I took the car down-town and made my way to Gussie's lodgings
that very afternoon. I did so before I had made up my mind that I
was prepared to marry her. "I'll call on her, anyhow," I decided.
"Then we shall see. There can be no harm in speaking to her."
I was impelled by the adventure of it more than by anything else
In spite of the unbearable heat, I almost felt sure that I should find
her at home. Going out of a Sunday required presentable clothes,
which she did not possess. She was saving for her dower with her
usual intensity
I was not mistaken. I found her on the stoop in a crowd of women
and children
"I must speak to you, Gussie," I said, as she descended to the
sidewalk to meet me. "Let's go somewhere. I have something very
important I want to say to you."
"Is it again something about your studying to be a smart man at my
expense?" she asked, rather good-naturedly
"No, no. Not at all. It's something altogether different, Gussie."
The nervous emphasis with which I said it piqued her interest.
Pages:
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316