That Printer of Udell's: A Story of the Middle WestWright, Harold Bell
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That Printer of Udell's: A Story of the Middle West
Wright, Harold Bell
Christian fiction; Middle West -- Fiction; Printers -- Fiction; Young men -- Fiction
"Thought I'd let you come and see me awhile; turn about is fair play.
Besides, I don't think it would be safe in this cold weather. It's
chilly enough business even in the summer time."
Clara held out manfully--or--womanly--"George Udell; you knew very
well that I would come here if you staid away from my home; and it's
real mean of you, when you knew how bad I wanted to see you, to make
me come out in all this snow."
George looked troubled. "I'll take my death of cold, and then how'll
you feel?--" George looked still more worried--"I've not felt very
well lately anyway--" George looked frightened; "and I--came all the
way--down here--just to see what was the matter." The printer looked
happy. "And now you don't want me to stay, and I'll go home again."
She moved toward her umbrella, Udell got it first. Whir--Whir--went
the motor, and clank--clank--clank--sounded the press. Dick was feeding
the machine and must necessarily keep his eyes on his work, while the
noise prevented any stray bits of the conversation from reaching his
ears. Besides this, Dick was just now full of sympathy. Clara let go
her end of the umbrella, and George, with an exaggerated expression
of rapture on his face, kissed the place where her hand had held it.
The young lady tried to frown and look disgusted. Then for several
moments neither spoke. At last Clara said, "I wanted to tell you how
proud and glad I am of the things you have been doing. You are a good
man, George, to take care of that poor dead boy the way you did."
"Why, you see I had a sort of fellow-feeling for him," muttered the
printer. "I had just been frosted myself."
"And that Young People's Society business, it is just grand," went on
Clara. "Only think, you have given more than all the church members
even."
Udell grunted, "No danger of me losing on that offer. They'll never
raise the rest."
"Oh yes we will. I'm chairman of the committee." And then she told him
of the meeting, and how Uncle Bobbie had praised him.
Udell felt his heart thaw rapidly, and the two chatted away as though
no chilly blast had ever come between them.
"And yet, Clara, with all your professed love for me, you won't allow
me a single privilege of a lover, and I can have no hope of the future.
It had better stop now."
"Very well, George; it can stop now if you like; but I never could
have lived without talking it out with you and telling you how glad
I am for your gift to the Society."
"Look here, don't you go and make any mistakes on that line. I'm giving
nothing to the Society or the church. That bit of land goes to the
poor, cold, hungry fellows, who are down on their luck, like Dick here
was. I tell you what though, Clara, if you'll say yes, I'll add the
house and enough to furnish it besides."
The girl hesitated for just a moment. Here was temptation added to
temptation. Then she pulled on her rubbers and rose to go. "No, George,
No, I cannot. You know you would not need to buy me if I felt it right
to say yes."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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