"Yes.I--I think you should.I am sure everyone else would think so.I should not wish you to do so if Mr.Colton was merely trying to be kind, to help you from motives of gratitude, or charity--""Don't use that word, please," snapped "Big Jim." "When I lose my mind I may take to charity, but not before.Charity! Good Lord!""But it is not charity.I am better, Roscoe; I realize it every day; and with Dorinda I shall get on perfectly well.I have been thinking of something like this for a long time.You owe it to yourself, Roscoe.The chance is one that many men would be very, very glad to have come their way.I shall not urge you, Boy.You must decide for yourself, and I know you will; but, Roscoe, I shall be quite contented--yes, glad and proud, if you say yes to Mr.
Colton."
The gentleman named nodded emphatic approval."That's the talk!"he exclaimed."Mrs.Paine, I congratulate you on your common-sense."
"I think, like you, that you will have made a good investment, Mr.
Colton," was Mother's answer.
I rose to my feet.This must be ended now, for all time.
"I thank you, Mr.Colton," I said, though not as steadily as Icould have wished."I am greatly obliged to you and I realize that you offer me an exceptional opportunity, or what would be one for another man.But I cannot accept.""Look here, Paine! I'll speak plainer still.I understand that that Shore Lane trade of ours has become common property, or, at any rate, it will be common property soon.If I see the situation clearly, Denboro is likely to be a rather unpleasant place for you.
That fellow Dean has a lot of influence here--heaven knows why!--and he hates me worse than Old Nick hates holy water.Oh, I know you're not afraid of him! But what is the use of taking the rough road when the smooth one is right before your feet? Say yes, and let's end it.""No," said I, stubbornly."No, Mr.Colton.""You mean it? Very well, I leave you in your Mother's hands.She will probably bring you to your senses before long.Mrs.Paine, you can handle him, I have no doubt.I am glad to have met you, and, with your permission, I shall call on you again.So will Mabel.As for you, young man, I thank you for last night's work.
You will, perhaps, accept thanks if you refuse everything else.
Good morning."
He rose, bowed, and walked to the door.As he opened it he staggered, perceptibly.I thought, for an instant, that he was going to fall, and I sprang to his assistance.
"It's all right," he said, gruffly."This digestion of mine sets my head spinning sometimes.That doctor says I shall upset completely unless I rest.I told him he was a fool and I intend to prove it.Let me be.I can walk, I should hope.When I can't I'll call the ambulance--or the hearse.I'll find the way out, myself.Good-by."The door closed behind him.
"Roscoe," said Mother, quickly, "come here."I turned toward her.She was looking at me with a strange expression.
"What is it, Mother?" I asked, anxiously.
"Roscoe," she whispered, "I know him.I have met him before.""Know him! You have met Mr.Colton--before? Where?""At our home in the old days.He came there once with--with your father.He was our guest at dinner."I could scarcely believe it.Then, as the thought of what this might mean flashed to my mind, I asked anxiously:
"Did he know you, do you think?"
"No, I am sure he did not.We met but once and I have," with a little sigh, "changed since then.But I recognized him.The name of Colton was familiar to me when you first mentioned it, some time ago, but I did not remember where I had heard it.Of course, I did not connect this Mr.Colton with--that one."I frowned.This complicated matters still more, and further complications were superfluous.
"And, knowing this, knowing that he might recognize you at any time, you urged me to accept his offer," I said, reproachfully.
"Mother!"
"Yes."
"Mother, how can you? Would you have me go to New York and enter a banking house where, any hour of any day, I might be recognized by some of the men I once knew? Where I might expect at any moment to be called by my real name? How can you?"She gazed at me earnestly."Why not tell him, Roscoe?" she asked.
I stared at her, aghast."Tell him!" I repeated."Tell him who Iam? Tell him our story, the story that-- Mother, are you crazy?""No.I believe I am sane, at least.I have been thinking a great deal of late.As I have been growing stronger I have been thinking more and more and I am not sure that you and I have been right in hiding here as we have done.It was all my fault, I know, but Iwas weak and--and I dreaded all the gossip and scandal.But, Boy, it was a mistake.After all, we have done no wrong, you and I--we, personally, have nothing to be ashamed of.Why not end all this?
Go to Mr.Colton, tell him who you are, tell him our story; then, if he still wants you--"I interrupted."No, Mother," I said, "no, no! It is impossible.
