But
words are so empty, Shirley Sumner. If that new owner could only
understand how truly grateful I am--how profoundly her courtesy
touches me--"
"HER courtesy?" Shirley echoed. "Did a woman buy the Giants?"
He smiled down at her. "Why, certainly. Who but a woman--and a dear,
kind, thoughtful woman--would have thought to have this chair made
and brought up here for me?"
Fell a long silence between them; then John Cardigan's trembling hand
went groping out toward the girl's. "Why, how stupid of me not to
have guessed it immediately!" he said. "You are the new owner. My
dear child, if the silent prayers of a very unhappy old man will
bring God's blessing on you--there, there, girl! I didn't intend to
make you weep. What a tender heart it is, to be sure!"
She took his great toil-worn hand, and her hot tears fell on it, for
his gentleness, his benignancy, had touched her deeply. "Oh, you must
not tell anybody! You mustn't," she cried.
He put his hand on her shoulder as she knelt before him. "Good land
of love, girl, what made you do it? Why should a girl like you give a
hundred thousand dollars for my Valley of the Giants? Were you"--
hesitatingly--"your uncle's agent?"
"No, I bought it myself--with my own money. My uncle doesn't know I
am the new owner.
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