The Tinder-Box

hand of their intentions of splitting the crust of the Universe wide open. One is coming to Glendale by

in the home of my fathers-also of each of my foremothers, by the courtesy of dower-he muttered and drew a veil of mist across his face. Slight showers ensued, but he had to come ou

, for I might have forgotten some day how wonderfully my very pliant, feminine attitude rubbed in my masculine intentions as to my li

, with Sallie, to me and to him," said Cousin Martha, in as severe a voice as was possible for such a placid individual to produce. Cousin Martha is complete

acked very little, and I am glad that it confirms me in my feeling that your coming over here for the night was just a dutiful sentiment for your lost loved ones, and not any unmaidenly sen

Cousin Martha," I answered meekly. "How many families has he with him no

he house, you remember. It is impossible for them to look after their plantation since their father's death robbed them of a protector, at least, even though

crowded for him to have another-another vine-that is, exactly what would h

Hargrove and I moved into the south room together, and gave Sallie and the children my room. It is a large room, and it would be such a comfort to Sallie to have you stay with her and help her at night with the children. She doesn't really fe

alatea bunch indulge in such heartfelt oaths as h

erity, as I thought of the darkness of that long night, and the B

that I am afraid I couldn't do justice to the situatio

she sailed into the room, trailing the Pup and the Kit at her skirts and flyin

oak of a voice that sounded as if it had harked partly from the tomb, as Aunt Augusta Shelby stood in the doorway, with reproof on her lips and sternness on h

Sallie with such ferocity that even Salli

t I quailed, for Aunt Augusta's determination of mind is always formidable, but I summoned my woman's

I expect to have you and Uncle Peter to look after me a lot, but somehow I feel that Father would have liked-liked for me to live here and keep my home-his home-open. Some

t me say in my own person, that I thoroughly approve of your doing just as you plan." And as she uttered this heresy, she looked so straight and militant and altogether com

-" Sallie was venturing to say with trepidation,

t it be presented all wrong last time, and they got things so muddled that it was voted on incorrectly. I will have to write it out for him so he can explain it to them. I will need you in many ways to help me help Peter be Mayor of Glendale, Evelina. I am wearied after ten years of the strain of his office. I shall call on you for assist

f Cousin Martha's chair, after bestowing a smudgy kiss on the little white curl that wrapped around one of the dear old lady's pink

to me from the center of her cluster of babies, that my heart almost failed me at the idea of pouring what seeme

where there is a man," she con

, and the fight

ou see, Sallie dear, and dearest Cousin Martha, I have had to be out in the world so much-alone, that I am-used to it. I-I

Cousin Martha gently looking her sympa

rotection and sympathy of a man are the only things in life worth anything to a woman. Since my loss

adly, about to begin to gulp from force of exampl

winkling of two bare feet I was smothered in the embrace of Henrietta, who in her rush

Don't like 'em no-how!" she was exclaiming down my back, whe

ayes lounged into the room, with the same daring listlessness that he had used in trying to hold

ment beamed in her rugged, small face, as she answered him with enthusia

she exclaimed, as she made

ved it," he answered her, looking at me just exactly as

," I exclaimed, as I got up to go and shake hands with him, as he had sunk into the m

catches step, and goes to waltzing. It has been four years since mine swung around against his, at that dance, but I'm gl

," she said, glancing at him with the deepest confidence and affection in her eyes

ames?" he asked, and I thought I detected a moc

o for it-but I never will," I answered him, very simply, with not a trace

n some respects. I wonder why I hadn't been more scared than I was last night, as the train whirled me d

ion, with positive alarm in her voice, and I saw that it was time fo

ve under the roof of the Mossback forever. All that citizenship-feeling I had got poured into me from

orn to death? It has come to this it seems: women must either be weak, and cling so close to man that she can't be struck, keep entirely out of the r

lina? Are you coming? Answer!" questioned the small

crawled over and caught at my skirt as Cousin Martha raised

at something told me I would have to answer later. I had capit

s ever, stood in the doorway, and a portly figure,

w I was here?" I exclaimed, as I fa

k, Missie, 'cept I had to hunt dis yere suitable woman to bring along w

eds to know to suit us. Then, if in a week she have shown suitable ability to please us both, my wor

with radiant but modest hope sh

fe to tend to us and back to you quick was the only thing that concerned me. Now, we can all settle down comf'table, while I has Tuny knock up some dinner, a company one I hopes, if Miss Martha and the

ey will stay,

gasp, "you've gone to houseke

naged everything for your Father at the last, Evelina, and I don't know how the

lf a wife," drawled Polk, as he lighted a ciga

e woman' in that manner," I answered with just as much unconcern, and

-faced, plump, little yellow woman, had save

t they came tee tering over to see about it, heavily accompanied by Mrs. Hargrove, whose son had been Cousin James's best friend at the University of Virginia, and died and left her to hi

me, but Jasper wouldn't let her, and

of the devil in his eyes, but Jasper's sense of the proprieties did not f

roses from my garden, that he had coaxed Henrietta into gathering for him, which nodded back and forth wit

the road at Widegables, with the Mossback seated at one end with only two o

m. I excused myself suddenly, telling them all just why. I didn't look at

hom he had had left to dine with him, were taking their two respective naps. Our dinne

" I plunged headlong into my errand,

from you," he answered, with the most solemn expression on his fa

n when I was a child and he what I at that time considered a most glorious grownup i

nother vine," I a

" he answered calmly. "I want you to be happy, Evelina," and I knew as I

nswered with a laugh that covered a little happy sigh that

ave approved of that look

ask me where I was going to live. Jasper and Petunia hovering in the background, the tea-tray out on the porch set with the silver and damask all of them knew of old, and the appearance of having

t of the stream of modern progress; and most of my friends seem to have just

looks decidedly worn, though pathetically sweet. Ned was with her, and as fresh as any one of the buds. Maternity often wilts women, but paternity is apt t

th as much hunger in her eyes for them as there was in theirs for the cake. Lee Greenfield is the responsible party in this case, and she has been lo

individual, and I felt uneasy about her under Folk's ministrations. Her eyes follow him rather persistently. On the whole, I am glad Jane

ould be called enjoying. I could hear the Petunia's happy giggle, answering Jasper's guttural pleasantries, out on the cabin porch behin

erred it from my pocket to my desk, while I dressed for the afternoon, its crackle was still in my mind. I wondered wh

hirsty, brothers as well as sisters? I wonder how that would solve Jane's problem of emotional equality! I do love Dicky-and-and I do love Polk-with an inclination to dodge. Now, if there were enough of the right sort of love in me, I ought

as I love you, Jane, and

ng him hard in this new way, he might be induced to sip out of the cup just to see if he liked it-and it

tenderness and drink it as if it were sacramental wine, on his knees. But he doesn't count. He has to be man to so many people that there is danger of

Sallie wil

the thousand little honeysuckle blossoms, clinging to the vine on the trellis, until they poured out a perfect s

ff of tobacco blew across my face, sweet with having joined in the honeysuckle chorus. Nobody said a word for a long time, and then I looked up and laughed into the dee

ing me be contrary and independent and puzzling. I have been busy adventuring with life, in queer pla

d me that you wanted to come home alone. I can trust Jasper with you, and I am going to sleep down at the lodge room, right across the

peace. I just laid my cheek against the sleeve of his

d went on smoking w

nd how he had worried about my probably not wanting to be left to him, and that he wanted me to feel independent, but to please let him do a

late that Jasper ha

a preacher of the Gospel and a family physician to a woman-with no possibility of being her husband either. She

he reaction of a woman's heart this day. Did y

, when she isn't sure she even knows what flint is when she see