The Lightning Conductor Discovers AmericaWilliamson, C. N. (Charles Norris)
General
The Lightning Conductor Discovers America
Williamson, C. N. (Charles Norris)
Automobiles -- Fiction
At present _everything_ to do with "heart interest" is _horrid_--except
some things that are funny. And the people they're happening to can't
see the fun in them as the outsiders--Jack and I--can. Naturally there
_would_ be heaps of heart interest, all over the place, wherever Patty
was; and that would be all right if Larry weren't simply followed around
by it too, the way actor-managers are by the spotlight. When we were
doing our delicious motor run around Long Island, getting acquainted
with the old whalers, and Indian chieftains, and golfers and
millionairesses, it was sweet to see how Pat was unconsciously taming
our Stormy Petrel to eat out of her hand. Even Jack saw it happening, so
it must have been pretty obvious, because men never _can_ see other
people's love stories going on under their noses. I knew as well as if
he'd told me, that Peter Storm would rather be torpedoed again than fall
in love and settle down. Besides though none but the brave deserve the
fair, few but the rich ever get them. And I suppose the Stormy One
_can't_ be rich, whatever else he may be. Perhaps he was _once_, and
lost all his money; for he certainly has the look of a banished prince,
and the long-distance manner of one, if he doesn't like anybody or is
bored. But strong as he may be in many ways, he could not resist Pat
when he was in a motor car with her day after day. Jack and I would have
bet (if that hadn't been callous) as to whether he'd cave in far enough
to propose; and if _I_ had bet I should have lost. But it wouldn't have
been my fault. It would have been Ed Caspian's. Jimmy Payne at his worst
wasn't a patch on him.
How the man managed it I can't conceive (as Pat is of an almost
exaggerated and clamlike loyalty), but she arrived at Kidd's Pines at
the end of that short trip _engaged to Caspian_!
I didn't know till the next day; didn't know that, or the rest. You see,
we finished up with a moonlight run from the gorgeous house I wrote you
a postcard about. We were late, for the Faust-cry in our hearts was
communicated to our speed: "Linger awhile: thou art so fair!" Jack and I
didn't stop at Kidd's Pines at all, though they asked us in to have
night-blooming sandwiches and such things. We went straight on to
Awepesha and slept the sleep of the moderately just. Pat had promised to
'phone in the morning, and did. She merely asked how we were, and said
she was well; but I could tell from her voice that something dreadful
was the matter. I dashed over in the car before Jack was dressed, ready
with an excuse about a book I wished to borrow, and was so early that I
found myself colliding--nay, telescoping--with the breakfast brigade of
the "hotel."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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