Pole looked down and pulled at his heavy mustache. “Well,” he smiled, “I reckon he won't harm us any more in the legislatur' than the road 'll do us good, so you'd better support 'im. I seed the bars down a minute ago, an' I didn't have no time to consult you. I'd 'a' told a bigger lie 'an that to clinch this thing.” Abner Daniel joined them, smiling broadly, his eyes twinkling joyously.
“We've won, Uncle Ab,” exclaimed Alan; “what do you think of that?”
The old jester stroked his face and swung his long body back and forth in the wind of his content. “I've always argued,” said he, “that what is to be will be, an' it will be a sight sooner 'n most of us count on, ef we 'll jest keep our sperits up.”
The others moved on, leaving Adele and Miller together.
“Oh, just look at mamma and papa,” she said, in the round, full voice indicative of deep emotion. “They are so glad they are about to cry.”
“What a dear, dear girl you are,” said Miller, softly. “There is nothing to separate us now, is there?”
For a moment they met in a full look into each other's eyes. Adele's voice shook when she replied: “I believe I'm the happiest, proudest girl in all the world.”
“Then you love me?”
“I believe I've loved you from the very minute I met you in Atlanta last summer.”
Alan saw Dolly looking at him and waving her handkerchief, her face warm and flushed. He was tempted to go to her, but she still sat by her father and mother, and that fact checked him. Mrs. Barclay caught his eye, and, rising suddenly, came through the crowd to him. She extended her gloved hand.