Part 33 (1/2)
Rube stood aghast at what he had said Seth's re, ”struck hi had led hiiven Ma's little scheme away, and, for the moment, the enormity of his offence robbed hiether with an effort
”Guess I wus chawin' more'n I could swaller,” he said ruefully ”Ma allus did say er she has a power o'
wisdom An' it wus a dead secret--'tween her an' hty easy, but she's got a i' her, Ma has”
The old man's distress was painfully coed forehead in large beads, and his kindly eyes were full of a great trouble Seth's next re question
”Then Ma wrote an' told her?”
”Why, yes, if it couess she ed his lean figure beside the old ht, dad,” he said, in his quiet, sober way ”I'uess Meanwhile I'll git round, an' quit whinin'”
The arrival of Rosebud's cousin and her anized the Sampsons' simple household Rosebud's love of ruous descent upon the far was a matter which no obstacle would have stayed Ma's letter had nearly broken her heart, and her anxiety was absolutely pitiable until the actual start had been made
That Seth was ill--wounded--and she had not known from the first, had distracted her, and herthe letter Her obligations to her new life were set aside without a second thought What if there were invitations to social functions accepted? What if her cousin's household were thrown into confusion by her going? These things were nothing to her; Sethvery like terror urged her to hasten
She had long since learned that Seth, and Seth alone, was all her world
Then the oldpossessed her, and she resolved, willy-nilly, that Mrs Rickards, whose love she had long since won, as she won everybody's hom she came into contact, should accompany her
This old lady, used only to the very ac Rosebud's hoe of the journey, she thoroughly enjoyed herself It was not until traveling fro out at the half-way house, that the roughness of the country was brought hoon, and she reviled the whole proceeding
But the ulti with its homely folk, soon restored her equanientle practical disposition displayed such a wealth of true womanliness as to be quite irresistible, and, in the confidence of her bedchamber, which she shared with Rosebud, she iirl she no longer wondered that she, Rosebud, with everything that ed to return to the shelter of the love which these rough frontier-folk so surely lavished upon her
”But,proviso, and with a touch of worldliness which her own life in England had h Mrs Saood, and Mr
Sah diaht us out here, with such undignified haste, is not theall the journey He's a fine man, or will be when he recovers from his illness, I have no doubt; but, after all, I feel it my duty by your dead father to warn you that I think you are irl in your position”
”What on earth do youin the process of brushi+ng out her obstinately curling hair ”What position have I but that which these dear people have helped me to--that Seth, himself, has made for me? I owe all I have, or am at this moment, to Seth He saved me from a fate too terrible to contemplate He has saved my life, not once, but half a dozen times; he found me my father's fortune, or the fortune which father has left for ht you could be You wait, auntie, you may yet learn to--to appreciate Seth as I do You see I know--you don't You're good, and wise, and all that; but you don't know--Seth”
”And it's very evident that you think you do, dear,” Mrs Rickards said, wearily rolling over and snuggling down amidst the snowy sheets of the soft feather-bed
”There is no question of thinking,” Rosebud slass in the direction of her relative ”And if Seth were to ask et a special license to avoid unnecessary delay”
Of a sudden Mrs Rickards started up in bed For oneface Then her anger died out, and she dropped back on the pillow
”For the ht you irl's swift retort ”But there,” as a horrified exclairl went on, with a dash of angry impatience in her voice, ”so you needn't worry
Seth has a sense of honor which I call quixotic, and one that ht reasonably shame the iland No, I'”
”This Seth said you were a savage--and he's right”
With this parting shot Mrs Rickards turned over, and, aindicated Rosebud re-table, but her hair didn't trouble her Her head was bowed on her ar Nor could she have explained her tears They were the result of a blending of both joy and sorrow Joy at returning to the farhroad to recovery; and sorroho shall attempt to probe the depths of thisRosebud's return was a irl, unknown to anybody, saddled her own mare and rode off on a visit to Wanaha Seth ay from the far of her going, and Ma had her time too much occupied with Mrs Rickards and herbut her household duties So Rosebud was left to her own devices, which, asleast desirable