Abner. Well, I found out right after I bought it that half the land didn’t belong to him to sell. There was a mistake in his title and some of the land belonged to Nat’s father and some of it belonged to Miss Cynthy’s father.
Cyn. Land o’ goshen!
Abner. They didn’t seem to know. They must have thought old Mr. Daniels knew what was his property. I didn’t say anything. You know why I wanted the property and the money I have made here. I knew if they realized this land was theirs they wouldn’t have sold. They would have used it themselves. I knew I had a good thing and I kept it. I made a pile and I kept them from their chance of making money when shore property was worth its weight in gold. That day has long gone by, but I’m ready to pay Miss Cynthy whatever seems right. I’ll leave it to Cap’n Cranberry to figure it out. I have offered money to Nat and he has refused to take it. He wants my daughter instead. Well, he had better take my money, for he can’t have my daughter unless she wants him.
Ariel (joyfully). Father!
Nat (furiously). Thunderation!
[Exit.
All. Good work! That’s the talk, Cap’n Abner!
Abner (slowly). I have deceived and cheated all these years. Of course I realize that I’ve got to lose my friends, that I will be the talk of the town.
Ber. I don’t see why. It’s taken a pile of courage to come out and say you were wrong and make it right. If your neighbors are good friends they will stand by you. They won’t go back on you.
Obad. That’s right, Abner. Of course we won’t.