And how I came to write him in the first place?
Wapatomacs older residents will still talk, if asked, of BenjaminBrewsters funeral.
He went away, promising that she should hear from him assoon as he had anything to
tell her. Then she turned and looked him in the face.
Bills for repairs in the old Brewster househad not,
all of them, been paid.
The person who hadknocked was neither Captain
Barnabas nor Briggs, but BenjaminBrewster. Denver had, as you mightsay, thrown him
out. Palavered her into letting you have it for next to nothingwhen you know it was
worth a hundred. He made no further effort tocoax his visitor to a chair,Humph! A
Boston furniture house sent a statement and arequest for payment. Crisps company,
she was outwardly calm andcheerful. He waited a moment, but still she
saidnothing.
And all the time he was laughing in
hissleeve.
The person who hadknocked was neither Captain
Barnabas nor Briggs, but BenjaminBrewster.
So I was not surprised to see you, she went on,
still smiling. Andit isnt as hard to believe as you may think.
Mary did not say so and so the captain was shown
into the sittingroom. Miss Brewster, did yourbrother show you that
will?
The sweat was standing in drops onhis forehead, but
he did not seem aware of it. Herpallor deepened, that was all, and, for an instant,
she closed hereyes.
Mary had inherited goodness knew how much money and
was a very richwoman. Well, Cummings first letter from the Denver bankercontained
nothing important in Mr.
Youre a Brewster and the Brewsters are always
plucky when itsneedful. Envy and petty criticism seemed to have
beenforgotten.
Then achange came over his face, a curious
change.
Youre a Brewster and the Brewsters are always
plucky when itsneedful. And left in the condition a Brewster ought to be
in.
After you had made such a BEAUTIFUL speechand then
he had to go and spile it all.
Captain David Cummings was, on this particular
afternoon, a Sabbathbreaker. Other folks that had it they might wantto sell, but
when they did hed always buy what they had.
In a fortnight, certainly, he should havesomething,
even if not very definite, to report. He had waved the ridiculous willbefore her
eyes as a bait.
Youre a Brewster and the Brewsters are always
plucky when itsneedful. Meanwhile, simply as a precaution, he advisedher to be
careful in expenditures.