Part 35 (1/2)
Seth looked squarely into the face beside hi, and--and----”
”Ah, I tho't in hiin the ot to be a jo-dandy clear thro'
I----”
”But I' to marry Lord Vinceps, you silly, at least--I don't think so Besides,” as an afterthought, ”it's nothing to you who I et hitched, as the sayin' is, to soit around an' drop him in his tracks, ef I had to cross the water to do it”
Rosebud listened with a queer stirring at her heart, yet she could not repress the impatience she felt at the calm matter-of-factpoint about it was that she knew one of Seth's quiet assurances to be far more certain, far more deadly, than anybody's else wildest spoken threats However, she laughed as she answered him
”Well, you won't have to cross the ocean to find the ain, except, perhaps, on a business visit I intend to stay here, unless Pa and Ma turn ht his breath For a second his whole face lit up
”Say, I didn't jest take you right,” he said ”You're goin' to stay right here?”
Rosebud gave a joyous little nod She had stirred Seth out of his usual calht in his hollow eyes He irl saw so like a steah she had received a cold douche
”Wal, I'm sorry,” he went on imperturbably ”Real sorry Which Ither' Ther's your folk an' your property, an' the dollars You jest ought to fix up wi' soh soundin' feller----”
”Seth, mind your own business!”
Rosebud's exasperation broke all bounds If a look could have withered him Seth would have shriveled to bare bones The nexttears rolled slowly down her cheeks She urged her horse ahead of her coe Seth's eyes, busy in every other direction, had failed to witness her distress, just as he failed to take any heed of her words
”You see, Rosie, ther's a heap o' trouble co here,” he said presently, when he had drawn level
”Yes,” the girl replied, without turning her head; ”and I'o back when she likes, but this is my home, and--Seth, why do you alant to be rid of me?”
Seth remained silent for a moment Then he spoke in a voice that was a little unsteady
”I don't want to be rid of you, Rosie No; I'm jest thinkin' of you,” he added
The old impulsive Rosebud was uppermost in an instant She turned on him, and reached out a hand which he took in both of his
”Seth, you are a dear, and I' so rude to you It's always been like this, hasn't it? You've always thought of me, for me I wish, sometimes, you wouldn't think--forher horse with her heel, galloped on toward the farave hi her this tiht a lively scene with it Rosebud, for some unexplained reason, was in a more than usually contradictory hly enjoyed her day in spite of the sloppy condition of everything outside the house She was a woman who took a deep interest in life She orldly and practical in all matters which she considered to be the business of a woman's life, but her mental vision was not bounded by such a horizon
Everything interested her, provided her personal coe, new, and as such elcome, but Ma Sampson was a study which fascinated her She was in the best of spirits when the little fa meal This had been much elaborated by Ma in her visitors' honor
At this repast ca Seth She studied him for some time in silence while the others talked Then she joined in the conversation herself, and quickly contrived to twist it into the direction she required
They were laughing over Rosebud's attempt to scare her cousin with her threat of the Indians
”You see, auntie,” the girl said roguishly, ”you are a 'tenderfoot' It is always the privilege of 'old hands' to ridicule newcomers In your world there is little for you to learn In ours you must be duly initiated”
”In my world?” Mrs Rickards smiled and raised her eyebrows She had a pleasant smile which lit up her round fat face till she looked the picture of hearty good-nature And she was on the whole decidedly good-natured