Part 28 (1/2)
”You are a good fellow, and I know you will help me out of this sc.r.a.pe,” he continued, suddenly looking cheerful and pleasant, as though the whole difficulty had been solved.
”If you will do the right thing, I will help you out of it.”
”I knew you would. You understand the matter. I do love Miss Collingsby, and she will tell you herself that she is not indifferent to me. She consented some time ago to elope with me, in my boat. We can run over to Lansing, St. Joseph, or some other town on the east side of the lake, be married, and return a happy couple. Since we are both agreed on this step, you are not hard-hearted enough to step between us. Her mother is willing, but her father, you know, is a stiff and unreasonable man. It will be all right with him when we return.”
”Has Miss Collingsby consented to this step?” I asked.
”She consented to it once before, and if the way is open she will not object. Of course girls are coy about these things.”
”I have been told they are,” I replied, indifferently.
”Now you will help me out, Phil--won't you?”
”I will,” I added, rising from my seat.
”That's a good fellow; and you shall never want for a friend. By the way, a smart book-keeper, like yourself, ought to have double the salary you are receiving now: and I will see that you have a better place as soon as we return. Whippleton says you are worth a thousand dollars a year.”
”Thank you.”
”And I will make it my whole business to see that you have such a situation. Now I think of it, our bank wants a book-keeper, and will pay twelve hundred a year. I can almost promise you the place.”
”You are very kind, and I am much obliged to you.”
”I will make it all right within three days after we come back. We can run over to St. Joseph, as the wind is now, before night. Then the knot can be tied, and we shall be back to-morrow night, or the next day; or, if you don't wish to be absent from your business so long, all you have to do is to wait here till Whippleton comes down in the Florina, and go on board of her. He will take you right back to Chicago before dark.
What do you think of my plan?” he asked, nervously.
”The plan is good enough, but it won't work.”
”What's the reason it won't?”
”Well, I object, for one reason.”
”You object! Permit me to say, it is none of your business.”
”Isn't it? Well, I thought it was, after your elaborate argument to convince me. Miss Collingsby objects also.”
”No, she does not. Don't I tell you that she consented to elope with me?”
”I know you do; but I don't believe it--to be as frank as the occasion requires.”
”Do you doubt my word?”
”We won't quarrel about anybody's word. If Miss Collingsby will tell me herself that she consents to your plan, I will stay on sh.o.r.e here, or go to St. Joseph with you, just as you desire.”
”Of course she is not going to talk with you about such a matter. Girls are timid. You said you would help me out of this sc.r.a.pe, Phil.”
”And so I will, with the greatest pleasure.”
”What do you mean, then, by saying that you object?”