then there's something else, Means--" the Colonel's face would take
on an expression of mingled seriousness and humor--"Means," he would
conclude, in a hoarse, facetious whisper, "I bought those stocks when
I was first married; thought I'd got to pitch in and provide for my
family, and in order to save enough money to get them I ran in debt
for a new uniform and some cavalry boots and a pony, and damned if I
know if I ever paid for them."

Jerome, going to the mill one day shortly afterwards, reached the
Means house as the Colonel was coming down the hill. "Stop a moment,"
the Colonel called, and Jerome waited until he reached him. "Fine
day," said the Colonel.

"Yes, sir, 'tis," replied Jerome; then he added, "I was glad to hear
of your good fortune, sir."

"Suppose," said the Colonel, abruptly, "that twenty-five thousand of
it had come to you, what would you have done with it?"

Jerome looked at him in a bewildered fashion. "It wasn't mine, and
there's no use talking about it," he said.

"What would you do with it? Out with it! Would you stick to that
bargain you made in Robinson's that evening?"

Jerome hesitated.

"You needn't be afraid to speak," urged the Colonel. "If you'd stick
to it, say so. I sha'n't call it any reflection upon me; I haven't
the slightest intention of giving twenty-five thousand dollars to the
poor, and if you've changed your mind, say so."

"I haven't changed my mind, and I would stick to it," Jerome replied
then.

"And," said the Colonel, "you are sticking to that other resolution
of yours, to work until you win a certain fair lady, are you?"

Jerome colored high. He was inclined to be indignant, but there was a
strange earnestness in the Colonel's manner.

"I'm not the sort of fellow not to stick to a resolution of that kind
when I've once made it," he replied, shortly.

The Colonel chuckled. "Well, I didn't think you were," he
returned--"didn't think you were, Jerome. That's all. Good-day."
With that, to Jerome's utter astonishment, Colonel Lamson trudged
laboriously up the hill to the Means house again.

"He must have come down just to ask me those questions," thought
Jerome, and thought with more bewilderment still that the Colonel
must even have been watching for him. He had no conception of his
meaning, but he laughed to himself at the bare fancy of twenty-five
thousand dollars coming to him, and also at the suggestion that he
would not be true to his resolution to w