r. "Lou, go down to the spring house and fetch
me that jar of butter," and coming into the room as Lou started, she
added, just as Jasper came in. "It's a mighty heavy jar, Mr. Elliott.
You mout go an' help her."

"Oh, may I?" Tom asked of Lou.

"Yes, you may, but--"

"But what?"

"I won't ask you to."

"Oh, you won't have to ask me."

"Well, then, come on."

Jasper looked knowingly at Margaret, who, laughing, went back into the
kitchen and the old man, shaking his head, humorously mused: "Blamed if
I don't wish I could fix up things thatter way." He sat down, took up a
lap-board, and upon it began to cut a piece of leather; but leaving off
the work, gave himself up to deep thought. "Shot fo' and stobbed three,"
he said, his mind on the story paper. "Ah, it may not be true, but it
sounds mighty natchul. I wonder how it all is goin' to end. Don't want
to think about it; wush I could think of somethin' else. Margaret's got
her heart set. And I wonder if my little girl has too. If she has it's
the first time, an' if his heart don't come when hers calls it, it will
never call ag'in." And for a long time he sat there, immovable, gazing;
and in his old eyes there was a dream.

CHAPTER XIII.

MIGHT WIPE HER FEET ON HIM.

Old Jasper's meditations were disturbed by Kintchin who thrust his head
through the window and inquired: "Doan want me to take dat co'n ober ter
Spencer's 'fo' dinner, does you?"

"No, any time this evenin' will do."

The negro came into the house and as he entered Starbuck said to him:
"And while you are resting you mout grind the axes."

"Yas, suh; grind de axes while I's er restin'. Look yere, Mr. Starbuck,
ain't you got some work fur me ter do while I's er eatin'?"

"Let me see. I reckon I can rig up a thing so you can churn with yo'
foot."

"Yas, suh. But whut's de use in stoppin' dar? You mout ez well scuffle
roun' an' fin' suthin fur me ter do wid de udder foot. Look yere, Mr.
Starbuck, ef it's jest de same ter you, I blebe I'd like ter quit dis
place."

"Why do you want to quit? Don't I give you plenty to do?"

"Oh, yas, suh; dat is on er pinch. But de truf is it 'pear ter me like
things er gittin' sort er squawlly roun' yere. Dat man Peters he's
threatenin' ter knock er nail kag in de head an' ring er dish rag an' I
doan want ter git in no row. You Starbuck folks may not mind it, but I
ain't uster bein' shot. He say he gwine be 'p'inted deputy marshal, an'
w'en he sees