第27章

"Humph! That's funny.Still, I don't know's as 'twas, after all, considerin' you was only a boy.Probably he'd have told you some day.Well, I don't suppose there's any secret about it.'Twas town talk down here when it happened."She told him the story of the runaway marriage.Albert listened with interest and the almost incredulous amazement with which the young always receive tales of their parents' love affairs.Love, for people of his age or a trifle older, was a natural and understandable thing, but for his father, as he remembered him, to have behaved in this way was incomprehensible.

"So," said Rachel, in conclusion, "that's how it happened.That's why Cap'n Lote couldn't ever forgive your father."He tossed his head."Well, he ought to have forgiven him," he declared."He was dead lucky to get such a man for a son-in-law, if you ask me.""He didn't think so.And he wouldn't ever mention your pa's name.""Oh, I don't doubt that.Anybody can see how he hated Father.And he hates me the same way," he added moodily.

Mrs.Ellis was much disturbed."Oh, no, he don't," she cried.

"You mustn't think that, Albert.He don't hate you, I'm sure of it.He's just kind of doubtful about you, that's all.He remembers how your pa acted--or how he thinks he acted--and so he can't help bein' the least mite afraid the same thing may crop out in you.If you just stick to your job over there at the lumber yards and keep on tryin' to please him, he'll get all over that suspicion, see if he don't.Cap'n Lote Snow is stubborn sometimes and hard to turn, but he's square as a brick.There's some that don't like him, and a good many that don't agree with him--but everybody respects him."Albert did not answer.The housekeeper rose from her chair.

"There!" she exclaimed."I don't know when I've set down for so long.Goodness knows I've got work enough to do without settin'

around talkin'.I can't think what possessed me to do it this time, unless 'twas seein' you readin' that book." She paused a moment and then said: "Albert, I--I don't want you and your grandpa to have any quarrels.You see--well, you see, I used to know your mother real well, and--and I thought an awful sight of her.I wish--I do wish when you and the cap'n have any trouble or anything, or when you think you're liable to have any, you'd come and talk it over with me.I'm like the feller that Laban tells about in his dog-fight yarn.This feller was watchin' the fight and when they asked him to stop it afore one or t'other of the dogs was killed, he just shook his head.'No-o,' he says, kind of slow and moderate, 'I guess I shan't interfere.One of 'em's been stealin' my chickens and the other one bit me.I'm a friend to both parties,' he says.Course I don't mean it exactly that way,"she added, with a smile, "but you know what I do mean, I guess.