human
Oh, my soul! she murmured.
gpt
They could have shot him dead. He could not have seen them. She felt herself turn faint. Then a thrill of exaltation swept over her and she turned quickly toward the kitchen door, her eyes glowing.
human
And he was not afraid! He ran out to face them alone. He thought they were out there,--he risked being shot to save me from--
gpt
Oh, Kenny, you--you really believed they were out there,--a crowd of them,--trying to carry me off? Why,--why, that was the bravest thing a man--
human
Shucks! he scoffed.
gpt
My tragedy turns out to be the most uproarious farce. I've never seen a funnier one in the theatre. But there is a serious side to it, Viola. Sit down for a minute or two, and I'll tell you. Zachariah is all right. Barked his shins a little, that's all.
human
There is nothing for you to be worried about. They cannot carry out the plot. We are all forewarned now. I should have told you all this before, but I was afraid you would think I was trying to blacken Lapelle. I wanted to catch him red-handed, as the saying is. Isaac Stain is coming in to sleep here to-morrow night, and Zachariah, for all his fear of ghosts and lightning, is not afraid of men. We will be ready for them if they come,--so don't you worry.
gpt
I don't see why he should have planned this a week ago, Kenny. I had told him I would marry him. There must be something back of all this.
human
Do you know anything about a friend of his who is going to be married soon? He spoke to me about it the other day, and asked if a parent could legally deprive a daughter of a share in her deceased father's--
gpt
Why,--that's me, Kenny, she cried excitedly.
human
I told him that mother would disinherit me entirely if I married him without her consent.
gpt
By jingo! he cried.
human
I am beginning to see. Why, it's as plain as day to me now. The beastly scoundrel!
gpt
What do you mean?
human
Could your mother very well carry out her threat if he made off with you by force and compelled you to marry him, whether or no?
gpt
I would never,--never consent, Kenny. I would die first.
human
I suppose you imagine there could be no worse fate than that?
gpt
I said I would die first,
human
Well, he cried, starting up briskly from his chair,
gpt
I guess we'd better hurry if we want to catch your mother before she goes to bed. And that reminds me, Viola,--I would like to speak with her alone. You see, he went on lamely,