, she is lovable and as sweet as a wild strawberry,
and I have fought against this thing until I am tired of it. But what
are you trying to get at?"

"She is not of your world, Tom."

"Oh, world be blowed. I've got no world--never had one."

"Well, then, your set, your--"

"Damn my set, if I've got one. I wouldn't give her for all the sets in
the world. You can see that--you must have seen it all along."

"Then you are in earnest?" she asked, putting her arm about him.

"In earnest? You might just as well ask a dying man if he means it."

"That's all I want to know, my boy--I want to know that you are true."

"You are all right, auntie," he said, kissing her.

"It is simply a question of love, Tom. And that should come before
everything. Go and find her."

"Yes, if I have to track her with the hounds," he replied, hastening
away; and she stood looking after him, with a new light in her eye. And
while she was standing there, Jim came out of the house.

"Ma'm," he said, and she turned with a start; and toward her he came
with a gentle boldness, and she looked at him in surprise. "Ma'm, I have
come to tell you good-bye."

Her breath came quick, and then with a smile she quieted herself as one
resigned to evil news. "Why, you aren't going, are you?"

Standing a few paces from her he hung low his head. "Yes, I thought I'd
better cut my stay a little short. My people need me."

As someone far away she saw him, though he was nearer now. "But don't
we--don't your uncle need you?"

He was not too big, not awkward now--his hands were not in his way, and
thinking not upon how to stand, stood gracefully; and the breeze that
came down the creek brought cool perfume from the nestling coves where
all the day and the night the wild rose nodded.

"No, ma'm; my work lies away over among the mountains." She turned to
walk away from him, but looking up, was closer. "I beg yo' pardon,
ma'm, but haven't you got a picture of yo'se'f you would give me?"

"A picture of me? What do you want with it, Mr. Reverend?"

"My cabin is under the hill, and in the winter time it is dark there and
I would like to have--have a never-failing lamp to lighten it."

"Oh," and her hands were pressed to her bosom, "You can't mean that."

"Ma'm, I don't joke about sacred things."

"Mr. Reverend--"

"If you would call me Jim one time--just once, I should have something
to dream about."

She gestured and he caught her hand. "Please don't,"