se smelling the battle afar off,
and anything like resistance to an overseer in the way of duty roused
him into the sternness which by no means belonged to the office, but
rather to the man. "If," he said, "any in membership with us do
countenance or promote tumults, they shall be dealt with as disorderly
persons. Wherefore did thee give way to rash violence this morning?"

Priscilla grew pale, I think. She said, "Friend Nicholas, thee forgets
the Christian courtesy of our people one to another. Let it rest a
while: friend Richard may come to think better of it by and by."

"And that I trust he may never," muttered Schmidt.

But the overseer was not to be stayed. "Thee would do better to mind the
things of thy house and leave us," he said. "The ways of this young man
have been more than once a scandal, and are like to come before the
preparative meeting to be dealt with."

"Sir," returned Wholesome, approaching him and quite forgetting his
plain speech to make it plainer, "your manners do little credit to your
age or your place. Listen: I told you to speak no more of this matter;"
and he seized him by the lappel of his coat and drew him aside a few
paces. "For your own sake, I mean. Let it die out, with no more of talk
or nonsense."

"For my sake!" exclaimed the overseer; "and why? Most surely thee
forgets theeself."

"For your own sake," said Wholesome, drawing him still farther away, and
bending toward him, so that his words were lost to Schmidt and
Priscilla, "and for your son John's. It was he I struck to-day."

Mr. Oldmixon grew white and staggered as if stricken. "Why did thee not
come and tell me?" he said. "It had been kinder; and where is that
unhappy man?"

"I do not know," returned Wholesome.

"Nevertheless, be it he or another, thee was in the wrong, and I have
done my duty,--God help us all! and is my son yet alive?" and so saying,
he turned away, and without other words walked through the house with
uncertain steps and went down the street, while Wholesome, with softened
face, watched him from the doorstep. Then he went back quietly into the
garden, and turning to Schmidt, said, "Will you oblige me by leaving me
with Mistress White? I will explain to thee by and by."

Schmidt looked up surprised, but seeing how pale and stern he looked,
rose and went into the house. The woman looked up expectant.

"Priscilla, the time has come when thee must choose between me and him."

"He has come back? I k