k
Jim, was stricken, by God-a'mighty's justice, on The Way, las' night.
He was found plumb dead under a tree whar de lightnin' felled him."

Miss Ann raised her spectacled eyes with something like interest.

"We-all will be safer," she said quietly. "A darky like Jim, who gets
a twist in his head about freedom and license, is a mighty dangerous
creature."

"Yes, chile, dat's plain truth."

Cynthia held her breath. Sandy had been on The Way--what had
God-a'mighty's justice done to him? Surely if any evil had befallen
him Ivy would know. By some intangible current the gossip and news of
the hills travelled rapidly and more or less accurately.

"Dat boy of Morley's has runned away from home!"

At this Ann Walden took off her spectacles and made no pretence of
indifference.

"Run away?" she said. "I didn't know a Morley had spirit enough to do
that even with conditions as they must be along of that woman of
Martin's in the cabin. Where has he gone?"

"Nobody ain't knowing exactly--just gone! I expect he'll turn up again
when his stomick done clutch him. Dat chile never done us-all no
'commodation job, but he was too good to live up to that cabin in de
Holler. If I knowed whar he done hide himself, I clar I'd fotch him
some victuals even if he _was_ sharp as a sarpint's tooth in a bargain."

"If you hear of him, let me know," Ann Walden said quietly; "he's too
good, as you say, to be left to that evil woman Martin lives with.
I've had the boy on my mind for some time. He has the mark of cruelty
and neglect; he' been mighty silent too, about it all--he resembles his
grandfather."

And now Cynthia breathed again freely and happily. A breath of air
stole through the window and across the room--the atmosphere was
clearing.

"Whar's lil' Miss?"

"Lying down across in the library. Go close the door softly, Ivy, and
come back. I have something to say to you about her."

The child upon the sofa wished to be alone with herself, so she shut
her eyes and pretended sleep when the lean, black hand reached into the
room and drew to the door. Cynthia wanted to think about Sandy; she
wanted to follow him, in fancy, after her own fashion, and above all
else she wanted to be with him in the Significant Room.

Once the door secured her from intrusion she arose from the sofa and
locked it quietly; then she set the window wider to the summer day.
The casement was choked with the yellow rosebush and heavy honeysuck