k
half of the sheet, folded it, also, and put it back into the envelope.
Lastly, she wet the gummed edges of the envelope, and stuck them down,
fastening the note much more securely than she had found it.

"Now, then, Roland will make a fool of hisself carrying of a blank note.
And I will take myself off to Mondreer, soon as ever I can go, and I will
show this here challenge to Mr. Force. And he, being a justice of the
peace, will be bound to send out a warrant to 'rest up that bloody-minded
young rip of a cousin of hizzen! Lor'! what a time there'll be!"

CHAPTER XXIX

A YOUNG FIRE EATER

When the family and guests of Mondreer arose the next morning, they found
the ground covered with snow, but the sky was clear and bright.

The squire and the rector went out on the front porch to look at the
weather, just in time to see old Miss Sibby Bayard, in her brown riding
skirt and beaver-cloth jacket and hood, ambling up to the house on her
slow, but sure-footed, old, white mule.

Both gentlemen stepped down to the horse block to meet and help her to
dismount.

"I reckon as you're surprised to see me here, especially at this hour of
the morning?" said the old lady, as she lumbered heavily down from her
seat.

"We are glad to see you, at any rate, neighbor," said the kind-hearted
squire.

"Thanky'! I'm glad to see you, squire, though I wish I had come on more
pleasanter business," replied the old lady, as she waddled toward the
house.

"I hope nothing has gone amiss with you," said Mr. Force, whom recent
events had made somewhat apprehensive.

"Well, not gone amiss, exactly; but going amiss, I tell you all good,
unless it is put a stop to! And, Parson Peters, I'm mighty glad to fall in
long o' you here! I think it is downright providential--that I do! Because
your counsel may be of great vally in this case. 'Two heads is better than
one,' sez I, even if one is a cabbage head, sez I."

By this time they had entered the house, and Mr. Force was about to open
the parlor door to admit the visitor to the presence of his wife, but she
stopped him, hastily, nervously saying:

"No, no, not in there, on no account! This ain't no news for ladies' ears,
and I don't want to send none of them into hysterick fits! Let me go into
your office, where you do business."

"What is the nature of your business?" anxiously inquired Mr. Force, as he
led the way to the rear of the house.

"Life or death! Murder and hanging,