"Here I am with nobody to milk, nor feed the hens; nobody to
churn to-morrow, nor do the chores; a poor, mis'able creeter,
deserted by my children, with nobody to do a hand's turn 'thout
bein' paid for every step they take! I'11 give 'em what they
deserve; I don' know what, but I'll be even with 'em yet." And
the Deacon set his Baxter jaw in a way that meant his
determination to stop at nothing.
XXXI
SENTRY DUTY
IVORY BOYNTON drove home from the woods that same afternoon by
way of the bridge, in order to buy some provisions at the brick
store. When he
was still a long distance from the bars that divided the lane
from the highroad, he espied a dark-clad little speck he knew to
be Rodman leaning over the fence, waiting and longing as usual
for his home-coming, and his heart warmed at the thought of the
boyish welcome that never failed.
The sleigh slipped quickly over the hard-packed, shining road,
and the bells rang merrily in the clear, cold air, giving out a
joyous sound that had no echo in Ivory's breast that day. He had
just had a vision of happiness through another man's eyes. was he
always to stand out-side the banqueting-table, he wondered, and
see others feasting while he hungered
Now the little speck bounded from the fence, flew down the road
to meet the sleigh, and jumped in by the driver's side.
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