Sandy

usiasm of youth, had started to climb the long hill to the north,

cross-streets were designated by the most direct method: "the street by the Baptist church," "the street by Dr. Fenton's," "the street going out to Judge Hollis's," or "the str

hail the doctor, who was as sure to pass as the passenger-train. It was a familiar joke in Clayton that the buggy had a regular track, and that the wheels always ran in the same rut. Once, when Carter Nelson had taken too much egg-nog and his aunt

ut this way?" a

opped the bug

ntribution to the Lost Cause, which was still to him the great catastrophe of all history. His whole personality was a bristling

k at Judge Holli

miller. "Do you reckon that the

has?" he demanded. "Two epidemics of typhoid, two of y

ll ketch a fly-bite," said

his time by a maiden in a pink-and-white gingham,

scrambled over the fence.

ed him madly. Catching up with the buggy, she pulled herself up on the sp

aren't you ashamed? Fourteen yea

g, dad?" she stam

is's. Get down

at

sick. Get

straight through the small window, and arriv

d exacted strict discipline and unquestioning obedience, but he now found

smile of a child. He wore a long, loose dressing-gown and a pair of slippers elaborately embroidered in green r

Howdy, Nettie. How ar

he doctor as he hitched

Samaritan and picked him up off the road last night. She brou

ome from?" as

dling goods up at Main stree

from the buggy. "Is he g-good-looking, with blue eyes and l

g about the boys, as usual! Now I want to know what bus

e g-girls noticed him. He wasn't an ordinary peddl

d funny now," said the j

n symmetrical bands which were drawn tightly back from a straight part. When she talked, a gold-capped tooth was disclosed on each side of her mouth, giving rise to the judge

't put your hat there; I'll take it. Isn't this a pretty business for Me

g-days to you, Sue?" ask

ered sharply. Then she turned to the

moved somewhere. I can't have my carpets run o

e can't turn the lad out. We've got room and to

e'll see," sa

from the room above there

his bald head. "If he gets better, I might take

Mrs. Meech's front curtains haven't been washed since Christmas! She and the preacher and Martha all sit around with their noses in

o so; they stood silent in th

s that in the front lot

the judge's friskiest colts was circling madly about the driveway, while astrid

and!" exclaimed Mrs. Hollis. "

, with her firm, close-shut mouth,

ting his brows; but he

e lamp into the sitting-room, she wait

red presently, "is de

e w

. I done tried all de spells I knowed

llis; " and it means a long spel

trated, "you needn't take a bit of bother. Melvy will

and heroically refrained

y chile," said Aunt

n tramp," sai

hed and combed and made presentable for the occupancy of the guest-chamber. It had been with rebellion of spirit that she placed him there, but the judge had taken on

ir hair tumbled, his lips parted. As the

g in spite of herself. He was younger than she had thought

eat," she

hat he was being cared for. He put up a hot hand and gently touched her cheek; then, rallying all his

rness that only a childless woman can know. Below, in the depths of a big feather-bed, the judge sl