'How delightful! Anything else in the way of
charms?'
'Christina, gi'e me a chance, an' I'll tell ye a' aboot it.'
'Not another word! How long have you enjoyed the young lady's
acquaintance?'
'Only a couple o' evenin's, but----'
'Case of love at first sight, I suppose!'
He flared up. 'If ye hadna left me I wud never ha'e met her. If
ye had wrote me a dacent letter----'
'Whisht, man!' she said in momentary pity. 'Ye're talkin' like a
wean.'
'I canna help it. I'm that fond o' ye. An' it's no as if I had
done a black crime. It was a pure accident----'
'Jist like a penny novel,' she interrupted merciless again. 'Weel,
I'm sure ye're welcome to ha'e as mony girls as ye like--only,
ye'll ha'e to leave me oot. That's a'!' She took out her purse
and from it something small which, stepping forward, she laid on
the counter near him. Her engagement ring!
After a moment of strained silence--'Christina!' he gasped;
'Christina! ye canna mean it serious!'
'Good-bye,' she said stiffly, stepping back.
'But--but ye ha'ena heard ma story. It's no fair----'
'Oh,' she cried harshly, 'dinna keep on at that tune!'
All at once he drew himself up. 'Noo I see what ye mean,' he said
in an almost even voice. 'Ye had made up yer mind to be quit o'
me. Still, it wud ha'e been honester to say ye was fed up to ma
face. Weel, I'm no blamin' ye, an' I canna force ye to listen to
ma story, no that it wud be worth ma while noo to shame masel' wi'
the tellin'.
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