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Bellamy, Edward, 1850-1898

"The Duke of Stockbridge"

It's a sign fer sure."
"Reub," said Perez, in a voice uneven with suppressed emotion, "now I
know she cares for me that much, I don't mind a snap of the finger
what happens to me. If they came to hang me this minute, I should
laugh in their faces," and he sprang up and paced to and fro, with
fixed eyes and a set smile, and then, still wearing the same look came
back and sat down by his brother, and said: "I sort of hoped she cared
for me before, but it seemed most too much to believe. You don't know
how I feel, Reub. You can't think, nohow."
"Yes I can," said Reuben, quietly; "I guess ye feel suthin ez I uster
baout Jemimy, sorter light inside an so pleased like ye don't keer a
copper ef ye live or die. Yes, I know mor'n ye think I dew baout the
feelin's a feller hez long o' women, on'y ye see it didn't come ter
nothin with Jemimy, fer wen my fust crop failed, an I was tuk for
debt, Peleg got her arter all."
"I didn't think 'bout Jemimy, Reub," said Perez, softly. In the
affluence of his own happiness, he was overwhelmed with compassion for
his brother. He was stricken by the patient look upon his pale face.
"Never mind, Reub," he said. "Don't be downhearted. You and me 'll
stand by each other, an mebbe it'll be made up to ye some time," and
he laid his arm tenderly on the other's shoulder.


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