dam.

"I've had no TIME to think," said Kate. "At first blush, I'd say that
I shall hate it, as badly as I could possibly hate anything that was
none of my immediate business. Nancy Ellen loved him so. I never shall
forget that day she first told me about him, and how loving him brought
out her beauty, and made her shine and glow as if from an inner light.
I was always with her most, and I loved her more than all the other
girls put together. I know that Southey woman tried to take him from
her one summer not long ago, and that he gave her to understand that
she could not, so she went away. If she's back, it means only one
thing, and I think probably she'll succeed; but you can be sure it will
make me squirm properly."

"I THOUGHT you wouldn't like it," he said emphatically.

"Now understand me, Adam," said Kate. "I'm no fool. I didn't expect
Robert to be more than human. He has no children, and he'd like a
child above anything else on earth. I've known that for years, ever
since it became apparent that none was coming to Nancy Ellen. I hadn't
given the matter a thought, but if I had been thinking, I would have
thought that as soon as was proper, he would select a strong, healthy
young woman, and make her his wife. I know his mother is homesick, and
wants to go back to her daughters and their children, which is natural.
I haven't an objection in the world to him marrying a PROPER woman, at
a proper time and place; but Oh, dear Lord, I do dread and despise to
see that little Southey cat come back and catch him, because she knows
how."

"Did you ever see her, Mother?"

"No, I never," said Kate, "and I hope I never shall. I know what Nancy
Ellen felt, because she told me all about it that time we were up
North. I'm trying with all my might to have a Christian spirit. I
swallowed Mrs. Peters, and never blinked, that anybody saw; but I
don't, I truly don't know from where I could muster grace to treat a
woman decently, who tried to do to my sister, what I KNOW Mrs. Southey
tried to do to Nancy Ellen. She planned to break up my sister's home;
that I know. Now that Nancy Ellen is gone, I feel to-night as if I
just couldn't endure to see Mrs. Southey marry Robert."

"Bet she does it!" said Adam.

"Did you see her?" asked Kate.

"See her!" cried Adam. "I saw her half a dozen times in an hour. She's
in the heart of the town, nothing to do but dress and motor. Never saw
such a peach of a car. I couldn't h