"Yes, gladly."

"Thank you--'specially as my eyes ain't right good this mornin'. Skuze
us, Laz," she said, turning to go into the house.

"Help yo'se'f," Laz replied, again wiping his jews-harp; and when the
two women had gone into the house, he began to play, and the old man,
sitting now upon the wood-pile, looking over his epitaph, nodded time.
Suddenly the musician left off.

"Say, Peters has got his app'intment."

The old man's arms dropped. "Air you shore?"

"I'm a tellin' you. He's got it writ out on a piece of paper that looks
like white luther."

"Wall," said Jasper, getting up. "I don't know of any man that's a goin'
to w'ar out his shoes a runnin'. But I'm sorry. Was in hopes that he
couldn't git it. An' yit, I didn't put the strings back into my shoes."

"I understand. You don't want to die with 'em on. But I wouldn't give
him any of the advantage."

"No, Laz, fur the man that gives the mad dog any of the advantage is
almost shore to git bit. An' I don't want Jim to know any mo' about this
comin' trouble than he kin help."

"I reckon not, Jasper. It's sorter noised about that he's a pinin' for
the lady from off yander."

"Yes, caliker is got him at last. It's all right, though. The Lord has
lit up brown jeans with a smile. Now, here's what I want cut on that
rock," he added, handing the paper to Laz, but suddenly withdrawing it,
remarked: "Remember, I ain't lendin' you this."

He gave the paper to the borrower, who, looking at it, turning it over
and over, replied: "All right. Don't need it--yit."

"Say, Laz, come over with me to the mill. There's suthin' I want to put
away."

As they were going out through the gap, Lou came running into the yard.

CHAPTER XVII.

NOT TO TELL HER A LIE.

The girl ran to the rocking-chair, sat down and covering her face with
her hands, uttered what to her must have been a sad lament: "Oh, she has
made a coward out of me." A moment later Tom came, walking briskly.

"Miss Lou," he said, slowly approaching, "what made you run away from
me? I wanted to tell you--"

She sprang to her feet and with snapping eyes exclaimed: "What do you
want to tell me? Somethin' that ain't true. Do you want to look a lie at
me?"

"No, I want to tell you something that is true. Do you know why I let
that scoundrel Peters insult me?"

And looking down she replied: "You told me not to ask and I haven't?"

"Was it because you didn't want to know?"

"Mebby I was almost