d a sweetheart at the journey's end?

Mose, arrayed in his best clothes, had gone early and stayed late. He
left the plantation happy with himself and all the world. For had he
not that very night popped the all-important question and had not Femy
given an answer which warmed the very depths of his darkey heart and
made the face of nature shine with a double light? To shorten the
distance home, as the hour was late and the bright moon threw some
light even among the thick trees, he determined to take a footpath
among the hills. This course led him close to the cabin of Simon Wiles,
Sam Wiles' father. He was walking in a zigzag path, now watching the
moonlight as it lilted down through the leafy canopy, making a dim but
peaceful light around him; now listening to the sounds which exist in
Kentucky forests in winter, the flight of nocturnal birds and moving of
animals; seeing the raccoon crossing his track like a shadow in search
of food; hearing the mournful hooting of owls in various directions.

Suddenly he was startled by seeing a light shining through the chinks
of a building. At once Mose determined to discover its meaning. He had
no fine-spun theories as to the wrong of eavesdropping. Besides, there
might be robbers planning to steal neighbor Wiles' horse or produce. So
he crept up to the barn, making so little noise that neither the
watchful dogs nor the plotting men heard him.

He arrived in time to hear the conversation we have recorded. When he
had learned all, he stealthily retraced his steps to the foot-path and,
making a wide detour around the house, went on his way. While he walked
he thus soliloquized: "Ho! Ho! dat's yo' game, is it? Well, dis niggah
will try to spile yo' purty plan. But, Mose, ef yo' squeal on dem men
an' dey hears about it, dey'll give yo' wusser t'ings dan tar an'
fedders. Kain't help dat; mus' run de resk. Mas'r Very am mighty
pop'lar wid de Jedge, and I believes dat Miss Viola am lookin' on him
wid more'n common feelin's. Mose, yo's gwine to be a married man one of
dese days yo'self, an' yo' wants a little cabin of yo' own; and ef yo'
hoe dis row to de end an' circumwent dese 'spiring men, p'haps Mas'r
LeMonde gwine give yo' de cabin an' Miss Viola gwine put lots o' nice
tings in it. Dat's de proposition; an', Mose, yo' got to keep yo' wooly
head mighty cool an' calc'lating. Chewsday will soon be hyar, an' what
is done mus' be done in a hurry. It's a pity de Jedge an' Mas'r George
i