“Father did talk that some, but I’ve decided to go West—and I start to-morrow.”
To-morrow! And that great, hungry West, which swallows up people so remorselessly! Something ailed Serene’s heart; she hoped he could not hear it beating, and she waited a minute before saying, quietly:
“Isn’t this sort of sudden?”
“I don’t like to air my plans too much. There’s many a slip, you know.”
“You’ll want to come to the house and say good-by to the folks, and tell us all about it?” As he nodded assent, she turned and preceded him up the narrow path.
“When will you be back?” she asked over her shoulder.
“Maybe never. If I have any luck, I’d like the old people to come out to me. I’m not leaving anything else here.”
“You needn’t have told me so,” said Serene to herself.
“Father, boys, here’s Don come in to say good-by. He’s going West to-morrow.”
“Well, ’Doniram Jessup! Why don’t you give us a s’prise party and be done with it?”