he fence. But I thought
of what the men had said on the railway platform, of the woman whom I
had seen on the train, and boldly I walked in. The General met me with a
warm grasp, and was asking me if I had seen his son, when in walked the
young fellow himself, with Guinea beside him. The parlor and the
library, opening one into the other, were well filled with good-humored
young folk, and among them were old people, none the less good-humored.
I was surprised to find myself so much in demand, for every one asked
for an introduction, but with bitterness I knew that it was because I
had come near being burned up in an old house. They played games, but of
this they soon tired; they sang and one of the ladies plucked a
sparkling fandango, and then Chydister Lundsford was called upon for a
speech. He was not at all embarrassed and he talked fairly well; and
when he was done they called upon me. I got up with one hand resting on
the piano, and stood there, nervous at first, but strangely steady later
on. I told them that I could not make a speech, but that with their
permission I would tell them a story, one of my own. They cried out that
they would rather have a story than a speech, and I gave them a half
humorous, half pathetic sketch, something that had long been running in
my head and which I intended to write. What a strong confidence came
upon me as I noted the effect of my words! I was drawing a picture and
they were eager to see it; I was playing on a strange, rude instrument,
and how they bent to catch every vibration. I was astonished at myself,
thrilled with myself. And when the climax came, chairs were tipped over
as if in a scramble, and a wild applause broke out. Every hand was
stretched out toward me, every eye was bright with a tear. The old
General grabbed me and, throwing back his great head, almost bellowed a
compliment; and through it all I saw Guinea sweetly smiling. They urged
me to give them another story, were almost frantic in their entreaty;
they had heard the heart-beat of their own life and they must hear it
again. I told another story, one over which I had fondly mused, and
again the hands came out toward me, and again the General bellowed a
compliment. I can scarcely recall anything else that passed that
evening. Yes, I remember that as I was taking my leave, to walk across
the meadows with Guinea and Chyd, Millie stood in front of me. Once or
twice I thought that she had something that she would t