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Your place is with him." The girl bowed her head and wept softly. She realized that when she was excited she could not remember her English. "I've been a squatter," she said, forlornly shaking her head, "and I s'pose Pappy Lon has a right to me; but I love " "You love whom?" "Mr. Shellington. Oh, Mr. Brimbecomb, can't ye help me to keep away from Pappy Lon?
"I know very well, Dear, that I am asking you a serious thing; but Brother and I think that it would do her a world of good." Mrs. Vandecar thoughtfully received the shawl Katherine brought her. Then she looked straight at Ann and said: "Everett doesn't approve of your work, does he, Ann?" Miss Shellington colored, and fingered her engagement ring.
But not once did it occur to her that Horace Shellington would be able to protect not only her, but himself also. The path of her future life stretched from Tarrytown to Ithaca, straight into Lem's scow! Through the entire day the girl was enigmatical both to Horace and to Ann. Weary hours, crowding one upon another, offered her no relief.
"Go to him now, and trust have faith that you will not have to go away!" Fledra kissed Ann's hands and tremblingly followed Shellington into his study. She sat down without waiting for an invitation; for her legs seemed too weak to hold her. Her attitude was attentive, and her poise was graceful.
But Vandecar held her fast as Miss Shellington knelt on the hut floor at his side. "Fledra, listen to me! This is your own father, Dear. Don't draw away from him. He came with me for you. We're going to take you back to your mother and little Floyd." It seemed an eternity to the waiting man before Fledra received him. There were many things she had to reason away.
"And Flukey's doin' all this for me! And he's so sick! I stealed from yer table he didn't! Will ye let him lay in yer barn tonight, if I go up for the stealin'?" Never had Horace Shellington felt so keenly the sorrows of other human beings as when this girl, in her crude boy clothes, lifted her agonized, tearless eyes to his. His throat filled.
When Sister Ann comes in nights, if I don't say anything, she thinks I be asleep, and she kisses me, and I like her to do that. Last night, when she'd done kissing me, Mr. Shellington came in, and then they talked about us." "And he didn't say we was to go away?" "No." Fledra rose in sudden determination, and in her excitement spoke with swift reversion to the ancient manner.
"Oh, you seem so heartless about it," gasped Ann, "when you know how Horace loves her!" Miss Shellington did not notice the smile that crossed his lips as he looked down at her, or the triumph in his eyes when he said: "But, Ann, I've told you only what you've asked of me. I think you're rather unkind, Dear." "I don't intend to be," she moaned, leaning back and closing her eyes.
Brimbecomb's heart began to beat tumultuously. Chance was giving him a lead he could not have won of his own efforts, and he smiled, turning on Cronk more cordially. "Have you demanded your children of Mr. Shellington?" he asked. "Yep." Everett bent over eagerly. "What did he say to you?" "He says as how I could go to the devil, and that I could git the law after him if I wanted 'em.
The last words were uttered with such emotional decision that Everett's first real fear rose within him. With difficulty he held back a torrent of words by which he might exonerate himself. Instead, he said: "Some day, Shellington, you'll apologize to me for your implied accusation. You have taken " "Pardon me," Horace interrupted, "but I must ask you to leave. I'm going to Governor Vandecar."
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