stories of a western town-第29章

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l　a　smile。　〃How　about　my　sister？　did　you　propose　before　her？　But　I　don't　suppose　a　little　thing　like　that　would　stop　you。〃　〃I　had　to　speak；　Miss　Armorer　goes　away　tomorrow。　Mrs。　Ellis　was　kind　enough　to　put　her　fingers　in　her　ears　and　turn　her　back。〃　〃And　what　did　my　daughter　say？〃　〃I　asked　her　only　to　give　me　the　chance　to　show　her　how　I　loved　her；　and　she　has。　　God　bless　her！　　I　don't　pretend　I'm　worthy　of　her；　Mr。　Armorer；　but　I　have　lived　a　decent　life；　and　I'll　try　hard　to　live　a　better　one　for　her　trust　in　me。〃　〃I'm　glad　there　is　one　thing　on　which　we　are　agreed；〃　jeered　Armorer；　〃but　you　are　more　modest　than　you　were　this　noon。　I　think　it　was　considerably　like　bragging；　sending　that　woman　to　tell　of　your　heroic　feats！〃　〃Oh；　I　can　brag　when　it　is　necessary；〃　said　Harry；　serenely；　〃what　would　the　West　be　but　for　bragging？〃　〃And　what　do　you　intend　to　do　if　I　take　your　girl　to　Europe？〃　〃Europe　is　not　very　far；〃　said　Harry。　Armorer　was　a　quick　thinker；　but　he　had　never　thought　more　quickly　in　his　life。　　This　young　fellow　had　beaten　him。　There　was　no　doubt　of　it。　　He　might　have　principles；　but　he　declined　to　let　his　principles　hamper　him。　There　was　something　about　Harry's　waving　aside　defeat　so　lightly；　and　so　swiftly　snatching　at　every　chance　to　forward　his　will；　that　accorded　with　Armorer's　own　temperament。　〃Tell　me；　Mr。　Armorer；〃　said　Harry；　suddenly；　〃in　my　place　wouldn't　you　have　done　the　same　thing？〃　Armorer　no　longer　checked　his　sense　of　humor。　　〃No；　Mr。　Lossing；〃　he　answered；　sedately；　〃I　should　have　respected　the　old　gentleman's　wishes　and　voted　any　way　he　pleased。〃　　He　held　out　his　hand。　〃I　guess　Esther　thinks　you　are　the　coming　young　man　of　the　century；　and　to　be　honest；　I　like　you　a　great　deal　better　than　I　expected　to　this　morning。　　I'm　not　cut　out　for　a　cruel　father；　Mr。　Lossing；　for　one　thing；　I　haven't　the　time　for　it；　for　another　thing；　I　can't　bear　to　have　my　little　girl　cry。　I　guess　I　shall　have　to　go　to　Europe　without　Esther。　Shall　we　go　in　to　the　ladies　now？〃　Harry　wrung　the　president's　hand；　crying　that　he　should　never　regret　his　kindness。　〃See　that　Esther　never　regrets　it；　that　will　be　better；〃　said　Armorer；　with　a　touch　of　real　and　deep　feeling。　　Then；　as　Harry　sprang　up　the　steps　like　a　boy；　he　took　out　the　note…book；　and　smiling　a　smile　in　which　many　emotions　were　blended；　he　ran　a　black　line　through　〃_See　abt　L。_〃



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