er take Clay's terbaccy
tenant's darter buggy riding. Do you dance? So do I, but not their kind
down there. They hug each other tight and slip erlong, while we shuffle
our feet and swing.

"Before I go back I am going up to Berry Howard's and try to buy a
hundred-weight of home-cured bacon. Well, old woman, I think you and
this here young lawyer have talked erbout enough. Let's go on up to Aunt
Mandy's and go to bed. Come down soon; good luck and, as Caleb learned
from that Dago, 'boney sarah.'"

CHAPTER VI.

CORNWALL BUYS A HOME.

About eight months after Cornwall settled in Harlan, an old brick house
fronting the principal residence street, with a large yard of forest
trees and behind it a garden extending back to the river, about three
acres, was offered for sale. Cornwall, who was present as a spectator,
became suddenly and irresistibly possessed with a desire to purchase it,
and did so for fifty-eight hundred dollars, paying one-third of the
purchase price down, which was all the money he had, borrowing the
remainder from the local bank.

After a careful examination of the house and grounds, which he had not
done in advance of the purchase, he became convinced he had made a
bargain and was confirmed in that idea when, two months later, Mr. Neal,
the owner of some coal properties on Clover Fork, who had brought his
family from Louisville to Harlan, offered seventy-five hundred dollars
for it.

This offer he declined, because he had already written his mother of the
purchase, telling her the place was to be their home, and how well
satisfied he was with his work, and of the prospect for better things
the little mountain city offered. She had answered that it was her
intention to visit him as soon as the railroad was completed, when, if
he was as well satisfied and she found the place one-half as nice as he
declared it to be, she would remain and they would try to make the old
place a comfortable home.

He answered at once that: "Several Louisville and Lexington families
have recently moved here, quite nice people, and you will find
sufficient social entertainment for one of your quiet disposition. When
we can afford to repair and remodel the house and furnish it, using your
handsome, old furniture, we will be very comfortable. Personally, I can
conceive of no more satisfactory arrangement. The railroad from
Pineville will be completed in less than a month, which will give
connection by rail with Lou