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"I mought ez well hev been buried in this grave fer the last ten year' fer all the use I hev been," he protested solemnly; "but I hev learnt a lesson through bein' a harnt fer a while I hev jes kem ter life. I'm goin' ter live now. I'll make myself some use in the world, an' fust off I be goin' ter hinder the murder of a man what they hev got trapped up yander at the still."
A little of Jonas Creyshaw's pluck and common sense came back to him at this unpleasant announcement. "Not on his say-so," he stoutly averred. "I ain't a-goin' ter do the beck nor the bid of enny onmannerly harnt ez hev tuk up the notion ter riz up over the bluff inter Old Daddy's Window, an' sot hisself ter motionin' ter me."
The reproach obviously struck home, for Wyatt maintained a disconsolate silence for a time. At length, apparently goaded by his thoughts to attempt a defense, he remonstrated: "Nobody ever war dead less of his own free will. I never elected ter be a harnt. 'Gene Barker hed no right ter nominate me fer the dear departed, nohow."
"Whar is this fool goin'?" he demanded angrily of space. "To the graveyard, I declar', ez ef I war a harnt fur true, an' buried sure enough. An' I wish I war. I wish I war." He realized, after a moment's consideration, that he had been unconsciously actuated by the chance of meeting the wagon, returning by this route from the cross-roads' store.
"'Kase," he argued sagely, "ef them skeered-ter-death grown folks war ter find out ez I war the harnt I mean ez the harnt war me ennyhow," he concluded desperately, "I'd KETCH it sure!" So impressed was he with this idea that he discreetly held his tongue. And from that day to this, Jonas Creyshaw and his friends have been unable to solve the mystery of Old Daddy's Window.
He was ashamed, and he remembered that he had been afraid, for he had thought the man was some "roamin' harnt." "I dunno," said Ike sulkily, "ez ye hev got enny call ter pounce so suddint out'n the fog, an' go ter noddin' that cur'ous way ter folks ez can't half see ye."
His wife, willing enough to believe in "harnts"* as appearing to other people, was disposed to repudiate them when they presumed to offer their dubious association to members of her own family circle. * Ghosts. "Dell-law!" she exclaimed scornfully. "I say harnt! Old Mrs.
Jubal Perkins broke into a derisive guffaw. "What ails ye, Andy?" he cried. "Though ye never seen no harnt, ye 'pear ter be fairly witched by that thar tricked-out blackberry bush." Rufe shrugged up his shoulders, and began to shiver in imaginary terror over a fancied fire. "Old Mis' Price's harnt!" he wheezed. The point of view makes an essential difference.
"Oh, ho oh, ho I see," the old man said, tractable and easily convinced. "I know Lawd! I got reason ter know that Briscoe's dead. I war afeared o' seein' su'thin' oncommon his harnt, or some sech. The idee shuk me powerful. I hev had a fever lately. Lemme sit down I I can't stand up.
At fust I war glad when he war suspicioned 'bout'n it, an' I war minded to go an' inform on him an' sech, ter pay him back; 'kase I held a grudge ag'in him, believin' ez he hed dressed out that thar blackberry bush ez Mrs. Price's harnt.
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