e to roll Ben Stubbles in the dust. Ho, ho,
that was a good one!"

When Nell left to return home, it was but natural that Douglas should
accompany her. He asked permission to do so, and her acceptance
brought a great joy to his heart.

The Jukes watched them as they walked toward the road.

"That's settled, all right," was Mrs. Jukes' comment.

"What?" Jake asked.

"Why, can't you see for yourself? They're deep in love with each
other, that's what it is."

"Umph!" Jake grunted. "I never thought of it before. It takes a woman
to see sich things. My, John'll git a prize if he hooks Nell. Strange
that she takes to him, an' him only a hired man. Why, she's fit fer a
parson's wife."

"I don't believe he's only a hired man," his wife replied.

"Woman, what d'ye mean?" Jake demanded in surprise.

"Oh, I don't exactly know. But he's the queerest hired man I ever saw.
He's got a good education, and just think how he plays the fiddle.
Why, he is wasting his time working as a hired man for small wages,
when he might be earning big money somewhere else. That's what's been
puzzling me for days."

"Mebbe he's a dook or a prince, Susie, in disguise. I've heered of
sich things. But he's a prince all right, fer I don't know when I met
a man I think as much of as him. An' as fer farm work, why he can't be
beat. He knows it from A to Z, an' that's sayin' a good deal."

"I wonder what Ben will do now?" Mrs. Jukes mused. "He must be about
wild. I saw him go up the road in his car just before supper, and he
was driving like mad."

"He'll do something, mark my word," Jake replied. "He'll try to git
even with John somehow. I should have given him warnin'. He shouldn't
be out at night. It isn't safe."

"Oh, he can take care of himself, all right. I'm not anxious about
him, though I am quite nervous concerning Nell. Ben and the rest of
the Stubbles will do their best to make it hard for her."

Nell and Douglas did not go up the road, but walked slowly down across
the field toward the river. It was a roundabout way, but that suited
them both, as they would have more time together, and this latter was
far more private. For the time being, they were happy, talking and
laughing like two joyous children. Their faces were radiant, and their
eyes were filled with animation when at length they reached the river
and stopped by the old tree where Douglas had first seen Nell.

"This has been a wonderful day to me