“And what made me, as a man, despise Gid Ward more was the fact that he had been colonel of a state regiment in old militia days, boosted there by a gang that trained with him, and as soon as war broke out and the regiment was mustered in he resigned like a sneak, and couldn't be touched by a draft. “Josh always was a quiet chap. He humped over a little more when I told him, and looked thinner, and I had to help him more when he got out at the farm than I did when he got aboard at the stable. He allowed he'd go to the farm just the same. Said he didn't have any money, or any other place to go, and he guessed 'twas his home, anyway. “Mr. Parker, I haven't got the language to tell ye how that woman looked when she came to the door and saw me helping Josh out to the ground. No sir, I don't want to think of it--how she sank right down in that doorway, and her head went over sidewise and her eyes shut and--and her heart stopped, I guess.” The postmaster blew his nose and snapped his eyes and cleared his throat with difficulty. Parker had forgotten his figures. “Gid came round the corner of the house, seeing the team drive up, and what do you suppose he said when he saw his brother back from the grave, as you might say? He looked him over, not offering to shake his hand, and then he says, 'Well, living skelington, it's goin' to cost something to plump you out again, ain't it?' “When I saw the look on Josh's face at that, I'd have hauled off and cuffed Gid's head up to a pick, swan if I wouldn't, but the Marshall girl--excuse me, Mis' Ward--came tearin' down the path, and threw her arms round Josh's neck and cried, 'O my poor brother!' And I came away. “It was too much for me. My eyes were so full that I run against a tree, and pretty near took a wheel off. “Wal, Josh stayed, and as soon as he was able he took a-hold of farm-work, and things went along for a time all quiet. One evening Josh was sitting out at the corner of the house, smoking as usual, and meditatin' in the way he had, when Gid came along and sat down on the door-stone. “''Bout time to have a business understanding, ain't it, Josh?' Gid asked. “'Yes, perhaps it is,' said Joshua. “'Well then, ye'll answer a fair question. If ye continue to stay here, where's the money for your board comin' from?' “'Board?' says Josh. “'Yes, board! You don't reckon to run a visit over three months, do ye?' “'Why, I didn't think there'd be any question of this sort between us, Gid.' “'Business is business. If you'd had more business to you, you wouldn't be a pauper now.' “'A pauper!' “'That's what I said. You deeded this place to Cynthy Marshall, didn't ye? Well, she has deeded it to me. 'Tain't much of a husband that don't have his property in his own name.' “'But see here, Gideon, you know why I deeded this property. You know how matters have come out. Between brothers in such a case there should be no such thing as stickin' to the letter of deeds.'