Westerfelt

eath of his father and mother. The place was managed for him by a maternal uncle, whose wife and daughter kept the house in order. But all three

He had not slept well. Several times through the night he awoke from unpleasant dreams, in which he always saw Sally Dawson's eyes raised to his through

ousers to the knee. His face was clean-shaven, and but for his tanned skin and general air of the better-class planter, he might have passed for an actor, poet, or artist. He was just the type of Southerner who, with a little more ambition, and close application to books, might have become a leading lawyer and risen finally

hat a worthless scamp I really am. I wonder if I couldn't marry her-but, no, that wouldn't be right to her nor to me, for a man hasn't the moral right to marry a woman he doesn't really love, even if she thinks he is the only man on earth. I wonder if I really told her I loved her?" Here Westerfelt shuddered, and felt a flush of shame steal o

g between his house and the main road, he sa

ing the letters, even before breakfast. That's the little woman'

ng steps, and now and then jumping over an obstacle instead of going around it. And when he had reached the gate he leaned on it and stared straight at Westerfelt,

r a moment, "I've been walkin' so blamed fast I've mighty n

elt wen

logan?" he questioned,

d Slogan. "Sally fell off'n the foot-log in

ogan!" cried Westerfelt, in horro

ut she hadn't been thar at all. Then her ma tuck up a quar notion, an' helt to it like a leech fer a long time. My hoss had got out o' the stable an' strayed off some'rs in the woods, an' Sally's mother firmly believed the gal had run off. I don't know why she 'lowed Sally would do sech a thing, but she did, and jest paced up an' down the

ubt about it?" gasped W

of twine which he had wound into a coil. "I've got the exact length o' the body. I 'lowed that would be the best way. I reckon they kin tell me at the store how much play a cor

lt, with a shudder. "Take any horse you want.

nda. "My God!" he groaned; "why don't I know it was accide

eiling, a thousand conflicting thoughts crowding upon him. Presently he heard

'll be blamed ef I ain't afeerd them two ol' cats 'll be a-fightin' an' scratchin' 'fore I get b

-or-or-?" Westerfelt paused as

, thar was a lot said at the quiltin' yesterday about Lizzie Lithicum a-cuttin' of Sally out, an' one thing or other, an' a

his mouth was drawn and his lips quivered; there

n feels hurt at me,"

ed a moment be

him, "maybe she does-a little, John, but the Lord knows you cayn't

an, desperately; and while he waited for Slogan to

ight now ef I was you. She's tuck a funny sort o' notion that she don't want you at the funeral or the buryin'. She told me three times, as I was startin' off, to tell you not to come to the church nur to the

Westerfelt. "I shall not be there, Slogan. If she will l

ify 'er," promised Peter, as he took the sw