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and〃
〃What do they stand for！ What are you shuffling about？〃
〃They…well they stand for Spinal Meningitis。 His father being a phy〃
〃I never heard such an infamous name！ Nobody can ever call a person
thata person they love。 I wouldn't call an enemy by such a name。
It sounds like an epithet。〃 After a moment； she added with a kind of
consternation； 〃Why； it would be my name！ Letters would come with it
on。〃
〃YesMrs。 Spinal Meningitis Snodgrass。〃
〃Don't repeat itdon't； I can't bear it。 Was the father a lunatic？〃
〃No； that is not charged。〃
〃I am glad of that； because that is transmissible。 What do you think was
the matter with him； then？〃
〃Well； I don't really know。 The family used to run a good deal to
idiots； and so； maybe〃
〃Oh； there isn't any maybe about it。 This one was an idiot。〃
〃Well； yeshe could have been。 He was suspected。〃
〃Suspected！〃 said Sally； with irritation。 〃Would one suspect there was
going to be a dark time if he saw the constellations fall out of the sky？
But that is enough about the idiot； I don't take any interest in idiots；
tell me about the son。〃
Very well； then； this one was the eldest； but not the favorite。 His
brother； Zylobalsamum〃
〃Waitgive me a chance to realize that。 It is perfectly stupefying。
Zylowhat did you call it？〃
〃Zylobalsamum。〃
〃I never heard such a name： It sounds like a disease。 Is it a disease？〃
〃No； I don't think it's a disease。 It's either Scriptural or〃
〃Well； it's not Scriptural。〃
〃Then it's anatomical。 I knew it was one or the other。 Yes； I remember；
now； it is anatomical。 It's a gangliona nerve centreit is what is
called the zylobalsamum process。〃
〃Well； go on； and if you come to any more of them； omit the names； they
make one feel so uncomfortable。〃
〃Very well； then。 As I said； this one was not a favorite in the family；
and so he was neglected in every way； never sent to school； always
allowed to associate with the worst and coarsest characters； and so of
course he has grown up a rude； vulgar； ignorant； dissipated ruffian；
and〃
〃He？ It's no such thing！ You ought to be more generous than to make
such a statement as that about a poor young stranger whowhowhy； he is
the very opposite of that！ He is considerate； courteous； obliging；
modest； gentle； refined； cultivated…oh； for shame！ how can you say such
things about him？〃
〃I don't blame you； Sallyindeed I haven't a word of blame for you for
being blinded byyour affectionblinded to these minor defects which
are so manifest to others who〃
〃Minor defects？ Do you call these minor defects？ What are murder and
arson； pray？〃
〃It is a difficult question to answer straight offand of course
estimates of such things vary with environment。 With us； out our way；
they would not necessarily attract as much attention as with you； yet
they are often regarded with disapproval〃
〃Murder and arson are regarded with disapproval？〃
〃Oh； frequently。〃
〃With disapproval。 Who are those Puritans you are talking about？
But wait…how did you come to know so much about this family？ Where did
you get all this hearsay evidence？〃
〃Sally； it isn't hearsay evidence。 That is the serious part of it。
I knew that family…personally。〃
This was a surprise。
〃You？ You actually knew them？〃
〃Knew Zylo； as we used to call him； and knew his father； Dr。 Snodgrass。
I didn't know your own Snodgrass； but have had glimpses of him from time
to time； and I heard about him all the time。 He was the common talk； you
see； on account of his〃
〃On account of his not being a house…burner or an assassin； I suppose。
That would have made him commonplace。 Where did you know these people？〃
〃In Cherokee Strip。〃
〃Oh； how preposterous！ There are not enough people in Cherokee Strip to
give anybody a reputation； good or bad。 There isn't a quorum。 Why the
whole population consists of a couple of wagon loads of horse thieves。〃
Hawkins answered placidly
〃Our friend was one of those wagon loads。〃
Sally's eyes burned and her breath came quick and fast； but she kept a
fairly good grip on her anger and did not let it get the advantage of her
tongue。 The statesman sat still and waited for developments。 He was
content with his work。 It was as handsome a piece of diplomatic art as
he had ever turned out； he thought； and now； let the girl make her own
choice。 He judged she would let her spectre go； he hadn't a doubt of it
in fact； but anyway； let the choice be made； and he was ready to ratify
it and offer no further hindrance。
Meantime Sally had thought her case out and made up her mind。 To the
major's disappointment the verdict was against him。 Sally said：
〃He has no friend but me； and I will not desert him now。 I will not
marry him if his moral character is bad； but if he can prove that it
isn't； I willand he shall have the chance。 To me he seems utterly good
and dear； I've never seen anything about him that looked otherwise…
except； of course； his calling himself an earl's son。 Maybe that is only
vanity； and no real harm； when you get to the bottom of it。 I do not
believe he is any such person as you have painted him。 I want to see
him。 I want you to find him and send him to me。 I will implore him to
be honest with me； and tell me the whole truth； and not be afraid。〃
〃Very well； if that is your decision I will do it。 But Sally； you know；
he's poor； and〃
〃Oh； I don't care anything about that。 That's neither here nor there。
Will you bring him to me？〃
〃I'll do it。 When？〃
〃Oh； dear； it's getting toward dark； now； and so you'll have to put it
off till morning。 But you will find him in the morning； won't you？
Promise。〃
〃I'll have him here by daylight。〃
〃Oh； now you're your own old self againand lovelier than ever！〃
〃I couldn't ask fairer than that。 Good…bye； dear。〃
Sally mused a moment alone； then said earnestly； 〃I love him in spite of
his name！〃 and went about her affairs with a light heart。
CHAPTER XXV。
Hawkins went straight to the telegraph office and disburdened his
conscience。 He said to himself； 〃She's not going to give this galvanized
cadaver up； that's plain。 Wild horses can't pull her away from him。
I've done my share； it's for Sellers to take an innings； now。〃 So he
sent this message to New York：
〃Come back。 Hire special train。 She's going to marry the materializee。〃
Meantime a note came to Rossmore Towers to say that the Earl of Rossmore
had just arrived from England； and would do himself the pleasure of
calling in the evening。 Sally said to herself； 〃It is a pity he didn't
stop in New York； but it's no matter； he can go up to…morrow and see my
father。 He has come over here to tomahawk papa； very likelyor buy out
his claim。 This thing would have excited me； a while back； but it has
only one interest for me now； and only one value。 I can say toto
Spine； Spiny； SpinalI don't like any form of that name！I can say to
him to…morrow； 'Don't try to keep it up any more； or I shall have to tell
you whom I have been talking with last night； and then you will be
embarrassed。'〃
Tracy couldn't know he was to be invited for the morrow； or he