troubled over his going away."
"Why, he didn't drink his julep!" said Miss Lady, severely.
"No," said Blount, miserably.
"And he hasn't any other place to eat," said Miss Lady, argumentatively.
"No."
"And he—he hasn't been introduced to me," said Miss Lady, conclusively.
"No."
"Colonel Cal, call him!" said Miss Lady, decisively.
Her words roused the old planter.
"You—I say, Eddring; you, there! Come on back here! Forgot something!"
In spite of himself—or was it in union with himself?—John Eddring turned back, and at last stood hat in hand near to the others. A smile softened the stern features of Colonel Blount as he pointed, half-quizzically to the untasted julep on the board-pile.
"Besides, Mr. Eddring," said he; "besides, you have not yet heard that this young lady of ours, Miss Lady, here, helped make the dinner this evenin'. Now, sir, I ask, will you come?"
The same odd tremble caught the claim agent's lip, and he frowned to pull himself out of his own weakness before he made reply. Miss Lady, tall, well-rounded, dark-eyed, her ruff of red-brown hair thrown back, stood looking at him, her hand clasped upon Blount's arm.
Eddring bowed deeply. "Sir," he said, "it wasn't fair of you; but I yield to your superior weapons!"
"
Dark doubts between the promise and event.
"—
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