CHAPTER I
CHAPTER II
CHAPTER III
CHAPTER IV
CHAPTER V
CHAPTER VI
CHAPTER VII
CHAPTER VIII
CHAPTER IX
CHAPTER X
CHAPTER XI
CHAPTER XII
CHAPTER XIII
CHAPTER XIV
CHAPTER XV
CHAPTER XVI
CHAPTER XVII
CHAPTER XVIII
There had been a thunder-shower in the middle of the afternoon, but ithad passed away about five o'clock, accompanied by sullen rumbles andintermittent flashes of uncertain lightning. Then the sun burst forthand poured its light over the drenched Kentucky landscape. It showedmillions of diamonds and pearls strung upon the bending blades ofbluegrass; broad expanses of molten silver where the ponds lay, andsmaller mirrors of the same metal where puddles had formed from therecent downpour. It showed boundless hoards of gold where thenasturtiums were banked in a crimson mass, and the mottled bells of therank trumpet-vines sent forth a silent summons to the answeringsunshine. In the vivid green of a large oak tree a pair of orioles wovea wonderful pattern of living flame as they darted about among theboughs. Two honey-bees crawled out upon the tiny porch of their littlehome, and, being assured by the instinct which God gave them that thestorm was over, arose on buzzing wings to seek some distant store ofsweets.
His attention being drawn by the sunlight bursting suddenly through thewindow of the library where he sat reading—to be exact, it fell uponthe open page before his eyes—Major Thomas Dudley closed the book,leaving one long forefinger between the leaves to mark the spot wherehe had been interrupted, and turned to look outdoors. The scene whichwas spread before him brought a peaceful but sad smile to his face. Fortwo hundred feet or more the broad yard sloped very gently down to thehighway, from which it was separated by an iron fence of ornamentaldesign, but now much worn, and sadly bent and twisted in places. Thisyard was carpeted with a luxuriant expanse of bluegrass in which noalien growth was allowed to find root. There were a number of majestictrees, of the oak and maple variety, and a few shrubs, nicely trimmed. Agravel driveway came up one side from the road, led by the old porticoin front, and from thence disappeared towards the rear in the directionof the stable. Through the open window came the odour of honeysuckle,heavy and sweet; the vine grew near the corner of the house. It was nota very sightly shrub, and it marred the won