the tavern. I
reckon you've heard o' Bell's Tavern, child. That was a great
stoppin'-place in your grandfather's day. Folks was always sure of a
good meal when they got to that tavern, and the drinks Uncle Billy
mixed was famous all over the State.

"Well, Hamilton come gallopin' up to the gate and jumped off and threw
his bridle to the boy that looked after the travelers' horses. He
rushed into the tavern, and says he, 'I'm looking for Miss Amaryllis
Elrod. Has she been this way?'

"Uncle Billy was sittin' in a big hickory chair with one of his feet
all bandaged and propped up on another chair. The old man suffered a
heap from rheumatism. He had a bottle and a tumbler and a bowl of
honey on the table by him, and he was mixin' one of his
peach-and-honey toddies--peach-brandy sweetened with honey instead of
sugar. Well, he didn't even look up, bein' so used to people comin' in
and goin' out. He jest went on stirrin' his toddy and puttin' in a
little more honey and a little more peach. And at last he says, 'Yes,
she's been this way.'

"And Hamilton says: 'Where is she? Where is she?' right quick and
sharp. And Uncle Billy went on stirrin', and at last he says, 'I don't
know.' And Hamilton says: 'Is she here? Has she gone? Which way did
she go?' And Uncle Billy says: 'Maybe it's my time to ask a few
questions. What's your name, and who are you, anyway?' And Hamilton
says, 'My name's Hamilton Schuyler, at your service, sir, if you'll
tell me which way the lady went.'

"And with that Uncle Billy took a good look at him and says he, 'Why,
Hamilton, is this you? I reckon that last toddy must 'a' gone to my
eyes for me not to know you, when I knew your mother and your father
before you.' Says he, 'You've been chasin' Miss Amaryllis for five
years or more. How does it happen you haven't caught up with her yet?
I beg your pardon for talkin' so short a while ago, but,' says he,
'when a man comes along askin' me which way a woman went, I've got to
know somethin' about the man before I tell him what he wants to know.'
Says he, 'Sit down and have a toddy with me.' And Hamilton, he thanked
him and says he, 'No toddy for me, Uncle Billy. Tell me which way the
lady went, and I'm off.'

"Uncle Billy he laughed and stirred his toddy, tryin' to make the
honey and the brandy mix, and says he, 'That's the way with you young
fellers. I've seen the day when a toddy couldn't 'a' stopped me from
follerin' after a gyirl; but now,' says he