ng him.

"Why did you not come, Vesty?" said her lover. "You promised me."

"I've got something to say about that," said Fluke. "I sot Vesty down
on that doorhold, and I threatened to shute her ef she moved off'n it.
When she was tellin' Gurd' that you was 'round again wantin' to keep
company with her jest the same, says I, 'We'll see about that.' Vesty
hain't got no brothers, nor no mother, to look after her, and so Gurd'
and me, which is twin brothers to each other, is also goin' to be
brothers to her, and see that there ain't no harm done to Vesty."

"Well, then, Fluke, you are the best friends that either of us have,"
said Notely calmly.

"Why didn't ye let her alone in peace?" blurted out Fluke. "She was
keepin' company contented enough along o' Gurd', ef you'd only left her
alone. What'd ye come back a-makin' love to her for?"

"Because she is going to be my wife," said Notely. "We always kept
company together; since we were that high! Belle Birds'll was Gurdon's
company. Vesty was my company." His voice trembled. This was simple
Basin parlance and unanswerable.

"Ye mean it?"

"If you want to fight, Fluke, come out and fight." Notely's eyes cut
him.

"All the same," said he, "ef you sh'd happen to change your mind by 'n'
by, as fash'nable fellers in women's light-colored clo's does
sometimes, there 's a-goin' to be shutin'."

Notely grabbed his pipe, and his laugh rang out.

"Come," he said, "you know me! you know me! Confound the pretty
clothes! I only put them on so as to try and have Vesty like me!"

"Wal' now, Vesty, make your choice. You'd ruther keep company along o'
Note than Gurd', had ye?" But he could not restrain the severe
contempt in his voice in making the comparison.

Vesty had been soothing her face in the baby's frowzled hair.

"_I told you_," she said. But she glanced up at Gurdon, and her face
was piteous, his had turned so white.

"Come, Gurd'! What d'ye care? Go on, Vesty, ef ye want to. Gurd 'n'
me'll tote the baby till Elvine gits back." He took the infant and
began to toss it, to compensate it for Vesty's withdrawal. His thick
black hair fell over his forehead, his nose was fine and straight.
Gurdon came forward obediently to assist him. He had the same great
bulk, and even handsomer features, only that his hair was smooth and
parted.

Vesty and her lover passed on together. Her heart was leaping with joy
and pride of him; still, she saw Gurdon's l