nedly awake in order to
inflict punishment; and when at last the welcome benediction fell upon
nodding heads and weary shoulders, there was a scramble for the doors
and a rush for the baskets. Jasper swore that he never was as hungry in
all his life, and upon his arm Margaret put a restraining hand.

"Now don't eat like you never got nothin' at home. Miz Mayfield, it's
all put on with him."

A table cloth was spread on the ground and before the old man had tasted
a morsel, he went about looking for someone, astray at the feast, who
might not have brought a basket or received an invitation. He returned
with Laz, Sim and Mag. The girl minced, nibbling at a chicken wing, and
the boys pretended to be dainty, but when the girls were not looking,
grabbed like a hired hand at a barbecue. After a time, when the sun had
moved far around, Old Jasper wiped his knife on his trousers and
remarked: "Wall, I don't know how the rest of you feel, but as for me
I'm goin' off down thar summers in the holler an' take a nap."

Margaret protested, but a word from Mrs. Mayfield assured him that
privilege, and he strode away, humming as he went. Laz and Mag
"santered" off, Sim sprawled out to sleep, Tom and Lou bird-peeped at
each other and Jim and Mrs. Mayfield sat on a log in a lace-work of sun
and shade.

"This has been one of the happiest days of my life," she said. "I didn't
know that there could be so much pleasure without incident. Ah, a
quaint and plotless people, Mr. Reverend."

"There may be more plot than you think, ma'm. These folks all have their
troubles. And on the hill-side where you see the white flower, blood
runs sometimes. Uncle Jasper and I are about the last of our race--last
of the men folks. Most of us have been killed."

"I don't see how that could be, Mr. Reverend. Such gentleness--"

"Don't be fooled in us, ma'm. We ain't been always blameless. Through
our house old Satan has walked, leaving his tracks."

"Satan tempted the Son of Man, Mr. Reverend."

"Yes, ma'm; but didn't walk through His house, leaving of his tracks."

CHAPTER X.

TIED TO A TREE.

The sun was down and the stars were abroad and the young moon looked
like a silver bear-claw in the sky when Jasper turned his steers
homeward; and all the party broke out in song as down the hill they
rattled. The shallows in the river sang too, and high in a tree, a bird
too riotous to leave off with the coming of night, was carrolling the
tired