"
He laid the stump of his cigar in the ash receiver and rose from his
chair. But his nephew had not finished.
"There was something else I intended to say," he announced, but with
less eagerness.
"That so? What?"
"Why--why, just this." He fidgeted with his watch chain, colored and
was evidently uneasy. "I guess--" he hesitated--"I guess that I haven't
treated you as I ought."
"I want to know! You guess that, hey? Why?"
"Oh, you know why. I've been thinking since I went back to New Haven.
I've had a chance to think. Some of the fellows in the set I used to be
thick with up there have learned that I'm broke, and they--they aren't
as friendly as they were. Not all of them, of course, but some. And
I wouldn't chase after them; not much! If they wanted to drop me they
could. You bet I didn't try to hang on! I was pretty sore for a while
and kept to myself and--well, I did a lot of thinking. I guess Caro is
right; you've been mighty decent to her and me."
He paused, but Captain Elisha made no comment.
"I guess you have," continued Stephen, soberly. "When you first came,
you know, Caroline and I couldn't understand. We thought you were
butting in and weren't our sort, and--and--"
"And a hayseed nuisance generally; I know. Heave ahead, son; you
interest me.
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