and before mentioning it even to his grandparents he wished to
think it over very carefully。
About ten o'clock his grandfather called to him from the foot of
the stairs and asked him to come down。
〃Mr。 Kendall's on the phone；〃 said Captain Zelotes。 〃He's worried
about Helen。 She's up to West Harniss sittin' up along of Lurany
Howes； who's been sick so long。 She ain't come home； and the old
gentleman's frettin' about her walkin' down from there alone so
late。 I told him I cal'lated you'd just as soon harness Jess and
drive up and get her。 You talk with him yourself； Al。〃
Albert did and； after assuring the nervous clergyman that he would
see that his daughter reached home safely； put on his hat and went
out to the barn。 Jessamine was asleep in her stall。 As he was
about to lead her out he suddenly remembered that one of the traces
had broken that morning and Captain Zelotes had left it at the
harness…maker's to be mended。 It was there yet。 The captain had
forgotten the fact； and so had he。 That settled the idea of using
Jessamine and the buggy。 Never mind； it was a beautiful night and
the walk was but little over a mile。
When he reached the tiny story…and…a…half Howes cottage； sitting
back from the road upon the knoll amid the tangle of silverleaf
sprouts； it was Helen herself who opened the door。 She was
surprised to see him； and when he explained his errand she was a
little vexed。
〃The idea of Father's worrying；〃 she said。 〃Such a wonderful night
as this； bright moonlight； and in South Harniss； too。 Nothing ever
happens to people in South Harniss。 I will be ready in a minute or
two。 Mrs。 Howes' niece is here now and will stay with her until
to…morrow。 Then her sister is coming to stay a month。 As soon as
I get her medicine ready we can go。〃
The door of the tiny bedroom adjoining the sitting room was open；
and Albert； sitting upon the lounge with the faded likeness of a
pink dog printed on the plush cover； could hear the querulous voice
of the invalid within。 The widow Howes was deaf and； as Laban
Keeler described it； 〃always hollered loud enough to make herself
hear〃 when she spoke。 Helen was moving quietly about the sick room
and speaking in a low tone。 Albert could not hear what she said；
but he could hear Lurania。
〃You're a wonder； that's what you be；〃 declared the latter； 〃and I
told your pa so last time he was here。 'She's a saint；' says I；
'if ever there was one on this earth。 She's the nicest； smartest；
best…lookin' girl in THIS town and 。 。 。' eh？〃
There had been a murmur； presumably of remonstrance； from Helen。
〃Eh？〃
Another murmur。
〃EH？ WHO'D you say was there？〃
A third murmur。
〃WHO？ 。 。 。 Oh； that Speranzy one？ Lote Snow's grandson？ The one
they used to call the Portygee？ 。 。 。 Eh？ Well； all right； I
don't care if he did hear me。 If he don't know you're nice and
smart and good…lookin'； it's high time he did。〃
Helen； a trifle embarrassed but laughing； emerged a moment later；
and when she had put on her hat she and Albert left the Howes
cottage and began their walk home。 It was one of those nights such
as Cape Codders； year…rounders or visitors； experience three or
four times during a summer and boast of the remainder of the year。
A sky clear； deep； stretched cloudless from horizon to horizon。
Every light at sea or on shore； in cottage window or at masthead or
in lighthouse or on lightship a twinkling diamond point。 A moon；
apparently as big as a barrel…head； hung up in the east and below
it a carpet of cold fire； of dancing； spangled silver spread upon
the ocean。 The sound of the surf； distant； soothing； and for the
rest quiet and the fragrance of the summer woods and fields。
They walked rather fast at first and the conversation was brisk；
but as the night began to work its spell upon them their progress
was slower and there were intervals of silence of which neither was
aware。 They came to the little hill where the narrow road from
West Harniss comes to join the broader highway leading to the
Center。 There were trees here； a pine grove； on the landward side；
and toward the sea nothing to break the glorious view。
Helen caught her breath。 〃Oh； it is beautiful； beautiful！〃 she
said。
Albert did not answer。 〃Why don't you talk？〃 she asked。 〃What are
you thinking about？〃
He did not tell her what he was thinking about。 Instead； having
caught himself just in time； he began telling her of what he had
been thinking when his grandfather called him to the telephone。
〃Helen；〃 he said； 〃I want to ask your advice。 I had an astonishing
proposal made to me this afternoon。 I must make a decision； I must
say yes or no； and I'm not sure which to say。〃
She looked up at him inquiringly。
〃This afternoon；〃 he went on； 〃Doctor Parker called me into his
office。 There was a group of men there； prominent men in politics
from about the country； Judge Baxter from Ostable was there； and
Captain Warren from South Denboro； and others like them。 What do
you suppose they want me to do？〃
〃I can't imagine。〃
〃They offer me the party nomination for Congress from this section。
That is； of course； they want me to permit my name to stand and
they seem sure my nomination will be confirmed by the voters。 The
nomination； they say； is equivalent to election。 They seem certain
of it。 。 。 。 And they were insistent that I accept。〃
〃Ohoh； Albert！〃
〃Yes。 They said a good many flattering things； things I should
like to believe。 They said my war record and my writing and all
that had made me a prominent man in the county Please don't
think I take any stock in that〃
〃But _I_ do。 Go on。〃
〃Well； that is all。 They seemed confident that I would make a good
congressman。 I am not so sure。 Of course the thing 。 。 。 well； it
does tempt me； I confess。 I could keep on with my writing； of
course。 I should have to leave the home people for a part of the
year； but I could be with them or near them the rest。 And 。 。 。
well； Helen； II think I should like the job。 Just now； when
America needs Americans and the thing that isn't American must be
fought； I should likeif I were sure I was capable of it〃
〃Oh； but you areyou ARE。〃
〃Do you really think so？ Would you like to have me try？〃
He felt her arm tremble upon his。 She drew a long breath。
〃Oh； I should be so PROUD！〃 she breathed。
There was a quiver in her voice； almost a sob。 He bent toward her。
She was looking off toward the sea； the moonlight upon her face was
like a glory； her eyes were shiningand there were tears in them。
His heart throbbed wildly。
〃Helen！〃 he cried。 〃Helen！〃
She turned and looked up into his face。 The next moment her own
face was hidden against his breast； his arms were about her；
and 。 。 。 and the risk； the risk he had feared to take； was taken。
They walked home after a time； but it was a slow； a very slow walk
with many interruptions。
〃Oh； Helen；〃 he kept saying； 〃I don't see how you can。 How can
you？ In spite of it all。 II treated you so badly。 I was SUCH
an idiot。 And you really care？ You really do？〃
She laughed happily。 〃I really do 。 。 。 and 。 。 。 and I really
have； all the time。〃
〃Always？〃
〃Always。〃
〃Wellwell； by George！ And 。 。 。 Helen； do you know I think
I think I did tooalwaysonly I was such a young fool I didn't
realize it。 WHAT a young fool I was！〃
〃Don't say that； dear； don't。 。 。 。 You are going to be a great
man。 You are a famous one already； you are going to be great。
Don't you know that？〃
He stooped and kissed her。
〃I think I shall have to be；〃 he said； 〃if I am going to be worthy
of you。〃
CHAPTER XX
Albert； sitting in the private office of Z。 Snow and Co。； dropped
his newspaper and looked up with a smile as his grandfather came
in。 Captain Zelotes' florid face was redder even than usual； for
it was a cloudy day in October and blowing a gale。
〃Whew！〃 puffed the captain； pulling off his overcoat and striding
over to warm his hands at the stove； 〃it's raw as January comin'
over the tops of those Trumet hills； and blowin' hard enough to
part your back hair； besides。 One time there I didn't know but
I'd have to reef； cal'late I would if I'd known how to reef an
automobile。〃
〃Is the car running as well as ever？〃 asked Albert。
〃You bet you！ Took all but two of those hills on full steam and
never slowed down a mite。 Think of goin' to Trumet and back in a
forenoon； and havin' time enough to do the talkin' I went to do
besides。 Why； Jess would have needed the whole day to make the
down cruise； to say nothin' of the return trip。 Well； the old
gal's havin' a good rest now； nothin' much to do but eat and sleep。
She deserves it； she's been a good horse for your grandma and me。〃
He rubbed his hands before the stove and chuckled。
〃Olive's still scared to death for fear I'll get run into； or run
over somebody or somethin'；〃 he observed。 〃I tell her I can
navigate that car now the way I used to navigate the old President
Hayes； and I could do that walkin' in my sleep。 There's a little
exaggeration there；〃 he added； with a grin。 〃It takes about all my
gumption when I'm wide awake to