"Haunted!" screamed Dolf, who possessed a large share of the superstition of his race. "Now what does yer mean, Miss Clorindy?" "Jes' what I ses," replied she sharply; "I ain't one ob de kind dat tittervates up my words till dey haint got no sense left." "But I never heerd of a haunted tree," said Dolf, gaining new courage as he remembered that it was broad daylight. "Haunted houses I've heerd on in plenty; but a tree----" "Oh, mebby yer don't know eberything yet!" said Clo, viciously. Clo had been rather short with her lover of late, having interrupted several private flirtations of Victoria, with the faithless one. "Do tell me what yer mean, Clorindy," pleaded Dolf, his eyes fairly started out of his head with curiosity. "Oh, mebby you'd better go to Vic," she retorted, "she's a heap cuter dan what I be. I ain't coffee-colored, I'se only a nigger." "Now, Miss Clorindy!" cried Dolf, understanding that this was an occasion when flattery and soft words were absolutely necessary. "You know I'se ales in for de genuine article." "Don't know nothin' ob de sort," said Clo. "I kint flirty and flighty about like some folks; but, anyhow, I ain't fool enough to put all my wages on my back. I guess marster cud tell what I've got in de bank." That allusion to her golden charms drove the youthful graces of Victoria quite out of Dolf's head. He grew more tender and submissive at once. "Yer's de pearl ob de creation!" he cried enthusiastically. Mellen stamped his foot passionately, furious with their nonsense, upbraiding himself that he could listen to the conversation of his own servants, yet unable to move away without hearing the revelation which Clorinda evidently had to make. After a little more persuasive eloquence which began to restore Clorinda's good-humor, Dolf said: "But do tell me what yer means 'bout de tree?" "No," said Clorinda, mysteriously; "it's one ob dem tings as is best not talked 'bout. I don't run and tell all I sees and hears." "Jis' confide in my buzzom," said Dolf, tenderly. "Men is so duberous, 'specially dem as brags 'bout der mean white blood, which comes out coppery any how," said Clorinda. "Yer knows I'se de most faithful and constance ob my sect," cried Dolf. "Yer may speak freely to me." "I 'spose yer'd say de same to Vic." "Neber, Miss Clorindy! What, dat silly, giggling girl--don't tink it!" His persuasions met with their reward at last; he pleaded again: "Jis' tell me what yer means 'bout de tree bein' haunted?" She yielded to his flattery and her feminine desire to tell all that she had seen or imagined about the old cedar. "Mebby 'twas two months 'fore you came back," she said, in the tone of a person trying to be exact in her recollection of events. "What was?" cried Dolf, impatiently, "de hauntin'?" "Ef I'm gwine to tell you my story I'll do it in my own way," said Clorinda, majestically. "In course, in course," returned Dolf. "I begs pardon for de 'ruption. Jis' go on, sweetest Miss Clo'."