Part 25 (2/2)
”Thank you, I'll not ask any one to marry me”
Seth realized his mistake
”Course not I was jest foolin'”
”I know” Rosebud was s, and a dash of mischief was in her eyes as she went on--
”It would be awful if a girl had to ask some one to marry her, wouldn't it?”
”Sure”
Seth e; the last horse was bedded down, and they stood together leaning on their forks
”The 'lar hobo”
”What's a 'hobo,' Seth?”
”Why, jest a feller who ain't got no 'savee'”
”'Savee' means 'sense,' doesn't it?” Rosebud's eyes were innocently inquiring, and they gazed blandly up into the man's face
”Wal, not exac'ly It's when a feller don't git a notion right, an'toward the barn door now Seth was about to go up to the loft to thron hay ”Saht to've stayed right here an' seen you didn't go sneakin' off by y'self down by the river,” he added slyly, with one of his rare shed and clapped her hands
”Oh, Seth!” she cried, as she ular 'hobo' What a joke!”
And she ran off, leaving therief It was a tearful parting; Ma and Rosebud wept copiously, and Rube, too, was visibly affected Seth avoided everybody as , but, as they were using the lawyer's hired ”de-seat with the ht the lawyer out to the farm Thus it was he spoke little to Rosebud on the journey
Later, at the depot, he found ood-bye” at the last irl was on the platfor-car when Seth stepped up to make his farewell
”Good-bye, little Rosebud,” he said, in his quiet, slow manner His eyes onderfully soft ”Maybe you'll write soirl nodded Her violet eyes were suspiciously bright as she looked frankly up into his face
”I hope we shall both be happy We've done our duty, haven't we?” she asked, with a wistful little smile
”Sure,” replied Seth, with an ineffective atteirl still held his hand and almost imperceptibly drew nearer to him
Her face was lifted to hiently withdrew his hand, and, as the train began to move, climbed down and dropped upon the low platforh her eyes filled with tears She waved a handkerchief, and Seth's tall, sli And when the train was sufficiently far away she kissed her hand in the direction of the solitary figure still doing sentry at the extreave full vent to the tears she had struggled so long to repress