" Suppose you trow him a quarter, uncle. I hev one or two
more words to say to you afore we part."

The captain took a dollar bill from his pocket and handed
it to the officer.
" This pays for five minutes more."

" Hurry up, then."

"I was going to say somethin'," began Sammy — "oh, yes.
How about the cunner, uncle ? "



TOM BURTON. 133

• " Let her rest her weary bones whar she is Sammy. When
we uns come back we iins will find her thar. She is well
secure/^

" And the gal, uncle ? "

" Oh, yes, the gal, Sammy. You can't disremember the
gal, kin you, Sammy ? Well, I'll tell you all I knows about
the gal. She said as how she war gwine to be a Sister of
Charity, and I s'pecs you kin see her when you gits outten
here, and your face gits well. Howsomever, that is a small
matter."

" She war nice, uncle, and every time I thinks of her
sweet face, my heart comes right up into my mouth, and I
almost cry. Ef I mought see her once more afore I die I
would be satisfied, uncle," and as the boy said this he turned
over and hid his face.
PART IV.
J CHAPTER XVII.
TEN ACRES AND A MULE.
The once pleasant sight of Moorcfield lay like a dreary
waste.
Two tall bare chimneys, shivering in the cold winter wind,
a few cinders and ashes^at their base, the negro quarters and
the out-houses, were all that was left of the once hospitable
and grand old mansion.
