ith and Dave Dennison took back to the South all that
remained of the poor creature who had left there a few years before in
such high hopes.

One lady, closely veiled, attended the little service that old Dr.
Templeton conducted in the chapel of the hospital where Phrony had
passed away, before the body was taken South. Alice Lancaster had been
faithful to the end in looking after her.

Phrony was buried in the Rawson lot in the little burying-ground at
Ridgely, not far from the spot where lay the body of General Huntington.
As Keith passed this grave he saw that flowers had been laid on it
recently, but they had withered.

All the Ridge-neighborhood gathered to do honor to Phrony and to
testify their sympathy for her grandfather. It was an exhibition of
feeling such as Keith had not seen since he left the country. The old
man appeared stronger than he had seemed for some time. He took charge
and gave directions in a clear and steady voice.

When the services were over and the last word had been said, he stepped
forward and raised his hand.

"I've got her back," he said. "I've got her back where nobody can take
her from me again. I was mighty harsh on her; but I've done forgive her
long ago--and I hope she knows it now. I heard once that the man that
took her away said he didn't marry her. But--". He paused for a moment,
then went on: "He was a liar. I've got the proof.--But I want you all to
witness that if I ever meet him, in this world or the next, the Lord do
so to me, and more also! if I don't kill him!" He paused again, and his
breathing was the only sound that was heard in the deathly stillness
that had fallen on the listening crowd.

"--And if any man interferes and balks me in my right," he continued
slowly, "I'll have his blood. Good-by. I thank you for her." He turned
back to the grave and began to smooth the sides.

Keith's eyes fell on Dave Dennison, where he stood on the outer edge of
the crowd. His face was sphinx-like; but his bosom heaved twice, and
Keith knew that two men waited to meet Wickersham.

As the crowd melted away, whispering among themselves, Keith crossed
over and laid a rose on General Huntington's grave.

CHAPTER XXXIV

THE CONSULTATION

Keith had been making up his mind for some time to go to Brookford. New
York had changed utterly for him since Lois left. The whole world seemed
to have changed. The day after he reached New York, Keith received a
letter from Miss Brook