here he stood, all smiles, waiting for John to win in the
pretty strife, which the rider presently did, and glanced over to the
Halliday garden, more than ready to lift his hat. But Fannie and Barbara
were busy tiptoeing for peach blossoms.

"Good-morning, Brother March; won't you 'light? I declare I don't know
which you manage best, yo' horse aw yo' tempeh!" The parson laughed
heartily to indicate that, however doubtful the compliment, his
intentions were kind.

"Good-morning, sir," said John in the gateway as his pastor came
bareheaded toward him; and after a word or two more of greeting--"Mr.
Tombs, there's to be a meeting of stockholders in the parlor of the
hotel at ten o'clock. My friend, Mr. Fair, got here yesterday evening,
and we want him to see that we mean business and hope he does."

"I see," said Parson Tombs, with a momentous air. "And I'll come. I may
be a little late in gett'n' there, faw I've got to hitch up aft' a while
and take Mother Tombs to spend the day, both of us, with our daughters,
Mrs. Hamlet and Lazarus Graves. I don't reckon anybody else has noticed
it but them, but, John, my son, Mother Tombs an' I will be married jess
fifty years to-night! However that's neither here nor there; I'll come.
If I'm half aw three-quarters of an hour late, why, I reckon that's no
mo'n the rest of 'em will be, is it?"

John smiled and said he feared it wasn't. As his mare leaped from the
sidewalk to the roadway he noted the younger pastor going by on the
other side, evidently on a reconnoisance. For the committee on
decorations was to come with evergreens to begin to deck the Tombs
parsonage the moment the aged pair should get out of sight of it.

* * * * *

Three persons were prompt to the moment at the meeting of stockholders:
Garnet, Gamble, and Jonas Crickwater, the new clerk of Swanee Hotel and
a subscriber for one share--face value one hundred dollars, cash payment
ten. A moment later Cornelius entered, and with a peering smile.

"Howdy, Leggett?" said Garnet, affably; but when the tawny statesman
moved as though he might offer to shake hands, the Major added with
increased cordiality, "take a seat," and waved him to a chair against
the wall; then, turning his back, he resumed conversation with the
railroad president. Presently John March arrived, with a dignity in his
gait and an energy in his eye that secretly amused the president of the
road. John looked at his wat