"Yes, it does, daddy, and I'm bound to have father home, now I've set out, so you run to the landing, and give the signal." "Hurry him up, mammy," she whispered to her housekeeper, and immediately went to her writing desk. "Laws, how can I leave them are taters, mammy?" he said, appealing to his better-half. "Laws, you can git back in time to kiver 'em up; you'll better let 'em spile and keep on the right side of the pet. Likely she's got something _particular_ she wants to say to Mr. Sherman; girls is up to sich things. There, now, you'd better leave, that are boat is heaving in sight." Chimney Rock was one of those insignificant points, on the Upper Mississippi, where steamers seldom had occasion to land, and it became necessary to hoist a signal, when any of the inhabitants wished to take passage on a boat from that place. Daddy vigorously waved his red flag to and fro, and the result was, in ten minutes, he had embarked on board the steamer "Golden Era," with Little Wolf's communication stowed safely away in his pocket. CHAPTER VIII. THE LOVE-LETTER--DISCUSSION--A QUICK RIDE--TOO LATE--VIOLENCE AND DEATH. Dr. Goodrich's cosey office, situated on the corner of Second and Centre Streets, in the village of Pendleton, was a convenient lounging place for Edward Sherman, and it so happened that on the very day that Little Wolf had dispatched her messenger, he had repaired thither to read his newspapers and letters, smoke cigars, and indulge in the comfort which a confidential chat with a friend, generally affords to a companionable mind. "See here, Doctor," said he, depositing the bundle of mail matter on the office table, and seating himself in an arm-chair beside it. "Anything for me?" said the Doctor, who was busy arranging some papers. "A letter from _her_," said Edward, with slow, droll emphasis. "Really, Ned, that is decidedly cool. How long do you propose to make me wait for it?" "Help yourself, Doctor. It's there among the papers," said Edward, lighting a cigar. Occasionally, Edward glanced over the top of his newspaper to observe the animated countenance of his friend, as he perused the lines traced by the hand of love. Having thus marked his progress to the end, he enquired, "Now, Doctor, what says my little sister?" "She says, Ned, 'this is now the middle of Autumn.'" "O, is that _all_?" "Well, the next in order is,'and mother is expecting Edward home soon.'" "That is just what I have been expecting to hear for a week past, Doctor. You know I have made my success with Miss De Wolf the condition on which I should be induced to locate here. Well, I'm pretty sure of her, and I have at length determined to hang out my shingle, and go to work. I can see no way but to persuade mother and Louise to come out here and live with us." "Then, you are really engaged to Miss De Wolf, Ned?"