Part 48 (1/2)
But Mr. Smith was laughing, and lifting both hands in mock despair.
”Look here,” he challenged, ”I THOUGHT you were marrying ME, but--ARE you marrying me or that confounded money?”
Miss Maggie laughed merrily.
”Yes, I know; but you see--” She stopped short. An odd expression came to her eyes.
Suddenly she laughed again, and threw into his eyes a look so merry, so whimsical, so altogether challenging, that he demanded:--
”Well, what is it now?”
”Oh, it's so good, I have--half a mind to tell you.”
”Of course you'll tell me. Where are you going?” he asked discontentedly.
Miss Maggie had left the sofa, and was standing, as if half-poised for flight, midway to the door.
”I think--yes, I will tell you,” she nodded, her cheeks very pink; ”but I wanted to be--over here to tell it.”
”'Way over there?”
”Yes, 'way over here. Do you remember those letters I got awhile ago, and the call from the Boston; lawyer, that I--I wouldn't tell you about?”
”I should say I did!”
”Well; you know you--you thought they--they had something to do with--my money; that I--I'd lost some.”
”I did, dear.”
”Well, they--they did have something to do--with money.”
”I knew they did!” triumphed the man. ”Oh, why wouldn't you tell me then--and let me help you some way?”
She shook her head nervously and backed nearer the door. He had half started from his seat.
”No, stay there. If you don't--I won't tell you.”
He fell back, but with obvious reluctance.
”Well, as I said, it did have something to do--with my money; but just now, when you asked me if I--I was marrying you or your money--”
”But I was in fun--you know I was in fun!” defended the man hotly.
”Oh, yes, I knew that,” nodded Miss Maggie. ”But it--it made me laugh and remember--the letters. You see, they weren't as you thought. They didn't tell me of--of money lost. They told me of money--gained.”
”Gained?”
”Yes. That father's Cousin George in Alaska had died and left me--fifty thousand dollars.”