"You big fool!" cried Nancy Ellen.
"Look out! You're 'in danger of Hell fire,' when you call me
that!" warned Kate.
"Fire away!" cried Nancy Ellen, with tears in her eyes and voice.
"When I think what you've gone through -- "
Kate stared at her fixedly. "What do you know about what I've
gone though?" she demanded in a cold, even voice. "Personally, I
think you're not qualified to MENTION that subject; you better let
it rest. Whatever it has been, it's been of such a nature that I
have come out of it knowing when I have my share and when I'm well
off, for me. If John Jardine wants to marry me, and will sell all
he has, and come and work on the farm with me, I'll consider
marrying him. To leave my life and what I love to go to Chicago
with him, I do not feel called on, or inclined to do. No, I'll
not marry him, and in about fifteen minutes I'll tell him so."
"And go on making a mess of your life such as you did for years,"
said Nancy Ellen, drying her red eyes.
"At least it was my life," said Kate. "I didn't mess things for
any one else."
"Except your children," said Nancy Ellen.
"As you will," said Kate, rising. "I'll not marry John Jardine;
and the sooner I tell him so and get it over, the better. Good-
bye. I'll be back in half an hour."
Kate walked slowly to the observation platform, where she had been
the previous evening with John Jardine; and leaning on the
railing, she stood looking out over the water, and down the steep
declivity, thinking how best she could word what she had to say.
She was so absorbed she did not hear steps behind her or turn
until a sharp voice said: "You needn't wait any longer. He's not
coming!"
Kate turned and glanced at the speaker, and then around to make
sure she was the person being addressed. She could see no one
else. The woman was small, light haired, her face enamelled,
dressed beyond all reason, and in a manner wholly out of place for
morning at a summer resort in Michigan.
"If you are speaking to me, will you kindly tell me to whom you
refer, and give me the message you bring?" said Kate.
"I refer to Mr. John Jardine, Mrs. Holt," said the little woman
and then Kate saw that she was shaking, and gripping her hands for
self-control.
"Very well," said Kate. "It will save me an unpleasant task if he
doesn't come. Thank you," and she turned back to the water.
"You certainly didn't find anything unpleasant about being with
him half last night," said the little woman.