n good neighbors o' her'n, so I don't
mind tellin' ye she's willin' fer me to collect thet-thar debt o'
mine." There was an expression of vast complacency on the veteran's
face, as he stroked the tuft of whisker on his chin, and he smiled on
his three auditors half-triumphantly, half-shamefacedly. "I got
cheated o' her oncet by being too slow. I hain't goin' to do no sech
foolishness ag'in. T'-morrer, if the clerk's office is open, I'll git
the satisfaction piece an' Preacher Roberts'll tie the knot good and
proper--amen!"

Uncle Dick sighed audibly at the announcement, but his chagrin was
given no further expression as he invited the victorious rival to
dismount and partake of his hospitality. Alvira received the news with
bubbling delight, which showed gaily in her sparkling black eyes and
dimpling cheeks. Even Plutina was heartened by the discovery that her
grandfather's folly, as she deemed it, must end, though there could
be no gladness in her by reason of the fear.

It was after the supper was done, when the visitor's horse stood at
the door, that Uncle Dick took a sudden resolve.

"Alviry," he ordered, "you-all come hold this-hyar hoss, a leetle
minute, whilst me an' 'im has a confab."

He led the puzzled veteran to a bench beneath a locust, out of earshot
of his granddaughters, who regarded the proceeding curiously, and not
without apprehension since they knew the violent temper of the old man
when thwarted. They were relieved to perceive that his demeanor
remained altogether peaceable.

"Hit's jest this-away, Seth Jones," Uncle Dick began at once, after
the two were seated side by side on the bench. "Ye see, I knew
you-all, an' yer name an' yer business, soon's I sot eyes on ye. Hit
were thet-thar danglin' sleeve o' your'n as ye rid up the path what
done hit. I knowed then as how my fate was sealed, s' fur's the Widder
Brown's consarned. Fanny done told me about you-all an' yer
disapp'intment. She allers said, arter her man died, as how ye'd be
a-comin' 'long, though I was hopin' ye wouldn't--cuss ye! Excuse
me--no offense intended. The widder an' me has been clost friends, an'
I told her from the first as how I respected the claims of this-hyar
Jones galoot, if so be he turned up afore we got hitched. An' now hyar
ye be--dang hit!"

The veteran cleared his throat apologetically. His own happiness made
him exaggerate the injury thus wrought by his reappearance. He
ventured no remark, however. He could n