Neith Boyce

“ We'll only ask the relatives to the wedding, and the supper's to be up at the other house—it'll be very quiet here, and I don't think it'll bother your head any, do you?"
"Oh, no, I guess not," said Mr. Young vaguely. "But I wouldn't go to makin' much of a fuss——"
"Well, we have to do something," said Mrs. Young with a sigh. "Young folks expect it nowadays. And I'm willing Katharine should have a little more show, if she likes it. And his folks expect it—most of 'em are well off, you know, and we can afford it as well as the best of 'em." ”

“ Young turned impatiently from the girl and looked out the window. "It takes you forever to get a thing through your head, Katharine. You're just like your Pa. You ain't got room for any ideas but your own." ”

“ Jack Grant can make a good livin' for you, and in time he'll buy his father out of that place, or else get one of his own. I could make you richer than he is, now, but I'd rather see every dollar I've made burn up. I want to see you livin' as he's planned for you and makin' the best of it, even if you do have a hard time for a year or two, and you'll be happier so than you would boardin' and lodgin' your husband in your own house. He wouldn't be happy that way, no man could—not even your Pa, though he ain't a managing man. ”

“ Soft, long-drawn notes of a violin came from somewhere beyond the veil of pepper-branches.
"Don't you feel bad," she added, "you'll have the best outfit and wedding-supper of any girl was ever married here, I reckon. I'll see that you don't have any cause to sing small before his folks. And now, Katharine, let's have a cheerful face. ”

“ Young stood for a moment on the front porch, enclosed by a dense mat of rose-vines which no breeze could penetrate. The house was badly placed. It faced the east, whereas the sea-breeze came from the southwest. ”

“ There was a pause, then Katharine said reflectively, "I call Pa an awful selfish person. I don't mean on my account this time—I was thinking about you. He ought to be willing to live in this house. Who cares if he didn't build it?"
"It's easy to say what other people ought to do—'specially for young folks. ”

“ Mrs. Young cried, with eagerness and entreaty. "And Katharine's got to go to the dressmaker's, and I don't want to take the time to go again this week——"
"Now, Cynthia, where's the hurry?" he drawled sweetly, edging out the door. "Next week'll do, and it's a hot day—an awful hot day. Besides, I'm busy. I'm makin' a new kind o' varnish. And that reminds me——"
He hurried into his workroom.
"I guess I let it boil rather too long," he said, discovering the kettle on the floor and examining its contents anxiously. "I'll have to let it cool off, then I can tell better." ”

“ You take after your Pa, and you'll get your own way full as much as is good for you—you've got that same slow way with you, that tires out a quick-tempered person so't they give in, spite of themselves, and glad to do it. ”

“ Then the player lifted his violin and began a simple melody. This time the bird did not wait its turn, but broke in impatiently, trilling, piping, louder and louder, until, not being able to keep pace with the violin's crescendo, he fell to raucous shrieking. Then the old man stopped, laughing.
"He's an awful jealous fellow. He can't stand the fiddle makin' more noise than he can. Kind o' human, ain't he? ”