Gordon Keith

g legions that then dazzles us. But as we grow older we see how much greater he was when, seated amid the ruins, he sent his scornful message to Rome. S

saw how fine and noble that old man was, sitting unmoved amid

the relics of a once choice library, and General Keith became himself his son's instructor. It was a very irregular system of study, but the

eneral used to say. "The only sciences I ever thought I

st, of the modern world. Once, at table,

things that gentlemen never discuss at table. Mone

hodes any assistance in his power. The tall young engineer, with his clear eyes, pleasant voice, and quick ways, immediately ingratiated himself with both General Keith and Gordon. The sight of the instruments and, much more, the appearance of the young "chief," his knowledge of the world, and his dazzling authority as, clad in corduroy and buttoned in high yellow gaiters, he day after day strode forth with his little party and ran his lines, sending with a wave of

ld for Gordon. H

ld have been very handsome but for an expression about the dark eyes which raised a question. He was popular with girls, but made few friends among men,

party; he's paying the freigh

d Mr. Rhodes, coldly. "Your father has no 'son' in this party. I

his own; but his eyes lowered,

aster. The General cautioned Gordon not to mind what he said. "He has been spoiled a little; but don't

hodes and Gordon. He had discovered that Gordon was most sensitive about the old plantation, and he u

began, what he probably meant for banter, to la

him, Mr. Rhodes, how he

about it," said

oking up, moved in

--you bother me

e look on Gordon's face. His game had now a doub

h a dinged lonesome old place for, anyhow," he said, with

and flamed again, and

give away," said Mr. Rhodes, pointedly,

d you come down here if yo

'd come. You didn't think I'd come to this blanke

ng across at him. "If he knew you, he'd know

as often as you do. I guess you stru

im. "If I do, I work for it honestly. I don't make an

uld if you didn

nd I don't want to hear any more about it. If y

was "working to get Miss Harriet Creamer and her pile"; but if Mr. Rho

! It would have relieved his father, and maybe have saved the place. In his amazeme

nded. "I don't see that it's anything to you what I say about the place. Yo

en turned to Mr. Rhodes, who was glowering over his papers. "I'll take him down a point or two. He's always blowing about his blamed old place as if he still owned it. He'

d up his papers an

a descendant for a million," he sai

I could. I guess I am about a

ill tell you that you are not as good as he, for he would never have sai

underst

't stand that boy. He makes me sick," he said to himself. "If I h

rcasm when the three came together again. He meant to

in love with her. Ferdy, who could never see any one succeeding without wishing to supplant him, had of late begun to fancy himself in love with her also, but Mr. Rhodes, he knew, was Norman's friend. He also knew

t at Norman for her daughter. Ferdy's jealousy was set on edge, and he now began to talk about Norman. Rhodes s

sham to Rhodes. "You would not be if I were to tell you

id Mr. Rhodes. Gordon gave an appreciat

be claiming to be such a friend of his. He is not so much of a friend of yours

ortunity. He had be

his face whitening as he gathered himself together. His e

e said nothing, but his

self," retorted Wic

and caught him, but not quite in time. The tip of Gordon's fingers as he

in between his teeth as Rho

ght blow in his face, making hi

e th

arm swept Wickersham back. With the other he held Gordon

just as well let me go. I am going to whip him. He has told a lie on my f

"you have got to stop right here and

," said Ferdy, squaring him

ght him," he said, "and whip him. If he whips me,

down at the sturdy face with its steady eyes, tightly g

will you promis

nd the barn," said Gordon. "But if he don't, I'm going to figh

ou and let you have two rounds, will you make up

said Wi

p him," s

ry each other's mettle for two rounds, but, re

ed spot, where the two b

up now," said Mr. Rhodes, standing

we are fighting

u said about Norma

g to take back,"

pping forward and tapping him in t

. He was up again in a second, however, and the next moment was at his opponent like a tiger. The rush was as unlooked for on Wickersham's part as Wickersham's blow had bee

his business," said

is right, he brought in the cut which was Mr. Doherty's chef d'oeuvre, and ca

lled time and

that's enoug

the blood f

what he said about Norman

t back, Ferdy. You beg

begin it.

coldly. He turned to Gordo

back," gr

ys for fighting; but there was a gleam in his eyes that showed Mr. Rhodes and possibly the two combatants that he was not

instruments, and inspired him with enthusiasm for the work, none the less eager because he contrasted him with Ferdy. R

proposed to the General t

neral. "I shall be delighted to have him go with you

ordon except on his own terms. He needed an axeman and would pay him as

xpected in one with his surroundings, and eyes that were small and deep-set, but very keen. His two-storied white house, with wings and portico, though not large, was more pretentious than most of those in the section, and his whitewashed buildings, nestled amid the fruit-trees on a green hill looking up the valley to the Gap, made quite a settlement.

hat General Keith's son was with the surveying party, even though it was, to use a common phrase, "comin' interferin'" with that countr

goin' to agree to your dod-rotted road comin' through any land of m

had gained a victory

tural and necessary enemy of the South, he and Rhodes became great friends, and the squire's hospitable roof

er, Euphronia Tripper, a plump and fresh young girl with light hair, a fair skin, and bright eyes. The squire laid down the law to those about him, but Mrs. Rawson--"Elizy"-laid down the l

d most married men around here is that they lies about it, and I don't. I know I belongs to Eliza. She owns me, but then she treats me well. I'm sort o' meek when she's around, but then I make up for it by

d little damsel, self-willed, very vain, and as susceptible as a chameleon. The ease with which she could turn her family around her finger gave her a certain contempt for them. At first she was quite enamoured of the young engineer; but Mr. Rhodes was too busy to give any thought to a girl whom he regarded as a child, and sh

taining from a flirtation with the young gir

ibly he might not otherwise have felt. He had seen much of the world for a youngster, and could make a good show with what he knew. He could play on the piano, and though the aged instrument which the old countryman had got at second-hand for his granddaughter gave forth sounds which m

king up in the mountains," he said to his ch

I promised to take you with me,

but passed away quickly, and in its p

ve thousand dollars if you would stick it

lowly and gazed at G

man I've studied. He'd never drop on to

re going to lie to

dy, easily. "Why, I wouldn't have any fun at all if I did not lie. Yo

a capable teacher," sniffed Gordon

chard, and under an overshadowing tree he came on Ferdy and Euphronia. They were so deeply eng

re she had been, a remark which might have escaped Keith's o

ith a quick look at her, "and I went

saw you in the orcha

oked at her q

he orchard," he said

ing," said Euphronia. "I went after th

not tell on Ferdy; that would not be "square." He cons

e came. Ferdy has some sense. And we are going to leave for the mountai

shook h

lity for yielding," he said. "You will

s lau

efore. Just give them time and show them the greenbacks. He

gs stronger than shekels. And among these were prejudices. The more the

said in final answer

by raising cattle all your life. Why, you have the richest mineral count

out," said the squire, puffing quietly. "I don't wan

e any one take anything from yo

ng for another man, leastways a Yank

pped in. He was tir

and show you old mossbacks

was not a favorite with him. For one thing, he

n?" The squire drew a l

p the chips for this railroad. We are going to run through

u had run it. Was a man named Aaron once thought he knew more 'bout run

said

und. He didn't have sense to know th

y fl

h to run this railroad. He ha

a lot. He ought to be able to run the wo

ay you're goin' to do for us? You will be too good to live am

e I'll come back here sometime just to receive your thanks for showing

ch woman," said Ferdy, at w

k no notice of

dvice, my son; don't marry no rich man's daughter. They will always think they have done you a favor, and they will try to make you think so too, even if your wife don't do it. You ta

d said he would r

o give advice to other folks, and instid of that they have been givin' me advice

complained of pains in every limb. Dr. Balsam came over to see him, but could find nothing serious the matter. He, however, advised Rhodes to le

ire Rawson rode about with them examining lands, inspecting

and secured the tardy consent of the landowners for them to make a survey, he would spend hours ha

amicably enough after old Rawson had spent an hour or two looking at his "cattle," or h

young Rhodes, with sincere adm

cepted the compliment

out all them fureign countries--they was sort of vague, like the New Jerusalem--or about coal. You've told me all about that. I had an idea that it was all made jest so,--jest as we find it,--as the Bible says 'twas; but you know a lot--more than Mos

remember his advice, and the