The Leatherwood God

thing but woods, walnut and chestnut and hickory, not growing thickly as the primeval forest grew to the northward along the lake, but standing openly about in the pleasant p

ew log cabin, defined by its fres

ed it open. "Go in, Jane," he said to his daughter, and the girl vanished slimly through,

his guest. "Did yo

over to her hou

y one s

r man w

down at the wood-pile where he stood. "I don't know," he sai

" Dylk

an threatened, "

n." Dylks added with a vulgar drop from the solemn words, "You would hang for it.

s answer off with

he kno

, and I dress better since I've been in Philadelphia. She knew me in a minute as well a

you goin

d bigamy's a penitentiary offense. I made that clear. And now see here, David: I'm going to stay here in this settlement, and I don't want any trouble from you, no matter what you think of my doings, past, present, or future. I don't want you to say

at you're after, here, because you always was: other people's money. I've got thre

ous mastery which afterwards won so many to his obedience, "I work my work. Let no man gainsay me or hinder me." He walked to and fro in

hen left her and let her believe he was dead, I might believe you did come from God-or the Devil, you-you turkey cock, you stallion! But you can't prance me down, or snort me down. I

es will be set wide for me, and all the double log-cabin palaces and frame houses of this royal city of Leatherwood will hunger for my presence. You could always hold your tongue, David, and you can easily leave all the whys and wherefores to me. I won't go from your hospitality with an ungrateful tongue; I will pro

ng in the field, or a horse standing in its stall. At times it broke chokingly and then he snorted it smooth and regular again. At daybreak Gillespie thought of rising, but