s　openly　and　unreservedly；　and　declared　that　no　matter　how　long　he　might　live　South　he　would　never　cease　to　raise　his　voice　against　a　system　which　allowed　a　manas　he　put　it〃to　sit　down　in　the　shade　and　fan　himself　to　sleep　while　a　lot　of　niggers　whose　bodies　he　owned　were　sweating　in　a　corn…field　to　help　feed　and　clothe　him。〃
  These　sentiments；　it　must　be　said；　did　not　add　to　his　popularity；　although　the　time　had　not　yet　arrived　when　he　would　have　been　thrown　into　the　street　for　uttering　them。
  Nathan　Gill　was　a　daily　visitor。　He　was　just　mounting　the　club　steps；　his　long　pen…wiper　cloak　about　his　shoulders；　as　Oliver；　after　his　interview　with　Colonel　Clayton；　passed　down　the　street　on　his　way　back　to　his　mother。　Nathan　shook　hands　with　the　Colonel；　and　the　two　entered　the　main　room；　and　seated　themselves　at　one　of　the　tables。
  Billy　Talbot；　who　had　moved　to　the　window；　and　who　had　been　watching　Oliver　until　he　disappeared　around　the　corner；　dropped　his　eye…glass　with　that　peculiar　twitch　of　the　upper　lip　which　no　one　could　have　imitated；　and　crossed　the　room　to　where　Nathan　　and　Colonel　Clayton　had　taken　their　seats。　Waggles；　the　scrap　of　a　Skye　terrier；　who　was　never　three　feet　from　Billy's　heels；　instantly　crossed　with　him。　After　Billy　had　anchored　himself　and　had　assumed　　his　customary　position；　with　his　feet　slightly　apart；　Waggles；　as　was　his　habit；　slid　in　and　sat　down　on　his　haunches　between　his　master's　gaiters。　There　he　lifted　his　fluffy　head　and　gazed　about　him。　The　skill　with　which　Mr。　Talbot　managed　his　dog　was　only　equalled　by　the　dexterity　with　which　he　managed　his　eye…glass；　he　never　inadvertently　stepped　on　the　one　nor　unconsciously　let　slip　the　other。　This　caused　Mr。　Talbot　considerable　mental　strain；　but　as　it　was　all　to　which　he　ever　subjected　himself　he　stood　the　test　bravely。
  〃Who　is　that　young　man；　Colonel〃　Billy　began；　as　he　bent　his　head　to　be　sure　that　Waggles　was　in　position。　He　had　been　abroad　while　Oliver　was　growing　up；　and　so　did　not　recognize　him。
  〃That's　Richard　Horn's　son；〃　the　Colonel　said；　without　raising　his　eyes　from　the　paper。　The　Colonel　　never　took　Billy　seriously。
  〃And　a　fine　young　fellow　he　is；〃　broke　in　Nathan；　　straightening　himself　proudly。
  〃Hope　he　don't　take　after　his　father；　Gill。　By　the　way；　what's　that　old　wisionary　doing　now？〃　drawled　Billy；　throwing　back　the　lapels　of　his　coat；　and　slapping　his　checked　trousers　with　his　cane。　〃Larst　time　you　talked　to　me　about　him　he　had　some　machine　with　w'eels　and　horse…shoe　magnets；　didn't　he？　He　hasn't　been　in　here　for　some　time；　so　I　know　he's　at　work　on　some　tomfoolery　or　other。　Amazing；　　isn't　it；　that　a　man　of　his　blood；　with　a　cellar　of　the　best　Madeiwa　in　the　State；　should　waste　his　time　on　such　things。　Egad！　I　cawn't　understand　it。〃　Some　of　Billy's　expressions；　as　well　as　his　accent；　came　in　with　his　clothes。　〃Now；　if　I　had　that　Madeiwa；　　do　you　know　what　I'd　do　with　it？　I'd〃
  〃Perfectly；　Billy；〃　cried　a　man　at　the　next　table；　who　was　bending　over　a　game　of　chess。　〃You'd　drink　it　up　in　a　week。〃　Talbot　had　never　been　known　by　any　other　name　than　Billy；　and　never　would　be　as　long　as　he　lived。
  When　the　laugh　had　subsided；　Nathan；　whose　cheeks　were　still　burning　at　the　slighting　way　in　which　Billy　Talbot　had　spoken　of　Richard；　and　who　had　sat　hunched　up　in　his　chair　combing　the　white　hair　farther　over　his　ears　with　his　long；　spare　fingers；　a　habit　with　him　when　he　was　in　deep　thought；　lifted　his　head　and　remarked；　quietly；　addressing　the　room　rather　than　Talbot：
  〃Richard's　mind　is　not　on　his　cellar；　he's　got　something　to　think　of　besides　Madeira　and　cards　and　dogs。〃　And　he　looked　toward　Waggles。　〃You　will　all；　one　day；　be　proud　to　say　that　he　lived　in　our　town。　Richard　is　a　genius；　one　of　the　most　remarkable　　men　of　the　day；　and　everybody　outside　of　this　place　knows　it；　you　will　be　compelled　to　admit　it　yet。　I　left　him　only　half　an　hour　ago；　and　he　is　just　perfecting　　a　motor；　gentlemen；　which　will〃
  〃Does　it　go　yet；　Nathan？〃　interrupted　Cobb；　who　was　filling　a　glass　from　a　decanter　which　a　brown…　coated　darky　had　brought　him。　Cobb's　wife　was　Nathan's　cousin；　and；　therefore；　he　had　a　right　to　be　familiar。　〃I　went　to　see　his　machine　the　other　day；　but　I　couldn't　make　anything　out　of　it。　Horn　is　a　little　touched　here；　isn't　he？〃　and　he　tapped　his　forehead　and　smiled　knowingly。
  〃No；　Amos；　the　motor　was　not　running　when　I　left　the　shop；〃　answered　Nathan；　dryly　and　with　some　dignity；　〃but　it　will　be；　he　assured　me；　perhaps　by　to…morrow。〃　He　could　fight　Billy　Talbot；　but　he　never　crossed　swords　with　Cobb；　never　in　late　years。　Cobb　was　the　one　man　in　all　the　world；　he　once　told　Richard；　with　whom　he　had　nothing　in　common。
  〃Oh；　to…morrow？〃　And　Cobb　whistled　as　he　put　down　the　decanter　and　picked　up　the　day's　paper。　It　was　one　of　Cobb's　jokesthis　〃to…morrow〃　of　his　neighbors。　〃What　was　a　Northern　man's　to…　day　was　always　a　Southern　man's　to…morrow；〃　he　would　say。　〃I　hope　this　young　man　of　whom　you　speak　so　highly　is　not　walking　in　the　footsteps　of　this　genius　of　a　father？　He　looks　to　me　like　a　young　fellow　that　had　some　stuff　in　him　if　anybody　would　bring　it　out。〃
  The　half…concealed　sneer　in　Cobb's　voice　grated　also　on　old　Judge　Bowman；　who　threw　down　his　book　and　looked　up　over　his　bowed　spectacles。　He　was　a　testy　old　fellow；　with　a　Burgundy　face　and　shaggy　white　hair；　a　chin　and　nose　that　met　together　like　a　parrot's；　　and　an　eye　like　a　hawk。　It　was　one　of　his　principles　　to　permit　none　of　his　intimates　to　speak　ill　of　his　friends　in　his　hearing。　Criticisms；　therefore；　by　an　outsider　like　Cobb　were　especially　obnoxious　to　him。
  〃Richard　Horn's　head　is　all　right；　Mr。　Cobb；　and　so　is　his　heart；〃　he　exclaimed　in　an　indignant　tone。　〃As　for　his　genius；　sirGill　is　within　the　mark。　He　IS　one　of　the　remarkable　men　of　our　day。　You　are　quite　right；　too；　about　his　young　son；　who　has　just　left　here。　He　has　all　the　qualities　that　go　to　make　a　gentleman；　and　many　of　those　which　will　make　a　jurist。　He　is　now　studying　law　with　my　associate；　　Judge　Ellicotta　profession　ennobled　by　his　ancestors；　sir；　and　one；　for　which　what　you　call　his　'stuff；'　but　which　we；　sir；　call　his　'blood；'　especially　fits　him。　You　Northern　men；　I　know；　don't　believe　in　blood。　We　do　down　here。　This　young　man　comes　of　a　line　of　ancestors　that　have　reflected　great　credit　on　our　State　for　more　than　a　hundred　years；　and　he　is　bound　to　make　his　mark。　His　grandfather　on　his　mother's　side　was　our　Chief　Justice　in　1810；　and　his　great…grandfather　was〃
  〃That's　just　what's　the　matter　with　most　of　you　Southerners；　Judge；〃　interrupted　Cobb；　his　black　eyes　snapping。　〃You　think　more　of　blood　than　you　do　of　brains。　We　rate　a　man　on　Northern　soil　by　what　he　does　himself；　not　what　a　bundle　of　bones　in　some　family　burying…ground　did　for　him　before　he　was　born。　Don't　you　agree　with　me；　Clayton？〃
  〃I　can't　say　I　do；　Cobb；〃　replied　the　Colonel；　slowly；　stirring　his　toddy。　〃I　never　set　foot　on　your　soil　but　once；　and　so　am　unfamiliar　with　your　ways。〃　He　never　liked　Cobb。　〃He's　so　cursedly　practical；　and　so　proud　of　it；　too；〃　he　would　often　say；　〃and　if　you　will　pardon　me；　sira　trifle　underbred。〃
  〃When　was　that？〃　asked　Cobb；　looking　over　the　top　of　his　paper。
  〃That　was　some　years　ago；　when　I　chased　a　wounded　canvas…back　across　the　Susquehanna　River；　and　had　to　go　ashore　to　get　him；　and　I　want　to　tell　you；　sir；　that　what　you　call　'your　soil'　was　damned　disagreeable　muck。　I　had　to　change　my　boots　when　I　got　back　to　my　home；　and　I've　never　worn　them　since。〃　And　the　Colonel　crushed　the　sugar　in　his　glass　with　his　spoon　as　savagely　as　if　each　lump　were　the　head　of　an　enemy；　and　raised　the　mixture　to　his　mouth。
  Amos's　thin　lips　curled。　The　high　and　lofty　airs　of　these　patricians　always　exasperated　him。　The　shout　of　laughter　that　followed　the　Colonel's　reply　brought　the　color　to　his　cheeks。
  〃Chased　him　like　a　runaway　nigger；　I　suppose；　Clayton；　didn't　you？　and　wrung　his　neck　when　you　got　him〃　retorted　Amos；　biting　his　lips。
  〃Of　course；　like　I　would　any　other　piece　of　my　property　that　tried　to　get　away；　or　as　I　would　wring　the　neck　of　any　man　who　would　help　him〃　And　the　Colonel　looked　meaningly　at　the　Vermonter　and　drained　his　glass　with　a　gulp。　Then　smothering　his　anger；　he　moved　away　to　the　window；　where　he　watched　Mr。　Talbot；　who　had　just　left　the　club　and　who　at　the　moment　was　standing　on　the　corner　making　　his　daily　afternoon　inspection　of　the　two　connecting　　streets；　an　occupation　which　Billy　varied　by　saluting　each　new…corner　with　a　slap　of　his　cane　on　his　checker…board　trousers　and　a　stentorian　〃Bah　Jove！〃　Waggles　meanwhile　squatting　pensively　between　　his　gaiters。
  When　an　hour　later　the　Colonel　presented　himself　at　the　Horn　mansion；　no　trace　of　this　encounter　with　Cobb　was　in　his　face　nor　in　his　manner。　Men　did　not　air　their　grievances　in　their　own　nor　anyone's　else　home　around　Kennedy　Square。
  Mrs。　Horn　met　him　with　her　hand　extended。　She　had　been　watching　for　Oliver's　return　with　a　degree　of　impatience　rarely　seen　in　her。　She　had　hoped　that　the　Colonel　would　have　called　upon　her　before　he　went　to　his　office；　and　could　not　understand　his　delay　until　Oliver　had　given　his　account　of　the　morning　mishaps。　She　was　too　anxious　now　to　chide　him。　It　was　but　anot