he place will say the same--that she's always give you mo' reason than
another to believe she'd have ye. Not but what that's Jude's way, an'
she's hilt out sech hopes to a-many. What pesters me is how you two would
make out, once you was wed. Jude's mighty pretty, but then again she's
got a tongue."

"Her farm hain't," chuckled Blatch, pulling a sack into place; "and I
'low Jude wouldn't have after her and me had been wed a short while."

"I don't know, Blatch," maintained the fleshy one, timid yet persisting.
"You're a great somebody for havin' yo' own way, an' Jude's mighty high
sperrity--why, you two would shorely fuss."

"Not more than once, we wouldn't," returned Blatch with a meaning laugh.
"The way to do with a woman like Jude is to give her a civil beatin' to
start out with and show her who's boss--wouldn't be no trouble after
that. Jude Barrier has got a good farm. She's the best worker of any gal
that I know, and I aim for to have her--an' this farm."

Within the house now Judith, her cheeks glowing crimson as she bent above
the heaped coals, was going with waxing resentment over the catalogue of
Huldah Spiller's personal characteristics. Her hair, huh! she was mighty
particular to call it "aurbu'n," but a body might as well say red when
they were namin' it, because red was what it was. If a man admired a
turkey egg he would be likely to see beauty in Huldah's complexion--some
folks might wear a sunbonnet to bed, and freckle they would! A vision of
the laughing black eyes and white flashing teeth that went with Huldah
Spiller's red ringlets and freckles, and made her little hatchet face
brilliant when she smiled or laughed, suddenly put Judith on foot and
running to the door.

"Uncle Jep," she called after the tall receding form, "_Oh_, Uncle Jep!"

He turned muttering, "I hope to goodness Jude ain't goin' to git the
hollerin' habit. There's Iley never lets Jim Cal git away from the house
without hollerin' after him as much as three times, and the thing he'd
like least to have knowed abroad is the thing she takes up with for the
last holler."

"Uncle Jep," came the clear hail from the doorway, "don't you fail to
find Huldy and send her straight home. Tell her Iley's nigh about give
out, and Jim Cal's down sick in the bed--hear me?"

He nodded and turned disgustedly. What earthly difference did it make
about Jim Cal and Huldah and Iley? Why should Judith suddenly care? And
then, being a philosopher and