walked to the church door with Mag, and then in observance of
established customs, sauntered off, happening to stroll in the direction
of Laz. Margaret appealed to Jasper. "Don't you let 'em have no trouble
here. If you do, I won't let you have no peace fur a month."

"Don't expect to have none nohow," the old man drawled.

Sim came along and Laz stepped forth to meet him. The newcomer advanced,
holding out his hand. "Laz," he said, "I'm glad to be of some service to
you. Mag was a comin' to church an' as her sister couldn't come I rode
along with her. Me an' her sister air goin' to be married befo' long."

Laz took hold of his hand. "Sim," he said, and his voice wavered and
tears gathered in the sympathetic eyes of Mrs. Mayfield--"Sim, I done
you wrong. I 'lowed you was a tryin' to cut me out an' I done you a
injestice, an' ef thar's any sort of punishment you want to put on me,
put it thar an' I'll take it an' won't say a word."

"Laz, old hoss, I've already put the punishment on you--I've tuck her
sister Ella, the flower an' the perfume of the family."

"They tell us," said Mrs. Mayfield, turning to her nephew, "that once
the sun went down and never more arose to illumine a day of gallantry.
They did not tell us the truth."

"No, auntie. These people are the unconscious survivors of the floral
contest at the poetic court of love."

"Ah, and they have even touched you, wayward boy. But come, shall we not
go into the house?"

"You folks go on an' I'll be there atter a while," replied Jasper.
"Thar's a feller over yander that's got a bay nag I want an' I mout
strike up a swop with him by the time the preacher gits to his second
an'--der--rer."

"You ain't goin' to do no sich of a thing," said Margaret. "I didn't
come all the way over here to be humiliated. You'll go right in thar an'
set down by me. Folks have said you don't love me an' I don't intend
that you shall prove it to 'em."

Jasper grinned, took her arm, and led the way into the house. It was a
long sermon, with many excursions, devious hog-paths running criss-cross
through a wilderness. But it was ardent and hammering. Old Satan was
defied, dared to come forth and show himself to this assembly, true
soldiers of the cross. Children nodding and held upright by their
mothers, hands hanging limp, looked like rag dolls; and many a strong
man and devil-hating dame felt themselves slipping off into drowsiness.
Jasper snored. Margaret pinched him, determi