is the kind of people we are down here in the
bluegrass." He smiled, somewhat bitterly. "And I--well, I'm too much
like the rest to need any warning--too much of a coward to think of
making her my wife."

He sat, dejectedly, in a chair by the long table, and, with face held
between his hands and elbows planted on the board, looked across it,
through the open window, out into the thronging street with gloomy
eyes. For days he had been fighting battle after battle with himself. He
could not make his mind up as to what he ought to do. He knew he loved
the mountain-girl, but--but--

"There, there, my boy, I'm sorry," said the Colonel, sympathetically,
apologetically. "Let's drop the subject. The ladies will be here, soon.
Before they come I'll step over to the office and get the answer from
the Dyer Brothers." He rose, looking at his watch. "It's nearly time it
was here. They were to wire promptly. I'll bring it to you as soon as it
comes." He went to Frank and put his hand upon his shoulder
comfortingly. "Don't worry, my boy. It will all come out, all right.
Ahem! I mean there's nothing the matter with the mare and the sale will
go through."

"I hope so," said Frank, rising without much show of energy. He was
clearly on the edge of real discouragement. "If it doesn't--and that
assessment to be met--ah, well! What's the use of worrying? It doesn't
help the matter any." He walked slowly to the window and looked out.
"Here come Madge and Aunt 'Lethe," he announced, "through with their
shopping at last. How different Madge looks from the little
mountain-girl I first knew!" He turned and faced the Colonel. "Ah, if
the world knew her as I do--"

The Colonel left the room, bound for the telegraph-office, just before a
shrill scream came from the corridor, without, startling Layson greatly.

"Oh, dellaw!" the frightened voice said. "Le' me out! Le' me out!"

He recognized the voice, at once, as belonging to the girl whom he had
been discussing with the Colonel, and it was so full of terror that he
rushed quickly to the door, prepared to rescue her from some dire peril.

"What can be the matter?" he thought, frightened.

At the door he met Madge, white of face and startled, coming in.

"Why, Madge! What is it?"

She leaned against the writing-table, gasping. It was plain enough that
she had been greatly frightened.

"Wait till I git my breath," she said; and then: "They got us into a
little room, and, all of a sudden,