"That's satisfactory, so far as it goes," he said calmly, "though it doesn't go far enough to suit me. There are things I've got to say to you, and when they're over, we need never speak of them again. I haven't any home, nor any people but a married brother in Kansas, whose wife and four children I've never seen. He always worked the farm and it fell to him, as was right. I got a little money from my father, earned more at my trade in Chicago and saved it. Then I went across with the other boys. You don't really know anything about me except what I tell you, but I've got a clean record to show the neighbors, and I swear to God there's nothing wrong with me except that I've got one arm instead of two. When I came down this road from the station three weeks ago I took a good look at you, skimming around with your crutch, and swinging your right foot off the ground." "Don't!" cried Jenny, covering her eyes. Rufus put his big hand over her little ones and wiped the tears away with her crochet work. "I've got to show how I feel about you, and then I'll ask what you think of me," he explained. "I said to myself that day: 'Here's a chance to help somebody that's had to bear what I have.' They told me at the station you needed some work done, so I just plunged in, made good, and got the job. But I had no idea of falling in love with you, Jenny; that's your fault, not mine. I want to marry you, but I don't know how you feel about it." "I don't want to be pitied and married just to be helped," said Jenny stubbornly. "After my accident I just made up my mind I would never marry." "Why?" asked Rufus. "You know why," Jenny answered. "Then the reason you don't want to marry me shows me that I had no right to ask you, isn't that so?" "No, it isn't; it's different with a woman. Besides, I do want to marry you, but I won't." Rufus moved a little nearer. "Jenny, we've each got a minus sign against us--there's no getting over that; but Holy Moses! you're hung all over so thick with plus signs that your minus doesn't show up at all! Your face, your eyes, your hair, your voice, your disposition, your spunk, your common sense--all plus! The trouble is with me. There would be times when a girl might blush if she had a one-armed husband!" "Blush? If she did she ought to be struck by lightning!"--and Jenny's eyes flashed. Rufus caught her hands. "Jenny, Jenny, be true with me, speak straight out! Do I seem a little short of a full man? How do you see me in your secret heart?" Jenny rose to her feet under a kind of spell that made him rise to meet her. She leaned against him and said: "I see you whole, and strong and precious and splendid, Rufus!" Rufus held her close, drying his secret tears on her hair. "Oh, you little brick!" he whispered. "You darling, winsome little brick! Would you mind kissing me?"