Through the window they saw AbijahBradford striding
up the path.
Theres nothin to be done, at this late
day.
She was still pale, but more composed than she
hadbeen at the beginning. I think there is something more you are still hidingfrom
me.
Is there more still thatyou know and that I dont?
Truman just called emin, signed some sort of a paper, and asked them to put their
namesalongside.
He struck the desk with his clenched
fist.
I declare, gasped Hettie, I dont know how to break
it. The door opened and Abijah, turning andpeering through his spectacles, rose to
his feet.
He was bending over the papers on his
desk.
Perhaps for the first time since his days before
the mast CaptainAbijah Bradford obeyed an order. He put his hand before his eyes and
groaned.
This has cut the ground from underme, boy! Chris
was lookin pretty sour and out of sorts, accordingto the Bassett
estimate.
Trumans private andpersonal letters, papers,
whatever they were?
Uncle Abijah, he demanded, are you
crazy?
She was still pale, but more composed than she
hadbeen at the beginning.
It was wonderful to be twenty-six, strong, healthy,
and care free. Margarets face was white, but she met her brother-in-laws gazewith
calm defiance. Simpkins, that she and he were asgood as engaged.
Banks Bradford had not spoken with her since they
parted at hisoffice.
When he and she met, soit was said, she was very
cool, even distant. She seemed frightened and suspicious, veryanxious to know what
secret we had between us. She was still pale, but more composed than she hadbeen at
the beginning.
Nothing, as I saw it, was to be gainedby my
talking, and there was so much to be lost.
You will listen, Mother, until I have finished? Ill
settle that inside of twenty minutes! Therefore the revelations contained in the
papers hidden in Mrs.
Truman just called emin, signed some sort of a
paper, and asked them to put their namesalongside.