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Tom Cranceford was ordered to serve on the floor above. At this he began to grumble, pouting that he couldn't be in the rush if one should come; but the Major stormed at him. "It is more dangerous up there if that's what you want, and I'll be with you now and then to see that you are kept busy. March this instant or I'll drive you to home duty under Wash Sanders."
Cranceford persisted. "He must not take her over there. Why, I should think he could find employment here." Jim looked far away, and she added: "Is your cotton turning out well?" "First-rate, and I want to sell it as soon as I can. I've got to go away." "Go away!" she repeated. "You don't mean it?" "Yes, ma'm, I do.
There's only one person that I'm afraid of Mrs. Cranceford. She chills me and keeps me on the frozen dodge. I always feel that she is reading me, and that makes me more of a rascal trying to give her something that she can't read. Look here, if we expect to get any sleep we'd better be at it." "You go to bed, Uncle Gideon; I'm going to sit up." "All right; sit there as long as you please."
Cranceford, sitting at the window, might not be offended by his horse and his figure in the road. A time came when there was an interval of a week, and the old fellow had not shown himself at the gin house, and one night the Major went to the cypress log home to invade his retirement, but the place was dark. He pushed open the door and lighted the lamp. The fireplace was cheerless with cold ashes.
Do you realize that we have known each other intimately for thirty-five years?" Mrs. Cranceford came out upon the porch.
You never saw me drunk and never will. Thunderation, here she comes!" He stuffed the bottle back into his hip pocket and the Major threw himself back with a loud laugh. Mrs. Cranceford, handing the book to Gid, cast a suspicious look at the Major, who continued to shake. "Why, what has amused you so?" she asked. And now old Gid was nodding and chuckling in hypocritical diversion.
He appeared to have lost flesh, and his skin was yellow with worry and with want of sleep. The Major came forward and they met and shook hands under a tree. From an upper window Mrs. Cranceford looked upon them. "Gid, I didn't know what had become of you. I heard of you after you had received for your cotton more than the market price, and " "It was a fine shipment, John. Have you a rope handy?
Cranceford, standing on the door sill, gave Gid a cool stare. "Won't you please come in?" he asked, courteously waving his hand over the chair which he had just quitted. "No, I thank you." "Ah, I see you are surprised to see me in here. There was a time when it would have strained my boldness, but now it is a pleasure. I am here on business.
"Now I recall John Cranceford, the soldier," said he. "This is a great pity that has come upon us, Major," he added. "Worse than that," the Major replied. "It is a curse. The first man who landed a slave in America ought to have been hanged." "And what about the men who freed them?" "They were American soldiers, sir, as brave a body of men as ever trod the face of the earth.
"Now you are talking nonsense, Gid. Why, you have been just as necessary to me as I have to you. In a manner you have been the completion of myself." "Ah," Gid cried, scuffling to his feet and bowing, "I have the pleasure of saluting Mrs. Cranceford. Some time has passed since I saw you, ma'am, and I hope you will pardon my absence." The Major sprawled himself back with a laugh. Mrs.
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