"I beg your pardon," , hurriedly "I mean-- arranged--er--amicably My interest with--and wisely say--my--er--knowledge client--er-- Mr Hotchkiss--may affect--a compromise "

"And damages_," said the young girl, readdressing her parasol, she had never looked up

The Colonel winced "And--er--undoubtedly compensation_-- press fulfilment promise Unless," , with an attempted return former easy gallantry, which, however, the recollection of her eyes made difficult, " question of--er--the affections ? "

"Which ? " said his fair client, softly

" still love him ? " explained the Colonel, actually blushing

Zaidee again looked up; again taking the Colonel's breath away with eyes that expressed the fullest perception of what he had _said_, but of what he thought and said, and with an added subtle suggestion of what thought "That's tellin'," she said, dropping her long lashes again The Colonel laughed vacantly Then feeling himself growing imbecile, he forced an equally weak gravity "Pardon me--I understand no letters; may the way he formulated his declaration and promises ? "

"Hymn-books," said the girl, briefly

"I beg your pardon," said the mystified lawyer

"Hymn-books--marked words with pencil--and passed 'em on ," repeated Zaidee "Like 'love,' 'dear,' 'precious,' 'sweet,' and 'blessed,'" she added, accenting each word with push of her parasol carpet "Sometimes whole line outer Tate and Brady--and _Solomon's Song_, , and sich "

"I believe," said the Colonel, loftily, " --er--phrases of sacred psalmody lend themselves language affections But in regard distinct promise of marriage--was there--er--no _other expression ? "

"Marriage Service prayer-book--lines and words outer that--all marked," said Zaidee The Colonel nodded naturally and approvingly " Were others cognizant ? Were there any witnesses ? "

" not," said the girl "Only me and him generally at church-time--or prayer-meeting Once, in passing the plate, he slipped one o' them peppermint lozenges letters stamped 'I love you' "

The Colonel coughed slightly "And the lozenge ? "

"I ate it," said the girl, simply

"Ah," said the Colonel After pause he added, delicately: "But were these attentions--er--confined to--er---sacred precincts ? Did he meet you elsewhere ? "

"Useter pass our house road," returned the girl, dropping into her monotonous recital, "and useter signal "

"Ah, signal ? " repeated the Colonel, approvingly

"Yes ! He'd say 'Kerrow,' and I'd say 'Kerree ' Suthing like bird, "

Indeed, as she lifted her voice in imitation call the Colonel thought it certainly very sweet and birdlike as she gave it remembrance grim deacon he had doubts melodiousness utterance He gravely made her repeat it

"And signal ? " he added, suggestively

"He'd pass on," said the girl

The Colonel coughed slightly, and tapped his desk pen-holder

"Were there any endearments--er--caresses--er--such as taking your hand--er--clasping your waist ? " he suggested, with gallant yet respectful sweep white hand and bowing head;--"er-- slight pressure of your fingers changes of dance--I mean," he corrected himself, with an apologetic cough--" passing plate ? "

"No;-- not what you'd call 'fond,'" returned the girl

"Ah ! Adoniram K Hotchkiss was not 'fond' ordinary acceptance word," said the Colonel, with professional gravity

She lifted her disturbing eyes, and again absorbed his in her own She also said "Yes," although her eyes in their mysterious prescience of all thinking disclaimed the necessity of any answer at all He smiled vacantly long pause she slowly disengaged her parasol carpet pattern and stood up

"I reckon that's about all," she said

"Er--yes--but one moment," said the Colonel, vaguely liked her longer, but with her strange premonition of him powerless to detain her, or explain his reason for He instinctively knew she had told him all; his professional judgment told him that more hopeless case had never come knowledge Yet not daunted, only embarrassed "No matter," , vaguely " to consult again " Her eyes again answered that she expected , but she added, simply, "When ? "

" course of ," said the Colonel, quickly " word " She turned eagerness to open the door for her he upset his chair, and with some confusion, that was actually youthful, he almost impeded her movements hall, and knocked his broad-brimmed Panama hat bowing hand in final gallant sweep Yet as her small, trim, youthful figure, with its simple Leghorn straw hat confined by blue bow under her round chin, passed away before him, she looked more like child than ever

The Colonel spent that afternoon in making diplomatic inquiries his youthful client daughter of widow who had small ranch cross-roads, near the new Free-Will Baptist church--the evident theatre pastoral They led secluded life; the girl being little known town, and her beauty and fascination apparently not yet being recognized fact The Colonel felt pleasurable relief , and general satisfaction account for His few inquiries concerning Mr Hotchkiss only confirmed his own impressions alleged lover--a serious-minded, practically abstracted man--abstentive of youthful society, last man apparently capable of levity affections or serious flirtation The Colonel was mystified--but determined of purpose--whatever that purpose

The at his office same hour alone--as usual--the Colonel's office really being his private lodgings, disposed in connecting rooms, single apartment reserved for consultation He had no clerk; his papers and briefs being taken by his faithful body-servant and ex-slave "Jim" to another firm who did his office-work death of Major Stryker--the Colonel's only law partner, who fell in duel previous With fine constancy the Colonel still retained his partner's name door-plate--and, alleged superstitious, kept certain invincibility also manes lamented and somewhat feared man

The Colonel consulted his watch, whose heavy gold case still showed the marks of providential interference with bullet destined for its owner, and replaced it with some difficulty and shortness of breath fob same moment he heard step passage, door opened to Adoniram K Hotchkiss The Colonel was impressed; he had duellist's respect for punctuality

The man entered with nod expectant, inquiring look of busy man As his feet crossed that sacred threshold the Colonel became all courtesy; he placed chair visitor, and took his hat half-reluctant hand He then opened cupboard and brought out bottle of whiskey and two glasses

"A--er--slight refreshment, Mr Hotchkiss," he suggested, politely "I never drink," replied Hotchkiss, severe attitude of total abstainer "Ah--er--not the finest bourbon whiskey, selected by Kentucky friend ? No ? Pardon me ! cigar, then--the mildest Havana "

" use tobacco nor alcohol in any form," repeated Hotchkiss, ascetically " no foolish weaknesses "

The Colonel's moist, beady eyes swept silently over his client's sallow face He leaned back comfortably chair, and half closing his eyes as in dreamy reminiscence, said, slowly: "Your reply, Mr Hotchkiss, reminds me of--er--sing'lar circumstances that --er--occurred, in point of fact-- St Charles Hotel, New Orleans Pinkey Hornblower--personal friend--invited Senator Doolittle to join him in social glass Received, sing'larly enough, reply similar to yours 'Don't drink nor smoke ? ' said Pinkey 'Gad, sir, mighty sweet ladies ' Ha ! " The Colonel paused long enough to allow the faint flush from Hotchkiss's cheek, and went on, half closing his eyes: "'I allow no man, sir, to discuss my personal habits,' said Doolittle, over his shirt collar 'Then I reckon shootin' one habits,' said Pinkey, coolly Both men drove out Shell Road back of cemetery next morning Pinkey put bullet at twelve paces through Doolittle's temple Poor Doo never spoke again Left three wives and seven children, they say --two of 'em black "

"I got note ," said Hotchkiss, with badly concealed impatience "I suppose in reference to our case taken judgment, I believe " The Colonel, without replying, slowly filled glass of whiskey and water For moment he held it dreamily before him, still engaged in gentle reminiscences called up act Then tossing it off, he wiped his lips with large white handkerchief, and leaning back comfortably chair, said, with wave hand, "The interview I requested, Mr Hotchkiss, concerns subject--which say is--er--er--at present not of public or business nature--although later it might become--er--er--both an affair of some--er--delicacy "

The Colonel paused, and Mr Hotchkiss regarded him with increased impatience The Colonel, however, continued, with unchanged deliberation: "It concerns--er--a young lady--a beautiful, high-souled creature, sir, who, apart from her personal loveliness-- er--er-- say is of first families of Missouri, and-- er--not--remotely connected by marriage with one of--er--er--my boyhood's dearest friends The latter, I grieve , was pure invention Colonel's--an oratorical addition scanty information he had obtained the previous day The young lady," he continued, blandly, "enjoys the further distinction of being the object attention as would make this interview-- really--a confidential matter--er--er--among friends and--er--er-- relations in present and future not say lady I refer to is Miss Zaidee Juno Hooker, only daughter of Almira Ann Hooker, relict of Jefferson Brown Hooker, formerly of Boone County, Kentucky, and latterly of--er--Pike County, Missouri "

The sallow, ascetic hue of Mr Hotchkiss's face had passed through livid and then greenish shade, and finally settled into sullen red "What's all this about ? " he demanded, roughly The least touch of belligerent fire came into Starbottle's eye, but his bland courtesy change "I believe," , politely, " myself clear as between--er--gentlemen, though perhaps not as clear as to--er--er--jury "

Mr Hotchkiss was apparently struck with some significance lawyer's reply "I don't know," , in lower and more cautious voice, "what you mean by what you call 'my attentions' to-- --or how it concerns you exhausted half dozen words with--the person you name--have never written her line--nor even called at her house " He rose with an assumption of ease, pulled down his waistcoat, buttoned his coat, and took up his hat The Colonel move "I believe already indicated my meaning in what called 'your attentions,'" said the Colonel, blandly, "and given you my 'concern' for speaking as--er--er mutual friend your_ statement of your relations with Miss Hooker, state fully corroborated statement young lady herself very office yesterday "

"Then what does this impertinent nonsense mean ? Why am I summoned here ? " said Hotchkiss, furiously

"Because," said the Colonel, deliberately, "that statement is infamously--yes, damnably to your discredit, sir ! "