Captain Lote's eye twinkled."We-ll, you came all the way from New York on purpose, you know," he observed.Then he added: "But there, Mr.Fosdick, I don't want you to think I ain't polite or won't talk, myself.I'll do my share when the time comes.But it does seem to me that you ought to do yours first as it's your family so far that's done the objectin'....Your cigar's gone out.Have another light, won't you?"The visitor shook his head."No, thank you, not now," he said hastily, placing the defunct cigar carefully on the captain's desk.
"I won't smoke for the minute.So you want me to begin the talking, do you? It seems to me I have begun it.I told you that I do not like the idea of my daughter's being engaged to--to say nothing of marrying--your grandson.My wife likes it even less than I do.That is enough of a statement to begin with, isn't it?""Why, no, not exactly, if you'll excuse my sayin' so.Your daughter herself--how does she feel about it?""Oh, she is enthusiastic, naturally.She appears to be suffering from temporary insanity on the subject.""She don't seem to think it's quite as--er--preposterous, and ridiculous and outrageous--and Lord knows what all--as your wife does, eh?""No.I say, Snow, I hope you're not too deeply offended by what my wife wrote you.I judge you are quoting from her letter and apparently she piled it on red-hot.You'll have to excuse her; she was almost wild all day yesterday.I'll ask your pardon on her behalf.""Sho, sho! No need, Mr.Fosdick, no need at all.I know what women are, even the easy-goin' kind, when they've got steam up.
I've got a wife--and I had a daughter.But, gettin' back on the course again, you think your daughter's crazy because she wants to marry my grandson.Is that it?""Why, no, I wouldn't say that, exactly.Of course, I wouldn't say that.""But, you see, you did say it.However, we'll leave that to one side for a spell.What objection--what real objection is there to those two marryin'--my grandson and your daughter--provided that they care for each other as they'd ought to?"Mr.Fosdick's expression changed slightly.His tone, as he replied to the question, was colder and his manner less cordial.
"I don't know that it is worth while answering that in detail," he said, after an instant's pause."Frankly, Captain Snow, I had rather hoped you would see, for yourself, the reasons why such a marriage wouldn't be desirable.If you don't see them, if you are backing up your grandson in his business, why--well, there is no use in our discussing the matter any further, is there? We should only lose our tempers and not gain much.So we had better end it now, I think."He rose to his feet.Captain Zelotes, leaning forward, held up a protesting hand.
"Now--now, Mr.Fosdick," he said earnestly, "I don't want you to misunderstand me.And I'm sorry if what I said has made you mad."Fosdick smiled."Oh, I'm not mad," he answered cheerfully."Imake it a rule in all my business dealings not to get mad, or, more especially, not to let the other fellow know that I'm getting that way.My temper hasn't a ruffle in it just now, and I am leaving merely because I want it to remain smooth.I judge that you and Iaren't going to agree.All right, then we'll differ, but we'll differ without a fight, that's all.Good afternoon, Captain."But Captain Lote's hand still remained uplifted.
"Mr.Fosdick," he said."just a minute now--just a minute.You never have met Albert, my grandson, have you? Never even seen him, maybe?""No, but I intend to meet him and talk with him before I leave South Harniss.He was one of the two people I came here to meet.""And I was the other, eh? Um-hm....I see.You think you've found out where I stand and now you'll size him up.Honest, Mr.
Fosdick, I...Humph! Mind if I tell you a little story?
'Twon't take long.When I was a little shaver, me and my granddad, the first Cap'n Lote Snow--there's been two since--were great chums.When he was home from sea he and I stuck together like hot pitch and oakum.One day we were sittin' out in the front yard of his house--it's mine, now--watchin' a hoptoad catch flies.You've seen a toad catch flies, haven't you, Mr.Fosdick? Mr.Toad sits there, lookin' half asleep and as pious and demure as a pickpocket at camp-meetin', until a fly comes along and gets too near.Then, Zip! out shoots about six inches of toad tongue and that fly's been asked in to dinner.Well, granddad and I sat lookin' at our particular toad when along came a bumble-bee and lighted on a honeysuckle blossom right in front of the critter.The toad didn't take time to think it over, all he saw was a square meal, and his tongue flashed out and nailed that bumble-bee and snapped it into the pantry.In about a half second, though, there was a change.
The pantry had been emptied, the bumble-bee was on his way again, and Mr.Toad was on his, hoppin' lively and huntin' for--well, for ice water or somethin' coolin', I guess likely.Granddad tapped me on the shoulder.'Sonny,' says he, 'there's a lesson for you.
That hoptoad didn't wait to make sure that bumble-bee was good to eat; he took it for granted, and was sorry afterward.It don't pay to jump at conclusions, son,' he says.'Some conclusions are like that bumble-bee's, they have stings in 'em.'"Captain Lote, having finished his story, felt in his pocket for a match.Fosdick, for an instant, appeared puzzled.Then he laughed.
"I see," he said."You think I made too quick a jump when Iconcluded you were backing your grandson in this affair.All right, I'm glad to hear it.What do you want me to do, sit down again and listen?"He resumed his seat as he asked the question.Captain Zelotes nodded.
