ome de cow, wid her eyes on fire, an' she jes'
strewed us bofe ober de groun' like we was dead chickens afore she
runned inter de shed. An' massa, sho's yo's bawn, she hooked an'
tossed me like a rubber bawl all de way up heah, till I hain't got a
whole bone anywhares in my body. Lordy! but she's a turrible critter!"

"Do I owe you ten dollars?" asked Steve with grim resignation.

"I takes whatever yo' gives, massa, an' I doan complain; but I knows
yo's hon'rable, an' yo's gwine ter 'member I was laid up from work a
week an' hed ter pay de doctor an' de med'cines, an' I's fed her plum'
full fer tree months."

"Do I owe you fifteen dollars?" asked Steve.

The darky looked mournful.

"Do I owe you twenty?" asked Steve in a somewhat severe tone.

"Reckon yo' hain't gwine ter fergit I paid five fer de table,"
murmured this meek son of Africa.

"Take twenty-five, then, and make an end of it," said Steve.

"Tank yo', tank yo', massa. I hain't nebber gwine ter fergit yo' ner
de cow. Gawd bress yo' bofe, massa."

And grinning and bowing he disappeared, leaving Steve minus a fifth
of his monthly salary and plus the beautiful Sarah Maria.

It was part of the procession of events that the butcher should heave
in sight at that moment, and that Steve should hail him and take him
in to look at the returned prodigal.

"She's so lean she wouldn't be good for much," said the man. "If you'd
fatten her up I'd----"

"No, I think not. I'd rather you'd take her now."

"I couldn't give you but ten dollars for her this way."

"Take her," said Steve.

And the bargain was concluded. Shortly after this Bridget was ill with
cramps for a few days.

"What has upset you?" asked Nannie.

"I couldn't tell at fust," groaned Bridget, "but I mind now--it's thet
Sarah Meriah."

"Why, she's gone! What can she have to do with you now?"

"Shure she was in that last beefsteak I ate. I recognized her the
minnit she passed me lips. 'Are ye back agin?' sez I, 'bad cess ter
yez!' 'Thrue fer yez,' sez she, 'an' I'll be ther upsettin' of yez
yit.' An' faith she is, fer it's feel her I do this blissed minnit,
hookin' me in'ards an' kickin' me vitals, an' behavin' in a most
disgraceful and unleddylike fashion throughout."

Possibly Nannie found herself more at leisure, now her bovine charge
was off her hands, and wanted occupation, or--and this is more
likely--the beauty and comfort of Randolph's and Constance's home had
stolen to her heart a