“De Lawd, honey, I’se des been er foolin’ you ter day. I’se got dem licenses en de Buro man right out dar now ready ter marry us. You know yo ole man nebber gwine back on you--I des been er foolin’.” “Den you been er foolin’ wid de wrong nigger!” “Lawd, honey, doan keep de bridegroom er waitin’.” “Git er way from dat do!” “G’long chile, en quit yer projeckin’.” Nelse was using his softest and most persuasive tones now. “G’way from dat do!” “Come on, Eve, de man waitin’ out dar fur us!” “Git away I tells you er I scald you wid er kittle er hot water!” Nelse drew back slightly from the door. “But, honey, whar yo ole man gwine ter sleep?” “Dey’s straw in de barn, en pine shatters in de dog house!” she shouted slamming the window. “Eve, honey!”-- “Doan you come honeyin’ me, I’se er spec’able ’oman I is. Ef you wants ter marry me you got ter come cotin’ me in de day time fust, en bring me candy, en ribbins en flowers and sich, en you got ter talk purtier’n you ebber talk in all yo born days. Lots er likely lookin’ niggers come settin up ter me while you gone in dat wah, en I keep studin’ ’bout you, you big black rascal. Now you got ter hump yo’se’f ef you eber see de inside er dis cabin ergin.” Crestfallen Nelse returned to the officer. “Wall sah, deys er kinder hitch in de perceedins.” “What’s the matter?” “She ’low I got ter come cotin’ her fust. En I spec I is.” The officer laughed and returned to his home. She made Nelse sleep in the barn for three weeks, court her an hour every day, and bring her five cents worth of red stick candy and a bouquet of flowers as a peace offering at every visit. Finally she made him write her a note and ask her to take a ride with him. Nelse got Charlie to write it for him, and made his own boy carry it to his mother. After three weeks of humility and attention to her wishes, she gave her consent, and they were duly married again. CHAPTER IX--A MASTER OF MEN THE first Monday in October was court day at Hambright, and from every nook and corner of Campbell county, the people flocked to town. The court house had not yet been transformed into the farce-tragedy hall where jail birds and drunken loafers were soon to sit on judge’s bench and in attorney’s chair instead of standing in the prisoner’s dock. The merciful stay laws enacted by the Legislature had silenced the cry of the auctioneer until the people might have a moment to gird themselves for a new life struggle. But the black cloud was already seen on the horizon. The people were restless and discouraged by the wild rumours set afloat by the Freedman’s Bureau, of coming confiscation, revolution and revenge. A greater crowd than usual had come to town on the first day. The streets were black with negroes. A shout was heard from the crowd in the square, as the stalwart figure of General Daniel Worth, the brigade commander of Colonel Gaston’s regiment was seen shaking hands with the men of his old army.