entioned, though. Where were you, Lettie, whin I was spyin' and what
were you doin' at the time yoursilf?"

"I guess I had a right to be there. It's a free country, and it was my
own business, not somebody else's," the girl retorted angrily, as the
situation dawned on her.

"Exactly," O'mie went on. "It's a free country and we both have a right
to tend to our own business. Nobody has a right to tend to a business
of sin and evil-doin' toward his neighbor, though, my girl. If I've
tagged you and spied, and played the dirty coward, and ain't no
gintleman, it was to save a good name, and to keep from exposure a
name--maybe it's a girl's, none too good, I'm afraid--but it would niver
come to the gossips through me. You know that."

Lettie did know it. O'mie and she had made mud pies together in the days
when they still talked in baby words. It was because he was true and
kind, because he was a friend to every man, woman, and child there, that
Springvale loves his memory to-day.

"Second, I wish to Heaven I could make things right, but I can't. I wish
you could, but some of 'em you won't and, Lettie, some of 'em you can't
now.

"Third, you've heard what I said about you. Why, child, I've said the
worst to you. No words comin' straight nor crooked to you, have I said
of you I'd not say to yoursilf, face to face.

"And again now, girlie, you've talked plain here; came pretty near
callin' me names, in fact. I can stand it, and I guess I deserve some of
'em. I am something of a rascal, and a consummate liar, I admit; but
when you talk about a lot of scandal up your sleeve, more 'n bank notes
can pay by blackmail, and your chance of fixin' Phil Baronet's
character, Lettie, you just can't do it. You are too mad to be anything
but foolish to-day, but I'm glad you did come to me; it may save more 'n
Phil's name. Your own is in the worst jeopardy right now. You said, in
conclusion, that I was trackin' you, and you ask, am I goin' to quit it?
The defendant admits the charge, pleads guilty on that count, and throws
himself on the mercy av the coort. But as to the question, am I goin' to
quit it, I answer yes. Whin? Whin there's no more need fur it, and not
one minute sooner. I may be the very trash av the earth, with no father
nor mother nor annybody to care for me" (I can see, even now, the
pathetic look that came sometimes into his laughing gray eyes. It must
have been in them at that moment); "but I have sometimes been 'round