The Man from Home, Harry Leon Wilson [good books for 8th graders TXT] 📗
- Author: Harry Leon Wilson
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and it did LOOK like it—never comin' to see you; but I couldn't hardly manage the time to get away. You see, bein' trustee of your share of the estate, I don't hardly have a fair show at my law practice. But [pg 063] when I got your letter, eleven days ago, I says to myself: "Here, Daniel Voorhees Pike, you old shellback, you've just got to take time. John Simpson trusted you with his property, and he's done more
[his voice rises, but his tone is affectionate and shows deep feeling]
—he's trusted you to look out for her, and now she's come to a kind of jumpin'-off place in her life—she's thinking of gettin' married; and you just pack your grip-sack and hike out over there and stand by her!"
[frigidly]
I quite fail to understand your point of view. Perhaps I had best make it at once clear to you that I am no longer thinking of marrying.
[leaning back in his chair and smiling on her]
Well, Lord-a-Mercy!
I mean I have decided upon it. The ceremony is to take place within a fortnight.
Well, I declare!
We shall dispense with all delays.
[slowly and a little sadly]
Well, I don't know as I could rightly say anything against that. He must be a mighty nice fellow, and you must think a heap of him!
[With a suppressed sigh.]
That's the way it should be.[pg 064]
[He smiles again and leans toward her in a friendly way.]
And you're happy, are you?
[with cold emphasis, sitting very straight in her chair]
Distinctly!
[PIKE'S expression becomes puzzled, he passes his hand over his chin, looks at her keenly. Then his eyes turn to the spot where HORACE stood during their interview, and he starts, as though shocked at a sudden thought.]
It ain't that fellow I was talkin' to yonder?
[indignantly]
That was my brother!
[relieved, but somewhat embarrassed]
Lord-a-Mercy!
[Recovering himself immediately and smiling.]
But, naturally, I wouldn't remember him. He couldn't have been more than twelve years old last time you were home. Of course, I'd 'a' known you—
How? You couldn't have seen me since I was a child.
From your picture. Though now I see—it ain't so much like you.
You have a photograph of me?[pg 065]
[very gently]
The last time I saw your father alive he gave me one.
[frowning]
Gave it to you?
Gave it to me to look at.
And you remembered—
[apologetically]
Yes, ma'am!
[incredulously]
Remembered well enough to know me?
Yes, ma'am!
It does not strike me as possible. We may dismiss the subject.
Well, if you'd like to introduce me to your
[laughing feebly and tentatively, hesitates]
—to your—
To my brother?
No, ma'am; I mean to your—to the young man.
To Mr. St. Aubyn? I think it quite unnecessary.
I'm afraid I can't see it just that way
[with an apologetic laugh]
I'll have to have a couple of talks with him—sort of look him over, so to speak. I won't stay around here spoilin' your fun any longer than I can help. Only just for that, and to get a letter I'm expectin' here from England. Don't you be afraid.[pg 066]
I do not see that you need have come at all.
[Her lip begins to tremble.]
We could have been spared this mortification.
[sadly]
You mean I mortify you? Why, I—I can't see how.
In a hundred ways—every way. That common person who is with you—
[gently]
He ain't common. You only think so because he's with me.
[sharply]
Who is he?
He told me his name, but I can't remember it. I call him "Doc."
It doesn't matter! What does matter is that you needn't have come. You could have written your consent.
[mildly]
Not without seeing the young man.
And you could have arranged the settlement in the same way.
[smiling]
Settlement? You seem to have settled it pretty well without me.
You do not understand. An alliance of this sort always entails a certain settlement.
Yes, ma'am—when folks get married they generally settle down considerable.
[impatiently]
Please listen. If you were at all a man of the world, I should not have to explain [pg 067] that in marrying into a noble house I bring my dot, my dowry—
[puzzled]
Money, you mean?
If you choose to put it that way.
You mean you want to put aside something of your own to buy a lot and fix up a place to start housekeeping—
No, no! I mean a settlement upon Mr. St. Aubyn directly.
You mean you want to give it to him?
If that's the only way to make you understand—yes!
[amused]
How much do you want to give him?
[coldly]
A hundred and fifty thousand pounds.
[incredulously]
Seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars!
Precisely that!
[amazed]
Well, he has made you care for him! I guess he must be the Prince of the World, honey! He must be a great man. I expect you're right about me not meetin' him! I prob'ly wouldn't stack up very high alongside of a man that's big enough for you to think as much of as you do of him.
[Smiling.]
Why, I'd have to squeeze every bit of property your pa left you.[pg 068]
Is it your property?
[gently]
I've worked pretty hard to take care of it for you.
[rising impulsively and coming to him]
Forgive me for saying that.
[smiling]
Pshaw!
It was unworthy of me, unworthy of the higher and nobler things that life calls me to live up to
[proudly]
—that I shall live up to. The money means nothing to me—I am not thinking of that. It is merely a necessary form.
Have you talked with Mr. St. Aubyn about this settlement—this present you want to make him?
Not with him.
[amused]
I thought not! You'll see—he wouldn't take it if I'd let you give it to him. A fine man like that wants to make his own way, of course. Mighty few men like to have fun poked at 'em about livin' on their wife's money.
[despairingly]
Oh, I can't make you understand! A settlement isn't a gift.
[as if humoring her]
How'd you happen to decide that just a hundred and fifty thousand pounds was what you wanted to give him?
It was Mr. St. Aubyn's father who fixed the amount.[pg 069]
His father? What's he got to do with it?
He is the Earl of Hawcastle, the head of the ancient house.
And he asks you for your property—asks you for it in so many words?
As a settlement!
[aghast]
And your young man knows it?
I tell you I have not discussed it with Mr. St. Aubyn.
[emphatically]
I reckon not! Well, sir, do you know what's the first thing Mr. St. Aubyn will do when he hears his father's made such a proposition to you? He'll take the old man out in the back lot and give him a thrashing he won't forget to the day of his death!
[The roll of drums is heard, distant, as if sounding below the cliff; bugle sounds at the same time.]
[MARIANO and MICHELE run hurriedly from the hotel and lean over balustrade at back, as if watching something below the cliff.]
[RIBIERE enters quickly with them, takes one quick glance in same direction, and hurries off.][pg 070]
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