I didn't know that he really meant to go
with you. You let me go home with you two or three times--perhaps you
remember."
Charlotte nodded.
"I never forgot," said Thomas Payne. "Well, father found it out, and
he had a talk with me. He made me promise to wait till I got through
college before I said anything to you; he was doing a good deal for
me, you know. So I waited, and the first thing I knew, when I came
home, they said Barney Thayer was waiting on you, and I thought it
was all settled and there was nothing more to be done. I made up my
mind to bear it like a man and make the best of it, and I did. But
this spring when I was through college, and that happened betwixt you
and Barney, when he--didn't come back to you, and you didn't seem to
mind so much, I couldn't help having a little hope. I waited and
kept thinking he'd make up with you, but he didn't, and I knew how
determined he was. Then finally I began to make a few advances,
but--well, it's all over now, Charlotte. There's only one thing I'd
like to ask: if I hadn't waited, as I promised father, would it have
made any difference? Did you always like Barney Thayer?"
"Yes; it wouldn't have made any difference," Charlotte said. There
were tears in her eyes.
Thomas Payne arose. "Then that is all," said he. "I never had any
chance, if I had only known. I've got nothing more to say.
Pages:
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168