“Hell, no! She’s as proud as Lucifer. Here’s our stop.”
The two men jumped out into the highway and started for the Dameron farm.
Olive
“I think a man ought to marry early,” Balcomb announced, as they tramped along the road. “There’s nothing like a woman and a home to put snap into a man,” he continued nobly. “A man fools away a whole lot of money in his bachelor days. Doing social stunts is expensive. Have you any idea what my carriage bill was last March? Eighty-four dollars! I honestly believe it would pay me to own a hack. But, I say, the man who will drag a girl to the theater in a street car is fit for treason, stratagems and the stone pile. It ain’t enough to put ’em on four wheels when it’s snowing; no, I make a specialty of hacks under the starry hosts of heaven, and eke the pale and haughty moon. There’s no better way than that to get solid with a girl. There are some that put their faith in bonbons and a new novel now and then; but there isn’t a girl in Mariona to-night that wouldn’t rather go to see a good show in comfort than do anything else under the sun. Damn that June-bug! it nearly choked the life out of me. I say, about hacks, don’t give it away, but I’ve just got a transfer company pass,—Wilson, the president, and I are pretty thick, and I do a little quiet work for the company occasionally. I helped ’em beat the vehicle tax before the council last winter, and I have an annual now that gives me power of life and death over all the company’s rolling stock night and day. And you bet I won’t use it or anything!”
Leighton’s silence did not disturb Balcomb; he talked for the joy it gave him. They reached the Dameron gate and followed the winding path toward the veranda.
“Ahoy, O bower of beauty!” Balcomb called cheerily when they were within hailing distance of the veranda. “Friends draw near bringing tidings.”
On the veranda, as Balcomb’s voice smote upon the air, two girls fell on each other’s necks in mock ecstasy of grief.
“They’re there, all right,” announced Balcomb.
“If you yell at them again, they’ll undoubtedly bolt,” said Leighton, whose thoughts since they had left the car had been far away from Balcomb’s babble.