The Big Mogul by Joseph C. Lincoln — Read

The next morning he sent Varunas to the Clark cottage with a note. The answer, when it came, was to the effect that Esther would be ready just after dinner. At one-thirty Mr. Gifford, wondering what on earth it all meant and not in the least enlightened by his employer, drove one of the Townsend horses, attached to the Townsend "democrat wagon" into the Clark yard and, under the officious superintendence of Millard, loaded a small trunk and a canvas valise -- Varunas would have called it a "shut-over bag" -- into the carriage. Millard loftily refused to satisfy the Gifford curiosity.

"You'll know pretty soon," declared Mr. Clark. "And so will the rest of Harniss. There'll be some talk goin' around for the next day or so or I miss my guess. No, no, I shan't say a word. You ain't the first one that's asked me what's up -- no, sir, you ain't! Tobias Eldridge got after me last night at the post office afore mail time, and he says: ‘Say, Mil,' he says, ‘what in the world ails you? You're goin' around all puffed up like a toad fish, too grand to open your mouth. What's the matter? Somebody left you a million? If they have you might pay me that two dollars. ' I didn't waste any attention on _his_ gabble. I don't owe him any two dollars. He says I do, but I say I don't, and my word is as good as his, I shouldn't wonder. I set him to guessin', though. ‘Never you mind what ails me,' I told him. ‘_I_ know what 'tis and so does Cap'n Foster Townsend. When I and he get ready to tell we'll tell."