Part 31 (2/2)
The governor arose impetuously and crossed the room.
”I would have been, Uncle Barnabas, if she had not cared for Joe!”
”I know it, Dave, but you hev a sweet little gal who will make you happy.”
The governor's face lighted in a look of exquisite happiness.
”I have, Uncle Barnabas. We will go to see her this evening.”
”I'd like to see her, sartain. Hain't seen her sence the night you was elected. And, Dave,” with a sheepish grin, ”I'm a-goin' to git spliced myself.”
”What? No! May I guess, Uncle Barnabas--Miss Rhody?”
”Dave, you air a knowin' one. Yes, it's her! Whenever we set down to our full table I got to thinkin' of that poor little woman a-settin'
down alone, and I've never yet knowed a woman livin' alone to feed right. They allers eat bean soup or prunes, and call it a meal.”
”I am more glad than I can tell you, Uncle Barnabas, and I shall insist on giving the bride away. But what will Penny think about some one stepping in?”
”Wal, Dave, I'll allow I wuz skeered to tell Penny, and it tuk a hull lot of bracin' to do it, and what do you suppose she sed? She sez, 'I've bin wantin' tew quit these six years, and now, thank the Lord, I've got the chance.'”
”Why, what in the world did she want to leave for?”
”I guess you'll be surprised when I tell you. To marry Larimy Sa.s.ser!”
”Uncle Larimy! She'll scour him out of house and home,” laughed David.
”We'll hev both weddin's to the same time. Joe and Janey are a-comin', and we'll hev a grand time. I hain't much on the write, Dave, and I've allers meant to see you here in this great place. Some of the boys sez to me: 'Mebby Dave's got stuck on himself and his job by this time, and you'll hev to send in yer keerd by a n.i.g.g.e.r fust afore you kin see him,' but I sez, 'No! Not David Dunne! He ain't that kind and never will be.' So when I go back I kin tell them how you showed me all over the place, and tuk me to eat at a hotel and to that air stylish place where I wuz treated like a king by yer friends. I've never found you wantin', Dave, and I never expect to!”
”Uncle Barnabas,” began David, ”I--”
His voice suddenly failed him.
”See here, Dave! I didn't know nuthin' about that,” pointing to the newspaper, ”until a few minutes ago. I sed tew hum that I wuz a-comin'
to see how Dave run things, and ef them disreptible a.s.sociates of Jud's air a-gittin' up some fool paper, I don't know it! Ef they do send it in, don't you dare sign it! Why, I wouldn't hev that boy outen prison fer nuthin'. He's different from what he used to be, Dave. He got so low he would hev to reach up ter touch bottom. He's ez low ez they git, and he's dangerous. I didn't know an easy minute fer the last two years afore he wuz sent up, so keep him behind them bars fer fear he'll dew somethin' wuss when he gits out. Don't you dare sign no pet.i.tion, Dave!”
Tears of relief sprang into the strong eyes of the governor.
”Why, Dave,” said the old man in shocked tones, ”you didn't go fer to think fer a minute I'd ask you to let him out cause he wuz my son?
Even ef I hed a wanted him out, and Lord knows I don't, I'd not ask you to do somethin' wrong, no more'n I'd bring dishoner to that old flag I held this mornin'!”
David grasped his hand.
”Uncle Barnabas!”
His voice broke with emotion. Then he murmured: ”We'll go to see _her_, now.”
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