Bacon was renowned as the hardest man in Cedar County to handle, and though he was getting old, he was still a terror to his neighbors when roused. He was honest, temperate, and a good neighbor until something carried him off his balance; then he became as cruel as a panther and as savage as a grizzly. All this Lime knew, but it did not keep his anger down so much as did the thought of Marietta. His silence infuriated Bacon, who yelled hoarsely: "Git out o' this!" "Don't be in a rush, ol' man"---- Bacon hurled himself upon Lime, who threw out one hand and stopped him, while he said in a low voice: "Stay right where you are, ol' man. I'm dangerous. It's for Merry's sake"---- The infuriated old man struck at him. Lime warded off the blow, and with a sudden wrench and twist threw him to the ground with frightful force. Before Bacon could rise, Marietta, who had witnessed the scene, came flying from the house. "Lime! Father! What are you doing?" "I--couldn't help it, Merry. It was him 'r me," said Lime, almost sadly. "Dad, ain't you got no sense? What 're you thinking of? You jest stop right now. I won't have it." He rose while she clung to him; he seemed a little dazed. It was the first time he had ever been thrown, and he could not but feel a certain respect for his opponent, but he could not give way. "Pack up yer duds," he snarled, "an' git off'n my land. I'll have the money fer ye when ye come back. I'll give ye jest five minutes to git clear o' here. Merry, you stay here." The young man saw it was useless to remain, as it would only excite the old man; and so, with a look of apology, not without humor, at Marietta, he went to the house to get his valise. The girl wept silently while the father raged up and down. His mood frightened her. "I thought you had more sense than t' take up with such a dirty houn'." "He ain't a houn'," she blazed forth, "and he's just as good and clean as you are." "Shut up! Don't let me hear another word out o' your head. I'm boss here yet, I reckon." Lime came out with his valise in his hand. "Good-by, Merry," he said cheerily. She started to go to him, but her father's rough grasp held her. "Set _down_, an' stay there." Lime was going out of the gate. "Here! Come and get y'r money," yelled the old man, extending some bills. "Here's twenty"----- "Go to thunder with your money," retorted Lime. "I've had my pay for my month's work." As he said that, he thought of the sunny kitchen and the merry girl, and his throat choked. Good-by to the sweet girl whose smile was so much to him, and to the happy noons and nights her eyes had made for him. He waved his hat at her as he stood in the open gate, and the sun lighted his handsome head into a sort of glory in her eyes. Then he turned and walked rapidly off down the road, not looking back. The girl, when she could no longer see him, dashed away, and, sobbing violently, entered the house. II.