Part 41 (1/2)
”You mean that without courts or lawyers askin' him to, this man just wants to hand over the money?” gasped Captain Jonas.
”Yes.”
”Well, I dunno who he is, but I'll say this much for him--he's an honest cuss!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the fisherman.
In spite of his earnestness Mr. Galbraith smiled.
Delight, however, had risen during the interval of silence and with nervously clasped hands had gone to Zenas Henry's side, where she now stood, her eyes large with thought.
Her uncle turned toward her.
”Well, my dear, what have you to say?” he asked.
”It is--is very kind of a stranger to be so n.o.ble, so generous,” she declared gently. ”He mustn't think that I do not appreciate it. But I couldn't take a cent of the money,” she went on with quick decision.
”Even had it been willed to me in the first place, it would have made no difference. I don't want to be unkind or to hurt anybody's feelings. But can't you see that Madam Lee was really nothing in my life? She came in and went out of it like a phantom, and she did not begin to mean to me what she did to this old friend of hers. Just because at the close of her days it was discovered that I was of her kin, it established no bond of affection between us--nothing but a legal claim. If she had lived and we had grown dear to one another, and she had given the fortune to me out of her heart, then I should have accepted it gladly. But to have it bestowed on me merely by right of succession--I couldn't think of touching a penny of it!”
She caught her breath, and her chin rose a trifle higher.
”And besides,” she continued, ”I would rather just be indebted to Zenas Henry and my own family. My grandmother was unjust to my parents, unkind. Although she lived to be sorry for it and would, doubtless, have done differently when she was older, she was harsh and cruel to them. I have forgiven but I never can forget it. I don't want the Lee money. Zenas Henry and the three captains give me all I need, and I have no fears but that in the future Bob can look out for me.”
There was something in the proudly poised figure, so slender and erect, so firm and self-respecting in its calm decision, that roused every hearer's admiration and drew from the New York financier an involuntary homage. Nevertheless with a fear that impulse might have prompted the girl's verdict, he felt impelled to explain:
”But you are tossing away a large sum--thousands, child! You and your people would be rich.”
”We don't want to be rich!” cried Delight, with quivering nostril. ”Do we, Zenas Henry?” she slipped an arm about his neck as he collapsed into his seat on the piazza rail. ”We are happy just as we are! You don't want me to take the Lee money, do you?” she asked, putting her cheek against his.
”No, honey, no! You shan't be beholden to any one but me,” he answered. ”I hoped you'd decide as you have. 'Twould take half the pleasure out of my life if it warn't us that was to do for you. Just the same, Mr. Galbraith, we thank you kindly for bringin' the offer, an' your friend for makin' it; an' though we refuse it, 'tain't done in no unfriendly spirit.”
”I understand that,” nodded the financier.
Nevertheless he gazed with no small amount of awe and respect at these poor fisherfolk who could so lightly fling aside a fortune.
”Mebbe,” resumed Zenas Henry, ”you'll tell this friend of Madam Lee's that we've took note of his squareness.”
”Oh, yes, do tell him that it was splendid of him, splendid!”
interrupted Delight.
”He's a gentleman, whoever he is,” Captain Phineas added. ”Tell him so from all of us.”
”You might like to tell him so yourselves,” returned Mr. Galbraith slowly.
”Eh?” Zenas Henry questioned. ”Oh, we might write him, you mean.
That's so. Likely it would be more decent. We'd be surer of his knowin' how we felt if 'twas put down in black an' white. What's his name?”
”Robert Morton.”
”Robert Morton! Robert Mor--not our--not _Bob_!”