fell in leisurely
behind the two women. The day was fine, being one of those rare June
days which had the moderate temperature of spring.

As they came within sight of Dixie Hart's cottage, Henley noticed a
sleek pair of horses and a stylish trap held by a negro boy at the gate,
and knew that the girl's suitor had arrived. He fancied that the couple
might pass him on his way to church, and in his mind's eye he saw
himself waving a cordial salutation to them. It was not, however, until
the church was reached and he had conducted his party to their usual
seats that Dixie and her escort arrived. Accustomed as the congregation
was to direct its attention to the door as much as the pulpit, at least
before the services began, all eyes were turned thither when a sudden
commotion at the front showed that something of an unusual nature had
occurred. The fact was that Long's driver, being unfamiliar with the
ways of a place much smaller than his own town, had driven the prancing,
snorting pair close to the door in the effort to land his passengers on
the steps, and his loud, "Woah dar, blast yo' skins!" rang clearly
through the resonant building. As it was, the coming of a bridal pair
themselves could not have attracted more attention. Every pivotal head
turned on its axis; even the visiting parson, with the huge Bible on his
thin knees, half rose that he might peer over the pulpit behind which he
sat.

Dixie, in her new gown and new hat, was the very embodiment of easy
self-possession as she piloted her escort to a seat in the middle of the
room. Long, red and perspiring, and rigged out in all the splendor of
the haberdasher's art, even to boots that screamed in pain, had the air
of a social laborer who was worthy of his hire. As soon as he was seated
he reached for Dixie's fan and began waving it to and fro with the
conscientious regularity of a pendulum, thereby increasing his warmth
and not lessening Dixie's.

Sheer astonishment clutched all observers. The women bent their necks
and stared, and the men winked at one another comically.

Suddenly Henley noticed that Carrie Wade was immediately behind him, and
he felt a sharp twinge of conscience over the wan and desperate
expression of her face. She had seen, and was staring down into her lap
and slowly twirling her bloodless fingers. She had heard of Jim Cahews's
engagement and knew that her transient hopes in that direction were
groundless; and now this--this of all thing