Part 28

“We run away from ye, shure,” said Shuey, grinning; and he related the adventure. Armorer fell back with Mrs. Ellis. “Did you stay with Esther every minute?” said he. Mrs. Ellis nodded. She opened her lips to speak, then closed them and walked ahead to Harry Lossing. Armorer looked--suspicion of a dozen kinds gnawing him and insinuating that the three all seemed agitated--from Harry to Esther, and then to Shuey. But he kept his thoughts to himself and was very agreeable the remainder of the afternoon.

He heard Harry tell Mrs. Ellis that the city council would meet that evening; before, however, Armorer could feel exultant he added, “but may I come late?”

“He is certainly the coolest beggar,” Armorer snarled, “but he is sharp as a nigger's razor, confound him!”

Naturally this remark was a confidential one to himself.

He thought it more times than one during the evening, and by consequence played trumps with equal disregard of the laws of the noble game of whist and his partner's feelings. He found a few, a very few, elderly people who remembered his parent, and they will never believe ill of Horatio Armorer, who talked so simply and with so much feeling of old times, and who is going to give a memorial window in the new Presbyterian church. He was beginning to think with some interest of supper, the usual dinner of the family having been sacrificed to the demands of state; then he saw Harry Lossing. The young mayor's blond head was bowing before his sister's black velvet. He caught Armorer's eye and followed him out to the lawn and the shadows and the gay lanterns. He looked animated. Evening dress was becoming to him. “One of my daughters married a prince, but I am hanged if he looked it like this fellow,” thought Armorer; “but then he was only an Italian. I suppose the council did not pass the ordinance? your committee reported against it?” he said quite amicably to Harry.

“I wish you could understand how much pain it has given me to oppose you, Mr. Armorer,” said Harry, blushing.

“I don't doubt it, under the circumstances, Mr. Lossing.” Armorer spoke with suave politeness, but there was a cynical gleam in his eye.

“But Esther understands,” says Harry.

“Esther!” repeats Armorer, with an indescribable intonation. “You spoke to her this afternoon? For a man with such high-toned ideas as you carry, I think you took a pretty mean advantage of your guests!”

“You will remember I gave you fair warning, Mr. Armorer.”

“It was while I was in the elevator, of course. I guessed it was a put-up job; how did you manage it?”

Harry smiled outright; he is one who cannot keep either his dog or his joke tied up. “It was Shuey did it,” said he; “he pulled the opposite way from you, and he has tremendous strength; but he says you were a handful for him.”

“You seem to have taken the town into your confidence,” said Armorer, bitterly, though he had a sneaking inclination to laugh himself; “do you need all your workmen to help you court your girl?”

“I'd take the whole United States into my confidence rather than lose her, sir,” answered Harry, steadily.

Armorer turned on his heel abruptly; it was to conceal a smile. “How about my sister? did you propose before her? But I don't suppose a little thing like that would stop you.”

“I had to speak; Miss Armorer goes away tomorrow. Mrs. Ellis was kind enough to put her fingers in her ears and turn her back.”

“And what did my daughter say?”

“I asked her only to give me the chance to show her how I loved her, and she has. God bless her! I don't pretend I'm worthy of her, Mr. Armorer, but I have lived a decent life, and I'll try hard to live a better one for her trust in me.”

“I'm glad there is one thing on which we are agreed,” jeered Armorer, “but you are more modest than you were this noon. I think it was considerably like bragging, sending that woman to tell of your heroic feats!”

“Oh, I can brag when it is necessary,” said Harry, serenely; “what would the West be but for bragging?”

“And what do you intend to do if I take your girl to Europe?”

“Europe is not very far,” said Harry.

Armorer was a quick thinker, but he had never thought more quickly in his life. This young fellow had beaten him. There was no doubt of it. He might have principles, but he declined to let his principles hamper him. There was something about Harry's waving aside defeat so lightly, and so swiftly snatching at every chance to forward his will, that accorded with Armorer's own temperament.

“Tell me, Mr. Armorer,” said Harry, suddenly; “in my place wouldn't you have done the same thing?”

Armorer no longer checked his sense of humor. “No, Mr. Lossing,” he answered, sedately, “I should have respected the old gentleman's wishes and voted any way he pleased.” He held out his hand. “I guess Esther thinks you are the coming young man of the century; and to be honest, I like you a great deal better than I expected to this morning. I'm not cut out for a cruel father, Mr. Lossing; for one thing, I haven't the time for it; for another thing, I can't bear to have my little girl cry. I guess I shall have to go to Europe without Esther. Shall we go in to the ladies now?”

Harry wrung the president's hand, crying that he should never regret his kindness.

“See that Esther never regrets it, that will be better,” said Armorer, with a touch of real and deep feeling. Then, as Harry sprang up the steps like a boy, he took out the note-book, and smiling a smile in which many emotions were blended, he ran a black line through

“See abt L.”