"
"I believe he will. His objection to Gus was that he looked like a
foreigner and never had done a day's work in his life. Poor Gus!
He didn't measure up to Dad's idea of a man. Now I suppose you
could earn a living for us."
"I'm not expecting you to take in sewing."
"Are you going to do the independent if Dad cuts up rough?" she
asked saucily.
"Independent is the word." He smiled with a sudden appreciation of
the situation. "And I take it he means to cut up rough. I wired
him to-day I was going to ask you to marry me."
"You didn't."
"Yes."
"But wasn't that a little premature? Perhaps it wouldn't have been
necessary. Or did you take me for granted"
"There was always the car for a kidnapping in case of necessity,"
he joked.
"Why did you do it?"
"I wanted to be above board about it even if I am an adventurer."
"What did he say? How could you put it in a telegram?"
"Red consoles marooned sweet post delayed."
"Dear me! What gibberish is that?"
"It's from our private code. It means, 'Going to marry your
daughter if she is willing. With your consent, I hope.'"
"And he answered? I'll take the English version, please."
"'Consent refused.
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