for his wife.

"Greeting, my lord," said the trembling Mrs. Fatima with a low curtsey
"I hope you have enjoyed your journey."

"'Ooman," demanded Blue Beard severely. "What make you look so pale?"

"I know not, sweet sir. Am I, then, so pale?"

"You is! What you be'n up to sence I be'n away? Ha! What I tole you?
Look at de blood on dat key! False 'ooman, you done deceib' me. Down on
yo' marrow bones an' prepyar to die!"

"Spare me, my lord. Spare me! I am so--"

It was just about this time that old Uncle Billy, with a bridle in one
hand and a carriage whip in the other came slowly upon the scene. At the
sight of Sally Ann apparently about to assault his mistress the bridle
dropped from his hand and with a tight clutch on the carriage whip he
covered the intervening space at an amazing speed.

"Hi, dar! You li'l woolly haided imp! You tech Miss Hallie wid dat ar
stick an' I bus' you wide open!"

"Oh, stop, Uncle Billy!" cried Virgie in dismay. "We're only having a
play!"

"Maybe you is; but I lay ef I wrop my carriage whip roun' her laig, des
oncet, she'll hop all de way to de river."

At this dismal prospect, which seemed much truer than the play, Sally
Ann began to whimper loudly. "Miss Hallie, ef he stay here, I ain't
gwine to play."

"Whar you git dem whiskers at?" demanded Uncle Billy.

"Shut up!" cried Virgie.

"I'm shuttin'," said Uncle Billy, retreating.

Thus reassured Sally Ann continued:

"I gwine down stairs to git my dinner When I come back, I sho' gwine
kill you. Fyar you well," and Blue Beard, making a wide circle around
the carriage whip, took himself off the scene.

"Now, Mother," Virgie announced, "I have to watch at the castle window,"
and she jumped up on the bench.

"Sister Anne; Sister Anne, do you see anybody coming?"

"No one, Fatima--nothing but a cloud of dust made by the wind."

"Look again, Sister Anne. Do you see anybody coming?"

"Oh, Fatima, Fatima. It's growing bigger."

"Dar now," interposed Uncle Billy. "She's seem' som'pin."

"Sister Anne! Sister Anne. And what do; you see?"

"Dust! Dust! I see a horseman in a cloud of dust. Look! Look! He's
coming this way." By this time Virgie's acting had taken on so close a
resemblance to the real thing that both Mrs. Gary and Uncle Billy rose
to their feet in wonder.

"He's jumped the _fence_," cried Virgie. "He's cutting across our
fields! He sees me! He's waving his hat to me!" With the last words the
child suddenl