Read Online The Blythes Are Quoted by L. M. Montgomery - Free Book Online

I agree with him. But oh, what will I do? There’s a selfish question for you.”
    “I’ll come to see you often, my dear.”
    “It won’t be the same. You don’t know what you have meant to me, Curtis. You don’t mind my calling you Curtis, do you? You seem like a young cousin or nephew, or something like that.”
    “I’m glad to have you call me Curtis.”
    “You are a dear boy. I ought to be glad you are going. This accursed house is no place for you. When do you go?”
    “In a week ... after I come back from District Meeting.”
    Curtis missed his regular train after the meeting ... missed it hunting for a book in the bookstore Alice wanted to see. He fell in with Dr. Blythe who, it happened, had the book, and promised to lend it to Miss Harper.
    “I hear you are changing your boarding place,” he said. “A wise move, in my opinion.”
    “I leave it with its mystery still unsolved,” said Curtis bitterly.
    Dr. Blythe smiled ... that smile that Curtis had never liked.
    “Saints are often too wise for us common folk,” he said. “But I think it will be solved some day.”
    Curtis came back on the owl train that dumped him off at Glen St. Mary at one o’clock. It did not stop as a rule but Curtis knew the conductor, who was an obliging man.
    Henry Kildare got off, too. He had expected to go on to Lowbridge, not having the advantage of a pull with the conductor.
    “What a thing it is to be a minister!” he said, laughing. “Well, it is only three miles to Cousin Ellen’s. I can hoof it easily,” he said as they left the platform.
    “Might as well come along to Long Alec’s for the rest of the night,” suggested Curtis.
    “Not me,” said Henry emphatically. “I wouldn’t stay another night in that house for half my pile. I hear you’re getting out, preacher. Wise boy!”
    Curtis did not answer. He was not desirous of any company on his walk, much less Henry Kildare’s. He strode along in moody silence, unheeding Henry’s unending stream of conversation ... if conversation it could be called. Henry liked to hear himself talk.
    It was a night of high winds and heavy clouds, with outbursts of brilliant moonlight between them. Curtis felt wretched, hopeless, discouraged. He had failed to solve the mystery he had tackled so cocksurely ... he had failed to win his love or rescue her ... he had ...
    “Yes, I’m going to get out of this and hike back to the Coast,” Henry was saying. “There ain’t any sense in hanging around Mowbray Narrows any longer. I can’t get the girl I want.”
    So Henry had love troubles of his own.
    “Sorry,” said Curtis automatically.
    “Sorry! It’s a case to be sorry! Preacher, I don’t mind talking to you about it. You seem like a human being ... and you’ve been a mighty good friend to Alice.”
    “Alice!” Curtis was amazed. “Do you mean ... is it Miss Harper?”
    “Sure thing. Never was anyone else in my life ... well, not really. Preacher, I’ve always worshipped the ground she walked on. Years ago, when I was working for old Winthrop Field, I was crazy mad about her. She never knew it. I didn’t think I could ever get her, of course. She was one of the aristocratic Fields and I was a hired boy. But I never forgot her ... never could get really interested in anybody else. When I made my pile I says to myself, ‘Now I’m going straight back to P.E. Island and if Alice Harper isn’t married yet I’ll see if she’ll have me.’ You see, I’d never heard from Mowbray Narrows for years ... never heard of Alice’s accident. I thought it likely she’d be married but there was a chance. Preacher, it was an awful jolt when I came home and found her like she is. And the worst of it is I’m just as fond of her as ever ... too fond of her to take up with anybody else ... though there’s a girl at the Glen ... but never mind about that. Since I can’t get Alice I don’t want to marry anyone else ... though Mrs. Blythe says ... but never mind that.