e. Her hair turned white after
that, Shawn, and she used to set out thar on the bank, where they had
set so often, lookin' away down to the bend of the stream whar Eli had
been took away from her."

The next morning when Oiler and Shawn started to the river, Oiler
slipped a five dollar gold piece in Shawn's hand. "He give me two of
'em, and one of them belongs to you. What are you goin' to do with
yours, Shawn?"

"Give it to my mammy," said Shawn.

CHAPTER X

Doctor Hissong sat by the fireplace in his office. Brad was blacking a
pair of shoes. "Shawn," said the old doctor, "I'm going up to Old
Meadows this afternoon to hunt quail, and I want you to go along. Go
down and get ready while Brad hitches up the buggy."

The first snow of the season was gently sifting from the November skies
as Doctor Hissong and Shawn drove along the river road. Scattered flocks
of wild-geese and ducks were flying above the cottonwoods and sycamores.
The _honk_, _honk_ of the geese as they circled above the stream, their
white wings flashing in the veiled sunlight, lent a delicious touch to
the winter scene. Shawn was watching the curling smoke from a tall
chimney at the bend of the river. As they drew nearer, he saw the old
house nestling behind the tall pine trees, the white columns of the
broad porch standing out in stately grandeur. Doctor Hissong drove
through the orchard, coming up to the lower entrance to the house. Major
LeCroix came down the yard, his long, silvery hair waving beneath his
broad-brimmed hat, his ruddy countenance beaming a cordial welcome. Just
behind him, his hat in his hand, was Horton, a colored gentleman of the
old school, brought up in the LeCroix service, and staunch in his
devotion to the family. Major LeCroix led the way to the house. The
guineas began calling a chorus of _pot-racs_ and ran fluttering through
the drifting snow. "They are giving us a song of welcome," said Doctor
Hissong. Horton showed his gleaming teeth and said, "No, sah, it's a
song uv sorrow, for my ole woman, Mary, hez got two uv 'em in de yuven,
bakin' fo' yo' suppah."

As Shawn passed the old stone kitchen, he caught the fragrance of the
good things in Aunt Mary's oven, and Aunt Mary, in her white cap and
apron, was bending over the stove.

Major LeCroix and Doctor Hissong were standing on the porch. Shawn
paused for a moment to gaze fondly to where the stream wended its way
among the tall hills. The Major opened the low