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"Wal, I do declare, if that aint the highfalutin' light they were a-tellin' about up to Wiggleses t'other night." This was an unlucky speech for Mr. Spriggins. Melindy's face was black as Erebus in less than a minute and her eyes fairly darted fire. "Don't mention those Wiggleses agin Mose, or as sure as my name is Melindy Jane Thrasher, I'll never speak to you agin!"
Indeed, a few who had exhibited some signs of scepticism and lack of interest, at once assumed an appearance of intense gratification and curiosity as he went on, "Well, by hangin round there for a day or two, I found out at last it was to be Melindy's birthday next week, and that she was goin' to have a big party. I tell ye what, boys, it weren't no slouch of a reception.
"If Mose could just peek in wouldn't he stare?" said she, casting her eyes on a pile of silks that had been displayed upon the counter. Lottie smiled, and having directed Melindy's attention to a choice lot of dress material stepped to the other end of the ware-room to speak to one of her acquaintances. The shades were too dull to suit Melindy's taste.
Afterward, her troubles all smoothed and explained away, she lay in the dark, comforted and at peace with the world. Once a little black doubt thrust its head up like a snake, to remind her of Melindy's utterance, "When a man wants to write, he's gwine to write, busy or no busy." But even that found an explanation in her thoughts.
But her nerves stiffened to it, and she had no thought of retreat. It might be one of those savage lynxes, spying upon the calf in its mother's absence. At this idea Melindy's small mouth itself set very grimly, and she rejoiced that she had brought the axe along. The lynx, of all the wild creatures, she regarded with special antagonism.
"Bet your life on it it's no joke; you're jest right Zeb, it's real down airnest; the fellow that rit that ain't one of your jokin' consarns." Mr. Spriggins glanced over Melindy's letter to see if she was in good "speerits," and being more than satisfied, broke open the seal of the second one, which was from Mr. Verne. "I do not doubt you, Mr.
Injun summer at last, I cal'late. What you got your coat collar turned up for? Afraid of getting your neck sunburned?" Mr. Hammond grunted and hurried on. Captain Obed had chosen a poor topic if he desired a lengthy conversation. Mrs. Pease lived at the farther end of the village and when Caleb reached there he was met by the lady's niece, Emma Snow. "Aunt Melindy's real poorly," said Emma.
But as I say there's no tellin' what may happen." "What a coincidence it is," thought Phillip, laughing as on passing through the back parlor he overheard Melindy's remark. He had gone to the post-office on that morning and as he took out the contents of the well-filled box discovered a letter which on opening he saw was from Marguerite. "What can have prompted her to write.
And the calf, terrified at the sudden outcry, staggered to its feet with a loud bleating. The bear was just upon it, with great black paw uplifted for the fatal stroke that would have broken its back, when he saw Melindy's axe descending. With the speed of a skilled boxer he changed the direction of his stroke, and fended off the blow so cleverly that the axe almost flew from the girl's grasp.
Later, Georgina went home pondering Melindy's answer. "Most every week when they love's 'em. Sometimes every other day." And Barby had had no letter for over four months. Something happened that afternoon which had never happened before in all Georgina's experience. She was taken to the Gray Inn to call. Mrs. Triplett, dressed in her new black summer silk, took her.