Granny leaned against the casing, and began to sob unrestrainedly.
The Harvester supported her tenderly.
“Why don't do that, dear. Don't cry,” he begged. “The Girl is home for always, Granny, and I'm so happy I am out to-night trying to keep from losing my mind with joy. She will come to you to-morrow, I know.”
Granny tremulously dried her eyes.
“What an old sap-head I am!” she commented. “I stole your letters from your fireplace, pitched a willer plate into the lake——you got to fish that out, come day, David——fooled you into that trip to Doc Carey to get him to mail them to Ruth, and never turned a hair. But after I got home I commenced thinkin' 'twas a pretty ticklish job to stick your nose into other people's business, an' every hour it got worse, until I ain't had a fairly decent sleep since. If you hadn't come soon, boy, I'd 'a' been sick a-bed. Oh, David! Are you sure she's over there, and loves you to suit you now?”
“Yes dear, I am absolutely certain,” said the Harvester. “She was so determined to come that she brought the invalid grandmother she couldn't leave and her grandfather. They arrived at midnight. We are all going to live together now.”
“Well bless my stars! Fetched you a family! David, I do hope to all that's peaceful I hain't put my foot in it. The moon is the deceivingest thing on earth I know, but does her family 'pear to be an a-gre'-able family, by its light?”
The Harvester's laugh boomed a half mile down the road.
“Finest people on earth, next to you, dear. I'm mighty glad to have them. I'm going to build them a house on my best location, and we are all going to be happy from now on. Go to bed! This night air may chill you. I can't sleep. I wanted you to know first——so I came over. In mother's stead, will you kiss me, and wish me happiness, dear friend?”
Granny Moreland laid an eager, withered hand on each shoulder, and bent to the radiant young face.