登陆注册
15442700000054

第54章 THE CREAMERY MAN(6)

He helped hitch the horse into the buggy, and helped the girls in with a return of easy gallantry, and watched them drive off with joy. At last the field was clear.

They returned to the sitting room, where the old folks remained for a decent interval, and then left the young people alone. His courage returned then, and he turned toward her with resolution in his voice and eyes.

"Lucindy," he began.

"Miss Kennedy, please," interrupted Lucindy with cutting emphasis.

"I'll be darned if I do," he replied hotly. "What's the matter with you? Since going to Minneapolis you put on a lot of city airs, it seems to me."

"If you don't like my airs, you know what you can do!"

He saw his mistake.

"Now see here, Lucindy, there's no sense in our quarreling."

"I don't want to quarrel; I don't want anything to do with you. I wish I'd never seen you."

"Oh, you don't mean that! After all the good talks we've had."

She flushed red. "I never had any such talks with you."

He pursued his advantage.

"Oh, yes, you did, and you took pains that I should see you."

"I didn't; no such thing. You came poking into the kitchen where you'd no business to be."

"Say, now, stop fooling. You like me and-"

"I don't. I hate you, and if you don't clear out I'll call father. You're one o' these kind o' men that think if a girl looks at 'em that they want to marry 'em. I tell you I don't want anything more to do with you, and I'm engaged to another man, and I wish you'd attend to your own business. So there! I hope you're satisfied."

Claude sat for nearly a minute in silence, then he rose. "I guess you're right. I've made a mistake. I've made a mistake in the girl."

He spoke with a curious hardness in his voice. "Good evening, Miss Kennedy."

He went out with dignity and in good order. His retreat was not ludicrous. He left the girl with the feeling that she had lost her temper and with the knowledge that she had uttered a lie.

He put his horses to the buggy with a mournful self-pity as he saw the wheels glisten. He had done all this for a scornful girl who could not treat him decently. 'As he drove slowly down the road he mused deeply. It was a knock-down blow, surely. He was a just man, so far as he knew, and as he studied the situation over he could not blame the girl. In the light of her convincing wrath he comprehended that the sharp things she had said to him in the past were not make-believe-not love taps, but real blows. She had not been coquetting. with him; she had tried to keep him away. She considered herself too good for a hired man. Well, maybe she' was.

Anyhow, she had gone out of his reach, hopelessly.

As he came past the Haldemans' he saw Nina sitting out under the trees in the twifight. On the impulse he pulled in. His mind took another turn. Here was a woman who was open and aboveboard in her affection. Her words meant what they stood for. He remembered how she had bloomed out the last few months. She has the making of a handsome woman in her, he thought.

She saw him and came out to the gate, and while he leaned out of his carriage she rested her arms on the gate and looked up at him.

She looked pale and sad, and he was touched.

"How's the old lady?" he asked.

"Oh, she's up! She is much change-ed. She is veak and quiet"

"Quiet, is she? Well, that's good."

"She t'inks God strike her fer her vickedness. Never before did she fainted like dot."

"Well, don't spoil that notion in her. It may do her a world of good."

"Der priest come. He saidt it wass a punishment. She saidt I should marry who I like."

Claude looked at her searchingly. She was certainly much improved. All she needed was a little encouragement and advice, and she would make a handsome wife. If the old lady had softened down, her son-in-law could safely throw up the creamery job and become the boss of the farm. The old man was used up, and the farm needed someone right away.

He straightened up suddenly. "Get your hat," he sald, "and we'll take a ride."

She started erect, and he could see her pale face glow with joy.

"With you?"

"With me. Get your best hat. We may turn up at the minister's and get married-if a Sunday marriage is legal."

As she hurried up the walk he said to himself, "I'll bet it gives Lucindy a shock!"

And the thought pleased him mightily.

同类推荐
  • 太极葛仙公传

    太极葛仙公传

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • CRITIAS

    CRITIAS

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 樵语

    樵语

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 大休珠禅师语录

    大休珠禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 释迦如来行迹颂

    释迦如来行迹颂

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 网游之黑暗密码

    网游之黑暗密码

    科学界巨匠留下一个惊人的科技成果,将其植入在自己开发的网游之中。一位特工人员奉命追查此案,进入网游世界探求未知的线索,砍怪物,杀BOSS,一拳一脚打出一片新的天地,离真相越来越近!在这一个连着一个的密码背后,究竟隐藏了什么样的事实?
  • 魔法奥萝

    魔法奥萝

    这是一个剑与魔法的时代!兽人蠢蠢欲动,妄图拉开大陆之战的序幕;精灵浅唱低吟,手执长弓护卫着生命之树;龙族潜伏龙岛,吞吐龙息黄金瞳威不可侵;人类剑指苍穹,斗气魔法交相扬撒于天际。当诸神的黄昏降临,大陆陷入无边黑夜,谁能再次唤醒天明?
  • 战诗

    战诗

    昊昊上苍,冥冥大地,凤鸣八荒,龙战于野,众星涌现,乱世造就英豪。
  • 用等待一朵花开的时间守望幸福

    用等待一朵花开的时间守望幸福

    花开需要等待,幸福需要坚守。本书是一部灵动脱俗的情感暖心美文集,是关于生活、关于幸福、关于忍耐的励志经典,文字清淡,回味隽永,温暖感动。让你的内心沉淀下来,淡然面对繁华落寞,坦然面对得失荣辱,笑着面对困苦磨难,拥有安静坚持的力量。无论这个世界怎样,都能不慌不忙地坐在流年里等待花开,稳稳地守住幸福。生命终会经过岁月的沉淀磨砺生香,幸福便如期而至。
  • 旋风少女:只是错过

    旋风少女:只是错过

    【已完结】不是一遇见喜欢的就去追求,爱情不是一个人经营。错过了终究是错过
  • “前夫”,你好

    “前夫”,你好

    死,也许是一种解脱,可是,重生呢?一段亏欠的情,用两世来偿还。*◇*一道圣旨,她做了冲喜新娘,成了祈王众多妾侍中的一位。第一眼看到她的夫君,她惊慌失措,只因他长得极像她在现代的前夫!*◇*他本是无情之人,却唯独对王妃萧筱温柔以待。他即使知道是别人的栽赃陷害,小则阴冷的警告她不要触及他的底线;大则将她关进地牢,只因为事件牵扯到了王妃,他便可以不辨事实的真相!他冷眼看着她:“以后再让本王发现你对子素不利,本王就杀了你!”可当她身处险境的时候,他为何会施计来救她?为何在她感到心累的时候,他又对她说些动情的话?“你的过去本王可以不计较,但本王希望能参与你的未来。”*◇*他无奈的问:“伤儿,你何时才会懂我?”她沉默着。最终,他说:“你若无心,我便放你自由。”*◇*奸臣当道,前朝遗留,敌国来袭,在这个充满了阴谋诡计的时代,纵使她再小心翼翼,也难防他人的暗箭。**易暨枫,为了达到自己的目的可以不择手段。在他遭到亲人背叛之后,他开始了复仇计划。却不想,中途出现了一个莫伤。易暨枫对莫伤说道:“若你是因为我的容貌才舍我而去,我可以将它毁了。”*◇*未完-待续————推荐好友锅小染完结文《猎心游戏:女人,乖乖过来!》:http://novel.hongxiu.com/a/409080/
  • 我若成仙,法力无边!

    我若成仙,法力无边!

    她,是修仙万千弟子中普通不过的一名;他,是她穿越过后在大千世界遇到的那个独一无二的你。这样不要脸的她,这样腹黑的他,会碰撞出怎样的火花?穿越到遥远的地方去找你,倾尽一生也等你!
  • 网游之谍影军魂

    网游之谍影军魂

    肆意挥洒激情的游戏人生,打破现实框架的无尽幻想!,一部纯军事幻想小说,带给你不一样的体验。
  • 幻世争雄

    幻世争雄

    一个奇幻的世界,一个奇迹的发生,一曲柔情凄美的爱情。历经风霜,最终走向顶峰..........为兄弟屠尽天下为爱人倾尽所有为自己君临天下
  • 真魔经

    真魔经

    那一天,九州下起了黑色的雨。三千五百年后,周凡手上长出了三个鬼脸……一夜之间,风波乍起,祸事横生,妖精鬼魅争相登场,异人剑仙群魔乱舞。阴云笼罩的无差仙门,一场诡异莫测的正邪之争正悄然展开……偌大九州,五彩斑斓。跃五山,观四海,九州万象,谁主沉浮?※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※【一部真魔经,请道友入魔!】