I wish I could let everything go and justenjoy
myself. She laughed, with a voluptuous note in her voice. Elizas eyes filled with
tears of real pain. But, unlike the first one in the tobacco town, she never called
himson. I can even check the growth ofthe disease for a time. Then hewent into the
room, chafing his dry hands briskly. Every eveningRandolph Gudger, the bank
president, telephoned her. They wouldnt have half amillion, would they?
He remonstrated withEugene, with good-natured
seriousness, about his habits. He had, rather, confirmedGants death-warrant. He had
found employment at length upon a newspaper in a richtobacco town of the Piedmont.
But not without labor had his titles come. Eugene went to see the Leonards several
times.
Ben had been rejected again in the draft. There was
a sense of guilt in her manner, a note of regret andcontrition. She put Gants check
in his inner pocket and fastened itwith a safety-pin.
They wouldnt have half amillion, would
they?
Well, said Eliza gravely, plucking at her chin, I
want you to bea good boy and study hard, son.
He had, rather, confirmedGants death-warrant. What
would your father sayif he could hear you? A few people hurried past,as if driven
along by the brief pouncing gusts of wind.
The boy went sulkily away until the rich man should
leave: thebanker looked bitterly after him.
Little electric currents of excitement played up
his spine.
Theywalked at night through the cool streets filled
with the rustle oftired leaves. Youve got totrade quick to keep the ball
a-rolling.
They have made a whiningcoward out of him! It makes
my flesh crawl when she comesaround. She benttoward him: a few strands of her blonde
hair brushed his face,leaving it aflame.
Try to be happy, son, she wept, try to be a little
more happy.
Miss Brown lived, she said, in
Indianapolis.
The kitchen-light went out; he heard his mothers
door clickgently.