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ieve that he is worth considerably more than half a million dollars。 Sometimes I think it is nothing short of pure insanity； he grows so miserly about little things。 Aunt Saidie and I have both noticed that he would rather spend a hundred dollarsthough it is like drawing out an eyetooththan keep a pound of fresh butter from the market。〃
〃And yet he likes you？〃
〃Oh； he tolerates me； as far as that goes； but I don't believe he likes anything on earth except his money。 It's his great passion； just as Molly's love of jewelry is hers。 There is something so tremendous about it that one can't help respect it。 As for me； he only bears with my presence so long as I ask him for absolutely nothing。 He knows I have my little property； and we had a dreadful scene when I refused to let him keep my check…book。 I gave you all the interest of the last six months； you know； and the other isn't due until November。 If he finds out that it goes to you； heaven help us！〃
〃And there's not the faintest hope of his coming to his senses？ Have you spoken of me again？〃
〃I've mentioned your name twice； that was all。 He rose and stamped out of the room； and didn't speak for days。 Aunt Saidie and I have planned to bring the baby over when it comes。 That may soften himespecially if it should be a boy。〃
〃Oh； the bottom will drop out of things by that time；〃 he returned savagely； tearing pieces of straw from his worn hat…brim。 〃If this keeps up much longer； Maria； I warn you now I'll run away。 I'll go off some day on a freight train and hide my head until he dies； then I'll come back to enjoy his precious money。〃
She sighed； thinking hopelessly of the altered will。
〃And Molly？〃 she questioned； for lack of a more effectual argument。
〃I can't stop to think of Molly： it drives me mad。 What use am I to her； anyway； I'd like to know？ She'd be quite as well off without me； for we do nothing but quarrel now night and day； and yet I love herI love her awfully；〃 he added in a drunken whimper。
〃Oh； Will； Will； be a man for her sake！〃
〃I can't； I can't；〃 he protested； his voice rising in anger。 〃I can't stand the squalor of this life； it's killing me。 Why； look at the way I was brought up； never stopping an instant to ask whether I could have a thing I wanted。 He had no right to accustom me to luxuries till I couldn't do without them and then throw me out upon the world like this！〃
〃Hush！ Hush！ Your voice is too loud。 It will bring him down。〃
〃I'll be hanged if I care！〃 he retorted； but involuntarily he lowered his tone。
〃You mustn't stay here five minutes longer；〃 urged Maria。 〃I'll give you a diamond brooch I still have left； and you may take it to town yourself and sell it。 Only promise me on your honour that you will spend the money on the things Molly needs。〃
〃Oh； I promise；〃 he replied roughly。 〃Where is it？〃
〃In my room。 I must get it now。 Be perfectly quiet until I return。〃
Opening the door and closing it carefully behind her； she stole noiselessly up the dark staircase； while Will； twitching nervously； paced restlessly up and down the brick floor。 A pile of walnuts which Miss Saidie had been shelling for cake lay on the hearth； and； picking up the heavy old hammer she had used； he cracked a nut and ate it hurriedly。 Hungry as he wasfor he had not been home to supperhe found difficulty in swallowing； and； laying the hammer down upon the bricks； he rose and stood waiting beside the stove。 Though the night was warm； a shiver ran suddenly through him； and； stirring the fading embers with a splinter of resinous pine； he held out his shaking hands to the blaze。
In a moment Maria entered and handed him the brooch in a little box。
〃Try to keep up courage； Will；〃 she said； pushing him into the area under the back steps； 〃and above all things； do not come here again。 It is so unsafe。〃
He promised lightly that he would not； and then told her good…by with an affectionate pat upon the arm。
〃Well； you are a bully good chap； after all；〃 he added； as he stepped out into the night。
For a while Maria stood looking after him across the moonlit fields； and then； even as she turned to enter the house； the last troubled hour was blotted from her consciousness； and she lived over again the moment of Christopher's embrace。 With that peculiar power to revive and hold within the memory an instant's emotion which is possessed by ardent and imaginative women； she experienced again all the throbbing exhilaration； all the fulness of being； which had seemed to crowd the heartbeats of so many ordinary years into the single minute that was packed with life。 That minute was hers now for all time； it was a possession of which no material loss； no untoward fate could defraud her； and as she felt her steps softly up the dark staircase； it seemed to her that she saw her way by the light of the lamp that was burning in her bosom。
To her surprise； as she reached the dining…room a candle was thrust out before her； and； illuminated by the trembling flame； she saw the face of Fletcher； hairy； bloated； sinister； with the shadow of evil impulses worked into the mouth and eyes。 For a moment he wagged at her in silence； and in the flickering radiance she saw each swollen vein； each gloomy furrow； with exaggerated distinctness。 He reminded her vaguely of some hideous gargoyle she had seen hanging from an early Gothic cathedral。
〃So you've taken to gallivanting； like the rest；〃 he observed with coarse pleasantry。 〃I'd thought you were a staid and sober…minded woman for your years； but it seems that you are of a bunch with all the others。〃
〃I've been out in the moonlight；〃 answered Maria； while a sensation of sickness stole over her。
〃It is as bright as day； but I thought you were in bed long ago。〃
〃Thar's not much sleep for me during tobacco planting； I kin tell you；〃 rejoined Fletcher； 〃but as for you； I reckon thar's more beneath your words than you like to own to。 You've been over to see that young scamp； ain't you？〃
〃I saw him； but I did not go out for that purpose。〃
〃It's the truth； I reckon； for I've never known you to lie； and I'll be hanged if it ain't that I like about you； after all。 You're the only person I kin spot； man or woman； who speaks the truth jest for the darn love of it。〃
〃And yet I lived a lie for five years；〃 returned Maria quietly。
〃Maybe so； maybe so； but it set on you like the burr on a chestnut； somehow； and when it rolled off thar you were； as clean as ever。 Well； you're an honest and spunky woman； and I can't help your traipsing over thar even if I wanted to。 But thar's one thing I tell you now right flatif that young rascal wants to keep a whole skin he'd better stay off this place。 I'd shoot him down as soon as I would a sheep…killing hound。〃
〃Oh； he won't come here；〃 said Maria faintly； and； going into the dining…room； she dropped into a chair and lay with her arms outstretched upon the table。 The second shock to her emotional ecstasy had been too much； and the furniture and Fletcher's face and the glare of the candle all spun before her in a sickening confusion。
After looking at her anxiously an instant； Fletcher poured out a glass of water and begged her to take a swallow。 〃Thar； thar； I