Part 36 (2/2)
”All right, go ahead,” said Milford. ”Shoot it off.”
”Idiomatic,” breathed the Professor. ”And, sir, to follow it with idiom, I am up against it.”
”Up against what?”
”Failure, grinning and teeth-chattering failure. You have seen me turn defiantly upon my false training, and woo the ways of the world. You have seen me buy; you have seen me s.n.a.t.c.hed off my feet by a yearling calf, in the presence of a dignified woman; you have heard me pop my whip at the crack of day. And what has it all come to? Failure. I know that this sounds funny to you, but it is my way, and I find it useless to attempt another. Now, to the point: On all my speculations I have lost money. My bargains turned out to be disasters. I sold at a sacrifice, and am still in debt. I don't know why I should not have succeeded. My object was as worthy as yours. But I failed.”
”That may be, but you're nearly as well off as you were before you made the attempt. You haven't so much to grieve over after all.”
”Oh, yes, I have. My life insurance. But for that I could snap my fingers at defeat.”
”When's the money due?”
”Day after to-morrow.”
”I can let you have it. What are you trying to do?”
”I am grabbing after your hand.”
”Let it alone.”
”But, my dear fellow, your kindness overwhelms me.”
”Then don't take the money.”
”Oh, yes, I shall; I am more than willing to be overwhelmed. Ha! I had set my heart on you, and was afraid that you might not be back in time.
Thank the Lord for the man who comes in time. All others are a blotch upon the face of the earth. Last night was a torture to me. More than once my wife called out, 'You give me the fidgets with your walking up and down. I want to sleep.' Sleep! There was no sleep for me. I saw the sun rise, and I said to myself, 'If that man don't come you won't s.h.i.+ne for me to-day.' But you came, G.o.d bless you. Well, I'll turn off here and go by home, to show them that I am not crushed into the earth, and will see you at your house this evening.”
Mrs. Stuvic saw Milford, and came out to the barnyard gate. She wanted to ask him if he had seen any of her boarders, but had forgotten their names. Some one had told her that Milford expected soon to quit the place, and she asked him why he had not told her.
”I've told you as much as I have any one,” said he. ”I don't expect to go before next spring.”
”Well, we may all be dead and buried before then,” she replied.
”Yes, all except you.”
”You bet! Why, three men have been here lately wantin' to insure my life. Did you see that girl? But I know you did. Why don't you buy the farm and bring her out here? You could soon pay for it.”
”I'd rather live in the West.”
”The cat's foot! You don't know what you want. Was that the Professor man with you over there on the hill? I couldn't see very well. He's crazy. Yes, he is, as crazy as a loon, and I don't want him round here.
He might set the house afire. Don't you think he's crazy?”
”Well, he's one of the peculiar many that go to make up the world.”
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