ng. The days are so lonesome
since I come home, and things seem different since I knew you; but I
promise, and will remember and do my best."

Half his burden rolled away. He could be very kind now, for he knew he
could trust her to the death, and putting his arm around her, he drew
her close to him and said, "You are a good girl, Eudora. I shall not
forget it; but why do you tremble so? Are you cold?"

"Yes--no," she answered, nestling so close to him that the rose in her
dress was loosened and fell to the ground.

He picked it up, but did not put it in his pocket as a keepsake. He gave
it back to her, and she fastened it again to her dress, saying, "I do'
know why I shake, only it seems's if somethin' had died that I hoped
for. But it is all right, becase you care for me. You love me."

She lifted up her face on which the moonlight fell, making a picture the
man never forgot to the last day of his life. He did not tell her he
loved her, he could not; but for answer he stooped and kissed her, and
she--poor, simple girl--was satisfied.

"If I could tell Jake, it would be some comfort," she said at last,
timidly, and her companion answered quickly. "Tell Jake! Never! You must
not be too familiar with your servants."

"Jake is more than a servant. He is everything to me," the girl
answered, with rising spirit. "He would die for me, and if anything
happened to me and you did not come, I think he would kill you."

There was something of Southern fire in her eyes as she said this, which
made the stranger laugh as he replied, "Nothing will happen, and I'm not
afraid of Jake."

In his heart he was glad the negro was not there, for something warned
him that in the poor black man he might find a formidable obstacle to
his plan. Meanwhile in the house Mandy Ann had been busy with the
supper-table. They ought to have a good deal of light, she thought,
remembering the lamps at Mrs. Perkins's, and as there were only two
candlesticks in the house her fertile brain had contrived two more from
some large round potatoes, cutting a flat piece from one end, making a
hole in the centre to hold the candle, and wrapping some white paper
around the standard. She had taken great pains with the table, trying to
imitate Mrs. Perkins's, and the imitation was rather satisfactory to
herself. The best cloth had been brought out, and though it was yellow
with disuse it showed what it had been. A few roses in a pitcher were in
the centre of t