Nobody's Child

night, that he had never looked on a better f

r and the pinky red of platters and plates of Indian Tree pattern which Judith told him had been presented, in 1735, by Lord Westmore to his colonial cousin, the first Westmore of Westmore. From where Baird sat he could look across the hal

he ballroom and the plantation office were in one wing, the kitchens in the other. Westmore's massive brick walls had withstood time, as had the heavy oak paneling

ave been a clan gathering of a hundred years ago. In the hour before dinner, Baird had met them all, Westmores, Copeleys, Dickensons and

able to attain the nice muscles and graceful carriage that, in this family, seemed to be inherent. Even old Colonel Ridley Dickenson had a perfect boot-leg. Most of the younger men were too long-backed for great strength, good hors

ess and roundness combined. The only golden-haired girl of the company was Elizabeth Dickenson, and it was easy to see how she came by her fairness; her mother was not of the clan, a somewhat hard-faced, blonde New Yorker, who

; perhaps because for the first time in many years Westmore was like the Westmore of old. Baird had gathered from the conv

on had said significantly. "Ju

hink of all Judith has gone through! Where would Westmore be but for Judith? So

xample now, and marry a girl with

ey had sai

ad concluded dryly. From the cloud that settled on Mrs. Copeley's face, Baird judged that the refer

ard, across the table, "Ed, while you are getting things, why don't you get an automobile? You'd look

ith Elizabeth Dickenson as his dinner partner. Garvin was on the other side of the tab

carven, his eyes melancholy, yet he talked easily and gracefully. In spite of his pallor, he was the most distinguished-looking man in this ga

answered pleasantly, "Not for me, Cousin Mary-

was little Priscilla Copeley who exc

man whose horse you scared could cuss you all the way to limbo. Hot water you'd be in! and that's what you like.... Go ahead, suh!" He might have been hallooing on the houn

Dickenson exclaimed, and one of the Copeley boys added: "I'd rather have it than the sorrel, Garve. George Pettee told me there were two

don't like them. If the county's goin' to be overrun with them, I'll move.... Garvin, you'll have to get to work on that two miles of road from here to the Post-Road befo' you can run a machine over it-t

Edward

las Baird lost sight of business, and not always then. "I can get you

but he answered his brother courteously. "Thank you, Ed

k Mr. Baird to-morrow

riscilla Copeley asked softly, unde

t moment; possibly his sensing of the general disapproval. He did not like the man, but that was mainly because of his wild act that morning. But it was a little hard on a fellow, having every one down on him. And it was plain that Garvin mourned his horse. The hunt and Garvin's mishap ha

r thrust. "You're in for it now, Garvin-a

had been introduced. "Bear Brokaw would be the bes

s, terrapin and turkey, and accompanying vegetables and hot breads. The evening had turned very mild, as warm as a May night, and the mint-juleps taken in the drawing-room had bee

r remark instantly created a diversion. Mrs. Morrison, Judith's aunt, a stately woman with proudly-carried head, spoke from Edwa

ear Brokaw rob you, Aunt Carlotta! Why, I remember Bear-I used to go huntin

rd," Mrs. Morrison r

oked his

Morrison," Judith said demurely. The look s

able and caught the covert smiles.

gle remark that ventured beyond their native state. They evidently criticized one another freely, but Baird judged that an

ou know, one of the big chestnuts down by the cabins. It was dead, and I wanted it down, and I didn't tell Ben I thought he was crazy when he wanted me to sign a slip of paper, just sayin' that I'd sold the tree to him, half shares on the wood. I thought the lumberin' old thing had g

the titter about him. "Did he cord his

," Mrs. Morr

usiness-that's all, Aunt C

Morrison broke up some of his traps and warned him off the

ulness-after all these year

tred about," Edward answered evenly. "I

ng to work for any of us," one of the Copeley boys said. "I saw him this evenin' on my

the head that arrested Baird's attention. But neither of them

row, Be

dn't you tell your bit of news sooner, my boy?... It means

ther members of the family, for Mrs. Morrison asked, "Why, what di

and when his glass was filled he emptied it at a draft. It did not flush him, however; if anything, he loo

ad promised to ride with him the next day. And Elizabeth Dickenson had said that his name would be on the list for the next Assembly Ball. Baird was not particularly fond of dancing, and a formal ball was a nuisanc

. In the last few days he had merely touched the fringe of the new thing. He had seen very little of society, nothing at all of people such as these, and Judith was the e

every one's needs, been observant of every face, and at the same time had devoted herself to him. She had furthered the two girls' play with hi

ed into intimacy when he caught it; took him into her confidence. When, on their way to the ballroom, the negro fiddlers paused under the dining-room window and played the first bars of a waltz, and the young people sprang up to follow, leaving their elders to co