"
"Yes," said Mrs. Rolliffe; "Zeke was very forward. If he holds out
as he began--Well, well, Zeke allus was a little forward, and able
to speak for himself. You are young yet, Susan, and may learn
before you reach my years that the race isn't allus to the swift.
Don't be in haste to promise yourself to any of the young men."
"Little danger of my promising myself to a man who is afraid even
of me! I want a husband like grandfather. He wasn't afraid to face
anything, and he honored his wife by acting as if she wasn't
afraid either."
Zeb gave Susie no chance to bestow the rebuffs she had
premeditated. He had been down to witness the departure of the
Opinquake quota, and had seen Susie's farewell to Zeke Watkins.
How much it had meant he was not sure--enough to leave no hope or
chance for him, he had believed; but he had already fought his
first battle, and it had been a harder one than Zeke Watkins or
any of his comrades would ever engage in. He had returned and
worked on the stony farm until dark. From dawn until dark he
continued to work every secular day till September.
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