"I have about made up my mind to leave in the morning on the stage. I'll
go somewhere."
The widow tapped her knuckles on the glass of a near-by window.
"Supper!" she announced. "Hurry in whilst it's hot!"
"I always do my best pondering on a full stomach," said Captain Candage.
"And I smell cream-o'-tartar biskits and I saw her hulling field
strorb'ries. Better look on the bright side of things along with me,
Captain Mayo."
Captain Mayo failed to find any bright side as he turned his affairs
over in his mind. He had only a meager stock of money. He had used his
modest earnings in settling the debts of the family estate. The outlook
for employment was vague--he could not estimate to what extent the
hostility of Julius Marston might block his efforts, provided the
magnate troubled himself to descend to meddle with the affairs of such
an inconspicuous person. His poor little romance with Alma Marston had
been left in a shocking condition. He did not talk at the supper-table,
and the widow's wholesome food was like ashes in his mouth. He went out
and sat on the porch of the widow's cottage and looked into the sunset
and saw nothing in its rosy hues to give him encouragement for his own
future.
Polly Candage came timidly and sat down beside him. "Father says you
think of leaving in the morning!"
"There's nothing for me here."
"Probably not."
A long silence followed.
"I suppose you don't care to have me talk to you, Captain Mayo?"
"I'll listen to you gratefully, any time."
"I'm only a country girl. I don't know how to say it--how to tell you
I'm so sorry for you!"
"That one little pat on my hand to-day, it was better than words."
"It's all I can think about--your unhappiness."
"That touches me because I know that you have enough sorrow of your
own."
"Sorrow!" She opened her eyes wide.
"Perhaps I have no business speaking of it," he returned, with
considerable embarrassment.
"And yet I have been so bold as to speak to you!"
There was a touch of reproach in her voice, and therefore he ventured:
"Your father told me--I tried to stop him, but he went on and
said--Well, I understand! But I have some consolation for you and I'm
going to speak out. He says he is going to allow you to marry your young
man."