"I've got something to say," he announced like an oracle. "Your daughter
wants to marry him!" He imagined this would prove a thunderbolt; but Hardy
calmly asked:
"How do you know that?"
"Because she told me, that's how! And if only the gol darn fool would do it
like I want him to--" He addressed himself suddenly to his nephew, who now
stood on the other side of the table: "Aw, come on. Be a good feller, won't
you?"
Again this outlandish interfering on the part of Uncle Henry! Was the old
fellow losing his reason? There was no privacy in their affairs--everything
was an open book to anyone who came to the adobe. It was getting to be
unbearable. Gilbert had controlled himself long enough in the presence of
others. He was sick and tired of the old man's meddling.
"Keep still!" he warned him, and shook his finger in his face, "Keep still,
I say!" His cheeks were scarlet with rage. The blood pounded in his veins.
The invalid never lost his courage. "You won't marry her?" was what he
said.
"How can I, you--you--" Gilbert could scarcely stand it any longer.
"Gol darn, the gol darn--" cried Uncle Henry; and then he swerved on Jasper
Hardy: "Maybe you can persuade him," he suggested.
Pages:
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104