fully chaperoned by her granddaughter, and Honore kept Jules
under orders in the boat. But of early mornings and late twilights there
was no restraining the twittering widower.

"Melinda 'tend to her work and is behave if Jules let her alone,"
Clethera reported to Honore. "But he slip around de garden and talk over
de back fence, and he is by de ironing-board de minute my back is turn'!
If he belong to me, I could 'mos' whip him!"

"Jules McCarty," declared Honore, with some bitterness, "when he fix his
min' to marry some more, he is not turn' if he is hexcommunicate'!"

Jules, indeed, became so bold that he crowded across the stile through
the very conferences of the pair united to prevent him; and his loud
voice could be heard beside Melinda's ironing-board, proclaiming in the
manner of a callow young suitor.

"Some peop' like separate us, Melinda, but we not let them."

The conflict of Honore and Clethera with Jules and Melinda ended one day
in August. There had been no domestic clamor in this silent grapple of
forces. The young man used no argument except maxims and morals and a
tightening of authority; the young girl permitted neither neighboring
maids nor the duties of religion to lure her off guard. It may be said
of any French half-breed that he has all the instincts of gentility
except an inclination to lying, and that arises from excessive
politeness.

Honore came to the fence at noon and called Clethera. In his excitement
he crossed the stile and stood on her premises.

"It no use, Clethera. Jules have tell me this morning he have arrange'
de marriage."

Clethera glanced behind her at the house she called home, and threw
herself in Honore's arms, as she had often done in childish despairs.
Neither misunderstood the action, and it relieved them to shed a few
tears on each other's necks. This truly Latin outburst being over, they
stood apart and wiped their eyes on their sleeves.

"It no use," exclaimed Clethera, "to set a good examp' to your
grandmother!"

"I not wait any longer now," announced Honore, giving rein to fierce
eagerness. "I go to de war to-day."

"But de camp is move'," objected Clethera.

"I have pass' de examin', and I know de man to go to when I am ready; he
promis' to get me into de war. Jules have de sails up now, ready to take
me across to de train."

"But who will have de boat when you are gone, Honore?"

"Jules. And he bring Melinda to de house."

"She not come. She not