to say something.

"Mr. Starbuck, I--"

"Looks like everythin' has been said," Jasper broke in; and then upon
the young fellow he cast a kindly look. "She couldn't hide that she
loved you, sir."

"I am thankful for that. But everything has not been said, Mr.
Starbuck--two more words are necessary, one from you and one from her
mother."

"I didn't know how to try to hide that I loved him," said Lou. "I didn't
want to try." She went over to Tom and he put his arm about her.

"Do you think her mother will object, sir?"

Jasper looked away to hide the laughter that had jumped into his
countenance. "Oh," said he, "I reckon she can be persuaded, and here she
is."

Margaret and Mrs. Mayfield came out of the house. "Margaret," said the
old man, "I reckon these young folks air goin' to git married."

Margaret held out her arms and Lou ran to her, and with her head on her
mother's bosom, she declared that she never could have thought it so
sweet to be ashamed.

"Suthin' called me back from the mill, and it was to see this," said the
old man.

Lou turned to Tom. "You won't love me any the less because I couldn't
hide that I loved you, will you?"

"Oh, there couldn't be any less, and in the whole world there isn't room
for more," Tom replied; his aunt standing near, looking with misty eyes
upon him.

[Illustration: "WELL," MARGARET EXCLAIMED, "I NEVER WAS SO SURPRISED."]

"Well," Margaret exclaimed, "I never was so surprised."

Jasper ducked his head and with his hands behind him walked off. But
soon he came back and replied: "No, but I reckon if it hadn't happened
you'd a been a leetle mo' surprised."

She flouted at him and said to Tom: "Goin' to git married?"

"Yes, madam, not next year, month, week--but now."

"Now!" exclaimed Jasper, with a clap of hands.

"My dear," Mrs. Mayfield said to Lou, "you need not be afraid to trust
him. He won't live a lie."

Tom took the girl by the hand. "Come with me now, please. Let us go
where the spirit boy used to play with you."

"Yes. And now I know that all the time it was you--you lived under the
rock. Come on. We will go up among the hills an' make like we are lost."

And as they were walking away, Jasper said to his wife: "Margaret, that
reminds me of a Sunday, a long time ago."

"Yes, Jasper;" and then she said to Mrs. Mayfield: "But law me, it don't
take 'em long to fall in love an' git married these days."

"No," Jasper replied, "not with the help of a r