Westerfelt

ezes in the sedge-fields, in the long rows of brown-bolled cotton plants, among the fodder-stacks, and in the forest that stretched from the main road up the mountain-side. It was the season in

ch the leaves of the map

s appearance. His face was thinner; at the temples his hair had turned slightly gray, and an ineffable expression of restless discontent lay about his eyes. A sum of money had come to him from his father's estate, and with it he had purchased a livery-stab

the village in question lay in the valley

t shirking my just punishment. A man ought to make something of himself, and I never could, in my frame of mind, with that poor, silent old woman co

a couple of lean dogs, which sprang from under the porch, came to the door. She smiled and spoke, but her vo

er in which Westerfelt leaned over the fence and, with the butt of his riding

g to them and picking up sticks and stones and

laugh, as the dogs retreated behind the house, and

. "I wasn't lookin' fer you quite so soon, t

rted early this morning, and lost half an hou

better how to feed 'im 'an I do. Luke's gone down to the livery-stab

e into the yard, and to

lowed the wooden windlass to fly round of its

asked. "I'll

y horse; every branch and creek i

ng an inquisitive nose to his moving elbow. She returned with a great gourd dipper. He rinsed i

," he said. "I for

st a-lookin' at you, John; you loo

"How's Luke?" emptying the bucket into

He ain't no fool, if I do say it. Horton an' Webb had the'r eyes on the stable, an' Luke thinks they'd a-raised his bid, but they 'lowed he wus biddin' fur himself, an' knowed he couldn't raise the money. Mis' Thorp wus in heer this mornin', an' she said Jasper Webb swore l

saddle and bridle from his horse and tur

he was closing the door; "the's some fodder overhead, an

some shelled corn at the shop. I'll

ling crags that rose bleak and bare above the wealth of color, beyond the dark, evergreen stretches of pines and mountain cedars. The gorgeous tail of a peacock spread and gleamed under the cherry-trees

apron. "They want the'r supper," she said, as she led her guest back to the front yard. She went to the gate and looked

ed. He walked with a shambling gait, stooped considerably, and swung his arms. He seldom wore a coat, and on days as mild as this his shirt-sleeves were alwa

. "Glad to see you; I've done nothin' but fight tongue battles fer you all day. Webb has been cussin' me

st into the sitting-room. "Much obliged to you, Luk

Luke said, as he placed a chair for Westerfelt in front

t her ample homespun skirt and began to run the

bby be willin' to put up with us; we've got a spare room, an' you know about how we live. You'v

since I ate at your house, but I can taste your slice

. "You'll s

ted that I'd occupy the room over the stable. I'd like to be near my business. I reckon I can get m

on't raise no objections; Mis' Boyd, a widow woman, is keepin' the hotel now, and folks say she feeds well an' cheap enough. She's from Tennessee, an's got a good-lookin', sprig

ack to the sitting-room. Alf, a colored farm-hand, was heaping logs on the old-fashioned dog-irons in

supper the carpet had been taken up, the floor swept clean,

't hold me accountable; she's arranged to give you a s

Mrs. Bradl

ou want to burn the roof over our heads? Give it to me!" She snatched the unwieldy bundle of broomstraw from him. "Go tell Mis' Snow I'm much obleeged f

his for?" ask

a dressy set over heer." Her husband was leaving the room, and she waited till he had closed the door after him. "I want to talk to you like a mother, John," she said, sitting down near him and holding the bundle of broom between her knees. "The truth is, I've had a sight o' worry over you. I often lie awake at night thinkin' about you, an' wonderin' ef yore ma wouldn't blame me ef she wus alive fer not lookin' atter you more. I've heerd what a solitary life you've been livin' sence she died. God knows she wus a big loss, an' it does bring a great

hallooing to some o

rumble of wheels over

to the door

age, too-it's shameful. I'd be talked about in some places." She laid her hands on the shoulders of her guest, her face beaming. "Now, ef you want to pr