"B-l-a-s-p-h-e-m-y--A contemptuous treatment of God." McNeil spoke clearly and glanced toward Ann as if for approval. After fifteen minutes of spelling, half the lines were seated. Ann Rutledge, John McNeil and Lincoln were standing. It was John's turn again. "Relict." "R-e-l-e----" "Next!" said the master, and the word crossed the line to Ann. "R-e-l----" she hesitated a moment and glanced toward Abe Lincoln who now stood opposite her. He had raised his hand to his face and one of his long fingers pointed to his eye. "R-e-l-i-c-t----" she said slowly--"A relict is a woman whose husband is dead." Again there was a titter and somebody whispered quite audibly, "John McNeil." But McNeil was not laughing. He had seen Abe Lincoln give a sign to Ann that had made her a better speller than himself. Gradually the lines thinned until only eight remained. Then the master gave the word "Seraphim." "S-e-r-y----" "Next!" "S-e-r-r-y----" "Next!" "S-a-r-a-h----" "Next!" "C-e-r-i----" "Next!" "C-e-r-y----" "Next!" "C-e-r-r-i----" "Next!" "S-e-r-r----" "Next!" It was now Lincoln's time. He had been waiting coolly. All eyes were upon him as he slowly spelled, "S-e-r-a-p-h-i-m." "Correct!" said Mentor Graham. "Abraham Lincoln is the champion speller of New Salem until his better proves himself." There was an outburst of applause. Lincoln started to take his seat, but the master motioned to him to keep his place. The room grew quiet. "The definition, Abe Lincoln?" he said. "The kind of folks we may associate with if we keep out of the Slough of Despond," answered Lincoln. "Tell us where you got it," Mentor Graham said. "I found it in Bunyan's 'Pilgrim's Progress' one night as I lay before the fire tryin' to learn something new. There was a wolf howlin' down in the timber. I tried to learn a new word between each howl. This was the third." John McNeil walked home with Nance Cameron after the spelling-match. "Where is John McNeil?" Mrs. Rutledge asked as Ann joined them just outside the door, for he was always on hand to walk with her. "He's walking home with Nance Cameron," Ann answered. "What's that for?" "I guess he wants to tell her something," she said. But she too wondered, for he had not spoken to her, had not even seemed to see her, as he passed with Nance. Others noticed this also, among them Dr. Allen and Abe Lincoln. But they make no comment as they walked down the roadway together. CHAPTER XV "WHO'S AFRAID?" It was Sis Rutledge who broke the news to Abe Lincoln that Ann said he was afraid of women. She went over to the store on an errand and tarried a few moments, as she always did when an excuse offered, to talk with the tall, good-natured clerk. This time Mrs. Green's quilting-bee offered an excuse. "Goin' to Mis' Green's quiltin'-bee, are you?" Sis questioned with a sort of malicious innocence. "Men don't go to quiltin'-bees," Abe Lincoln answered.