"I'll ask him
to--to let you marry me."
Lucy stared aghast. Slone appeared in dead earnest.
"Nonsense!" she exclaimed, shortly.
"I reckon the possibility is--that," replied Slone, bitterly, "but my motive
isn't."
"It is. Why, you've known me only a few days. . . . Dad would be mad. Like
as not he'd knock you down. . . . I tell you, Lin, my dad is--is pretty
rough. And just at this time of the races. . . . And if Wildfire beats
the King! . . . Whew!"
"WHEN Wildfire beats the King, not IF," corrected Slone.
"Dad will be dangerous," warned Lucy. "Please don't---don't ask him that. Then
everybody would know I--I--you---you--"
"That's it. I want everybody at your home to know."
"But it's a little place," flashed Lucy. "Every one knows me. I'm the only
girl. There have been--other fellows who. . . . And oh! I don't want you made
fun of!"
"Why?" he asked.
Lucy turned away her head without answering. Something deep within her was
softening her anger. She must fight to keep angry; and that was easy enough,
she thought, if she could only keep in mind Slone's opposition to her.
Pages:
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256