have, and at once.

Suddenly an inspiration thrilled her like an electric shock--one that
sent the blood tingling to the very roots of her hair. Why had she not
thought of it before! And it must be in the most casual way--quite as a
matter of general conversation, he doing all the talking and she doing
all the listening, for on no account must he suspect her purpose.

Within the hour she had tied the ribbons of her wide leghorn hat under
her dimpled chin, picked up her shawl, and started off alone, following
the lane to the main road. If the judge, by any chance, had adjourned
court he would come straight home and she would meet him on the way. If
he was still engaged in the dispensation of justice, she would wait for
him outside.

She had judged wisely. Indeed she might have waited for days for some
such moment and not found so favorable an opportunity. His Honor had
already left the bench and was then slowly making his way toward where
she stood, hugging the sidewalk trees the better to shade him from the
increasing heat. As the day had promised to be an unusually warm one, he
had attired himself in a full suit of yellow nankeen, with palm-leaf fan
and wide straw hat--a combination which so matched the color and texture
of his placid, kindly face that Kate could hardly keep from laughing
outright. Instead she quickened her steps until she stood beside him,
her lovely, fresh color heightened by her walk, her eyes sparkling, her
face wreathed in smiles.

"You are lookin' mighty cute, my Lady Kate, in yo' Paisley shawl and
sarsanet pelisse," he called out in his hearty, cheery way. "Has Peggy
seen 'em? I've been tryin' to get her some just like 'em, only my co't
duties are so pressin'. Goodness, gracious me!--but it's gettin' hot!"
Here he stopped and mopped his face, then his eyes fell upon her again:
"Bless my soul, child!--you do look pretty this mornin'--jest like yo'
mother! Where did you get all those pink and white apple-blossoms in yo'
cheeks?"

"Do you remember her, Mr. Coston?" she rejoined, ignoring his
compliment.

"Do I remember her! The belle of fo' counties, my dear--eve'ybody at her
feet; five or six gentlemen co'tin' her at once; old Captain Barkeley,
cross as a bear--wouldn't let her marry this one or that one--kep' her
guessin' night and day, till one of 'em blew his brains out, and then
she fainted dead away. Pretty soon yo' father co'ted her, and bein'
Scotch, like the old captain and sober as