Page:The leopard's spots - a romance of the white man's burden-1865-1900 (IA leopardsspotsrom00dixo).pdf/262

 see her again, live close to her day by day, and bring to bear on her every power of body and soul I possess."

Mrs. Durham met him with dancing eyes. "Oh, I've heard from you, sir!"

"Kiss me Auntie, and be kind. I'm in the last stages of delirium!"

He took her hands both in his and looked at her long. "How good you've been to me, Auntie, in all the past. You never looked so beautiful as to-day. I want to thank you for every word you've said to Miss Sallie for me. It may have helped just a little anyway."

"Well you are in the last stages!" she exclaimed gleefully.

"And you are glad of it?"

"Of course, I am, it will make a man of you."

"But suppose I lose?"

She was silent a moment and then slipped her arm gently about him, drew down his ear and whispered,

"You shall not lose—I've set my heart on it."

He pressed her hands and said,

"How like my sweet mother's voice was that!"

And then they fell to discussing plans for giving Miss Sallie and her friend a jolly time at the Springs.

"But Auntie, these plans don't seem to me exactly what I'd like. You see I want to be the whole thing. It may be hopelessly selfish, but I can't help it."

"Well that isn't best."

"Say Auntie, what do I look like anyway? How would you describe my make up? Let's get at the weak spots and splint them up a little. You know, I never seriously cared a rap before about my looks."

"Well"—she answered, slowly regarding him, "I'll be perfectly frank with you.

"You are tall—at least two inches taller than the average man, and your muscular body gives one the impres-