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〃Thanks。 Well； this ain't a story exactly； it just kind of makes
the point I'm tryin' to get at。 Calvin Bangs had a white mare one
time and the critter had a habit of runnin' away。 Once his wife；
Hannah J。； was in the buggy all by herself； over to the Ostable
Fair； Calvin havin' got out to buy some peanuts or somethin'。 The
mare got scared of the noise and crowd and bolted。 As luck would
have it； she went right through the fence and out onto the trottin'
track。 And around that track she went； hell bent for election。
All hands was runnin' alongside hollerin' 'Stop her！ Stop her！
'but not Calvinno SIR！ He waited till the mare was abreast of
him； the mare on two legs and the buggy on two wheels and Hannah
'most anywheres between the dasher and the next world； and then he
sung out： 'Give her her head； Hannah！ Give her her head。 She'll
stop when she runs down。'〃
He laughed and his visitor laughed with him。
〃I gather；〃 observed the New Yorker； 〃that you believe it the
better policy to give our young people their heads。〃
〃In reasonyes； I do。 It's my judgment that an affair like this
will hurry more and more if you try too hard to stop it。 If you
don't try at all so any one would notice it； it may run down and
stop of itself； the way Calvin's mare did。〃
Fosdick nodded reflectively。 〃I'm inclined to agree with you；〃 he
said。 〃But does that mean that they're to correspond； write love
letters； and all that？〃
〃Why； in reason； maybe。 If we say no to that； they'll write
anyhow； won't they？〃
〃Of course。 。 。 。 How would it do to get them to promise to write
nothing that their parents might not see？ Of course I don't mean
for your grandson to show you his letters before he sends them to
Madeline。 He's too old for that； and he would refuse。 But suppose
you asked him to agree to write nothing that Madeline would not be
willing to show her motheror me。 Do you think he would？〃
〃Maybe。 I'll ask him。 。 。 。 Yes； I guess likely he'd do that。〃
〃My reason for suggesting it is； frankly； not so much on account of
the young people as to pacify my wife。 I am not afraidnot very
much afraid of this love affair。 They are young； both of them。
Give them time； andas you say； Snow； the thing may run down；
peter out。〃
〃I'm in hopes 'twill。 It's calf love； as I see it； and I believe
'twill pay to give the calves rope enough。〃
〃So do I。 No； I'm not much troubled about the young people。 But
Mrs。 Fosdickwell； my trouble will be with her。 She'll want to
have your boy shot or jailed or hanged or something。〃
〃I presume likely。 I guess you'll have to handle her the way
another feller who used to live here in South Harniss said he
handled his wife。 'We don't never have any trouble at all；' says
he。 'Whenever she says yes or no； I say the same thing。 Later on；
when it comes to doin'； I do what I feel like。' 。 。 。 Eh？ You're
not goin'； are you； Mr。 Fosdick？〃
His visitor had risen and was reaching for his coat。 Captain
Zelotes also rose。
〃Don't hurry； don't hurry；〃 he begged。
〃Sorry； but I must。 I want to be back in New York tomorrow
morning。〃
〃But you can't； can you？ To do that you'll have to get up to
Boston or Fall River； and the afternoon train's gone。 You'd better
stay and have supper along with my wife and me； stay at our house
over night； and take the early train after breakfast to…morrow。〃
〃I wish I could； I'd like nothing better。 But I can't。〃
〃Sure？〃 Then； with a smile； he added： 〃Al needn't eat with us；
you know； if his bein' there makes either of you feel nervous。〃
Fosdick laughed again。 〃I think I should be willing to risk the
nervousness；〃 he replied。 〃But I must go； really。 I've hired a
chap at the garage here to drive me to Boston in his car and I'll
take the midnight train over。〃
〃Humph！ Well； if you must； you must。 Hope you have a comf'table
trip； Mr。 Fosdick。 Better wrap up warm； it's pretty nigh a five…
hour run to Boston and there's some cool wind over the Ostable
marshes this time of year。 Good…by； sir。 Glad to have had this
talk with you。〃
His visitor held out his hand。 〃So am I； Snow；〃 he said heartily。
〃Mighty glad。〃
〃I hope I wasn't too short and brisk at the beginnin'。 You see；
I'd just read your wife's letter； anderwell； of course； I
didn't knowjustyou see； you and I had never met； and so〃
〃Certainly； certainly。 I quite understand。 And； fool's errand or
not； I'm very glad I came here。 If you'll pardon my saying so； it
was worth the trip to get acquainted with you。 I hope； whatever
comes of the other thing； that our acquaintanceship will continue。〃
〃Same here； same here。 Go right out the side door； Mr。 Fosdick；
saves goin' through the office。 Good day； sir。〃
He watched the bulky figure of the New York banker tramping across
the yard between the piles of lumber。 A moment later he entered
the outer office。 Albert and Keeler were at their desks。 Captain
Zelotes approached the little bookkeeper。
〃Labe；〃 he queried； 〃there isn't anything particular you want me to
talk about just now； is there？〃
Lahan looked up in surprise from his figuring。
〃Whywhy； no； Cap'n Lote； don't know's there is；〃 he said。 〃Don't
know's there is； not now； no； no； no。〃
His employer nodded。 〃Good！〃 he exclaimed。 〃Then I'm goin' back
inside there and sit down and rest my chin for an hour； anyhow。
I've talked so much to…day that my jaws squeak。 Don't disturb me
for anything short of a fire or a mutiny。〃
CHAPTER XII
He was not disturbed and that evening； after supper was over； he
was ready to talk again。 He and Albert sat together in the sitting
roomMrs。 Snow and Rachel were in the kitchen washing dishesand
Captain Zelotes told his grandson as much as he thought advisable
to tell of his conversation with the Honorable Fletcher Fosdick。
At first Albert was inclined to rebel at the idea of permitting his
letters to Madeline to be read by the latter's parents； but at
length he agreed。
〃I'll do it because it may make it easier for her；〃 he said。
〃She'll have a dreadful time； I suppose； with that unreasonable
mother of hers。 But； by George； Grandfather；〃 he exclaimed； 〃isn't
she splendid； though！〃
〃Who？ Mrs。 Fosdick？〃
〃No； of course not；〃 indignantly。 〃Madeline。 Isn't she splendid
and fine and loyal！ I want you to know her； Grandfather； you and
Grandmother。〃
〃Um…hm。 Well； we'll hope to； some day。 Now； son； I'm goin' to ask
for another promise。 It may seem a hard one to make； but I'm
askin' you to make it。 I want you to give me your word that； no
matter what happens or how long you have to wait； you and Madeline
won't get married without tellin' her folks and yours beforehand。
You won't run away and marry。 Will you promise me that？〃
Albert looked at him。 This WAS a hard promise to make。 In their
talks beneath the rainbows； whenever he and Madeline had referred
to the future and its doubts； they had always pushed those doubts
aside with vague hints of an elopement。 If the unreasonableness of
parents and grandparents should crowd them too far； they had always
as a last resort； the solution of their problem by way of a runaw