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Judge Briscoe was sitting out under the afternoon sky with his chair

tilted back and his feet propped against the steps His coat was off, and

Minnie sat near at hand sewing a button on the garlaze that comes over women's eyes when they sew for

other people

From the interior of the house rose and fell the ed in a conversation, which, for a time, seemed to consist of

dejected e and Minnie heard Helen's

voice, clear, soft, and tre a little with excitement She talked

only two or three reat commotion

All the voices burst forth at once in ejaculations--alain subdued and still, except for the single soft

one, which held forth itation, than any

of the others

"You needn't try to bahter, and with a glance at the parlor hence now issued the

ruirl would follow John

Harkless to Jericho"

Minnie shook her head ue frown

"Well, why not?" asked the judge crossly

"Why wouldn't she have him, then?"

"Well, who knows he's asked her yet?"

Minnie screamed derisively at the density of ht he was hurt? Why didn't he come back in the house with