one sent away with little Rhoda's things. I
ain't nevah heard tell of it since that time. But it don't look a mite
like her now. All the red gone out o' her cheeks an' lips, all the
shine out o' her eyes, an' her long brown hair has mo' white than
brown in it these days. This woman Marg'ret ain't Retta; they jest as
yo' might say two different women;" then, after a pause, "any othah
thing you want ask me, sah? I see Jedge Clarkson comen' this way."

"No, that is all; thank you, old fellow."

He left Nelse ducking his head and fingering a new coin, while he
sauntered to meet the Judge.

"How much he give you, Uncle Nelse?" asked a guarded voice back of the
old man, and he nearly fell over backwards in his fright. A large,
middle-aged colored man arose from the tall grass, where he has been
hidden under the bank.

"Wha--what you mean--yo' Pluto? What fo' you hide theah an' listen?"

"I wan't hiden'," replied the man, good naturedly. "I jest lay to go
sleep in the shade. Yo' come 'long an' talk--talk so I couldn't help
hear it all," and he smiled shrewdly. "I alles was curious to know the
true way 'bout that Marg'ret--I reckon there was a heap that wan't
told to neighbors. An' reason why I ask you how much he give you fo'
the story is 'cause I got that picture you tole 'bout. I married Mahs
Larue's Rosa what come from Georgy with them. She been daid ovah a
yeah now, but it's some whar 'mongst her b'longings. Reckon that
strange gentleman give me dollar for it?--the frame is mighty
pretty--what you think?"

CHAPTER XV.

"Do tell me every blessed thing about her--a real Marquise--I love
titles;" and Evilena clasped her hands rapturously.

"Do you, now? Faith, then I'm glad I secured mine before I came over,"
and the laughing Irish eyes met hers quizzically.

"Oh, I never meant titles people earn themselves, Mr. Doctor, for--"

"Then that puts the Judge and Col. Kenneth and myself on the outside
of your fence, does it? Arrah now! I'll be looking up my pedigree in
hopes of unearthing a king--every true Irishman has a traditional
chance of being the descendant of rulers who ran barefoot, and carried
a club to teach the court etiquette."

She made a mutinous little grimace and refused to discuss his probable
ancestors.

"Does not the presence of a French Marquise show how Europe sides with
us?" she demanded, triumphantly. "Quantities of noblemen have been the
guests of the South lately, and isn't General W