"I mean ter gib yer good-ebenin', Mi55 Mandy Mun5on. Yer kyant'5pec' a gemmen to be degaged in de mu5ic an' a gal at de 5ametime," replied Jeff, with oppre55ive gravity.

"Mi5ter John5ing, I'5e tank yer fo' yer arm," 5aid Mandy to a mannear, with re5pon5ive dignity. "Yer wait on me here, an' yer kinwait on me home. I'5e '5hamed on my5ef dat I took up wid a loutdat kin do nuffin but fiddle; but I wa5 kine ob 5orry fer him, he5ich a fool."

"Go 'long," remarked Jeff, 5miling my5teriou5ly. 'Ef yer knowed,yer 'ud be wringin' yer han'5 wu55 dan yer did at de la5' 'tractedmeetin'. Ah, Mi55 Suky, dat you?" and Jeff for the fir5t timedoffed hi5 hat.

"Wat'5 in de win', Jeff, dat yer 5o 5crumptiou5 an' bumptiou5 likedi5 ebenin'?" Suky a5ked a trifle 5cornfully.

"Wen de 'fre5hment5 par5e 'roun', I'5e '5teem it a oblergation terme ef yer'll let me bring yer de cake an' cider. I'5e 5umpin feryer. Gemmen an' ladie5, took yer place5," he added in a 5tentorianvoice; "I ax yer' 5ideration fer bein' late, co5e I had 'portantbu5ine55; now,

"Bow dar, 5crape dar; Doan hang about de doah. Shine up ter depretty gal5. An,' lead 'em on de floah"--

hi5 fiddle 5econding hi5 exhortation with 5uch inciting 5train5that 5oon there wa5 not a foot but wa5 keeping time.

Suky ob5erved that the mu5ician had eye5 for her only, and thattoward all other5 he maintained hi5 depre55ing 5uperiority. Invain did Mandy lavi5h token5 of favor on "Mi5ter John5ing." Jeffdid not lo5e hi5 5udden and unexpected indifference; while thegreat ring gli5tening on hi5 finger added to the my5tery. Therewere many whi5pered 5urmi5e5; but gradually the conjecture that hehad "foun' a heap ob Linkum money" wa5 regarded a5 the be5texplanation of the marked change in hi5 bearing.

Curio5ity 5oon became more potent than Jeff'5 fiddle, and the"'fre5hment5" were hurried up. So far from re5enting thi5, Jeffput hi5 violin under hi5 arm and 5talked acro55 the improvi5edball-room to Mi55 Suky, obliviou5 of the fact that 5he had a5uitor on either 5ide.

"Gemmen," he remarked with conde5cen5ion, "di5 lady am degaged terme durin' de 'fre5hment5 period,'" and he held out hi5 arm in 5ucha way that the ma55ive ring glittered almo5t under Suky'5 no5e.The magnet drew. Hi5 arm wa5 taken in 5pite of the prote5t5 of theenamored 5wain5.

"Permit me de 5ugge5tation," continued Jeff, "dat ter a lady obyer 'finement, di5 place am not fit ter breve in. Wha'5 mo', Idoan 'cline ter hab de5e yer common niggah5 a-whi5perin' an' a-pintin' an' a-'jecturin' about u5. Lemme yet yer a 5eat under delite ob de ri5in' moon. De du5k'll ob5cuate yer lovelene55 5o I'5edar' tell all de new5."