human
Well, say--why, Emma--my dear! He had her hands in his and was putting his arm about her as he bellowed:
gpt
Girls-- his voice broke under its heavy emotional load.
human
Why, dammit all, I'm your long-lost brother George! Cap, kick me, kick me--me the prize jackass--the grand sweepstake prize all these years!
gpt
No, no, George, protested the wriggling maiden.
human
Not--not here! Not--
gpt
Don't you 'no--no' me, Emmy Morton, roared the big man, pulling her to his side.
human
Girl--girl, what do we care? He gave her a resounding kiss and gazed proudly around and exclaimed,
gpt
Ruthie, run and call up the _Times_ and give 'em the news. Martha, call up old man Adams--and I'll take a bell to-morrow and go calling it up and down Market Street. Then, Cap, you tell Mrs. Herdicker. This is the big news. As he spoke he was gathering the amazed Ruth and Martha under his wing and kissing them, crying,
human
Take that one for luck--and that to grow on. Then he let out his laugh. But in vain did Emma Morton try to squirm from his grasp; in vain she tried to quiet his clatter.
gpt
Say, girls, cluster around Brother George's knee--or knees--and let's plan the wedding.
human
You are going to have a wedding, aren't you, Emma?
gpt
Wedding--why, this is to be the big show--the laughing show, all the wonders of the world and marvels of the deep under one canvas. Why, girls--
human
Well, Emma, you've just got to wear a veil,
gpt
Veil nothing--shame on you, Martha Morton. Why, George hasn't asked--
human
Now ain't it the truth! roared Brotherton.
gpt
Why veil! Veil? he exclaimed.
human
She's going to wear seven veils and forty flower girls--forty--count 'em--forty! And Morty Sands best man--
gpt
Keep still, George, interrupted Ruth.
human
Now, Emma, when--when, I say, are you going to resign your school?
gpt
Don't you fret; Ruthie, I'm hog tied by the silken skein of love. She's going to resign her school to-morrow.
human
Indeed I am not, George Brotherton--and if you people don't hush--
gpt
Morty Sands best man with his gym class from South Harvey doing ground and lofty tumbling up and down the aisles in pink tights. Doc Jim in linen pants whistling the Wedding March to Kenyon Adams's violin obligato, with the General hitting the bones at the organ! The greatest show on earth and the baby elephant in evening clothes prancing down the aisle like the behemoth of holy writ! Well, say--say, I tell you!
human
George, of course, if you could wait a year till the Household Horse gets going good, I could stake you for a trip to the Grand Canyon myself, but just now, 'y gory, man!
gpt
Grand Canyon! laughed Brotherton.
human
Why, Cap, we're going to go seven times around the world and twice to the moon before we turn up in Harvey. Grand Canyon--
gpt
Well, at least, father, cried Martha,
human
But I tell you girls to keep still, protested the bride-to-be, still in the prospective groom's arms and proud as Punch of her position.
gpt
Why, George hasn't even asked me and--
human
Neither have you asked me, Emma, ''eathen idol made of mud what she called the Great God Buhd.' He stooped over tenderly and when his face rose, he said softly,
gpt
And a plucky lot she cared for tan traveling dresses when I kissed her where she stud!