"As to family," went on Captain Lote, "he's a Snow on his mother's side, and there's been seven generations of Snow's in this part of the Cape since the first one landed here.So far as I know, they've all managed to keep out of jail, which may have been more good luck than deservin' in some cases.""His father?" queried Fosdick.
The captain's heavy brows drew together."His father was a Portygee--or Spaniard, I believe is right--and he was a play-actor, one of those--what do you call 'em?--opera singers."Fosdick seemed surprised and interested."Oh, indeed," he exclaimed, "an opera singer?...Why, he wasn't Speranza, the baritone, was he?""Maybe; I believe he was.He married my daughter and--well, we won't talk about him, if you don't mind.""But Speranza was a--"
"IF you don't mind, Mr.Fosdick."
Captain Lote lapsed into silence, drumming the desk with his big fingers.His visitor waited for a few moments.At length he said:
"Well, Captain Snow, I have answered your questions and you have answered mine.Do you think we are any nearer an agreement now?"Captain Zelotes seemed to awake with a start."Eh?" he queried.
"Agreement? Oh, I don't know.Did you find any--er--what you might call vital objections in the boy's record?""No-o.No, all that is all right.His family and his education and all the rest are good enough, I'm sure.But, nevertheless--""You still object to the young folks gettin' married.""Yes, I do.Hang it all, Snow, this isn't a thing one can reason out, exactly.Madeline is our only child; she is our pet, our baby.Naturally her mother and I have planned for her, hoped for her, figured that some day, when we had to give her up, it would be to--to--""To somebody that wasn't Albert Speranza of South Harniss, Mass....Eh?""Yes.Not that your grandson isn't all right.I have no doubt he is a tip-top young fellow.But, you see--"Captain Lote suddenly leaned forward."Course I see, Mr.Fosdick,"he interrupted."Course I see.You object, and the objection ain't a mite weaker on account of your not bein' able to say exactly what 'tis.""That's the idea.Thank you, Captain."
"You're welcome.I can understand.I know just how you feel, because I've been feelin' the same way myself.""Oh, you have? Good! Then you can sympathize with Mrs.Fosdick and with me.You see--you understand why we had rather our daughter did not marry your grandson.""Sartin.You see, I've had just the same sort of general kind of objection to Al's marryin' your daughter."Mr.Fletcher Fosdick leaned slowly backward in his chair.His appearance was suggestive of one who has received an unexpected thump between the eyes.
"Oh, you have!" he said again, but not with the same expression.
"Um-hm," said Captain Zelotes gravely."I'm like you in one way;I've never met your Madeline any more than you have met Al.I've seen her once or twice, and she is real pretty and nice-lookin'.
But I don't know her at all.Now I don't doubt for a minute but that she's a real nice girl and it might be that she'd make Al a fairly good wife.""Er--well,--thanks."
"Oh, that's all right, I mean it.It might be she would.And Iain't got a thing against you or your folks.""Humph,--er--thanks again."
"That's all right; you don't need to thank me.But it's this way with me--I live in South Harniss all the year round.I want to live here till I die, and--after I die I'd like first-rate to have Al take up the Z.Snow and Co.business and the Snow house and land and keep them goin' till HE dies.Mind, I ain't at all sure that he'll do it, or be capable of doin' it, but that's what I'd like.
Now you're in New York most of the year, and so's your wife and daughter.New York is all right--I ain't sayin' a word against it--but New York and South Harniss are different."The Fosdick lip twitched."Somewhat different," he admitted.
"Um-hm.That sounds like a joke, I know; but I don't mean it so, not now.What I mean is that I know South Harniss and South Harniss folks.I don't know New York--not so very well, though I've been there plenty of times--and I don't know New York ways.
But I do know South Harniss ways, and they suit me.Would they suit your daughter--not just for summer, but as a reg'lar thing right straight along year in and out? I doubt it, Mr.Fosdick, Idoubt it consid'able.Course I don't know your daughter--""I do--and I share your doubts."
"Um-hm.But whether she liked it or not she'd have to come here if she married my grandson.Either that or he'd have to go to New York.And if he went to New York, how would he earn his livin'?
Get a new bookkeepin' job and start all over again, or live on poetry?"Mr.Fosdick opened his mouth as if to speak, seemed to change his mind and closed it again, without speaking.Captain Zelotes, looking keenly at him, seemed to guess his thoughts.
"Of course," he said deliberately, but with a firmness which permitted no misunderstanding of his meaning, "of course you mustn't get it into your head for one minute that the boy is figgerin' on your daughter's bein' a rich girl.He hasn't given that a thought.You take my word for that, Mr.Fosdick.He doesn't know how much money she or you have got and he doesn't care.He doesn't care a continental darn."His visitor smiled slightly."Nevertheless," he began.The captain interrupted him.
"No, there ain't any nevertheless," he said."Albert has been with me enough years now so that I know a little about him.And I know that all he wants is your daughter.As to how much she's worth in money or how they're goin' to live after he's got her--I know that he hasn't given it one thought.I don't imagine she has, either.
