"Stop--stop--oh, stop!" she cried, rushing to her sister and s.n.a.t.c.hing the pen from her fingers. "We don"t have to--see--read!"--pointing to the postscript written in a round, boyish hand.
Oh, I say, I"ve got a surprise for you. You think I"ve been fishing and loafing all summer, but I"ve been working for the hotels here the whole time. I"ve got a fine start on my money for college, and I"ve got a chance to work for my board all this year by helping Professor Heaton. I met him here this summer, and he"s the right sort--every time. I"ve intended all along to help myself a bit when it came to the college racket, but I didn"t mean to tell you until I knew I could do it. But it"s a sure thing now.
Bye-bye; I"ll be home next Sat.u.r.day.
Your aff. nephew,
Ralph.
Rachel had read this aloud, but her voice ended in a sob instead of in the boy"s name. Hazelton brushed the back of his hand across his eyes, and the lawyer looked intently out the window. For a moment there was a silence that could be felt, then Hazelton stepped to the table and fumbled noisily with the papers.
"Ladies, I withdraw my offer," he announced. "I can"t afford to buy this house--I can"t possibly afford it--it"s too expensive." And without another word he left the room, motioning the lawyer to follow.
The sisters looked into each other"s eyes and drew a long, sobbing breath.
"Rachel, is it true?"
"Oh, Tabitha! Let"s--let"s go out under the apple-trees and--just know that they are there!"
And hand in hand they went.
The End