Читать книгу From the Land of the Snow-Pearls: Tales from Puget Sound онлайн

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A moan came from her mother’s room.

“Oh, paw, you hurt my head! Your hand’s terrable rough! Is that girl goin’ to stay in there forever?”

Demaris lifted her head and walked steadily into the poor little parlor. “I’ll have to ask you to go now, Frank; my mother needs me.”

“Well, dear.” He reached his strong young arms to her. She stood back, moving her head from side to side.

“No, Frank. I can’t marry you, now or ever. My mother comes first.”

“But you ain’t taken time to make up your mind, Demaris. I’ll wait fer ’n answer.”

“It’s no use. I made up my mind out ’n the hall. You might as well go. When I make up my mind it’s no use in tryin’ to get me to change it. I hadn’t made it up before.”

He went to her and took her hands.

“Demaris,” he said, and all his heart-break was in his voice, “do you mean it? Oh, my dear, I’ll go if you send me; but I’ll never come back again; never.”

She hesitated but a second. Then she said very gently, without emotion—“Yes, go. You’ve been good to me; but it’s all over. Good-bye.”