Yet, when at Flukers', no man more cheerful and otherwise satisfactory boarder than Mr Matt Pike He praised every dish set before him, bragged very faces host and hostess, and absences oftenest to sit and chat with Marann when her mother would let her go parlor Here and everywhere house, dining-room, passage, foot stairs, joke with Marann about her country beau, as he styled poor Sim Marchman, and talk rather ashamed of Sim, and wanted Marann to string her bow for higher game

Brer Sam did manage well, the fields, but the yard Every Saturday world he sent in something or other sister I don't know whether I ought it or not, but sake of due to pure veracity On as three different occasions Sim Marchman, he had lost all self-respect, or particle of tact, brought in himself, instead of sending by negro, bucket of butter and coop of spring chickens as free gift to Mrs Fluker think, on my soul, that Mr Matt Pike was much amused by such degradation--however, say were all first-rate As for Marann, she was very sorry for Sim, and wished he brought these good things at all

Nobody knew how it came about; but Flukers in town somewhere between two and three months, Sim Marchman, who (to use his own words) had never bothered her great deal visits, began to suspect that what few were received by Marann lately with less cordiality than before; and so one day, knowing no better, awkward, straightforward country manners, the reason why Then Marann grew distant, and asked Sim the following question:

" where Mr Pike's gone, Mr Marchman ? "

Now the fact was, and she knew it, that Marann Fluker had never before, not since she was born, addressed that boy as Mister

The visitor's face reddened and reddened

"No," he faltered in answer; "no--no--_ma'am_, say I--I don't know where Mr Pike's gone "

Then he looked around hat, discovered it , took it into his hands, turned it around times, then, bidding good-bye without shaking hands, took himself off

Mrs Fluker liked all the Marchmans, and she was troubled somewhat when she heard quickness and manner of Sim's departure; for he fully expected by her to stay to dinner

"Say he didn't even shake hands, Marann ? What for ? What to him ? "

"Not one blessed thing, ma; only why I wasn't gladder him " Then Marann looked indignant

"Say them words, Marann ? "

"No, but he hinted 'em "

"What did you say then ? "

"I just asked, a-meaning nothing wide world, ma--I asked him if where Mr Pike had gone "

" were answer enough to hurt his feelin's What where Matt Pike's gone for, Marann ? "

"I didn't care about knowing, ma, but I didn't like the way Sim talked "

"Look here, Marann Look straight at me You'll be mighty fur off your feet let Matt Pike put things in your head that hain't no business a-bein' there, and special find yourself a-wantin' where he's a-perambulatin' everlastin' meanderin's Not cent has he paid board, and which your pa say he have a' understandin' about allowin' absentees, all right enough, but which it's now goin' on to three mont's, and comin' and He ought, your pa ought to let me bargain with Matt Pike, because he know he don't understan' figgers like Matt Pike He don't know exactly what the bargain were; for I've asked him, and he always begins with multiplyin' of words and never answers me "

next return travels Mr Pike noticed coldness in Mrs Fluker's manner, and this enhanced his praise house The last week third month came Mr Pike was often noticed, before and after meals, standing desk hotel office (called in those times the bar-room) engaged in making calculations The day contract expired Mrs Fluker, who indulged herself with single holiday since they in town, left Marann in charge house, and rode forth, spending part day with Mrs Marchman, Sim's mother All were her, , and she returned smartly, freshened visit That night she had talk with Marann, and oh, how Marann did cry !

The very last day came Like insurance policies, the contract was to expire at certain hour Sim Marchman came just before dinner, sent for by Mrs Fluker, who had seen him as he rode into town

"Hello, Sim," said Mr Pike as his seat opposite him "You here ? What's the news country ? How's your health ? How's crops ? "

"Jest mod'rate, Mr Pike Got little business after dinner, ef spare time "

"All right Got little matter with Pink here first 'Twon't take long See you arfter amejiant, Sim "

Never had the deputy been more gracious and witty He talked and talked, outtalking even Mr Fluker; he only man in town He winked at Marann as he put questions to Sim, words employed Sim had never heard before Yet Sim held up as , and after dinner followed Marann with some little dignity parlor They there more than ten minutes when Mrs Fluker was heard to walk rapidly along the passage leading dining-room, to enter her own chamber for only moment, then out and rush parlor door gig-whip in her hand Such uncommon conduct in woman like Mrs Pink Fluker needs explanation

When all the other boarders had left the house, the deputy and Mr Fluker having repaired bar-room, the former said:

"Now, Pink, settlement, say your wife think we better have one I'd 'a' been willin' to let accounts keep on a-runnin', knowin' what straightforrards sort o' man you was Your count, ef I ain't mistakened, is jes' thirty-three dollars, even money so, or not ? "

"That's it, to dollar, Matt Three times eleben make thirty-three, don't it ? "

"It do, Pink, or eleben times three, jes' which you please Now here's my count, you'll see, Pink, that not nary cent have I charged for infloonce I has infloonced consider'ble custom house, , bo'din' and transion But I done that out o' my respects of you an' Missis Fluker, an' your keepin' of fa'r--I'll say, as I've said freckwent, very fa'r house I let them infloonces go to friendship, ef you'll take it so , Pink Fluker ? "

"Cert'nly, Matt, an' I'm thousand times obleeged , an'--"

"Say no more, Pink, p'int o' view Ef I like man, how to treat him Now p'ints o' absentees, my business as dep'ty sheriff has took me away inconsider'ble town freckwent, hain't it ? "

"It have, Matt, er somethin' else, more'n I were expectin', an'--"

"Jes' so But public officer, Pink, when jooty call on him , he got ; in fack he got to goth_, Scripture say, ain't that so ? "

"I s'pose so, Matt, by good rights, a--a official speakin' "

Mr Fluker felt that becoming little confused

"Jes' so Now, Pink, I were credics absentees 'cordin' to transion an' single-meal bo'ders an' sleepers; ain't that so ? "

"I--I--somethin' o' that sort, Matt," he answered vaguely

"Jes' so Now look here," drawing pocket paper "Itom one Twenty-eight dinners at half dollar makes fourteen dollars, don't it ? Jes' so Twenty-five breakfasts at quarter makes six an' quarter, which make dinners an' breakfasts twenty an' quarter Foller me up, as I go up, Pink Twenty-five suppers at quarter makes six an' quarter, an' which them added twenty an' quarter makes them twenty-six an' half Foller, Pink, an' ketch me in any mistakes kyarin' an' addin', p'int it out Twenty-two an' half beds--an' half_, Pink, because you 'member one night when them A'gusty lawyers got here 'bout midnight on their way to co't, rather'n too bad cramped, I ris way for two of 'em; yit as I had one good nap, I didn't think I ought that down but for half Them makes five dollars half an' seb'n pence, an' which kyar'd on t'other twenty-six an' half, fetches the whole cabool to jes' thirty-two dollars an' seb'n pence But up my mind I'd fling out that seb'n pence, an' jes' call it dollar even money, an' which here's the solid silver "

rapidity this enumeration of counter-charges , Mr Fluker commenced perspiring first item, and balance was announced his face was covered with huge drops

juncture that Mrs Fluker, who, well knowing her husband's unfamiliarity with complicated accounts, had felt her duty listening near the bar-room door, left, and quickly afterwards appeared before Marann and Sim as represented

" Matt Pike ain't tryin' to settle with your pa with dollar ? I'm goin' him keep his dollar, an' I'm goin' him somethin' 'long with it "

"The good Lord have mercy upon us ! " exclaimed Marann, springing up and catching hold of her mother's skirts, as she began her advance towards the bar-room "Oh, ma ! Lord's sake ! --Sim, Sim, Sim, care any_thing wide world, don't let ma go into that room ! "

"Missis Fluker," said Sim, rising instantly, "wait jest two minutes till Mr Pike on some pressin' business; I won't keep you over two minutes a-waitin' "

her, set her down in chair trembling, looked at her moment as she began to weep, then, going out and closing the door, strode rapidly bar-room

"Let me settle your board-bill, Mr Pike, by payin' you little one I owe you "

Doubling his fist, he struck out with blow that felled the deputy floor Then catching him by his heels, he dragged him house street Lifting his foot above his face, :

"You stir till I tell you, an' I'll stomp your nose down even balance of your mean face 'Tain't exactly my business how you cheated Mr Fluker, though, 'pon my soul, I never knowed trifliner, lowdowner trick But I owed you myself for your talkin' 'bout and your lyin' 'bout me, and now I've paid you; an' ef you only knowed it, I've saved you from gig-whippin' Now git up "

"Here's his dollar, Sim," said Mr Fluker, throwing it window "Nervy say make him take it "

The vanquished, not daring to refuse, pocketed the coin, and slunk away amid the jeers of score of villagers who drawn scene

In all human probability the late omission shaking of Sim's and Marann's hands was compensated at their parting that afternoon more confident point because end year those hands were joined inseparably preacher But had all gone back old home; for if Mr Fluker become fully convinced that his mathematical education was not advanced quite enough for all the exigencies of hotel-keeping, his wife declared that she had had enough of it, she and Marann were going home Mr Fluker said, therefore, followed, rather than led, his family return

As deputy, finding that if leave it voluntarily drummed village, he departed, whither remember if anybody ever knew