ne. You are
distinguished. You are brilliant. If you were as queer as Dick's
hatband--whatever that is--it would make no difference; you have a right
to be. And when you tell me that a woman--yes, almost any woman, to say
nothing of one lost down here in these sand-hills--wouldn't marry you in
a minute, you're worse than queer--you're crazy, absolutely crazy."

"But--but Cousin Gussie, you forget. If there were no other reasons, you
forget what I have done. She could never believe in me again. No, nor
forgive me."

"Oh, DON'T! You disturb my digestion. Do you suppose there is a woman on
earth who wouldn't forgive a man who gave up thirteen thousand dollars
just to help her out of a difficulty? Gave it up, as you did, without a
whimper or even a whisper? And whose one worry has been that she might
find out the truth about his weird generosity? Oh, Loosh, Loosh, you ARE
crazy."

Galusha made no attempt to deny the charge of insanity. He was thinking
rapidly now and his face expressed his thought.

"Do you--do you really think she might forgive me?" he asked,
breathlessly.

"Think! Why, she and I had a long talk just before I came over here.
She thinks you are the best and most wonderful man on earth and all
she feared was that you had taken your last cent, or even borrowed the
money, to come to her rescue. When I told her you were worth a quarter
of a million, she felt better, but it didn't lessen her gratitude.
Forgive you! Oh, good Lord!"

Galusha had heard only the first part of this speech. The ecstatic
expression was returning. He drew a long breath.

"I--I wonder if she really would consider such a thing?" he murmured.

"Consider what? Marriage? Well, I should say she wouldn't take much time
for consideration. She'll jump at it, I tell you. You are the one to
consider, old man. You are rich, and famous. Yes, and, although I have
never pinned quite as much faith to the 'family' idea as most of our
people do, still we have a sort of tradition to keep up, you know.
Now this--er--Miss Phipps is all right, no doubt; her people were good
people, doubtless, but--well, some of our feminine second and third
cousins will make remarks, Galusha. They surely will."

Galusha did not even trouble to answer this speech. His cousin
continued.

"But that is your business, of course," he said. "And I honestly believe
that in a good many ways she would make the ideal wife for you. She is
not bad looking, in a wholesome sor