“I let no one, not even mumma and poppa, know that I was coming,” she replied. “The fact is, Judge——”
She was glad, as she prepared to take him into her confidence, that the thick veil would hide the hot colour that she felt leaped into her face.
“Momma wrote me,” she went on, “that the pastor was very sick, and that the doctor didn’t understand his case. I only got the letter last Saturday morning. The boat was to start that day at two; but I caught it, for I knew that would cure the pastor.”
She felt how fiercely the blushes burned in her cheeks, but, assured that he could not see them, she went on:
“Just before I started for Europe, Judge, pastor told me he loved me, and asked me to be his wife——”
She watched the amused amaze leap into the Judge’s face, and smiled herself at his low whistle.
“I told him,” she continued, “I could make him no definite promise, as I was not quite sure of myself; but that, when I was, I would not wait for him to ask me again—I would come and tell him. I am going straight to him now, Judge, and I want you to give me a clear quarter of an hour’s start. While I am gone to fix him up and to make him happy, I want you to go ’long to mumma and poppa, and bring them right along with you, and marry me and pastor as soon as you git up to us. So-long for a quarter of an hour.”
Without another word she moved swiftly away.
“She’s tropical!” he laughed, as he saw her making for Mrs. Keller’s, where the pastor boarded.