THE JUCKLINS

 +--------------------------------------+ | OPIE READ'S SELECT WORKS | | | | Old Ebenezer | | The Jucklins | | My Young Master | | A Kentucky Colonel | | On the Suwanee River | | A Tennessee Judge | | | |Works of Strange Power and Fascination| | | | Uniformly bound in extra cloth, gold | | tops, ornamental covers, uncut edges, | | six volumes in a box, | | $6. 00 | | Sold separately, $1. 00 each. | +--------------------------------------+

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 OPIE READ'S SELECT WORKS

 THE JUCKLINS A NOVEL

 BY

 OPIE READ

 Author of "Old Ebenezer, " "My Young Master, " "On the Suwanee River, " "A Kentucky Colonel, " "A Tennessee Judge, " "The Colossus, " "Emmett Bonlore, " "Len Gansett, " "The Tear in The Cup, and Other Stories, " "The Wives of The Prophet. "

 ILLUSTRATED

 CHICAGO LAIRD & LEE, PUBLISHERS

 Entered according to Act of Congress in the year eighteen hundred and ninety-six, by

 WILLIAM H. LEE, In the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. 

 (ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. )

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THE JUCKLINS

CHAPTER I. 

The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as Ican remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father everaddressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything inthis life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you. " Idon't know why he should have called me lazy; I suppose it must havebeen on account of my awkwardness. Lazy, why, I could sit all day andfish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industriouscompanions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled tomove about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry. 

In the belief that I could never amount to anything I graduallyapproached my awkward manhood. I grew fast, and I admit that I wasalways tired; and who is more weary than a sprout of a boy? My brotherswere active of body and quick of judgment, and I know that Ed, my oldestbrother, won the admiration of the neighborhood when he swapped horseswith a stranger and cheated him unmercifully. How my father did laugh, and mother laughed, too, but she told Ed that he must never do such athing again. With what envy did I look upon this applause. I knew thatEd's brain was no better than mine; and as I lay in bed one night Iformed a strong resolve and fondly hugged it unto myself. I owned ahorse, a good one; and I would swap him off for two horses--I wouldcheat some one and thereby win the respect of my fellows. My secret wassweet and I said nothing. By good chance a band of gypsies came our way;I would swindle the rascals. I went to their camp, leading my horse, andafter much haggling, I came home with two horses. It was night when Ireached home, and I put my team into the stable, and barred up my secretuntil the sun of a new day could fall upon it. Well, the next morningone of the horses was dead, and the other one was so stiff that we hadto shove him out of the stall. My father snorted, my poor mother wept, and for nights afterward I slipped out and slept in the barn, burrowedunder the hay that I might not hear the derisive titter of my brotherEd. 

We lived in northern Alabama, in a part of the country that boasted ofthe refinement and intelligence of its society. When I was alone withboys much younger than myself I could say smart things, and I had a hopethat when I should go into formal "company" I would, with one evening'sachievement, place myself high above the numbskulls who had giggled atme. The time came. There was to be a "party" at the house of a neighbor, and I was invited. I had a suit of new clothes, and after dressingmyself with exceeding care, I set out, strong of heart, for the field ofvictory. But I weakened when I saw the array of blooded horses hitchedwithout, and heard the gay laughter within, a merriment rippling andmerciless; and I stood on the porch, sick with the sense of myawkwardness. I was too big, and I knew that I was straining my clothes. Through the window I could see a trim fellow laughing with a girl, and Isaid to myself, "If I can catch you out somewhere I will maul you. " Iwas not acquainted with him, but I hated him, for I knew that he was myenemy. To an overgrown young fellow, ashamed of his uncouth, steer-likestrength, all graceful youths are hateful; and he feels, too, that ahandsome girl is his foe, for girls with pretty mouths are nearly alwayslaughing, and why should they laugh if they are not laughing at him?Long I stood there, stretching the seams of my clothes, angry, wishingthat the house might catch fire. I heard footsteps, and looking about, recognized a member of the household, an old and neglected girl. I wasnot afraid of her, and I bowed. And I felt a sudden looseness, a givingaway of a part of my gear. She called me Mr. Hawes, the very first timethat any one had called me anything but Bill; she opened the door andbade me go in. I had to duck my head as I stepped forward, and there Iwas inside the room with the light pouring over me. I took one stepforward, and stumbled over something, and then a tittering fool namedBentley, exclaimed: "Hello, here comes little Willie. " I don't know howI got out. I heard a roar of laughter, I saw grinning faces jumbledtogether, and then I was outside, standing with my hot hand resting inthe frost on the top rail of a fence. Some one was urging me to comeback--the neglected girl--but I stood there silent, with my hot handmelting the frost. I went out into the moon-lighted woods, seized asapling and almost wrenched it from the ground. Down the road I wenttoward home, but I turned aside and sat on a log. I felt a sense of painand I opened my hands--I had been cutting my palms with my nails. But inthis senseless fury I had made up my mind. I would waylay Bentley andbeat him. Hour after hour I sat there. Horses began to canter by; up anddown the road there was laughter and merry chatting. The moon was full, and I could plainly see the passers-by. Suddenly I sprang from the logand seized a bridle rein. A girl shrieked and a man cut my hand with awhip, and I jerked the horse to his knees. Bentley shouted that he wouldkill me if I did not let go, but I heeded not; I jerked him off hishorse, kicked his pistol across the road, mashed his mouth, slammed himagainst the ground. The shrieking girl cried out that I was a brute, andI told her that I could whip her whole family, a charming bit ofrepartee, I thought, but afterward I remembered that her familyconsisted of herself and an aged grandmother, and I sent her an abjectapology. Bentley's horse cantered away, and I left the fellow lying inthe road, with the girl standing over him, shrieking for help. It wasall done in a minute, and with jolting tread I stalked away before anyone came up. Of course there was a great scandal. My poor mother wasgrieved and humiliated, ashamed to meet any of the neighbors; and myfather swore that instead of becoming a school teacher I ought to turnout as a highwayman. My brothers thought to have some fun with me, but Ifrightened them with a roar, and for a time they were afraid to smile inmy presence. I was almost heartbroken over my disgrace. Without unduepraise I can say that I was generous and kindhearted; even as a child Ihad shown almost a censurable unselfishness; I had given away myplaythings, and my sensibilities were so tender that I could not bearthe sight of a suffering animal, and I remember that an old man laughedat me because I could not cut the throat of a sheep when the poor thinghad been hung up by the heels. And now I was put down as a heartlessbrute. Bentley's face constantly haunted me. I was afraid that he mightdie, and once when I heard that he was not likely to get well, I wasresolved to go to him, to beg his pardon. Two weeks had passed; it wasnight and rain was pouring down, but I cared naught for the wetting. Ifound Bentley sitting up with his face bandaged. His mother frowned atme when she opened the door and saw me standing there under the drip, and it was some time before she asked me to come in, and I have thoughtthat she would have driven me off had not the sight of me, wet anddebased, aroused her pity. Bentley held out his hand when I entered theroom, and he said, "I don't blame you, Bill. It was mean of me, but Iwanted to be smart. " I was so full, so choked with emotion, that it wassome time before I could say a word. But after a time I spoke of therain, and told him that I thought that I had heard a wildcat as I camealong, which was a lie, for I had heard nothing save the wind and therain falling on the dead leaves. He laughed and said that he did notsuppose that I would have been very much frightened had the cat jumpedat me. Then I told him that I was the biggest coward on earth, andsought to prove it by offering to let him kick me as long as he mightfind it amusing. I told him that everybody despised me for the way I hadbeaten him, everybody, including my own family, and that I deserved thecensure of all good people. We talked a long time, and he laughed agreat deal, but when I told him that I was coming over to work for himthree weeks, his eyes grew brighter with tears. This filled me up againand I could do nothing but blubber. After a long time I asked him if hewould do me a favor, and he said that he would. Then I took out a watchthat I had brought in a buckskin bag, and I said, "Here is a thing thatused to belong to my grandfather, and it was given me by mother when Iwas ten years old. It is a fine time-piece and is solid. Now, I want youto take it as a present from me. You said you would do me a favor. " Buthe declared that he could not take it. "Why, I would despise myself if Idid, " said he. I told him that I would despise myself if he did not. Hismother, who had left us alone, came in, smiling, and said that I mustnot think of parting with so valuable a watch, the mark of mygrandfather's gentility, but I put the watch on the table and plungedout into the rain and was gone. Bentley's mother returned the watch thenext day, and then there went about the neighborhood a report that I wasso much afraid of Bentley's revenge that I had tried to buy him off witha watch. Bentley had said that I should not work for him, but when thetime for breaking up the land came, I went over and began to plow thefield. His mother came out and compelled me to quit, but I went back atnight and plowed while other people slept; and thus I worked until muchof his corn-land was broken up. The neighbors said that I had goneinsane, and a few days afterward, when I met a woman in the road, shejerked her old mare in an effort to get away, and piteously begged menot to hurt her. I made no further attempt to get into "company, " andthus, forced back upon myself, I began to form the habits of a student;and to aid me in my determination to study law, I decided to teachschool. So, when I was almost grown--or, rather, about twenty-threeyears old, for I appeared to keep on growing--I went over into anotherneighborhood and took up a school. And they called me "Lazy Bill. " Icouldn't understand why, for I am sure that I attended to my duties, that I played town ball with the boys, that I even cut wood all day oneSaturday; but confound them, they called me lazy. I spoke to one of thetrustees; I called his attention to the fact that I worked hard, and hereplied that the hardest working man he had ever seen was a lazy fellowwho worked merely as a "blind. " To sleep after the sun rises is a greatcrime in the country, and sometimes I sat up so late with my books thatI had to be called twice for breakfast. And no amount of work could haveoffset this ignominy. I taught school during three years, and found atthe end of that time that I was no nearer a lawyer's office. Once Icalled on an old judge, the leading lawyer in a neighboring village, andtold him that if he would take me I would work for my clothes, and thehumorous old rascal, surveying me, replied: "I have not contemplated thestarting of a woolen mill. Why don't you go to work?" he asked. I toldhim that I was at work, that I taught school, but that I wanted to be alawyer. He laughed and said that teaching school was not work--declaredit to be the refuge of the lazy and the shiftless. I then ventured toremark that the South would continue to be backward as long as theeducator was put down as a piece of worthless rubbish. I went away, anda few days later one of the trustees called on me and said that I haddeclared their children to be ignorant rubbish, and that therefore theywanted my services no longer. I returned home. My brothers were gone, and my parents were in feeble health. My father died within a year, andsoon my mother followed him. The farm was poor and was mortgaged, andempty-handed I turned away. I heard that a school teacher was wanted upin North Carolina, near the Tennessee line, and I decided to apply forthe place. I walked to the railway station, twenty miles distant. I havesaid that I went away empty-handed. I did not; I carried a trunk, lightwith clothes and heavy with books. I had put my trunk on the railwayplatform and was striding up and down when I saw two men, well-dressed, rich-looking, standing near. This amounted to nothing, and I would notmention it but for the fact that it was at this moment that I receivedmy first encouragement. One of the men, speaking to his companion, remarked: "Devilish fine-looking fellow. I'd give a great deal to be inhis shoes, to have his strength and his youth. " I turned away, eager tohear more, yet afraid lest the other man might say something to spoil itall. But he did not. "Yes, " he replied, "but he doesn't know howfortunate he is. Gad, he looks like an imported bull. "

The train came and I was whirred away, over streams, below great hangingrocks; but I thought not of the grandeur of the rocks nor of the beautyof the streams, for through my mind was running the delicious music ofthe first compliment that had ever been paid me. And I realized that Ihad outgrown the age of my awkwardness, that strength was of itself agrace to be admired, that I should feel thankful rather than rememberwith bitterness the days of my humiliation. I observed a woman lookingat me, and there was interest in her eyes, and I knew that she did nottake kindly to me simply because she was an old and neglected girl, forshe was handsome. Beside her sat a man, and I could see that he waseager to win her smile. He hated me, I could see that, but he couldn'tlaugh at me. I noticed that my hands and feet were not over large, andthis was a sort of surprise, for I recalled hearing a boy say that myfoot was the biggest thing he ever saw without a liver in it. I reachedback and wiped out the past; I looked out at a radiant cloud hanging lowin the west, and called it the future. Fool? Oh, of course. I had been afool when a boy, and was a fool now, but how much wiser it was to be ahappy fool. 

I was to leave the train at Nagle station, and then to go some distanceinto the country, which direction I knew not. I made so bold as to askthe handsome lady if she knew anything of the country about Nagle, andshe smiled sweetly, and said that she did not, that she was a strangergoing South. I had surmised as much, and I spoke to her merely to seewhat effect it would have on the man who sat beside her. Was mynew-found pride making me malicious? I thought it was, and I censuredmyself. The lady showed a disposition to continue the talk, but the mandrove me into silence by remarking: "I suppose there is something novelabout one's first ride on the cars. " How I did want to reach out andtake hold of his ear, but I thought of Bentley and subsided. When Iarose to get off at my station, I thought that the lady, as I passedher, made a motion as if she would like to give me her hand. This mightsimply have been the prompting of my long famished but now over-fedconceit, my bloating egotism, but I gave the woman a grateful thought asI stood on the platform gazing at the train as it faded away in the duskthat appeared to come down the road to meet it. 

I had expected to alight at a town, but the station was a lonely place, a wagon-maker's shop, the company's building and a few shanties. I askedthe station master if he knew where the school teacher was wanted, andhe answered that from the people thereabouts one must be needed in everyhousehold. 

"And I should think, " I replied, giving him what I conceived to be alook of severe rebuke, "that a teacher of common decency and politenessis most needed of all. "

"I reckon you are right, " he rejoined. "Is he the man you are lookingfor?"

"I don't want to get into trouble here, " said I, "but I insist upon fairtreatment and I'm going to have it. "

"All right, sir. Now, what is it you want to know?"

"Why, I was told that there was an opening for a school teacher in thisneighborhood. "

"And so there is, but don't you know that no neighborhood could be proudof such a fact? Therefore, you ought to be more careful as to how youmake your inquiries. "

I saw that he wanted to joke with me and I joked with him. And I soonfound that this was the right course, for he invited me into his officeand insisted upon my sharing his luncheon, cold bread and meat and a tinbucket of boiling coffee. I soon learned that he was newly graduatedfrom a school of telegraphy, and that this was his first position. Hehad come from a city and he gave me the impression that he was buriedalive; he said that he had entered an oath in his book that if some onedidn't get off at his station pretty soon he would set the whole thingon fire and turn train robber. "Don't you think that would be a prettygood idea?" he asked, laughing. 

"It would be a pretty dangerous one, at least, " I answered. 

"Yes, but without danger there is never any fun. My old man insistedupon my taking that night-school course; and the professor of theinstitution held out the idea that I could be a great man within a shorttime after graduating; led me to believe I could get charge of a bigoffice in town, but here I am stuck up here in these hills. No ragsabout here at all. "

"No what?"

"Rags, calico, women--catch on?"

"You mean no society, to speak of. "

"That's it. Oh, away off in the country it's all right, but I can nevergo more than three miles from this miserable place. You'll have to goabout fifteen miles. "

"How do you know?"

"Why, an old fellow from a neighborhood about that far away came outhere the other day and sent off a dispatch, telling some man off, Idon't remember where, to send a teacher out there. "

"And one might have come by this time, " I suggested, with a sense offear. 

"No, you are the only one that has put in an appearance, and the onlyone that is likely to come. I understand that they don't treat teachersvery well out there. "

"How so?"

"The boys have a habit of ducking them in the creek, I hear. "

"Oh, is that all? Be fun for me. "

"You won't think so after you see those roosters. Let me see. Take thePurdy road out there, and go straight ahead to the east, and when youthink you have gone about fifteen miles, ask for the house of LimJucklin. The last teacher, I understand, boarded at his house. "

"You appear to know a good deal about it. "

"Well, the truth of it is, I do, for the last teacher came and went thisway. And he told me like this: 'The thing opened up all right, plenty ofrags, but that evening some of the young fellows came to me and saidthat unless I brought some sort of treat the next morning they would putme in the creek; said that they hated to do it, but that time-honoredcustoms must be observed. I didn't bring any treat and I went into thecreek. Then I left. ' Yes, that's what he said, and I concluded that asfor me I would rather be here. It isn't so lively, but it is a good dealdryer. But you can't get there to-night. Better take a shake-down herewith me till morning, and then you may catch some farmer going that waywith a wagon. "

I thanked him for this courtesy, and readily accepted it. And the nextmorning, with my trunk on my shoulder, I set out upon what I conceivedto be my career in life. 

CHAPTER II. 

The month was April, and the day was blithe, with no blotch in the sky. The country was rough, the road was pebbly in the bottoms and flinty onthe hills, but there was a leaping joy everywhere; in the woods wherethe blue-jays were shouting, down the branch where the woodpecker tappedin an oak tree's sounding board. It must have been a low-hangingambition to be thrilled with the prospect of teaching school, or was itbuoyant health that made me happy? I eased down my trunk, and boyishlythrew stones away off into an echoing hollow. A rabbit ran out into theroad and stopped, and with a stone I knocked it over. Tenderly I pickedit up, felt its fluttering heart, and groaned inwardly when the littleheart was stilled. I called myself a murderer, an Anglo-Saxon brute, tokill a harmless creature merely upon a devilish impulse, and in thegravelly ground I began to dig a grave with my knife, and I was so muchtaken up with this work and with my grief, that I heeded not theapproach of a wagon. 

"What are you doing there?" some one called. 

I looked up. A farmer had stopped his blowing horses and was looking atme. "I'm digging a grave, " I answered. 

"Diggin' a grave? Why, who's dead?"

"A rabbit. " He moved uneasily, and gave me a searching look. And I sawthat he took me to be insane. "I killed the poor thing, " I explained, "killed it out of mere wantonness, and I am so grief-stricken that I amgoing to do the best I can for the poor thing--going to give it aChristian burial. "

The man laughed. "I wish you would kill the last one of them, " he said. "Set out as nice a young orchard as you ever saw last winter, and thedevilish rabbits killed every one of the trees. "

"Then I am not so much of a murderer after all, " I replied. "I mighthave known that rabbits are not altogether harmless. How far do you goon this road?"

"About ten miles. "

"Will you let me ride with you?"

"Yes, be glad to have you. "

I put the rabbit into his grave, raked the dirt on him with myfoot--hardly a Christian-like way, I admit--placed my trunk into thebody of the wagon, and took a seat beside the man. And there wassomething about him that at once interested me. His hat was off and thebreeze was stirring his grizzly hair. His nose was large and thin, andwhen he turned his face square upon me, I saw that his eyes were grayand clear. He wore no coat, his shirt sleeves were rolled back, andthough he must have been more than fifty years old, I could see that hehad enormous strength in his arms. And he was looking at me admiringly, for he said, "You must be pretty much of a man. "

"I am not a child except in my lack of wisdom, " I answered. 

"Gad, you talk like a preacher. Which way are you going?"

"Over to Lim Jucklin's house. "

He gave me another square look and remarked, "That's my name. "

"You don't tell me so?"

"Didn't you hear me tell you so?"

"Yes, but----"

"Well, then, I did tell you so. "

"I am delighted to meet you, sir. I am a school teacher, and I hear thatone is wanted in your neighborhood. "

He looked at me from head to foot, and replied: "I shouldn't wonder butyou are the right man. What's your name?"

I told him and after a few moments of silence he asked, "Any kin to theLuke Hawes that fought in the Creek war?"

"He was my grandfather. "

"Ah, hah, and my daddy fit with him--was a lieutenant in his company. Let's shake hands. Whoa, boys. " He stopped his horses, got up, shookdown the wrinkled legs of his trousers and reached forth his hand. 

"You are a stranger in North Caroliny, " he said when he had clucked tohis horses. 

"Yes, I am a stranger everywhere you might put it, " I answered. "I amfrom Alabama, but the people made so much fun of me in the communitywhere I was brought up that I am even a stranger there. "

"What did they make fun of you about?"

"Because I was overgrown and awkward. "

"Whoa, boys! Let's shake hands again. I got it the same way when I was aboy, and I come in one of never gettin' over it. "

We drove on and had gone some distance when he asked: "Do you know allabout 'rithmetic?"

"I at least know the multiplication table. "

"It's more than I do. Get up there, boys. And down in my country theythink that a man that don't know all about 'rithmetic is a fool. I haveoften told them that there wan't no record of the fact that the Saviourwas good at figgers, except figgers of speech, but they won't have itthat a man is smart unless he can go up to a barn and cover one side ofit with eights and sevens and nines and all that sort of thing. I've gota daughter that's quicker than a flash--took it from her mother, Ireckon--and I have a son that's tolerable, but I have always been leftin the lurch right there. But I can read all right, and I know the Bookabout as well as the most of them, but that makes no difference down inour neighborhood. The pace down there is set by Old General Lundsford. He knows all about figgers and everything else, for that matter, butfiggers is his strong holt. He owns nearly everything; is a mighty'ristocrat and don't bend very often; lives in the house that hisgrandfather built, great big brick, and never had no respect for me atall until I wallowed him in the road one day about thirty odd years ago. And along about ten years after that he found out that he had a gooddeal of respect for me. What do you know about game chickens?"

"Not very much; I simply know that they are about the bravest thingsthat live. "

He gave me another one of his square looks and replied: "There is morewisdom in such talk as that than there could be crowded into a wheatbin. But, do you know that people make fun of me because I admire a gamerooster? They do. I don't want to fight 'em for money, you know; I'm agood church member and all that sort of thing; I believe the Book fromone end to the other; believe that the whale swallowed Jonah, I don'tcare if its throat ain't bigger than a hoe-handle; believe that the vinegrowed up in one night, and withered at mornin'; believe that old Samsonkilled all them fellers with the jaw-bone--believe everything as I tellyou from start to finish, but I'll be blamed if I can keep from fightin'chickens to save my life. And I always keep two beauties, I tell you. Not long ago my wife ups and kills Sam and fed him to a preacher. Preacher was there, hungry, and the other chickens were parading aroundsummers on the other side of the hill, but my wife she ups and killsSam, a black beauty, with a pedigree as long as a plow-line. And, sir, while that man was chawin' of my chicken he gave me a lecture onfightin' roosters. "

"You spoke of your son and daughter. Do they attend school?"

"Oh, no; they are grown long ago. "

"Then how is it that the teacher usually boards at your house?"

"I don't know; but they do. Reckon they jest fell into the habit. Myhouse is handy, for one thing; ain't more than three miles from theschool--jest a nice, exercisin' sort of walk. Whoa, boys! Sorter have toscotch 'em back goin' down here. Saw a man get killed down there oneday; horse kicked him, and do you see that knob over there where themhickory trees are? I had a hard time there one night. A lot offoot-burners come to my house one night durin' the war and took me outand told me that if I didn't give them my money they would roast myshanks. I didn't have any money and I told them so, but they didn'tbelieve me; and so they brought me right over there where them hickoriesare, tied me, took off my shoes and built up a fire at my feet; butabout the time they had got me well blistered, along come some Yankeesoldiers and nabbed 'em. And a few minutes after that there wasn'tanything agin their feet, I tell you, not even the ground. Well, we aregettin' pretty close to home now. "

"But we haven't come fifteen miles from the station, have we?"

"Well, you had come about five mile before I overtook you and we havecome nearly ten since then. These hosses are travelers. Oh, I reckonwe've got about three more miles to go yet. "

The country was old, with here and there a worn-out and neglected field. A creek wound its way among the hills, deep and dark in places, butbabbling out into a broad and shiny ford where we crossed. One momentthe scene was desolate, with gullied hill-sides, but further on and offto the right I could see poetic strips of meadow land, and further yet, upon a hill-top, stood a grim old house of brick and stone. We turnedoff to the right before coming abreast of this place, and pursued awinding course along a deep-shaded ravine, not rough with broken ground, but graceful with grassy slopes and with here and there a rock. Mycompanion pointed out his house, what is known as a double log building, with a broad passage way between the two sections. A path, so hard andsmooth that it shone in the sun, ran down obliquely into the ravine, andat the end of it I saw a large iron kettle overturned, and I knew thatthis marked the spring. I liked the place, the forest back of it, thesteep hills far away, the fields lying near and the meadow down theravine. I hate a new house, a new field, a wood that looks new; to methere must be the impress of fond association, and here I found it, thespring-house with moss on its roof, the path, a great oak upon whichdeath had placed its beautiful mark--a bough of misletoe. 

"You hop right out and go in and make yourself at home, while I takecare of the horses, " said the old man. "Go right on, " he added, for hesaw that I was hesitating. "You don't need an introduction. Jest saythat you are Whut'sname and that you are the new school teacher. "

"But I don't know yet that I am to be the teacher. "

"Well, then, tell 'em that you are Whut'sname and that you don't knowwhether you are to be the teacher or not. "

"But won't you stop long enough to introduce me?"

"Oh, I reckon I mout. Come on. There is wife in the door, now. "

He did not go as far as the door; he simply shouted: "Here's a man, Susan. He can tell you his name, for blamed if I ain't dun forgot. "

CHAPTER III. 

Into this household I was received with open-handed graciousness. Nothing can be more charming than the unconscious generosity of simplefolk. To this family I applied the word simple and cut myself with acool smile at my own vanity. Was I not a countryman and as rustic-mindedas they? But I had come from another community, had crossed a state lineand the lines of several counties, and besides I took to myself thecredit of having read many a cunning book, and therefore these peoplewere surely more simple than I. Traveling unquestionably gathersknowledge, but the man who reads has ever a feeling that he is theproper critic of the man who has simply observed. 

Mrs. Jucklin gave me a strong grasp of welcome, apologized for the lackof order that I must surely find in the house and conducted me to thesitting-room, a large apartment, with a home-woven carpet on the floor. A turkey wing, used for a fan, hung beside the enormous fire-place, andon the broad mantelpiece, trimmed with paper cut in scollops, an oldYankee clock was ticking. The woman shook a cat out of a hickory rockingchair and urged me to sit down. She knew that I must be tired after mylong ride, and she said that if I would only excuse her for a moment shewould go down to the spring-house and get me a glass of milk, to give mestrength wherewith to wait until she could stir about and get somethingto eat. And above all, I must pardon Limuel's abruptness of manner. Butreally he meant nothing by it, as I would find out when I should becomebetter acquainted with him. She was a little, black-eyed woman, doubtless a descendant of a Dutch family that had come to the colony atan early date, for she reminded me of my mother, and I know thatmother's grandfather was a Dutchman. I begged Mrs. Jucklin not to goafter the milk, but she ran away almost with the lightness of a girl. Intruth, to think of the milk made me shudder; I couldn't bear the thoughtof it. During the hard times at the close of the war, when I was achild, we had to drink rye coffee, and I remember that once the cows gotinto the rye field and gave rye milk. The coffee and the milk togetherhad made me sick, and ever since then I had looked upon milk with areminiscent horror. But there she came with it. 

"My dear madam, " I pleaded, "I would much rather not drink it. "

"Oh, but you must, for I know you are tired out. "

"But I don't drink milk. "

"And it is because you can't find any like this. Just taste it, then. "

The old man came stalking into the room and I gave him an appealinglook. "I gad, Susan, " said he, "let him alone. Don't you reckon he'sgot sense enough to know what he wants? Take the stuff away. "

With a sigh of disappointment she placed the tumbler upon themantelpiece. "Where's Alf?" the old man asked. 

"Gone over to the General's to help about something. "

"Where's Guinea?"

"She's about somewhere. That's her in the passage, I think. Guinea?"There was no reply, save of hastening footsteps, and a moment later ayoung woman entered the room. She was not very tall, but she wasgraceful, and her dark eyes were dashed with mischief. She reminded meof the woman whom I had seen on the train; her smile was the same, buther eyes were brighter. She had a peculiar laugh, a musical cluck, andat first sight I was glad that I had met her, but a moment later I wasafraid that she was going to laugh at me. The old man did not introduceme; his wife did not know my name, and I sought to speak my name, buthad lost it just at that moment and could merely splutter something. Iwas not much embarrassed, though; I recalled what I had heard the twomen say, and behind me was the strong brace of a woman's kindly regard. 

"We are glad to see you, " said the girl, looking straight at me. Ireplied that I was glad to see her, and then we both laughed; she withher musical cluck and I with a goat-like rasp, it seemed to me. We alldrew up about the fire-place, a habit in the country, and it was thenthat I thought of the open-handed graciousness of the household. Had Icorrectly caught this girl's name, Guinea? And with a countryman'sfrankness I asked if that were her name. 

"Well, no, " said Mrs. Jucklin, speaking for her, "it ain't her sureenough name, but it's all that she goes by. And it came about in thisway: A long time ago, when she was a little bit of a girl, she wastoddlin' about the yard with a checked dress on, and one of theneighbors lookin' at her said that she looked exactly like a littleguinea chicken, and ever since then we have called her Guinea. Her rightname is Angeline. "

"Her right name is what?" the old man asked, looking up. 

"Angeline, " I said. 

"Well, it's the first time I ever heard of it. "

"Now, Limuel, why do you want to act that way? A body would think thatyou don't know anything about your own family. "

"Never heard of it before, " said the old man. 

"You are surely the most provokin' man I ever saw, Limuel. You know thevery day we named the child, and now you pretend----"

"Pretend? I don't pretend nothin'. Can't blame a man for never hearin'of the name, can you?"

"Mister, " she said, turning to me, "please don't pay any attention tohim. He'd pester me nearly to death if I'd let him. But come, Guinea, wemust stir about and get something to eat. "

The mother and the daughter went out into a kitchen detached from themain part of the house, and the old man looked at me and laughed. Andafter a moment of chuckling he said: "I reckon that I've got two of thefinest in the world. "

"Children?" I asked. 

"No, game roosters. One's named Sam and the other's named Bob. "

"I thought you said that Sam had been eaten by the preacher. "

"Oh, that Sam was, but I've got another one. I always have a Sam and aBob. When a Sam dies I get another Sam, and likewise with a Bob. But youknow what's a fact? I never allow 'em to fight to a finish. If I did thesport would be gone. You must never let one rooster know that the otherone can whip him, for if you do there won't be any fight after that--youmust always keep each one believin' that he is the best man. I reckonI've had more than a hundred, but I never let 'em fight to a finish. Myfolks here don't care nothin' about fun--they even frown on it, Alf withthe rest, and I hold that he ought to know better, bein' a man, but soit is. I've got a chicken house back here, with a high picket fencearound it, and I keep it locked, I tell you. Have to, or the preacherswould eat up my sport, and this ain't findin' no fault with theirdoctrine, for I believe the Book from kiver to kiver. After we get asnack we'll slip off and have a set-to. What do you say?"

I hardly knew what to say. I was afraid to decline, lest I might losehis good opinion, and I was loth to accept the invitation, fearing thatI might lower myself in the estimation of the women; but while I wascasting about the old man relieved me by saying: "However, we've gotplenty of time before us. It's always well to hold a good thing inreserve, you know. After dinner we'll go over and see Old Perdue andfind out if you can arrange with him about the school. He's got thewhole thing in charge. General Lundsford has charge of nearly everythingelse, but he don't take much stock in free schools. He argues thatnothin' that's free is any good, and in the main he's about right; butwe've had some pretty good schools here, the only trouble bein' to keepthe teachers out of the creek. What education my son Alf has he pickedup about home, here, but Guinea was sent off to school, way over atRaleigh. "

"I am glad to see that you thought so much of the importance of trainingher mind, " I remarked. 

He gave me a troubled look, moved uneasily, as I had seen him move whenI told him that I was burying a rabbit, ran his fingers through hisupright, bristling hair and for a long time was silent. And as I lookedat him I fancied that he was trying to think of something to say, something to lead my mind away from what he had already said. I had seenthe quaint, half-comical side of his nature, and now I saw that he couldbe thoughtful, and in his serious mood his face was strong and rugged. His beard, cropped close, reminded me of scraps of wire, some of themrusted; and when he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand I wonderedthat he did not scratch the skin off. 

Guinea came to the door and told us that the meal was ready. The old mangot up, with a return of his comical air, and told me to follow him. Thegirl continued to stand near the threshold and as I drew near unto hershe said: "This door wasn't cut quite high enough for you, was it? Look, father, he has to duck his head. The boys may have a time putting himinto the creek. " She was now talking to her father, but was looking atme, so I took it upon myself to answer her. "Yes, for you have calledattention to the fact that my legs are long and the rascals may havehard running with trying to catch me. "

"Oh, " she replied, "but I was thinking of your strength rather than yourswiftness. Come this way. Father has run off and left you. "

The old man had stepped down out of the passage and had gone somedistance toward a small house surrounded by a picket fence. 

"You go with her, " he called, looking back, "and I'll be there prettysoon. "

"No telling when he will come now, " the girl remarked, walking closebeside me. "He's got two of the most spiteful chickens out there youever saw, and whenever anything goes wrong with him he bolts right outthere, no matter who is here, and makes those vicious things peck ateach other. Mother and I try hard to reform him, but we can't. "

It was Mrs. Jucklin's time-grayed privilege to apologize for thescantiness of her fare, and this she did with becoming modesty andregret. She had not expected company; the regular dinner hour was overlong ago, and somehow she never could understand why she couldn't get ameal out of the regular time. But if I would only give her a chance shewould reclaim herself. She called my attention to the corn bread;declared that it was not fit to be eaten, and she didn't know what madethe stove act that way. But the milk she knew was good. Oh, she hadforgotten that I didn't drink milk. Guinea smiled at me and clucked ather mother. "Don't pretend that you like anything just to please her, "she said, when Mrs. Jucklin had turned about to keep a hoe-cake fromburning. "All you've got to do is to say nothing until she getsthrough--that, and simply to remember that she enjoys it. "

While we were eating we heard a voice crying: "Hike, there, Sam; get himdown, Bob! Hike there!"

"They are warming up to their work, " Guinea remarked, and her mothersighed; and then she began to talk louder than was her wont, striving todrown the old man's voice. "It isn't any use, mother, " said the girl. "The gentleman will find it out sooner or later. "

"And I suppose, " said I, "that you think that you may find out my namesooner or later. Please pardon me for not introducing myself. My nameis----"

"Hike, there, Bob! Get him down, Sam! Now you are at it! Hike, there!"

"My name is Hawes, William Hawes, and I am from Alabama. "

"And you have come to teach the school?" said the girl. 

"Yes, if I can make the arrangements. "

"But is there anything very satisfying in such an occupation?" sheasked. 

I felt then that she placed no very high estimate upon my worth, and onher part this was but natural, for among country people school-teachingis looked upon as a lazy calling. 

"I have not chosen teaching as my real vocation, " I answered. 

"Hike, there, I tell you! Hike!"

"It is my aim to be a lawyer, to be eloquent, to stir emotions, to bestrong in the presence of men. My earlier advantages, no matter how Isought to turn them about, gave me no promise of reaching the bar; I hadgood primary training, but in reality I had to educate myself, and inthe work of a teacher I saw a hope to lead me onward. "

"Came within one of letting them fight to a finish, " said the old man, stepping into the room. 

"Limuel, why will you always humiliate me?" his wife asked, placing achair for him. 

"Humiliate you! Bless your life, I wouldn't humiliate you. The onlytrouble is that you are tryin' to make me fit a garment you've got, ruther than to make the garment fit me. I ain't doin' no harm, Susan, and it's my way, and you can't very well knock the spots off'en aleopard nur skin an Etheopian. Here comes Alf. "

The son was a young fellow of good size, shapely, and with his mother'sblack eyes. Guinea introduced me to him, and at once I felt that Ishould like to win his friendship. The old man explained my presencethere. "And now, " said he, "I want you to go over to old Perdue's withhim after dinner and see if any arrangements can be made. He's goin' toboard with us, and I want to tell you right now that he is from goodstock; his grandaddy was the captain of the company that my daddy fit indurin' the Creek war, and from what I learn I don't reckon there wasever sich fightin' before nor since. What are they doin' over at theGeneral's?"

"Nothing much, " Alf answered. "They started to plow this morning, but itis still most too wet. "

"Was Millie at home?" Guinea asked. 

"I think so, but I suppose you know that Chid isn't. "

"Never mind that, " the old man spoke up. "Leave all cuttin' and slashin'to folks that ain't no kin to each other. You've been to dinner, haveyou, Alf? Well, hitch the mare to the buckboard and go with thisgentleman over to old Perdue's. "

CHAPTER IV. 

At the end of the passage, facing the ravine, I stood and talked toGuinea, while Alf was hitching the mare to the buck-board. The sun waswell over to the west, pouring upon us, and in the strong light I notedthe clear, health-hue of her complexion. A guinea chicken, swift andgraceful, ran round the corner of the house, and, nodding toward thefowl, I said: "I am talking to her namesake and she is jealous. "

I thought that the shadow of a pout crossed her lips, but she smiled andreplied: "If my real name were not so ugly I'd insist upon peoplecalling me by it. I hate nicknames. "

"But sometimes they are appropriate, " I rejoined. 

"But when they are, " she said, laughing, "they never stick. It's thedisagreeable nickname that remains with us. "

"Is that the philosophy you learned at Raleigh?" I asked. 

She shrugged her shapely shoulders, laughed low in her throat andanswered: "I haven't learned philosophy at all. It doesn't take much ofa stock of learning for a girl who lives away out here. "

"But she might strive to learn in order to be fitted for a better life, believing that it will surely come. "

"How encouraging you are, Mr. Hawes. After a while you may persuade methat I am really glad that you came. "

"You have already made me glad, " I replied. 

"Have I? Then mind that I don't make you sorry. Alf's waiting for you. "

As we drove toward Perdue's I wondered what could have caused old manJucklin's change of manner at the time he had spoken of sending hisdaughter away to be educated. Surely, he could not deplore the grace andrefinement which this schooling had given her. Would it be well to askAlf? No; he could but regard such a question as a direct impertinence. 

The mare trotted briskly and the rush of cool air was delicious. Theroad was crooked, holding in its elbows bits of scenery unsuspecteduntil we were upon them, moss growing under great rocks, weeping ineternal shade, a bit of water blazing in the sun, a hickory bottom, where squirrels were barking; and from everywhere came the thrillingincense of spring. 

Alf, though a farmer, had not the stoop of overwork, nor that sullennessthat often comes from a life-long and close association with the soil;he was chatty, talked to his mare, talked to me and whistled to himself. He pointed out a cave wherein British soldiers had been forced to takerefuge to save themselves from the pursuit of victorious patriots, butwhat they had supposed was a refuge was, indeed, a trap, for thepatriots smoked them out and took them to General Green's camp. We droveupon a hill top, and, looking across a valley, I saw a large brick houseon a hill not far beyond. And I recognized it as a place that I had seenearlier in the day. "It's where General Lundsford lives, " said Alf, following my eyes with his own. "We go by there. He used to own a goodmany negroes and some of them still hang about him. Most of his land ispoor, but enough of it is rich to make him well off. And proud! He'sproud as a blooded horse. Most of the very few old-timers that are leftin this part of the country. We are getting somewhat Yankeefied, especially away over to the east where so many northern people come of awinter. But he doesn't take much to it--still cuts his wheat with acradle. "

We drove down into the valley, crossed a rude stone bridge, and slowlywent up the other side. The mare, brisk from having been pent up, showeda disposition to quicken her pace, but Alf held her back, searching withhis strong eyes the yard, the summer house in the garden hard by and theorchard off to the left. I looked at him and his face was eager and hardset, but his eyes, though strained, were soft and glowing. I spoke tohim, but he heeded me not, but just at that moment he drew himselfstraighter and gazed toward the house. And I saw a woman crossing theyard. The road ran close to the low, rough stone wall, and when we hadcome opposite the gate Alf stopped the mare and got out to buckle astrap. But I noticed that he was looking more at the house than at thestrap. A broad porch, or gallery, as we term it, ran nearly half wayround the house, and out upon this a girl stepped and stood looking overus at the hills far away. I saw Alf blush, and the next moment he hadsprung upon the buck-board and was driving off almost furiously. Iwondered why he should be afraid of her. He was not overgrown, notawkward, but lithe, and I knew that he loved her and that his ownemotion had frightened him. 

Perdue lived but a short distance beyond the General's place, and soonwe were there, talking to the old fellow out at the fence. When I toldhim my business he looked sharply at me, appearing to measure me fromhead to foot; and he said I was, no doubt, the man he had been longingto see. "And now, " said he, after we had talked for a time, "if you arewilling to take this school and go ahead with it, all right. I amdetermined that the boys and girls of this community shall get aneducation even if they choke the creek with teachers. If I had fullswing I'd raise a lot of men and go around and club the big boys. Oh, ithasn't been this way very long. We've had first-rate schools here, butthose devilish Aimes boys are so full of the old Harry--but we'll fix'em. The ground will be all right for plowin' to-morrow, and the bigboys will have to work until the corn is laid by, but I reckon you'llget a pretty fair turn-out. There's enough money appropriated to have arattlin' good school, and if you'll stick by me we'll have it. "

I told him that I would stick by him. "All right, " said he, "see thatyou do. Let me see. This is Friday. You hold yourself in readiness tobegin Monday mornin', and to-morrow I will ride around the neighborhoodand spread the news. "

So that was settled. Briskly we drove away, and again upon nearing thehouse of the old General, Alf pulled the mare back into a walk. Thistime, though, he did not stop, but as we slowly passed he swept thehouse and the yard with his eager glance. The sun was down when wereached home. How long the day had been, what a stretch of time laybetween the going down of the sun now and its rising, when I hadshouldered my trunk at the railway station!

As I was getting down in front of the door I heard Mr. Jucklin callingme, and when I answered he came forward out of the passage and said thathe wanted to see me a moment. He led the way and I followed him into thedark shadow of a tree. "I forgot to tell you not to say anything aboutthat, " said he. 

"About what?" I asked. 

"About wallowin' him--the old General. He requested me not to mentionit, bein' so proud, and I told him that I wouldn't, and I don't knowwhat made me speak of it to-day, but I did. "

"Oh, I won't mention it, " I spoke up rather sharply, for I wasdisappointed that he had not told me something of importance. 

"All right. And I am much obleeged to you. He is one of the proudest menin the world and he don't want anybody to suspect that any feller everwallowed him; but I want to tell you right now that I have wallowed agood many of 'em in my time. Are you goin' to teach the school?"

"Yes, the arrangements have been made, and I am to begin work Mondaymorning. "

"Good enough. Well, we'll go on in now and eat a snack, for I reckon thewomen folks have got it about ready. "

We went early to bed. The house was but a story and a half high, and Iwas to room with Alf, up close to the clap-board roof. I could not standstraight, except in the middle of the apartment, but I was comfortable, for I had a good bed, and there was plenty of air coming in through twolarge windows, one on each side of the chimney at the end, toward thesouth. While the dawn was drowsiest, just at the time when it seems thatone moment of dreamy dozing is worth a whole night of soundest sleep, Alf got up to go afield to his plow, and as the joints of the stairwaywere creaking under him as he went down I turned over for another nap, thankful that after all the teaching of a school was not the hardest lotin life. And I was deliciously dreaming when Guinea called me tobreakfast. 

I spent the most of the day in my room, getting ready for my comingwork. Against the chimney I built a shelf and put my books upon it; Iturned a large box into a writing table, and of a barrel I fashioned aneasy-chair. My surroundings were rude, but I was pleased with them;indeed, I had never found myself so pleasantly placed. And when Alf cameup at night he looked about him and with a smile remarked: "You must ownthat lamp that we read about. Wish you would rub it again and get mycorn out of the grass. " He looked tired and I wondered why he did not goto bed, but he strode up and down the room, smoking his pipe. He wassilent and thoughtful, refilling his pipe as soon as the tobacco wasburned out; but sometimes he would talk, though what he said I felt wasaimless. 

"I've some heavier tobacco than that, " I said. 

"This will do, though it is pretty light. Raised on an old hill. "

He sat down and continued to pull at his pipe, though the fire was out. He leaned with his elbow on the table; he moved as if his position wereuncomfortable; he got up, went to the window, looked out, came back, resumed his seat and after looking at the floor for a few moments saidthat he thought that it must be going to rain. 

"Perhaps so, " I replied, "but that's not what you wanted to say. "

He gave me a sharp glance, looked down and then asked: "How do youknow?"

"I know because I can see and because I'm not a fool. "

"Anybody ever call you a fool?" he asked, with a sad laugh. He leanedfar back and looked up at the clapboards. 

"That has nothing to do with it, Alf. Pardon me. Mr. Jucklin, I shouldhave said. The truth is, it seems that I have known you a long time. "

"And when you feel that way about a man, " he quickly spoke up, "you makeno mistake in accepting him as a friend. Call me Alf. What's your firstname?" I told him, and he added: "And I'll call you Bill. No; the truthis I didn't care to say that I thought it was going to rain; I don'tgive a snap for rain, except the rain that is pouring on my heart. Youremember that girl that came out upon the gallery. I know you do, for noman could forget her. You know that Guinea asked me if Millie was athome. Well, that was Millie Lundsford, the old General's daughter. Wehave lived close together all our lives, but I have never known her verywell, and even now I wouldn't go there on a dead-set visit. She andGuinea went off to school together and are good friends. Guinea tries toplague me about her at times, not knowing that I really love her. Icouldn't go off to school, didn't care any too much for education, butsince that girl came home and I got better acquainted with her I havefelt that I would give half my life to know books, so that I could talkto her; and since then I have been studying, with Guinea to help me. And you don't know how glad I was when I heard that you had come here toteach school, for I want to study under you. But secretly, " he added. "Ican't go to the school-house; I don't want her to know that I am soignorant. "

I reached over and took hold of his hand. "Alf, to teach you shall beone of my duties. But don't put yourself down as ignorant, for you arenot. "

He grasped my hand, and, looking straight into my eyes, said: "I wish Iknew as much and was as good-looking as you. Then I wouldn't be afraidto go to her and ask her to let me win her love, if I could. To-morrowyou go over to the General's, pretending that you want to get his adviceabout the school, and I will go with you. Hang it, Bill, you may be inlove one of these days. "

"Why, Alf, I don't see why either of us should be afraid to go to theGeneral's house. Go? Of course, we will. But you make me laugh when yousay that if you were only as good-looking as I am. Let me tell yousomething. " I briefly told him the uneventful story of my life, thatridicule had found me while yet I was a toddler and had held me up asits target. "You might have grown too fast, " he remarked when I hadconcluded, "but you have caught up with yourself. To tell you the truth, you would be picked out from among a thousand men. Where did you get allthose books? I don't see how you brought them with you in that trunk, and with your other things. "

"The other things didn't take up much room, " I answered, and, turningto the books, I began to tell him something about them, but I soon sawthat his mind was far away. "Yes, we will go over there to-morrow, " saidI, and his mind flew back. 

"And walk right in as if we owned half the earth, " said he, but I knewthat he felt not this lordly courage, knew that already he was quaking. "Oh, I'll go right in with you, " he said. "You lead the way and I'll bewith you. "

When I had gone to bed a remark that he had made was sweeping like awind through my mind: "Hang it, Bill, you may be in love one of thesedays. " I was already in love--in love with Guinea. 

CHAPTER V. 

Alf was still asleep when I arose from my bed the next morning. I stoodat the head of the stairs and looked back at his handsome, thoughsun-browned face, and I felt a strange and strong sympathy for him, butI had not begun to agonize in my love; it was so new that I was dazzled. When I went down stairs Guinea was feeding the chickens from the kitchenwindow, and the old man was walking about the yard, with his slouch hatpulled down to shut out the slanting glare of the sun. But he saw meand, calling me, said that he would now show me his beauties. And justthen I heard Guinea's voice: "If he starts to make them fight you comeright away and leave him, Mr. Hawes, " she said. "We don't allow him tofight them on Sunday. "

"Miss Smartjacket, " the old man spoke up, "I hadn't said a word aboutmakin' 'em fight. Hawes, these women folks don't want a man to have nofun at all. As long as a man is at work it's all right with the women;they can stand to see him delve till he drops, but the minit he wants tohave a little fun, why, they begin to mowl about it. Of course, I'm notgoin' to let 'em fight on Sunday. But a preacher would eat one of 'emon Sunday. All days belong to 'em. It's die dog or eat the hatchet whenthey come round. And yet, as I tell you, I believe in the Book fromkiver to kiver. Step out here, Hawes. "

I thought that I received from Guinea a smile of assent, and I followedhim. The enclosure wherein he kept his chickens was almost as strong asa "stockade. " The old man unfastened a padlock and bade me enter. Istepped inside, and when the master had followed me he was greeted withmany a cluck and scratching, the welcome of two game cocks in a wirecoop, divided into two apartments by a solid board partition. "I jestwanted you to look at 'em and size 'em merely for your ownsatisfaction, " said the old man, fondly looking upon his shimmeringpets. "This red one over here is Sam, and that dominecker rascal is Bob. Ah, Lord, you don't know what comfort there is in a chicken, and how apreacher can eat a game rooster is beyond my understandin'. But I'm withhim, you understand, from kiver to kiver. Keep quiet there, boys; nofight to-day. Must have some respect, you know. "

He took a grain of corn from his pocket, placed it between his teeth, and with a grin on his face got down on his knees and held his mouthnear the bars of Sam's cage. The rooster plucked out the grain of corn, and Bob, watching the performance, began to prance about in jealousrage. "Never you mind, Bob, " said the old man, getting up and dustinghis knees. "I know your tricks. Held one out to you that way not longago, and I wish I may never stir agin if you didn't take a crack at myeye, and if I hadn't ducked I'd be one-eyed right now. But they arecallin' us to breakfust. Bound to interfere with a man one way oranother. "

It was with great care that Alf prepared himself to go with me to theGeneral's house. Out under a tree in the yard he placed a mirror on achair and there he sat and shaved himself. Then he went upstairs to puton a suit of clothes which never had been worn, and anon I heard himcalling his mother to help him find buttons and neckwear that had beenmisplaced. And he shouted to me not to be impatient, that he was doingthe best he could. Impatient! I was sitting in the passage, leaning backagainst the wall, and near the steps Guinea stood, looking far out overthe ravine. She had donned a garb of bright calico, with long, green-stemmed flowers stamped upon it, and I thought that of all thedresses I had ever beheld this was the most beautiful and becoming. Shehummed a tune and looking about pretended to be surprised to see mesitting there, and for aught I know the astonishment might have beenreal, for I had made no noise in placing my chair against the wall. 

"I ought not to be humming a dance tune on Sunday, " she said, steppingback and standing against the opposite wall, with her hands behind her. 

"I don't see how the day can make music harmful, " I replied. 

"The day can't make music harmful, " she rejoined. "But I can't sing. Sometimes when I can't express what I am thinking about I hum it. Howlong are you and Alf going to be away?"

"As long as it suits him, " I answered. "I have decided to have no voiceas to the length of our stay. "

"Then you are simply going to accommodate him. How kind of you. And haveyou always so much consideration for others? If you have you may findyour patience strained if you stay here. "

"To stand any strain that may be placed upon our patience is a virtue, "I remarked--sententious pedagogue--and she lifted her hands, claspedthem behind her head, looked at me and laughed, a music sweet and low. Just then Alf came out upon the passage, looking down at himself, firstone side and then the other; and it was with a feeling of close kinshipto envy that I regarded his new clothes. He apologized for having keptme waiting so long, but in truth I could have told him that I shouldhave liked to wait there for hours, looking at the graceful figure ofthat girl, standing with her hands clasped behind her brown head. 

The distance was not great and we had decided to walk, and across ameadow, purpling with coming bloom, we took a nearer way. I said to Alfthat one might think that he was a stranger at the General's house, andhe replied: "In one way I am. I have been there many a time, it is true, but always to help do something. "

"Is the family so exclusive, then?" I asked. 

"Oh, they are as friendly as any people you ever saw, but, of course, Inaturally place them high above me. The old General doesn't appear toknow that I have grown to be a man; always talks to me as if I were aboy--wants to know what father's doing and all that sort of thing. Hedoesn't give a snap what father's doing. "

"And the girl. How does she talk to you?" It was several moments beforehe answered me. 

"I was just trying to think, " he said. "To tell you the truth, I don'tknow how she talks to me. I can't recall anything she has ever said tome. She calls me Alf and I call her Miss Millie, and we laugh at somefool thing and that's about all there is to it. But I know that the oldman would never be willing for me to marry her. He is looking prettyhigh for her or he wouldn't have spent so much money on her education. "

"But, of course, the girl will have something to say, " I suggested. 

"I don't know as to that, " he replied; "but, of course, I hope so. Youcan't tell about girls--at least, I can't. The old General marriedrather late in life and has but two children. His wife died severalyears ago. Chydister, the boy, or, rather, the man--for he's about myage--is off at a medical college. He doesn't strike me as being soalfired smart, but they say that he's got learning away up in G. The oldman says that he is going to make him the best doctor in the wholecountry, if colleges can do it, and I reckon they can. He and I havealways got along pretty well; he used to stay at our house a good deal. "

We crossed the creek, by leaping from one stone to another, and pursueda course along a rotting rail fence, covered with vines. And from overin the low ground came the "sqush" of the cows as they strode throughthe rank and sappy clover. We crossed a hill whereon stood a desertednegro "quarter"--the moldering mark of a life that is now dreamy andafar off--and after crossing another valley slowly ascended the roundingbulge of ground, capped by the home of the General. Alf had begun tofalter and hang back, and when I sought gently to encourage him heremarked: "But you must remember that this is the first time that I haveever been here with new clothes on, and I want to tell you that thismakes a big difference. "

"It has been some time since I went anywhere with new clothes on, " Ireplied, which set him laughing; but his merriment was shut off when Iopened the gate. Behind the house, where the ground sloped toward theorchard, there were a number of cabins, old, but not deserted, for negrochildren were playing about the doors and from somewhere within came thelow drone of a half-religious, half-cornshucking melody. An old dog gotup from under a tree, but, repenting of the exertion, lay down again; aturkey loudly gobbled, a peacock croaked, and a tall, bulky, old mancame out upon the porch. 

"Walk right in, " he called, and shouting back into the hallway hecommanded some one to bring out three chairs. And even before we hadascended the stone steps the command had been obeyed by a negro boy. "Glad to meet you, sir, " he said when Alf had introduced me. "You havecome to teach the school, I believe. Old man Perdue was over and told meabout it. Sit down. What's your father doing, Alf?"

"Can't do anything to-day, " Alf answered, glancing at me. 

"I suppose not. All the folks well? Glad to hear it, " he added beforeAlf could answer him. "It's been pretty wet, but it's drying up allright. "

He wore a dressing gown, befigured with purple gourds, was bare-headedand I thought that he wore a wig, for his hair was thick and was curledunder at the back of his neck. His face, closely shaved, was full andred; his lips were thick and his mouth was large. I could see that hewas of immense importance, a dominant spirit of the Old South, and myreading told me that his leading ancestor had come to America as themaster of a Virginia plantation. 

"Henry!" the old General called. "Fetch me my pipe. Henry!"

"Comin', " a voice cried from within. His pipe was brought and when ithad been lighted with a coal which Henry carried in the palm of hishand, rolling it about from side to side, the General puffed for a fewmoments and then, looking at me, asked if I found school-teaching to bea very profitable employment. 

"The money part of it has been but of minor consideration, " I answered. "My aim is to become a lawyer, and I am teaching school to help metoward that end. "

He cleared his throat with a loud rasp. "I remember, " said he, "that aman came here once from the North with pretty much the same idea. It wasbefore the war. We got him up a school, and by the black ooze in theveins of old Satan, it wasn't long before he was trying to persuade thenegroes to run away from us. I had a feather bed that wasn't in use atthe time, and old Mills over here had a first-rate article of tar onhand, and when we got through with the gentleman he looked like anarctic explorer. Where are you from, sir?"

I told him, and then he asked: "The name is all right, and the locationis good. My oldest brother knew a Captain Hawes in the Creek war. "

"He was my grandfather, " I replied. He looked at me, still pulling athis pipe, and said: "Then, sir, I am, indeed, glad to see you. Alf, what's your father doing?"

"Nothing, sir; it's Sunday, " Alf answered, blushing. The old Generallooked at him, cleared his throat and said: "Yes, yes. Folks all well?"

I heard the door open and close and I saw Alf move, even as his fatherhad moved when he came upon me in the road. I heard light foot-falls inthe hall, and then out stepped a girl. She smiled and nodded at Alf andthe General introduced me to her. Alf got up, almost tumbled out of hischair and asked her to sit down. "Oh, no, keep your seat, " she said. "I'm not going to stay but a minute. " She walked over to a post and, leaning against it, turned and looked back at us. She wore a flower inher hair, and in her hand she held a calacanthus bud. She was rathersmall, with a petulant sort of beauty, but I did not think that shecould be compared with Guinea, for all of Alf's raving over her. Hercheeks were dimpled, and well she knew it, for she smiled wheneveranything was said, and when no word had been spoken she smiled at thesilence. 

"Alf, what has become of Guinea?" she asked. "It seems an age since Isaw her. "

"She was over here last, I think, " Alf answered. 

"Ahem--m--" came from the General. "You'll be counting meals on eachother, like the Yankees, after a while, " he said. "Why don't you quityour foolishness; and if you want to see each other, go and see. I don'tknow what your feelings are in the matter, sir, " he added, turning tome, "but I don't see much good in this so-called public school system. And of all worthless things under heaven it is a negro that has caughtup a smattering of education. God knows he's trifling enough at best, but teach him to read and he's utterly worthless. I sent a negro to thepostoffice some time ago, and he came along back with my newspaperspread out before him, reading it on the horse. And if it hadn't beenfor Millie I would have ripped the hide off him. "

"He didn't know any better, " the girl spoke up. "Poor thing, you scaredhim nearly to death. "

"Yes, and I immediately gave him the best coat I had to square myself, not with him, but with myself, " said the old man. "But I hold that ifthe negro, or anyone else, for that matter, is to be a servant, let himbe a servant. I don't want a man to plow for me simply because he canread. Confound him, I don't care whether he can read or not. I want himto plow. When I choose my friends it is another matter. Your father goto church to-day, Alf?"

"I don't know, sir, " Alf answered, moving about in his chair, and thenin his embarrassment he got up and stammeringly begged the girl to sitdown. 

"Why, what's all this trouble and nonsense about, " the General asked, looking first at the girl and then at Alf. "'Od zounds, there oughtn'tto be any trouble about a chair. Fifty of them back in there. "

Alf dropped back and the girl laughed with such genuine heartiness thatI thought much better of her, but still I did not think that she was atall to be compared with Guinea. The General yelled for Henry to bringhim another coal, and when his pipe had been relighted he turned to meand said: "You don't find the old North State as she once was, sir. Ah, Lord, the ruin that has gone on in this world since I can remember. Andyet they say we are becoming more civilized. Zounds, sir, do you call itcivilization to see hundreds of fields turned out to persimmon bushesand broom sedge? Look over there, " he added, waving his hand. "I haveseen the time when that was almost a garden. What do you want?" The lastremark was addressed to the negro boy who had suddenly appeared. "Dinner? Yes, yes. Come, Mr. Hawes, and you, Alf. This way. Get out!" Adog had come between him and the door. "Devilish dogs are about to takethe place, but they are no account, not one of them. Lie around here andlet the rabbits eat up the pea vines. Even the dogs have degeneratedalong with everything else. "

I walked with the General, and, looking back, I was pleased to see thatAlf had summoned courage enough to follow along beside the girl. We wereshown into a long dining-room, with a great height of ceiling. The househad been built in a proud old day, and all about me I noted a dim andfaded elegance. The General bade us sit down, and I noticed that histone was softened. He mumbled a blessing over a great hunk of muttonand, broadly smiling upon me, told me that he was glad to welcome me tohis board. "The school-teacher, " said he, "modifies and refines ournative crudeness. Yes, sir, you have a great work, a work that you maybe proud of. Had education more broadly prevailed, had the people Northand South better understood one another, there would have been no bloodydisruption. Now, gentlemen, I must request you to help yourselves, remembering that such as I have is freely yours. When age comes on apacethere is nothing more inspiring than to see the young and the vigorousgathered about us. And it is thus that the evening of live isbrightened. Henry, pass the bread to Mr. Jucklin, and the peas, the veryfirst of this backward season, I assure you. Mr. Hawes, can you recallthe face of your noble grandfather?"

"No, General; he died many years before I can remember. "

"A pity, I assure you, for what is more spurring to our ambition than torecall the features of a noted relative. Some of this lettuce, Mr. Hawes? A sleepy, but withal a soothing, dish. My daughter, I mustrequest you to help yourself. Charming weather we have, Mr. Hawes, withthe essence of youth and hope in the air. "

How completely had his manner changed. His eyes, which had seemed hardand cold when he had waved his hand and looked out over the yellow sedgegrass, were beaming now with kindly light, and his voice, which I hadthought was coarse and gruff, was vibrant with notes of stirringsympathy. Alf, heartened by the old gentleman's streaming courtesy, spoke a low word to the girl who sat beside him, and she nodded, smiling, but with one ear politely lent to the familiar talk of herfather. 

After dinner we were shown into the library, wherein were many lawbooks, and the General, catching the longing glance that I shot at them, turned with bewitching patronage, bowed and said:

"You have expressed your determination to become acquainted with the lawand to practice the wiles of its logic; and so, if you can make nobetter arrangements, I pray, sir, that you make this room your office. "

Alf's eyes bulged out at this, doubtless looking upon me as the mostfortunate man alive, and in my country bluntness I blurted: "You are thekindest man I ever saw. "

In this room we talked for two hours or more, and the afternoon--or theevening, as we say in the South--was well pronounced when I declaredthat it was time for us to go. Alf looked up surprised, and in a voicesad with appeal, he asked if it were very late. I could have given himthe exact time, but was afraid to take out my grandfather'swatch--afraid that the General and his daughter might think that I wasseeking to make a display, so I simply said: "Yes, time that we weregoing. "

"Don't be in a hurry, gentlemen, " the General protested; "don't let atrivial matter rob us of your society. "

Alf pulled back, but I insisted, and so we took our leave. The oldgentleman came out upon the porch with us. "Henry!" he yelled, turningabout, "who the devil left that gate open? Go and shut it, you lazyscoundrel. Those infamous new-comers over on the creek take my place fora public highway. And I hope to be hung up by the heels if I don't fillthe last one of them full of shot. "

"I'll never forget you, " Alf remarked as we walked along, down throughthe meadow. "You have stood by me, and you bet your life I don't forgetsuch things. Of course, I have known the old man ever since I canremember, but he never treated me so well before. And when the timecomes, if I can get him in that dining-room I don't believe he'll refuseme. It's a blamed big pity that I can't talk as you can, but you juststick to me and I will talk all right after a while. "

"Oh, I'll stick to you, " I replied, "but I didn't notice that I talkedin a way to amount to anything. I felt as stupid as an ass looks. Whatdid the girl say? You were talking to her very earnestly over by thewindow. "

"To save my life, I can't recall anything she said, Bill, but I knowthat every word she spoke was dripped honey. I'd almost give my life totake her in my arms and hug her just once. Ever feel that way about agirl?"

I was beginning to feel just exactly that way, but I told him no, whereupon he said: "But you may one of these days, and whenever you do, you call on me to help you, and I'll do it, I don't care who the girl isor how high up she may stand. Many a night I have lain in bed and wishedthat Millie might be going along the road by herself and that aboutthree men would come up and say something out of the way to her, just soI could spring out and wipe the face of the earth with them. I'm not asbig as you are, but for her I'll bet I can whip any three men you eversaw. By the way, don't even speak Millie's name at home. The folks don'tknow that I'm in love with her. There's one thing that stands in myfavor. "

"What is it?" I asked. He looked up at me, but was silent, and becominginterested by his manner I was about to repeat the question, when hesaid: "I'm not at liberty to speak of it yet. You've noticed thatGuinea has more education than I have. Well, her education has somethingto do with the point that's in my favor, but I've said too much alreadyand we'd better drop the subject. "

I was burning to know more, for I recalled the change of manner that hadcome over Mr. Jucklin at the time he spoke of having sent his daughteraway to school, and I was turning this over and over in my mind, whenAlf said: "A young fellow named Dan Stuart often goes to see Millie, andI don't know how much she thinks of him, but some of his people are highflyers, and that may have an influence in his favor. Doc Etheredge, outhere, is his cousin, and old man Etheredge owned nearly a hundred andfifty negroes at one time. But when that girl stands up at the altar tomarry some one else, they will find me there putting in my protest. "

When we reached home I found Guinea sitting under a tree, reading, and Ihad joined her when the old man called me. Looking about I saw himstanding at the end of the house, beckoning to me. "I want to see you aminute, " he said, as I approached him. I wondered whether he was againgoing to show me his chickens, and it was a relief when he conducted mein an opposite direction. He looked back to see if we were far enoughaway, and then, coming closer to me, he said: "This is the way I came todo it. "

"Do what?" I asked, not over pleased that he should have called upon meto leave the girl. 

"Wallow him, the old General. He claimed that my hogs had been gettin'into his field, and I told him that I didn't feel disposed to keep myhogs up when everybody else's were runnin' at large, and then he calledme a scoundrel and we clinched. I took him so quick that he wasn'tprepared for me, and I give a sort of a hem stich and down he went, right in the middle of the road. And there I was right on top of him. Hedidn't say a word, while I was wallowin' him, but when I let him up, helooked all round and then said: 'Lim Jucklin, if I thought anybody waslookin' I'd kill you right here. You are the first man that everwallowed a Lundsford and lived, and the novelty of the thing sorterappeals to me. You know that I'm not afraid of the devil, and keep yourmouth shut about this affair, and we'll let it drap. ' And he meant justwhat he said, and I did keep my mouth shut, not because I was afraid ofhis hurtin' me, but because I was sorry to humiliate him. Ever hear ofJohn Mortimer Lacey? Well, shortly after that him and Lundsford fit aduel and Lacey went to New Orleans and died there. So, don't sayanything about it. "

"About what? Lacey's going to New Orleans and dying there?"

"No, cadfound it all, about my wallerin' the General. "

"I won't, " I answered, and then I thought to touch upon a question thathad taken a fast hold upon me. "By the way, you spoke of having sentyour daughter to school at Raleigh----"

"The devil I did! Well, what's that got to do with you or with anyoneelse, for that matter? I'll be--you must excuse me, sir, " he quicklyadded, bowing. "I'm not right bright in my mind at times. Pecked rightat my eye, and if I hadn't dodged I'd be one-eyed this minute--yes, Iwould, as sure as you are born. But here, let us drop that wallowin'business and that other affair with it, and not mention it again. Don'tknow why I done it in the first place, but I reckon it was because I'mnot right bright in my mind at times. You'll excuse my snap and snarl, won't you? Go on back there, now, and talk about your books. "

"I am the one to ask pardon, Mr. Jucklin. I ought to have had bettersense than to touch upon something that didn't concern me. I guess theremust be a good deal of the brute in me, and it seems to me that I spendnearly half my time regretting what I did the other half. "

"Why, Lord love your soul, man, you haven't done nothin'. But you drawme close to you when you talk of regrettin' things. I have spent nearlyall my life in putty much that fix. After you've lived in thisneighborhood a while you'll hear that old Lim has been in many a fight, but you'll never hear that anybody has ever whupped him. You may hear, though, that he has rid twenty mile of a cold night to beg the pardon ofa man that he had thrashed. We'll shake hands right here, and if you saythe word we'll go right now and make them chickens fight. No, it'sSunday. Kiver to kiver, you understand. Go on back there, now. "

With Guinea I sat and saw the sun go down behind a yellow gullied hill. From afar up and down the valley came the lonesome "pig-oo-ee!" of thefarmers, calling their hogs for the evening's feed. We heard the flutterof the chickens, flying to roost, and the night hawk heard them, too, for his eager, hungry scream pierced the still air. On a smooth old rockat the verge of the ravine the girl's brother stood, arms folded, looking out over the darkening low land, and from within the house, where Mrs. Jucklin sat alone, there came a sad melody: "Come, thou fountof every blessing. "

The girl's eyes were upward turned. "Every evening comes with a newmystery, " she said. "We think we know what to expect, but when theevening comes it is different from what it was yesterday. "

"And it is thus that we are enabled to live without growing tired of theworld and of ourselves, " I replied. "And I wish that I had come like theevening--with a mystery, " I added. 

I heard her musical cluck and even in the dusk I could see the light ofher smile. "But why should you want to come with a mystery?" she asked. 

"To inspire those about me with an interest regarding me. Even the straydog is more interesting than the dog that is vouched for by theappearance of his master. I never saw a pack-peddler that I did not longto know something of his life, his emotions, the causes that sent himadrift, but I can't find this interest in a man whom I understand. "

She laughed again. "But haven't you some little mystery connected withyour life?" she asked. 

"None. I have read myself into a position a few degrees above theclod-hopper, but that's all. If there were a war, I would be a soldier, but as there is no war, I am going to be a lawyer. "

"It would be nice, I should think, to stand up and make speeches, " shesaid. "But wouldn't you rather be a doctor?"

I don't know why I said it, but I replied that I hated doctors, and shedid not laugh at this, but was silent. I waited for her to saysomething, but she uttered not a word. It was now dark, and I could justdiscern Alf's figure, standing on the rock. The song in the house washushed. 

"I don't really mean that I hate doctors, " I said, seeking to rightmyself, if, indeed, I had made a mistake; and she simply replied: "Oh. ""I mean that I should not like to practice medicine, " I added, and againshe said: "Oh. " A lamp had been lighted in the sitting-room, and thitherwe went, to join Old Lim and his wife, who were warm in the discussionof a religious question. The Book said that whatever a man's hands foundto do he must do, and, therefore, he held that it was right to do almostanything on Sunday. 

"Even unto the fighting of chickens?" his wife asked. 

"Oh, I knowed what you was a-gittin' at. Knowed it while you wasa-beatin' the bush all round. When a woman begins to beat the bush, it'stime to look out, Mr. Hawes. I came in here just now, and I knowed in aminute that wife, there, was goin' to accuse me of havin' a round withSam and Bob, but I pledge you my word that I didn't. Just went in andexchanged a few words with 'em. Man's got a right to talk to hisfriends, I reckon; but if he ain't, w'y, it's time to shut up shop. "

Alf came in and, with Guinea, sang an old song, and their father satthere with the tears shining in his eyes. He leaned over, and I heardhim whisper to his wife: "Did have just a mild bit of a round, Susan, and I hope that you and the Lord will forgive me for it. If you do Iknow the Lord will. I'm an old liar, Susan. "

"No, you are not, Lemuel, " she answered, in a low voice. "You are thebest man in the world, and everybody loves you. "

I saw him squeeze her wrinkled hand. 

I could not sleep, but in a strange disturbance tossed about. Alf wastalking in a dream. I got up and sat for a time at the window, lookingout toward the gullied hill that had turned out the light of the sun. Onthe morrow my work was to begin. And what was to be the result? Was itintended that I should reach the bar and win renown, or had I beenlisted for the life of a pedagogue? Was my love for the girl so new thatit dazzled me? No, it was now a passion, wounded and sore. But why? Bythat little word, "Oh. " I put on my clothes, tip-toed down stairs andwalked about the yard. The moon was full, low above the scrub oaks. Astreak of shimmering light ran down toward the spring, and over it Islowly strode. I heard the water gurgling from under the moss-coveredspring-house, and I saw the leaf-shadow patch-work moving to and froover the smooth slabs of stone. Long I stood there, looking at thepictures, listening to the music; and turning back toward the house, Ihad gone some distance when I chanced to look up, and then, thrilled, Islowly sank upon my knees. At one of the large windows, in the northeastend of the house, stood Guinea, in a loose, white robe, the light of thefull moon falling upon her. Behind her head her hands were clasped, andshe stood there like a marble cross. Her face was upward turned, and thelow yellow moon was bronzing her brown hair--a glorified marble cross, with a crown of gold, I thought, as I bowed in my worship. My foreheadtouched the path, and when I lifted my head--the cross was gone. 

CHAPTER VI. 

We ate breakfast early the next morning, while the game cocks were yetcrowing in their coop. When I went down I heard the jingling of tracechains, and I knew that the old man was making ready to plow the youngcorn. I had insisted upon walking to the school-house, telling Alf thatall I wanted was to know the direction, but he declared that it was nomore than just that I should be driven over the first morning of thesession. So, together we went on the buck-board. Guinea had laughinglytold me not to be afraid of the creek, that the large boys were at home, plowing, and as we were skirting the gullied hill I glanced back and sawher standing in the yard, looking after us. The road lay mostly throughthe woods, with many a turn and dip down among thick bushes to cross acrooked stream. Sometimes we came upon small clearings, wheretired-looking men were grubbing new-land for tobacco, and I rememberthat a half-grown boy, with a sullen look, threw a chunk at us andviciously shouted that if we would stop a minute he would whip both ofus. I imagined that he was kept from school by the imperious demand ofthe tobacco patch, and I sympathized with him in his wrath againstmankind. A little further along we came within sight of an old loghouse, and then the laughter of children reached our ears. We hadarrived at the place where my work was to begin. Alf put me down, and, saying that he must get back home, drove away; and a hush fell upon thechildren as I turned toward the house. Inside I found a cow-bell, andwhen I had rung the youngsters to their duties, I made them a shortspeech, telling them that I was sure we should become close friends. Ihad some difficulty in arranging them into classes, for it appeared thateach child had brought an individual book. But I was glad to see thatold McGuffy's readers prevailed, for in many parts of the South they hadbeen supplanted by books of flimsy text, and now to see them cropping upgave me great pleasure. There they were, with the same old lessons thathad fired me with ambition, the words of Shakspeare and the speeches ofgreat Americans. 

By evening my work was well laid out, and as I took my way homeward, with Guinea in my mind, there was a strong surge within my breast, theleaping of a determination to win her. 

As I neared home, coming round by the spring, I saw the girl runningdown the path, the picture of a young deer, and how that picture didremain with me, and how on an occasion held by the future, it was to bevivified. 

"Oh, you have got back safe and dry, " she cried, halting upon seeing me. "Why, I thought you would come back dripping. No, I didn't, " she quicklyadded. "Don't you know I told you that all the large boys were at work?Wait until I get the jar of butter and I'll go to the house with you. "

"Let me get it for you, " I replied, turning back with her. 

"You can't get it, " she said, laughing; "you'll fall into the spring. But, then, you might hold it as a remembrance to temper the severity ofthe ducking yet to come. "

"Miss Guinea, " I made bold to say, standing at the door of thespring-house, "do you know that you talk with exceeding readiness?"

"Oh, do you mean that I am always ready to talk? I didn't think that ofyou. "

I reached out and took the jar from her. "You know I didn't mean that, "I said; and, looking up, with her eyes full of mischief, she asked:"What did you mean, then?"

"I mean that you talk easily and brightly--like a book. "

"You'd better let me have the jar, " she said, holding out her hands. "I'm afraid that you'll fall and break it, after that. You know that aman is never so likely to slip as he is when he's trying to compliment awoman. "

"No, I don't know that, but I do know that a Southern woman ought toknow the difference between flattery and a real compliment. "

"Why a Southern woman?" she asked. She looked to me as if she werereally in earnest and I strove to answer her earnestly. 

"Because Southern women are not given to flirting; because they placemore reliance in what a man says, and----"

"I think you've got yourself tangled up, " she said, laughing at me, andI could but acknowledge that I had; and then it was, in the sweetest oftones, that she said: "But if I had thought you really were tangled Iwould not have spoken of it. Now tell me what you were going to say, andI promise to listen like a mouse in a corner. "

"No, I'm afraid to attempt it again. " I was in advance of her, for thepath was narrow and the dew was now gathering on the grass, but she shotpast me, and, looking back, said beseechingly: "Won't you, please?" Thesun was long since down and the twilight was darkening, but I could seethe eagerness on her face. "Do, please, for I like to hear such things. I'm nothing but the simplest sort of a girl, as easy to amuse as achild, and you must remember that you are a great big man, from out inthe world. "

"Come on with that butter!" the old man shouted, and with a laugh thegirl ran away from me. I wondered whether she were playing with me, butI could not believe that she was. In those eyes there might be mischief, but there could not be deceit. 

Bed time came immediately after supper. The old man did not go out tolook after his chickens, so tired was he, and there was no song in thesitting-room. I sat in the passage, where the moonlight fell, and hopedthat the girl might join me, but she did not, and I went to my room, where I found Alf, half undressed, sitting on the edge of the bed. I hadsat down and had filled my pipe before he took notice of me, but when Ibegan to search about for a light he looked up and remarked: "Matches onthe corner of your library. "

"Here's one, " I replied, and had lighted the pipe when he said: "Saw herto-day, Bill--saw her riding along the road with Dan Stuart. She didn'teven look over in the field toward me, but he waved his hand, and I sawmore hatred than friendship in it. Blame it all, Bill, I'm not going tofollow a plow through the dirt all the time. I can do something better, and after this crop's laid by I'm going to do it. I don't think that shewants to marry a farmer. "

"What does Stuart do?" I asked. "How can he afford to be riding aboutwhen other men are at work?"

"Oh, I guess he's pretty well fixed. He's got a lot of negroes workingfor him and he raises a good deal of tobacco. No, sir, she didn't evenlook toward me. "

"But haven't you passed her house when you were almost afraid to looktoward the porch when you knew that she was standing there?"

"Of course I have!" he cried. "Yes, sir, I've done that many atime--just pretended that I had business everywhere else but on thatporch. Ain't it strange how love does take hold of a fellow? It getsinto his heart and his heart shoots it to the very ends of his fingers;it gets into his eyes, and he can't see anything but love, loveeverywhere. It may catch you one of these days, Bill, and when it does, you'll know just how I feel. "

I looked at this strong and honest man, this man idolizing an image thathe had enshrined in his soul, and I thought to tell him that, with myforehead touching the ground, I had worshiped his sister, but no, it wastoo delicate a confidence--I would keep it to myself. 

We were astir in the dawn the next day, ate breakfast by the light of alamp, but Guinea was not at the table, and I loitered there after theothers were gone out, hoping to see her, but she did not come, and thenI remembered that Mrs. Jucklin was also absent, and that the services ofthe meal had been performed by a negro woman. 

When I returned at evening, with the droning of the children's voicesechoing in my ears, it seemed to me that I had been gone an age. I cameagain by the spring, but Guinea was not there, but I heard her singingas I drew near to the house. She was in the passage, gleefully dancing, with a broom for a partner. When she saw me she threw down the broom andran away, laughing; but she came back when she found that I had reallydiscovered her. "You must think that I am the silliest creature in theworld, " she said, "and I don't know that I can dispute you. MillieLundsford has just gone home. She and I have been going through with ourold-time play, when, with window curtains wound about us to representlong dresses, and with brooms to personate the brave knights who hadrescued us from the merciless Turks, we danced in the castle. And I wasjust taking a turn with a duke when you came. What a knight you wouldhave been. "

"And what an inspiration I should have had to drive me onward and to setmy soul aflame with ambition, " I replied, looking into her eyes. 

It must have been my look rather than my words that threw a change overher; my manner must have told her that I was becoming too serious forone who had known her so short a time, but be that as it may, a changehad come upon her. She was no longer a girl, gay and airy, with aromping spirit, but a woman, dignified. 

"Has your work been hard to-day?" she asked. 

"It has been more or less stupid, as it always is, " I answered, slowlywalking with her toward the dining-room. 

When we had sat down to the table Alf came in with his new clothes on, and whispering to me when his sister had turned to say something to hermother, he said: "Got something to tell you when we go up stairs. "

Mrs. Jucklin was afraid that I did not eat enough; she had heard thatbrain workers required much food; her uncle, who had been a justice ofthe peace, had told her that it made but small difference what he atewhile engaged in getting out saw logs, but that when he began tomeditate over a case in court he required the most stimulatingprovender. "And now, " she said, "if there's anything that I can fix foryou, do, please, let me know what it is. Now, Guinea, what are youtitterin' at? And that negro woman doesn't half do her work, either. Ideclare to goodness I'd rather do everything on the place than to seeher foolin' round as if she's afraid to take hold of anything; and herfingers full of brass rings, too. I jest told her that she'd have totake 'em off, that I didn't want to eat any brass. Laws a massy, niggersare jest as different from what they was as day is from night. Talk tome about freedom helpin' 'em. But the Lord knows best, " she added, witha sigh of resignation. "If He wants 'em to be free, why, no one ought tocomplain, and goodness knows I don't. Yes, they ought to be free, " shewent on after a moment of reflection. "Oh, it was a sin and a shame tosell 'em away from their children. But it's all over now, thank God. Now, I wonder where your father is, Alf. Never saw sich a man in mylife. Looks jest like he begrudges time enough to eat. There he comesnow. "

The old man came in, covered with dirt. "Alf, is the shot gun loaded?"he asked, brushing himself. 

"Yes, sir. Why?" We looked at the old fellow, wondering what he meant, but he made no explanation. Alf repeated his question. "Why?" And theold man exclaimed: "Oh, nothin'. Jest goin' to blow that red steer'shead off, that's all. Confound his hide. I wish I may die this minute ifI ever had sich a jolt in my life. Went along by him, not sayin' a wordto him, and if he didn't up and let me have both heels I'm the biggestliar that ever walked a log. Hadn't done a thing to him, mind you;walkin' along 'tendin' to my own business, when both of his heels flewat me. And I'll eat a bite and then go and blow his head off. "

"Oh, Limuel, " his wife protested; "a body to hear you talk would thinkthat you don't do anything at all but thirst for blood. If the Lord putsit in the mind of a steer to kick you, why, it ain't the poor creeter'sfault. "

The old man snorted. "And if the Lord puts it in my mind to kill thesteer it ain't my fault, muther. Conscience alive, what are we alldressed up so about?" he added, looking at Alf. "So much stile goin' onthat a body don't know whuther he's a shuckin' corn or is at a picnic. Blow his head off as soon as I eat a bite. "

I could see that Alf was anxious to tell me something, and immediatelyafter supper I went up stairs with him. He took off his coat, and afterdusting it carefully hung it up and sat down. He looked at me as if hewere delighted with the curiosity that I was showing, and then as hereached for his pipe he began: "I was a-plowing out in the field aboutthree hours by sun, when I saw Millie come out of the valley like alarkspur straightening up in the spring of the year, and after waiting awhile, but always with my eye on the house, I quit work, slipped up hereand dressed myself so as to be ready to walk home with her. I was ratherafraid to ask her at first, knowing that this was breaking away from allmy former strings and announcing my determination of keeping companywith her, out and out, and I don't know exactly how I got at it, but Idid, and the first thing I knew I was walking down the road with her. And this time I do remember what she said, but there wasn't anything soencouraging in it. The fact is she had something to tell me about you. "

"About me? What can she know about me? Probably she was giving you herfather's estimate of me. "

"No, but somebody else's estimate, " he replied. "You recollect a fellownamed Bentley?"

"Bentley? Of course, I do. We lived on adjoining farms, and I have asore cause to remember him. But how could she have heard anything abouthim?"

"Well, I'll tell you. Mrs. Bentley is old man Aimes' sister, and she'sover here now on a visit, and when she heard that you were teachingschool in the neighborhood she declared that it would be a mercy if youdidn't kill somebody before you got through. And then she told that youhad waylaid her son one night and come mighty nigh killing him. She saidthat she was perfectly willing to forgive you until she saw the scarleft on her son's forehead, and a woman can't very well forgive a scar, you know. Old Aimes and all his sons are slaughter-house dogs, and theyappeared to take up a hatred against you at once. Don't you remember aswe drove to the school a boy threw a chunk at us as we were passing aclearing and swore that he could whip us both? Well, that was theyoungest Aimes, and the trick now is, as I understand it, to send him toschool with instructions to do pretty much as he pleases and to takerevenge on you in case you whip him. Millie said that her father sworethat it was a shame and that if you wanted any help from him you couldget it. Nobody likes the Aimes family. Came in here several years ago, and have been kicking up disturbances ever since. "

I told Alf why I had snatched Bentley off his horse, nor in the leastdid I shield myself. I even called myself a brute. But I told him of theseason of sorrow and humiliation through which I had passed, that I hadinsisted upon giving Bentley the only valuable thing I possessed, thatagainst his mother's command I had striven to work for him during thetime he was laid up, and that I had even plowed his field at night. 

"I don't know that you were so far wrong in beating him in the firstplace, " said Alf, "but if you were, your course afterward should havemore than atoned for it. By gracious, I feel that if some one would plowfor me I'd let him maul me until he got tired. Millie said that she wasafraid that something might happen to get you into trouble. She seemed agood deal concerned about it, for I reckon she's got the noblest andpurest heart of any human being now in the world, and she said that shethought that if you were to give up the school her father could makesome arrangements for you to study law in Purdy, the county seat. I toldher that you would be delighted to quit teaching under ordinarycircumstances, but that just at present you'd teach or die. Was Iright?"

"Surely, and I thank you for having defined my position. I wonder if wecan commit an innocent error, an error that will lie asleep and neverrise up to confront us? Now, I shall have a fine reputation in thisneighborhood. "

"Oh, don't let that worry you, Bill. It'll come out all right. I'd bewilling to have almost any sort of name if it would influence that girlto talk in my favor as she did in yours. I don't know what to think;somehow I can't find out her opinion of me. I slily spoke about thatfellow, Dan Stuart, but she didn't say a word. Confound it, Bill, can'ta woman see that she's got a fellow on the gridiron? They can't evenbear to see a hog suffer, but they can smile and look unconcerned whilea man is writhing over the coals. I don't understand it. "

"Nor do I, Alf, but I've been over the coals--I mean that I can wellimagine what it is to be there. "

He lay down, and with his head far back on the pillow, looked upward asif with his gaze he would bore through the roof and reach the stars. Hewas silent for a long time, but when I had blown out the light and hadgone to bed, thinking that he was asleep, I heard him muttering. 

"Talking to me, Alf?" He turned over with a sigh and answered: "No, notparticularly. I was just wondering whether a man ought to try to outlivea disappointment in love or kill himself and end the matter. We are toldthat God is love, and if God is denied to a man, what's the use oftrying to struggle on? I suppose the advantage of knowledge is that itenables a man to settle such questions at once, but as I am not learned, having grabbed but a little here and there, I have to worry along with athing that another man might dismiss at once. What's your idea, Bill?"

"My idea is that a man ought never to give up; but, of course, there aretimes when he is so completely beaten that to fight longer is worse thanuseless. But learning cannot settle questions wherein the heart isinvolved. The philosopher may kill himself in despair, while theignorant man may continue to fight and may finally win. The other dayyou spoke of something that was in your favor--something that has to dowith your sister's education. Would you think it impertinent if I askyou what that something is?"

"No, I'd not think that, " he answered. I had risen up in bed and wasstraining my eyes, trying to find his face, to study his expression, butdarkness lay between us. "Not impertinent in the least, but I can't tellyou just now. After a while, if you stay here long enough, you'll knowall about it. Bill, if that young Aimes comes to school and begins anyof his pranks, take him down and I'll stand by you, and people that knowme well will tell you that I mean what I say. The old man has never beenwhipped yet, I mean my father, and nobody ever saw his son knockunder. "

CHAPTER VII. 

The next morning, when with quick stride, to make up for an anxiouslingering in the passage way, I hastened toward the school, I heard thegallop of a horse, and turning about, saw old General Lundsford cominglike a dragoon. Upon seeing me he drew in his horse and had sobered himto a walk by the time he reached a brook, on the brink of which I haltedto let him pass. 

"Why, good morning, Mr. Hawes. Beautiful day, sir. I am going your way ashort distance, and if you'll get up here behind me, sir, you shallride. "

I thanked him, telling him that I much preferred to walk. "All right, sir, and I will get down and walk with you until duty, sir, " he saidsonorously, with a bow; "until duty, sir, shall call us apart. "

I urged him not to get down, telling him that I could easily keep pacewith his horse, but he dismounted even before crossing the stream, preferring, he said, with another bow, to take his chances with me. Andthus we walked onward, the horse following close, now and then "nosing"his master's shoulder to show his preference and his loyalty. The seasonwas mellowing and the old gentleman was airily dressed in white, lowshoes neatly polished and a Panama hat. He was delighted, he said, tohear that I was getting along so well with the school, and he knew thatI would be of vast good to the community. "I have heard of the Aimesconspiracy, " said he, "and I am glad that I met you, for I wanted totalk to you about it. The truth of it all is, not that you once larrupedthat fellow Bentley, but that old Aimes wishes to put a sly indignityupon me by misusing one who has been entertained at my house. That's thepoint, sir. He heard that I had given you countenance at my board, andwhat his sister afterward told him was an excuse for the exercise, sir, of his distemper. But, by--I came within one of swearing, sir. I used tocurse like an overseer, but I joined the church not long ago, and I'vebeen walking a tight rope ever since. But as I was about to say, you arenot going to let those people humiliate you. "

"I am going to do my duty, " I answered, "and my duty does not tell me tobe humiliated. "

"Good, sir; first-rate. As a general thing, we do not look for thehighest spirit in a school-teacher--pardon my frankness, for, as youknow, one who is dependent upon a whole community, one who seeks toplease many and varied persons, is not as likely to exhibit thatindependence and vigor of action which is characteristic of the man whostands solely upon honor, with nothing to appease save his own idea ofright. But I forgot. The grandson of Captain Hawes needs no such homily. The Aimes family is a hard lot, sir, but a gentleman can at all timesstand in smiling conquest above a tough. Scott Aimes, a burly scoundrel, and, therefore, the pet of his father, at one time threatened tochastize my son Chydister, who is now off at college. And I said not aword in reply, when my son told me of the threat. I merely pointed to ashot-gun above the library door and went on with my reading of the deathnotices in the newspaper. That gun is there now, sir, and whenever youwant it, speak the word and it shall be yours. "

I laughed to myself and thought that I must be getting on well with theold General--first the offer of his library and now of his gun--and Ithanked him for the interest which he had shown in me, a mere stranger. "A well-bred Southerner is never a stranger in the South, " said he. "Weare held together by an affection stronger than any tie that runs fromheart to heart in any other branch of the human family. But, " he added, sadly shaking his head, "I fear that this affection is weakening. Ouryoung men are becoming steeped in the strong commercial spirit of theNorth. I should like to continue this pleasant and elevatingconversation, but here's where I am compelled to leave you. "

"Can I assist you to mount?" I asked, hardly knowing what else to say. He shoved his hat back and looked at me in astonishment. "You are kind, sir, but I am not yet on the lift. " But he instantly recognized thatthis was harsh, and with a broad smile he added: "Pardon me for myshortness of speech, but the truth is that a man who has spent much ofhis life in the saddle contemplates with horror the time when he must behelped to his seat. "

"General, I am the one to ask pardon, " I replied, bowing in my turn. 

"Oh, no, I assure you!" he exclaimed, mounting his horse with more easethan I had expected to see. "It was your kindness of heart, sir; acourtesy, and though a courtesy may be a mistake, it is still a virtue. Look at that old field out there, " he broke off. "Do you call that anadvancement of civilization. By--the tight rope, again--it isdesolation. "

It seemed that while walking he had regarded me as his guest, but thatnow, astride his horse and I on foot, he looked upon me as a man whom hehad simply met in the road. 

"A return of prosperity, " he said, gathering up his bridle rein, "a finereturn, indeed. About another such a return and this infernal worldwon't be fit to live in. I wish you good morning, sir. "

That very day there came to school the sullen-looking boy whom I hadseen in the tobacco patch. I asked him his name and he answered that hehad forgotten to bring it with him. "Perhaps, " said I, "it would be wellto go back and get it. "

"If you want it wus'n I do I reckon you better go atter it. "

This set the children to laughing. My humiliation was begun. 

"I understand why you have come, " said I, "and I must tell you that youmust obey the rules if you stay here. What is your name?"

"Gibblits, " he answered. The children laughed and he stood regarding mewith a leer lurking in the corners of his evil-looking mouth. 

"All right, Mr. Gibblits, where are your books?" He grinned at me andanswered: "Ain't got none. "

"Well, sit down over there and I'll attend to you after a while. "

"Won't set down and won't be attended to. "

"Well, then, I'll attend to you right now. " I grabbed him by the collar, jerked him to me and boxed his jaws. He ran out howling when I turnedhim loose, and for a time he stood off in the woods, throwing stones atthe house. The war was begun. And I expected to encounter the Aimesforces on my way home, but saw nothing of them as I passed within sightof the house. I hoped to see a look of sweet alarm on Guinea's face, when I should tell her of the danger that threatened me, and there wassweetness in her countenance, when I told her, though not a look ofalarm, but a smile of amusement. Was it that she felt no interest in me?The other members of the family were much concerned, but that was norecompense for the girl's apparent indifference. The old man snorted, Mrs. Jucklin was so wrought upon that she strove to prepare me asoothing dish at supper, but Guinea remained undisturbed. I could nothelp but speak to Alf about it when we had gone up to our room. "Oh, you never can tell anything about her, " he said. "It's not because sheisn't scared, but because she hates to show a thing of that sort. I'mmighty sorry it has come about. But there's only one way out--fight outif they jump on you. I don't know how soon they intend to do anything, but I'll nose around and come over to the school this evening if I hearanything. Don't let it worry you; just put it down as a thing thatcouldn't be helped. "

It did not worry me--the fact that I might be on the verge of serioustrouble, did not; but the thought of Guinea's careless smile lay coldupon my heart, and all night I was restless under it. And when I wentdown stairs at dawn I met her in the passage way, carrying a light. Shelooked up at me, shielding the light with her hand to keep the breezefrom blowing it out, and smiled, and in her smile there was no coolness, and yet there was naught to show me that she had passed an anxiousnight. Ah, love, we demand that you shall not only be happy, butmiserable at our wish. We would dim your eye when our own is blurred; wewould smother your heart when our own is heavy, and would pierce it witha pain. Upon her children this old world has poured the wisdom of hergathered ages, and could we look from another sphere we might see theminds of great men twinkling like the stars, but the human heart is yetunschooled, yet has no range of vision, but chokes and sobs in its ownemotion, as it did when the first poet stood upon a hill and criedaloud to an unknown God. 

Away across the valley and over the hills the peeping sun was a glaringscollop when I came out to take my course through the woods toward theschool. I knew that the girl stood in the door behind me. Alf and theold man were already in the field; I could hear them talking to theirhorses; and Mrs. Jucklin was up stairs--Guinea and I were alone. Iturned and looked at her and again she smiled. 

"The world seems to be holding its breath, waiting for something tohappen, " she said. "To me it always appears so when there is a lull inthe air just at sunrise. "

"What a fanciful little creature you are, " I replied. 

"Little! Oh, you mustn't call me little. I'm taller than mother. I don'twant to be little, although it is more appealing. I want to becommanding. "

"But what can be more commanding than an appeal?" I asked. 

"Yes, when the appeal is pitiful, but I don't want any one to pity me, "she said, laughing. "You big folks have such a patronizing way. Youdon't look well this morning, Mr. Hawes. Is it because you have beenworrying over those wretched Aimes boys? Won't you please forgive me?"she quickly added. "I don't know why I said that, for I ought to knowthat you are not afraid of them. "

"I didn't sleep very well, " I answered, "but I was not thinking of theAimes boys. Shall I tell you what worried me?"

"Yes, surely. "

"It may require almost an unwarranted frankness on my part, but I willtell you. It seemed to me that----" I hesitated. "Go on, " she said. "Well, it seemed that you were strangely unconcerned when I told youthat I was likely to have trouble with those people. "

She stood with her head resting against the door-facing. I looked hardat her, striving to catch some sign of emotion, but I saw no evidence offeeling; she was cool and reserved. 

"I don't know why you should have thought that, " she said. "Why should Ibe so uncharitable. I was very sorry that anything was likely tointerrupt the school. "

"Oh, " I replied, and perhaps with some bitterness, "it really amounts tobut little--the threat of those ruffians, I mean--and to speak about italmost puts me down as a fool. I hope you will forgive me. "

I hastened away, with a senseless anger in my heart, and I think that itis well that I saw no member of the Aimes family that morning on my wayto school. 

Everything went forward as usual; play-time came, and the childrenshouted in the woods, and the hour for dismissal had nearly arrived whenin stalked Alf with a shot-gun. He nodded at me and took a seat far tothe rear of the room, as if careful lest he might interrupt the closingceremonies. And when the last child was gone my friend came forward, shaking his head. 

"What's the trouble now?" I asked, taking down my hat. 

"Put your hat right back there, unless you want to wear it in thehouse, " he said. "I have found out that those fellows are laying foryou, and it won't be safe to start home now; we'll have to wait untildark. Oh, they'll get you sure if you go now. They have been to town, Iunderstand, and have come back pretty well loaded up with whisky. Oh, they are as bold as lions now. But we'll fix them all right. We'll waituntil dark and not go by the road, and to-morrow morning we'll go overand see what they've got to say. "

"Alf, I don't know how to express my thanks to you. You are running agreat risk----"

"Don't mention that, Bill. You stood by me, you understand--walked rightinto the General's house with me, and I said to myself that if you evergot into a pinch that I'd be on hand and stand with you. Did you bring apistol?"

"Yes, and I am very glad that I didn't meet one of those fellows as Icame along. However, I should not know one of them if I were to meet himin the road. "

"But you'll know them after a while. Do these doors lock?"

"I think not, or, at least, they could be easily forced open. Do youthink they are likely----"

"They are likely to do anything now, " he broke in. "And there are justfour of them big enough to fight--of the boys, I mean, for the old manhas sense enough to keep out of it. "

"It is a wonder, then, " said I, "that he hasn't sense enough to keep hissons out of it, as he must know that no good can be the result. "

"That's all true enough, " Alf replied, "but I have heard that you can'targue with the instinct of a brute, and I know that it is useless toargue with red liquor. Here, let's shove the writing desk against thisdoor, " he added. "Once more, shove again. That's it. Now we'll pilebenches against the other one. We can't do anything with the windows, but must simply keep out of the way of them. "

"Do you think they will shoot through them?" I asked. 

He halted, with the end of a bench in his grasp, and looked at me. "Bill, if I didn't know better I'd swear that you are not of the South. Don't you know that if you enrage white trash it is likely to doanything? Don't you know that consequences are never counted?"

"I know all that, " I replied, "but I was considering the incentive. Iknow that if you give the Cracker a cause he will do most anything, buthave I given him a cause?"

"You have given him all the excuse he wants. One more bench. That's it. And now the fury of their fight will depend upon the quantity of liquorthey have with them. I didn't tell any of the home folks that I wascoming here--told them that I might meet you and that we might not behome until late. I wouldn't be surprised----"

Out in the woods there was the blunt bark of a short gun, the windowglass was splintered in a circle, a sharp zip and a piece of the clay"chinking" flew from the opposite wall. 

"What did I tell you?" said Alf, looking at me as if pleased with theproof of his forecast. "You get over on that side and I'll stay here. Get down on the floor and look through between the logs if you can finda place, and if you can't punch out the dirt, but be easy; they mightsee you. There he is again. " The glass in the other window wasshattered. "That's all right, " said Alf. "They may charge on us after awhile, and then we'll let them have it. Have you found a place?"

"I have made one, " I answered, lying flat on the floor, gazing out. Noshot had been fired from my side, and I had begun to think that theentire force was confronting Alf when in the sobering light I saw a manstanding beside a tree not more than fifty yards distant. He appeared tobe talking to some one, for I saw him look round and nod his head. I didnot want to kill him, although the law was plainly on my side, but a manmay stand shoulder to shoulder with the law and yet wound his ownconscience. Another figure came within sight, among the bushes, appearing to rise out of the leafy darkness, and then there came a loudshout: "Come out of there, you coward!"

"Don't say a word, " said Alf. "They are trying to locate you. I don'tsee anybody yet, and it's getting most too dark now. But I reckon we'dboth better fire to let them know that there is more than one of us. Wedon't want to take any advantage of them, you know, " he added, laughing. 

"It doesn't look as if we were, " I answered. "I could kill one of them, Alf. "

"The devil you could! Then do it. Here, let me get at him. "

"No, " I replied, waving him off from my peep-hole. "It is better not tokill him until we are forced to. "

"But we are forced to now, don't you see? They've shot at us. There youare!" They had fired a volley, it seemed. "Let me get at him, " said Alf. 

"I'll try him, " I replied. And I poked the barrel of my pistol throughthe crack, pretended to take a careful aim and fired. 

"Did you get him?" Alf asked. 

"Don't know; can't see very well. "

"Well, if I find one of them he's gone, " he replied, returning to hisown look-out. And a moment later the almost simultaneous discharge ofboth barrels of his gun jarred the house. "Don't know whether I got himor not, " he said, as he drew back and began to reload, "for I couldn'tsee very well, but I'll bet he thinks a hurricane came along through thebushes. It's too dark now to see anything and all we can do is to wait. "

"Wait for what?" I asked. 

"Wait for them to try to break in. They'll try it after they have had afew more pulls at the bottle, I think. Now let's keep perfectly quietand watch. "

The moon had not yet risen and the woods stood about us like a blackwall. No wind was abroad, the air in the house was close, and I couldhear my own heart beating against the floor. There was scarcely any useto look out now, for nothing could be seen, and I arose and sat with myback against the wall, taking care to keep clear of the small openingwhich I had made. It was so dark in the room that I could not see Alf, but I could hear him, for softly he was humming a tune: "Hi, BettieMartin, tip-toe fine. " For days he had been heavy with the melancholy ofhis love, but now in this hour of danger his heart seemed to be lightand attuned to a rollicking air. I have known many a man to breathe adelicious thrill in an atmosphere of peril, to feel a leap of the blood, a gladness, but it was at a time of intense excitement, a sort of epicjoy; but how could a man, lying in the dark, waiting for he knew notwhat--how could he put down a weighty care and take up a lightsome tune?

Down in the hollow a screech owl was crying, and his mate on thehill-top replied to his call, while in the room near me was the whif ofa bat. And Alf was now so silent that I thought he must have fallenasleep, but soon I heard him softly whistling: "Hi, Bettie Martin, tip-tip-toe fine. "

"You seem to be enjoying yourself, " said I. "If you had brought a fiddlewe might have a dance. "

I heard him titter as he wallowed on the floor. "This is fun, " he said, "the only real fun I've had since--I was going to say since the war, butI was too young to go into society at that time. "

"What do you think they are up to now, Alf?" I asked. 

"Blamed if I know. Getting tired?"

"Well, I don't want to stay here all night. What are we waiting for?"

"It's hard to tell just at present, and if we don't get a moreencouraging report pretty soon we'll break the engagement and go home. What's that?"

I listened and at first heard nothing, and was just about to say that itmust be the screech-owl come closer, when from a corner of the housethere came a distant and sharp crackle. I heard Alf scuffle to his feet. "We are in for it!"

It was true, for now we could see the light glaring on the bushes and amoment later a spear of light shot inward, revealing my friend standingthere with his hands buried deep in his pockets. "Those old logs are asdry as a powder horn, " he carelessly remarked. "Won't take long to burnthe thing down. "

"But what are we going to do?" I cried. And now the room was aglow, andshadows were dancing on the wall. 

"I was just thinking, " said he, looking about. "They'll begin shootingin here as soon as that end is burned out. Wish I had seen that rascalwhen he slipped up here to kindle this fire. Helloa, it's spread to theroof. "

I strove to show him that I could be as calm and as careless as he, butnow I was startled, and excitedly exclaimed: "We shall be burned up likerats in a barn!"

"Oh, I reckon not. Here, let's pull up a plank out of the floor andcrawl under and if we can get into the bushes we'll be all right. Here's a crack. But I can't move it, " he added, after straining at theboard. "See if you can get your fingers through here. "

I dropped upon my knees and thrust my fingers through the crack. Thefire had now gained such headway that the air was hot and a glare dancedon the wall where the shadow had crept; and we heard the Aimes boys yellin the woods a short distance off. With all my strength I pulled at theboard; I got off my knees and braced myself, and with a quick jerk theboard came up with a loud rip and I fell backward on the floor. 

"Go ahead, " said Alf, quietly standing there, with his gun under hisarm. "Get down through and work your way toward the other end. "

"You go first, Alf. "

"I'm in no hurry. But may be I know of an opening where the sheep comeunder in winter. Follow me, then. "

Down we went into the fine and suffocating dust. Here and there thesheep and the hogs had dug deep beds in their restlessness, when nightshad been cold, but in places the floor was so close to the ground that Icould scarcely crawl through. We heard one end of the roof fall in, andthen a volley was fired from the woods. 

"What did I tell you?" said Alf. "We understand their tactics, any way. Don't believe you can get through here, Bill. Wait, I can dig down thislump with my gun. Wish I had a hatchet. Ever notice how handy a hatchetis?"

"For God's sake, let me get at it, Alf. I can feel the heat. The wholething will fall down on us in a minute. That'll do; I can squeezethrough. "

Alf crawled into one of the deep beds and reached back to help pull methrough. "Bill, looks like this place was made for you, only I wish theyhad made it a trifle bigger. Once more. "

And there I struggled and there he pulled. "I am gone, Alf; I can't getout. Save yourself if you can. "

"If you can't get out I know you are not gone, Bill, " he replied with alaugh, but it was a laugh of despair rather than of merriment. "Don'tgive up. Once more. You are coming. What did I tell you?" And again helaughed, but not in despair. We were now at the wall, at the very holethrough which the sheep were wont to come in. "You first, this time, Bill. Sheer off to the left. The bushes are not more than fifteen feetaway. "

With but little difficulty I squeezed through the opening. And now I wasin a hot and dazzling glare. A breeze had sprung up with the flames, andbehind me was a roar, and a crash of the falling beams. I looked notabout me, but straight ahead toward the thicket, now waving as if sweptby a strong wind; and within a minute after reaching the outer air I wascrawling through a thick clump of blackberry briars, with Alf close uponmy heels. We soon came upon a sheep-walk covered with briars, and now wecould make faster time. The Aimes boys were still firing into theburning house, and it was evident that they had not discovered ourescape. 

"We can walk now, " Alf whispered. "Turn down here to the right and keepthe shumac bushes between us and them. Now we are all right. "

Not another word was spoken until we had reached a knoll, some distanceaway. Then we halted and looked back. And now the old house was but ablazing heap. Alf was peeping about through the trees, and suddenly hisgaze was set. He cocked his gun and brought it to his shoulder. 

"No, " I said. "You will only regret it. " I grasped the gun and bothhammers fell upon my hand. "Get back!" he commanded. 

"No, " I said, my hand still under the hammers. "You must not. "

He looked hard at me for a moment and then suffered me to take the gun. The fire was now dying, and, looking to the left, whence the firing hadcome, I saw two of the Aimes boys standing under a tree. 

"Bill, I could kill both of them, " Alf said, in a sorrowful voice. 

"I know, my dear boy, but you must not. You would always regret it. Wewill let the law take charge of them to-morrow. "

"Not to-morrow, Bill, but to-night. To-morrow they will be gone. "

"All right; just as you say. Where is the nearest officer?"

"A deputy sheriff lives about two miles from here, off to the right ofour road home. Come on. "

We came into the road after making a circuit through the woods, andhastened onward. And we must have gone nearly half the distance to thedeputy's house when we heard the Aimes boys coming behind us, drunk andwhooping. "They think we are burnt up, " said Alf; "but we'll show them. Let's get aside into the bushes, and when they come along we'll let themhave it. "

"We will get aside into the bushes, " said I, "but we will not let themhave it. Come over this side. Let me have your gun. "

He let me take the gun, and as he stood near me, waiting for theruffians to pass, I thought that he made an unseemly degree of noise, merely to attract their attention so that he might have an opportunityto fire at them. "Keep still, Alf, " I whispered. 

They came down the road, singing a bawdy song. For a moment I was halfinclined to give Alf his gun, but that early lesson, the waylaying ofBentley, restrained me. We heard the scoundrels talking between theiroutbursts of song. "Piece of roast hog wouldn't go bad jest about now, Scott. I feel sorter gnawish after my excitement of the evenin'. "

"Wall, if you air hongry and hanker atter hog, why don't you go backyander and git a piece that we've jest roasted?"

Alf's hand closed about the barrels of his gun, and strongly he pulled, but I loosened his grip and whispered: "Let them go. There is no honorand very little revenge in shooting a brute. "

"I reckon you are right, " he replied, but he did not whisper, and out inthe road there was a quick scuffling of feet and then a halt. I threwone arm about Alf and pressed one hand over his mouth. 

"What was that, Scott?"

"I didn't hear nothin'. "

"Thought I heared somebody a-talkin'. "

"Yes, you thought like Young's niggers--thought buck-eyes was biscuits. Come on, boys. We'll go over and wake old Josh up and git more licker. "

They passed on, and when I had given Alf the opportunity to speak hesaid: "Good. They are going over to a negro's house and we'll get thereabout the time they do, and if we can't get anybody but the deputy tohelp us we'll have to kill one or two of them. Now keep up with me. "

Off through the woods he went at a trot, leaping logs and splashingthrough a brook where it was broad; and I kept well up with him. Alreadymy mind had ceased to dwell upon the narrowness of our escape; I wasthinking of Guinea as she had stood, shielding the light with her hand. 

CHAPTER VIII. 

We were not long in reaching the house of the deputy sheriff. A loudcall brought him out to the fence. And when we had quickly told him whatwas wanted, he whistled to express his gratification or his surprise andI fancied that I saw his hair bristling in the moonlight, for he hadcome out bareheaded. 

"Now let me think a minute, boys, " said he. "I have been an officer longenough to know that it ain't much credit to take a fellow after he'sdead--most anybody can do that. What we want is to capture them and todo that we've got to have more men. Alf, I tell you what you do. You andyour friend slip over to old Josh's and keep watch to see that theydon't get away, and I'll ride as fast as I can and get General Lundsfordand your daddy. What do you say?"

"I say it's a first-rate plan, " Alf answered. "I don't think the Generalwould like to be left out and I know that father wouldn't. Come on, Bill. "

The negro's house was not far away, and hastening silently through thewoods we soon came within sight of it, on the side of a hill, at theedge of a worn-out field. We softened our foot-steps as we drew nearunto the cabin, and we could hear the ruffians within, singing, swearing, dancing. We halted at the edge of the woods, within ten feetof the door, and listened. "Let us slip up and take a peep at them, "said Alf; and carefully we climbed over the old fence, taking care notto break any of the rotting rails lest we might sound an alarm. We madenot the slightest noise, but just as we were within touching distance ofthe cabin, a dog sprang from behind a box in the chimney corner. I don'tknow how much noise it might have been his intention to make or whetherhe belonged to the stealthy breed of curs whose delight it is to make asilent lunge at the legs of a visitor, but I do know that he made not asound, for I grabbed him by the throat and the first thing he knew hiseyes were popping out between their fuzzy lids. I choked him until Ithought he must be dead, and then, with a swing, I threw him far overthe fence into the woods. We listened and heard him scrambling in thedried leaves and then he was still. The cabin was built of poles and wasold. Many a rain had beaten against the "chinking" and we had no troublein finding openings through which we could plainly see all that wentforward within. Just as I looked in I heard the twang of a banjo, and Isaw the old negro sitting on the edge of a bed, picking the instrument, while two white men were patting a break-down and two others were tryingto dance. At the fire-place a negro woman was frying meat and baking ahoe-cake. 

"Generman, " said the negro, twanging his strings and measuring hiswords to suit his tune, "don't want right now to be so pertinence--be sopertinence; but, yes, I'd like to know, hi, hi, hi, yes, like to knowwhut you gwine gimme fur dis yere, yes, whut you gwine gimme fur all disyere?"

The patting ceased instantly, and the two men danced not anothershuffle, and one of them, Scott, I afterward learned, cried out: "What, you old scoundrel, air you dunnin' us already?"

"Oh, naw, sah, skuze me, " said the old negro, "I ain't doin' dat, fur Idun tole you dat I didn' want ter be pertinence, but dar's some things, you know, dat er pusson would like ter un'erstan', an' whut I gwine gitfur all dis yere is one o' 'em. I has gib you licker an' I has gib youmusic, an' wife, dar, is cookin' supper fur you, an' it ain' no mo' denreason dat I'd wanter know whut we gwine git fur it. "

"Well, we'll pay you all right enough, " replied Scott Aimes. "You'vealways treated us white, and you are about the only man in thisneighborhood that has. "

"I thankee, sah, " the negro rejoined; "yas, I thankee, sah, fur I jestwanted ter be satisfied in my mine, an' I tell you dat when er pusson istroubled in his mine he's outen fix sho nuff. Hurry up dar, Tildy, widyou snack, fur deze genermen is a-haungry. "

"I hope she won't get it ready any too soon, " I whispered to Alf, andhe, with his face close to mine, replied: "You can trust an old negrowoman for that. It won't take Parker very long to ride over to theGeneral's house, and they can pick up father on the way back. "

"Won't your mother and--and Guinea be frightened?"

"Not much. They've seen the old man go out on the war path more thanonce. Let's see what they are doing now. "

Scott had taken the banjo and was turning it over, looking at it. We sawhim take out a knife and then with a twang he cut the strings. "GoodLawd!" exclaimed the negro, and his wife turned from the fire with alook of sorrow and reproach, for the distressful sound had told heraccustomed ear that a calamity had befallen the instrument. "Now jestlook whut you done!" the negro cried, and his wife, wiping her hands onher apron, looked at Scott Aimes and said: "Ef dat's de way you gwineack, I'll burn dis yere braid an' fling dis yere meat in de fire. Erbody workin' fur you ez hard ez I is, an' yere you come er doin' datway. It's er shame, sah, dat's whut it is. It's er plum shame, I doankere ef you is white an me black. "

Scott roughly tossed the banjo into a corner and laughed. "Sounds ablamed sight better in death than in life, " said he. 

"But who gwine pay fur dat death music?" the negro asked. 

"Pay for it!" Scott turned fiercely upon the negro and Alf caught up hisgun. "Wait!" I whispered. 

"Pay for it!" Scott raved. "Why you infernal old scoundrel, do we haveto pay every time we turn round? But we'll make it all right with you, "he added, turning away; and Alf lowered his gun. 

"I hopes ter de Lawd you will, " said the woman, "fur we needs it badenough. "

"You do?" Scott replied. "Well, you'd better be thankful that we don'tblow on you for sellin' whisky without license. "

"Dar ain' no proof o' de fack dat I has sol' none ter-night, " said theold negro, shaking his head. 

"What's that?" Scott demanded, wheeling round. 

"Skuze me, sah, nothin' er tall. Jest er passin' de time o' de day, sah. "

"Didn't I tell you that we would pay you for everything we got?"

"Yas, sah, an' you's er generman, sah; yas, I thanks you fur gwinter payme. "

"Yo' supper is done an' ef you'll jest gib me room I'll fix de table, "the woman remarked, taking the bread off the griddle. 

"I hear them coming!" Alf whispered. I looked round and saw them at thefence. They had tied their horses in the woods. We stepped out from theshadow and held up our hands to enjoin care. 

"I'll go first, and you boys follow me, " said the General, cocking hispistol and letting the hammer down to see if it worked well. 

"Oh, I reckon not, " Lim Jucklin replied. "I'm older than you are and youknow it. Come on, boys. "

"Older!" the General exclaimed, with such force that we had to tell himto make less noise. "I am eight months older than you are, and you knowit. Come on, boys. "

Old Lim took hold of him. "This ain't altogether your picnic; theinvertations come from my house, and----"

"What the devil difference does it make?" the deputy spoke up. "I'm theonly officer present and I'll go first. "

I thought that it was my time to act, and, telling them to follow me, Ireached the door almost at a stride and threw my full weight against it. The door flew off its hinges and fell on the floor broad-side, and theAimes brothers, now seated at a table, were "covered" with guns andpistols before they had time to stir in their chairs. They appeared tobe horror-stricken at seeing Alf and me, and in a moment their handswere in the air. 

"Josh, " the deputy commanded, "bring us a plow line. Never mind, youhaven't time for that. Take off that bed cord. "

The woman had squeezed herself into a corner, between a "cubbord" andthe wall, but she came out and protested against the use of her bedcord. "Get that cord!" the deputy commanded. "Move that hand again, Scott Aimes, and I'll kill you. Here we are, " he added, when the negrohad tumbled off the bed-clothes and unfastened the cord. "Now cut it infour pieces. "

"Fur de Lawd's sake!" the woman shouted, "you ain' gwine treat er pussondatter way, is you? Fust da cuts de banjo strings an' den yere come delaw an' cuts de bed cawd. Laws er massy whut got inter dis worl' nohow. "

"Keep quiet, " said the deputy. "Here, big man, tie their wrists anddon't be afraid of hurting them. I've had my eye on you gentlemen forsome time. That's it, give it to them hard. Tie their ankles, too. Butwe have only four pieces of rope. Go now and get a plow-line, Josh. "

We put back the table and the chairs and stood our prisoners in thecenter of the room, sullen and coarse-featured brutes, and waited forthe negro to come with the plow-line, and presently he appeared with anew grass rope. "That's just exactly what we want, " said the deputy. "Cut it in four pieces, and, big man, " he continued, speaking to me, "Imust again call on you. Tight around the shank and no feelingsconsidered. That's it; you go at it in the right way--must have tiedchickens for the market. I must really beg pardon of these gentlemen fornot getting a warrant; we were pushed for time and, therefore, we are atrifle irregular, but my dear sirs, I promise you that you shall have awarrant just as soon as we get into Purdy. You should be satisfied withmy admitting that I am irregular. "

The General roared with a great laugh. "Your apology is of the finestfeather, the most gracious down, " said he, "but our friends mustremember that in an irregularity often lie some of the most preciousmerits of this life. "

"If we hadn't been huddled round this here table you wouldn't be havin'sich fun, " said Scott Aimes, quivering under my strong pull at the rope. "We never did ask nothin' but a fair show, but we didn't git it thistime, by a long shot. "

"Silence, brute, " the General commanded. "As low as you are, you shouldknow better than to break in upon the high spirits of a gentleman. Oh, Ihave understood you all along. You were working your courage toward me. Hush, don't you speak a word. "

"Got them all strung?" the deputy asked, examining the ropes. "Good. Now, Josh, you run over to my house as fast as you can and tell my wifethat you want the two-horse wagon. And hitch it up and come back here asfast as you can. Go on; I'll pay you for everything. "

"Thankee, sah, I'm gone. It loosens er ole pusson's feet, sah, ter knowdat he gwine be paid. Hard times allus comin' down de big road, erkickin' up er dust. "

"Are you going?" the deputy stormed. "Confound you; I'll put you in jailfor selling whisky if you are not back here in fifteen minutes. "

"Gone now!" exclaimed the negro, bounding from the door and striking atrot. "Gone!" we heard him repeat, as he leaped over the fence. 

"Mr. Parker, " said Scott Aimes, stretching his neck toward the officer, "I've jest got one favor to ask of you. Git that bottle over thar an'give us fellers a drink. It was licker that got us into this here muss, an' you ought to let licker help us a little now. "

"Old fellow used to keep a grocery over at Blue Lick, " the deputyremarked, looking at me rather than at the prisoner, "and when a man'smoney was all gone he used to say: 'Lord love you, honey, I couldn'tthink of letting you take another drop; I'm so much interested in yourwelfare that I don't want to see you hurt yourself. ' No, Scottfield"--and now he looked at the prisoner--"I am too muchinterested in you to see you throw yourself away. Don't be impatient. 'Just wait for the wagon, ' says the old song. "

The old General had sat down, but old Lim continued to stand there, hisarms bare and his teeth hard-set. On his countenance lay the shadow of aregret, and I have thought that he was grieved at the spoiling of thefight that he thought should have taken place to reward him for thetrouble of leaving home. The prisoners winced under his gaze, as hiseyes leaped about from one to another. But he said not a word; juststood there, with his teeth hard-set. 

Soon we heard the wagon, rumbling along the road that skirted the oldfield, and we began to set our prisoners near the door, picking them upand putting them down like upright sticks. The wagon drew up near thedoor, the woman held a light for us and we began our work of loading. And I was glad when the deputy said that he no longer needed ourassistance; I was afraid that he would ask me to drive to town with him. 

"Well, " he said, gathering up the lines and glancing back at his load, "a pretty good haul for these hard times. Whoa, wait a minute. Say, General, I suppose you have heard some talk of my candidacy for theoffice of sheriff, and I reckon you have seen to-night whether or not Iam worthy of the trust. It's always well to put in a word in time, youknow. I reckon I've got you all right, Alf, and, big man, wish you couldvote with us this time. Well, I'll let you gentlemen know when you arewanted at court. "

Old Lim and the General led their horses and walked with Alf and me; andwe heard many a grunt and snort as we told of the burning of theschool-house. Old Lim swore that I ought to have let Alf kill ScottAimes, but the General sided with me. "That would have done no good, Lim, " said he. "It's far better as we now have it. I am glad to see, Mr. Hawes, that you have so much discretion, a most noble quality, sir. Nowas to the loss of the house, that amounts to nothing. It ought to havebeen set afire long ago. And I'll tell you what shall be done: A newbuilding shall be put up at once, not of logs, but of frame, and itshall be neatly painted to show people that we are keeping up with thetimes. Every neighborhood about us has a fine school-house; the old loghuts have disappeared, and we are going to march right in the van, sir. But I want to tell you right now that it was in those log school-housesthat the greatest men in the nation have been taught; and when I see apile of logs out in the woods I fancy that I can hear the classics lowlyhummed. "

"Gentlemen, " said old Lim, "if it was day time instead of night I wouldinvite you to see some of the finest sport you ever run across, for I'min the humor for it right now. But chickens have a prejudice aginfightin' at night. Many a time when I had trouble on my mind andcouldn't sleep I've got up and tried to stir their blood, but they wantto nod; that's what they want to do at night--nothin' but nod, unlessyou've got light enough, and then if you stir 'em up they'll git so madthat they'll go it smack to a finish. "

"Talking about those chickens?" the General asked. "Confound them, they'd have no attraction for me if it were mid-day. But pardon me. Imean simply that I take no interest in such things. "

Old Lim grunted. "Right here is where I git on my horse, " said he. Andhe mounted and rode on ahead in moody silence. 

I was now walking beside the General and Alf was just behind me. Severaltimes the young man sighed distressfully and I knew that something heavyhad fallen upon his mind. Presently he pulled at my coat and as Idropped back he took my place. "General, you said just now that Bill wasright in not letting me shoot that fellow, Scott Aimes. " He hesitatedand was silent for a few moments, striding beside the General, and theGeneral said nothing--was waiting for him to continue. "Said that I waswrong, " Alf repeated, "and I reckon I was, but I hope you won't sayanything about it--at home. "

"Why not at home, sir? Hah, why not at home? 'Od zounds, can't agentleman talk in his own house?"

Alf began to drop back. "What he means, General, " said I, taking hisplace, "is that he has so much respect for you that he does not want youto think ill of him when you are alone, meditating in your own house. "

"Ha, now, a fine whim, but it's a respectful whim and shall be honored, sir. I don't understand the young men of this day and generation, but Iknow what respect means. I don't know that I condemned you, Alf; I spokefor the most part of the discretion of your friend. Well, gentlemen, here is where I leave you. "

He threw the bridle reins over the horse's neck and was preparing tomount, when Alf started forward as if to help him, but I clutched him sovigorously that he turned upon me and asked what I meant. "Keep still, "I whispered. "I'll tell you after a while. "

By this time the old gentleman was astride his horse. He took off hishat, bowed with the air of a cavalier, and, bidding us good-night, galloped off down the road. Then I told Alf why I had held him back, that I had almost insulted the old man by offering to assist him inmounting his horse; and Alf stood there actually trembling at thenarrowness of his escape. I know that we should have been burned up hadhe been half so badly frightened while we were in the school-house. 

The nights were shortened by the season's approach to the first of May. It seemed a long time since the twilight had glimmered on the leaves, and it was past midnight when we reached home. Old Lim had put up hishorse and was standing at the draw-bars, waiting for us. 

"For a smart man, " said he, "I reckon the General's got about as littlesense as any human now alive. By jings, he's a crank; that's what's thematter with him; and the first thing he knows people will be keepin' outof his way. "

A light flashed from the passage and we saw Guinea and her motherstanding on the log step, gazing toward us. 

"It's all right!" the old man cried. "Go on to bed, and don't bestanding around this time of night. "

Alf and I, leaving the old man at the bars, went to the house. "Oh, I'mso glad you've all got back, " said Mrs. Jucklin, striving to be calm, but whimpering. "Are you sure that you are all safe and sound?"

Guinea began to laugh. "Of course, they are, mother, don't you see?"

"But what's your father still standin' out yonder for? I jest know he'scrippled. Limuel, are you hurt?" she cried. 

"Yes, I am hurt, and by a man that prefers to be a crank. Said that hewouldn't care anything about 'em even if it was daylight. "

"Oh, but you are not shot, are you?" his wife exclaimed, starting towardhim. 

"Go in now, Susan, and don't come foolin' with me. Who said I was shot?Go on to bed, everybody, and I'll come when I git ready. "

"But you must be hungry, Limuel?"

"Hungry, the devil--excuse me, ma'm. I'll eat a snack mebby between nowand mornin'. "

"It's no use to talk to him, " she said, with a sigh, and, turning to me, she added: "You and Alf must be nearly starved. We've kept the coffeewarm. Guinea, go and pour it out for 'em. "

"Will you tell me all about the fight?" the girl asked when we enteredthe dining-room. "I like to hear about such things. "

I strove to make light of it, but, seeing that this would not satisfyher, I told of the burning of the house and of the capture of the Aimesbrothers, colored our danger in the house, to see her lips whiten andher eyes stare; pictured myself as I must have looked when I seized thedog, to choke him, and to throw him far into the woods--told her all, except that I had caught the hammers of Alf's gun. 

"I don't see how you kept from killing them when you got the chance, "she said, leaning with her elbows on the table and her chin in herhands, musing: "I don't understand how you could keep from it. "

Alf threw down his knife and fork and struck the table with his fist. "Iwanted to kill Scott--had a bead on him, but Bill grabbed my gun. Guinea, I'm glad you stand by me, you and father; but the General thinksI was wrong, and I was just about to think that everybody's heart wasright but mine. I am glad you are with me, Guinea. "

I looked at her as she sat there, musing; her hair was tangled as if astorm of thought had swept through her head, and sorely I wonderedwhether a care for me had been borne through the storm. I forgot thepresence of Alf; I forgot everything except that I would have given myblood and my soul to please her, and with bitterness I said: "Oh, if Ihad known that you wanted him killed I would not only have let Alf killhim--I would have killed him myself. "

She looked up from her attitude of musing and met my outbreak with aquiet laugh. "The bigger a man is the sillier he is, " she said, stilllaughing. "Why, I don't want him dead. I wouldn't like to have anyonekilled. I merely wondered how, having come so close to being burned up, you could keep from killing him. I thought that I understood most men, but I don't understand you, Mr. Hawes. "

"Yes, you do!" I cried; "you understand me too well, and that is why youtorture me. "

"What!" exclaimed Alf, springing to his feet, "are you on the gridiron?Has she got you where somebody has got me? By--there comes mother. "

I looked back as I passed out of the room, and Guinea sat there, musing. Alf put his arm about me as we went up the stairs. We did not light thelamp, but sat down in the dark, sat there and for a long time weresilent. 

"Bill, oh, Bill. "

"Yes, " I answered. 

"Bill, don't ask me anything. Father may tell you something to-morrow. God bless you, Bill. You have stood by me. Good-night. "

CHAPTER IX. 

It must have been daylight before I worried my way into a sleep thatseemed jagged and sharp-cornered with many an evil turn; and when Iawoke the sun was shining. I looked out, and far across the field I sawAlf, walking behind his plow. The hour was late for one to rise in thecountry, for the sun was far above the tops of the trees. But I carednot for any impression that might be made by my apparent laziness; myhead was heavy and my heart was crushed. No sound came from below, andafter dressing--and how mean my clothes did look--I sat down at mywriting desk--sat and mused, just as I had seen Guinea sitting, with herelbows on the table and with her chin in her hands. And Alf would askthe old man to tell me something. Tell me what?

I went down stairs. Mrs. Jucklin was sweeping the yard. She put down herbroom upon seeing me and came forward, wiping her hands. I began toapologize for being so late. "Oh, that makes no difference, " she said. "Alf told us not to wake you. I will go in and fix you something toeat. "

"Now, don't put yourself to any trouble, for, really, I couldn't eat abite; I'm not very well. Where is Mr. Jucklin?"

"Why, you must eat something. He's gone to the blacksmith shop broke thepoint off his plow against a rock and had to go and get it fixed. Heought to be back by now. It ain't but a little ways down the road. Areyou goin' over there? Well, if you see him tell him that Guinea and Iare goin' to see Mrs. Parker and won't be back till evenin'. Tell himthat we'll leave everything on the table. "

Down the road I went, looking for the blacksmith shop, and I had notgone far before I saw the old man coming, with his plow on his shoulder. He was talking to himself and did not see me until I spoke to him. "Letme take that plow, " I said. "Give it to me. I'm stronger than you. "

"I reckon you are right, " he replied, looking up at me with a grin, "butI can tote it all right enough. "

But I took the plow from him, and walked along with it on my shoulder, waiting for him to say something. 

"You haven't seen Alf this mornin', have you?" he asked. 

"No; I was asleep when he got up. Why?"

"Well, jest wanted to know. Alf takes some strange notions into his headonce in a long while, and he had one this mornin'. Told me to tell yousuthin' that very few folks know. Don't know why, unless he thinks moreof you than he does of any other young man. Never saw him take to aperson as he has to you. And I reckon I better tell you. But I hate totalk about it. "

We walked on in silence, and in my impatience I shifted the plow fromone shoulder to the other. "I'll take it when you git tired of it, " hesaid. "Now, it may be putty hard for you to understand the situation, and I'm free to say that I can't make it so very plain, but I'll do thebest I can. One day, a long time ago, old General Lundsford came tome--long after I had wallowed him, you understand. And now as to thatwallowin', why, he could have killed me if he had wanted to. He's game. Well, he came to me, and about as nearly as I can ricollect said this:'My son Chydister, strong-headed little rascal that he is, vows an'declares that when he grows up he is goin' to marry your daughterGuinea. I'll be frank with you and tell you that I didn't approve of it, and I scouted the idea, not that your daughter ain't as good as anygirl, but because I don't mind tellin' you, I've got a family name tokeep up. I told him this, but he was so young and so headstrong that heswore that it made no difference to him. You know they have playedtogether, up and down the branch, and he thinks there aint nobody likeher. Well, sir, he kept on talkin about it until I knowed that he wasset, and that there wasn't any use to try to turn him, so I began tothink it over seriously. That boy is my life's blood, and I want toplease him in every way I can, and I don't want him to marry beneathhim. I'm goin' to make a doctor out of him, the very best that can bemade, and his companion must be an educated woman. They are goin' tomarry when they grow up in spite of anything we can do, and now I'vegot a request to make of you. I know that you wouldn't let me give you acent of money, but as an honest man you can't refuse to let me lend youenough money to send your daughter to school along with my own daughter;and whenever you think that you are able to pay me back, all right, andif you never are able, it will still be all right. '"

The old man paused, and now I walked, along carrying the plow in frontof me, stumbling, seeing no road, caring not whither my feet mightwander. "I'll take it now, " he said, reaching for the plow. "You don'tknow how to tote it, nohow. "

I pushed him back and said: "Go on with your story. "

I was walking so fast that he was almost trotting to keep up with me. "Right there I was weak, " he said. "I thought of what a bright creaturemy girl was, thought of what education would do for her, thought that Icould soon pay back the money, and I agreed. And I want to tell you thatit has been hot ashes on me ever since. They are goin' to marry allright enough, but it galls me to think that I had to send her out tohave her educated at another man's expense--cuts me to think that shewasn't good enough for any man just as I could give her to him. And I'mgoin' to pay back that money if I have to sell this strip of poor dirt, that's what I'm goin' to do. Yes, sir, even if it's ten years after theyare married. Chyd is off at school now, and has been for a long time;only comes home for a while at vacation, and it seems to me that ifhe's goin' to be a doctor it's time he was at it. But I understand thatthey are goin' to send him to another place after he gits through withthis one. I don't know much about him, but they say that he's afirst-rate sort of a fellow. Oh, I knowed him well enough when he waslittle, but I haven't seen so very much of him since he growed up. Guinea thinks all the world of him, of course, and says that they wereborn for each other. Gimme that plow here. You don't know how to tote itnohow. I'm not goin' right straight back to the field; I'm goin' to thehouse. Them hot ashes is on me an inch thick. "

I let him take the plow; I left him at the draw bars, and with heavy anddragging feet I climbed up to my room. I sat down to my desk, but notwith elbows resting on the board, not with my chin in my hands; Icouldn't bear to think of that attitude. Now, I understood why she hadsaid "Oh" with such coolness when I had declared that I hated doctors. My heart was freezing, my head was hot, and in a fevered fancy I sawGuinea and that boy playing up and down the rivulet. I saw them wadingin the water; heard him tell her that when they grew up she must be hiswife, and I saw her, holding her dress about her ankles, look up at himand smile. I knew that he had never been awkward, I knew that he lookedlike Bentley, knew that he would have made fun of me, and down in myheart there was a poisonous hatred, yellow, green, venomous. I amseeking to hide nothing; I cannot paint myself as a generous andhigh-minded man. When stirred, I seem to have more rank sap than othermen--less reason, more senseless passion. I roared at the picture, sitting there gripping the desk, and frightened it away; and to myself Iacknowledged the faults which I now set forth, but an acknowledgment ofa fault is not within itself virtue. The fool's recourse is to callhimself a fool, to upbraid himself, curse himself and then ingraciousness to pardon himself. You might as well reason with arattlesnake, striking at you--might as well seek to temporize and arguewith a dog drooling hydrophobic foam, as to tell the human heart what itought to do. Reason is a business matter and it can make matches, but itcannot make love. 

Long I sat there, gripping the desk, gazing at the rafters overhead, groaning in the lover's conscious luxury of despair. Should I go away?No; I would stay and see it out. I would be light and gay--a bear'swaltz. I would laugh and rebuke fate; I would punish Guinea for havingplayed with that boy up and down the brook; I would be all sorts of afool. 

The old man's voice came ringing through the air. "Hike, there, Sam;hike, there, Bob. Get him down. Hike, there!"

He was having a round with his chickens, to fan off the atmosphere ofhumiliation, to blow away the hot ashes that were so thick upon him. Iremembered that I had not delivered Mrs. Jucklin's message, and Ihastened out to the "stockade, " and knocked at the gate. "Hike, there, boys! Who's that? Whoa, boys, that'll do! Go in there, Sam! Ho, it'syou, eh?" he said, opening the gate. "Sorry, but you didn't git herequite in time. You had the opportunity, but you flung it away. What, gone over to Parker's? That's all right. Well, I must be gettin' back tothe field. Looks like the grass will take me in spite of everything Ican do. You'll help until they get the school-house built? Now, I'm muchobleeged to you, but we can't rig up another outfit. Why, yander you goalready, " he added, pointing to a wagon load of lumber drawn along theroad. "It's Perdue's wagon. Yander comes another one, with Ren Bowles, the carpenter, on board. Oh, they are goin' to rush things. I've heardthat already this mornin'. You never saw a neighborhood stirred up muchworse than this one is over that affair, and there is strong talk oflynchin' them fellers; and this mornin' a party went over to see oldAimes and told him that if he wan't gone by 10 o'clock they would stringhim up, and I reckon he's gone by this time. They are makin' greatheroes oute'n you and Alf, I tell you. A number of 'em wanted to seeyou, but Alf wouldn't let 'em wake you up. I saw Parker while I was downat the shop; he'd jest got back from town; and he told me that the grandjury that's now in session would indict them fellers to-day, and ascourt is already set they may be brought to trial for murderous assaultand arson right away, and I want to tell you that they'll do well ifthey save their necks. Parker said that he reckoned you and Alf bettergo over to Purdy to-morrow. Well, I must git back, for that grass ismusterin' its forces every minute I'm away. "

I worried through the day, saw Guinea in a haze, heard her voice afaroff, and at night I went to bed worn out and limp. Alf did not come upuntil some time after I lay down. He came softly whistling a doleful airto prove that his sympathies were with me, sat down upon the edge of mybed and remained there a long time motionless and silent. I knew notwhat to say to him and he was evidently puzzled as to what he ought tosay to me. Out of the fullness of the heart the mouth may speak, but outof the heart's fullness there also flows a silence. 

"Bill, " he said, reaching over and turning down the light which I hadleft brightly burning, "I killed a snake to-day that I reckon must besix feet long. Came crawling across the field as if he had importantbusiness over in the woods, but he didn't get there. Ever kill many bigsnakes?"

"Not very many, " I answered, "but I am well acquainted with them and Ihave been bitten by a big snake that lies coiled about the universe, striking at a heart whenever he sees it. "

He got up, blew out the low blaze of the lamp, and sat down on his ownbed, I could tell from the creaking of the slats; and after a time hesaid something about the gridiron on which a man was compelled towallow. Ordinarily I would have laughed, hot ashes on the father and hotcoals under the son, but now I sighed deeply. 

"Bill, you know, the other day I said that there was something in myfavor, an outgrowth of my sister's education. A family union, don't yousee? But I had no idea when I said it that this very thing would put thefire under a man that has stood by me. I'm awfully sorry that things hadto be shaped that way. You know what I mean; father told you all aboutit. Is it bad, Bill? I won't say a word about it and the old folks don'tsuspect a thing, but do you love her much? Tell me just as if she wasn'tany kin to me. "

"Did the martyrs who stood in the fire love their God?" I asked. 

He sighed. "She's got you, Bill. The time has been so short that Ididn't think it could be so bad, but love doesn't look at the clock norkeep a calendar. Are you going to try to keep on living, Bill?"

"Yes, I'm going to study law when I get through with this school, andI'm going to make the law of divorce a specialty. If I can't do I mayundo; I'm going to be a wolf, and whenever I see a man aiming a gun atanother man, I'm not going to catch the hammers. Why, yesterday my heartwas tender because it thought to please her. Discretion! I've got nodiscretion. I'm a brute. I murdered an innocent rabbit on my way to yourhome--killed it just because I could; and what man is as innocent as arabbit? Yes, Alf, I am going to live. "

"But you won't hate Guinea, will you? She couldn't help it. "

"Oh, I couldn't hate her. No, I won't hate her; I'm going to stand by, ready to give her my life whenever I think she needs it. "

And thus we talked, senseless creatures, sighing in the dark. But so itis with human life everywhere--a foolish chatter and in the dark asighing. 

Several days passed and yet we were not summoned to appear at court. Idid not avoid Guinea, neither did I seek her. But often we weretogether, sometimes alone, on the oak bench under the tree, at thespring, on the old and smooth rock at the brink of the ravine; and hersmile none the less bright, was warmer with sympathy. A Sunday had goneby and Alf had seen Millie, but she was riding to church with DanStuart. 

One evening Parker sent us word to be in Purdy early the next day. Andat dawn the next morning the buck-board stood ready for the journey. Mrs. Jucklin had worked nearly the night through, baking bread androasting chickens to tide us over the trip. Alf complained at the loadwe were expected to carry, and this grieved her. "You know there'snothin' fitten to eat there, " she said. "You know that Lum Smith stayedthere three days year before last and come home and was sick for amonth. Mr. Hawes, I appeal to you--make him take it. "

And off we drove with our bread and roasted chickens. The women stood onthe step and shouted at us, and we waved our hands at them as we turneda bend in the road. Ours was an important journey, and many of theneighbors came out as we passed along and cried words of encouragement. On a hill-top we heard the gallop of a horse, and out of a lane dashed agirl--Millie. She smiled at us, nodded as her horse jumped, and gave usa gleam of her white hand as she sped off down into the woods. 

"They tell us that the Savior rode an ass, " said Alf, "but we have seenheaven gallop by on a horse. " He stood up and gazed toward the woods. Our horse gradually came to a standstill, but Alf stood there, gazing, shading his eyes with his hand. "It ain't the sun that dazzles, " hesaid. "It's her smile. "

"She'll make a poet of you, Alf. "

"She could do more than that; she could make a man of me. "

I don't know of a more dingy and desolate-looking town than Purdy. Thehouses are old, and the streets are rutted. The court-house, in thecenter of the square--my temple of fame--is mean and rain-streaked. Andthis is what I saw at a glance: An enormous wooden watch, with its paintcracking off, hanging in front of a jeweler's; the mortar and pestle ofa druggist on top of a post; a brick jail, with a pale face at the bars;lawyers' signs; doctors' signs; a livery stable, with a negro in front, pouring water on the wheels of a buggy; a red-looking negro, with astring of shuck horse collars; a dog in front of the court-housesniffing at a hog; the tavern, with its bell outside on a pole; menpitching horse-shoes in the shade; a woman, with her arms on a gate; agirl trying to pull a dirty child into a yard; a man in front of a storestuffing straw into a box; horses tied to racks about the square; menlolling about the court-house--these features made the face of Purdy. 

We had put up the horse, Alf had gone to see a friend of his and I waswalking past a vacant lot when some one shouted at me, and, turninground, I saw a man coming toward me. "Helloa, there, " he said, comingup, smiling. "You ought not to forget your old friends. "

"Oh, " I replied, recalling his face, "you are the agent at the stationwhere I got off the train. "

"Yes, used to be, " he said, shaking hands with me, "but I'm over herenow, but not as a railroad agent, for there's no road here. I am thehonored and distinguished telegraph operator of this commercialemporium. Couldn't stay over yonder any longer. No calico--not a ragthere. Got to see the flirt of calico. See that?" A woman was passing. "You can stand here and see it going along all the time, and you've gotto be mighty respectful toward it, I tell you, for there's a shot-gun inevery house and a father or a brother more than ready to pull bothtriggers at once. That's right, I suppose; but it does hamper a fellowmightily. Ever in St. Louis? That's the place. Muslin and soft goodseverywhere and nine chances to one there ain't a gun in the house. Mightbe, you know, but there is so much mull and moriantique and all thatsort of thing that there ain't guns enough to go round, so you cansmile and nod on the street; but you can't do it here. Here you've gotto have a three-ply, doubled and twisted introduction before you cansmile even at cottonade. I've been here a week, and hold about the mostresponsible position in the town, and society hasn't taken me up yet, but I reckon it will after a while. I reckon you could get in all right. They have heard all about your fight--know that you are game, andnothing counts more than that, for they have an idea that a game fellowis always a gentleman. "

Just then a boy came up and told him that there was a call. "I'll bethere after a while, " the operator replied. "Go on back. I've beenpitching horse-shoes with some fellows, " he continued, speaking to me, "and ain't quite through yet. I'll have to teach him so that he will beable to tell them that I'm busy when I'm not there. I've found out thatwhat we want in this life is leisure. People are getting too swift. There's no need of half the telegraphing that's done. Why don't theywrite and save trouble and expense? There goes a nice piece of calico. Imust get acquainted with it, too, I tell you. Well, believe I'll strollon back. Come in while you're here. The trial won't take up much of yourtime. It's all pretty much cut and dried, anyway. "

At 10 o'clock the Aimes brothers were brought before the bar. The jurywas already selected and the trial was at once taken up. I was put uponthe stand and instructed to tell my story without any fear of reflectingtoo much credit upon myself. I could see that they wanted a thrillingrecital and I gave it to them. And when Alf followed, he found themeager for more. The prosecuting attorney made a speech, as red as thefire that had burned the school-house; the lawyer appointed for thedefence made a few cool remarks, and the case was closed. We wereanxious to take the verdict home with us, and we had made preparationsto remain over night, but the jury came to an agreement without leavingthe box, so we had nothing to do but to return home. The Aimes brotherswere given a term of fifteen years each in the penitentiary. 

The sun was down when we got upon the buck-board, and over the road wedrove, under the stars, our stars, for in sympathy they looked down uponus. The moon was late, but we preferred the dark--it was sadder. 

"I wonder how it's all going to end, " said Alf. "If we could only ripapart that black thing down the road and look into the future. "

"And if you could rip it, " I replied, "if you could and were about to doso, I would grab your hand with a harder grip than I gave the gun when Icaught the hammers. "

"Then you don't want to know? You'd rather continue to writhe on thegridiron than to turn over and fall into the fire and end the matter?"

"Alf, " said I, "does it strike you that we are a couple of as big foolsas ever drove along a county road?"

"Whoa!" he shouted, pulling upon the reins and stopping the horse. Andthen he laughed. "Fools; why, two idiots are two Solomons compared withus. Let's stop it; let's be sensible; let's be men. "

"I'm with you, Alf. Shake hands. "

We drove along in silence. After a long time he said: "Here's where shecrossed the road; and do you see that?" he asked, pointing to the MilkyWay. "That was done by the waving of her hand. I wish to the Lord I knewjust how much she thinks of Dan Stuart. "

"Ah, but that wouldn't relieve you, " I replied, "for I know how muchGuinea thinks of Chyd Lundsford and feel all the worse for it. There arealways two hopes, walking with a doubt, one on each side, but acertainty walks alone. "

"I reckon you are right, " he rejoined with a sigh. "How many strangethings love will make a man say, things that an unpoisoned man wouldnever think of. Poisoned is the word, Bill; and I'll bet that if I'dbite a man it would kill him in a minute. "

"What sort of a fellow is young Lundsford?" I asked, with my teeth setand my feet braced against the dashboard. 

"Oh, he ain't a bad fellow; he ain't our sort exactly, but he's allright. "

"Smart and full of poetry, isn't he?"

"I never heard him say anything that had poetry in it. Don't think heknows half as much about books as you do. Oh, about certain sorts ofbooks he does, books with skeletons in them, but knowing all aboutskeletons don't make a man interesting to a woman. I have read enoughto find that out. Why, I have more than held my own with men that arewell up in special books--have held my own with all except that fellowStuart. Now there's Etheredge, that I told you about one day--kin to DanStuart. He's a doctor, and they tell me that he is well educated, but Inever heard him say a thing worth remembering. I reckon old Mrs. Naturehas a good deal to do with it after all. "

They were sitting up waiting for us at home, although it was past themidnight hour when we drove into the yard. Old Lim snorted when helearned that the Aimes boys were not to be hanged, but his wife, merciful creature, was saddened to think that even more mercy had notbeen shown them. And then she anxiously inquired whether we had foundourselves short in the matter of provisions. We told her that we hadbrought back nearly all the load which her kindness had imposed upon us, and then with disappointment she said: "Goodness alive, why didn't yougive it to those poor fellows to take to the penitentiary with 'em, forI know that there's nothin' there fitten to eat. "

The old man stood looking at her, with his coat off and with hisshirt-sleeves rolled up. "Susan, " said he, "I don't want to git mad, Idon't want to go out yander, snatch them chickens out of the coop an'make 'em nod at each other in the dark, but when you talk that way youalmost drive me--by jings, you almost drive me out there agin that tree, hard enough to butt the bark off. Do you reckon they are takin' themfellers down there to feed 'em, to fatten 'em up and then turn 'emloose? Hah, is that your idee? 'Zounds, madam, they are lucky to getthere with their necks. And here you are lamentin' that there's nothin'at the penitentiary fitten to eat. Go on to bed, Susan, for if you don'tI'm afeered that I'll have to say somethin' to hurt your feelin's, andthen I'd worry about it all night. "

"Now Limuel, what is the use in snortin' round that way? Can't a bodysay a word?"

"It do look like a body can, " he rejoined; "and I'm afeered that a bodywill, and that's the reason I want you to go to bed. "

Old Lim sat down and the subject was dropped. I noticed his wife lookinganxiously at me, and just as I was about to leave the room she said:"Mr. Hawes, you'll please pardon me for mentionin' it, but there's abutton off your coat, and I'll be glad to sew it on if you will be sokind as to leave it down here. "

"No, I will sew it on, " Guinea spoke up. "Give me your coat, Mr. Hawes. "

"I will not be the means of keeping you up any longer, " I replied, looking into her eyes, and feeling the thrill of their sweet poison; "Iwill do it myself. "

"And rob me of a pleasure?" she asked. 

"No, relieve you of a drudgery. Come on, Alf. "

Two fools went to bed in the dark and sighed themselves to sleep, andtwo fools dreamed; I know that one did--dreamed of eyes and smiles and alaugh like a musical cluck. 

CHAPTER X. 

More than a month passed and they were still working on theschool-house. The simple plan had been drawn with but a few strokes of apencil, the sills had been placed without delay, but they had to planethe boards by hand and that had taken time. Alf and I had again sat atthe old General's table, had listened to his words so rounded out withkindliness, and upon returning to the porch had heard him storm atsomething that had gone amiss. Millie showed her dimples and her prettyteeth, smiling at Alf and at me, too, but I saw no evidence that sheloved him. Indeed, she had been so much petted that I thought she mustbe a flirt, and yet she said nothing to give me that impression. Guineawas just the same, good-humored, rarely serious. One Sunday I went tochurch with her, walked, though the distance was two miles; stood nearthe cave wherein the British soldiers had hidden themselves, and talkedof everything save love. I cannot say that I had a sacred respect forher feelings; I think that I should have liked to torture her, butsomething closed my heart against an utterance of its heavy fullness. 

One Saturday afternoon I was told that the school-house would be readyon the following Monday. I had been out many times to view the work, but I decided to go again to see that everything was complete. Iexpected that Alf would go with me, for the corn was laid by, but Icould not find him. His mother told me that he had put on his Sundayclothes and that she had seen him going down the road. And so I wentalone. The house was done, and what a change from the pile of old logs!The walls were painted white and the blinds were green. The bushes werecleared off, and the scorched trees had been cut down, split up andhauled away. I have never seen a neater picture, and in it I saw notonly the progress of the people, but the respect in which they held me. 

I had come out of the woods on my way home and was on a high piece ofgrazing land not far from the house when I saw a man ride up to the yardfence, dismount, tie his horse and go into the house. This within itselfwas nothing, for I had seen many of the neighbors come and go, but asudden chill seized upon me now, and there I shook, though the heat ofJune lay upon the land; and it was some time before I could go forward, stumbling, quaking, with my eyes fixed upon the horse tied at the fence. In the yard behind the house I came upon Mrs. Jucklin, gathering upwhite garments that had been spread to dry upon the althea bushes. "ChydLundsford has come, " she said, and I replied: "Yes, I know it. "

I stepped upon the passage and passed the sitting-room door withoutlooking in; I sat down in a rocking chair that had been placed near thestair-way, sat there and listened to a girl's laugh and the low mumbleof a man's voice. "Let us go out where it's cooler, " I heard Guinea say, and I got up with my head in a whirl. 

"Mr. Hawes, this is Mr. Lundsford. "

"Glad to meet you, sir, " I said, taking hold of something--his hand, Isuppose. I was urged to sit down again; Guinea said that she would bringtwo more chairs, and when I had dropped back between the arms of therocker I looked at the man standing there, and a sort of gladdisappointment cleared my vision and placed him before me in a stronglight. He was short, almost fat, and in his thin, whitish hair there wasa hint at coming baldness. The close attention that he had beencompelled to give practical things, the sawing of bones, the tracing ofnerves, the undoing of man's machinery, had given him the cynical lookof a hard materialist. But when he stepped back to take the chair whichGuinea had brought I saw that he moved easily, that he was cool and knewwell how to handle himself. And this drove away the meager joy of myglad disappointment. 

"I hear you are going to take up school Monday, " he said. "Rather lateto begin school just now, I should think. "

"Under ordinary circumstances it would be regarded as late in theseason, " I answered, "but we have been so interrupted that we now decideto have no vacation. "

"I guess you are right. Had a pretty close shave with those fellows, didn't you? Ought to have killed them right there. I've seen Scott. Thought he was a pretty bright fellow, naturally; rather witty. Wouldmake a first-rate subject on the slab. "

"Because you thought him witty, sir?" I asked. 

"Of course not; but because he is a good specimen--big fellow. " Helooked at me and I thought that he was measuring my chest. "Yes, " hecontinued, "ought to have killed them. Man's got to take care ofhimself, you know, and he can't make it his business to show mercy. Mostall the virtues now are back-woods qualities. "

"I don't believe that, " Guinea spoke up. "Every day we read of thegenerosity of the world. "

"Oh, " he said, passing his short fingers through his thin hair, "youread about it, and people who want to shine as generous creatures takeparticular pains that you shall read about it. You've a great deal tolearn, my dear little woman. "

"And perhaps there is a great deal that she doesn't care to learn, " Iventured to suggest; and I quickly looked at her to see whether I hadmade another mistake. I had not, her quiet smile told me, and I feltbold enough to have thrown him over the fence. 

"What we wish to know and what we ought to know are two differentmatters, " he said. "But I hold that we ought to know the truth, nodifference what the truth may be. I want facts; I don't want paint. Idon't want to believe that the gilt on the dome goes all the waythrough. "

"But, " said I, "the gilt on the dome doesn't prove that the dome isrotten; it may be strong with seasoned wood and ribs of iron. "

"Yes, " he drawled, "that's all very good, very well put, but it meansnothing. By the way, before we get into a discussion let me invite youover to our house to-night. Quite a number of young people will drop in. Not exactly the night, you know; but the old idea that white peopleshouldn't go out of a Saturday night, the night reserved for negroes, isall nonsense. So, I have asked them to come. Alf will come, I suppose, and so will our little spring branch nymph. "

"I didn't suppose that you believed in nymphs, now that you have goneout and learned that everything is false, " Guinea spoke up. 

"I don't believe in painted ones, " he replied, "but you are notpainted. "

"I shall be pleased to come, " I remarked, and then I asked him how longhe expected to remain at home. 

"Oh, about a month, I should think. I am gradually getting along and Idon't want to go to school all my life. I want to begin practice nextyear. "

"In this neighborhood?" I asked, and he gave me a contemptuous look. "Well, not if I have any sense left, " he answered. "I might ride aroundhere a thousand years and not win anything of a name. Look at Dr. Etheredge, fine physician, but what has he done? No, I'm going to acity, north, I think. "

He stayed to supper and this angered me, for I had set my heart onwalking to the General's house with Guinea. Alf had not returned and wewondered whither he could have gone. And when the time came to go, thatimpudent sprig of a doctor asked me if I would ride his horse around bythe road, said that he wanted to walk across the meadows with Guinea. How I should have enjoyed knocking him on the head, but I thought thatGuinea supplemented his request with a look, and I consented. 

There were many horses tied at the General's fence, and there waslaughter within, when I rode up, and I was reminded of the night when Ihad stood with my hot hand melting the frost on the fence. But I thoughtof what the men had said on the railway platform, of the woman whom Ihad seen on the train, and boldly I walked in. The General met me with awarm grasp, and was asking me if I had seen his son, when in walked theyoung fellow himself, with Guinea beside him. The parlor and thelibrary, opening one into the other, were well filled with good-humoredyoung folk, and among them were old people, none the less good-humored. I was surprised to find myself so much in demand, for every one askedfor an introduction, but with bitterness I knew that it was because Ihad come near being burned up in an old house. They played games, but ofthis they soon tired; they sang and one of the ladies plucked asparkling fandango, and then Chydister Lundsford was called upon for aspeech. He was not at all embarrassed and he talked fairly well; andwhen he was done they called upon me. I got up with one hand resting onthe piano, and stood there, nervous at first, but strangely steady lateron. I told them that I could not make a speech, but that with theirpermission I would tell them a story, one of my own. They cried out thatthey would rather have a story than a speech, and I gave them a halfhumorous, half pathetic sketch, something that had long been running inmy head and which I intended to write. What a strong confidence cameupon me as I noted the effect of my words! I was drawing a picture andthey were eager to see it; I was playing on a strange, rude instrument, and how they bent to catch every vibration. I was astonished at myself, thrilled with myself. And when the climax came, chairs were tipped overas if in a scramble, and a wild applause broke out. Every hand wasstretched out toward me, every eye was bright with a tear. The oldGeneral grabbed me and, throwing back his great head, almost bellowed acompliment; and through it all I saw Guinea sweetly smiling. They urgedme to give them another story, were almost frantic in their entreaty;they had heard the heart-beat of their own life and they must hear itagain. I told another story, one over which I had fondly mused, andagain the hands came out toward me, and again the General bellowed acompliment. I can scarcely recall anything else that passed thatevening. Yes, I remember that as I was taking my leave, to walk acrossthe meadows with Guinea and Chyd, Millie stood in front of me. Once ortwice I thought that she had something that she would tell me, for herlips moved, but she said nothing except to bid me good-night. 

And where was Alf all this time? No one had spoken his name; Millie hadnot asked me about him. I walked briskly in advance, half happy, but, ofcourse, with my mind on Guinea, whose low voice reached my ears throughthe quiet that lay on the grass-land. 

"Why don't you wait for us?" she cried. I turned about and waited, andas she came up, holding Chyd's arm, she said: "I hope your successto-night hasn't turned your head. "

"And I hope that I don't deserve such a suspicion, " I answered, not withbitterness, but with joy to think that she had felt my apparentindifference. 

"Oh, I don't see anything to cause a spat, " said Chyd, straining himselfto take long steps. "Good stuff, of course, but nothing to turn a man'shead--a mere bit of fancy paint. But you ought to write it. Good manypeople like nonsense. I mean something light, you know. Two-thirds ofthe human family make it their business to dodge the truth. But it is agood thing for a school-teacher to make himself felt in that way. "

"Perhaps Mr. Hawes doesn't intend to be a teacher all his life, " Guineareplied, speaking in kindliness, but with no interest, as to whether ornot I was to remain a pedagogue. 

"God forbid, " I replied. And the young doctor gave me a sarcasticcough. "Man ought to do what he's best fitted for, " said he. "Trouble isthat a man generally thinks that he's fitted for something that heisn't--hates the thing that he can do best. "

"Your knowledge of the practical fortifies you against any advance thatI might make, " I replied. "I don't pretend to be practical. "

"Hum, I should think not, " he rejoined. "Good deal of a dreamer, I takeit. And you are in the right place. Everything dreams here, the farmersand even the cattle. Going to pull down the fence, eh? Guinea'll be overby the time you get it down. What did I tell you? Regular fawn, eh?"

We had passed out of the meadow. They waited in the road until Ireplaced the rails which I had let down. The road ran along the ravineand home was in sight. I looked across toward the smooth old rock andsaw a dark object upon it. We went down into the ravine and as we werecoming out, a voice cried: "Is that you, Bill?" And instantly Guineaanswered for me. "Yes, Alf. And here's Chyd. "

"How are you, Chyd?" he shouted, and then he added: "Bill, I want to seeyou a minute. Stay where you are and I'll come down. "

I halted to wait for him. He stopped a moment to shake hands with Chyd, and then he hastened to me. "Old man, I've got something to tell you, "he said. "Let's walk down this way--no, not over in the road, but upthe hollow. " He gripped my arm tightly, walked fast, then slowly andthen stopped. "Let's sit down here, Bill. " We seated ourselves on arock. "You have been over to the General's, along with Chyd and Guinea, haven't you? Of course, you have--what's the use of asking that? Do youknow what I did to-day? Not long after dinner I went over theredetermined to find out how I stood. I was brave until I got nearly tothe house and then my courage failed. I stood by the fence in theblackberry briars and gazed at the house. After a while I saw her comeout and start down the Ebeneezer road. And then I whipped round and mether. And as I stood beside the road, waiting for her to come up Inoticed for the first time that the sun was nearly down. For hours I hadbeen standing in the briars. I pretended not to see her; let on like Iwas hunting for a squirrel up in a tree, until she came up. Then I spoketo her and she started as if she was scared. She said that she was goingover to Lum Smith's to tell the young people to come over at night, andI asked her if I might walk along with her. She said with a laugh that Imight go part of the way, and then I knew that she was ashamed for anyone to see her with me. This cut me to the red, but I walked along withher. I felt that I had nothing to say that would interest her, but Ikept on talking, and once in a while she would look up at me and laugh. At last, and it was just as we came within sight of Smith's place, Iasked her what she really thought of Dan Stuart. I knew that this was afool's break, and if it hadn't been I don't suppose I would have madeit. She looked up at me, but she didn't laugh this time. I begged herpardon for my rudeness, and she reminded me that I was only to come apart of the way with her. I then told her that I would wait for her tocome back. She said that she might not come back that way. I repliedthat no matter which way she came back I would see her. She went on, laughing now, and I waited, but I didn't have to wait long before I sawher coming. As she came up I asked her if she was ready to grant mypardon and she wanted to know what about. We walked along together andshe began to tell me about her brother, how smart he was and all that, and I said that I didn't think that he was as smart as you, Bill; Iwanted to take credit for a friendship I had formed, you see? But amoment later I was sorry, for I was afraid that she might say somethingagainst you, but she didn't. She said that you were a smart man--adistinguished-looking man, and that she liked you ever so much. At firstI was pleased, but a second afterward I was jealous of you, Bill. Didyou ever see as blamed a fool as I am? But I didn't hate you, Bill. No, my heart was warm toward you even while she was praising you--even whileI was jealous. I again asked her what she thought of Dan Stuart, and shelooked up at me and wanted to know if I knew what he thought of her. Itold her that everybody loved her, and that I didn't suppose he was meanenough not to love her. She said that she knew people who didn't loveher, and I told her that if she would show them to me I would butttheir heads together for being such idiots. We were now almost withinsight of the General's home and I was not getting along very fast. I wasdetermined to make a break. We were on a hill, where the trees weretall, almost over-lapping the road. To the right ran a path through thebriars, a nearer way home. I asked her to wait and she stopped. The sunwas down and it was now almost dark. And it was then that I told herthat I loved her. I don't know how I acted or what I said, but I knowthat I was down in the dust at her feet. She stood there, pale andtrembling, looking around as if she would call for help. I asked her tomarry me, and she laughed, Bill--laughed at me and darted down the path. Then I went into the woods and roamed about I don't know where; and thatis the reason I wasn't at the gathering to-night. I'm bruised andcrippled, Bill--my heart is sore, but I want to tell you that when she'sstanding on the floor with that fellow Stuart, with the preacher infront of her, I'll be there, putting in my plea. I won't give up as longas there is a fighting chance left. Don't say a word about it. Forgiveme for dragging you off down here. God knows you've got a deep troubleof your own. And I wish my word could settle it--I'd speak it, though itmight hurt my chances at the General's. Well, let's go to the house. "

CHAPTER XI. 

Guinea and Chyd, old Lim and his wife went to church the next day, leaving Alf and me alone. Alf held himself in reasonable restraint untilthe old people were gone, and then he broke out so violently that Ireally feared for his reason. And it was mainly my fault for I read hima passionate poem, the outcry of a maddened soul, and he swore that ithad been written for him, that it was his, and I caught his spirit andfancied that he might have written it, for I believed then, as I believenow, that great things do not come from a quiet heart, that quiet heartsmay criticise, but that they do not create, that genius is a condition, an agony, a tortured John Bunyan. 

I went to the spring to get a bucket of fresh water, and when I returnedAlf was nowhere to be found. I went out and shouted his name, but noanswer came back. I went out into the woods, walked up and down theroad, but could see nothing of him. The shadows fell short and the oldpeople and Guinea and Chyd returned from church, and the noon-tide mealwas spread, but Alf came not. But save with me there was no anxiety, ashe was wont to poke about alone they said. Evening, bed-time came. Chydwent home, and I went up to my room. I heard the old man locking thesmoke-house door--heard his wife singing a hymn, heard Guinea's faintfoot-steps as she returned from the gate, whither she went to bid herlover good-night, and her little feet fell not upon the path, but uponmy heart. I went to bed, leaving the lamp burning low, and was almostasleep when I heard Alf on the stairs. He ran into the room with bothhands pressed against his head. I sprang up. He ran to me and droppedupon his knees at the bed-side, dropped and clutched the covering andburied his face in it. I put my arm about him, knelt beside him, heardhis smothered muttering, and put my face against his. "Bill!" he gaspedin a shivering whisper, "Bill, I have killed him!"

"Merciful God!" I cried, springing back. He reached round, as if to drawme down beside him. "Hush, don't let them hear down stairs. Come here, Bill. "

I lifted him to his feet, turned him round so that I could see his face. It was horror-stricken. "I have killed Dan Stuart. "

He stood with both hands on my shoulders looking into my eyes. 

"Wait a minute and I'll tell you. It wasn't altogether my fault. Heought to be dead. He tried to kill me. I left here without any thoughtof seeing him; didn't want to see him. I went away over yonder into thewoods. I heard you calling me. Later in the day I came out near thewagon-maker's shop, and several fellows were sitting there, and Istopped to answer a question somebody asked me, and pretty soon herecame Stuart. He grinned at me, but this didn't make me want to kill him. Do they hear me down stairs?"

"Go on, for God's sake!" I urged. "Why did you kill him? Didn't youknow----"

"I knew everything, Bill. But I didn't want to kill him. I turned away, and walked up the road, and he came along after me on his horse. Andwhen we were some distance away he made a slighting remark about Millie. I wheeled around and he snatched out a pistol and pointed it at me. Ihadn't a thing, and there he was on a horse and with a pistol pointed atme. There was not a stone, nothing within reach. I was cool, I hadsense, and I told him that he might have his fun, but that I would seehim again. And when he had cursed me and abused me as much as he likedhe rode away, leaving me standing there. I ran over to Parker's and toldhim that I wanted a pistol to shoot a dog with, and he gave it to me. Then I went back to the road and waited. He had gone over to theGeneral's, I thought, and I knew that he would come back that way. Iwould make him swallow his words--I knew that he didn't mean what hesaid about Millie--knew that he simply wanted to stir me up and have anexcuse to kill me. So I waited in the road not far from Doc Etheredge's, waited a long time and at last I heard some one coming on a horse. Ididn't hide; I stood in the middle of the road. A man came up, but itwasn't him; it was Etheredge. He spoke to me, asked me good-naturedlywhy I was standing there, and I told him that I was waiting for a dogthat I wanted to kill. He turned into his gate, a short distance off, and I stood there. After a while I heard another horse, and I knew hisgait--single-foot. It was Stuart. He was singing and he didn't appear tosee me until he was almost on me. His horse shied. 'Who is that?' heasked, and I told him. 'And you are going to take back what you said, ' Iremarked as quietly as I could, 'or I'm going to kill you right here. 'He didn't say a word--he snatched at his pistol and then I fired, and hefell forward on his horse's neck. The horse jumped and I sprang forwardand caught the body and eased it to the ground--stretched it in the roadand left it. But I went up to Etheredge's house and hallooed, and whenhe answered I told him that the dog had come and that his name was DanStuart, and that he would find him lying in the road. I heard him shoutsomething, but I didn't wait for him to come out, but went into thewoods and came on home. And now I've got to go. "

"Go where?" I asked, facing him round as he strove to turn from me. 

"To town to give myself up. Don't tell the old folks to-night. Tell themin the morning--tell them that they'll find me in jail. "

I strove to restrain him; I could scarcely believe what he had told me. I asked him if he had not been dreaming. He shook his head, pulling awayfrom me. "If you are my friend, Bill, do as I tell you. It's all overwith me now, and all I can do is to answer to the law. " He caught uphis hat. "Tell them at morning; make it as soft as you can--tell themhow I love that girl--tell them that I am crazy. Don't hold me, Bill. Imust go. God bless you. "

He pulled away from me and went down stairs so easily that he madescarcely a sound. I followed him, begged him to let me go with him, but, creeping back half way up the stairs, he said: "You can be of moreservice to me here. Tell them and to-morrow you can see me in jail. Idon't want them to come and take me there. Do as I tell you, Bill. Don'tlet the folks see me in jail. Go on back. "

I went back to the room and sat there all night, and at morning I heardthe old man unlock the smoke-house, heard his wife singing a hymn. Iknew that they expected me at early breakfast, so that I could reach theschool-house in time, for my new session was to begin that morning. Sothe sun was not risen when I went down stairs. But nature held up a pinkrose in the east, and the hilltops were glowing, while the valleys wereyet dark. Guinea came out of the sitting-room, and seeing me in thepassage, walking as if I were afraid of disturbing some one, laughed atme. "Why, what makes you slip along that way? You act as if you were thefirst one up. Why, I have already gathered you some flowers to take toschool. And you won't even thank me. Why, Mr. Hawes, what on earth isthe matter?"

I held up my hand. "There will be no school to-day, " I said. "Don't saya word, please. "

"But what's the matter?" she asked, with a look of fright. 

"Come out here under the tree. Will you promise not to scream if I tellyou something?"

"But what can you tell me to make me scream? Oh----"

"I'm not going to speak of myself, " I broke in, fearing that she mightthink that I was going to tell her of my love. "Come out here, please. "

She followed me to the bench under the tree and she stood therenervously gazing at me as I sat down, waiting for me to speak and yetafraid to hear me. 

"What is it, please? But don't tell me anything bad--I don't want tohear anything bad. "

"But you must hear this. Alf--Alf has had a quarrel with Dan Stuart. Itwas worse than a quarrel, and has----"

"Killed him?" she said, gazing at me. "Don't tell me anything. "

She sat down beside me and hid her face. "Alf has gone to town to givehimself up, and we must tell your father and mother. It wasn'tmurder--it was self-defence. You go and tell your mother, tell her asquietly as you can. I see your father out yonder. I will tell him. Tellher that they got into a quarrel last night. "

She went away without looking back at me, without letting me see herface, and as I passed the corner of the house I heard her talking andbefore I reached the old man I heard a cry from that poor old woman. 

Old Lim was at the door of his "stockade, " oiling the lock. "Devilishthing don't work well, " he said. "A padlock is generally the best lockor the worst; you never can tell which. If I could jest git a drap ofthe grease into the key-hole I'd soon fix it. But it won't go in, yousee. By jings, the devil has his own way about half the time, and hisinfluence is mighty powerful the other half. Now, we're gittin' at it. Ireckon we'd better go on to breakfast, though. I almost forgot that youhad to go to your school. Why, man, what the deuce is the matter withyou this mornin'?"

He dropped the chain to which the lock was fastened and looked steadilyat me. "What's gone wrong, man?"

"I'm not going to school to-day, " I answered, endeavoring to be calm. 

"What's the matter? House burnt down again?"

"Worse than that, Mr. Jucklin. Alf----"

"What about him?" he broke in, nervously grabbing the chain. 

"Did you know that he was in love with Millie Lundsford?" I asked, nowdetermined to be calm. 

"Well, what of it? Young folks are in and out of love with each othermighty nigh every day in this neighborhood. Is that Susan callin' me? Bethere in a minute!" he shouted. "Hasn't had a row with the old General, has he?"

"No, but with Dan Stuart. They quarreled last night and fought and Danwas killed. "

His shoulders drooped; he spoke not, but he jerked the chain, the gateflew open and he stepped inside and shut it with a slam; and I heard himfumbling with the fastening that held the door of the coop. I strodeaway as fast as I could, went to the school-house to dismiss thechildren and to tell them that I knew not when the session would beresumed. And when I returned everything was quiet. The old man wasslowly walking up and down the spring-house path, evidently waiting forme. 

"Tell me all about it, " he said, when I came up; "tell me from beginnin'to end. "

And I told him just as Alf had told me. He listened with his mouth halfopen, rolling up his shirt-sleeves and then rolling them down again, asif he knew not what to do with himself. 

"Well, " he said, when I was done, "I don't know that I can blame him, poor feller, but they'll hang him. "

"Do you think so?" I cried, with a start, for I had not dwelt upon thatpossibility; it had not occurred to me, so wrapt had I been in thinkingof his own mental distress and the heart-breaking grief of his mother. "Do you really think so?"

"I know it--just as clear to me as that sunshine. Stuart's kin folkshave got money and they'll spend every cent of it to put Alf on thegallows. Etheredge don't like Alf and will spend every cent he's got;and here we are without money. Yes, they'll hang him. "

"But General Lundsford--won't he stand as Alf's friend?"

The old man shook his head. "He can't, and I don't know that he would ifhe could. I mean that he can't and still be true to himself. Ever sinceour agreement, the one I told you about, he has been putty open intalkin' to me, and I know that he wanted Millie to marry Stuart. No, he's too proud to help us. "

"But can he for family reasons afford not to help us? His son----"

"Don't speak of that now, if you please, sir. Are you goin' to thehouse?"

"I don't know. I am almost afraid to meet his mother. "

"Don't be afraid of that. She won't reproach you; she knows that you hadnothing to do with it--knows that he never would have killed him if hehad asked your advice and followed it. "

"I don't mean that--I mean that I cannot bear to look upon her grief. "

"She is a Christian, sir. She is praying to her God, and whatever comesshe will trust in Him. The stock that she is from has stood at thestake, sir. "

We were slowly walking toward the house. Suddenly he clutched my armwith a grip that reminded me of Alf, and in a voice betraying moreemotion than I had known him to show, asked whether I intended to leavehim. I put my arm about him and pressed him to me, just as if he wereAlf telling me of the love-trouble that lay upon his heart. 

"I understand you, God bless you, " he said. "Don't say a word; Iunderstand you. Git on the mare and go to town and find out all you can. I won't go jest now--can't stand to see my son in jail. But don't say aword, for I understand you. I reckon the neighborhood is pretty wellalive over it by this time. See if they'll let him go about on bail, butI don't reckon they will, even if he did give himself up. They'll thinkthat he done it because he must have knowed that they were bound tocatch him. Go on and do whatever your jedgment tells you, and I know itwill be all right. "

Over the road I went, toward Purdy, and the people who had come out oftheir houses to speak words of encouragement to Alf and me when we wereon our way to see the Aimes boys tried, now stood about their doors, gazing stupidly. At the wagon-maker's shop a crowd was gathered, and Iwas recognized as I drew near by young men who had met me at theGeneral's house the night before--now so long ago, it seemed--and theycame out into the road and urged me to tell them all I knew. I felt thatEtheredge had already stirred in his own coloring, but I told the storyof the tragedy just as I had told it to the old man; and I had gatheredrein to resume my journey when a man rode up. "I'm going back to town!"he shouted, waving his hand to a man who stood in the door of thewagon-maker's shop. I rode on and he came up beside me. 

"Are you Mr. Hawes?" he asked, and when I had answered him he said: "Iam Dr. Etheredge. "

I bowed and he nodded with distinct coolness. He was not of happyappearance; he was lean and angular, gray beyond the demand of hisyears, and it struck me that he must be given to drink, not because hewas gray, but because there were puffs under his eyes and broken veinswhere his skin was stretched over his high cheek-bones. 

"A devil of an affair, this, " he said. "Man met in the public highwayand murdered. "

"Don't put it that way, " I spoke up, "for perhaps you are not yetacquainted with the causes that led to it. "

"No cause, sir, should lead to murder. "

"I agree with you there, but many a man has been compelled to kill inorder to save his own life. "

He sneered at me. "But has many a man been compelled to stand for hoursin a public road, and in order to save his own life shoot down aninnocent person? I always held that Alf Jucklin was a dangerous and adesperate man, and everybody knows that he comes of that breed. I neverdid like him; and he took a dislike to me without cause. Stood near achurch in a crowd of men one day when I seemed to be under discussionand declared that a man to be a doctor ought to be smart and to be smarta man must say something to prove the thought within him; and then heasked if any one had ever heard me say anything worth remembering. "

I felt that he wanted to quarrel with me, and I was in the humor togratify him. "And did anyone ever hear you say a thing worthremembering?" I asked. 

"Sir!" he snarled. 

"You heard what I said. And I take a degree of cool pleasure in tellingyou before we go further that you can't ride a high horse over me. "

"A pedagogue's pedantry, " he muttered. 

"A man's truth, " I replied. "And by the way, " I added, "you appear to bewell horsed. Suppose you ride on ahead. "

"Does this road belong to you, sir?" he demanded, turning a severe browupon me. 

"A part of it does, and I am going to ride over that part withoutannoyance. Do you understand?"

"Sir, I can understand impudence even if I can't say a thing worthremembering. But rather than have words with you I will ride on, not toaccommodate you, but to preserve my own dignity and self-respect. "

"Good!" I mockingly cried, "and if you continue to improve in expressionI shall after a while be forced to believe that Alf's estimate of youwas placed too low. "

"I thank you, sir, for giving me the opportunity to say that a jury'sestimate will hereafter most influence your friend, and that he will beplaced high enough. "

"You continue to improve, Doctor, and I believe that your last remark isworth remembering. At least, I shall remember it, and when this troubleis over, no matter what the result may be, I will hold you to accountfor it. And to prove that I am in earnest I'll lend you the weight ofthis. " And with that I cut at his face with a switch. His horse shiedand the apple tree sprout whistled in the air. He said something abouthoping to meet me again and rode off at a brisk canter. I knew that Ihad acted unwisely, felt it even while the impulse was rising fresh andstrong within me, but I was in no humor to bear with him. I rode alongmore slowly than I was disposed, to let him pass out of my sight, forevery time I looked up and saw him I felt a new anger. And I wasrelieved when a turn in the road placed him beyond my view. I heard agalloping behind, and, looking round, I saw the old General coming witha cavalryman's recklessness. He dashed up and did not draw rein until hewas almost upon me. 

"Whoa! I have been trying to overtake you, Hawes. What did I tell you?Didn't I say that the country was gone? I'll swear I don't know what weare coming to when a man is shot down in the road like that. "

"General, did you overtake me to ride to town with me?"

"I did; yes, sir. "

"Then you mustn't talk that way. "

"I beg your pardon, sir. Perhaps I should not have expressed myself inthat manner. Let us ride along and discuss it quietly. Tell me what youknow. "

"It were better, General----"

"Never mind about your grammar and your bookish phrasing. Tell me whatled up to it. "

"Must I tell you that your daughter is----"

"By G----, sir, what do you mean?"

"You needn't turn on me, sir. "

"Surely not. Pardon me. What about it?"

"I don't know that I ought to tell you--a man of more judgmentwouldn't--but I suppose I must now that I have gone so far. Alf is inlove with your daughter, and on that account Stuart insulted him, abusedhim at the point of a pistol. "

Then I told him all that I could, all but the fact that Stuart hadspoken slightingly of the girl, for I knew that this would only enragehim and, indeed, set him harder against Alf, as he would doubtlessbelieve that my friend had simply forged a mean excuse. For somedistance after I had told him the story, he rode along in silence, troubled of countenance and with his head hanging low. But just beforewe came into the town he looked up and said: "Poor fool, I can't helphim. "

"But you can see that justice is done. "

"Mr. Hawes, in this instance we may take different views of justice. Pardon me, but your friendship--and, indeed, I can but honor you forit--your friendship may cry out against justice. "

"I admit, General, that my friendship is strong, although I have knownthe young man but a short time, yet I think that I respect justice. "

"We all think so until justice pinches us, " he replied, placing himselfin firm opposition to me, yet doing it kindly. "I am more concerned inthis, Mr. Hawes, than you can well conceive. I can say this, but Icannot follow it up with an explanation. But the fact that he stoodwaiting there in the road is what will tell most against him. Had he methim at another time, under almost any other conditions, it would havebeen different, would have taken away the aspect of calculated murder. Yes, I am deeply concerned and on two accounts. But I cannot mentionthem. Dan Stuart was near to me; I had known him all his life and he wasa young man of promise, was popular throughout the community--morepopular than Alf, and this will have its effect. "

"But wasn't he more popular because he had more money?" I asked, and theold General gave me a look of reproof. 

"Money does not make so much difference in the South, sir. You have beenfilling your head with Northern books. It is refinement, sir, real worththat weighs in the South. "

"I hope not to antagonize you, General, but I am of the South and I havecause to hold an opposite opinion. Have I not seen the most vulgar ofmen held in high favor because they were rich? The mere existence of astate line does not change human nature. Man is not changed even by thelines drawn about empires. "

"I admit, sir, that the South has undergone a change, but in my day aman was measured according to his real worth, not in gold, but inhonorable qualities. "

"It is but natural to look back with the prejudiced eye of affection, General, and it is respectful that I should not argue with you. I turnhere to the livery-stable. Good-morning. "

"I honor you for your consideration, sir, " he replied, bowing. "Let ushope for the best, but I must stand by justice. "

When I had put up my horse I went directly to the jail. A crowd hungabout the doors, eager to see the prisoner. When I told the jailer who Iwas he admitted me without a word. Alf sprang from a bench, seeing meenter the corridor, and came forward to the bars of his cell. 

"Not much room for shaking hands here, Bill, " he said, smiling sadly. "It is already an age since I left home. How are you, old man? Tell mehow they took it. No, don't. I know. Well, I gave myself up and thesheriff wouldn't believe me at first, but he got it through his headafter a while. He was very kind and when he had locked me in here hewent to see whether I could be let out on bail, but I understand that Ican't. It's all right; I might as well be in here. Bill, I have tried tofeel sorry for killing him, but I can't. I reckon I must be about asmean as they make them. And it will all come out pretty soon, for courtis still in session and all they've got to do is to rig up their juryafter the inquest and go ahead. I'm going to make the best of it. Theworst feature is the disgrace and suffering at home, and, of course, that almost tears my heart out when I let it. But to tell you the truth, I'd rather be hanged than to be on the grid-iron all the time. Who'sthat?"

Etheredge came into the corridor. He leered at Alf and Alf sneered athim. "I suppose you found the dog that I told you was lying in theroad--the dog that tried to bite me, " said Alf, with a cold smile. 

"Jucklin, I didn't come in here to be insulted. "

"All right, there's the door. Say, there, jailer, you have just let in agray rat and I wish you'd come and drive him out. "

I turned to Etheredge and pointed to the door. "I must respect yourwish, " he said, speaking to me. "I've an engagement with you--you are tobe my guest, " and without another word he strode away. 

I remained with Alf as long as the jailer thought it prudent to let mestay, and then I went about the town to gather its sentiment. And I wasgrieved to find that every one declared it to be cold-blooded murder. Myheart was heavy as I rode toward home, for the old people were lookingto me for encouragement. Guinea met me at the gate. She tried to smile, but failed. 

"Don't try to look pleased at seeing me, " I said. "It is too much of aneffort. " And if she could not smile she could give me a look ofgratitude. She went with me to the stable, saying not a word; and when Ihad turned the horse loose she followed me to the sitting-room. At thedoor I faltered, but Mrs. Jucklin's voice bade me enter. She was sittingin a rocking-chair, with the Bible in her lap, and placing her hand uponthe book, she thus spoke to me: "Don't hesitate to talk, for His rodand His staff shall comfort me. "

I had not noticed the old man, so bent were my eyes upon his wife, butnow he arose into view, and, coming to me, he whispered: "From the stockthat stood at the stake. "

I told them all I knew, which was not much; and then knelt down andprayed with them. 

CHAPTER XII. 

Stuart was buried the next day, and the mourners passed our house. Mrs. Jucklin was sitting at the window when the hearse and the buggies camewithin sight, and her chin was unsteady as she reached for her book. Andthere she sat, holding the old leather-covered Bible in her lap. 

I had thought that Chyd Lundsford would come, with words ofencouragement, but we saw him not, neither that day nor the next. Butfour days later I came upon him as I was going to town. He had a gun, was followed by a number of squirrel-dogs and came out of the woods nearthe spot where Alf had eased Stuart from his horse to the ground. Istopped and bluntly asked him why he had not been over, and he answeredthat he was busy preparing for a rigid examination. I asked if they weregoing to examine him on the art of killing game, and he laughed andreplied: "No, on the science of killing men. By the way, " he added, looking up into the top of a tree, "how is Alf getting along? Does heappear to be hopeful?"

"He is more desperate than hopeful, " I answered. 

"Yes, I should think so. Is that a squirrel's nest? I have heard ithinted that a love-affair had something to do with it--an affair prettyclose, at that. Well, I've got nothing to do with it. Can't drive out ofmy mind what I have had so hard a time driving into it. Sorry, and allthat sort of thing. That's no squirrel's nest. But if people persist inbeing romantic they must expect to have trouble. I'm sorry for the oldfolks--must take it rather hard. Good-hearted and simple enough to worryover it, surely. Well, if you happen to think of it, give Alf myregards. "

The coroner's jury had returned an expected verdict, influenced largelyby what Etheredge had to say. I had given my testimony, but I could notmake it sound as I wanted it--Alf's own words were against him, as Irepeated them that day. The preliminary trial, the mummery before ajustice of the peace, also went against Alf; the grand jury had broughtin its finding, and the next step was the formal arraignment before thecircuit judge. And I was now on my way to town to engage additionallegal help, as the lawyer whom we had retained appeared to be luke-warmand half-hearted. I had heard many stories relating to the great forceand ability of an old ex-judge named Conkwright, and I called at hisoffice, though I had been warned that his price was exceedingly high. Hemet me gruffly, I thought, but I soon discovered that he had a heart. Itold Alf's story, now so familiar to my own ears that I fancied that Icould give it with effect, and I must have touched him, for he said:"Oh, well, I'll go into it and we'll say nothing about the price. I'vebeen working for nothing all my life, and I don't see why I shouldchange now. Why, of course, he ought to have killed him, " and his oldeyes shone as he said it. "Had to kill him. It strikes me that they arerushing things pretty fast, especially as the docket is covered withmurder cases that have been put over from time to time. That Stuart sethas lots of influence. Beat me for re-election, I know that. But we'llshow them a few things that are not put down in the books. And you don'twant the young lady's name mentioned. Of course, not. Wouldn't begallant, eh? Well, I'll go down and see the young fellow some timeto-day. They'll take it up in about a week from now, that is, if we areready, and we'll be there. Tell old Jucklin not to fret. He's an oldlion-tamer, I tell you, and if I had any interest in that fellowEtheredge I'd advise him to walk pretty straight. But the old man hasquieted down mightily of late years. "

Alf had undergone no change. He was glad to know that Conkwright took aninterest in him, but he shook his head when I told him that we were sureto win. 

"I don't believe it, Bill; don't believe it because I don't feel it. Butdon't tell the old folks that I'm not hopeful. Have you seen Millie?"

"No, and have seen Chyd but once, and then I came upon him in the road. "

"What, hasn't he been to the house? A fine husband he'll make forGuinea. Tell her that I say she must forbid his coming near her again. No, don't, " he added. "It's better to wait. I wish she loved you, Bill, but I'm afraid she doesn't. "

"I know she doesn't, " I replied. 

"Has she said so?"

"No, but she seems always afraid that I may tell her of my love. "

"And I would if I were you, Bill. No, not yet. Tell father not to comenear me yet a while. He couldn't stand it. "

He had written home, begging his parents and his sister not to think ofseeing him, had actually commanded them not to come near the jail. 

"Mother can stand more than he can, for she's more religious. How aboutyour school?"

"Oh, it's all right. The people know that I couldn't teach now, even ifI should try ever so hard, and they are very considerate. They say thatthey are willing to wait. "

"God bless them for that, any way. And this reminds me of a preacherthat came in yesterday to pray for me. I thanked him for his kindness, but told him that some one was at home praying, and that one of herwords had more influence in my behalf than all the prayers he couldutter in a life-time. I merely mention this to show what sort of anatmosphere I'm in. I didn't like the fellow's looks--understand that hehasn't been a preacher but a week. Still on suspicion, as they say, Bill. I was almost crazy, but my mind has cooled wonderfully. A fellow'smind generally does after he's done the worst he can. "

"I hope that my reading of the poem didn't start you off. "

"Oh, no, that had nothing to do with it--relieved me, if anything; setme to thinking that some one else had been in the same fix. By the way, a telegraph operator here brings me something nearly every day. Saysthat he's a life-long friend of yours. Told me to tell you that he wasabout to pick up a piece of calico and take it home with him--said thatyou would understand. Now, you go on home and stay there until thetrial. You have almost worn yourself out. You and the General are stillon good terms, I suppose. Wish you could slip over there and see Millie. Do you know what Chyd's waiting for? He's waiting to see how the trialgoes. Bill, I'm beginning to feel sorry for Stuart. But his face doesn'tcome up before me at night with a death-look. There's a good deal ofnonsense about that sort of thing. When I see him he's always sitting onhis horse, cursing me. And that's not very pleasant. Go on, Bill. I havekept you too long. It's nearly night. "

Old man Jucklin was smartly encouraged when I told him what the ex-judgehad said, and he related a number of anecdotes of the old fellow's earlydays on the circuit. 

"Oh, help is comin' our way, " old Limuel said, and his wife, pointing toher book, replied: "It has always been with us. "

"At the stake, " he whispered. 

I did not speak of having seen Chyd. I had no right to do so, for Iknew that he was now an additional distress. But the next morning whenGuinea and I were alone at the breakfast table she asked me if I had notmet him down the road--said that she had seen him crossing the meadowswith his dogs. I began to quibble and she spoke up spiritedly: "Oh, youshouldn't hesitate to tell me. It amounts to nothing, I'm sure. "

"I must manage some way to see Millie, " I remarked, determined to say nomore about Chyd lest I should lose my temper. 

"I hope you won't go to the house, " she replied, her face coloring. 

"I won't, but I didn't know but that I might see her going to aneighbor's house and then----"

"No, " she broke in, "I hope you won't even do that. She must know how wefeel, and if she had any interest in us she would come over here. No, Iwon't say that. I don't know what she may have to contend with. But herbrother could come if he wanted to, but it makes no difference, I'msure. "

"Suppose I meet Millie in the road; shall I speak to her?"

"Surely, but don't ask her why she hasn't been to see us. What did Chydsay?"

"Not much of anything--said that so long as people were romantic theymust expect trouble. "

She frowned and thus replied: "A good authority on the evils ofromance. "

"Why not an expert on the thrills of romance?" I asked. "Hasn't heplayed up and down the brook?"

"So have the ducks, " she answered, with a return of her smile. "But letus not talk about him--I would rather not think about him. "

I could not play the part of a hero; I was not of the stock that hadstood at the stake glorifying the deed with a hymn. I had wanted to dropthe subject, not because it was painful to her, but because it pressed aspike into my own flesh; but her wish to dismiss him from her mind urgedme to keep him there, to torture her with him. Brute? Surely; I havenever denied it, but I loved her, and in love there is no generosity. The lover who seeks to be liberal is a hypocrite, a sneak-thief robbinghis own heart. 

"But how can you put him out of your mind if he is worthy of your love?"I asked. "You did not place him therein, nor can you take him away. "

She looked at me a long time, looked at me and read me; she did notfrown, she smiled not, but searched me with her eyes until I felt thatmy motive lay bare under her gaze. "You would help Alf in his trouble, "she said, "but you would throw a trouble at me. "

How sadly she spoke those words, and my heart fell under them and lay ather feet in sorrow and in humiliation. I strove to beg for pardon, but Istammered and my words were almost meaningless. 

"Oh, you have my forgiveness, if that is what you are trying to ask for. Now, please don't say anything more. I know you didn't mean to make mefeel bad. "

"I think I'd better cut my throat!" I replied, taking up a table knife. 

She laughed at me. "How can a big man be so silly? Cut your throat, indeed. Why, what have you done to deserve it?"

"What have I done?" I cried, leaning over the table and making a fumble, as if I would take her hand--"what have I done? I have wantonly woundedthe divinest creature----"

She was on her feet in an instant; she put her hands to her ears andshook her head at me. "No, you must not say that. Don't you see I can'thear what you say? So, what is the use of saying anything? Think you area brute? No, I don't; but you must not talk like that. I can't hearyou--I won't hear you. Oh, don't worry about Mr. Lundsford. He willkneel at my feet. "

CHAPTER XIII. 

The next day I took a "turn" of corn to the water-mill, far down thestream. The old man had not been off the place since Alf went to jail, and the office of attending to all outside affairs was conferred uponme. Guinea came out to the corn-crib and stood at the door, looking inupon me as I tied the mouth of the bag. The old man was not far off, calling his hogs; a sad cry at any time, but growing sadder, it seemedto me, as the days wore along. 

"Old Moll will have a load, " the girl said; "you and that bag. "

"Yes, if I were to ride on the bag like a boy, but I'm going to walk andlead her. "

"Oh, that will be nice, " she cried. "Nice for Moll. I wish I could gowith you. It's beautiful all down that way; high rocks and pools withfish in them. It isn't so awfully far, either. I have walked it many atime. "

"Alone?" I asked, tugging at the string. 

"That doesn't matter. It's the distance I'm talking about. Why, youhaven't asked me to go. "

"But I ask you now, " I said, dragging the bag toward the door. 

"No, I won't go now, " she replied, making way for me to come out. 

"Won't you, please?"

"No, not since I have come to think about it. I'd have to walk along allthe time with my hands to my ears, for I just know you'd say something Idon't want to hear. You are as cruel as you can be, lately. "

I had taken up the bag to throw it across the mare, but I dropped itupon the log step. 

"You'll burst it if you don't mind, Mr. Hawes. "

"But I handle it more tenderly than you do my heart!" I cried. "You havethrown my heart down in the dust and are trying to burst it. "

Her hands flew to her ears. "Oh, I knew you were going to say somethingmean. But I can't hear you now. Isn't it an advantage to say what youplease and not hear a word? You can do this way if you want to. No, Iwon't go--really, I can't. I mustn't leave mother. "

She ran away toward the house, and I stood watching her until she washidden behind the old man's "stockade. " Torturer she was, sometimes withher dignity, but worse with her whimsical, childish ways, when sheseemed to dance on the outer edge of my life, daring me to catch her inmy arms. But was it not my size that made her feel like a child? It musthave been, for whenever she spoke of Chyd she was deeply serious. I wasresentful as I led the old mare toward the mill. Oh, I understood itall. She had seen that I sought to punish her, had read me as we sattogether at the table, and now she was torturing me. Well, I would giveher no further opportunity; I would let her lead young Lundsford intoher mind and out again, just as it suited her fancy. 

The coves and nooks and quiet pools that lay along the stream weredreamful; there was not a mighty rock nor bold surprising bluff tostartle one with its grandeur, but at the end of every view was thepromise of a resting place and never was the fancy led todisappointment. Now gurgle and drip, now perfect calm, the elm leafmotionless, the bird dreaming. And had history marched down that quietvale a thousand years ago and tinged the water with the blood of man, how sweetly verse would sing its beauty, from what distances would comethe poet and the artist, the rich man seeking rest--all would flock tomarvel and to praise. Ah, we care but little for what nature has done, until man has placed his stamp upon it. 

I loitered and mused upon going to the mill and upon returning home. Andwhen I came within sight of the house I halted suddenly, wonderingwhether I had forgotten something. Yes, I had. I had forgotten myresolve to be cool and dignified under the reading eyes of that girl. Iled the mare to the rear end of the passage and had taken off the bag ofmeal when Guinea came out. 

"Mr. Hawes, " she said, "I wish you would forgive me for the way I actedlast night and this morning. Now let us be good friends, friends introuble, and let us hereafter talk with sense and without restraint. Iam going to be frank with you, for I don't see why I should be cramped. I am not going to pretend not to know--know something, and you mustwait; we must all wait for--for anything that is to come. I hardly knowwhat I am saying, but you understand me. "

She held out her hand, and I took it, tremulously at first, but I heldit with a firm and manly honesty as I looked into her eyes. "Yes, Iunderstand you, and it shall be as you say. I have been strong withevery one but you, and I am going to show you that I can be your friend. Wait a moment. You know what I think, but I will not hint at it again. It was mean of me--yes, I must say it--it was mean of me to jibe you. But I'll not do it again. If you only knew what my early life was. I wasthe victim of size, an awkward boy, the jest of a neighborhood; andwhile I might have outlived some of my awkwardness, I am stillsensitive, for I carry scars. "

"Awkward, " she laughed. "Why, I don't see how you could have been calledawkward. Everybody at the General's spoke of how graceful you were, andreally it would make you vain if I were to tell you all that was said. "

The old man came round the house, and Guinea sprang back. I was stillholding her hand. "Hah, " he grunted. "Got home all right, eh? Parker wasover here just now and said that the trial had been set for nextThursday, not quite a week from now, you understand. He seems to thinkwe are goin' to pull through all right; said that you've made friendswith everybody in the town. That's good, both for now and also forafter a while, when you set in as a lawyer. I tell you, Parker's visithelped us mightily, and Susan has eat a right smart snack, and I didn'tknow how hungry I was till right then. You better go to town to-morrow. "

I went in early the next morning and found nothing to serve as a basisfor the hopefulness that Parker had given the old people. Conkwright wasbusy with the case, frowning over his papers, but he had no words ofencouragement, except to say that he was going to do the best he could. But after a while he flashed a gleam of hope by remarking that there wasone important factor in our favor. And eagerly I asked him what it was. 

"It won't do to talk it around, " said he, "but we can count on the judgedoing the square thing. He is comparatively new in our district, and theStuart influence hasn't taken hold on him--has had no cause to. Hisfavor, or, at least, his lack of a cause to be directly against us, willmean a good deal; it will enable us to secure a new trial at any rate. "

As I entered the corridor of the jail I saw Alf's face brighten behindthe bars. "Have you seen Millie?" he asked. 

"No, your sister commanded me not to go near the General's house. "

His countenance fell, but he said: "I reckon she's right. And I didn'tmean that you should make a dead-set call, you know--didn't know but youmight happen to meet her. That preacher, the one I told you about, hasbeen round again, and he declares that I must come into his church. Theydo pull and haul a fellow when they get him into a corner, don't they?Well, I don't see what else can be done now except to go into court andhave the thing over with. I know as well as I know my name that he wouldhave killed me if I hadn't killed him; not that night, of course, butsome time. I am sorry, though, that I stood there in the road, waitingfor him, for that does look like murder, Bill. But look how he had drawnhis sight between my eyes and abused me for everything he could thinkof. And whenever I see him now, there he sits on his horse, with one eyehalf shut and the other one looking down the barrel of his revolver atme. I can see his lips moving and can hear every word he says. "

I went home that day earlier than usual, resolved to keep the old peoplein the atmosphere of encouragement which the deputy sheriff had breathedabout them, and I told them that the presiding judge was our friend, andthat old woman put her worn hands in mine and gave me a look of trustfulgratitude. "God rewards the man that seeks to ease an old mother'sheart, " she said; and the old man, standing there, with his sleevesrolled up, threw the droop out of his shoulders, the droop that hadremained with him since that early morning when he stood at the gate ofhis "stockade, " fumbling with the chain. "And, Susan, " he spoke up, "ifwe've got two judges on our side we're all right. Let him set downthere, now. Let him set down, I tell you. When a woman gets hold of aman she never knows when to turn him loose. I'm tempted now to go andsee him. No, " he added, shaking his head, "can't do it--couldn't bear tosee a son of mine locked up like a thief. But it won't be for long. Thatjudge will say, 'turn that boy loose, ' and then--oh, it's all right, Susan, and a year from now we'll almost forget that it ever took place. "

His wife began to cry, for in this trouble her heart demanded that heshould lean upon her for support, and it appeared to me that whenever hestraightened up to stand alone, she felt that her office was gone. 

"Susan, don't take on that way. Jest as we see our way clear of thewoods, you act like you are lost. Smile, till you find the path, andthen you want to cry. Act like you want the Lord to do it all--don'twant the circuit jedge to do nothin'. That's it, brighten up there now, and, Guinea, you go out and tell that nigger woman to cook enough for adozen folks. Hawes, I've got them chickens down to a p'int that wouldmake your eyes bulge out. "

"I believe that Bob came very near making one of yours bulge out, " Ireplied. 

"Ah, didn't he, the old scoundrel. But Sam pecked a grain of corn out ofmy mouth this mornin' and never teched a tooth. That's what they callart, ain't it? Come out with me. "

"Limuel, let him stay with me, won't you?" his wife pleaded. 

"Of course, Susan, but don't you reckon a man wants to unstring himselfonce in a while? They can't understand us, Hawes. Women know all aboutthe heart, but they are sometimes off on the soul. "

"You think more of those old chickens than you do of me, anyhow, " hiswife whimpered, still resentful that he was not leaning upon her forsupport. 

"Did you hear that, Hawes? By jings, sir, you've got to be foolish or awoman will think you've ceased to love her. The minute you are strongshe thinks you have forgotten her. About the happiest woman I ever sawwas one that had to support a bed-ridden husband. Fact, as sure as I'mstandin' right here. She was the kindest and sweetest thing you eversaw, but when the feller got up finally and got strong enough to goabout, blamed if she didn't jump on him every time he come in sight. "

"Now, Limuel, you know you are makin' up every word of that. "

"It's the truth, I tell you--knowed the man well. "

"Well, who was he?"

"Oh, he lived away over yonder on the branch, out of your range. "

"He didn't live anywhere; that's the truth of it. "

"But, Susan, he might have lived anywhere. His name is man and hiswife's name is woman. What, you goin' to cry about it? Now, there, it'sall right. No, there never was such a man. I'm an old liar, that'swhat's the matter with me. Never was a man fitten to live with a goodwoman. Why, bless your life, what would I be without you? Why, you'vebeen the makin' of me. And a long time ago, when I used to drink lickerand fight, you'd set up and wait for me and you never scolded me, andthat very fact turned me agin licker, for I jest nachully thought thatit was too much work for you to keep up a show of good humor all thetime. Yes, it's all right, and that boy's comin' out of there without ascar on him, and I'll pay back the money that I owe the General----" Hehastened out of the room, and we heard him yelling at his chickens. 

CHAPTER XIV. 

I went to town every day, and every night I returned, self-charged withhope; and now the trial was at hand. When the work of impaneling thejury was begun, old Conkwright was there with his challenges. How shrewdhe was, how sharp were his eyes. And when night came the panel was farfrom complete. 

"It will take a long time at this rate, " I said, as we were leaving thecourt-room. 

"I don't care if it takes a thousand years; they sha'n't ring in astuffed toad on me, " replied the ex-judge. "Did you notice that fellowwith a long neck? They've fixed him all right and I knew it. I am notaltogether easy about that short fellow we've got, but I hope he is manenough to be honest. There is no more trickery anywhere than there is ina murder trial in this country. Well, they've put their worst menforward, and I think we shall have better material to-morrow. "

And it appeared that we had, for the jury was sworn in the nextafternoon. The testimony was so short and so direct, the witnesses wereso few that the trial could not last long; and when at home I gave thisas an opinion, the old people were glad, for they declared that itshortened the time of their son's absence. On the day set for theopening of the argument hundreds of the farmers gave over their work androde to town, for the Southerner loves a passionate speech, and thecourt-house is still his theater. 

The old man walked down the road with me, but he stopped before wereached the place where Stuart had been stretched upon the ground. 

"Well, " he said, turning back, "I reckon to-day'll finish it. At leastthey'll give it to the jury and it oughten't to take 'em long after whatthe judge says in his charge to 'em. I feel that it's goin' to be allright. Don't you?"

The truth was that I did not, but kindness is not always the truth; so Isaid: "Everything looks that way. Conkwright is as sharp as a thorn andhe'll be in their flesh from the beginning to the end. "

"By jings, jest say that again. That ought to settle it right now, hah?Stay with 'em till they git through, and you'll find us waitin' for youwhen you git back. "

I nodded, waved my hand at him and galloped away, and from a hill-top Ilooked back and saw him still standing there in the road. Parker caughtup with me and we in turn overtook a man whom I did not care toencounter--Etheredge. I had seen him every day during the trial, hadcaught his blurred eye as I was giving my testimony on the stand, hadheard him tell his damaging story. 

"Ho, there, " he said, as I was about to pass him. "Haven't forgotten me, have you?"

"My memory is unfortunately so good that it retains many objectionablethings, " I answered. 

"Glad to hear it; pleased to know that you haven't forgotten our littleengagement. "

He rode along with me. The way was just broad enough for two horsesabreast, and the deputy dropped back. "We need not wait for thetermination of the trial, " I replied. 

"That so? Strikes me that you are pretty keen, especially as there is anofficer right behind you. Say, you seem to blame me for the interest Iam taking in this affair. Have you stopped to think of the interest youare taking in it? Jucklin's no relation of yours and probably never willbe. Did you hear what I said? Probably never will be. "

"Unfortunately I haven't an apple tree sprout with me to-day, Mr. Etheredge. "

"And it's a good thing for you that you haven't. Do you reckon I'd letyou lash at me while so many people are riding along the road?"

"I don't suppose you would let me do so at any time if you could helpyourself. "

"Oh, I don't know. Might let you amuse yourself if there were no one insight. But I've got nothing against you, young man. I've lived longenough to forgive an over-grown boy's impulses. "

He could not have cut me deeper; and his sleepy old eyes saw the bloodand he laughed. "Got under your hide a little that time, eh? We've allgot a thin place somewhere in our skin, you know. You needn't look back;the officer is right behind us. "

"I wish he were not in sight, " I replied. 

"You don't like him, eh? Why, I always thought, he was a pretty goodfellow. But, of course, I am willing to accept your judgment of him. Butif you don't like him why do you wait for him to come up?"

"I am waiting for you to go on, sir, " I replied. "And if you don't Iwill knock you off that horse. "

"Very well. I see a man on ahead who is doubtless better company. Itrust, though, that I shall have the pleasure of a closer associationwith you at some future time. Good-morning. "

I waited until Parker came up. "Did you get enough of him?" he asked, laughing. "I knew you would--nearly everybody does. Under thecircumstances it was an insult for him to offer to ride with you. "

"And he and I will have a trouble as soon as this one is settled, " Ireplied. 

"Oh, I reckon not. I don't see why any man of sense should want to havetrouble with you. Just look how they are flocking to town. Hope they'llturn out this way and vote for me at the next election for sheriff. Women, too. See them coming out of that gate?"

When we rode into the town the streets were thronged and horsemen, wagons and buggies were thick on the public square. The ginger cake andcider vender was there, with his stand near the court-house steps, andthe neigh of the colt and the distressful answer of his mother, tied tothe rack, echoed throughout the town. Dogs, meeting one another for thefirst time, decided in their knowing way that they were enemies, butsuddenly became allies in a yelping chase after one of their kind thatcame down the street with a tin can tied to his tail. 

I went at once to Conkwright's office and found him with his feet on atable, contentedly smoking a cob pipe. 

"I was just thinking over some points that I want to make, " he remarkedas I entered. 

"And I hope, sir, that you are in the proper humor to make them. "

"Can't tell about that. Oratory is as stealthy and as illusive as aweazel at night. You never know when he's coming. "

"But do you feel well?" I anxiously inquired. 

"Oh, feel first-rate, but that doesn't make any particular difference. Sometimes a man may think that he feels well, but when he gets up tospeak he finds that he is simply sluggish. Reckon I'll get through allright. Do the best I can, any way, and if I fail it can't be helped. Guess we'd better go over. "

An anxious day that was for me. I looked at Alf, now beginning to growpale under his imprisonment, and I saw his resentment rise and fall asthe state's attorney pictured him, waiting, listening with eagerness forthe sound of a horse's hoofs. I was to be a lawyer, to defend men and toprosecute them for money, and yet I wondered how that bright youngfellow, with the seeming passion of an honest outcry, could stand thereand tell the jury that my friend had committed the foulest murder thathad ever reddened the criminal annals of his state. Old man Conkwrightsat, twirling his thumbs, and occasionally he would nod at the jurymenas if to call their attention to a rank absurdity. But I did not see howhe could offset the evidence and the blazing sentences of thatimpassioned prosecutor. At last Conkwright's time had come, and when hearose and uttered his first word I felt the chill of a disappointmentcreeping over me. He was slow and his utterance was as cold as if it hadissued from a frost-bitten mouth. I went out and walked round the town, to the livery-stable, where a negro was humming a tune as he washed ahorse's back; to the drug-store, where a doctor was dressing a brick-batwound in a drunken man's scalp--I walked out to the edge of the town, where the farming land lay, and then I turned back. I was thinking of myreturn home, of the sorrow that I should take with me, of those oldpeople--of Guinea. 

Some one called me, and facing about I recognized the telegraph operatorcoming across a lot. "Glad to see you, " he said, coming up and holdingout his hand. "Didn't hear about her, did you?"

"Hear about whom?" I asked, not pleased that he should have broken inupon my sorrowful meditation. 

"Mrs. McHenry. "

"No, I've heard nothing. What about her?"

"Why, there's everything about her. She's my wife--married night beforelast. Know that piece of calico I pointed out that day, the time I saidI had to be mighty careful? Well, she's it. I'll walk on up with you. Run it down--run in panting, you might say. Said I had to have her andshe shied at first, but that didn't make any difference, for I was therethree times a day till she saw it wasn't any use to shy any longer; soshe gave in and I caught the first preacher that happened to be hangingaround and he soon pronounced us one and the same kind--something of thesame sort. Go right down that street and you'll see calico on my clothesline most any time. Say, it will be a pity if they hang that youngfellow. And I'll tell you what I'll do. If they send anything off to anyof the newspapers I'll spell his name wrong. Get even with them someway, won't we? Yonder comes my boy and I reckon there's a call for me atthe office. They are rushing me now--seems to be the busy season. I'vebeen to the office twice already to-day. "

Long before I reached the court-house I heard old Conkwright bellowingat the jury. The windows were full of people and outside men werestanding upon boxes, straining to see the old fellow in his mightytirade. I could not get into the room, but I squeezed my way to the doorand stood there, with my blood leaping. Now I could see why they hadcalled him powerful. His face was aglow, his gray hair was upon end andhis eyes were shooting darts at the jury. I know not how long he spoke, but I know that suddenly he was silent, looking upward, and then, spreading his hands over the jury, said: "May God in his infinite mercyinfluence your decision. " He sat down, and I noticed then that the airwas cooler with a breeze that sprang up when the sun had set. Thestate's attorney made a few remarks, and then the judge delivered hischarge to the jury, an address short, but earnest. Now there was ashoving and a crush--the jurymen were filing out. I saw them leading Alfback to the jail, but I did not go to him, so pulled and hauled I was byhope and fear. But I made my way to the old lawyer, and asked him whathe thought. 

"I don't know, " he answered. "Don't you see the disposition there is torush everything? I don't think they will be out long. "

"You made a great speech, sir. "

"Wasn't bad, considering the material. We were at a disadvantage. Hestood there in the road, you know, and that is a hard thing to getround. "

"But the judge must have felt your speech. "

"Why, my son, I don't suppose he heard it. "

I went away and again I walked about the town. It was dusk and thetavern bell was ringing. On the court-house steps and on the publicsquare men were discussing the trial and venturing their opinions as tothe result. I heard one man say: "The old soldier made a great fight, but the odds were against him. Bet ten dollars they find him guilty. "

"There's his friend over there, " another man spoke up. "Don't talk soloud. "

"Can't help who's there listening; money's here talkin'. Any takers?"

Not far away there was a wooden bridge over a small stream and thither Iwent and leaned upon the rail, listening to the murmur of the water. Ithought that this must be the brook that rippled past our house, and Iwent down to the water's edge and bathed my aching head. Then Iremembered that I had eaten nothing since early morning, and I thoughtthat I would better go to the tavern, and was turning away when I heardsome one cry: "The jury is in and court has met again!" I scrambled upand hastened toward the court-house, and at the steps I met a number ofmen coming out. "It's all over, " one of them said to me. "Imprisonmentfor life. Conkwright has moved for a new trial and the judge has grantedit. "

I hastened to the jail, whither they had taken Alf. I found him seatedon his bed. He got up when he saw me. 

"Bill, " he said, in a voice low and steady, "I am not going to thepenitentiary if you are my friend. "

"And you know that I am, Alf. "

"Then you will lend me your knife. "

"No, Alf, I can't do that--not now. Remember that we have anotherchance. "

"I don't mean now--I mean if that last chance fails. Now I want you todo something for me. You tell father that he must sell his farmimmediately and leave here. Tell him that I'll hate him if he doesn'tdo as I say. You can stay here and write to him, and if I don't come outat the next trial, all right, and if I do, I can go to him. It may seemhard, but he's got to do it. He wouldn't live here, any way. Will you doit?"

"I will, for I don't know but it is a good plan. No, he wouldn't livehere. He will do as you request. "

"Well, go on home now and rest. Hanged if you don't look as if you'vebeen on trial for your life, " he added, laughing. "Tell him that I'm notcrushed--that it has come out better than I expected. "

The night was dark, the road was desolate, and I heard the lonesomelowing of the cattle. And now and then a horseman passed me, for I wasnot eager to get home. At a gate near the road-side some one wasstanding with a lantern, and just behind me came the rattle of an oldvehicle. I turned aside to let it pass, and as I did the light of thelantern fell upon me and a voice asked: "That you, Mr. Hawes?"

"Yes, " I answered, turning back into the road and following a buggy. 

"I 'lowed so, " said a man in the buggy, "for we don't grow many of yoursize about here. I have heard that they used to, but they don't now. Good many things have happened since that day you come over to see meabout the school. I'm Perdue. And, by the way, there's a hundred dollarsat my house waitin' for you, and if you don't come after it I'll send itover. "

"But you don't owe me anything yet, " I replied. 

"Yes, the money's there and it's yourn. You couldn't help not bein' in afix to teach. As I say, it's there for you, and you might as well haveit. Sorry for the old folks, tell 'em, but it can't be helped. "

On he drove, shouting back that he would send the money the next day, and my protest, if, indeed, I entered one, was weak and faltering, forof all men in that neighborhood I thought that I stood most in need of ahundred dollars. 

Now I was nearing the house. The hour was late, but a light was burningin the sitting-room. No one came out, though my horse's hoofs fell hardenough upon the stones to tell them of my coming; and when I got down atthe gate I found a horse tied to the fence. Some person, eager to bearevil tidings, had forestalled me. I led my horse to the stable, went tothe house, and had just stepped into the passage when Parker, the deputysheriff, came out of the sitting-room. "I thought you'd go on back tothe jail to stay a while, so I came on over to tell them. No trouble, you know--only a short distance out of my way. "

All within was silent. I stepped inside. The old man was standing withhis back to the fire-place; the old woman sat with her book in her lapand Guinea stood at the window, looking out into the darkness. I satdown in silence, for I knew not what to say, and in silence for a timewe remained. The old woman sobbed, clutching more tightly her book, andthe old man looked at her sharply and then almost flung himself out ofthe room. And a few moments later I heard him shouting: "Hike, there, Sam! Hike, there, Bob! There's plenty of light; you've got threelanterns. Hike, there! To a finish, to a finish!"

"Mrs. Jucklin, it is no time for despair, " I said, and Guinea turnedfrom the window. "We have already secured a new trial, and the next timeit will surely go in our favor. That is the history of nearly all suchcases. Be strong just a little while longer. You have been our prop, andnow you must not let us fall. "

She arose and with an old-time courtesy bowed to me, and Guinea cameforward and held out her hand, and she must have seen a sudden lightleap into my eyes, for she said: "I am Alf's sister and yours, too. "

This came as a repulse to my heart's eager yearning; no sister'sconfidences could answer the call that my nature was shouting to her. But I gulped down a rising soreness of the heart and I said: "I thankyou. "

The old man, with heavy tread, strode into the room. "It was to afinish, " he whispered. His hands were covered with blood. "It was to afinish, and they are both dead. "

There was a sharp rap at the door. Guinea opened it and in came the oldGeneral. "Mr. Jucklin, can I speak to you in private?" he asked, bowingto the women. 

"No. What you've got to say, out with it here. "

"I would rather say it in private. Why, what's the matter with yourhands?"

"It was to a finish, sir, and let what you say be to a finish, even ifit is three times as bloody. "

"Oh, I have come out of no hard feelings, sir. Ladies, would you and ourfriend, Mr. Hawes, mind retiring?"

"They are goin' to stay here, sir, " the old man replied, rolling up hissleeves. 

"All right, just as you will, sir. Mr. Jucklin, years ago we enteredinto an arrangement----"

"And I have cursed myself ever since!" the old man exclaimed. 

"Just wait until I get through, if you please. We entered into anarrangement, prompted by a boy's fancy and warmed by a father's overindulgence. I know that this is a sore time to come to you, and I don'twant to appear unkind, for my aim is tender, though my determination isjust. Young hearts may whisper to each other, and that whispering may bemusic, sir; but in this life there are duties too stern to be melted andturned aside by a melody. And, sir, one of the most sacred duties thatcan fall to the trust of a man is to see that the family name, which isto survive after he has folded his hands in eternal stillness--pardon mydevious methods, for I assure you that my windings proceed from akindness of heart--I say that my duty now is to those who may bear myname in the future. I trust that I am now sufficiently started to speakplainly. I don't doubt the real worth and sterling integrity of yourstock, Mr. Jucklin, but an agreement that we once made must be setaside. "

He stood with his broad hat in his hand and out of it he grabbled ahandkerchief and wiped his face. Old Lim gazed steadily at him. "Mywords sound cold and formal, " the General continued, "and I wish thatthey might be warmer and more at ease, but in vain have I tempered withthem. The short of it all is, and I have striven not to say itbluntly--is that the engagement which has held us in prospectiverelationship is hereby broken; but by this I do not mean that your sonis guilty of murder, for in his heart he may see himself justified, buta decision of court has--and I wish I could find a softer means ofsaying it--court has pronounced him guilty, and that places the marriageout of the question. Bear with me just a moment more, for I assure youthat I am suffering keenly with you, that my heart is in sorrowfulunison with your own. Family pride may be regarded a hobby in this daywhen refinement and respectability are sneered at, but it is a virtuoushobby, and I have held it so long that I cannot put it down. And now, inso far as there is any question of a financial obligation, we will turnour backs upon it and forget that it ever existed. "

He put his handkerchief into his hat, changed his hat to his other handand stood looking at Jucklin; and I had expected to see the old man leapoff the floor in a rage, but I cannot recall ever having seen a coolershow of indifference. "I put gaffs on 'em early this mornin' an' kept'em waitin' for the finish, and when it come it come soon, " he said. 

"Mr. Jucklin, I had hoped to make myself sufficiently clear. I havecome, sir, to break the engagement that was foolishly arranged by us tobind your daughter and my son. "

"Bob died first, but Sam could jest stagger, and he fluttered against meand covered my hands with his blood; and I must apologize for notwashin' 'em, but it is not too late to make some sort of amends. I willwipe 'em on your jaws, sir!"

He sprang forward, but I caught him. "You must be perfectly cool andperfectly sensible, Mr. Jucklin, " I said, as quickly as I could, holdinghim. "Remember that he is in your house. "

And this quieted him. Even the most pronounced backwoodsman in the Southis sometimes graced with a sudden and almost marvelous courtesy, theunconscious revival of a long lost dignity; and this came upon the oldman, and, bowing low, he said:

"I humbly beg your pardon, sir. "

"And I should be a brute not to grant it, " the General replied, bowingin turn. "But I hope that reason rather than the fact of my being underyour roof will govern your conduct. "

During this time, and, indeed, from the moment when the General hadentered the room, Guinea stood beside the rocking-chair in which hermother was seated; no change had come over her countenance, but withone hand resting on the back of the chair she had remained motionless, with the exception that she placed her hand on her mother's head at themoment when I caught the old man in my arms. I saw this, though hermotion was swift, for I was looking at her rather than at her father. And now the General turned to the girl. 

"My dear, " he said. She frowned slightly, but her lips parted with acold smile that came out of her heart. 

"My dear child, it is hard for me to say this to you, for I feel thatyou can but regard me a feelingless monster that would rend an innocentand loving heart, and God knows that I now beg your forgiveness, but inthis life cruel things must be done, done that those who come after usmay feel no sting of reproach cast by an exacting society. I am an oldman, my dear, and shall soon be taken to the burial ground where myfathers sleep in honor. They left me a proud name and I must not soilit. The oldest stone there is above a breast that braved old Cromwell'spikemen--the noble heart of a cavalier beat in that bosom--and can youask----"

"I have asked nothing, General. "

"You are a noble young woman. "

"But your son will come to me and kneel at my feet. "

A flush flew over the General's face. "No, it is with his full consentthat I have come. Indeed, I would have put off my coming until a morebefitting day, but he knew his duty and bade me do mine. "

"He will kneel at my feet, " she said; and he had not replied when weheard footsteps in the passage--wild footsteps. There was a moment ofsharp clicking at the door latch, as if a nervous hand had touched it, and then Millie broke into the room. Her face was white, her hair hungabout her shoulders. 

"You have kept me away!" she cried, stamping her feet and frowning ather father. "Yes, you have kept me away, but I have come and I hateyou. "

The old General was stupefied. "You may tell your cold-blooded son whatto do, " she went on, "but my heart is my own. He asked me to marry himand I will--I will break into the penitentiary and marry him. And youwould have had me marry Dan Stuart. Just before he was killed he told mehe would kill Alf if I said I loved him. I will go to the jail and marryhim there. "

She ran to Guinea, and they put their arms about each other and wept;and the old woman pressed her book to her bosom and sobbed over it. Through old Lim's wire-like beard a smile, hard and cynical, wascreeping out, and the General was fiercely struggling with himself. Hehad bitten his lip until his mouth was reddening with blood. 

"Come, you are going home with me, " he said. 

"I am not!" his daughter cried, with her arms tight about Guinea. "I amnot; I am going to the jail. "

"Then I will take you home. "

"Don't touch me!" she cried, shrinking back into a corner. "Don't touchme, for I am almost mad. What do I care for your pride? What do I carefor the old graveyard? You have tried to break my heart, but I willmarry him. He is worth ten thousand such men as your cold-blooded son. Don't you touch me, father. Mr. Hawes!" she screamed, "don't let himtouch me. "

The old General had stepped forward as if to lay hands upon her, but hestepped back, bowed and said: "You are a lady and I am a gentleman, andthese facts protect you from violence at my hands, but I here denounceyou--no, I don't, my daughter. I cannot denounce my own flesh and blood. I will leave you here to-night, hoping that when this fit of passion isover reason will lead you home. Good-night. "

CHAPTER XV. 

Long we sat there in a calm, after the General left us; and the twogirls, on a bench in a corner, whispered to each other. How wild hadbeen my guessing at the character of Millie! How could one so shy, sogentle, so fond of showing her dimples, cast off all timidity and setherself in opposition to her father's authority and pride? I could butargue that she was wrong, that she had forgotten her duty, thus to standout and violently defy him, and yet I admired her for the spirit she hadshown. And I believed that Guinea was just as determined, just aspassionate. But she was wiser. 

I told the old man what Alf had requested me to tell him, that he mustsell his farm and go away, and he replied that he would. "I don't think, though, that I can get very much for it. Parker's land joins mine, andmay be I can strike a trade with him. Of course, I don't want to livehere any longer, for no matter what may come now we've got the name. Susan, I never saw a woman behave better than you have to-night. The oldstock--and I'm with the book from kiver to kiver. And now, Millie, letme say a word to you. Of course, I know exactly how you feel, and allthat--how that you couldn't help yourself--but to-morrow mornin' afterbreakfast I would, if I was in your place, go right home and ask myfather's forgiveness. I say if I was in your place, for if you do youwon't have half so much to be sorry for, and in this life I hold thatwe're doin' our best when we do the fewest things to regret. What do youthink?"

"I'm sorry I talked that way, and he's getting old, too. But I had acause. He made me stay in the house, and he ought to remember that I amof the same blood he is and that it's awful to be humiliated. Butthere's one thing I'm going to do. When Alf's tried again, I'm going totell them what Stuart said. I would have done it this time, but I wasashamed to say anything about it. I have been nearly crazy, but I'mawfully sorry that I talked that way. And, oh, suppose he were to dieto-night? I never could forgive myself. I must go home now, Mr. Jucklin. Yes, I can't stay another minute. You'll go with me, won't you, Mr. Hawes?"

"I will gladly do so, " I answered. 

"And I will go, too, " said Guinea. 

We took a lantern, but the night was so dark that we went round by theroad, rather than over the meadows. Millie said that she scarcelyremembered how she had come, but she thought that she had run the mostof the way. And over and over as we walked along she repeated: "I'mawfully sorry. "

As we came out of the woods, where the road bent in toward the big gate, we saw a light burning in the library. Millie stopped suddenly andclutched my arm. "Suppose he won't let me come back?" she said. "I don'tknow in what sort of a humor I may find him. Mr. Hawes, you go on andsee him first, please?"

"And I will wait out here, " Guinea spoke up, and her voice trembled. "Ofcourse, I can't go into the house after what has happened. Nobody mustknow that I am here. "

I left them standing in the dark, and when I stepped upon the porch Iheard some one walking heavily and slowly up and down the library. Onthe door was a brass knocker, and when I raised it and let it fall, thefoot-steps came hastily to the door. A hanging lamp was burning in thehall, and I saw that the old General himself had opened the door. 

"Oh, it's you Mr. Hawes. I couldn't tell at first. My old eyes aregetting flat, sir. Step into the library. "

"No, I thank you. I have but a moment to stay. "

"Step in, sir, " he insisted, almost commanded, and I obeyed. Chyd wasunder a lamp, reading a sheep-skin covered book. He looked up as Ientered, nodded, and then resumed his reading. 

"Sit down, " said the General. 

"No, I thank you, for, as I say, I have but a moment to remain. Yourdaughter is exceedingly sorry that she acted----"

"Where is she, sir?"

"She has come with me, but fearing that your resentment----"

"What, is she out there waiting in the dark? What, my child out therewaiting to know whether she can come into her father's house? I will goto her, sir. Come, Chyd, let us both go. "

I stepped to the door and stood confronting the old man and his son. 

"You can go, General, if you will, but your son must remain where heis. "

"What, I don't understand you, sir. How dare you--what do you mean, sir?"

"Your son must not come with us. That is what I mean. "

"Not go to welcome his sister home. Get out of my way, sir!"

"Wait, General. He should not go out there, for the reason that some oneelse, out of kindness, has accompanied your daughter and me. "

"Ah, I beg your pardon, " said the old man, bowing. "Chyd, stay where youare. "

Millie was inside the yard, but Guinea was in the road, standing at thegate. "Come, my child!" the old man called. Millie ran to him and hetook her in his arms. And he lifted her off the ground, slight creaturethat she was, and carried her up the steps. 

Guinea took my arm and homeward we went, and not a word was spoken untilwe entered the dark woods. 

"You saw Chyd?" she said. 

"Yes, and the old gentleman wanted him to come out. "

"To kneel at my feet so soon?"

"No, to welcome his sister. Are you so anxious for the time to come?"

"Yes, " she answered, without hesitation. 

"And is it because you love him?" I asked bitterly. 

"You and I are to be the best of friends, Mr. Hawes, and you must notreproach me. "

"Forgive me if I have hurt you, " I said, stupidly. 

"But you must not keep on wounding me merely to be forgiven. I said thathe would kneel at my feet, and this may sound foolish to you, but hewill. How do I know? I feel it; I don't know why, but I do. And we areto leave the old home if father can sell the land. It's better to go, but it will be still better to come back, and we will. Do you think thatI am merely a simple girl without ambition? I am not; I dream. "

"I know that you are a noble woman. "

"Oh, don't flatter me now. It's first reproach, and then flattery. Buthave you thought of the real nobility of some one else--yourself?"

I strove to laugh, but I know that it must have been a miserable croak. "I have done nothing to merit that opinion, " I replied. 

"Oh, it is a part of your nature to suppress yourself. Do you know thatI expect great things of you? I do. "

"I know one thing that I'm going to do--I am going to buy the old houseand a narrow strip of land--the path and the spring. That's all Iwant--the house, the path and the spring, with just a little striprunning a short distance down the brook where the moss is so thick. Ihave the promise of money from Perdue, and I think that I can borrowsome of Conkwright. Yes, I must have the house and the path and thespring and the strip of moss-land that lies along the branch. It will bemerely a poetic possession, but such possessions are the richest to onewho has a soul; and no one with a soul will bid against me. It is a meanman that would bid against a sentiment. "

"You must be nearly worn out, " she said, when for some distance we hadwalked in silence. 

"I may be, but I don't know it yet. And so long as I don't know it, why, of course, I don't care. "

For a long time we said nothing. Her hand was on my arm, but I scarcelyfelt its weight, except when we came upon places where the road wasrough; and I wished that the way were rougher, that I might feel herdependence upon me. Once she stepped into a deep rut, and I caught herabout the waist, but when I had lifted her out, she gently releasedherself. She said that the road was rougher than she had ever beforefound it, and I was ready to swear that it was the most delightfulhighway that my feet had trod; indeed, I did swear it, but she warned menot to use such strong language when I meant to convey but a weakcompliment. 

"Let us walk faster, " she said. "It is away past midnight. I do believeit's nearly day. Can you see your watch?"

"Yes, but I can't see the time. "

"Nobody can see time, Mr. Teacher of Children. "

"But I could not tell the time even if I were to hold the lantern to thewatch. "

"Oh, of course you could. Why do you talk that way?"

"I am moved to talk that way because I know that the watch, being insympathy with me, refuses to record time when I am with you--itfrightens off the minutes in an ecstasy. "

"Nonsense, Mr. Hawes. I do believe daylight is coming. What a night wehave passed, and here I am unable to realize it, and mother isheart-broken over our disgrace. But I suppose it will fall upon me andcrush me when we have gone away. My brother sentenced to thepenitentiary! To myself I have repeated these words over and over andyet they don't strike me. "

"Perhaps it is because your mind is on some one else, " I replied, with areturn of my feeling of bitterness. 

With a pressure gentle and yet forgetful her hand had been resting on myarm, but in an instant the pressure was gone like a bird fluttering froma bough, and out in the road she was walking alone. 

"I earnestly beg your pardon. I scarcely knew what I was saying. Won'tyou please take my arm?"

"To be compelled to drop it again before we have gone a hundred yards?"

"No, to drop it when we have reached the gate. Won't you, please? Idon't deny that I am a fool. I have always been a fool. My father saidso and he was right. Everybody made fun of me because I was so easilycheated; and you ought to be willing to forgive a man who was born afailure. Whenever there has been a mistake to be made I have made it. Once I was caught in a storm and when I came in dripping, my father saidthat I hadn't sense enough to come in out of the rain. But I am strongerwith every one else than I am with you, and----"

She was laughing at me; but it was a laugh of sympathy, of forgiveness, and I caught her hand and placed it upon my arm. And so we walked alongin silence, she pressing my arm when the road was rough. Daylight wascoming and we could see the house, dark and lonesome beyond the blackravine. 

"What a peculiar man the General is, " I said, feeling the growingheaviness of the silence. "I can hardly place him; but I believe he hasa kind heart. "

"Yes, " she replied, "he is kind and brave and generous, but over it allis a weakness. "

"And he is of a type that is fast disappearing, " said I. "A few yearsmore and his class will be but a memory, and then will come almost aforgetfulness, but later on he will reappear as a caricature from thepen of some careless and unsympathetic writer. "

We had crossed the ravine and were now at the gate, and here I halted. "What, aren't you going in?" she asked, looking up at me, and in thedim light I could see her face, pale and sad. 

"No, " I answered, "I am going to town. "

"At this hour, and when you are so tired?"

"The horse is rested, and as for myself, my duty must give me vigor. "

"I don't understand you. What can you do in town?"

"I can bear the divinest of tidings--I can tell Alf that Millie loveshim. "

She stood looking down, and, bending over her, I kissed her hair, andoh, the heaven of that moment, at the gate, in the dawn; and oh, thethrilling perfume of her hair, damp with the dew brushed from the vineand the leaf of the spice-wood bush. And there, without a word, I lefther, her white hands clasped on her bosom; and over the roadway Igalloped with a message on my lips and incense in my soul. 

CHAPTER XVI. 

The sun was an hour above the tree-tops when I rode up to thelivery-stable, and the town was lazily astir. Merchants were sprinklingthe brick pavements in front of their stores, and on the public squarewas a bon-fire of trash swept from the court-house. I hastened to thejail, and for the first time the jailer hesitated when I applied foradmission. My eagerness, apparent to every one, appeared to bemistrusted by him, and he shook his head. I told him that he might go inwith me, that my mission was simply to deliver a message. 

"The man has been sentenced, " said he, "and I don't know what good amessage can do him. I am ordered to be very strict. Some time ago a manwas in this jail, sentenced to the penitentiary, but he didn't go--afriend came in and left him some pizen. And are you sure you ain't gotno pizen about you. "

"You may search me. "

"But I don't know pizen when I see it. Man's got a right to killhimself, I reckon, but he ain't got no right to rob me of my position asjailer, and that's what it would do. Write down your message and I'lltake it to him. "

"That would take too long. The judge has granted him a new trial andsurely he wouldn't want to kill himself now. "

"Well, I reckon you're right, but still we have to be mighty particular. I don't know, either but you might be taking him some whisky. Man's gota right to drink whisky, it's true, but it don't speak well for themorals and religious standin' of a jailer if he's got a lot of drunkenprisoners on hand; so, if you've got a bottle about you anywhere you'dbetter let me take it. "

"I've got no bottle. "

"That so? Didn't know but you might have one. Prohibition has struckthis town putty hard, you know. Search yourself and see if you hain'tgot a bottle. "

"Don't you suppose I know whether I've got one or not? But if you wantone you shall have it. "

"S-h-e-e! Don't talk so loud. There's nothin' that sharpens a man's earslike prohibition. Say, " he whispered, "a good bottle costs about adollar. "

"Here's your dollar. It's my last cent, but you shall have it. "

"Oh, it ain't my principle to rob a man, " he said as he took the money. "But I do need a little licker this mornin'. Why, I'm so dry I couldn'twhistle to a dog. No pizen, you understand, " he added, with a wink, ashe opened the door. 

The drawing of the bolts must have aroused Alf from sleep, for when Istepped into the corridor he was sitting on the edge of his bed, rubbinghis eyes. 

"Helloa, is that you, Bill? What are you doing here this time of day?Why, I haven't had breakfast yet. "

"I have come to tell you something, and I want you to be quiet while Itell it. "

"That's all right, old man. Go ahead. I can stand anything now. "

I told him of the scene in the sitting-room, of the walk to theGeneral's house--told him all except that kiss at the gate. He utterednot a word; he had taken hold of the bars and was standing with his headresting upon his arms--had gradually found this position, and now Icould not see his face. Long I stood there, waiting, but he spoke not. Suddenly he wheeled about, fell upon his bed and sobbed aloud. And so Ileft him, and ere I reached the door I knew that his sobbing was aprayer, that his heart had found peace and rest. Upon a pardon from thegovernor he could have looked with cool indifference, for without thatgirl's love he cared not to live; but now to know that through the darkshe had fled from her home, rebellious against her father's pride, wildwith love--it was a mercy granted by the Governor of governors. 

I went to see Conkwright and told him of the threat that Stuart hadmade, and the old man's eyes glistened. "We ought to have had that girlon the stand in the first place, " he said. "But it was a delicate matterand, of course, we didn't know that she could bear so strongly upon thecase. It's all right--better as it is, and that boy will get off as sureas you are sitting there. That threat was worse than his standing inthe road, waiting. Yes, sir, it's all right, and you may take up yourschool again and go ahead with your work. "

"I don't want to go ahead with it, Mr. Conkwright. I want to study lawwith you. The school was only a makeshift, any way. You are getting oldand you need some one to do the drudgery of your office. I will come inand work faithfully. "

"Don't know but you are right, Billy. "

"I wish, sir, that you wouldn't call me Billy. "

"All right, Colonel. "

"And I don't care to be called Colonel. You may call me Bill, if youwant to, but Billy----"

"A little too soft, eh? All right. I don't know but you are the very manI want. You are faithful and you've got a good head. Call again in a dayor two. It has been a long time since I had a partner. Yes, come inagain, and I think we can arrange it. "

"There is something else that I want to speak about, and to me it is ofmore importance than----"

"Love!" the old man broke in, winking at me. 

"I'll tell you, if you'll wait a moment. Then you may place your ownestimate upon it. "

I told him of the broken engagement, of Chyd's indifference, of the oldcouple's plan to leave the community, and I unfolded my sentimentalresolve to buy the old house. "And now I must ask a favor, " I continued. "Old man Perdue told me that he would pay me for the time--time I havenot taught, but as I am not going to fill out the term it wouldn't beright to take the money. "

"Ah, and it is law you want to study?"

"Why, of course. Didn't I make that plain?"

"Oh, yes. And you don't think it would be right to take the money? Goahead, though. "

"I know it wouldn't be right. And what I want to ask of you is this: Theinvestment will require about two hundred dollars. Won't you lend methat amount?"

He scratched his head, scratched his chin, bit off a chew of tobacco, stretched himself and said: "Well, I have been lending money all mylife, and I don't see why I should stop now. Did you ever hear ofanybody paying back borrowed money except in a poker game? I never did. Do people really pay back? I don't know what the custom is over in thepart of the country you came from, but the rules are very strict here, and they are not violated very often--they rarely pay back. And theynever violate the rule with me. "

"My dear sir, I will pay you----"

"Yes, I know. Oh, you've got the formula down pretty fine. Make a goodlawyer. I've got some money in that safe, that is, if nobody has robbedme. Let me see if I've been robbed. "

He opened the safe and took out a package of banknotes. "Don't believeI've been robbed. Rather singular, too, " he went on, counting the money. "Two hundred, you said. Better take two-fifty--you need some clothes. Pardon me for being so keen an observer. It really escaped my noticeuntil this moment. But what you want with the old house is more than Ican understand. No, Billy--Bill, I mean--no, I understand it and it is anoble quality. "

He rolled up the money, handed it to me and continued to talk. "Afterall, sentiment is the only thing in life, but you'd better not tell thisabout town--I'd never get another case. Yes, sir, and the poet is theonly man who really lives. Now go on and buy your acre of sentiment, andwhen you have closed the bargain, lie down upon your possessions and goto sleep. Tell the old man that he is a fool for going away, but tellhim also that I don't blame him for being a fool. Yes, sir, I love afool, for it's the wise man that puts me to trouble. Give my warmestregards to that old woman. Let me tell you something: Many years ago Iwas a poor young fellow working about the court-house. And the clothesyou've got on now are wedding garments compared with what mine were. Well, one day I stopped at Jucklin's house to get out of the rain--hehadn't been married long--and soon after I went into the sitting-room, the wife began to whisper to the husband, and when she went out, whichshe did a moment later, Jucklin turned to me and said: 'Go up stairs, take off your britches and throw 'em down here, and I'll bring 'em backto you after a while. ' I was actually out at the knees, sir, and I didas he told me, and when he brought my trousers back they were neatlypatched. Yes, sir, give my warmest regards to that old woman, for ifshe isn't a Christian there never was one. Well, what are you hangingaround here for? Trying to thank me? Is that it? Well, just go on, myboy, and we'll attend to that some other time. "

"You know what I feel, Mr. Conkwright, and I will not attempt to thankyou, but I must say that I was never more surprised in a man. I was toldthat you were hard and unsympathetic. "

"Sorry you found me out, sir. Let a lawyer get the name of being kindand they say that he is emotional, but has no logic. Blackstone had togive up poetry. Well, good-day. I'm busy. "

I ate breakfast at the tavern, nodding over the table; and I was sosleepy that I could scarcely sit my horse as I rode toward home. The daywas hot and drowsy was the air, in the road and on the hill-side, wherea boy, weary and heavy with the leg-pains of adolescence, was dragginghimself after a plow. Once I dozed off to sleep and awoke under a tree, the wise old horse knowing that he could take advantage of my sleepinessto bat his eyes in the shade, and when I spoke to him he started off ata trot as if surprised to find that he had turned aside from his duty. Iwas nearly home and was riding along half asleep when the frightfulsquealing of a pig drew my attention down a lane that opened into theroad. The animal was caught under a rail fence and his companions wererunning up to him, one after another, and were raking him with theirsharp teeth. I got down and fought off the excited beasts, knocked oneof them down for his cruelty, and lifted the fence to liberate theprisoner; and when he was free his companions, the ones that had beenripping his hide, ran up to congratulate him upon his good fortune; andin the whole performance I saw a heartless phase of human life, musingas I rearranged the rails that had been lifted away, and when Istraightened up there stood Etheredge looking at me. 

"These are my hogs, " he said. 

"I didn't know that, " I replied, "but I might have known that they weremembers of your family. "

"Yes, you might have known a great many things that you have never beenwise enough to find out. But I don't want to lash words with you, Mr. Hawes. I simply stopped to tell you that a man who would go out of hisway to lift a heavy fence to help a hog is not a bad fellow; and I wantto apologize for anything that I have said to anger you. I have nothingagainst you and I don't blame you for sticking to a friend. One of thesedays you'll find that I'm not half as bad a fellow as you have had causeto think me. Let us call off our engagement. Is it a go?"

"Doctor, I have no desire to kill you, and I think that your death wouldbe the result of our keeping that engagement. "

"Pretty confident sort of a man, I take it. And after all, bravery isnothing but a sort of over-confidence. But I don't believe that youwould kill me; I believe that it would be the other way, and it is notout of fear that I propose a setting aside of our indefinite agreementto meet each other. But be that as it may, we will call it off unlessyou insist, and if you do, why, as a gentleman I shall be compelled tomeet you. I am brave enough to confess that I can't help but admire youmorally and physically. In a small way, I was once a demonstrator ofanatomy, and from an outside estimate I must pronounce you as fine aspecimen of manhood as I ever saw. And if you'll come over to the housewe'll take a long drink on the strength of it. "

"The spirit of your hospitality is not lost upon me, Doctor, but thetruth is, I never drink. But with a cheerful willingness I accept yourother proposition--to set aside our engagement. It was no more yourfault than mine. "

"Yes, it was, Mr. Hawes--I wantonly nagged at you. But we will let itdrop. Under present conditions we can't be very good friends, but therewill come a time when you must acknowledge that malice may know what itis to be honest, if not generous. "

"Don't go now, Doctor; you have interested me. Tell me what you mean. "

"I wish you good-day, Mr. Hawes, " was his reply, as he strode off downthe lane. And he left me holding him in a strange sort of regard; he hadflattered me and had hinted at a future generosity. Could it be that heintended to modify his evidence when again he should appear againstAlf? A demonstrator of anatomy--and he could soothe a nerve as well asexpose a muscle. I felt kindly toward him as I rode along, thoughblaming myself for my weakness. But I have never known a very large manwho had not some vital weakness--of vanity, egotism, over-generosity, foolish tenderness--something in ill-keeping with a well-poisedmorality. With old Sir John we have more flesh, and, therefore, more offrailty. 

As I came within sight of the house I saw three men slowly walking aboutin the yard, and, upon reaching the gate, I recognized them as Parker, Jucklin and Perdue. I turned the horse into a lot and joined them. 

"Well, " said Jucklin, "it's all over and I have sold out to Parker. "

"Not the house, too!" I cried in alarm. 

The old man smiled and winked at Parker. "Well, not quite, " he said. "Guinea told me what you wanted, and sir, you can have it, though I tellyou right now that it ain't worth much. "

"Will you take two hundred dollars?"

"Not from you, Bill. You may have the house and the path and the springand the strip of moss, for if you haven't earned that and more----"

"Hold on, Mr. Jucklin. I want the property made over to me in regularform when I have paid you for it. I will accept of no concession; wantto pay as much as Mr. Parker would have paid, and I have borrowed moneyenough to close the deal. You are going away and you will need everycent you can possibly raise; and I demand that you take the two hundreddollars that I have collected for you. It will be of no use to say thatyou will not, for I am determined, and, although you have been verykind, you will find me a hard man to fight. And remember that there is adebt to be paid. "

He held out his hand and looked over toward the General's house as Igripped his rough palm. 

"I have buried 'em over by the edge of the woods, " he said; "buried 'emwith their gaffs on. I couldn't help it--they had to fight to a finish. Yes, it shall be as you say. I will pay what I owe and still have moneyenough to get away off somewhere. We'll draw up the papers in town andhave it over with at once. "

"Mr. Hawes, I've got a hundred dollars that's yours, " said old manPerdue. "I have brought the money, and here it is. "

"I can't take it, Mr. Perdue. I haven't earned it, and shall not earnit. I am not going to teach your school. "

"The deuce you say! Why, my grandson thinks there ain't nobody in theworld like you--says you can whip any livin' man. You must teach thatschool. "

"No, I am going to study law with Judge Conkwright. "

"What, with him? Don't you do it. Why, there ain't a harder hearted manon the face of the earth than he is. Smart as a whip, but he don't go tochurch once in five years. Oh, you needn't smile, for it's a fact. Notonce in five years, and what can you expect from a man like that? Oh, he'll grind you into the very ground. Ain't got a particle of feelin'. "

"I expect him to teach me the law and I can get along with my presentstock of religion. But even if he were to offer me his religion, I wouldaccept it. I know him better than you can ever know him. But we have nocause to discuss him. No, I can't take your money. "

"But you have earned some of it. Twenty-five dollars, at least. "

"Well, I will take that much. "

"Take it all, " said Parker. 

"No, twenty-five, " I replied. 

"You are your own boss, " Perdue observed; "you know best. Here's yourtwenty-five, and I'll make it fifty if you'll send out word that the newman, whoever he may be, mustn't go into the creek. You are the sort of areformer that this community has needed. Well, gentlemen, I've got toget home. Issue your proclamation, sir, and send for the othertwenty-five. "

Parker said that it was time for him to go, and, adding that he wouldmeet Jucklin in town, left us at the door. 

Mrs. Jucklin was brighter than I had expected to find her, and when Itold her what Conkwright had said, that Alf would surely be acquitted, the light of a new hope leaped into her eyes. 

"I told Limuel that God would not permit such a wrong, " she said. "Didn't I, Limuel?"

"You said something about it, Susan; I have forgot exactly what it was. It's all right if the judge says he knows it. Yes, sir, it's all right. But we'll leave here all the same. Don't reckon we'll ever come back;can't stand to be p'inted at. Fight a man in a minit if he p'ints atme. "

"Oh, Limuel, don't talk about fighting when we are in so much trouble. "

"Fight a man in a minit if he p'ints at me. Knock down a sign-post if itp'ints at me. Well, we want a little bite to eat. Been about six weekssince I eat anything, it seems like. "

All this time I was wondering where Guinea could be, and was startled byevery sound. The mother asked me how Alf looked and how he had actedwhen I had pictured Millie's leaving home; and I told her mechanically, wondering, listening; and I broke off suddenly, for I thought there wasa footstep at the door. No, it was a chicken in the passage. They askedme many questions and I answered without hearing my own words. Mrs. Jucklin went out to the dining-room and the old man began to talk abouthis chickens. He had found them bloody and stiff, and had buried them ina box lined with an old window curtain. And now there was a step at thedoor. I looked up and Guinea stood there, looking back, listening to hermother. And thus she stood a long time, I thought, and yet she must haveknown that I was in the room. Mr. Jucklin spoke to her and she came in, walking very slowly. Her face was pale, with a sadness that smote myheart. She sat down and looked out of the window. Mrs. Jucklin calledthe old man, and when he was gone I told Guinea that I had left Alf in aconvulsive joy; and, still looking out of the window, she said: "You arethe noblest man I ever met. "

I sprang to my feet, but quickly she lifted her hand and motioned meback, though she still looked away. "Sit down, please. Don't youremember our agreement to be frank with each other?"

"Yes, I remember it, but frankness means the opposite of restraint. "

"Yes, but frankness should always have judgment behind it. "

"Guinea!" She looked at me. "Guinea, you say that after a while he willkneel at your feet. "

"Yes, after a while, Mr. Hawes. "

"But let me--let me kneel at your feet now!"

Slowly she shook her head. "No, Mr. Hawes, you must never do that. Sometime we may kneel together, but you must never kneel to me. Now weare frank, aren't we? We may go to church together and hear some onepray a beautiful prayer, a prayer that may seem the echo of our ownheart-throbs. Sweet is confidence, and I ask you to have confidence inme. Let me have my way, and when the time is ripe, I will come to youwith my hands held out. Yes, when the time is ripe. And then there willbe no reproaches and nothing to forgive, but everything to worship andto bless. Oh, I am a great talker when once I am started, Mr. Hawes, andI think all the time. I thought this morning as I stood at the gate, just as you left me standing; I heard you galloping down the road. Anddo you know what I thought of? It was almost profane, but I thought ofthe baptizing at the river of Jordan, when the spirit came down like adove; and I knew what must have been the thrilling touch of that spirit, for the holiness of love had touched my hair. No, Mr. Hawes, not now. There, sit down again and let me talk, for I am started now. Oh, and youthought that I was dumb and feelingless? You mustn't weep; but as forme, why, I am a woman and tears are a woman's inheritance. There, I havesaid enough, and after this we must speak to each other asfriends--until the time when I shall come to you with my hands held out;and then I am going to tell you of a woman who loved a man, not with ahalting, half-hearted love, but with a love as broad as God's smile whenthe earth is in bloom. You didn't know that I was so persistent, didyou? Isn't it time for a woman to be persistent? No woman has ever keptsilence, they tell us, but women have been constrained to talk aroundthe subject, festooning it with their insinuating fancies. But women aremore outspoken now and are permitted to be truer to themselves. Yes, youmust have confidence in me; let me indulge my dream a while longer, andthen I will come to you, but until then let us be friends. "

"But won't you let me tell you something now? Won't you let me tell youthat in the moonlight I bowed until my head touched the dust, worshipingyou as you stood----"

"No, not now; not until I come. And won't you respect my wishes, even ifthey are foolish?"

"Now and forever, angel, your word shall be a divine law unto me. "

"They are calling us, " she said. "Come on. "

CHAPTER XVII. 

In the afternoon I went to town with the old man, to attend upon thetransfer of the property, and I slept in the wagon, conscious of Guineawhen the road was rough, and sweetly dreaming of her when there was nojolt to disturb my slumber. It was long after midnight when we returned. I was resolved to go early to bed, for Guinea and her mother were sadlyengaged packing a box with the bric-a-brac upon which time andassociation had placed the seal of endearment. 

"Now, I wonder what has become of that old lace curtain, " said Mrs. Jucklin. "I have looked everywhere and can't find it, and I know it wasin the chest up stairs. "

The old man began to scratch his head. 

"I don't know who could have taken it, " Mrs. Jucklin went on. "Itcouldn't have walked off, I'm sure. Limuel?"

"Yes, ma'm. "

"Do you know what has become of that old curtain?"

"What, that ragged old thing that wan't worth nothin'?"

"Worth nothin'! Why, it belonged to my grandmother. "

"I never heard of that before. "

"Oh, yes, you have, and what's the use of talkin' that way? You've knownit all the time. "

"News to me, " said the old man. 

"It's not news to you, anything of the sort; but the question is, do youknow what has become of it?"

"Susan, in this here life many things happen, things that we wish hadn'thappened. I am not sorry that they fit to a finish, for that had to be;but I am sorry that I wrapped 'em in that curtain when I buried 'em. "

"Gracious alive, what has possessed the man! Oh, you do distress me so. How could you do such a thing, Limuel? I do believe you have gone daft. But you go right out there now and dig up them good-for-nothin' chickensand bring me that curtain. Go right on this minit. "

"What, Susan, and rob the dead and the brave? You wouldn't have me dothat. "

"Go on, I tell you, or I'll go myself, and throw the fetchtaked thingsover to the hogs. The idee of wrappin' up them cruel, good-for-nothin'things in a curtain like that. Oh, I never was so provoked in my life. "

The old man got up and stretched himself. "Bill, " said he, "I amsometimes forced to believe that the women folks are lackin' in humansympathy. Ma'm, I'll fetch your curtain, but I've got to have somethin'to wrap around the dead and the brave. "

"Don't you take that apron. Why, if he wouldn't take the best apron I'vegot, right out from under my very eyes. And you can't have that standcover, either. "

"Well, but, by jings, what can I have? Am I a traveler that has jeststopped here to stay all night? There's no use in talkin'; I'm goin' tohave 'em put away decent. Take me for a barbarian?"

He went out, and just as I was going up to bed I met him in the passageway, with a roll of white stuff in his bare arms, and as he stepped intothe room I heard his wife exclaim: "Mercy on me, if he hasn't taken hisbest shirt. And what he is goin' to do for somethin' to wear the Lordonly knows. "

I heard Guinea laughing, and then I heard the old man say that what aman happened to wear would make but little difference with the Lord. 

I was so worn that my sleep that night was dreamless, but when early atmorning they called me to breakfast I knew that during the hours of thatdeep oblivion I had been vaguely conscious of a dim and shadowyhappiness; and a vivid truth came upon me with the first glimpse ofsunlight. 

The old man was waiting at the foot of the stairs. "Bill, we are goin'over to the station right after we eat a bite, " he said. "We can't takebut a few things, and we'll leave the most of our trumpery till we gitsettled somewhere. Take care of that horse you've been ridin'--he don'tbelong to us; was left here by a man some time ago, feller that had togo away off somewhere to see his folks. So, you jest keep him till he'scalled for; and I've left you plenty of corn out there to feed him on. You can study your books here about as well as you can in town, and Iwish you'd sorter look after the things. Parker will drive us over tothe station. "

"And am I to go also?" I asked. 

"No, I believe not. It's Guinea's arrangement and not mine. Let her haveher own way. All women have got their whims, the whole kit an' b'ilin'of 'em, and you might as well reason with a weather cock. Wait a minitbefore we go in. As soon as we git half way settled Guinea will write toyou. I have no idee where I'm goin', but it will be away off somewhere. It makes me shudder every time I meet a man that I know, and I'd bet ahorse that if I was to meet a cross-eyed feller I'd fight him. If Alfgits clear he can come to us. And you--I'm sorry you have decided to goin with Conkwright, for I wanted you to come with Alf. "

"I will come. Nothing shall stand in the way. Mr. Jucklin, have younoticed----"

"Yes, I've noticed everything. And it's all right. And Susan has noticedeverything and it's all right with her. There never was a prouder humanthan Guinea, sir; the old General's pride is rain water compared toher'n. And she's got an idee in her head--I don't exactly understand it, but she's got it there and we'll have to let her keep it till she wantsto throw it aside. I was over to the General's before sun up thismornin'. He swore that he wouldn't take the money, but I left it under abrick-bat on the gate post and come away. Well, everything is settled, and all I can say now is, God bless you. "

We were silent at breakfast, and we dared not look at one another. Awagon came rattling through the gate, and Parker shouted that he wasready. No one had said a word, but the old man struck the table with hisfist and exclaimed: "I insist on everybody showin' common sense. I don'twant anybody to speak to me. I'll fight in a minit. Git in that wagonwithout a word. Hush, now. "

I wanted to lead Guinea to the wagon, to feel again her dependence uponme, but she pretended to be looking away when I attempted to take herhand, and so she walked on alone; but I helped her into the vehicle, andI kissed her hand when she took hold of the seat. She gave me a quicklook and a smile; and the wagon rolled away. I stood on the log step, watching it, and as it was slowly sinking beyond the hill I saw theflutter of a handkerchief. 

I went up to my room and sat down, sad that I had seen her going awayfrom me, yet happy to know that she had left her heart in my keeping. But the foolishness of this separation struck me with a force that hadbeen lacking until now, and for a time I felt toward the old man ahardness that not even a keen appreciation of his kindness and hisdrollery could soften. Gradually, however, the truth came to me that Alfhad drawn the plan, and with my arms stretched out toward the hill-topthat had slowly arisen between me and the fluttering handkerchief Ifoolishly apologized to the old man. I did more foolish things thanthat; I improvised a hymn and sang it to Guinea--a chant that, no doubt, would have been immeasurably funny to the cold-hearted and the sane, butit brought the tears to my eyes and rendered the rafters just above myhead a work of lace, far away. And at these devotions I might haveremained for hours had not a sharp footfall smote upon my ear. Ihastened down stairs, and at the entrance of the passage stood ChydLundsford, looking about, slowly lashing his leg with a switch. 

"Helloa! Where are all the folks?"

"They are gone, sir, " I answered, stiffly bowing to him. 

"Gone? I don't know that I quite catch your meaning. "

"If it be illusive you have made it so. I said that they were gone, which means, of course, that they are not here. "

"I understand that all right enough, but do you mean that they are notin at present or that they have really left home?"

"They have no home, sir. "

He gave himself a sharp cut with the switch. "It can't have been so verylong since they left, for the old man was over to see father thismorning. Which way did they go? I may overtake them. "

"That would be greatly against their wish, sir. "

"I am not asking for an opinion. I want to know which way they went. "

"I am not at liberty to tell you that. They have gone out into a worldthat is as strange to them as America was to Columbus. "

"Rot. There isn't a smarter woman anywhere than Guinea. She has readeverything and she knows the world as well as I do. But why are you notprivileged to tell me which way they went? I have something to say thatconcerns them closely. Did they go toward town?"

"Do you suppose that they would go away without first seeing their son?"

"Then you mean that they went to town. Why the devil can't you speakout? Why should you stand as a stumbling block?"

"Why should I stand as a sign post?"

"Now here, you needn't show your selfishness in this matter. Shewouldn't wipe her feet on you. "

"No, but she would wipe them on you. "

"What!" He took a step forward, but he stepped back again and stoodthere, lashing himself with the switch. "My father tells me that you area gentleman, " he said. 

"And you may safely accept your father's opinion of me, " I answered. 

"But you are not striving, sir, to make that opinion good. "

"A good opinion needs no bolstering up. "

"This bantering is all nonsense. I've got nothing against you; I havesimply asked you a civil question. "

"And I hope to be as civil as you are, but out of regard for thefeelings of those old people and their daughter I cannot tell you whichway they went. You couldn't overtake them, any way. "

"But I can try. "

"Yes, you could have tried yesterday and the day before, and a week ago, when they needed your sympathy. "

He dropped his switch, but he caught it up again, and his face was red. "I might say, sir, that what I have done and that which I have failed todo is no business of yours, but I feel that there is a measure ofjustice in what you say, and I acknowledge that I have been wrong. Thatis why I am here now--to set myself right. "

"In matters of business we may correct an error, Mr. Lundsford; we mayrub out one figure and put down another, but a mark made upon the heartis likely to remain there. "

"I will not attempt to bandy sentimentalities with you, sir. I am apractical man, a scientist, if you wish; and I came here to tell thatgirl that my breaking off the engagement--you must know all aboutit--was wrong. I told my father to come, for just at that time I didn'tfeel that as a man who looks forward to something a little more than aname I could afford to marry her. But I was wrong; any living man couldafford to marry her. I was wrong, and that ought to settle it. "

"And I think, sir, that it does settle it as far as you are concerned. "

"Do you mean that she won't marry me? Oh, yes, she will, not out of anyfoolish love, but because she would be proud of my success. Well, I maynot overtake her, but I will write to her. Yes, that will do as well. She will want to know how things are getting along here, and will writeto you, and when she does I wish you would show me her letter. What areyou laughing at? Haven't you got any sense at all?"

"I hope so, but I am not so much of a scientist that I am a fool. "

"No, but you are so much of a fool that you are not a scientist, by ad----d sight. "

He had me there, and it was his time to laugh, and he did. He was sotickled that he roared, walking up and down the passage; and he was sopleased that he held out his hand to shake upon the merit of his joke. Iwas not disposed to be surly and I shook hands with him, and he clappedme on the shoulder, still laughing, and declared that it was a piece ofwit worthy of the dissecting-room, and that he would jolt his fellowswith it. 

"I am glad you are so much pleased, " I remarked. 

"Why, don't you think it's good, eh? Of course, you do. Well, it'sbetter to part laughing, anyway. "

"You are not too much of a scientist to be a philosopher, " I said. And Iexpected him to continue his line of deduction and to say that I was toomuch of a philosopher to be a scientist, but he did not; he sobered andgravely remarked:

"Yes, I am devilish sorry that this thing came about, and I hope thatGuinea will not take a romantic view of it. I guess they'll be backafter a while, if Alf is cleared, and from what I hear I suppose hewill be. "

"May I ask how your sister is?"

"Certainly. She's all right; doesn't eat much, but her pulse isnormal--little excited, but hardly noticeable. Loves that fellow, doesn't she? Strong, good-looking boy, but not very practical. Hopehe'll come out all right. Ah, I was going to say something, but it hasescaped me. Oh, yes, you are in love with Guinea. Be frank, now. "

"Yes, I worship her. "

"Hardly the word, but it will do, on an impulse. I think a good deal ofher myself. I said just now that she wouldn't wipe her feet on you, andI beg your pardon. She may wipe them on you. You are going to stay here, eh? Well, come over to the house. No reason why there should be anyill-will between us. Good-day. "

I sat down on the step and watched him until he had ridden out of sight, and I was pleased that he went toward his home, not that I was afraid ofa renewal of the engagement; I knew that it was forever set aside. But Ifelt that his overtaking the wagon would bring an additional trouble tothe father and the mother; indeed, I was afraid that the old man mightkill him. Strange fellow Chyd was, and I liked him as an oddity, assomething wholly different from myself or from any impulsive being. Hewas not cruel--he simply had no heart. 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

I walked about the old place until nearly noon, and then I went to town. The jailer met me with a doubtful shaking of his scheming head, and Iknew that again he had received orders to be rigid in his discipline, but I was resolved that the old rascal's appetite for liquor should notplay a second prank upon me; so when he hinted at another bottle I toldhim that I had spent so much of my life as a temperance lecturer that itwas against my conscience to buy a favor with whisky. I looked steadilyat him, and he began to wince. 

"Why, to be sure, " said he, "but, my dear sir, I didn't buy whisky withthat dollar--bought a ham with it. If I didn't I'm the biggest liar inthe world; and I don't reckon there's a family in this town that needsanother ham right now worse than mine does. "

"That may be, but I can't afford to pay so heavy a price every time Ienter this place. You know that I am associated with the prisoner'slawyer, but we'll waive that right--I'll go to the sheriff and get anorder from him. "

"Why, my dear sir, that's unnecessary. Walk right in; but remember yourpromise not to say anything about that ham. There are a lot ofvegetarians in this town, and if they hear of my eating meat they'llhold it against me. Walk in, sir. "

I found Alf in high spirits. Conkwright had called and had assured himthat his day of liberty was not far off. I told him that the old housewas deserted, and he stood musing, looking at me dreamily, as if hismind were hovering over the scenes of his boyhood. I let him dream, forI knew the sweetness of a melancholy reverie. Sometimes the soul isimpatient of the body's dogged hold on life, and steals away to view itsfuture domain, to draw in advance upon its coming freedom--nowlingering, now swifter than a hawk--and then it comes back and we saythat we have been absent-minded. Alf started--his soul had returned. "And weren't you surprised to see them drive toward town?" he asked. 

"Who, your parents and Guinea? They didn't; they drove toward therailway station. "

"But they came to town, my dear boy--were here in this jail. They musthave driven round to deceive you, for they knew that you would want tocome with them, and they deceived you to spare you the pain of seeing ustogether. And I'm glad you were spared, though mother stood it muchbetter than I expected. But this was because she firmly believes I'll becleared. They haven't been gone a great while--there's a station not farfrom this town. Father played another trick on you. Yesterday, when hecame to town to deed over the land, he left you dozing in the wagon andslipped off round here. I was surprised, for I had positively orderedhim not to come. But he set me to laughing before he got in. 'Open thatdoor by the order of the sheriff!' he cried at the jailer. 'Here's theorder; look at it, but don't you look at me. Fight you in a minit. ' Andthen he came in, and the first thing he told me was that they had gaffson. He said that he had fought hard to keep mother from coming, at nightwhen the rest were asleep; and I swore that she must not come, but shedid. Bill, you brought me a message that sent me to heaven; and now letme ask if you know that Guinea loves you? There, don't say a word--youknow it. She told me, standing where you are now--told me everything, and what a talker she is when once she is started. But you must let herhave her way, and she will come to you, holding out her hands. Have youseen Millie?"

"No, not since that night. But I am going to see her. "

Then I told him that Chyd had come to the house--I reproduced the scene, and Alf's merriment rang throughout the jail. 

"Yes, " he said, "you can go over there all right enough. The Generallikes you, anyway. I don't know what he thinks of me--still sizes me asa boy, I suppose; and if he were to come in here now I believe he wouldask me what father was doing. But it makes no difference what he thinks. The judge tells me that you are going to study law with him. Jumped intoan interesting case right at once, didn't you?"

We talked a long time and we laughed a great deal, for we were in aparadise, although in a jail. And I left him with a promise that I wouldsoon bring him a direct word from Millie. 

I found Conkwright in his office, with his slippered feet on a table. Hebade me come in, and he said nothing more, but sat there pressing hisclosed eye-lids with his thumb and fore-finger. How square a chin he hadand how rugged was his face, trenched with the deep ruts of many acombat. His had been a life of turmoil and of fight. He was not born ofthe aristocracy. I had heard that he was the son of a Yankee clockpeddler. But to success he had fought his way, over many an aristocraticfailure. 

"Judge, have you finally decided that I may come into your office?"

"Thought we settled that at first, " he replied, without opening hiseyes. "Yes, you may come in; glad to have you, and, by the way, I've gotsome work I want you to do right now. A woman was in here to-day to seeif I could get her husband out of the penitentiary. I don't know but Ihelped put him there--believe I did. I was busy when she came in, andwhen she went away I remembered how poorly she was dressed, and I amafraid that I didn't speak to her as kindly as I should have. She livesat the south end of the street behind the jail, left hand side, Ibelieve. Look in that vest hanging up there and you'll find twentydollars in the pocket, right hand side, I think. Take the money and slipdown to that woman's house and give it to her. But don't let anyone seeyou and don't tell her who sent it. Might tell her that the State sentit as wages due for overtime put in by her husband. And you needn't comeback this evening, for it's time to close up. "

I looked back at him as I stepped out. He had not changed his positionand his eyes were still closed. And this was my first work as a studentof the law--a brave beginning, the agent of a noble design. I found theplace without having to make inquiry, and a wretched hut it was. Thewoman was shabby and two ragged children were lying on the floor. I gaveher the twenty dollars--I did more, I gave her a part of the money whichPerdue had given me. I explained that her husband had worked overtimeand that the State, following an old custom, had sent her the wages ofhis extra labor. She was not a very good-natured woman; she said thatthe State and the rest of us ought to be ashamed of ourselves for havingrobbed her of her husband, and she declared that if she ever got moneyenough she would sue old Conkwright and the sheriff and everybody else. I was glad enough to quit that wretched and depressing scene; and in thecool of the evening I strolled about the town. The business part of theplace was mean, but further out there were handsome old residences, pillared and vine-clad. And in front of the most attractive one I haltedto gaze at the trees and the shrubbery, dim in the twilight. 

A boy came along and I asked him who lived there and he answered: "JudgeConkwright. "

"He deserves to live in even a better house, " I mused, as I turned away;and just then I was clapped upon the shoulder with a "Helloa, my oldfriend"--the telegraph operator. I shook hands with him, and at once hebegan to tell me of his affairs. "Getting along all right, " he said. "Haven't got quite as much freedom as I used to have, but I reckon it'sbetter for me. Wife thinks so much of me that she's jealous of theboys--don't want me to stay out with them at night. Don't reckon there'sanything more exacting than a rag. But I had to have one. Without calicothere ain't much real fun in this life. But enough of calico's societyis about the enoughest enough a man can fetch up in his mind. Tell youwhat--I'll run on home and come back, and then you can go with me. "

"No, I couldn't think of putting you to so much trouble. "

"Won't be any trouble. Simply don't want to surprise her, you know. "

"I'll call on you before long, but now I must go to the tavern. "

"All right, and if I can get off I'll come over to see you. And I'lltell you what we'll do along about 11 o'clock. We'll go over toAtcherson's store with a lot of fellers and cook some eggs in the top ofa paste-board hat box. Ever cook them that way? It's a world beater. Just break the eggs in the lid of the box and put it on the stove andthere you are. Finest stuff you ever eat. But while you're eating youmustn't let them tell that jug story. Couldn't eat a bite after that. Well, I leave you here. "

Fearing that the operator's "rag" might fail in the strict enforcementof the regulations that had been thrown about the night-time movementsof her husband, that he might break out of the circle of his wife'sfondness and call on me at the tavern, I left that place soon aftersupper and resumed my walk about the town. In some distant place wherethe land was dry a shower of rain had fallen, for the air was quickenedwith the coming of that dusty, delicious smell, that reminiscent incensewhich more than the perfume of flower or shrub takes us back to thelanes and the sweet loitering places of youth. Happiness will not bear aclose inspection; to be flawless it must be viewed from a distance--wemust look forward to something longed for, or backward to some timeremembered; and my happiness on this night was not perfect, for a senseof loneliness curdled it with regret, but here and there, as I walkedalong, I found myself in an ecstasy--my nerves thrilled one another likecrossed wires, electrified. I knew that it might be a long time before Ishould hear from Guinea, but I was still drunk with the newness of thefeeling that she loved me. 

Prayer-meeting bells were ringing, and old men and old women came out ofthe dark shadow of the trees, into the light that burned in front of achurch--hearts that with age were slow and heavy, praying for theblessing of an Infinite Mystery. I entered the church and knelt down topray, for I am not so advanced a thinker as the man who questions theexistence of God; but I must admit that my thoughts were far away fromthe mumblings that I heard about me, far, indeed, from the mutterings ofmy own lips; and so I went out and sniffed the prayer of nature, thesmell of rain that came from far off down the dusty road. 

Early the next morning I went to Conkwright's office, to tell him thatfor a time I preferred to study in the country. The old man was walkingup and down the room, with his hands behind him. 

"Did you find that woman?" he asked. 

"Yes, and I let no one see me. "

"Good. You gave her the twenty dollars, and--is that all you gave her?"

"Why, that was all you told me to give her. "

"Yes, I know, but didn't you give her some of your own money? Speak outnow. No shilly-shallying with me. "

"Well, she was so wretched that I gave her five dollars of my ownmoney. "

"You did, eh? The money you borrowed from me, you mean?"

"No, money that old Perdue thinks I earned. He insisted upon my takingtwenty-five dollars. "

"It's all right, my boy. Yes, it's all right, but you'll have to be morecareful. It is noble to give, but it is not wise to look for anopportunity. It is better to give to the young than to the old, for thegood we do the youth grows with him into a hallowed memory--stimulateshim to help others--while the memory of the aged is fitful. Whenever yousee a boy trying to amount to something, help him, for that is a directgood, done to mankind. Now to business. Have you read Blackstone?"

"Yes, but not thoroughly. I have never owned his book. "

"There he is on my desk. I keep him near me. The lawyer who outgrowsthat book--well, I may be an old fogy on the subject, so I'll saynothing more except to commend the treatise to a lawyer as I would themultiplication table to a student of mathematics. And now let me saythat when you have been with me one year we will begin to talk aboutother matters, the question of money, for instance. Don't beextravagant--don't give money because you don't know what else to dowith it--and I will see that you shall not want for anything. Oh, yes, Iknow you are thinking of getting married, but it won't cost much to keepyour wife. We'll fix all that, and if I don't make a lawyer out of you Iam much fooled. You are in love and are mighty sappy just at present, but you'll come round all right; yes, sir, all right after a while. "

"I think, Judge, that I can study much better out at the old house, andif you have nothing for me to do I should like to spend several days ata time out there. "

"Why, is that the way to assist me? What good can you do me by pokingoff out there in the woods? Well, you may for a while. Three days aweek for a time, eh? All right. You are as hard to break in as a steer. What about those stories you told at the General's house. I hear thatthey were great. But don't let people put you down as a story teller, for when a lawyer gets that reputation, no matter how profound he maybe, the public looks upon him as a yarn-spinner, rather than a thinker. You might put them in print, but not under your own name. Bill--camewithin one of calling you Billy--a great many men succeed in law notbecause they are bright, but because they are stupid. I never see ajackass that I don't think of a judge--some judges that I know. Well, now, the first and one of the most important things to do is to go overto that tailor and have yourself measured for a suit of clothes. Did Isay measured? Surveyed is the word, " he added, looking at me from headto foot and then laughing. "Yes, I think that's the word. Well, go onnow. "

When the tailor had completed his "survey" I went to the jail, talkedfor a few moments with Alf and then straightway rode to the General'shouse. The old man was sitting on the porch, with one foot resting on apillow, placed upon a chair. "Get down and come right in!" he shouted;and as I came up the steps he motioned me away from him and said: "Don'ttouch that hoof, if you please. Buttermilk gout, sir. Look out, you'lltip something over on me. It's a fact--every time I drink buttermilk itgoes to my foot. Too much acid. How are you, anyway?"

He cautiously reached out his hand and jerked it away when I had merelytouched it. "Didn't sleep a wink last night; and every dog in the countycame over here to bark. I am very glad you have called; glad that youare too liberal to hold a foolish resentment. And the old folks aregone. 'Od 'zounds, the way things do turn out. The first thing I knowI'll swear myself out of the church. It was my pride, sir--but by allthe virtues that man has grouped, must we apologize for our pride? Hah, sir! Must I grovel and beg pardon because I honor my own name? I'll seemyself blistered first. It wasn't old Lim's fault. Confound it all, itwasn't anybody's fault. Then, sir, must I go crawling around on my bellylike a--like a--like an infernal lizard, sir? I hope not. But it willcome out all right, I think. After Alf is cleared the old people willcome back and all will be well again. What do you want?"

A negro boy had poked his head out of the hall door and was looking onwith a broad grin. "Dinner!" cried the old man. "But is that the way toannounce it--grinning like a cat? Come back here. Now what do you want?"

"Dinner is ready, sah, " said the boy. 

"Well, that's all right. But don't come round here grinning at me. Handme that stick. Oh, I'm not going to hit you with it. Come, Mr. Hawes. No, I don't want you to help me. I can hobble along best by myself. "

Millie was in the dining-room, and she turned to run when she saw me, but the old man hobbled into her way, so she came toward me withreddening face, and held out her hand. "I am glad to see you, " she said. "Sit over here, please. That's Chyd's seat and he's so particular. "

The son came in, said that he was pleased to see me, sat down, opened apamphlet that looked like a medical journal and began to read. 

"Mr. Hawes, " said the General, "I understand that you have madearrangements to study law with Judge Conkwright. And a most fortunatearrangement, I should think. Smart old fellow, sir; smart, and a goodman to have on your side, but a mighty bad man to have against you--halfYankee by parentage and whole Yankee by instinct. Millie, is that catunder the table?"

"I think not, father, " the girl answered, after looking to see if thecat were there; but this did not satisfy the old man. "You must know, not think, " he said. "There should be no doubt about the matter, for Imust tell you that if he touches my foot I'll kill him. A cat wouldtravel ten miles and swim a river--and a cat hates water--to claw agouty foot. Chyd, just put that book aside if you please. "

The young man folded the pamphlet and shoved it into his pocket. "I'vestruck a new germ theory, " he said. 

"Yes, " replied the General, "and you'll strike a good many more of themas you go on. I should think that you want facts, not theories. "

"But theories lead to facts, " the young man rejoined. "The theory ofto-day may become the scientific truth of to-morrow. "

"And it may also be the scientific error of the day after to-morrow, " Iremarked. 

He looked at me, spoke a word which I did not catch and then was silent, seeming to have forgotten what he had intended to say. I think that theword he uttered was "hah, " or something to indicate that he had paid butslight heed to my remark. I did not repeat it, and the talk fell awayfrom the germ theory. 

"Now, Mr. Hawes, " said the General, "I want you to help yourself just asif you were alone at your own board. It is a pleasure to have you withus, and an additional pleasure to know, sir, that you are to become apermanent citizen of this county. Men may think themselves wise whenthey apprentice their sons to a trade, averring that the professions areovercrowded, but that has always been the case, and yet, professionalmen have ever been the happiest, for they achieve the most, not in thegathering of money, but in the uplifting of mankind. My daughter, youdon't appear to be eating anything. I hope that you have not permittedthe timely, though unexpected, visit of Mr. Hawes to affect yourappetite. Chydister, another piece of this mutton? Most nutritious, Iassure you; a fact, however, which is, no doubt, well known to you. Mr. Hawes, I should think that you would prefer to sleep here at night, rather than to stay alone in that old house. You are more than welcometo a room here, sir. And I should like to hear anecdotes of yourgrandfather, the Captain. "

"I shall be in the country but a part of the time during the week, andmy coming and going will be irregular. But for this I should gladlyaccept your generous offer. As to my grandfather, I must admit that Iknow but little regarding his life. "

"A sad error in your bringing up, sir. In that one particular weAmericans are shamefully at fault. A buncombe democracy has insistedthat it is not essential to look back, but simply to place stress uponour present force and consequence. That is a self-depreciation, ahalf-slander of one's self. Of course, it is not just to despise a manwho has no ancestry, but it is a crime not to honor him if he has aworthy lineage. "

And thus he talked until the rest of us sat back from the table, andthen, gripping his cane and getting up, he said that he would like totalk to me privately in the library. Upon entering the room he filled aclay pipe, handed it to me, gave me a lighted match, filled a pipe forhimself, and then lay down upon an old horse-hair sofa. I placed acushion for his foot and he raised up and bowed to me. "I thank you, sir, " he said. "I don't believe that Chyd would have thought of that. Ibelieve that he will make of himself one of the finest of physicians, but a man may be a successful doctor and yet a thoughtless and anindifferent companion. You will please put the right construction uponwhat may appear as an over-frankness on my part, for the fact is I havenever regarded you as a stranger; and I feel that what I say to youwill go no further. "

He was silent and I nodded to him, waiting for him to continue. He movedhis shoulders as if to work himself into an easier position, and then heresumed his talk. "Of my own volition I would not have gone over toJucklin's house to break that engagement--I would have waited--but myson told me to go, and after I had gone, why, of course, I had to act mypart. But it was simply acting, for my heart was not in it. And I tellyou, sir, that if old Lim had wiped his bloody hands in my face I wouldnot have struck him. Chydister is proud, but his pride and mine are notof the same sort. With him everything must bear upon his future standingas a physician, and to me that has too much the color of business. Iadmit that I was grieved to discover that my daughter was in love withAlf. I don't say that he is not morally worthy of her or of any youngwoman, but he is poor and is indifferently educated, with no prospectssave a life of hard work. And I don't believe that I need to apologizefor desiring to see my daughter well situated. Now, my son regrets thestep which he took and which he urged me to take, and at the earliestmoment he will renew the engagement. I think almost as much of Guinea asI do of my own daughter. Although she is a country girl, who has led amost simple life, I hold her a remarkable woman--an original and athinking woman, sir. And now what I request you to do is this--softenher resentment, if you can. There are matches at the corner of themantelpiece. "

My pipe was out. I lighted it, and did not resume my seat, but stoodlooking at him. 

"General, " said I, "Guinea will never marry your son. "

"The devil you say! Pardon me. I didn't mean to be so abrupt. But why doyou think she will not marry him?"

"General, it is now your turn to pardon me, sir. She is to be married bya man who worships her, not a scientist, but a man with a heart--she isgoing to be my wife. "

The old man sprang up and in a moment he stood facing me. There was afootstep at the door and Chydister entered the room. 

"Go ahead with your emotional oratory, but pardon me while I look for mystethoscope, " he said. "I want to see what effect an hour's run willhave on the hearts of a hound and an ordinary cur. "

"Sir!" cried his father, turning upon him, "this is no time to talk ofthe hearts of hounds and curs. The hearts of men are at stake. "

"That so? What's up?"

"What's up, indeed, sir? This man says that Guinea Jucklin will notmarry you. "

"Yes, so he told me. Now I almost know that I put that thing right uphere. "

"'Zounds, man, will you listen to me!"

"Yes, sir, go ahead. He says she won't marry me. That's his opinion, undemonstrated--a mere assertion; he has given me no proof. "

"Ah, have you any proof, Mr. Hawes?" the old man asked. 

"I have, but it cannot very well be set forth in words; and with muchrespect for you, General, I must say that I prefer not to illustrateit. "

"You see it's rather vague, father. Let me ask if she has saidpositively that she will be your wife?"

"Her lips may have made no promise beyond a figure of speech, and yether heart----"

"Ah, more vague than ever, " the young man broke in, looking at hisfather as if he were impatient to get away. "I must have left itsomewhere else, " he added, and the old General frowned upon him. 

"Chydister, if you lose that woman it is your own fault. "

"Well, no, I can hardly agree with you there, father. If I lose her itwill be the fault of circumstances. Are you done with me?"

"Yes, you can go, " said the General. He stooped, reached back for thelounge and laboriously stretched himself upon it. Chyd went out and Iremarked that it was time for me to go. The old man made no reply, seeming not to have heard me, but as I turned toward the door he raisedup and said:

"I would be a fool, sir, to blame you; and I trust that you will notblame me for hoping that you are mistaken. "

He lay down again, and I left him. Millie was standing at the gate whenI went out, and she pretended not to see me until I had passed into theroad, and then, with the manner of a surprise, she said: "Oh, I didn'tthink you were going so soon--thought you and father were having anargument. Do you see--see him very often?"

There was a tremulous tenderness in her voice, and I knew that therewere tears in her eyes, and I looked far away down the road, as I stoodthere with the gate between us. 

"I have seen him every day, " I answered. 

"And does he look wretched and heart-broken?"

"No, he is happy, for he knows that you love him. "

She caught her breath with a sob and I looked far away down the road. 

"You told him--told him that I did. And I am so thankful to you; I woulddo anything for you. I dream of him all the time, and I see you withhim. How terrible it is, shut up there and the sun is so bright foreveryone else. Sometimes I go into the closet and stay there in thedark, for then I am nearer him. When will you see him again?"

"I am going back to town to-morrow. "

"Will you please give him this?"

I reached forth my hand and upon my palm she placed a locket. 

"I know that if you study law, Mr. Hawes, you will get him out. You areso strong that you can do most anything. Good-bye, and when you write toGuinea, send her my love. "

CHAPTER XIX. 

Four weeks passed and heavy were the days with anxiety, for I hadreceived no word from Guinea. I thought of a hundred causes that musthave kept her from writing, but, worst of all, I feared that she hadwritten and that the letter had gone astray. 

One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasoningsand developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought. But this was only for an instant. Ayoung deer came down the path, gracefully leaping, and my mind flew backto the time when I had first seen her running down that shining strip ofhard-beat earth. Yes, it was a deer, and it ran down the brook, andpresently I heard the hounds yelping in the woods. I returned to my roomand again I strove to study, but the logical phrasing was harsh to me, and I threw down the book. I would fish in the pools that lay along thestream toward the mill. The ground in the yard and about the barn was sodry that I could find no angle worms, and I decided to dig in the dampmoss-land near the spring. The hoe struck a hard substance and out camesomething bright. I stooped to examine it, and at first I thought thatit was silver, but it was not--it was mica. I scraped off the moss andthe thin strata of earth, and there I found a great bed of the ore. Idug deeper and it came up in chunks, and it was fine and flawless. Myreading taught me that it was valuable, and I was rejoiced to find thatit was on my own land. I got out as much as I could carry--indeed, Ifilled a trunk with it, and then carefully replaced the moss, smoothedit down and made it look as if it had not been displaced. My bloodtingled with excitement and I was afraid that some one might have seenme. I took the trunk to my room and split off thin sheets of the mica, and the more I looked at it the more I was thrilled at the prospect thatnow lay, not in the future, but under my touch. And I was not long inresolving upon a course to pursue. I remembered that into ourneighborhood had come from Nashville, Tenn. , a large stove with mica inthe doors, and I thought it would be wise to take my trunk to that cityand by exhibiting its contents induce some one to buy the mine. Ihastened to town, after hiding the trunk, and told Conkwright and Alfthat unexpected business called me away for a few days, and then Ireturned home and hired a man to drive me to the railway station. I wasafraid to trust the trunk out of my sight, but I had to let the baggageman take it, but I charged him to be particular with it, telling himthat it was full of iron ore. He gave it a jerk and declared that itmust be full of lead. When I had come into that community I fancied thatthe train was on wings, but now it appeared to be crawling. Night cameand I was afraid that robbers might assail the train and expose mysecret; but at last I reached Nashville, and then came a worry. How wasI to find the man who had made the stove? I took my trunk to a hotel, wrapped a chunk of the mica in a handkerchief and set out to look for astove dealer. I soon found a hardware establishment, and in I walkedwith the hardened air of business, and asked for the proprietor. Apleasant-looking man came forward, and I asked him what mica was worth. He looked at me sharply and answered that he was not thoroughly informedas to the state of the market, but that he thought it was worth all theway from five to twenty-five dollars a pound. "But mica of the firstquality is scarce, " said he, and then he asked if I wanted to buy mica. 

"No, sir, I want to sell it. Is this of good quality?"

I unwrapped the handkerchief and his eyes stuck out in astonishment. "Where did you get it?" he asked. 

"Off my land in North Carolina. "

"Have you very much of it?" he asked, scaling off thin sheets with hisknife. 

"Tons of it. "

"You don't say so! Then you've got a fortune. We are not very largemanufacturers and don't use a great deal. How much did you bring withyou?"

"Only a trunk full. "

"Well, I guess we can take that much. Bring it around. "

I did so, and I could scarcely believe that I had correctly caught hiswords when he offered me five hundred dollars, though now I know that hepaid me much less than it was worth. He talked a long time with hispartner, and then came back to me with the money, asked my name and anumber of other questions. "Young man, " said he, "if we had the readymeans we would buy that mine, but we haven't. Now, I tell you what youdo: Take a sample--this piece--and go at once to Chicago. I know of somecapitalists there who are making large investments in the South, and Ihave no doubt that they will be pleased to make you an offer for yourproperty. Here, I'll write their names on a card. To tell you the truth, we are to some extent interested with them. Now, don't show this sampleto anyone else, but go straight to Clarm & Ging, Rookery building, Chicago. Anybody can tell you where it is. Here's the card. We'lltelegraph them that you are coming, so you are somewhat in honor bound, you understand, not to go elsewhere--we have in some degree sealed thetransaction with a part purchase, you see. "

I walked out of that house, dazed, bewildered with my own luck. And Itook passage on the first train for Chicago. If money could clear Alf, he would now be cleared, and proudly I mused over the great differencethat I would make between his first and his last trial. But during allthis time I was conscious of a heaviness--the silence of Guinea. 

The train reached Chicago at morning. And now I was in the midst of awhirl and a roar--a confused babbling at the base of Babel's tower. Andas I walked up a street I thought that a tornado had broken loose andthat I was in the center of it. I called a hackman, for my readingtaught me what to do, and I told him to drive me to the Rookery. Herattled away and came within one of being upset by other vehicles, and Iyelled at him to be more particular, but on he went, paying no attentionto me. After a while he drew up in front of a building as big as alopped-off spur of a mountain range; and when I got out I found that thevitals of the hurricane had shifted with me, for the roar and theconfusion was worse, was gathering new forces. But no one laughed at me, no one pointed me out, and I really felt quite pleased with myself--aschool-teacher, a lawyer's assistant, expected by a capitalist! I wentunder a marble arch-way, and asked a man if he knew Clarm & Ging, and hepointed to an elevator--I knew what it was--and shouted a number. I gotin and was shot to the eighth floor. I knocked at a door, but no oneopened it. There was no bell to ring, so I knocked louder and still noone opened the door. This was hardly the courtesy that I expected. Butwhile I was standing there a man came along and went in withoutknocking. I thought that he must be one of the men I was looking for, and I followed him, but he simply looked round after going in and thenwent out again without saying anything. I saw a man sitting at a desk, and I handed him the card which the hardware dealer had given me. Helooked at it and said: "Yes, you are Hawes, eh? Where's your mica. "

I gave it to him, and he looked at it closely through a microscope. "Howdeep have you gone?"

"Not more than six inches. "

"That so? Much of this size?"

"Train loads, I should think. "

"Ah, hah. How much land does it cover?"

"Don't know exactly. Haven't investigated. "

And this question set me to thinking. The mine was well on my land, butit might spread out beyond my lines. It was important that I should buyseveral acres surrounding the stretch of moss, and I decided to do thisimmediately upon my return home. 

"Let's see, " said the capitalist. "This is Friday. Mr. Clarm is out oftown and will not be back until Monday--has a summer home in St. Jo, Mich. , and is over there. It's just across the lake. Suppose we go overthere to-morrow morning. Boat leaves at nine. Be a pleasant trip. Allright. "

He resumed his work as if my acceptance of his proposition was aforeshadowed necessity. "How did you happen to find it?" he asked, without looking up from his work. 

"I was digging for angle worms. "

He grunted. "Didn't find any worms, did you?"

"No, I don't think I did. "

"I know you didn't. Worms and mica don't exist in the same soil. Veryrugged?"

"Rocks on each side. "

I was determined to be business-like, not to give him information unlesshe asked for it; and I sat there, studying him. He was direct and thispleased me, for it bespoke a quick decision. But after a time I grewtired of looking upon his absorption, for his mood was unvarying, and heheld one position almost without change, so I began to walk about, looking at the pictures of factories and of mines, hung on the walls. The day was hot and the windows were up, and I looked down on theant-working industry in the street. How different from the view that layout of my window in the old log house; but I was resolved to draw nolong bow of astonishment, for in a man's surprise is a reflex of hisignorance. 

"What business?" the capitalist asked, still without looking up. 

"None, you might say. Have taught school, but of late I have employed mytime with studying law. "

He looked round at me and then resumed his work. A long time passed. Iheard his watch snap and then he got up. 

"We'll go out and get a bite to eat, " he said. "Any particular place?"

"No, " I answered, pleased that he should presume that I was acquaintedwith the eating houses of the town. 

We stepped out into the hall and he yelled: "Down!" He shoved me into anelevator among a number of men and women, and though we were all jammedtogether no one appeared to notice me; but when we got out a boywhistled at a companion and yelled: "Hi, Samson!" Mr. Ging darted outunder the arch, and I almost ran over him, when he halted on thesidewalk to talk to a man. They walked along together for quite adistance, nodding and making gestures, and when they separated Ging saidto me that he had just bought a subdivision of real estate. At this Iappeared to be pleased, but I was not; I was afraid that before theclose of the deal he might entangle himself in so many transactions thathe could not afford to pay cash for the mica mine. The further we wentthe faster he walked, and suddenly he darted through a wall, and theswinging doors came back and slapped me in the face. We sat down to atable and Mr. Ging said that I might take whatever I desired, but thathe wanted only a cup of coffee and a piece of apple pie. I was hungry, had eaten no breakfast and felt as if I could devour a beef steak as bigas a saddle skirt, but I said that coffee and apple pie would do me. Heasked me a number of questions concerning the mine, its distance from arailway, condition of the wagon roads, and especially did he want toknow whether the local tax assessor made it a point to discriminateagainst the non-resident property owner. I caught the spirit of hisquick utterances, and blew out my words in a splutter, striving to bebusiness-like, but before I could cover all his points he had eaten hispie and was impatiently waiting for me. 

"Want to go round to-night?" he asked, and before I could tell him thatI did want to go round, having but a vague idea as to what he meant, headded: "And if I can get off this afternoon I'll take you out to thestock-yards. "

"I would much rather see your finest library, " I replied. 

"I guess you've got me there; don't know where it is, but I suppose wecan find it in the directory. "

"I have read of the Art Institute here. You know where that is, Ipresume. "

"Y-e-s--low building over on the lake front. But I've never had time togo into it. Well, suppose we get back to the office. "

I raced with him, but he beat me by a neck, being more accustomed to thetrack; and he shouted "Up!" as he darted under the marble arch. Igrabbed him and held him for a moment, told him that I did not care togo up again so soon, that I would stroll about for a time and see himafter a while. 

"Yes, but you'll come back, eh? I guess we'll take that mine if we canagree upon terms. We own one in Colorado. Don't fail to come back. Up!"

I went out into the center of the maelstrom and laughed at him--acapitalist keeping pace with indigestion, racing against time. Littlewonder that he was bald and pinched. 

I thought that I would find a leisurely place and slowly eat a dinner, and I did find many places, but none of them was leisurely. I went to ahotel, and there I ate a meal without running the risk of having mychair thrown over, and then I returned to the Rookery. Mr. Ging waslost in his work, and in a room which opened into his apartment twogirls were hammering a race on writing machines. I walked into thisroom, and the girls went on with their work as if I were at home lookingover toward the General's house instead of looking down at them. A belltinkled in Ging's room. One of the girls went to him and I heard himtalking rapidly to her, and presently she came back with a pad of paperin her hand, and furiously attacked her machine. Ging rushed out intothe hall and both machines stopped, and the girls began to nibble atbon-bons, but a moment later they dashed at their work, for Ging hadreturned. I went back into his room, and, glancing round, I saw one ofthe girls look up at the ceiling and then down at the floor. I knew thatshe was making fun of me, and in my heart I confessed myself her enemy. 

"I'm sorry, " said Ging, "but I don't believe I can get off thisafternoon. Clarm's being out of town puts double work on me. But we'llgo round to-night. You've been here quite often, I suppose. "

"Well, not lately, " I replied. 

"No? Then we can find a good many things to interest you. "

I went out again and walked about, but I did not venture far beyond theshadow of the Rookery, for I knew that should I get turned round I wouldbe ashamed to inquire the way back. I saw a man standing on a boxselling pens. He had a most fluent use of words, though I could seethat he was not educated. He interested his hearers with humorousstories, as if his business were first to entertain the public and thento pick up a living, and for the first time it struck me thatbook-knowledge did not embrace everything, that people who simply readget but a second-hand experience. We must observe form and recognize therules which good taste has drawn, but after all the finest form and themost nearly perfect rule is an inborn judgment. The merest accident maythrill a dull man with genius. I knew a young man who was commonplaceuntil he was taken down with a fever, and when he got up his businesssense was gone, but he wrote a parody that made this country shout withlaughter. Thus I mused as I looked at that fellow selling pens. He was arascal, no doubt, but I was forced to admire his vivid fancy, hisgenius. 

When I returned to the Rookery I found Ging waiting for me. "Now, " saidhe, "we'll go out for a while and then eat dinner. Would you mind goingout about twelve miles? Train every few minutes. I've got some realestate that I'd like to show you--might cut an important figure in ourtransaction. "

"I don't want it to cut any figure in our transaction, " I replied. "Iwant to sell the mine for money. "

"Yes, of course, but you might double your money on the real estate. "

"That may be true, but I am not a speculator; and if you are notprepared to pay money, why, it is useless to waste further time. "

"Of course. No time has been wasted and none shall be. You may trust mewhen it comes to the question of wasting time. I didn't know but youmight like a home out at Sweet Myrtle. Beautiful place--gas, water, side-walks, sewers. But if you don't want to go, it's all right. Let metell you right now that we are prepared to pay cash for your mine. Werepresent millions in the East. Well, we'll go. "

That night we went to a theater, and to me Mr. Ging was a dullcompanion. He yawned and stretched through Shakspeare's mighty play, while I was in a tingling ecstasy. He said that the fellow could notact, and that may have been true, but to me there was no actor, but areal Hamlet; no stage, but the court at Elsinore. He said that he wouldcall at the hotel in time to catch the boat, and I was glad when he leftme to my own thoughts. At 9 o'clock the next morning we went on board agreat white boat, so fresh, so full of interest to me that I was in astate of delight, of new expectancy, and when we steamed out into thelake I could scarcely repress a cry of joy so thrilling was the view. Ihad never seen a large body of water, had striven to picture the majestyof a wave, and now I stood with poetry rolling about me--now a deep-blueelegy, now a limpid lyric, varying in hue with the shifting of aluminous fleece-work, far above. To have been born and brought up amidgreat scenes were surely a privilege, but to come upon them for thefirst time when the mind is ripe, when the senses are yearning for a newimpression, is indeed a blessing. Short were the sixty miles of ourjourney, it seemed to me, but Ging was bored and impatiently he snappedhis watch, and said that we were at least fifteen minutes late. Afterhaving lost all view of the land, how strangely novel was the sight ofthe shore, and to fancy myself in a foreign harbor was the most naturalof conceits. 

At the wharf we took a carriage and were driven through the town, out bymany a dreamy orchard side, up a bluff-banked river to a large framehouse, high on a hill. Clarm was walking about in the yard, and with anease and politeness which I had not expected--having permitted Ging toinfluence my preconception of his partner's character--he shook handswith me and invited me into the house. The sample of mica was closelyinspected, numerous questions were asked, and after a time Mr. Clarmsaid that it would be well for Mr. Ging to go home with me. I had keptin mind the determination to buy a few more acres of land, and I knewthat this might not be an easy transaction if Ging should accompany me, thereby exciting a suspicion in Parker's mind, so I replied that I wasnot going straightway home, being compelled by other business to stopfor a day in Kentucky. "But it is, of course, necessary for Mr. Ging tosee the mine, and he can start the day after I leave and reach Purdy onthe day I arrive, " I added. 

They agreed to this, as Ging was the principal in another deal thatmust be brought to a close; and after declining an invitation to dinner, I took my leave, feeling that I was a liar, it is true, but I thoughtthat my deception was not only pardonable, but, indeed, a commendablepiece of fore-sight. I am free to say that a man, in order to protecthis commercial interests, must be an easy and a nimble liar; and I donot hold that a man who permits himself to be cheated simply that he maysnatch the chance to tell a truth--I say that I could not regard him aprudent husband or a wise father. Divide the last cent with a friend, harden not thy heart against the distressed, but in the warfare ofbusiness seek to steal an enemy's advantage. It was with this argumentthat I sought to appease my conscience as I strolled about the town, butmore than once I halted, thinking to tell them the truth. Butjudgment--permit me to term it judgment--finally influenced me to letthe false statement stand. 

Out from the town were numerous lanes, soft with turf, and with orchardson every side. Amid the darkened green I saw the yellowing pear, the redflash of the apple; and from amid the bushes blackberries peeped likethe eyes of a deer. At the end of a lane was a deep ravine, one side agrassy slope, the other a terraced vineyard, and up this romantic rent Iwalked, in a Switzerland, a France. On the green slope was a cottage, with a high fence behind it, and as I drew near I thought that it wouldbe a soothing privilege to enter the house and talk with the humblepeople who lived therein. Suddenly there came a shout that sent a spurtof blood to my heart----

"Hike, there, Sam! Hike, there, Bob--hike, there!"

I ran to the fence, grasped the top, drew myself up and looked over intothe small inclosure; and there was old Lim Jucklin, down on his knees, beating the ground with his hat. I let myself drop and ran round thegate, opened it without noise and stepped inside. The old man now heldone of the chickens by the neck and was putting him into a coop. 

"Oh, it would suit you to fight to a finish, wouldn't it? And you may, one of these days, as soon as I hear from down yander. Git in there. Come here, Bob. You've got to go in, too. Caught you on the top-knot, didn't he? Well, you must learn to dodge better. Ain't quite as peart asone of the other Bobs I could tell you about. Now, boys, you are allright, but I want you to understand---well, since Moses hit the rock!"he cried, scrambling to his feet. "Hold on, now, don't you techme--don't know whether you are Bill or Bill's ghost. By jings, if itain't Bill, I'm a calf's rennet. Since Moses hit the rock!"

He grabbed me and hung upon me, and I put my arm about him. "Don't tellme nuthin' now, Bill. Don't want to hear a word, for I'm deefer than ahorse block. "

"You have nothing to fear, Mr. Jucklin. I bring good news. Alf isn't outyet, but he will be. I have other news----"

"But don't tell me. Deefer than a horse-block. What did I do with thatd----d handkerchief? Take that back--kiver to kiver. Had it in my hata minit ago. Sand from this here lake shore gits in a feller's eyes. Ain't got used to it yet. Hope the Lord will excuse me for cussin' likea sailor. Must have got it from them fellers down on the lake shore. Kiver to kiver. Now let us go into the house. Door's round there facin'the holler. Let me go in first; you stand outside. Sand's blowin' upfrom the lake and gits in their eyes, too. Ain't used to it yet. Comeon. "

There were hollyhocks in front of the house and among them I stoodwaiting for the old man to open the door. 

"Susan, " he said, as he stepped into the room, "this here world--thisone right here--is as full of surprises as a chicken is with--with--Idon't know what. Now, don't you take on none, but--come in, Bill. "

The old woman started forward with a cry and threw her arms about me. "There now, " old Lim protested, wiping his eyes, "don't take on thatway. Everything's all right. Set down here now and let's be sensible. That's it. Oh, she's all right, Bill--her folks stood at the stake. Guinea's comin' down stairs. "

Toward the stairway I looked, and Guinea stepped down into the room. Andoh, the smile on her lips as she came toward me! But she did not holdout her hands--she came close to me, and her bended head almost touchedme, but her hands were held behind her, clasped, I could see. "Not yet, "she said, looking up with a smile. "But you must not think ill of me, must not be provoked. Let me have my whimsical way until my whole lifeshall be yours. "

"She's talkin' like a book!" the old man cried. "Let her talk like one, Bill. Don't exactly grab her drift as I'd like to, but I know it's allright. Gracious alive, why don't you women folks git him something toeat? And, me, too, for I'm as hungry as the she bear that eat up thechildren. I wish you'd all set down. Turn him loose, Susan. Ain'tnothin' the matter with him--hungry as a wolf, that's all. Now we aregettin' at it. "

With the door open and with a cool breeze blowing, with the sweetness ofripening fruit in the air, with the hollyhocks nodding at us, we sat inthat modest room, at home in a strange place. I told them all that hadbefallen me. I gradually led up to the discovery of the mine. "And now, "I added, "we go back there, not poor, but rich. There is no telling howmany dollars they may give us. "

"Not us, Bill, " the old man interposed, slowly shaking his head; "notus, but you. It's yours, all yours. You bought the land and all that'son it or under it belongs to you. "

"No, Mr. Jucklin, it belongs to you, to Alf and to me. There will beenough for us all, but no matter how little, you and Alf shall share it. I am just beginning fully to realize it--but I know that we are rich. Itis necessary for me to get back at once, " I added. "I'll have to buysome land from Parker, but I told Clarm & Ging that I was going to stopfor a day in Kentucky. I didn't want them to know that I intended to buymore land. It's none of their business, anyway. So I must be in Purdyone day ahead of Ging. I've got money with me and we'll all start thisevening. "

The old man sadly shook his head. "I can't do it, Bill; can't go backyet. If he comes clear, without a scratch on him, I'll go back, but ifhe don't I'll never see that state again. So we'll wait right here tillafter the next trial. Won't settle on anything until then. You go aheadand attend to everything and let me know how it all comes out. I've beenscared ever since I left there, afraid that I'd hear something by somechance or other; and I wouldn't let Guinea write to you. Every day I'dtell her 'not yet. ' She wanted to, but I wouldn't let her. "

"You shall have your own way, for I know that everything will come outright. Conkwright says so, and he knows. How did you happen to find thisplace?"

The old man laughed. "Well, sir, we got on the train, and when the manasked where we wanted to go I told him we'd go just as far as he did, itmade no difference how far that might happen to be; and every time we'dchange cars I'd tell the other man the same thing. But finally they gotso stuck up that they wouldn't let us get on without tickets, and atLouisville I bought tickets for Chicago. I didn't know what to do when Igot to Chicago--didn't know what to do when I got to any place, for thatmatter; but we poked around, gettin' a bite to eat every once in awhile, and slept in the slambangin'est place I ever saw. The lake caughtme, and I found out how soon the first boat went out, and we got on herand here we are. When I told these here folks where I was from I bracedmyself, expectin' to have a fight right there, but I want to tell youthat I was never better treated in my life. All the good folks ain'thuddled together in one community, I tell you; and this knockin' roundhas opened my eyes mightily. Why, I rickollect when they sorter lookeddown on Conkwright because his father wa'n't born in the South. Yes, sir, and they gave me work right off--that is, they call it work, but Icall it play--gatherin' fruit. Why, with us, when a feller wanted torest he'd go out and gather fruit, if he could find any. Yes, sir, andI'm goin' to stay right here till the cat makes her final jump one wayor another. "

How fondly they listened as I talked about the old place, of well-knowntrees, of the big rock on the brink of the ravine. I even told them thatthe General lamented the breaking of the engagement, that he had come asan agent, that his son was at fault. Guinea smiled at this, and Ithought that her eyes grew darker. 

I learned that my train was not to leave until night. I was glad ofthis, for it gave me a sweet lingering time; and in the afternoon Guineaand I went down to the river. 

"We will get a boat and row up past the island, away up to the beautifulhills, " she said. "But can you row?" she asked, with a look of concern. 

"I have pulled a boat against a swifter current than this. " I answered. "I lived near the bank of a rapid stream. "

We got into a graceful boat and skimmed easily over the water. Now itwas my time to wonder and to muse over the changes that had come--todream as I looked at her, as she sat, trailing her hand in the water, her hand, my hand, though she had not let me take it to help her intothe boat. With her a swamp would have been attractive, but here we werein a paradise. Boats up and down the river; lovers went by, singing. Onone shore the scene was quiet, with easy slopes and with houses here andthere; but the other shore was wild with bluffs, with tangled vines andmonstrous trees that storms had gnarled and twisted. Here a springgushed out with a gleeful laugh, and lovers paused to listen, and in itsflow the city oarsman cooled his blistered hands. 

"Guinea, do you see that high bluff up there among the pine trees?"

"Yes, and isn't it a charming place?"

"I'm glad you think so?"

"Why are you glad of that?"

"Because you--I mean a woman who has had her way--because she may livethere. When at last she is tired of that way, and when she has gone to aman with her hands held out, he will take her to a house built on thatbluff, a summer home. I'm not joking. Next year there will be abeautiful home up there. Don't you see, the land is for sale? And in thehouse a man is going to write a history of a woman who had her way andof a man who--well, I hardly know what to say about him, but I am notgoing to hide his faults nor cover up his weaknesses. "

"Are you really in earnest, Mr. Hawes?"

"Yes, I mean every word of it. Wouldn't you--I mean, wouldn't the womanwho had persisted in having her way--wouldn't she like a home up there?"

In her voice was the musical cluck that so often had charmed me. "Shewould be happy anywhere with the man who had permitted her to have herway, and I know that she would be delighted to live up there. And you--Imean the man---wouldn't have any of the trees cut down, would he?"

"Not one. He would build the house in that open place. "

"Charming, " she said. "How sweet a religion could be made of a life upthere, with the river and the hills and the island--beautiful. "

"Guinea, I wish you would tell me something. Did you ever reallylove--him?"

"When I have come to you as I told you I would come, you will not haveto ask me anything. "

"But can you give me some idea as to how long I may have to wait? Myconfidence in you is complete, but you must know that to wait ispainful. Suppose that a certain something that you are waitingfor--suppose that nothing should come of it? What then?"

"No matter what takes place, I will come to you. I know that it mustappear foolish, I know that I am but vague in what I try to make youunderstand, but--you will wait a while longer, won't you?"

Her voice was so pleading, her manner was so full of distress, that Ihastened to tell her that I would wait no matter how long she mightdeign to hold me off, and that never again could she find cause toreprove my impatience. She thanked me with a smile and with many anendearing word, and onward we went, the boats passing us, the songs oflovers reaching us from above and below. We landed and climbed thebluff, and I selected the exact spot whereon the house was to be; weloitered in the shade and counted the minutes as they flew away likepigeons from a trap, but we could not shoot them and bring them back; sothey were gone, and it was soon time for us to go, for the light of thesun was weakening. Down the river we went, singing "Juanita, " sherippling the water with her hand, I half-hearted in my rowing, dreamilywishing that the train might leave me. 

Close to me at the door she stood. The old man was outside, waiting togo with me to the railway station. She bowed her head and I kissed herhair. 

CHAPTER XX. 

The sun had just gone down, and a man was beating a triangle to announcethat it was lodge-night, when I stepped upon the sidewalk in front ofConkwright's office. The old man was locking his door. I spoke to himand he turned about, and, seeing me, merely nodded, threw open the doorand bade me go in. "Mighty glad you've got back, " he said. "They aregoing to bring that trial on right away, and it will be none too soonfor us, I assure you. Let me open this window. Been about as hot a dayas I ever felt. Well, what have you got to say?"

"So much that I scarcely know how to begin. "

He grunted. "The prelude to an unimportant story. But, go on. "

Long before I was done with my recital he sat with his eyes wide open, seeming to wonder whether my reason had slipped a cog. 

"Wonderful, " he said. "No, it is not wonderful, nothing is wonderful. The mere fact that a thing happens proves that there is about it noelement of the marvelous. It is the strange thing that does not occur. When it does occur it ceases to be strange. And you say he will be hereto-morrow? Now, you let me take charge of him as soon as he arrives. Ifyou don't he will not only get the mine for nothing, but will go awaywith your eye teeth. I'll go home to-night and study up this question, and by to-morrow night I'll know more about it than he does. Yes, sir, agood deal more, or at least make him think so. You were long-headed indeciding to slip out there and buy more land, and by the way, Parker isin town. No, sir, there is no telling what may happen. See Parkerto-night and meet me here to-morrow morning. "

I found Alf reading a letter which Millie had contrived to send him. Under the light of the smoky lamp his face looked sallow and thin, buthis eyes were full of happiness. "She's got the noblest spirit that eversuffered, and noble spirits must suffer, " he said as he handed me theletter. "See, she begs my forgiveness for having kept me on thegridiron. But doesn't one letter atone for a whole year of broiling? Ah, and you have been broiled, too, haven't you, Bill? Now let them put thebalm on us. The Judge tells me that I am soon to be turned out, and I'llcome out wiser than I was when I came in, for I have improved my timewith reading. Have you heard from the folks?"

I told him my story, and I told it quietly, but it greatly excited him, and time and again he thrust his hands through the iron lattice to graspme. "So you will go out not only wiser, but a richer man, " I said. "Youwill not have to go into a field and plow in the blistering heat whileother men are sitting in the shade. All our trouble has been for thebest, and with deep reverence we must acknowledge it. And soon we willgo together out to the old place and peacefully smoke our pipes up underthe rafters. Well, I have left you the subject for a pleasant dream, andI must go now to look for Parker. As I said to your father, there is notelling how much money we may get, but whatever comes we share. "

"Not if it's very much, Bill. I don't need much; I wouldn't know what todo with it. But if you could only do one thing it would make me thehappiest man that ever lived. "

"Tell me what it is. It can surely be done. "

"Why, if I could only get the old Morton place. It's about three milesfrom the General's, and it used to belong to his grandfather. One of hisaims in life has been to get it back into the family, and if you couldget it for me----"

"You shall have it. "

"Don't say so, Bill, unless you think there's a chance. "

"It's not a chance, but a certainty. You shall have the place. And whata delight it will be to the General to visit his daughter there. Now, don't speculate--let it be settled. Well, I'll see you to-morrow andtell you how it's all to turn out, but have no fears about getting thefarm. "

I found Parker at the tavern. He told me that I might have a few acresof land down about the spring, but that I would have to pay a littlemore for it than he had paid. "We can't afford to trade for the mere funof it, " he said. "My father used to do such things and they came mightynigh having to haul him to the poor house. "

I offered him a sum that pleased him, that must, indeed, have delightedhim, for he offered to go out and set up a feast of cove oysters andcrackers, a great and liberal ceremony in the country; and over the tinplates in a grocery store the transaction was celebrated. I met himagain early at morning, and before the day was half-grown I saw ourtransaction spread upon the records. And at night Ging arrived. Iintroduced him to Conkwright. "The Judge will represent me, " said I, "and I will stand by any agreement he may enter into with you. "

"All right, " Ging replied. "How far is it out to the mine?"

"About five miles. "

"Better go out to-night. Haven't any time to lose. Get a rig and we'llgo out. "

"Might as well wait until morning, " said the Judge. "We can't doanything to-night. "

"I know, but by staying there to-night we'll be there right early in themorning. Get a rig. "

They drove away and I went round to the jail to tell Alf that the oldMorton place was rapidly coming his way. I slept but little that nightand I was nervous the next day, as I sat in the Judge's office waitingfor him to return. At 11 o'clock he drove up alone. 

"Where is Ging?" I asked as the old man got out of the buggy. 

"Gone to the telegraph office. Come in and I'll tell you all about it. "

We entered the office and I stood there impatient at his delay, forinstead of telling me, he was silent, walking up and down the room withhis hands under his coat behind him. 

"Did you say he had gone to the telegraph office?"

"Yes; said he had to communicate with his partner. Think he must havebeen somewhat startled at my knowledge of mica; but if he should springthe subject on me a week from now he would be still more startled--at myignorance. In this instance I have been what is termed a case lawyer. "

And still I waited and still he continued to walk up and down the room, his hands behind him. 

"Communicate with his partner. Did he make an offer?"

"Well, he hunted around in that neighborhood, but his gun hung fire. Thetruth is I set the price myself. There is no doubt as to the value ofthe mine--finest in the world, I should think. "

"What did you tell him he could have it for?"

"Well, I suppose we could get more for it, but I told him that he mighthave it for six hundred thousand dollars. I--why, what's wrong with thatoffer? Isn't it enough?"

"Enough! It is more than I dared to dream!" I cried. 

"Ah, hah. And because you don't know anything about mica. It didn'tstartle him; simply remarked that he would telegraph to his partner. He'll take it. He'll give you a check and I'll send it over toKnoxville, Tenn. --don't want this little bank to handle that amount. What are you going to do with the money?"

"I'm going to buy the old Morton place for Alf, give the old man as muchas I can compel him to take, and I'm going to build a home on a highbluff overlooking the St. Jo river, in Michigan. And I don't know yetwhat else I may do. It is so overwhelming that my mind is in a tangle. But I am going to give you----"

"I don't charge you anything for my services, " he broke in, humorouslywinking his old eyes. "You are to be my law partner, you know. "

"Ah, that was reserved for time to bring about, in the event that Ishould ever become a lawyer, but that possibility is now removed. I'mnot going to study law. The law is very forcible and very logical, butit is too dry for me. I don't believe that I am practical enough for alawyer. I would rather read poetry and luminous prose than to studyrules of civil conduct. I am going to bejewel my house with books andthen I am going to live. I heard you say that the poet was the only manwho really lives, but he is not--those who worship with him live withhim. Yes, I am going to buy old books--I don't like new ones--and in mylibrary I will rule over the kingdoms of the earth. But I am going togive you ten thousand dollars. "

"You wouldn't make a very good lawyer, Bill. I suspected it, and now youprove it. My dear fellow, I have no children, and am getting old, therefore I have no use for money. Wait a minute. I believe there is afive thousand dollar mortgage on my house. Well, you may lend me tenthousand, but I don't believe I'll ever pay it back. I can't afford toviolate the rule. When a man lends me money it's gone. And that's right, for if I thought I had to pay it back I might dodge you. Yes, sir. As Iwas driving back to town I came within one of permitting myself to lookupon this happening as a strange affair, but it is not; it's perfectlynatural. Yes, sir. And as soon as the news spreads around, nearly everyman in the community will turn out to hunt for mica, and not a speck ofit will be found. A reminder of the imitators that clamor when the clearvoice of a genius has been heard. If I keep on fooling with this subjectI will regard it as strange, after all. Just think of the ten thousandthings that led to the discovery of that mine. Suppose we could traceany occurrence back to its source. Take my sitting here, for instance. Caused, we will say, by a dead cat. My father, a very young fellow atthe time, found a dead cat lying on his father's door-steps, and hethrew it over into a neighbor's yard. The neighbor saw him, came overand demanded that he be whipped. He was whipped, according to the good, old religious custom, and he ran away from home, went to many places, came into this state as a clock peddler, fell in love, married, and hereI am, sitting here--all caused by a dead cat. My mother was the daughterof a very proud old fellow. She ran away with my father and never againwas she received at home. I may have dreamed it, but it seems that Iremember my mother holding me in her arms, pointing to an old brickhouse and telling me that my grandfather lived there. Yes, sir, if wepermit our minds to drift that way, everything is strange. Here comesour man. "

Ging stepped in, mopping his face with a handkerchief. "I'll take it, "he said, and it seemed to me that the room began to turn round. "Let usfix it up at once, " he added. "I have engaged a man to drive me to thestation and I want to take the next train. "

Evening came. The day had been filled with tremors and whirls, so dazedwas I, dreamily listening to details, now startled, now seeming to befar away--shaking hands, signing papers; and now it was all settled, andI, on a horse, rode toward home to seek a night of rest in the country. The moon was full. I heard the sharp clack of hoofs, and, looking back, I saw a man riding as if it were his aim to overtake me. I jogged alongslowly and Etheredge came up. 

"How are you, Mr. Hawes? I have heard of your wonderful luck and Icongratulate you. I intended to see you in town to-night, but learnedthat you had come out here, so I rode fast to overtake you. I have soldout and will leave here to-morrow morning. "

"What! Then you won't be here at the trial?"

"I shall not be needed, sir. Now I am going to tell you something and Ihope that in your mind, and in the mind of the public, the good which itwill do may in some measure atone for the wrong----"

His horse stumbled, and he did not complete the sentence. I was afraidto say anything, was afraid that eagerness on my part might stir thevagaries of his peculiar mind and drive him into stubborn silence. So Isaid nothing. He rode close to me, reached over and put his hand on myarm. "Mr. Hawes, " he said, leaning toward me, and in the moonlight hisface was ghastly, "Mr. Hawes, Alf Jucklin did not kill Dan Stuart. "

"What!" I cried, bringing my horse to a stand-still and seizing hisbridle-rein. 

"Let us be perfectly calm now, and I'll tell you all about it. Turnloose my bridle-rein and let us ride on slowly. "

Down the moon-whitened road the horses slowly walked. I waited for himto continue. "No, sir, Alf didn't kill him. I found him in the road, after Alf had called me, and I took him into my house and there was nota mark on him, not one. I stripped him and nowhere was his skin broken. Dan was born with organic disease of the heart, and for years I had beentreating him. He was sensitive and never spoke of his ailment and I wasthe only one who knew the extent of it. Two years ago I told him that hewas likely to die at any minute, and I repeatedly warned him againstfatigue or any sort of agitation. And it was rage that killed him whenAlf's pistol fired. The hammer of Dan's pistol caught in his pocket andhis failure to get it out threw him into a rage and he died. I told thecoroner that he was shot through the breast, and I slyly contrived notto be placed upon my oath. They had Alf's confession, and that wasenough. And no one cared to strip the dead man to examine the wound. Itwas a piece of humbuggery, as all coroners' inquests are, and so theverdict was given. I am a mean man; I acknowledge it--I am narrow andvindictive, but I would have made a confession of the manner of Dan'sdeath rather than to see Alf hanged. I knew that there would be a newtrial; I intended to leave the community and I resolved to defer mystatement until just before going. That about covers the case, I think. "

"Will you go with me to a justice of the peace, write out your statementand swear to it?" I asked, striving to be calm. 

"Certainly. Old Perdue is a justice. We'll go over there. "

The moon was still high as I galloped toward town with the statement inmy pocket. I went straightway to Conkwright's house and with thedoor-knocker set every dog in the town to barking. 

"Why, what on earth is the matter?" the Judge asked as he opened thedoor. "Oh, it's you, is it, Bill? I've got a negro here somewhere, butGabriel might blow a blast in his ear and never stir his wool. Come intothe library. "

He lighted a lamp, and I handed him the doctor's statement. He read itwithout the least show of surprise; and, putting the paper into hispocket, he sat down, closed his eyes, and with his thumb and forefingerpressed his eye-lids. 

"Etheredge is going to leave in the morning, " I said. 

"He ought to be sent to the penitentiary. But let him go. Penitentiaryis better off without him. In the morning we will have several of ourleading doctors exhume the body to verify the statement. I'll attend toit. Yes, sir. A certain form must be observed. A jury will be impaneled, the statement will be read, and the judge will, in a sort of a charge, declare that the prisoner is innocent. Some things are strange afterall. A venomous scoundrel, but let him go. Yes, I'll attend toeverything in the morning. You'd better sleep here. "

"No, I'm going to the jail and then to the telegraph office. "

CHAPTER XXI. 

CONCLUSION. 

How soft had been the day, how tender the tone of every voice. The roadunder the moon was white and from a persimmon tree in an old field camethe trill of a mockingbird. Two happy men were riding toward an oldhome. 

"And here is where he fell, " said Alf. "I am tempted to get down andpray. Bill, you don't know what it is to be freed from the convictionthat you have killed a man. He might not have died then if it had notbeen for me, but, thank God, I didn't kill him. Yes, here is where Ieased him down. I remembered afterward that I had not seen a drop of hisblood and I was deeply thankful for it. We can almost see the General'shouse from here. You saw the old man to-day when he came up and shookhands with me. He hardly knew what he was about, and he said, 'Alf, what's your father doing?' But his eyes were full of tears and he had towipe them when I told him that I was going to buy the old Morton place. He thinks you are a great man, Bill, and I honor him for it. To-night wewill sleep in our room and early to-morrow morning I'm going over to seeMillie. Do you think I ought to go to-night? No, I will wait and dreamover it. "

In the old room we sat and peacefully smoked our pipes. And after I hadgone to bed, and when I thought Alf was asleep, I heard him talking tohimself. No, it was not talk, it was a chant, and it reminded me of hismother. I said nothing and I sank to sleep, and strange, mystic wordswere in my ears, soothing me down to forgetful slumber. 

We were aroused early at morning by the rattle of a wagon at the door. The old people--Guinea had come back. Alf dressed quickly and ran downstairs, and I stuffed my ears that I might hear no sound from below. After a long time, and while I sat looking out of the window, the oldman came up. 

"By jings, I must have got that dispatch of yourn before you sent it. Mighty glad to see you again. But don't go down stairs yet. Everybodydown there is as foolish as a chicken with his neck wrung. I tell youthe Lord works things out in his own way. Sometimes we may think that wecould run things better, but I don't believe we could! and, thurfore, Isay, kiver to kiver. Ah, Lord, what a time we have had. Yes, sir, a timeif there ever was one. Alf has jest told me what you intend to do, butif you think that you are goin' to crowd a lot of money off on me youare wrong. Give us this old house and see that we don't neednothin'--but, of course, you'll do that. I thought I'd let 'em fight toa finish up yander, but I didn't. They looked at me so pitiful that Icalled an old feller that happened to be passin' along and told himthat he might have 'em. I've got to have a Sam and a Bob. OldCraighead, that lives about ten miles from here, has some of the finestin the world. Always wanted 'em, but they were so high that I couldn'ttip-toe and reach 'em. Reckon you could fix it so I could git a couple?"

"You shall have as many as you want--all of them. "

"I'm a thousand times obleeged to you. Yes, sir; sometimes we think wecould run things better than He does, but I don't reckon we could. Weseen young Lundsford as we driv along jest now. And I think he'll beover here putty soon, but don't you worry. No, sir, we ain't got nothin'to worry about now. Believe it would push us to scratch up a worry, don't you? By jings, though, I hardly know what to do; I step aroundhere like a blind sheep in a barn, as the feller says. Well, it'sgettin' pretty quiet down there now. Alf got away as soon as he could, and has gone over to the General's. Hush a minit. Thought I heard Chyd'svoice. Well, I'm going to poke round a little, and it's not worth whileto tell you to make yourself at home. "

He went out, and I heard him humming a tune as he tramped slowly downthe stairs. I took a seat near the window. Voices reached me, and, looking down through the branches of a mulberry tree, I saw Guineasitting on a bench, and near her stood Chyd Lundsford. In his hand heheld a switch and with it he was slowly cutting at a bloom on a vinethat grew about the tree. He was talking. Guinea's face was turnedupward and her hands were clasped behind her head. I could look downinto her eyes, but she did not see me, and I felt a sense ofself-reproach at thus watching her, listening for her to speak, and Ithought to get up, but my legs refused to move, and I sat there, lookingdown into her eyes. Her face was pale and her lips, which had seemed tome in bloom with the rich juice of life, were now drawn thin. 

"Of course, I was wrong, " he said, "but I'm not the first man that everdid a wrong. And I should think that as a broad-minded and generouswoman you could forgive me. I don't think that you can find any man whowould take any better care of you than I would. I've got no romanceabout me, and why should I have? I can just remember seeing the trail ofthat monster called advancement--that mighty thing called progress, though in the guise of war, and that thing swallowed the romance of thiscountry. I say that I can remember seeing the fading trail, but I knowits history and I know that if it did not swallow romance it should havedone so. I don't suppose I could ever think as much of any woman as I doof you, and I know that no woman could make my house so bright andcheerful. I was afraid of any complication that might hurt my prospectsas a physician, my standing in the opinion of a careful anddiscriminating public; so, influenced by that sense of self-protection, I broke our engagement. But now I beg of you to renew it. "

"On your knees!" she said, without looking at him. 

"Now, Guinea, that's ridiculous. I am willing to make all sorts ofamends----"

"On your knees!" she said. 

"I see that there is no use to appeal to your reason. I suppose, however, that the way to reason with a woman is to gratify her whim andthen appeal to her sense. It is a foolish thing to do, but in order tosecure a hearing I will do as you say. "

He sank upon his knees. She glanced down at him and then looked up atthe sky. He began to talk, but she stopped him with a motion of herhand. 

"You have heard the preacher say that we must be born again, " she said. "I have been born again--born into the kingdom of love, and I findmyself in a rapturous heaven. Get up. " He obeyed, and she continued. "And you are so far from this kingdom that I cannot see you--you are offsomewhere in the dark, and to me your words are cold. But there is onewho stands in the light and I must go to him. "

I sprang from my seat and hastened down the stairs. My heart beat fast, and I trembled. I was frightened like a child, like a timid overgrownboy, who is called to the table to sit beside a girl whom he slylyworships; and I ran away--down the path to the spring. I heard hercalling me, and I stood there trembling, waiting for a holy spirit thatwas searching for me; and worship made me dumb. She came down the path, and, seeing me, hastened toward me with her head bent forward and herhands held out. And I caught her in my arms, swept her off the groundand held her to my beating heart. 

And over the stones the water was laughing, and the strip of greenmoss-land flashed in the sun. I saw the old man walking up the ravine, with his hands behind him, and I caught the faint sound of a tune he washumming. Slowly her arms came from about my neck, and hand in hand wewalked toward the house, she in the shining path, I on the green sward;and as we drew near we saw Alf and Millie, standing under a tree, waiting for us. 

The End. 

 +--------------------------------------------------+ |Transcriber's Note: | | | |Variations in hyphenated words and inconsistencies| |in dialect have been retained as they appear in | |the original publication. | +--------------------------------------------------+