saying is, that you pulled him off. Folks oughtn't to be too
familiar with strangers, ought they? You or I might be taken in by
appearances. I confess I was deceived in--I won't say that man, but
that hoop-snake. He was as fine looking a man as I am. But let's not
mention him. Which way do you hail from now? When did you strike
Marietta?"

"To-day, Mr. Byle."

"Call me Plutarch. I don't like European forms. How long do you
calculate to stay, Burlingham?"

"Not long. I am on my return to Virginia, and stop in Marietta to see
these earthworks. You are acquainted here. Do you know--do you know
of a family by the name of Hale?"

"Well, yes; that is, I know old Squire George Hale by sight, and I met
his daughter once in a sort of social way like, at Mrs.
Blennerhassett's. The Hales is a fine family, regular high posts with
a silk tester; they're upper-crust Boston quality. George hasn't lived
here long, only about a year, and I've been away up on Yok River, at
brother Virgil's, most of the time for the last five year. The Hales
are blue blood, and no mistake. The young woman is a seek-no-farther.
She is about to marry a feller from Massachusetts, who is here now
a-sparking like fox-fire. I don't know the particulars, but I put this
and that together, and I'm satisfied it's a match, and though I'm
always danged sorry for any girl who gets married, I reckon this
feller is about as decent as any of us. His names is Danvers--Captain
Danvers; a right peert young chap, in the reg'lar army. I saw them
yesterday, Evaleen and him--her name's Evaleen--walking,
spooney-like, down by Muskingum, and I says to myself, 'By the holy
artichokes, I'd like to be in the captain's military boots.'"

"Are you sure they are engaged?" queried Arlington.

"Yes, sure as coffin-nails; why? Do _you_ know the Spring Beauty?"

"I have met her."

"I'll bet you took a fancy to her the minute you sot eyes on her. So
did I; but I nipped it in the bud. You look as if you might be hugely
in love, Burlington. I know adzactly how you feel. Everything is
prodigious out here in the West--big trees, big fish, big mammoth
bones, and big hearts. I'll swan! the kind of love that you are liable
to in these tremendous woods is like the rest of the works of Nature,
immense. Howsomever, a man can stand a terrible sight of love and get
over it. I know what I'm talking about. Love's a queer complaint! By
ginger, I realize from experience how it takes hold of the