troubled). I couldn't, someway I couldn't go there--to-day. Two years
ago this night! And yet how long, how terribly long ago it seems! He
told me he'd come back. I often wonder why I care: but it was such a
happy time!

[Her head sinks wearily down on her arm on the back of the bench,
covering her face.

[Enter from the back Col. and Mrs. Stuart. Col. Stuart is a
large, handsome, soldierly man of about fifty the typical
Southern Colonel. He wears his uniform and walks with
a slight limp. Mrs. Stuart is a pretty, dignified,
matronly-looking woman, same few years younger than
her husband. She is dressed in a simple black dress of
good material, that has evidently seen better days. Fair
rises quickly, going to them. She places a chair for her
father, who sits.

Fair (slipping one arm around his neck and pressing her cheek to
his). Dear father, Bev and I were just coming to look for you.

Mrs. S. Did you and Bev go to the mill?

Fair. Yes, to get the meal; and 'twas such fun! I rode on Tony.
And if you could have seen old Cupid when we got back; he thought of
course we'd take old Jack.

[She laughs.

Col. S. Dear little girl, what would we do without you? It's hard