Instead it
was only that splendid Mat Bailey, flicking the dust from his boots with
his handkerchief, and mustering up courage to knock at the door! How
glad she was to see him! And Mat thought that she looked very sad and
pretty! She conducted him to the parlor, and proffered the seat of
honor, a hair-cloth rocking-chair.
"Let me call Mother. She will be so glad to hear about her friends in
Graniteville."
"I'd rather see you alone, if you don't mind." And Mat blushed through
his tan, but assured himself that duty prompted, if pleasure did
consent. It was the best arrangement all round, as "Bed-bug Brown"
himself thought,--for this worthy gentleman was eaves-dropping in the
cellar, with only a floor of thin boards between himself and these
interesting young people.
Under other circumstances Miss Slocum would have been fascinated at the
idea of a _tete-a-tete_ with this interesting, stalwart man of the
mountains. But something in his manner, and her own overwrought nerves,
told her there was trouble ahead. Should she run away, should she use a
woman's wiles in self-defense, or should she confide in this handsome
man? Distracted by these conflicting thoughts, she presented a charming
picture of alarmed innocence, as Bailey thought; and his heart yearned
to offer protection.
Pages:
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79