Year: 1875

"Didn't he inquire for me, father ?"


And the brown eyes now were looking
very earnestly into the wavering gray
eyes of the old man, who was in torment
from trying to play part never intended
for him.


"I think he did ask if you was well, "
said he, as if uncertain whether to re-
member it or not.


"What made him go 30 quick ?"


ST Judge he had something to call
him away-and--and-h gone, and /
am glad of it, Bette. He amt of any
account, sure"


"But, 1 like Jim, father" said she,
half deprecatingly.


"No do you thought?


1t was becoming too hot for the old
man. He was vainly trying to disen-
gage the brown arms from around his
neck. She still held him fast.


Father, what made you send Jim
home without seeing me?"


This last appeal was too much for old
Ramsay, and he fairly broke down. BY
an effort he freed himself from her clasp
and fastened downstairs and out of the
house, snatching his gun from the hook
as he went. A minute later he was shut
out of view by the underbrush.


She went a moment to the window
and saw him disappear then glanced
another moment in her little mirror,
and, murmuring "Poor Jim |" went
down about her household duties.


She made, now and then, faint little
effort at song, but it never lasted be-
yond a single line, when there would
come long pause and sigh. Some
times long succession of sighs. And
that was the way the day passed in the
small home of the Ramsays.


At midday there was a pretense of
dinner. Coffee, and the cooking of
bacon and baking of corn-bread sent
forth their grateful odors (; but she
knew well enough he would not come to
eat il, and it was presently put away in
the cupboard till he should come.


When the shadows of the afternoon
began to lengthen, and there was alb
solute silence save the faint drone of
insect life, she took her work-it was
some mystery of feminine toilet, for
such mysteries exist even in Ma
coupin-and sat down under a great
tree not far from the house, where she
sewed and dreamed until the brown
eyes grew troubled and the long lashes
dropped upon her cheek.


In the midst of her trouble there
came the faint crash of dry twigs and
the tramp of q horse. She sat very
still, as if unconscious of the approach
ing horse and its rider but when the
horseman dismounted at her feet, she
did look up and smile plump, rosy
little smile.


"How d'y', Jim ?" and "How d'y',
Bette ?" were the only salutations, after
which the rider settled himself upon the
grass beside her.


Love-making, like human nature, is
the same, or nearly so, the wide world
over. Where there is youth and beauty,
where there is sympathy and oppor-
tunity, there will be love. And why
not Is any other dream of life 80
sweet? The dream is often far brighter
than the awaking; bat, no matter let
us live and dream, and thank God
for it.


And there they sat under the old tree
enjoying their dream until the shadows
were long drawn and sunset was near.
They watched the bees Fastening home
laden with honey. They even found
time to notice the woodpeckers tapping
so vigorously over their heads.


The heated air still rose in ripples
above the lower tree-tops, while the
scenery further away was softened into
that dim, smoky haze that mellows and
darkens till it finally shuts off vision in
the distance.


1t was lazy day. He admitted hav-
ing left pillow standing idle in the corn I;
and she vowed she had done nothing at
her work, and sighed but whether that
sigh was for an unfinished garment is
matter for grave doubt. But so the
world moves on, and precious time is
wasted.


"Here's father" said the girl, spring
ing to her feet


The next instant loud report rang
out through the air. At the same mo.
ment came sharp scream from the
girl, and she sank slowly to the ground.


A few yards away the old man stood
dazed and bewildered. Suddenly real
izing the horror of the scene, he pushed
back the butt of his gun, as if to end his
own life with the remaining barrel. But
the young man sprang upon him, hurled
it away into the thickt then, dashing
off his coat, he began tearing his shirt
sleeves into strips for bandages.


The poor girl lay moaning on the
ground, her shoulder and upper arm
terribly shattered and torn by the
shot. But, tenderly as O woman would
have done, he bound it up, and, taking
her in his arms, he carried her to the
house and up to her own room, where
he laid her upon the bed.


The old man had followed silently
after, tottering and helpless as an infant.
Nor did he rouse from his stupor until
the young man spoke to him.


Cant you bring some water, old
man? She is faint"


Then he shuffled and stumbled down
stairs, and came back again with
gourd full of water.


You don't reckon she'll die, Jim
So help me God, it was an accident,
Jim-it was an accident"


The white lips had been tightly closed,
as if in agony, but now the eyes opened
slowly, and the lips parted long enough