David, I kissed that newspaper face a hundred times, and if you could have had those, Man, I think you would have said they were right. David, there is nothing to cry over!"
"I'm not!" said the Harvester, wiping the splashes from her hand. "But, Ruth, forget what I said about being brief. I didn't realize what was coming. I should have said, if you've any mercy at all, go slowly! This is the greatest thing that ever happened or ever will happen to me. See that you don't leave out one word of it."
"I told you I had to tell you first," said the Girl.
"I understand now," said the Harvester, his head against her knee while he pressed her hand to his lips.
"I see! Your coming couldn't be perfect without knowing this first. Go on, dear heart, and slowly! You owe me every word."
"When I had it all absorbed, I carried the paper to the library and said, `Grandfather, such a wonderful thing has happened. A man has had a new idea, and he has done a unique work that the whole world is going to recognize. He has stood before men and made a speech that few, oh so few, could make honestly, and he has advocated right living, oh so nobly, and he has given a wonderful gift to science without price, because through it he first saved the life he loved best. Isn't that marvellous, grandfather?' And he said, `Very marvellous, Ruth. Won't you sit down and read to me about it?'
And I said, `I can't, dear grandfather, because I have been away from grandmother all day, and she is fretting for me, and to-night is a great ball, and she has spent millions on my dress, I think, and there is an especial reason why I must go, and so I have to see her now; but I want to show you the man's face, and then you can read the story.'
"You see, I knew if I started to read it he would stop me; but if I left him alone with it he would be so curious he would finish. So I turned your name under and held the paper and said, `What do you think of that face, grandfather? Study it carefully,' and, Man, only guess what he said! He said, `I think it is the face of one of nature's noblemen.' I just kissed him time and again and then I said, `So it is grandfather, so it is; for it is the face of the man who twice saved my life, and lifted my mother from almost a pauper grave and laid her to rest in state, and the man who found you, and sent me to you when I was determined not to come.' And Ijust stood and kissed that paper before him and cried, again and again, `He is one of nature's noblemen, and he is my husband, my dear, dear husband and to-morrow Iam going home to him.' Then I laid the paper on his lap and ran away. I went to grandmother and did everything she wanted, then I dressed for the ball. I went to say good-bye to her and show my dress and grandfather was there, and he followed me out and said, `Ruth, you didn't mean it?' I said, `Did you read the paper, grandfather?' and he said 'Yes'; and I said, `Then Ishould think you would know I mean it, and glory in my wonderful luck. Think of a man like that, grandfather!'
"I went to the ball, and I danced and had a lovely time with every one, because I knew it was going to be the very last, and to-morrow I must start to you.
"On the way home I told Mr. Kennedy what paper to get and to read it. I said good-bye to him, and Ireally think he cared, but I was too happy to be very sorry. When I reached my room there was a packet for me and, Man, like David of old, you are a wonderful poet! Oh Harvester! why didn't you send them to me instead of the cold, hard things you wrote?"
"What do you mean, Ruth?"
"Those letters! Those wonderful outpourings of love and passion and poetry and song and broken-heartedness.
Oh Man, how could you write such things and throw them in the fire? Granny Moreland found them when she came to bring you a pie, and she carried them to Doctor Carey, and he sent them to me, and, David, they finished me. Everything came in a heap. I would have come without them, but never, never with quite the understanding, for as I read them the deeps opened up, and the flood broke, and there did a warm tide go through all my being, like you said it would; and now, David, I know what you mean by love. I called the maids and they packed my trunk and grandmother's, and I had grandfather's valet pack his, and go and secure berths and tickets, and learn about trains, and I got everything ready, even to the ambulance and doctor;but I waited until morning to tell them. I knew they would not let me come alone, so I brought them along.
David, what in the world are we going to do with them?"
The Harvester drew a deep breath and looked at the flushed face of the Girl.
"With no time to mature a plan, I would say that we are going to love them, care for them, gradually teach them our work, and interest them in our plans here;and so soon as they become reconciled we will build them such a house as they want on the hill facing us, just across Singing Water, and there they may have every luxury they can provide for themselves, or we can offer, and the pleasure of your presence, and both of them can grow strong and happy. I'll have grandmother on her feet in ten days, and the edge off grandfather's tongue in three.
That bluster of his is to drown tears, Ruth; I saw it to-night. And when they pass over we will carry them up and lay them beside her under the oak, and we can take the house we build for them, if you like it better, and use this for a store-room."
"Never!" said the Girl. "Never! My sunshine room and gold garden so long as I live. Never again will I leave them. If this cabin grows too small, we will build all over the hillside; but my room and garden and this and the dining-room and your den there must remain as they are now."
The Harvester arose and drew the davenport before the fireplace, and heaped pillows. "You are so tired you are trembling, and your voice is quivering," he said. He lifted the Girl, laid her down and arranged the coverlet.
"Go to sleep!" he ordered gently. "You have made me so wildly happy that I could run and shout like a madman. Try to rest, and maybe the fairies who aid me will put my kiss back on your lips. I am going to the hill top to tell mother and my God."
