e men say to her
if they knew that their patriotism and their valor were expended in
vain,--above all, their mutual cause of quarrel wasted!--as pretty a bit
of neighborhood spite as ever stopped a bullet--all foolishly and
needlessly reconciled without a blow! She had saved them from a bloody
feud, the chances of which were terrifying to her for their own sakes.
But what would they say when discovery should come!

Still, it might never come. And yet, should they patrol the woods in
vain and at last disperse and return each to his own home, she had no
placidity in prospect,--she was troubled and sad and her sorry heart was
heavy. Her scheme had succeeded beyond her wildest hopes. Her beneficent
artifice had fully worked its mission. And now, since there was no more
to be done, she had time to repent her varied deceits. Was it right? she
asked herself in conscientious alarm, not the less sincere because
belated. Ought she to have interfered, with what forces it was possible
for her limited capacity to wield? Had they an inalienable right to cut
each other's throats? Should she have so presumed? And now--

"Howly Moses!" a voice in shrill agitation broke in upon her
preoccupation. "An' is it sheddin' tears ye are upon the blessed
gunpowther? Sure the colleen's crazed! Millia Murther! the beautiful
ca'tridges is ruint intoirely! Any man moight be proud an' plazed to be
kilt by the loikes o' them! How many o' them big wathery tears have yez
been after sheddin' into aich o' them lovely ca'tridges?"

He had risen; one hand was laid protectingly upon the completed pile of
fixed ammunition as if to ward off the damping influences of her woe,
while he ruefully contemplated the suspected cartridge bags, all plump
and tidy and workmanlike, save for their possible charge of tears. She
made no answer, but sat quite motionless upon her low stool, a cartridge
bag unfinished in her lap, her golden brown curls against the cannon,
still weeping her large tears and looking very small.

His clamors brought half the force to the scene of the disturbance. A
keen question here, an inference heedfully taken there, and the
situation was plain!

In the abrupt pause in this headlong career it was difficult to sustain
one's poise. Now and again, indeed, sheepish conscious glances were
interchanged; for since the grievance of the cow-drivers had been
publicly annulled and the horses of the Blue Lick Stationers had been
restored in pure neighbo