Page:The leopard's spots - a romance of the white man's burden-1865-1900 (IA leopardsspotsrom00dixo).pdf/308

 "She loves me! I'd like to climb up on the top of this house and shout it until all earth and heaven could hear and be glad with me!"

"Well, don't do it, my boy. See her father first!"

"She says he likes me."

"Then you're elected."

"I'm going to tackle him before I go home."

"Don't rush him. There's a superstition prevalent here that the old gentleman has no idea of ever letting his daughter leave that home, and that he will never give his consent, when driven to the wall, unless his son-in-law that is to be, will agree to settle down there and take his place in those big mills. He has two great loves, his daughter and his mills, and he don't mean to let either one of them go if he can help it."

"Do you believe it's true?"

"Yes, I do. How do you like the idea?"

"It's not my style. I've a pretty clear idea of what I'm going to do in this world."

"Well, you'd better begin to haul in your silk sails, and study cotton goods, is my advice."

"I'll manage him."

"I don't know about it, but if you've got her, you're the first man that ever got far enough to measure himself with the General. I wish you luck."

"You the same, old chum. May you conquer Boston and all the Pilgrim Fathers!"

"Thanks. The vision of one of them disturbs my dreams. One will be enough."

Then followed six golden days on the banks of the Catawba. Every day he insisted with boyish enthusiasm on returning to that rock and seating her on her throne. He called her his queen, and worshipped at her feet.

He had the friendliest little chat with her mother, and told her how he loved her daughter and hoped for her