"All I have to say," answered Mrs. Cliff, who had been listening intently to Mr. Burke's extraordinary flow of words, "all I have to say is, if that's the way you think about her, you ought to speak to her."
"Madam," said Burke, springing to his feet, "that suits me. I would have spoken to her before, but I had my doubts about what you'd think of it. But now that I see you're willing to sign the papers, what I want to know is, where will I be likely to find Miss Croup?"
Mrs. Cliff laughed. "You are very prompt," said she, "and I think you will find Willy in the little parlor. She was sewing there when I saw her last."
In less than a minute Mr. Burke stood before Willy Croup in the little parlor. "Miss Croup," said he, "I want to ask you something."
"What is it?" said Willy, letting her work drop in her lap.
"Miss Croup," said he, "I heard you swear once, and I never heard anybody swear better, and with more conscience. You did that swearing for me, and now I want to ask you if you will be willing to swear for me again?"
"No," said Willy, her cheeks flushing as she spoke, "no, I won't! It was all very well for you to tell me that I didn't do anything wrong when I talked in that dreadful way to Mr. Maxwell, and for you to get the ministers to tell me that as I didn't understand what I was saying, of course there was no sin in it; but although I don't feel as badly about it as I did, I sometimes wake up in the night and fairly shiver when I think of the words I used that day. And I've made up my mind, no matter whether ships are to be sunk or what is to happen, I will never do that thing again, and I don't want you ever to expect it of me."
"But, William Croup," exclaimed Mr. Burke, forgetting in his excitement that the full form of her Christian name was not likely to be masculine, "that isn't the way I want you to swear this time. What I want you to do is, to stand up alongside of me in front of a minister and swear you'll take me for your loving husband to love, honor, and protect, and all the rest of it, till death do us part. Now, what do you say to that?"
Willy sat and looked at him. The flush went out of her cheeks, and then came again, but it was a different kind of a flush this time, and the brightness went out of her eyes, and another light, a softer and a different light, came into them. "Oh! Is that what you want?" she said, presently. "I wouldn't mind that."
THE END
Novels and Short Stories
BY
FRANK R. STOCKTON
CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS, Publishers, New York
"Of Mr. Stockton's stories what is there to say, but that they are an unmixed blessing and delight? He is surely one of the most inventive of talents, discovering not only a new kind in humor and fancy, but accumulating an inexhaustible wealth of details in each fresh achievement, the least of which would be riches from another hand."—W. D. Howells, in Harper's Magazine.
JUST ISSUED
THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN HORN
12mo, . . . $1.50
A novel unlike any that has hitherto appeared from this popular writer's pen. It is a romance of the most adventurous kind, whose events, born of Mr. Stockton's imagination, are wholly extraordinary, and yet, through the author's ingenuity, appear altogether real. That Captain Horn's adventures are varied may be inferred from the fact that they extend from Patagonia to Maine and from San Francisco to Paris, and include the most remarkable episodes and marvelous experiences—all of which are woven together by the pleasing thread of a love-story, and brightened by the gleam of Mr. Stockton's fanciful humor.
CONCERNING MR. STOCKTON'S STORIES.
"Mr. Stockton, more, perhaps, than any recent writer, has helped to define the peculiar virtues of the short story. He has shown how possible it is to use surprise as an effective element, and to make the turn of a story rather than the crisis of a plot account for everything. It may be said in general that Mr. Stockton does not rely often upon a sudden reversal at the end of a story to capture the reader, but gives him a whimsey or caprice to enjoy; while he works out the details in a succession of amusing turns."—The Atlantic Monthly.
New Uniform Edition of the following Volumes:
THE WATCHMAKER'S WIFE
And Other Stories. 12mo, $1.25.
"His stories are characterized by the oddity and drollery which distinguish Mr. Stockton's from that of the ordinary humorists."—Charleston News and Courier.
THE LATE MRS. NULL
12mo, $1.25.
"We can assure prospective readers that their only regret after finishing the book will be that never again can they hope for the pleasure of reading it for the first time."—The Critic.
RUDDER GRANGE
12mo, paper, 60 cents; cloth, $1.25.
"Humor like this is perennial."—Washington Post.
THE RUDDER GRANGERS ABROAD
And Other Stories. 12mo, paper, 50 cents; cloth, $1.25.
"It will be eagerly sought by all old friends of Pomona and Jonas and the other characters who have so delighted the numberless readers of 'Rudder Grange.'"—The Outlook.
THE LADY, OR THE TIGER?
And Other Stories. 12mo, paper, 50 cents; cloth, $1.25.
"His unique stories always hit the mark. But 'The Lady, or the Tiger?' was a shaft condensed from the entire Stocktonese."—Century Magazine.
THE CHRISTMAS WRECK
And Other Stories. 12mo, paper, 50 cents; cloth, $1.25.
"With the charm of a most delicate humor, his stories become irresistibly attractive."—Philadelphia Times.
THE BEEMAN OF ORN
And Other Fanciful Tales. 12mo, $1.25.
"It would be idle to describe the fanciful humor of these stories. To read them is simple recreation."—London Athenæum.
AMOS KILBRIGHT
His Adscititious Experiences. With Other Stories. 12mo, paper, 50 cents; cloth, $1.25.
"A collection of inimitable tales. The writer's whimsical humor and inventive genius find fitting scope in the title story."—Boston Commonwealth.
ARDIS CLAVERDEN
12mo, $1.25.
"A very pretty story, tender, and full of gentle humor."—Philadelphia Press.
⁂ The set, nine volumes, 12mo, $11.50.
Mr. Stockton's Books For The Young
"His books for boys and girls are classics."—Newark Advertiser.
THE CLOCKS OF RONDAINE, and Other Stories. With 24 illustrations by Blashfield, Rogers, Beard, and others. Square 8vo, $1.50.
PERSONALLY CONDUCTED. Illustrated by Pennell, Parsons, and others. Square 8vo, $2.00.
THE STORY OF VITEAU. Illustrated by R. B. Birch. 12mo, $1.50.
A JOLLY FELLOWSHIP. With 20 illustrations. 12mo, $1.50.
THE FLOATING PRINCE AND OTHER FAIRY TALES. Illustrated. Square 8vo, $1.50.
THE TING-A-LING TALES. Illustrated. 12mo, $1.00.
ROUNDABOUT RAMBLES IN LANDS OF FACT AND FICTION. Illustrated. Square 8vo, $1.50.
TALES OUT OF SCHOOL. With nearly 200 illustrations. Square 8vo, $1.50.
NOVELS AND SHORT STORIES BY FRANK R. STOCKTON
IN UNIFORM STYLE. ILLUSTRATED BY A. B. FROST
POMONA'S TRAVELS
JONE AND POMONA.A Series of Letters to the Mistress of Rudder Grange from her Former Handmaiden. Fully illustrated by A. B. Frost. 12mo, $2.00.
"It forms one of the most delightful books Mr. Stockton has ever written. It is capital reading, and will more firmly establish Mr. Stockton in his place with Bret Harte among contemporary American writers. Mr. Frost's pictures are all admirable."—New York Times.
"It will be remembered that Pomona married a certain Jonas, a young man of eccentric ways and dry humor. They make a journey abroad, and their experiences are as enjoyable as those of the days at Rudder Grange. The book is capitally illustrated."—Boston Transcript.
RUDDER GRANGE
With over 100 illustrations by A. B. Frost. 12mo, gilt top, $2.00.
"It is possible that there are readers and buyers of books who have yet to make the acquaintance of 'Rudder Grange.' If so, it is hard to tell whether they are objects of pity or envy—pity for having lost so much enjoyment, or envy for the pleasure that is still in store for them."—Philadelphia Times.
RUDDER GRANGE."Mr. Frost's suggestive illustrations add greatly to the attractiveness of Mr. Stockton's famous story. He has caught the spirit of the book, and sketched its leading characters and scenes with rare humor."—London Literary World.
⁂ The above two books, handsomely bound in uniform style, with special cover designs by A. B. Frost, gilt top, 12mo, in a box, $4.00.
CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS
153-157 Fifth Avenue, New York