Viola Gwyn

tful gusts, the while it gently played the long roll on the clapboards a scant two feet above the tallest head. Far-off fl

within a foot or so of the round, peeled beams that supported the shed-like roof, giving her the appearance of abnormal height. As a matter of fact, she was

orated with indescribable flowers and vines done entirely in green-a "set," no doubt, selected with great satisfaction in advance of the Striker nuptials. There were black-handled case-knives, huge four-tined forks, and pewter spoons. A blackened coffee-pot, a brass tea-kettle a

e, where he remained standing. "We were just in time, too. Ten minutes later and we would have been in the thick of it. And here we a

g," said she, diffide

table, you big lummix

dire state of confusion when he attempted to vary the habitual prayer by tacking on a few words appertaining to the recent hurricane and God's goodness in preserving

ck to watch his betters eat, much as a hungry dog feasts upon anticipation. He knew that he was to have wha

ectly between them at his vis-a-vis. For a few seconds he stared as if spell-bound. Then, realizing his rudeness and conscious of an unmistak

he hospitality of the humble board. He had gazed for a moment full into her deep, violet eyes,-eyes in which there was no smile but

lips and a perfect mouth; a round firm chin; a delicate nose,-and the faint shad

d he conjured up a face s

epended a number of ringlets ornamented with bowknots. Her ears were completely hidden by the soft mass that came down over them in shapely knobs. She wore no earrings,-for which he was acutely grateful, although they were the fashion of

iant flower set down amongst gross, unlovely weeds. That she was a person of consequence, to whom the Strikers paid a rude sort of

on it. Striker was the free-and-easy type who would have made these strangers known to each other in some bluff, awkward manner,-probably by their Christian names; he would never h

shared by the young lady; so far as she was concerned the situation was by no

achariah and the silver-top boots. Gwynne remarked that it was a soft, musical laugh, singularly free from the shrill, boisterous qualities so characteristic of the backwoods-woman. She possessed the poi

suddenly glanced in her direction, and once he surprised her in a very intense scrutiny,-which, he was gratified to observe, gave way to a swift flush of confusion and the hasty lowering of her eyes. No doubt, he surmised with some satisfaction, she was as vastly puzzled

wind and sun, bore no evidence of the grinding toil to which the women and girls

wide strips of side meat, apple butter, corn-cakes piping hot, boiled turnips, coffee and dried apple pie. The smoky odor of frying grease arose from the skillets

on with his nether lip; talked and laughed with his mouth full,-but all with such magnificent zest that his guests overlooked the shocking exhibition. Indeed, the girl seemed quite accustomed

in the account of his jour

he river, 'cept them as hail from Ohio. You must

ening to go on the warpath caused me to stay close by this slow-moving caravan for many miles, not only for my own safety but for the help I might be able to render them in case of an attack. At Strawtown we learned that the Indians were peaceable and that there was no truth in the stories. So Zachariah and I crossed the White River at that point and struck off alone. We followed the wilderness road,-the old Indian trace, you know,-and we travelled nearly thirty

ays. Nothin' there but Injin wigwams an' they was mostly run to seed. At that time, Crawfor

t Thorntown, and was vastly disappointed in what I found. I am quite romantic, Miss-ahem!-quite romantic by nature, having read and listened to tales of thrilling adventures among the redskin

of marrying her as they always d

my adventures singularly constant to a certain idealistic captive. She looked, I may say, precisely alike in each and every case. Poor old Solomon could not say as much for his thousand wives. Mine, if I had them, would be so much alike in face and form that I could not tell one from the

epened, a faint flush rose to her cheeks. An instant later, the colour faded, and into her lovely eyes came a cold, unfriendly light. Realizing that he

sville I stopped at the tavern conducted by Major Ristine. While there I consulted with Mr. Elston and Mr. Wilson and others about the advisability of selling my land up here and my building lots in Lafayette. They earnestly advised me not to sell. In their opinion Lafayette is the most prom

of chance to talk, 'cause that town was full of emigrants, land-grabbers, travellers an' setch like. That was before the new county was laid out, you see. Up to that time all the land north of Montgomery County was what was called Wabash County. It run up as fer as Lake Michigan, with the jedges an' courts an' land offices fer the whole district all located in Crawfordsville. Maybe you don't know

rs, an' thought he done mighty well. When I first come to the Wea, Lafayette didn't have more'n half a dozen cabins. I went through her once on my way up to the tradin' house at Longlois, couple a mile above. You wouldn't believe a town could grow as fast as Lafayette has in the last couple o' years. If she keeps on she'll be as big as all get-out, an' Crawfordsville won't be nowhere. Tim Horran laid out Fairfield two-three years back, over east o' here. Been a heap o' new towns l

s in the country. I'd say it is the best land your fa-er-ahem!" The speaker was seized with a violent and obviously unnecessary spell of co

d coffee into Gwynne's empty cup. "Mr. Gwynne'll think you don't know any be

le of eatin' an' one

"Same as clothes er h

sullen, almost unpleasantly so. She did not turn away instantly, but continued to regard him with a rather disconcerting intensity. Suddenly she smiled. The cloud vanished from her brow,

," she said. At no time had she uttered his name, in addressing him, although i

turned. "I hope I may not see the day when I shall have to

t," said s

oyed and uncomfortable. It was not the first time he had surprised a similar scrutiny on the part of one or the ot

Mr. Striker, I am led to suspect that you do not believe I am all I represen

ays back that you was in Crawfordsville. If me an' Eliza seem to act queer it's because we knowed your father an'-an', well, I can't help noticin' how much you look lik

ed. The furtive lo

at you do not look up

inute we lay eyes on 'em. Same as we know a Pottawatomy Injin from a Shawnee, er a jack-knife from a Bowie. No, there ain't no doubt in m

l not forget your trust or your hospitality. Wolves go about in sheep's clothing, you see, and the s

the moment was speechless, a c

king straight at him: "Yes, I

longer than I have suspected," said he.

eat clatter of pans an

until this kindl

ourhood since I was eight ye

: "Somethin' like ten o

on, ai

ears," sh

e would have taken oath that she was twenty-two or -th

ed Eliza, somewhat defensively. "She was to sc

upted the speaker col

rably crestfallen, acc

he'd be interest

iolet eye. He changed the subject hastily. "As I was sayin', we've had a powerful lot o' rain lately. Why, by gosh, last week you could have went fishin' in our pertato patch up yander an' got a me

ndian name?" re

er a tribe that used to hunt an'

wadays, however. They were absorbed by other and stronger tribes far back in the days of the French occupation, I suppose. French trappers and voyageurs are kn

proudly. "Well, I guess we're about as full as

at the door for a word of instruction to the negro. "You c'n put your blankets down here on the kitchen floor when you're

need fo' to kick more'n once, suh,-'cause Ise gwine to be

ddressing Mrs. Striker, who was already preparing to c

et down here, Zachariah, an' help yourself. When you're done, you c'n go out an'

candles on the mantelpiece. "See if everything's still there after the storm. No, Mr. Gwynn

s. Then he fished a corncob pipe from his coattail pocket and stuffed it

sed to be a time when we was first married that I had to go out an' git wet to the skin jest because she wouldn't 'low no tobaccer smoke in the house. Many's the time I've sot on the do

irl, shaking her head mournfully. "I am wonde

re'n likely," replied Phineas, winking at the young man. Then