“How’s the colonel?” Caleb asked, stopping a moment, and his glance wandered toward the old house where even the jingo tree had dropped its last golden leaves upon the grass. “He’s bettah, suh,” said Kingdom, “so de doctah says. I’se not so sure; seems mighty po’ly ter me, Mistah Trench.” Caleb remembered that a negro never admits perfect health and felt reassured. “Say to the colonel that I would be glad to be of any service to him,” he said, and wanted to add Diana’s name but restrained the impulse. “I sho will, Mistah Trench,” said Kingdom. “Cool day, suh, gwine ter be cold, too; de moon dun hangs ter de north.” “I suppose that’s an infallible sign,” smiled Trench, as he turned away. “Fo’ de Lawd, ain’t yo’ nebber heerd dat?” Kingdom patted the cauliflower affectionately, having squared off the remaining green petals. “De moon hung north means cold, suh, an’ south et means hot, jest ez sho’ ez yo’ gets er disappintment ef yo hangs annything on er doah knob.” “I’ll try to remember both signs,” said Caleb good-naturedly. “Miss Diana’s up in de woods,” volunteered the negro, with that innocence which sits so naturally on a black face. Caleb made no reply this time. He walked on, choosing the road, nor did he look again toward the house. He had the unpleasant consciousness that the negro had read him as easily as he himself read more profound riddles in the exact sciences. He passed the last confines of Broad Acres and turned, involuntarily, into the trail which led him to the spot where he had stood months before with Diana and told her that he loved her. Afterwards he had wondered at himself, that his pride had not revolted at the confession, yet he had never altogether repented of it. There had been some comfort in telling her the truth, the naked truth. He recalled the look in her eyes in the court-room! He put that thought steadily away and walked rapidly on. Another turn would show him the long glimpse of Paradise Ridge. Before him the trail ascended under sweeping hemlock boughs, beside him the brush rose breast high. Once he thought he heard a crackle of twigs and turned sharply, but there was no one in sight. Then, looking ahead, he saw Diana Royall. She was coming down the path alone, and the sunset sky behind her darkened the outlines of her tall young figure until it was silhouetted against the sky. He noticed that her dress was gray and that her large black hat framed the fair oval of her face. As she drew nearer he was aware of the gravity and sweetness of her expression. As yet the distance was too great for speech and he did not hurry his step; there was, perhaps, more joy in the thought of this meeting than in its accomplishment. But he saw nothing but this picture, the mellow sky behind it, the hemlock boughs above. Then, quite suddenly, he felt a stinging shock and heard a loud report, as he reeled and fell back into darkness, the vision going out as though a great black sponge had effaced life itself.