Bolanyo

into a rocking chair, and stood as if expecting me to command him to continue the work of my conversion. But I told him to s

been marred by fancy's sketch of her-sharp of voice and sour of face-a woman whose husband had willingly died, leaving her, unfortunately, to inflict man with her elocution. I wanted to sit alone and enjoy the sweet scents blown from the garden; through the window I had seen a mocking-bird alight on the top of a

he Senator as he held the door

hreshold, and I found myself in the midst of dark, old-fashioned furniture and the portraits of Statesmen and of

e Senator. "About here. Now you can go about y

he custom in Bolanyo to dignify a torture with a stately introduction? But I had not long to muse. I heard the Sena

etters, hung bright before me-"Her glad eyes." I bowed; and I must have splu

forward a chair for her. And then to

plained that you needn't look forward to any infliction, but I thought I'd wait

when he calls me a child," she spo

my astonishment to venture a word, so I merely

fox or shake a 'possum out of a persimmon tree. Well, I must go down town and see what's going on.

d," said I, when the Senator had taken his leave.

of me," she replied. "I have read to father and my husba

eated. "Are you

y. Why

re so

usband is the State Treasurer, and is at the capital now, but will be home next week. He stays over there a g

t must be a charming place. Ha

nly and, therefore, the spoiled child. I don

truthfully the Frenchman had caught a sweet and gentle spirit; how exquisite

did not avoid my eye, but met it, strong and full, with her own, and I felt that, though gentle, she was fearless. Sometimes

to me?" I asked, after we had sat f

to you. Don't you see I

," I requested, look

ever cared for dancing; I don't draw, wouldn't attempt to paint, and I can't speak a word of Italian. I was never

arn to play a piano, to speak Italian and to make an attempt at p

g. "But to be dutiful is not so serious a matter.-not

rious than the views held by thousands of

ure doesn't grant divorces," she

e mates every y

The shameles

ar her cry out against it, but she did not. She was pleased. "I have had that sort of longing," she said, "but I never expressed it, knowing that it

ud heart sore," I cr

amps put on my impetuous soul, and, trying to conquer the evil opinion of the critic, I have worked an

he quietly said, "I don't blame you," and I sett

do you intend to ta

ng to wri

atisfied if you do

that line I think that I shall be

: "We can find contentment in the middle ground of a secon

ead to your fa

il it got big enough to go out and get its feet muddy and then-I granted it a divorce. And after a while this little thing will grow up and leave me, won't you, pet? No, you won't, will you? There, I knew you wouldn't. You'll always be little and lovable, and will stay with me. Come on, now, and let's go back to the kitchen." She tripped out a girl, singing as she went, but she came back a woman; and of the ways, the air and the ambitions of the town I gathered more from a few moments of her talk than her father could have given me

ere came a light tap at the open door. I

but I am afraid you hav

line-" I began, but with lifting

nibal was a soldier of the devil,"

hing. "You'll have to do as

put his hands on the back of my chair. She walked beside me down the hall, a

en you do, we'll go fox-hunting, you

e inside of the room. "Oh, yes, it

ked at him hard enough, I thought, to have bored him through, but, gi

quickly she added: "Gracious alive, Washington, d

it, man, what do you mean?" I cri

me with his arms folded, "do

nce for all, that I appreciate your kindness, but w

r you,

erstand; that's

n in the world; when she was a child I was her horse, the black beast who delighted to do h

s hungry; but if I could give her food, wh

s a more innocent place than

inked at me slowly. "But yo

make her still more dissatisfied. With the presumption of an old servant, I may say something that sounds impertinent, but I am a preacher and a mor

?" I

"A girl may marry her father's friend,

e you in league

re and made him roar with laughter. "No, Sah, I'm er feard o' him;" but feeling the di

an stock, and in my blood there is a strong sense of moral responsibility. I have never made an intentional show of those puritanic influences; I have striven rather to hide them from the contempt of my lighter-hearted companions; but a sag

r. Belford-the referen

, it was the custom of the Puritans, in the olden day, to condemn actor

read about it,

urch history doesn

woman will bring your dinner. I am going out among m

come then,

your chair int

so. Th

t speaking, he stepped back, and, with a grav