Produced by Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team THE WORKS OF E. P. ROE VOLUME NINE "MISS LOU" ILLUSTRATED In Loving Dedication TO LITTLE MISS LOU MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER CONTENTS CHAPTER I A GIRL'S PROTEST CHAPTER II SOMETHING HAPPENS CHAPTER III MAD WHATELY CHAPTER IV AUN' JINKEY'S POLICY CHAPTER V WHATELY'S IDEA OF COURTSHIP CHAPTER VI THE STORM BEGINS CHAPTER VII DANGERS THICKENING CHAPTER VIII "WHEN?" CHAPTER IX PARALYZED WITH SHAME CHAPTER X A BAFFLED DIPLOMATIST CHAPTER XI AUN' JINKEY'S WARNING CHAPTER XII A WHIRLWIND OF EVENTS CHAPTER XIII THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS CHAPTER XIV A THREAT CHAPTER XV MISS LOU EMANCIPATED CHAPTER XVI A SMILE ON WAR'S GRIM FACE CHAPTER XVII THE JOY OF FREEDOM CHAPTER XVIII A WELL-AIMED SLIPPER CHAPTER XIX A GIRL'S APPEAL CHAPTER XX SCOVILLE'S HOPE CHAPTER XXI TWO STORMS CHAPTER XXII CHUNK'S QUEST CHAPTER XXIII A BOLD SCHEME CHAPTER XXIV A HOME A HOSPITAL CHAPTER XXV A TRIBUTE TO A SOUTHERN GIRL CHAPTER XXVI A BACKGROUND OF EGOTISM CHAPTER XXVII AUN' JINKEY'S SUPREME TEST CHAPTER XXVIII TRUTH IF THE HEAVENS FALL CHAPTER XXIX "ANGEL OF DEATH" CHAPTER XXX GLIMPSES OF MOODS AND MINDS CHAPTER XXXI THE DUELLISTS VANQUISHED CHAPTER XXXII SAD TIDINGS CHAPTER XXXIII CONSPIRATORS CHAPTER XXXIV CHUNK PLAYS SPOOK CHAPTER XXXV A VISITATION CHAPTER XXXVI UNCLE LUSTHAH EXHORTS CHAPTER XXXVII A NEW ROUTINE "MISS LOU" CHAPTER I A GIRL'S PROTEST A great, rudely built stone chimney was smoking languidly one afternoon. Leaning against this chimney, as if for protection and support, was a little cabin gray and decrepit with age. The door of the cabin stood wide open, for the warm spring was well advanced in the South. There was no need of a fire, but Aun' Jinkey, the mistress of the abode, said she "kep' hit bunin' fer comp'ny." She sat by it now, smoking as lazily as her chimney, in an old chair which creaked as if in pain when she rocked. She supposed herself to be in deep meditation, and regarded her corncob pipe not merely a solace but also as an invaluable assistant to clearness of thought. Aun' Jinkey had the complacent belief that she could reason out most questions if she could only smoke and think long enough. Unfortunately, events would occur which required action, or which raised new questions before she had had time to solve those originally presented; yet it would be hard to fancy a more tranquil order of things than that of which she was a humble part.