Kenelm and I knew mighty well that you'd try to break off the engagement and say there wasn't any; but you can't break THAT.""I can't? I like to know why I can't! What do you suppose I care for such a--a--""Well, if you don't, then the law does.If you make your brother break his engagement to me, Hannah Parker, I'll take that piece of paper right to a lawyer and make him sue Kenelm for--for breach of promises.You know what that means, I guess, if you've read the papers same as I have.I rather guess that paper would give me a good many dollars damage.If you don't believe it you try and see.
And there's two lawyers livin' right in this house," she added triumphantly.
If she expected a sensation her expectations were realized.Hannah was again stricken dumb.Captain Bangs and Emily and John Kendrick looked at each other, then the captain doubled up with laughter.
Mrs.Barnes and Kenelm, however, did not laugh.The latter seemed tremendously surprised.
"Why--why, Imogene," he protested, "how you talk! I never thought--""Kenelm, be still."
"But, Imogene," begged Thankful, "you mustn't say such things.Inever--"
"Now, ma'am, please don't you butt in.I know what I'm doin'.
Please don't talk to me now.There, Kenelm," turning to the trembling nominee for matrimonial offices, "that'll do for tonight.
You go along with your sister and be on hand ready to take me to the Cattle Show tomorrow.Good night--er--dear."Whether it was the "dear" that goaded Miss Parker into one more assault, or whether she was not yet ready to surrender, is uncertain.But, at all events, she fired a last broadside.
"He SHAN'T go with you tomorrow," she shrieked."He shan't; Iwon't let him."
Imogene nodded."All right," she said, firmly."Then if he don't I'll come around tomorrow and tell him I'm ready to be married right away.And if he says no to THAT--then--well then, I'll go straight to the lawyer with that paper."Ten minutes later, when the Parkers had gone and the sound of Hannah's tirade and Kenelm's protestations had died away on the path toward their home, Thankful, John and Captain Obed sat gazing at each other in the living room.Imogene and Emily were together in the kitchen.The "engaged" young lady had expressed a desire to speak with Miss Howes alone.
John and the captain were still chuckling, but Thankful refused to see the joke; she was almost in tears.
"It's dreadful!" she declared."Perfectly awful! And Imogene! To act and speak so to our next-door neighbor! What WILL come of it?
And how COULD she? How could she get engaged to THAT man, of all men? He's old enough to be her father and--and she CAN'T care for him."Emily entered the room.She was apparently much agitated and her eyes were moist.She collapsed in a rocking-chair and put her handkerchief to her face.
"Land sakes!" cried Captain Obed."Is it as bad as that? Does it make you cry?"Emily removed the handkerchief."I'm not crying," she gasped.
"I--I-- Oh dear! This is the funniest thing that girl has done yet.""But what is it?" asked John."What's the answer? We're dying to know."Emily shook her head."I can't tell you," she said."I promised Iwouldn't.It--it all came of a talk Imogene and I had a while ago.
We were speaking of self-sacrifice and she--she adores you, Auntie, and--"Thankful interrupted."Mercy on us!" she cried."Adores me!
Self-sacrifice! She ain't doin' this crazy, loony thing for ME, Ihope.She ain't marryin' that Parker man because--""She hasn't married anyone yet.Oh, it is all right, Auntie; she knows what she is doing, or she thinks she does.And, at any rate, I think there is no danger of Mr.Parker's giving up his situation here until you are ready to have him do it.There! I mustn't say another word.I have said too much already."Captain Obed rose to his feet.
"Well," he said, "it's too thick off the bows for me to see more'n a foot; I give in to that.But I will say this: If that Imogene girl don't know what she's up to it's the fust time since I've been acquainted with her.And she sartin has spiked Hannah's guns.
Either Hannah's got to say 'dum' when Imogene says 'dee' or she stands a chance to lose her brother or his money, one or t'other, and she'd rather lose the fust than the last, I'll bet you.
Ho, ho! Yes, it does look as if Imogene had Hannah in a clove hitch....Well, I'm goin' over to see what the next doin's in the circus is liable to be.I wouldn't miss any of THIS show for no money.Good night."
