This is all that I stipulate; but this I do."
"Sue," he said in mock solemnity, "the prospects are that you'll
be a widow."
"Why do you make such an absurd remark?"
"Because you have struck amidships the commandment with the
promise, and your days will be long in the land. You'll outlive
everybody."
"This will be no joke for father and mother."
So it would appear. They sat in the parlor as if waiting for the
world to come to an end--as indeed it had, one phase of it, to
them. Their little girl, in a sense, was theirs no longer.
"Father, mother," said Sue, demurely, "I must break some news to
you."
"It's broken already," began Mrs. Banning, putting her
handkerchief to her eyes.
Sue's glance renewed her reproaches for the scene on the lawn; but
Minturn went promptly forward, and throwing his arm around the
matron's plump shoulders, gave his first filial kiss.
"Come, mother," he said, "Sue has thought of you both; and I've
given her a big promise that I won't take any more of her away
than I can help. And you, sir," wringing the farmer's hand, "will
often see a city tramp here who will be glad to work for his
dinner.
Pages:
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319