"I done remember, all right, 'bout that time in ol' Virginia, an' the day I taken you the letteh up in the little glen behind the ol' mansion house whah hit wah so cool and the watah's so cleah. Misteh Horace wah home that day, too. Say, Mis' Virginia, did--did he done mention my name anywhar in that letteh?" The pathos of the dark face was pitiful. "'My best love to Bo Peep.'" Virginia pointed to the line as she read. "Kin I please have this huh envelope?" Bo Peep pleaded, and, clutching it as a sacred treasure, he said: "Mis' Virginia, didn't I done tellen you Misteh Thaine would come back?" "How did you know?" Virginia asked with shining eyes. "Becuz of what Doctoh Horace lef for me to tell you. It cain't do no hahm to tell hit thus fah." Bo Peep hesitated, and Virginia looked curiously at him. "Doctor Horace won't never come back. I tol' you that sufficiency times. When he lef, he say, 'Tel Mis' Virginia, if I don't come back, I'se done goin' to be with Misteh Thaine an' take care of him, 'cause I love the boy,--hit cain't do no hahm to tell you that while Misteh Horace still writen to us. An' didn't he tak' care of Misteh Thaine? Didn't he lef his place an' go down to that Rigrand Riveh, an' didn't he see Misteh Thaine fall back with a bullet pushin' him right into the watah? Yes, an' be drownded if Doctoh Horace hadn't done swum right then and fish him out. An' didn't he stay night time an' day time right by the blessed boy, till he's pullin' him out of dangeh of death's wing? Oh, yo' son done comin' back 'cause Misteh Horace say he sho' goin' jus' tak' care of him." "But, Bo Peep, why do you not believe we'll have Horace here again?" Virginia asked. The black man only shook his head mournfully as he answered determinedly, "Ef yo' saves a life, you has to give one for hit, mos' eveh time, an' mo' specially in the Fillippians whah they's so murderful and slaughterous." "Oh, you ought not think that way," Virginia urged. "Run quick, now, and take the news to Asher. I don't know where he is this morning." "He's talkin' to Mr. Dabley Champehs out to the barn," Bo Peep said as he hurried away. Asher Aydelot was standing before the big barn doors when Darley Champers turned from the main road and drove into the barnyard. It was a delicious April morning, with all the level prairie lands smiling back at the skies above them, and every breath of the morning breeze bearing new vigor and inspiration in its caressing touch. "Good morning, Champers; fine morning to live," Asher called out cheerily.