Dixie Hart

on who had been a moonshiner as long as the law had permitted the business to yield profits-he was surprised to see Dixie near the centre of the field. She was b

about ten years of age who was seated on the ground and, till now, hidden by the corn-stalks and their succulent blades, w

f corn immediately about them. "I couldn't have done more myself, and I know what work is. Yes, I was watching him, and awhile ago I saw him stagger an' fall. He'd fainted from overheat. I come as quick as I could. I got water in his hat and dashed it on him-look how wet it made him, but it revived him. He wanted to work on, but I made him stop and s

t by turning such a little fellow over to a man like him. It seems like there was only one or

swered. "It wasn't nothi

l?" she said, with a shake of her head and a catch in her f

ceived. His little, cotton, checked shirt was open at the neck, disclosing a rather low chest. He stooped down and picked up the hoe, which was of the regulatio

ustfully with his small gray eyes under pent-house brows. He was sh

d. "I saw her here, and come over to see what was

d, visibly angered by what he regarded as the i

ing goes on-I say, if Joe is overworked like this any more-a single other time-and it comes to my knowledge, I'll take you smack-dab

spute over a debt at the store. He turned to the boy and took the hoe from him. "You go drive up that cow. I'll finish this pat

to the road. At the fence he threw down several rails and aided her to step over the remaining ones. When

don't know when a thing has bothered me so much. It seemed like such a little thing at the time, but a whopping big one now. You 'n me have been too good friends, Alfred, to let deception of

You've just showed the stripe you're made of. In a minute you'd have fought that skunk back there

. He kept it up from morning till night. Sometimes, Alfred, I doubt the goodness of God Almighty. I know it's a sin to say so, but I can't help it. I've talked a heap to Joe off and on, an' he's had more put on 'im than a grown person ought to bear. Poor thing! he misses his Ma. From what he says I judge she was good and tender. I had a queer dream the other night. I seemed to see a woman in my room;

over what she was driving at. "I've lied as many times as an average clock can tick in

st-office and got a letter from him. It was the most wishy-washy concoction that was ever put on paper. He never, at any time, had marry in the back of his head. He was just seeing how far he could go with me to pass time. Some men are that way. They are powerful interested till they get a girl to

He is below contempt. I was afraid he was a sneak the minut

hack I'd like to shake hands with her. I shall see myself setting in that wagon in my new togs waiting for that train to blow-I'll see that sickening sight till I draw my last whiff of air. Oh, you don't know! Being a man, you can't understand what a woman's pride

in his throat. "The banners toted by the a

f I hadn't acted, and acted quick. I drove home slow that day and studied up a plan. Death was the only thing that would do any good, and so I killed him. I liked that part of it, anyway. I wouldn't have lied to you, but I'd done it so often at home, and with suc

it that way!" e

day while Carrie Wade was there making her brags to keep Ma from telling of my great loss. Carrie would see through it, you know she would, and I'd never hear the end of it. Ma was dead bent on letting folks know, till I worked a trick on her. I told her, I did, that men didn't like to marry widows, and if I ever

t going to let mine bother me any more," he said,

ou?" she asked anxiously, as she turned to

his hat and smiled, and stood watching her till she was out of si