第76章

"Successful? Until you wrote more poetry, do you mean?""Yes, sir.Poetry and other things, stories and plays, perhaps.""Do you mean-- Did you figure that you and Madeline were to live on what you made by writing poetry and the other stuff?""Yes, sir, of course."

Fosdick looked across at Captain Zelotes.The Captain's face was worth looking at.

"Here, here, hold on!" he exclaimed, jumping into the conversation.

"Al, what are you talkin' about? You're bookkeeper for me, ain't you; for this concern right here where you are? What do you mean by talkin' as if your job was makin' up poetry pieces? That's only what you do on the side, and you know it.Eh, ain't that so?"Albert hesitated.He had, momentarily, forgotten his grandfather and the latter's prejudices.After all, what was the use of stirring up additional trouble.

"Yes, Grandfather," he said.

"Course it's so.It's in this office that you draw your wages.""Yes, Grandfather."

"All right.Excuse me for nosin' in, Mr.Fosdick, but I knew the boy wasn't puttin' the thing as plain as it ought to be, and Ididn't want you to get the wrong notion.Heave ahead."Fosdick smiled slightly."All right, Captain," he said."I get it, I think.Well, then," turning again to Albert, "your plan for supporting my daughter was to wait until your position here, plus the poetry, should bring in sufficient revenue.It didn't occur to you that--well, that there might be a possibility of getting money--elsewhere?"

Albert plainly did not understand, but it was just as plain that his grandfather did.Captain Zelotes spoke sharply.

"Mr.Fosdick," he said, "I just answered that question for you.""Yes, I know.But if you were in my place you might like to have him answer it.I don't mean to be offensive, but business is business, and, after all, this is a business talk.So--"The Captain interrupted."So we'll talk it in a business way, eh?"he snapped."All right.Al, what Mr.Fosdick means is had you cal'lated that, if you married his daughter, maybe her dad's money might help you and her to keep goin'? To put it even plainer: had you planned some on her bein' a rich girl?"Fosdick looked annoyed."Oh, I say, Snow!" he cried."That's too strong, altogether.""Not a mite.It's what you've had in the back of your head all along.I'm just helpin' it to come out of the front.Well, Al?"The red spots were burning in the Speranza cheeks.He choked as he answered.

"No," he cried fiercely."Of course I haven't planned on any such thing.I don't know how rich she is.I don't care.I wish she was as poor as--as I am.I want HER, that's all.And she wants me.We don't either of us care about money.I wouldn't take a cent of your money, Mr.Fosdick.But I--I want Madeline and--and--I shall have her."

"In spite of her parents, eh?"

"Yes....I'm sorry to speak so, Mr.Fosdick, but it is true.

We--we love each other.We--we've agreed to wait for each other, no matter--no matter if it is years and years.And as for the money and all that, if you disinherit her, or--or whatever it is they do--we don't care.I--I hope you will.I--she--"Captain Zelotes' voice broke in upon the impassioned outburst.

"Steady, Al; steady, son," he cautioned quietly."I cal'late you've said enough.I don't think any more's necessary.You'd better go back to your desk now.""But, Grandfather, I want him to understand--""I guess likely he does.I should say you'd made it real plain.

Go now, Al."

Albert turned, but, with a shaking hand upon the doorknob, turned back again.

"I'm--I--I'm sorry, Mr.Fosdick," he faltered."I--I didn't mean to say anything to hurt your feelings.But--but, you see, Madeline--she and I--we--"He could not go on.Fosdick's nod and answer were not unkindly.

"All right, Speranza," he said, "I'm not offended.Hope I wasn't too blunt, myself.Good-day."When the door had closed behind the young man he turned to Captain Lote.

"Sorry if I offended you, Snow," he observed."I threw in that hint about marrying just to see what effect it would have, that's all.""Um-hm.So I judged.Well, you saw, didn't you?""I did.Say, Captain, except as a prospective son-in-law, and then only because I don't see him in that light--I rather like that grandson of yours.He's a fine, upstanding young chap."The captain made no reply.He merely pulled at his beard.

However, he did not look displeased.

"He's a handsome specimen, isn't he?" went on Fosdick."No wonder Madeline fell for his looks.Those and the poetry together are a combination hard to resist--at her age.And he's a gentleman.He handled himself mighty well while I was stringing him just now."The beard tugging continued."Um-hm," observed Captain Zelotes dryly; "he does pretty well for a--South Harniss gentleman.But we're kind of wastin' time, ain't we, Mr.Fosdick? In spite of his looks and his manners and all the rest, now that you've seen him you still object to that engagement, I take it.""Why, yes, I do.The boy is all right, I'm sure, but--""Sartin, I understand.I feel the same way about your girl.She's all right, I'm sure, but--""We're agreed on everything, includin' the 'but.' And the 'but' is that New York is one place and South Harniss is another.""Exactly."

"So we don't want 'em to marry.Fine.First rate! Only now we come to the most important 'but' of all.What are we going to do about it? Suppose we say no and they say yes and keep on sayin'

it? Suppose they decide to get married no matter what we say.How are we goin' to stop it?"His visitor regarded him for a moment and then broke into a hearty laugh.