odded.

"Any children?" asked the Squire, after a little.

"No," replied Colonel Lamson. He puffed at his pipe, his face was
redder than usual. "Well, Eben," he said, after a pause, during which
the two men smoked energetically, "I hope you'll keep her a while."

"You don't think she looks delicate?" cried the Squire, turning pale.
"Her mother doesn't think so."

The Colonel laughed heartily. "When a girl blossoms out like that
there'll be plenty trying the garden-gate," said he.

The Squire flushed angrily. "Let 'em try it and be damned!" he said.

"You can't lock the gate, Eben; if you do, she'll open it herself,
and no blame to her."

"She won't, I tell you. She's too young, and there's not a man I know
fit to tie her little shoes."

"How's young Prescott?"

"Young Prescott be damned!"

The Colonel hesitated. He had seen with an eye, sharpened with long
and thorough experience, Jerome Edwards and Lucina the night of the
party. "How's that young Edwards?"

Squire Merritt stared. "The smartest young fellow in this town," he
said, with a kind of crusty loyalty, "but when it comes to
Lucina--Lucina!"

"I've liked that boy, Eben, ever since that night in Robinson's
store," said the Colonel, with a curious gravity.

"So have I," returned the Squire, defiantly, "and before that--ever
since his father died. He was the bravest little rascal. He's a hero
in his way. I was telling Lucina the other day what he'd done. But
when it comes to his lifting his eyes to her, to her--by the Lord
Harry, Jack, nobody shall have her, rich or poor, good or bad. I
don't care if he's a prince, or an angel from heaven. Don't I know
what men are? I'm going to keep my angel of a child a while myself.
I'll tell you one thing, sir, and that is, Lucina thinks more to-day
of her old father than any man living; I'll bet you a thousand she
does!" Squire Eben's voice fairly broke with loving emotion and
indignation.

"Can't take you up, Eben," said the Colonel, dryly; "I'd be too
darned sure to lose, and I couldn't pay a dollar; but--to-morrow's
coming."

Squire Eben Merritt stood looking at his friend, a frown of jealous
reverie on his open face. Suddenly, with no warning, as if from a
sudden uplifting of the spirit, it cleared away. He laughed out his
great hearty laugh. "Well, by the Lord Harry, Jack," said he, "when
the girl does lose her heart, though I hope it won't be for many a
day yet, if it's to a good man that can take c