way through the crowd to Mrs. Bradley and Mrs.
Dawson.

"Why," said Mrs. Bradley, "I 'lowed you'd go off an' eat with some o'
yore young friends. But we are glad you come."

"I never go back on home folks," he said, making an effort to speak
lightly.

"Well, I fetched enough fer a dozen field-hands," laughed Mrs. Bradley.
"Two young preachers have promised to eat with me; that's all I've
axed. Luke, you go bring Brother Jones an' his friend, an' wait fer us
out at the wagon."

"Why cayn't we fetch the dinner in heer an' not have to sit on the damp
ground?" suggested Bradley.

"Beca'se, gumption! they won't have us greasin' up the benches that
folks set on in the'r best duds," she retorted. "Besides, the pine
straw will keep us off'n the ground, ef you ain't too lazy to rake it
up."

Just then Harriet and her friends passed, and Westerfelt saw the girl
looking inquiringly at Mrs. Dawson. He heard the old woman grunt
contemptuously, and saw her toss her head and fiercely eye Harriet from
head to foot as she went down the aisle.

Westerfelt shuddered. He wondered if the old woman could possibly know
of Harriet's past connection with Wambush and her girlish infatuation.
He turned away with Luke to get the basket. Bradley was saying
something about a suitable place to spread the lunch, but Westerfelt
did not listen. He could think of nothing but the strange, defiant
look in Mrs. Dawson's eyes as they fell on the girl he loved.

Chapter XIX

At luncheon Westerfelt sat next to Mrs. Bradley and could not see Mrs.
Dawson, who was on the other side of her. Among the trees on his
right, he had a good view of Harriet Floyd's party. They all seemed
exasperatingly merry. Bates was making himself boyishly conspicuous,
running after water, preparing lemonade, and passing it round to the
others, with his silk hat poised on the back part of his head. Mrs.
Bradley and her friends remained seated for some time after they had
finished eating, and Westerfelt saw the young men in Harriet's party
rise, leaving the girls to put the remains of the lunch into the
baskets. Hyram and Frank strolled off together, and Bates, after a
moment's hesitation, came straight over to Westerfelt.

"I want to talk to you, if you are through," he said, alternately
pulling at a soiled kid glove on his hand and twisting his stubby
mustache.

Westerfelt rose, conscious that Mrs. Dawson was eying him, and walked
down a little road t