Washburn is in front and
wants to speak to you," she said. But Washburn came to the door
himself, an anxious look on his face.

"The hack's still waitin' fer you, Mr. Westerfelt," he said. "What
must I do about it?"

"Tell Ridly to go on without me," laughed Westerfelt. "And--Wash!" he
added. "Take all the money out of the cash drawer and go get blind
drunk. Shoot off all the guns you can find, and set the stable on
fire. Wash, shake hands! I'm the luckiest fellow on God's green
earth."

Washburn was not dense, and he reddened as it occurred to him that his
reply ought to voice some sort of congratulations.

"Ef I'm any jedge o' human natur' yo're both lucky," he stammered.
"Mr. Westerfelt is about the squarest man I ever struck an' would fight
a circular saw bare-handed, an' Miss Harriet, I'll sw'ar I jest can't
think o' nothin' good enough to say about you, except ef you hadn't
a-been all wool an' a yard wide Mr. Westerfelt wouldn't a-been so crazy
about you." Washburn laughed out suddenly, and added, "Some time I'll
tell you about how he used to do at night when he couldn't sleep,
especially after Bas' Bates got to cuttin' his patchin', an' buyin'
paper collars an' neckties."

After Washburn had left they sat together on the sofa for several
minutes in silence. The pause was broken by Harriet.

"I've been trying to make out what God meant by making us go through
all this--you through all your ups and downs, and me mine. Don't you
reckon it was so that He could make us feel just like we do now?"

He nodded, but there was a lump of happiness in his throat that kept
him from speaking.

"Well, I do," she said. "I used to think He hadn't treated me fair,
but I thank Him with all my heart for _all_ of it--_all_ of it. I
wouldn't alter a thing. I believe you love me, and I can't think of
anything else I could want. I believe you loved me even when you
thought I loved Toot Wambush, and if you did then, I know you will now
when I tell you I never loved any other man but you, and never even
allowed any other man even hold my hand."

***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WESTERFELT***

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