ul tree," his father said, stopping to look with pride
at a plant filled with fast ripening fruit. "It's bearing well this
season."

"Yes."

"I cannot tell you, Son, how happy I am that you are redeeming these old
acres."

"So you're converted," Lee said, with a bright smile.

"Yes, entirely. And the best of it is the realization that you are busy
in your old home and do not stay in it merely for Patty and me."

"Oh, I couldn't keep away! This place grips me. It's well enough to go
to New York for a month to study the market, but this is the land of my
choice, darkies and all. I wish they could do a good day's work; but,
then, I don't pay them for a day's work, white man's reckoning."

A few steps further brought them to the tree where he and Hertha had
first played together.

The older man stopped again. "Why, here's a blossom at the end of a
bough," he said.

"Yes, but don't pick it!" Lee seized his father's arm. "I've a fancy to
keep it there--for good luck," he added, somewhat lamely.

Over the blossom, the previous morning, Hertha had bent like a happy
child, blowing upon the petals and calling on them to open.

"Lee!" The young man started at his father's voice; there was in it a
note of admonition, almost of severity. But there was nothing of
severity in the words that followed:

"I wish I could express to you my happiness that this old home that my
father and my father's father loved and strove to make beautiful will
now be guarded by you. And you will do better with it than we did."

"Oh, I don't know about that," Lee said.

"Yes, this is a mere fragment that comes into your hands."

"A pretty good fragment, I think."

"Only a fragment. The acres stretching back through the pines should be
yours, and other acres by the river's edge. I did not know how to use
the place aright, but you will be wiser than I."

"Well, if I am wiser about such things," Lee admitted, "it's because the
world is wiser to-day than when you took over the place. People have
learned a heap of science since then."

John Merryvale did not heed this remark, but, turning his gaze from his
son, looked away down the river. "I could not give you the heritage in
land which should be yours," he said gravely, "but I hope I have given
you a heritage of kindly relationship to those about you, of
friendliness and honorable dealing."

"Indeed," Lee answered, "I know how you are loved and honored."

"And you, too, shall be honored