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In t dlMitf" (Aunrfcrrd Aeo(enL
"It U a tur
Ann cnuie struggling up the
Jf dragging, half carrying Missy,
ttie figure, clad tn a long white
In her head a llttle cap fashioned
lead, etlft magnolia leaven, pinned
with thorns', in her hand a long
I splrca, with three green leaves
e-vlrey, you sec dig chile?"' Glory-
'ted. "Hit's time de wuz a step
Jl dis prejeckln' en' cavertln' in
te?
h
fc.
J
Wl
shine, mekin' b'llove in spcrrits,
lies, en' what net. Whey you
'eun' Missy? Out tin'cr de scup scup
c'arber, flat en de greun', wid her
8rcd up, en' jes' a-hewlin' nil by
Min' plum' skecred wid her own
ss. Whey dnt feel nigger,
tbj, 1 don't knew."
dt scared of tiethln'," Missy pro pre pro
ebeugh her white face belled her
hc"l'iuniadt That's what! And
futility, I drove her off; slie nin't
lyped than if she didn' belong (e
) don't knew nethln' 'bout play
Ve won't understand; and I ain't
Wfavc no me' play actin' of char-
tr)- there was a general laugh, and
gjs borne walling te bed.
'i of ull protestations te the cen-jry-Ann
was confirmed In the
"Mink MlftftV lifttt fliMifpneil tiAr.
as
is
TOf. her own tmrfnrinnnrp wlmn
hi& a!' inRistcd upon saying her
i" fj TCr Bni1 ercr again.
f-Wi It 'lieian. lilt ain't." llin nlrl
IMv' Ahimentecl te herself. " En' she
EA5" M re had dreams."
Ry& bftftnn had an apartment of her
Mf s te bouse of her daughter, Tem
..s.! troether, but being a high author!-
'.'A tt IpmMifill nilmnnfjl n1ii nltvntra
fp; I""1 tt Pa"e' m Missy's loom.
s-rJ tim fhn tliphf nlisatr nt-rL,i nnrl
gtc U V uui WUUl UUKO
t0 YAM. Y3....t Xfn Tlnnl Ufa !!
&g& e, sleeping the bleep of the
PJ?,ft liartl l nrmiii nml cpunt nt
lit t' "w,,a' de Mttr, heney?
tf-Sv ou co te slcen?" she mumbled.
.s, meip. ca8Wa Missy. "Semctliln'
.V,OOIl,er,tM
, .ii.i'in.1..
war. -in' .,,.ii.t..
n ----j .. "uuuii
gwau happen,"
sleepy security.
sfWVli Bee, with
g n3 areamm'."
fi-Tbe: dreamln'l"
retorted Missy,
W yeuilj... "A."'l c011'1 lfty le leep,
'-'Mte tell mtftieut the rabbit and
L&ahllby."
KwT tintii Bee reused herself te recite
'rioter"0 M vcntitrc, which, long bo be
jp nj,jy of Uncle Benus's intreduc
er.' general puune, nan nene amy
n nurseries.
,. manie en.. ll,ler.,)...l lll'n.
SfeP - .eeS rabhlt nml llin nvBrlnntin'
jt Chci;.. sll0 decjarej ungratefully.
ti - Tivniini i imv '
Jtltftn lx flnv-1i'mii livn '
said
j ",.,
Jr'wnJ'MOA Willi n. mlL'litv vnu'ii.
1fc J108 8y came, Missy wnsnsleep.and
'jgSqF Mi'jpen hearing UIery-Ann s re
tpascld net have her called for
p rtUtlr It was the day for her musie
t IftlVa. Mfa.li fa1nt u nl linf 41.a
? be thin had te be abandoned.
S-. oenaU'gui nau eeen no nappicr man
f -pretep"6 wnR very -'d of licrceusm
nd t4" a way, aim through the
w that lncl fc-,,n-'0 her Bentimcnts un
l IndlanSS"0" m ,,is f-veri hut it
W aer " and 'hVvll'c'1 Ue9'a iai1 "
SJW"- nlnir 1 ' cr' -x,l;n,Jla marriage
m reman, . -; ":, , ur " 1 U'.; ::,
fcfe -..riiclf wishing that, homehew.
i.v' "vf.'Tieuccs of that rash step might
K5m tV ' isia niene, wne was
Wk . l 'lievcd alone te blame. De-
",.- UI LDfl --. 1 l '
Rt this p. (that ceus 0f ,)0 Therncs
? gri Miss Elvira leaned for guid
W myateCKTplexitles). was wclleneuch.
Blng tht. She had grace, she had
weighte had a fair education and
law. aimers, und flora was (juite
turned, concede that if Cousin Myr
be powicheso te advance her i.roti-ce.
makfsht lay claim te seme notice
Kwntlmf'al world of Tallahasbee
re -a i ruble. Anil llin il.iv .-.,nl,l
y.v ueiiie :" --- - j ........
K'HIsbes8- ''ern was convinced
Kfiill-tt-'MeIa8 himself would bitterly
F. Kllfnltr enmn itfitf itll.l l.
? hpftllnfr"'". V' """" ""' "."
X v, which
the bccret marriaire
'eus dls
who
Secretly dissolved, and Niche-
ur,
UP mi.1 ulu ,,u ueuu hhe iviiicu 110
Esf, tills 8U.I l,:,tif , l ..f......i
A. .1... 1 I.. I...- 1 -
I?f "raple ii.t de it; the Furnivals were
S? f wenight be bribed te takothem takethem
g? Incalcul, parts unknown. And Flera
if jeaiait it bheuld be her tusk te
, Jlaslihtcntoieasen.
31 a Bleupless night, she was
& The naKiatt the next merniuir. but
&5S lll,na ..ad already breakfasteil nml
; library e,crt'r nw r!,Ue"d, censcl-
t?r-.-HAtl he ILHOUIIU iivmuiiiii;.
-7 .7..... . '"'y rurnlval." the colonel
is.L ",, "The workmen are lesinc
..ue cone
I rVi V1 1,era' nnd lll color rushed
Hit topic unthat. we are in nn l,nrr. i
SljThe few cave us, Flera," the colonel
ftWtTJitJ use-her hand.
ESPnf ki. i..,.i . ..
,w u9 uti-uiujiicu uwujr uillll lOUg ai-
"H . putt) as Aleck Uage came net.
USMttlveltf fA'alkril nlnnn In llin LlirnK.
t -ftnrl l-..r vt lm1 JialuunenAi.nA.
uce In 'eck Uace. for lier cnusln'n
iVthllH fnrmASt beCOIlllm n Iprrlfvfnrr
IWeur fiilnivk turned tli.lt bha cnnM nnf
KOT the p daT al-J bear it alone, and
KiuMlenal j'""" v "jieiu tiie uare ten
.-'!lv fa u.Ucck GaEe; but the davs
f'uetw CanJ A,ct'k kcln n,00f ft,u-
tbe ;;'U",K ,lcr 'ck et sym-
iboel can3"'"1 net l0 8ive her nn P'
'iri" "Peak with Wm alone.
;.H 'i i; u "-c84-hree or four days
W-SSsMrftSrjHsJ
i"Jee'' attention of her family.
awfb eunlght the child waked Mem
U piteous complaint that she
' te sleep."
rl exclaimed Glerv-
f iiency, whey
.5 I
..v.ane
frettin'
hlBiTn l,nr llf I!U
e5JJ) iS5d decision, appealed
rlrrx. jura, j-icujiuju iubieicu
wW i be crcen fruit, and recem-
e'J rhubarb; but Missy stoutly de-
nq&d the gieen fruit, and as stoutly
rejected tne rnueam. wnen the com
was discussed In the kitchen it was de
cided that Missy had seen a sign, and
all the old family servants shook their
heads with great solemnity.
At last Cel. Theme himself became
uneasy, and spoke of sending for the
doctor. It was a dismal, rainy evening,
after tea, and the ladies were gathered
around the table in the parlor, Mrs.
Leenard with a novel, Miss Elvira with
Bishop Ken, Flera with her embroidery.
The colonel sat apart, feeling Missy's
pulse, and wondering why Nicholas,
who had geno te Tallaliassce In the
morning, was se late returning. It wiw
then that he declared his intention of
sending for Dr. Lane, whereupon Missy
began te cry pitceusly and pretest that
she was net ill.
"What then is the matter?" her father
demanded, with the sharpness of anxiety.
"I'm just iniuable," sobbed Missy.
She looked se thin and worn and her
childish voice sounded se shrill and weak
that the colonel was moved te an un
wonted demonstration of tenderness.
"My peer little daughter," said he, hold
ing out his arras, "cemn te, me and.tell
me what win make you happy? Yeu
shall have anything you ask."
Ml.sy threw herself upon IiIb breast in
a paroxysm of tears. "Oh, my fatherl"
she wailed, "may'I have anything?''
"Yes, Winifred; nnything."
"Then," said Missy, eagerly, "premjse,
promlse new, that you won't never send
Brer Nlnhnlnt nwav no mero,"
"Net even if he was te lx married?"
pleaded Missy.
"Yeu must understand that when
your brother marries you wilt have
gained a sister," the colonel said, In his
accustomed tene of authority. Missy's
Jealousy of Flera was something ie be
smiled at and subdued.
"And if he was te he married te Desia
Furnlval she would lie my tistcr," pur
Mind MImv.
Mrs. 'i'horne and Miss Elvira looked
up; they doubted whether they had
heard aright; the colonel doubted like
wise, and yet n gteit dread xcized him,
in spite of his pride, in splte of his will.
"What?" he said, nt hbt, with angry
emphasis, nnd ptihhed the child leughly.
"What infernal noiinciise is this?" he de
manded, as if of the room nt large;
and then his gaze fixed itself upon Flera.
It was the first black leek he had ever
given her; but her face was hidden, and
ehe did net nee it. "What absurdity
have you been putting into the child'tf
head, Flera?" he said, severely. "A jest
of tills Rort is simply scandalous."
" 'Talu't iierl" cried Missy, with shrill
impetuosity. "Bier Nicholas is doue
married u'ready te Desia I heard him
tell my cousin Flera."
Nicholas at this instant entered the
room. Flera looked nt him and saw that
he had heard. His face was pale, but he
did net flinch.
"It is a lie!-' said the colonel, fiercely.
"Oh, yes, Missy," cpiaveied Miss El
vira, with an agonizing thought of llox llex
itnna White's mlssive which she had net
the .courage te show te her brother. "Yeu
shouldn't le tee ready te repeat what
you hear. Children cannot understand
every"
"Will you be silent?" thundered the
colonel; then he stuxle up te his fen and
repeated, with an oath, "It is n Hei"
"It is the truth, father," wiid Nicholas;
"Desia is my wife."
Miss Elvira uttered a mean and wrung
her hands. Mrs. Theme stared; she did
net yet fully comprehend the situation.
Flera turned her face away; there was
that in the eyes of her undo and her
cousin she could net ndtire te leek
upon.
"New you seel" cried Missy, with shrill,
infantile triumph.
Tiie colonel Maggcrcd as if he would
have fallen; for an instant he could net
speak, but when he did speak it was with
a calmness mero dreadful than any out
burst of fury.
"Get you gene," he bald, contemptu
ously. "Never mvre be bon of niiiie." "
Missy threw herself face downward
upon the fleer and wailed;
"I a&kcd you te premUel te promlse!"
Ne ene heeded her.
"Father," said Nicholas, "hear at least
what I have te say"
"Out of my sight," his father inter
rupted, with cold, inexorable sternness.
"Beg, steal, starve. Never darken these
doers again."
Nicholas turned without another word
nnd strede from the room; whereupon
Missy whirled ever mid sat belt upright,
glaring defiance. "Then I'm gein' tool"
she declared, nnd ec rambled te her feet
nnd rushed nwny.
Ne ene heeded her; bhe was but a
child.
The colonel turned te Flera nnd held
out his anus. "My daughtcrl" was all
he said. He did net kneiv whether he
was giving or asking comfort. And
Flera cared net what construction her
undo might put upon her tears.
Miss Elvira 6at nnd moaned nnd wrung
her hands; there was no ene te give her
comfort.
"Well, I never, never knew nnything
equal te this!" said Mrs. Tiierne, having
found her tongue at last. ''I shall never
get ever it, neverl" Having made this
announcement, she uttered n series of
little shrieks, and Mhs Elvirn "ceased
wringing of her helpless hands" nnd
rose and bhut the deer.
CHAITER IX.
OLD ClIUiiatT TO THE nKSC'UE.
"Teil hoi' en Itr me u il one ion'."
Heedlefcg of the rain, Mlscy rubbed out
Inte the dark night, following the hound
of hnr brother's foetftens ns he htredu
1 -
mtit' f
AJWJel
'IO?lhfin n
ntr'
Ki-er threuvh the
lie heard the horse.
jggrmiml, ami grew lainicr
45i Nicholas tode uway Inte
it. When she oeui'l near them
Jtneru she turned wildly and ran down
f the dark and muddy lane te old Gilbert's
cabin. She beat upon the deer with her
small lists, she burst ltemin her im
petuous (Ktssien, nnd ntoed, dripping nml
haggard, in the light of the plne kuet
blazing In the hearth.
Old Gilbert, seated en the mvect gum
block, was patching nn ancient jacket.
Bending low te catch the light from the
plne knot, and peering through a pair of
clumsy spectacles, he was pushing nt his
needle by means of a leathern clrcle In
the palm of his hand. His needle was
big, his thread was coarse, and monstrous
were his stitches.
Missy, with n wild cry, as if she were
the blast incarnate, swept the jacket
from his hands Inte the hearth, where it
lay and scorched nnd wai forgotten.
"In de name e' de LawdP Gilbert ejac
ulated. "De chlle is she'ly possessed."
"Urer Nicholas Is genel gonel gonel"'
.Missy howled, "never te cmne no me' I
He Is married te Desia Furnlval, and my
fnthorhasdrevohlmnway!" And Missy,
In sheer exhaustion, threw herself upon
the fleer.
"D.it fquecch ewcll" muttered the old
negre, with a superstitious shudder.
Startling ns was Missy's btatement, it
wns received with nbholute conviction.
"De Lawd's will be done!" he sighed.
"Yeu mean old nigger!" cried the out
rageous Missy, lifting her face. " 'Tnln't
the Iml's willl It's my fathers will.
And I want Brer Nicholas back! I could
n'rode behind him; hut for nil my rallln'
he wouldn't come back, nor he wouldn't
nnswer."
"Heney," snid old Gilbert, persuasive
ly, "you miis' strlve alter patience entel
matters get sorter seasoned,"
"I won't!" said Missy; nnd down went
her head again, nnd her wailing filled
the peer little cabin.
Old Gilbert felt utterly helpless. He
looked at the child in silence, and then,
unable te he.tr the sight, he turned his
eyes away in the direction, as it chanced,
of the blazing and smoking pine knot,
mid mechanically drew hh jaeket out of
the nshes. But he had no heart te re
turn te his patching. "Hit's a mizzable
night," he said; but whether he referred
te the rain heating sullenly en the reef,
or te the dire news Missy had brought,
he did net knew. He licguii tv sing u
hymn for comfort.
"1 don't want you te sing!" howled
Missy. "If you wai jut n wicked old
man, I'd like you te cuss!"
"Loek n-liere!" exclaimed old Gilbert,
in a fright. "De sperritef de Therncs il
ntreng in dese chlllcii, tubbe shel De
Liiwd alter ye' mill', chile."
Missy MihU'd. She was wary for whal
she hml bald, but h!ie was net going tc
confess It.
"En' you is f.iiilydrlppiu' wid de rain.
Wen'er whey is Glory-Ann dot she let
you git loe.so, dlshvvr way?"
He rose btiflly from Ills block, nnd un
locking a rude cupbeaid In the corner,
he lock out his cherished umbrella. "1
gwiiu tole dU fhlle home," he tnid. "1
gwan uhame Glory-Ann euteu her shoes.
She n bcttiu' up In while felkses' kitchen,
jaw, jaw, jawln', en' she dean no me'
knew whey dis chile is den de way tei
Jericho."
Missy's tears having spent their force,
she sat up nnd wiped her eyes. "I ain't
nuthin' but just n little girl," said bhe
mournfully.
"D.isse, honey; en' you inns' mln' tei
be a geed llttle gal, 's tcr be a cemfnil
tcr Mlnsle-viiey en' ye' paw," old Gilbert
counseled, as he spread open the um
brell.i, and legnrded it piemlly.
"I shan't lie geed!" cried Missy, "J
mean te be just us bad as can be ou pur
pese. I'll worry the lifuoutef 'em nil,
till I get Brer Nicholas back."
"Dat ain't neway fur j outer talk,"
said old Gilbert, with nutheiity. "Yeu
climb outer my back; I gwan tote you
home."
Missy prepared te obey, nothing leth.
She felt weak nnd tired, nnd u lido upon
old Gilbert's back still had its chiuiii for
her.
"Yeu hoi' en tcr me wid ene ban', en'
de ruiuK-rilla with de yuther," the old
man directed. "I gwnn mek hturrupa
euten hef iny ban's."
lie hail sat down upon the doorstep
that Missy might the moie conveniently
clamber'upeu Ills had:,
"Here we go!" he exclaimed, cheerily,
as he rose, staggering a little under hei
weight; and it was at no rapid gait that
he made his way in the dark, splashing
through the puddles hi the lane.
Missy felt her heart lighten a little
under the exhilaration of this ride.
"Daddy," said she, briskly, "I tell you
what I want veu te go after Brer Nieh'
elas."
"Me? Lnwd bless ye' soul, honey!
what n pe', no 'count o!e nigger gwan
te de with a bumptious young gunman
lak Sluwse Nick?"
"Yeu can't de nethln' with him, but
you can de something for him," said the
practical child. "He ain't get no nig
gers." "D.it's a fae'," old Gilbeit assented, so
berly; "nur deiu Furnivals, nulhcr. En'
Mawse Nick, he warn't fetch up ter wuk,
praise de Lawdl"
Missy began te cry again.
"New uean you go fiet, honey,"
coaxed old Gilbert. "I gwan de de bes'
I kin, en' bombye Mawse Nick gwan
come home."
Thebe words, spoken u itli serene as
surance, comforted Missy; she laughed
when she saw the light In the kitchen
deer. "They'll be 'btenished when they
see me ridiu' in the rnln en such a herse
as you," she said, with glee.
"De will dat!" old Gilbert declared,
with satisfaction, He had set his heart
en astonishing Glory-Ann.
The kitchen was at the end of the long,
half enclosed gallery extending fiem the
back piazza. The deer btoed wide open,
and the light blazing in the hearth
streamed -out, dazzling old Gilbert us he
bhumbled along, half spent. "Misy,
you is grewed, tublm she, seuce de las'
time I toted you," he panted.
Within the kitchen was confusion of
tongues mingled with loud laughter.
Supper was ever; Dicey, the cook. as
taking her case in the chair with the
feather cushion; Tem Quash and GriQlp
Jim were playing the devoted te Vie Vie Vie
torine, Mit Flera's maid of ain and
graces; Amity was training n black
puppy, Missy's property, te held a bone
en hUnese; Glory-Ann nml Daphne were
discussing the "roematiz' npiopesof old
Uncle Dublin, who was "patting Juba"
wlille Chancy, the housemaid, and Mr.
Leenard Therno's coachman danced a
"brck down,"
"Hew lhcly de is, tubbe bhe!" thought
old Gilbert, with a gigb. ''Dean nene
en 'cm knew hew Mawse Nick is rid
fe'th in the darkness? Glory-Ann!" he
shouted.
"Lawdl wha dat 1" ejaculated old
Unde Dublin. He ceased patting; the
dauceru btoed still; jest and laughter
were suddenly at an end.
"Yeu cacklin' idjets!" ald old ailbert.
"Hit'b me wljat called. GIerv-Auu!" he
ri come mk dis
,r
TlfQj&tmh te the deer; Glory-J-
foremost. "Orel Kins!" she
.xclaimed,
'"Dis de way yea leek alter mawster's
chile!" said old Gilbert, rebuking!?.
" Wet cz a drewnded rat, you is. What
nil you tcr be gein' in de rain? Amity!
Yeu go fetch me a pair dry steckin', en'
dem ole linen gaiters in de bottom ward
row drawer. If ever I see slch a chile!
What Mlssle-vlrey gwan sell tcr you?"
"What Mlssle-vlrey gwan sch tcr jreu?"
demanded old Gilbert. "Dis de way you
tck cam e' mawster's chile?"
"Is It you get de raisin' e' mawster's
chillun, or is it me?" retorted Glory-Ann,
arresting the work of pulling off Missy's
stockings, nnd setting her arms akimbo.
''Answer me datl"
"Hit's me," replied old Gilbert, mildly.
"Yeu hear dnt new, you niggers? Yeu
hear dat?" said Glory-Ann, appealing te
the company. "What wid ye cawn
stalk fiddles, en' ye sassafrae root, ye
patcridge aiggs, en' you blrd-nesscs, en'
ene thin' en' another, you is alters been
tetcn mawster's chillen off, en' hit's me,
me what has tcr miss 'cm wid de croup
en' de be' threat, en' all dat. Say you
raise dese chillen, ch?"
" 'Pears lak 1'se done my share," said
old Gilbert, unabashed.
Amity had net stirred a step, and
Glory-Ann, in great wrath, turned upon
her nnd gave her u lox en the car. "Tek
dat, en' go!" she said, llercely. "Stan
reun' gapin' lak a hoptead after a fly."
"Amity is my nigger!" shrieked Missy.
"Yeu get no right te hit her."
"I gwnn hit her ez my jedgment fa
vors," said Glory-Ann, as she sat down
upon the fleer nnd took Missy's feet in her
lap and rubbed them admiringly; they
were pretty llttle fcet. "But you gwan
git 'cm all crippled up wid de roematiz,"
said Glory-Ann. "Yeu ain't gwan dance
none when you git grewed, I see dat
plain."
"I don't want te dance," said Missy,
beginning te cry.
Wlille Glory-Ann was remonstrating
against this Amity came flying back; she
had n pair of bteckings in oue hand and
the linen gaiters In the ether; her eyes
weie round with fright; her face were
that peculiar ashen hue that stands for
pallor In the negre race.
"Mawstcr is dat mnd, for shot" she an
nounced in a thrilling whisper, with up
lifted right hand.
."Is you tel' him 'bout Missy gittln' in
the rain, you feel nigger?" demanded
Glory-Ann, rising up, rigid with wrath.
"'Clnr' tcr Gracious, I ain't tel' noth neth
In'l" Amity protested, putting up her
arms nnd ducking her head, In antici
pation of another box en the car.
"It's nbeut Brer Brer Nicholas,"
sobbed Missy.
"Fur she!" asseverated Amity, drop
ping her nrms. "Mlssle-vlrey Is a moan mean
in' en' n-wringin' her, bans, en' Miss
Pauline, ulie's a-squccchin', en sayin'
bhe ain't nuvcr gwnn git ever hit, en'
Miss Flo's n-cryln' tee, en' niawitter is jes'
a-stempin' reun Mawse Nick'a room."
"En' why Ma-se Nick?" demanded the
expectant crowd.
"Gene! Gone! Gene!" wailed Missy.
"Truth, Lawdl" sighed old Gilbert.
"D.it hiiLkem Missy is ceme tcr me In de
rain,"
Aunt Dicey, who had been leaning
forward in Btraincd attention, her hands
en her knees, sank back among her
feathers, nnd began te croon a doleful
hymn:
"Trelil trouble, trouble de trouble! ob dis
wert'."
She was a pious Baptist; be was old
Gilbeit; he joined the strain, bobbing
his head and patting hla feet. They
Deemed te And comfort in the perform
ance. Glory-Ann sat down en the fleer and
drew Misy into her lap. "Whey he
geno, Heney? Tell ye' mammy," she
coaxed.
"lle's done get married te Desia Fur
nlval," sobbed Missy.
"De Lawd amend us!" Glory-Ann ejac
ulated, feebly.
Old Gilbert ceased his singing, te re
Inaik, leslgncdly, "Hit's a fae'."
. "Dat pe' white trash?" cried Glory
Ann, i ccevering her spirit. "Why, dem
l'uinivali can't count half a dozen nig
gers, big en' little, amongst 'em all."
"Dat'r se!" the assembly assented, in
scornful chorus.
"And I don't carol" cried Missy, re
sentfully. "Desiais prettier 'n my cousin
Flera, nnd goedcr tee."
Whatever consolation or rcbuke Glory
Ann might have uttered in reply was
errchYcd by the Bound of a heavy weight
uraggcU along the piazza Uoer, anil every
car wus strained In questioning attention,
when the colenel'B voice was heard shout sheut
ing: "Tem Quash! Griffin Jim!"
"iSuli!" lespended Mlsa Victoriue's nd
mirers, in stnrtlecl haste, nearly knock
ing each ether down as they sped out of
the kitchen.
"Take that out of my eight," said the
colonel, spurning Nicholas' trunk with
his feet. "Make yourselves flne for
Sunday go-te-meeting."
"Yessuh, mawstcr."
The colonel strede back into the house.
Tem Quash and Griflln Jim stared at each
ether thieugh the gloom, in unspoken
appreciation of the fact that they had
fallen heirs te n goodly heritage; then,
between them, they carried the trunk
into the kitchen nnd began forthwith te
disctiM the division of its contents.
"Dat 'breidercd welwit wesk Mawse
Nick hisse'f allers premuscd me," said
Giilllu Jim.
"Yeu kin tek hitcf hit wuz preuiused,
but I'm gwnn have dem panterloens wid
the vines n-crecpin' up de sides," Tem
Quash declared.
Old Gilbert rese in wrath. "Yeu sassy
feel niggers," Bnid lie, pushing them
away and taking Ids seat en the trunk,
"dban you knew mawster's dat mad he
ain't encnttandin' what he's dein'? Yeu
lekiu he gwan tolerate you slruttin'
'round in dat vesk en' dem pantaloons?
Yeu ain't gwan tech Mawse Nicholas'
clothes, deuten you slaughter me fust.
I'm gwan lesk ferwnrdin' dis trunk ter
Mawse Nick, tubbe she,"
He tose up and glanced around. Aunt
Dicey and Uncle Dublin nodded ap
proval, nnd Glory-Ann speke out, "De
Lawd rewaid you, ele man!" and wiped
her eyes.
"Brer Dublin," said old Gilbert-Dub-iiu
was his brother in the church "len'
me a belpin' ban', cf you please. I gwan
tete dis home, tell I gits com light en de
business."
CHAPTER X.
miss r.Lvin.'s way and the colonel's
WAV.
"i yen hit tn, Cel Thernr," wid tumt-val,
ei ram wns done next morning; tiw1
sun shone upon Tiierne Hill, and the
mocking birds made a din in the garden i
-'thickets; the guinea fowls and the geese
and all the denizens of the eultry yard'
kept up a cheerful clatter; only the hu
man voice was mute or hushed te a dis
heartened whisper.
Tlie colonel had his coffee early and
rode away ; Mrs. Tiierne mid Flera break
fasted in their' own room; thus Miss El
vira and Missy were alene nt table.
Missy had tain awake nn hour the night
before, devising various plans in her
peer little brain te Indtice her father te
recall "Brer Nicholas," and one of these
plans was deliberate starvation; but
when morning came she was tee hungry
te carry out this project, se she ate a
geed breakfast, thinking te go without
dinner.
Miss Elvira had raade no resolution as
te starving, but appetite had forsaken
her, and having certain plans of her own
that she was anxious te put In train, she
sent Missy away when the meal was
ever. With a hundred dollars in geld
hidden In her pocket, and n bottle of lini
ment carried conspicuously In her hand.
Miss Elvirn set out for old Gilbert's cak
in. She could have sent for old Gilbert
te come te her, but that would have
given publicity te the step she contem
plated. Lifting her dainty skirts with
great painstaking; she tiptoed around the
puddles in the lane through which old
Gilhert had bravely splashed the dark
night before, witli Missy en his back.
She was a llttle exhausted when she ar
rived nt the end of her journey.
Old Gilbert was in his garden, where
all things flourished greenly. Te fore
stall the products of tho"gretdieuso gar
den" was ene of the aims of his exist
ence. "Gilbcrtl Gilbert!" Miss Elvira called
faintly; she was leaning ever the gate,
which she found hard te open.
"Dat pesky gate ngin!" exclaimed old
Gilbert, hastening forward. "Hopes 1
see you well dis meniln', Missle-vircy."
"I am very well, thank you, Gilbert,"
Miss Elvira answered bravely. She had
net slept nil night, and she looked old
and ill, ns Gilbert plainly saw.
"Seddewn here, Missle-virey, in de
shade of dese pauimy-chrlstles," he said,
wijiing with his sleeve the rude block
that did duty for a bench.
Mlsa Elvira hat down, glad te rest.
"Hew is your rheumatism, Gilbert?"
she asked, with gentle interest.
Old Gilbert made a wry face; his rheu
matism was nene the better for his
tramp in the rain; it wns promptly the
worse for Miss Elvira's sympathy. "Hit
kinder git3 me wid a stitch in de hol
ler of de hack new en' agin," he said,
with expressive jerks and pauses.
"I've brought you a liniment that is
considered very efficacious," said Miss
Elvira, in her soft, p'.aiutive voice and
choice) lauguage, as she offered the big
black bottle. Miss Elvira would no mero
have geno te old Gilbert's cabin without
her "free will offering" than old Gilbert
would have geno te the "gret house"
without his little complement of eggs or
vegetables, or the like.
The old man took the bottle witli a
inilln of supreme satisfaction; he loved
"docterments." Pulling out the btepper
witli his teeth, nnd smelling the contents
with a critical air, "Hit get a stren'th,
tubbe bhe!" he declared, approvingly.
"Thankee, ma'am; thankee, Misslc-virey.
I gwau gl e 'cm a trial."
Miss Elvira's eyes meantime, traveled
slowly round the llttle garden, ns If in
6carch of bemcthing. She missed Nich
olas in everything she saw. "I suppose
you've heard what has happened, Gil
bert?" she said, with n tremor in her
voice.
"Yes, Missle-virey," old Gilbert sighed,
Mid hung his head.
"Nicholas," she proceeded mero stead
ily, "has disgraced Ids family; lie has
brought condemnation upon himself
ferever."
Old Gilbert steed respectfully silent.
"There is no help," faltered Miss El
vira. Still old Gilbert was silent.
"It were better that lie were dead!"
she exclaimed, with a passionate sob.
"Don't sell dat, Missle-virey, honey,"
expostulated old Gilbert, laying his toil
hardened hand en her sleeve. "Fur dem
we loves ter be dead hit's u mighty set
tled fae'."
"Se is marriage," said Miss Elvira in
exorably. "He is worse than dead te us
he is lest. But Nicholas cannot de
without clothes and"
"I get his tinnk safe en' sound, Missle
virey." "Yeu did right. Glory-Ann told me.
I want you te take the ex cart and carry
that tuink te Nicholas, And he will be
wanting money, se you can give him
this hunched dollars, I'll send you a
pass te-night."
"Any letter, Misale-virey?" old Gilbert
suggested, closing both hands ever the
money. "Ner nlre a message?"
"Ne," said Miss Elvira, and turned her
back. She could net thrust Nicholas
fiem her heart, but she had no mero
idea of lecaliinghim again into favor,
of excusing or condoning his marriage,
than had Cel. Theme himself; it was a
step net te be countenanced, and alie
walked away.
"Den Mawse Nick, lie ain't gwan tetcli
dishycr money, I fo'sce dat plain," com
manded old Gilbert. "Hit is cur'eus, de
likeness de is in fambilics. Dcre's Missle-virey,
jet ez saf t en' jest ezcasy; but
she kin be jest ez unconditioned en' ez
hawd ez mawstcr hisse'f in her saft lit
teo way. Lawd help her! En' Mawse
Nick, ev'y span of him a Tiierne, lak de
res' ou 'em; en' dat Missy de same; de
kin all en 'em hoi' de own notions,
plum tell Gabriel blew he liawn. En'
hit nin't Mr. Jeb Furnival what'll git ter
finish Mis3 Pauline house; I fu'see dat
plain."
-Mis. Leenaul herself understood this
perfectly the moment she comprehended
that Nicholas was mairicd te Jeb Furni
val's daughter. "Whatever happens, I
nm the ene te Buffer," she complained
te Flera that night when they were
alene. "There's no builder in nil Ieen
county equal te Jeb Furnival; but he
must go, I suppose."
"Of ceuise, ma," returned Flera,
promptly. "None of us can counten ceunten counten
nnce the Furnivals new in any way."
''And my hoie at a standstill, heaven
knows hew long!" fretted Mrs. Theme,
"And it is going te be se unpleasant here
after this."
"We might go up te Tallahassee nnd
IkxiiiI," Flera suggested.
"Beard! Nobody who is anybody ever
beards, Flera. 1 am surprised at you.
We may as well pack our trunks and go
nertli for the rest of the summer. The
colonel won't consult me, of course. He
will dismiss Furnival nt daybreak to
morrow, and it will be a mercy if he
doesn't blew the man's brains out."
But there was net se much danger of
this ns Mrs, Tiierne fancied. The colonel
held thnt Fumivnl was te blame, mere
or less, but he had no intention of soiling
his hands witli the bleed of ene be much
beneath him. He did net consult Mrs.
Tiierne; te what puriKe should he de
se, having fully mnde up his mind? If
there should be a suit for breach of con
tract, of course he himself would defray
expenses; but he did net wish any dis
cussion of the subject; he was accus
tomed te give orders and te be obeyed,
and Furnlval must go.
The colonel lode away in the eaily
dawn as impetuously ns Nicholas had
ridden awar In the ruiny nicht. The sun
wm yut rising, ana went had narety
begun, when he entered (t he gate at Mrs.
Theme's place.
'Furnlval wa smoking his pipe under
the magnolia tree in front of the house.
The news concerning Nicholas had net
yet traveled beyond Therne Hill, but
Furnlval knew, as seen as he caught
tight of the colonel's Jblack frown, that
the secret was out He extinguished
his pipe forthwith, and prepared for
"talk," being a wordy man.
VMernin', colonel," he said ingratia
tingly; he didn't intend te have a "row,"
if It could be helped.
"Collect your tools," said the colonel,
with a vigorous sweep of his right arm,
"and vacate these premises, instauter."
"We Hi" said Furnival. with dellber dellber
ate utterance, and looking the colonel
straight in the eyes, ""them is pretty
short orders te ceme from anybody but
the owner of this place. My enwntrae'
is with ye' brother Leenard's widow,
'cord in' tee my undcrstandin',"
"I want no words with you, sir," said
tiie colonel. "Your place is te obey
orders."
"It happens te most of us," said the
carpenter, coolly, "te git what we don't
want; an' se fur as words air concerned,
I've as geed a right te speech as any ether
son of Adam. I meughtask what ails the
job? But I knew very well, colonel, It's
all because ye' son Nick has made adurn
feel of himself, an' this nin't the fust
time I've said it."
"Nobody asked your opinion, sh,"
said the colonel, who liad net been able,
for gathering rage, te Interrupt. "Will
you leave peaceably?"
"Net till I've had my say, by thunder!'
retorted Furnlval, putting his hands in
hia pockets and planting himself dog
gedly, just within reach of the colonel's,
riding whip. "I've get seme of the
feelin's of a payrent myself, though they
don't take the same track in me as it'
'pears they de In you. My girl Desia'ia
a geed girl, and as pretty as aire Tiierne
ever I set eyes en; an' be fur forth as
this proceed in' is a insult te her, I'll re
sent it unto bleed."
"Yeu've been di inking, sir!'' said the
colonel, in a great rage.
"Ne, Bir," returned Furnlval, paren
thetically; "I'm n beh of tempcrance
te plcase Desia. She'U make Nick
Therne a better wife than he deserves."
The colonel urged his horse n step
nearer; but Furnival did net flinch,
neither did he hcsltate in his deliberate
drawl.
"Hews'cvcr, as I war n-sayin'," he con
tinued, "se fur forth as this preccedin' It
a holding of me te account, I'm free te
justify myself; nn' I tell you, right new
nn' right here, I nin't no better pleased
with the match than you be."
"Will you go?" cried the colenol, furi
ously. "I'll go when I've had my say, en' net
a minute sooner. I told you, a wlille age,
that Nick had made a blamed feel of
himself, but for that matter, I'm free te
declare, Desia is a blameder feel than
him; liows'ever, she's my daughter, an!
therefer he's my eon!"
"Yeu insolent, prating jackanapes!"
shouted the colonel, blind with rage, as
he raised his riding whip in net te strike.
"Et you hit me, Cel. Therno," said
Furnival, catching the whip in his mus
cular hands, "I'll bounceyou plum euten
ye' saddle. Yeu get no cause te com
plain ef I take what you fling away; an'
60, geed meinin' te you."
As Furnival let go the whip the col
onel's herse reared and plunged, throw
ing his rider into the dust; but the car
penter walked away, tee angry te offer
assistance.
"Peter," he said, te an old negre who
was mixing mortar en the ether side of
the hodSe, "go pick up Cel. Therne, whar
his hawse threwed him, out yonder."
Thus Cel. Therne had had his way;
yet, in spite of it, he felt beaten, and he
rede homeward, moody and bitter, with
a dejected head.
CHAPTER XI.
MISS KOXAJiNA MAKtS UP HER MIND.
'fwisSSzTi 1 ill
"Landulhe! Xick Tliernel"
With the het bleed of the Therncs surg
ing in his veins, Nicholas left his father's
house, reckless of the driving rain; and
when the rain ceased, at dawn, he had
ceme te that sorry little unpaintcd house,
in the corner of the field, en the edge of
Eden, his horse flecked with foam, him
self drenched with the storm.
A bird was singing in the blooming
elder bush that grew near ene of the
windows; it was Desia's window, that
looked tewaid Leen county. Tlieie
were no blinds, and ptesently the white
curtains were drawn aside and Desia ap
peared; the small, square, high set win
dow framed her like an old fashioned
poi trait. Well might the carpenter beast
of his daughter's beauty! It was of a
type that needed no adorning; and Do De
sia, as she steed in the window, was none
the less an exquisite picture that her
black dress was se Beverely simple. Her
luxuriant dark hair clustered in little
rings ever her low, fair forehead and
around her shoulders, ft graceful riot of
curls. There wns a Btnile, wistful and
tender, en her perfect mouth, and n far
nwny leek in her splendid eyes, that ig
nored the near surroundings and pierced
the distance witli the soul's vision,
Out of sight, behind the bcrcen of
dripping elder hushes, Nicholas beheld
this benediction in his young wife's eyes,
and teais blinded him. "Ah. dear and
beautiful and geed!" he sighed. "Little
de they dream what nn angel they scorn
In you! If they only knew you! But
they will net! And se farewell te them;
henceforth I have only Desia, dearest
nnd best I And te what a fate have I
compelled you, uuwetthy that I am!
Like the unjust steward, 'I cannot dig;
te beg I am ashamed.' But happiness
yet is mine, and 1 can neither lepine nor
repent."
Desia shut the window, and Nicholas,
dashing away his team, iede around the
corner of the Held te the front of the
house.
"New, hew shall I ask for her, at ths
hour of the morning?" lie pondered, net
without n ceitnin sense of amusement.
'Her excellent cousin, ltexanna the
Rigid, knows nothing of our marriage.
The old Methodist minister who per
formed the ceremony is somewhere in
Georgia; her mother is dead; her father
is away and he'll be invited, within an
other hour, te knock oil work at my
aunt's, I'll bet my life!"
Desia'n cousin, or, te be mere exact,
her mother's cousin. Bexanna White,
was ene of these women providentially
left, for the convenience of ethers, with
out settled habitation. Fortunately bha
had be objectteci te "ItTtecanMr
liked change., She k4 mmrmi Dr --m. J
mother In her last tlhw. kJ JH ntOHJ
tnalned with Desia new, la her ItasM
ness, net unwillingly, for sJm wm fat
seeing, and the day might com wfcea
Jeb Furnlval would be seeking rusnk
lien; she ate no idle bread, aa4 Jeb
might yet learn her value.
ltexanna, according te Iter west, wm
up betimes this morning, and havluj
browbeaten the hired negresswhedklUM
cooking, she bounced ent of the front
deer, broom in hand, te sweep the frost
perch, just as Nicholas Therne cam up
the steps.
A tall, strong, gaunt woman wm Rojc Rejc
anna, in whom hard work and meager
fare had left scarce a trace of the besom
beauty that had distinguished her youth.
In her dress, narrow and short. ther
wm no effort at adornment "TKHl.H
likes may put in their eight or ulna
breadths," Miss Rexanna wm 'Mcm 'Mcm
temed te say; "but four it plenty fur
any mortal woman, an' me' convenient
te pocket an' backbone." Ne ruflsa, no
tucks, no manner of superfluities for her.
Her only vanity wm her hair, which still
retained its color and its gloss, 81m had
tied a towel ever her head te protect it
from the dust; but truly the dust might
hardly reach her head, se high it wm
above her broom.
New, Miss Rexanna White had never
approved of the admiration Nicholas
evinced for Desia. She wm decidedly
of the opinion that It would never de te
have this young sprig of quality hanging
around a girl whose mother was dead,
and whose father was away. Sberweuld
have liked te sweep Cel. Theme's son off
the perch, with the two or three leaves
she espied upon the fleer; but as she
could net de this, she towered in the
doorway, and held her broom crosswise,
as she exclaimed, ferbiddingly: "Land
'alive! Nick Therne! What brung you
here this time e' day, befe' even the cows
is milked?" And te herself she thought,
"I've writ that aunt e' his'n a warnln';
why ain't she fitteu te keep him home?"
Nicholas laughed; the fun of the situ
ation was irresistible; it made him, for
the moment, oblivious of its tragic as
pect. "I've come for my wife," he said,
and turned suddenly sober nnd scarlet
with the humiliating reflection that he
was seeking shelter, net offering it.
"Land e' Geshen!" exclaimed Miss
White, irately. "Why ain't ye me' re
spect fur ye' s'periers In age and wisdom,
boy? I'm s'prised at ye; an' I dunne
why I Bheuld lie, neither. I den' want
no nonsense here. Git out!"
"I tell you Desia is my wife," said
Nicholas gravely. "We were married
by old Mr. Drummond, In her mother's
presence, two days bofero Mrs. Furnlval
died."
Miss White's sallow face underwent a
variety of contortions; bIie nearly swal
lowed the little bit of athea stick with
which Bhe had been taking her morning
"dip," and which bhe habitually carried
in her mouth; the broom clattered from
her grasp, as her hands hung down,
helplessly. She understood new why
she had been sent te visit a relation six
miles distant, just two days befera Mrs.
Furnival died. "Wha what?" she
gasped. Then, under strong conviction,
bIie lifted her right arm straight it near
ly touched the lintel and said, with
strong emphasis, "I'll bet my ultimate
picayune the colonel ain't censentln'."
"Never you mind the colonel," said
Nicholas, shortly. "I must Bee Desia."
Desia had heard his voice; she came
out into the little entry that divided the
rooms, nnd steed there, pale and trem
bling. "Desia! Desia!" cried Nicholas, wild
ly, as he pushed past the demoralized
spinetcr; and the next instant she was
in his arms.
"Desia," said Miss White, hoarsely,
"you're a cawnsistent member of the
Methedis' chu'eh, an' se fur fe'th ez I
knew, you nin't had naire a fall from
giace; ef you say hit's true that ye air
married, ez he tells beside Cousin Man
dys bed e' death I'll believe it."
"It is true," said Desia, with smiles
and tears and blushes.
Miss While picked up her broom and
went te sweeping off the perch. She
made two comments mentally, one in
reference te Desia's mother, the ether te
Desia's father: "She must a-turned plum'
feel befe' she died;" nnd, "lie's get 'em
te tete, I see."
Nicholas nnd Desia Bat down en the
long wooden bench that constituted the
only furnishing of the little passage.
Miss White, glancing ever her shoulder,
saw them there, and bhe immediately
slammed the front deer.
"Yeu've been in the lain," said Desia,
accustomed all her life te consider ethers.
"Hew wet your clothes arc! Yeu must
have ridden all night."
"I did," Nicholas answered, with a
dark frown; then, with a burst of hitter
laughter: "Hue you any clothes, Desia?
I don't knew that I have any, unless I've
left a few scattering about Sunribe plan
tation that I may lay claim te."
"Your father lias?" Desia faltered.
"My father has" lespended Nicholas,
indicating ttiin wave of his hand that
words would net express the sentence
passed upon him. " - - -
Desia sat silent and stunned, clinging
te his arm; for herself it did net matter;
but for Nicholas it seemed nt the mo
ment mere than she could bear,
"My whole fortune," said Nicholas,
wlthceveit bitterness, "consists in my
herse and my watch; we'll Bell these,
Desia, and defy the wet Id."
"I have done you a great wrong," she
whispered.
"Yeu've doue yourself a great wrong,
it may lie, dear heart," said Nicholas.
"But at least we have each ether. Oh,
Desia! De-Ja! my wife! If they only
knew jeu, Desia, my saint! There is
nobody like you. Yeu had faith in me,
nnd you saved me. Compared with you,
wliataie they all? Henceforth I lie only
for jeu. Missy, Missy alone" lie fal
tered. "Peer "little sister! she has net
cast mood! Howshecriedtenie, through
the rainy darkness, te take her with me!
I seemed te bear her every mile of the
way! I'm 'an exile from home,' and all
that, you knew. Ah, no, no!" he amend
ed, quickly, ns Desia sobbed aloud. "Hew
could I say thnt, my dearest and best?
Yeu are my home. Desia, Desia, leek
nt me with jour heavenly eyes; say you
leve me; say ou believe in me!"
And Desia looked at him. She did net
speak, but she smiled through her tears;
and then she drew away from him and
rose.
"Yeu aie going te pray ever the 'situ
ation,' Desia, you knew you are; my
beautiful baint!" cried Nicholas, with a
6inlle of rovereut admiration.
"I am going te find you Berne of ray
father's clahes," said Desia.
"Geed wife! Yeu are better than any
fortune," Nicholas declared; and he
laughed. He was very happy, In 6pite
of the "situation."
Miss Wliite had finished sweeping and
left the jxirch. She had no grace of
manner, but she was by no means de
void of i;race of heart. That this mar
riage was a wretched business, a miser
able blunder, was an opinion flre would
net melt out of her; nevertheless, she
bad no thought of refusing Jeb Furnival,
when the time should come, and she was
entirely willing te spend herself In help
ing te take care of the foolish young
couple. She had slammed the deer, net
In wrath, but belely by wnr of giving
(hum te understand thatihe meant te
leave them uutrammcledcnierment of
? fcs
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