like his father some, and he told me that his father, who was a captain
in the army, refused to ever see his daughter again who married the son
of his overseer. She moved to Texas, and died out there. Mother, the
legitimate daughter of an overseer would stand higher in any Southern
community than--" At this point a sob broke in her voice, and the girl
could go no further. Mrs. Floyd rose and kissed her on the cheek. "I
see," she said, "that as long as you keep talking about this you will
search and search for something to worry about. I'm glad Mr.
Westerfelt knows about it, though, for he would have to be told some
day, and now he knows what to count on. I'll bet you anything he keeps
on loving you, and--"

"Oh, mother," broke in Harriet, "I don't think he lo--cares that much
for me; I really do not."




Chapter X

"By George!" exclaimed Bradley, as they drove away, "you certainly lit
on your feet when you struck that house. It looks like it 'ud pay you
to git stabbed every day in the week; it's paid the community, the Lord
knows, fer it is shet of the biggest dare-devil that wus ever in it.
The ol' lady seems to have about as bad a case on you as the gal. I've
been thar a time or two to ax about you, an' I never seed the like o'
stirrin' round fixin' things they 'lowed would suit yore taste."

"They have been mighty good to me, indeed," answered the young man,
simply. "I don't think I could have had such thoughtful attention,