"Well, it is with me, too," said Leslie, suddenly grave. "You
certainly have made me most unhappy for about three weeks. But I'm
beginning to think you don't love me after all. What is money between
people who love each other? Only something that they can have a good
time spending for others, isn't it? And suppose _I_ should say I
wouldn't let _you support me_? I guess after all if you think so much
of money you don't really care!"
"Leslie!" Their eyes met and his suddenly fell before her steady,
beautiful gaze:
"Well, then, Howard Letchworth, if you are so awfully proud that you
have to be the richest, I'll throw away or give away all my money and
be a pauper, _so there_! Then will you be satisfied? What's money
without the one you love, anyway?"
"I see, Leslie! I was a fool. You darling, wonderful princess. No,
keep your money and I'll try to make some more and we'll have a
wonderful time helping others with it. I suppose I knew I was a fool
all the time, only I wanted to be told so, because you see that fellow
told me you and he had been set apart for each other by your
parents----!"
A sudden lurch of the canoe roused him to look at Leslie's face:
"Oh, that little--liar! Yes, he is! He is the meanest, conceitedest,
most disagreeable little snob----!"
"There, there! We'll spare him----" laughed Howard. "I see I was wrong
again, only, Leslie, little princess, there's one thing you must own
is true, you're very young yet and you may change----"
"Now, _I like that_!" cried Leslie. "You don't even think I have the
stability to be true to you. Well, if I'm as weak-looking as that you
better go and find someone else----"
But he stopped her words with his face against her lips, and his arms
about her, and at last she nestled against his shoulder and was at
peace.
Chiming out above the notes of the wood-robin and the thrush there
came the faint and distant notes of the quarter hour striking on the
college library. It was Leslie who heard it. Howard was still too far
upon the heights to think of earthly duties yet awhile.
"Howard! Isn't this your Class Day? And haven't you a part in the
exercises? Why aren't you there?"
He turned with startled eyes, and rising color.
"I couldn't stay, Leslie. I was too miserable! I had to come after
you. You promised to be with me to-day, you know----"
"But your Class Poem, Howard! Quick! It must be almost time to read
it----!"
He took out his watch.
"Great Scott! I didn't know the time had gone like that!"
Leslie's fingers were already at work with the other canoe, tying its
chain to the seat of her own.
"Now!" she turned and picked up her paddle swiftly, handing Howard the
other one. "Go! For all your worth! You mustn't fail on this day
anyway! Beat it with all your might!"
"It's too late!" said the man reluctantly, taking the paddle and
moving to his right position.
"It's not too late. It _shan't_ be too late! _Paddle_, I say, _now_,
ONE--and--TWO--and----!"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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