Upon learning that the man was uninjured he drew a bill from his pocket and said: “My boy, here’s money for your expenses and your wages, and if there is any go in this machine, run her to New York and tell your people that they can have her as a gift. I am through with automobiles.”
But a half-hour later Mrs. Tucker, fully conscious but somewhat weak, sat up on the bed in the farmer’s best chamber and said:
“John, I think that if it had been a horseless automobile it wouldn’t have been so bad.”
Whereupon John overtook James just setting out for New York, and gave him an order for one horseless automobile.
And now John is convinced that his wife is a thoroughbred.
It was a letter to encourage a hesitating lover, and certainly Orville Thornton, author of “Thoughts for Non-Thinkers,” came under that head. He received it on a Tuesday, and immediately made up his mind to declare his intentions to Miss Annette Badeau that evening.
But perhaps the contents of the letter will help the reader to a better understanding of the case.
DEAR ORVILLE: Miss Badeau sails unexpectedly for Paris on the day after Christmas, her aunt Madge having cabled her to come and visit her. Won’t you come to Christmas dinner? I’ve invited the Joe Burtons, and of course Mr. Marten will be there, but no others--except Miss Badeau.
Dinner will be at sharp seven. Don’t be late, although I know you won’t, you human time-table.
I do hope that Annette will not fall in love in Paris. I wish that she would marry some nice New Yorker and settle near me.
I’ve always thought that you have neglected marriage shamefully.
Remember to-morrow night, and Annette sails on Thursday. Wishing you a Merry Christmas, I am,
Annette Badeau had come across the line of Orville’s vision three months before. She was Mrs. Marten’s niece, and had come from the West to live with her aunt at just about the time that the success of Thornton’s book made him think of marriage.
She was pretty and bright and expansive in a Western way, and when Thornton met her at one of the few afternoon teas that he ever attended he fell in love with her. When he learned that she was the niece of his lifelong friend, Mrs. Marten, he suddenly discovered various reasons why he should call at the Marten house once or twice a week.