Opening a Chestnut Burr

or her father said, "Annie, I am goin

was soon reading in natural, easy tones, without

and another question than the one of finance i

ainst her were groundless. Although not a stylish, pretty woman, she was evidently far removed from the goodish, commonplace character that he could regard as part of the furniture of the house, useful in it

left a magazine story unfinished; he was watching her, thinking and surmising about her, and listening, as she read, to what he did not care a straw about. Although she had not made the slightest effort, some influence from her had stolen upon him like a cool breeze

t it was with the pain which a despairing swimmer, swept seaward by a r

in his chair, the embodiment

interest was that of a calm, philosophic observer, and Gregory thought, with a glimme

wing vague and distant and those of the "better country" more real and engrossing, for Gregory observed, later in the evening, that he took the family Bible with more zest than he had bestowed o

little puff curls too light to show their change to gray, she struck Gregory unpleasantly, as if she were a connecting link between gross humanity and spiritual existence, and his eyes reverted to Miss Walton, and dwelt with

n reading stupid articles through the long, quiet evenings, with few excitements beyond church-going, rural tea-drinkings, and country walks and rides? With a grim smile he thoug

lve this little feminine enigma. It will d

. Walton, starting up as Annie finished a theory that

Annie, archly; "I shall make you do

for I should have to do the 'something' anyway. But what do you think of th

t his guest was interesting him; but as the subject was mainly unintelligible to her she soon turned with real zest to Miss Eulie's fancy-work, and there was an earnest whispered discussion in regard to the right number of stitches. Walter noted this and sneeringly thought, with a mascu

m astonished that so good a man as your father should have as an ardent friend the profane and

utable. Indeed, as the world goes, I think old Daddy T

think so? You have broader charity than

nie, dryly; "I wa

oung lady, a pillar of the church, too, I gather, can regard with other than unmixed disapproba

ffence is the more hein

, scanning his fac

at you were on the defensive. But I can readily explain the opinion which you, perhaps not

t, but do not justify it,

ds you call Daddy Tuggar a good m

an as the world goes; and I know I shall shock you when I say that I have more faith in him than in his praying

ile. He evidently understood his quaint ol

on, I must side with your aunt in this matter. I shall overwhelm you w

ing at me," retorted Annie, with her frank laugh that was

od deal of worse swearing than our old neighbor is guilty of when they hurled at each ot

ll the power that vagueness imparts, and surely must have

, archly, "and I shall leave you to imagine that I know all about th

ay. Really this country girl was growin

not dispute or questio

ou know the

"I do know all about the 'sin h

ch I should charge that you were evading the question and befogging the case. The point at issue is, How can you regard Daddy Tuggar as a good

caused Miss Eulie to

fear, but for Aunt Eulie's I will give the reasons for my estimate. I regard her in the light of an honest jury. In the first place the term you u

h goes, too," he

of others. He can feel, and is not afraid to show a si

. I shall steal no mo

lt

ssion of insincerity. If I were as good as you are, aunty, perhaps I should not be so suspicious. One thing more, and my eulogy of Daddy-

asis. "I should be willing to take my chances

" she answered, now

y s

his place would make my meani

mself that most unexpectedly she had sent an a

lace interests, he began to doubt whether he should be able to cope with her in the tilt of thought. He saw that she was quick, original, and did her own

ble to answer. For a little time she had caused him to forget his wretched self, but her last remark had thrown him back on his o

. "He must be hurt-well probed indeed

said, "Mr. Gregory, I trust you will not fi

to me in this place," he replied, but he did not

it were a habit, and after a

e discon

ction as aimed at him, but soon he was under the spell of the music and th

he power of interpreting the language of nature and of the heart. She read and estimated character rapidly. Almost intuitively she saw people's needs and weaknesses, but so far was she from making them the ground of satire and contempt that they awakened her pity and desire

," she thought, "but I can sing them, and if he leaves

plicity, nature, and pathos, no prima donna could surpass her, for while her voice was

breath from Paradise seemed to blow upon him and gently urge, "Arise, struggle, make one more effor

he hand on which his head was leaning, but Miss Eulie saw a tear fall with

angels would covet, and perhaps God's co-workers here will find those that they ca

lt and offered a prayer that was so simple and child-like, so free from form and cant, and so direct from the heart, that Gregory was deeply moved. The associations of his e

nd to hide his wet eyes and twitching muscles. After a few moment

st she said, "It must be plain to us that Mr. Gregory has wandered further from his old home in spirit than he has in body; but it seems equally evident that he is not happy and content. He seems suffering and out of he

dom," said Miss Eulie, with

r from any one of us. But it is the curse of sin to blind. He has, no doubt, been lo

Mr. Walton, sententiously, a

comfortable habit of putting all perplexing questions into the Lord's hand and borrowing no f

r. "Let us agree to carry his case often to the throne of mer

iracies there have been, resulting in blood, wrong, and outrage, that some unworthy brow might wear for a little time a petty, perishing crown of ea