you want to
forget?"

"Eh? Want to forget? Oh, I don't know! Cal'late I turn to and sail in
and work a little harder, maybe. Why?"

"Oh, nothing. . . But I am much obliged for the suggestion. Now I am
going to work. I shall begin tomorrow morning. I wish it was tomorrow
right now."

"Don't. Jumpin' fire! Don't wish time away; some of us ain't got too
much to spare. But ain't you BEEN workin', for mercy sakes? I should say
you had."

Another interval of silence. Then Mary said:

"Uncle Shad, a good while ago, when you asked me about--about him, I
promised you I would tell when there was anything to tell. I am going to
keep my promise. He came today and asked me--asked me to marry him--not
now, of course, but by and by."

Shadrach was not greatly surprised. Nevertheless it was a moment before
he spoke. Mary felt his arms tighten about her and she realized a little
of the struggle he was making. Yet his tone was brave and cheerful.

"Yes," he said. "Well, I--I kind of cal'lated that would come some day
or other. It's all right, Mary-'Gusta. Zoeth and me have talked it over
and all we want is to see you happy. If you said yes to him, Zoeth and
I'll say 'God bless you' to both of you."

She reached for his hand and lifted it to her lips. "I know you would,"
she said. "All your lives you have been thinking of others and not
of yourselves. But I didn't say yes, Uncle Shad. I am not going to be
married now or by and by. I don't want to be. I am the silent partner
of Hamilton and Company. I am a business woman and I am going to
work--REALLY work--from now on. No, you mustn't ask me any more
questions. We'll try to forget it all. Kiss me, Uncle Shad, dear.
That's it. Now you go down to supper. I shall stay here; I am not hungry
tonight."

CHAPTER XXVI

Captain Shad did ask more questions, of course. He asked no more that
evening--he judged it wisest not to do so; but the next day, seizing an
opportunity when he and his niece were alone, he endeavored to learn a
little more concerning her reasons for dismissing Crawford. The Captain
liked young Smith, he had believed Mary liked him very much, and,
although he could not help feeling a guilty sense of relief because the
danger that he and Zoeth might have to share her affections with someone
else was, for the time at least, out of the way, he was puzzled and
troubled by the abruptness of the dismissal. There was something, he
felt sure, which he did not unders