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Updated: May 12, 2025
The girl was sitting at the window. "Come in," she said. "I'm worried about your father," said Mrs. McElwin, sitting down with a sigh. "Have you said anything to annoy him?" "No, nothing that I can remember." "Well, something has happened. Have you seen seen Mr. Lyman since the evening of the picnic? You told me that you saw him then, but you haven't told me of seeing him since.
He arose and stepped up close to Lyman. "I am under deep obligations to you," he said. "You are a kind and generous man." "Why don't you say that you are thankful to find me a fool?" McElwin took no notice of this remark. "And I hope that I may be able to do something for you," he said. Still he stood there, as if he had not struck the proper note. "Do something for you.
"No, not as the ordinary man is revengeful," Lyman assented, "but we serve the Lord when we humble a foolish pride. I don't think McElwin could have done a crueler thing than to have crushed the mother's heart with ridicule for the son." "But about the petition," said Annie. "You will sign it, won't you?" "I may." "But why should you refuse. To annoy her?" "No, to protect her."
McElwin, you ought to have sense enough to look calmly upon this unfortunate joke." He turned, attracted by a wail from Mrs. McElwin. Again he addressed the banker, now not so furious as awkwardly embarrassed. "They were playing and the young lady was to go through the marriage ceremony with the first man to enter the room, a common farce hereabouts, as you know; and I was the first man to enter.
The rough appearance of the stable men within and the pungent smell of the place, turned McElwin at the threshold. "No, I don't think I have time," he said. "Is there anything I can do for you? If there is, name it, and I will stir up this place from top to bottom." McElwin thought that it was stirred up quite enough, with its rough men, its mangy dogs and rat-like smell.
McElwin commanded, holding up his hand. "I forbid you to " "Forbid is rather a strong word. Don't you think that request would be better?" "Well," said McElwin, softening, "we will say request. As I tell you, your presence in this community is distasteful to me, and your farcical marriage stands directly opposed to my plans.
She laughed in her dignified way, her good humor having suddenly returned; and he looked up with a smile, pleased with himself. They sat for a time, talking of other matters, and he went to bed humming the defineless tune of self-satisfaction. But late in the night Mrs. McElwin awoke and found him standing at the window, listening. "What is it, dear?" she asked. "Nothing."
"Oh, but who will tell Cousin McElwin?" she sobbed. "And who will tell Zeb Sawyer? Oh, it's awful, and it's all your fault, and you know it. You are crazy, that's what you are." "Well, you can exercise your own opinion about that. You people have all along said that I would never do anything, but if I haven't done something tonight to stir up the town " "Oh, you malicious thing.
And then she cried: "Oh, where is Henry Bostic? We'll have him perform the ceremony. He'll make it so deliriously solemn." She ran away and soon returned, with a young man serious enough to have divided the pulpit with any circuit rider in the country. The ceremony was performed, and then began the congratulations. "Oh, please quit," Miss McElwin pleaded. "I'm tired of it.
McElwin jumped up and slapped his hand upon the table. "I would see him in first." He turned about and began to walk slowly up and down the room. "But he's going to leave this town," said Sawyer. "When I set my head on a thing I go at it with reason and work on that line until I find it hasn't any power, and then I use force. I am going to do it in this case." "How?" McElwin asked.
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