Seems funny to you,
I don't doubt."
"Why, no, it was your property to do what you pleased with, and I
am sure you had a reason for refusing."
"Yes'm. But I ain't ever told anybody what that reason was. I've
told Sam a reason, but 'twan't the real one. I--I guess likely
I'll tell it to you. I imagine 'twill sound foolish enough. 'Twas
just somethin' I heard Colonel Davidson say, that's all."
He paused. Mrs. Armstrong did not speak. After an interval he
continued:
"'Twas one day along the last of the season. The Davidsons had
company and they'd been in to see the shop and the mills and vanes
and one thing or 'nother. They seemed nice, pleasant enough folks;
laughed a good deal, but I didn't mind that. I walked out into the
yard along with 'em and then, after I left 'em, I stood for a
minute on the front step of the shop, with the open door between me
and this house here. A minute or so later I heard 'em come into
this very room. They couldn't see me, 'count of the door, but I
could hear them, 'count of the windows bein' open. And then . . .
Huh . . . Oh, well."
He sighed and lapsed into one of his long fits of abstraction. At
length Mrs. Armstrong ventured to remind him.
"And then--?" she asked.
"Eh? Oh, yes, ma'am! Well, then I heard one of the comp'ny say:
'I don't wonder you enjoy it here, Ed,' he says.
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