automobile that could be operated from behind, so that my wife and I could sit in front and simply enjoy the ride?”
“Why, certainly,” said the man. “We have every style known to the most advanced makers.”
“And could I have shafts attached to it, so that if it broke down I could call in the services of some horse?”
“But, sir, our machines never break down. That is why we are selling one every minute in the working-day. Our agents are located in every known city of the earth, and our factories are running day and night, and in spite of it we are falling behind in our orders in a rapidly increasing ratio.”
“Is that so?” said Mr. Tucker, turning to leave the store. “Then I’m afraid I’ll have to go elsewhere, as I wanted one shipped to me to-morrow or next day. A birthday present for my wife, you understand.”