Part 52 (2/2)

The week dragged through to a lifeless close, and the anxiety of those nearest Dale perceptibly increased. Unquestionably he was getting thinner, his eyes were deeper and more haunted. In vain did they urge him to rest but he turned a deaf ear to all entreaty.

The doctor had been expected since noon of the previous day, and every sound on the pike brought the old gentleman to his feet, peering hopefully through the trees. Each hour, from twelve on, had made him more restive. Throughout luncheon and dinner his gaze would repeatedly wander across the terrace to a strip of lane in view from the dining-room window; and he sat up late that night, still listening. So he had slept late this Sunday morning.

But Brent, aroused by an undercurrent of some strange excitement, awakened with the birds. He went softly down the hall for his tub and dressed with more than his usual care; all the while wanting to whistle, but desisting through deference to the sleeping household.

As he stepped out into the fresh early morning one might have remarked a noticeable change in him since the night he crossed twice to Bradford's cottage. His eyes were clearer, the flesh upon his cheeks was firm and bronzed. He was a few pounds lighter, and this gave his face a clean-cut, chiselled look. His step was buoyant, and one instinctively knew that beneath the well-fitting clothes played a network of splendidly laced muscles. He threw back his head and took a deep, joyous breath of the cool pure air, then went on toward the chairs cl.u.s.tered in inviting comfort beneath the trees. But the gra.s.s and they were still wet, so he began strolling around the tanbark circle, following paths and brus.h.i.+ng through dew-bathed spider webs stretched like spun gla.s.s across his way.

The picturesque old peach orchard was a wealth of blus.h.i.+ng fruit, dropping from the over-weighted branches into a carpet of red clover. He went in here, and came out with his teeth buried in a luscious peach--leaning forward and wanting to laugh as its juice trickled over his chin. For not only were his hands occupied with other peaches, but he was pressing tightly beneath one arm a tin cylinder, three feet long and several inches in diameter. This was the thing Zack first noticed when that worthy appeared some half hour later.

”Good mawnin', Ma.r.s.e Brent,” he bowed. ”It sho'ly do look good to see you down so fresh an' early! What's dat cu'ious lookin' thing you got dar?”

”It's a lay-over-to-catch-meddlers, Uncle Zack.”

”A lay over to do which?” he squinted.

”It has a present in it,” Brent laughed. ”Give me a match!”

He lit a cigarette, and the old fellow watched with a fond expression which gradually drew up into a tangle of wrinkles.

”Doesn' you want me to fetch you a li'l julep fer a mawnin'-mawnin'?

It'll make yoh breakfas' set mighty good arter all dem peaches, an' I ain' fixed you none for--why, it must be moh'n a month!”

”No, you old sinner, I'm through with your mawnin'-mawnin's; and if you bring any around I'll take you to the grindstone!”

Uncle Zack stroked his jaw and grinned.

”Sho! Dat ain' gwine do me no hahm now, 'caze mah onlies' toof's done drapped out.”

”Then I'll get Miss Liz after you!”

”Lawd, Ma.r.s.e Brent,” the old fellow grew serious, ”you knows she ain'

turr'ble no moh! She's jest as meller as dem peaches, an' only las' week give me a dollar 'caze I hadn' cyarried de Cunnel but one julep dat day!”

”Is the Colonel getting up?”

”Naw, sah, he ain' budged. He say he sleepin' better'n he uster.”

”Zack, do you want to ride over to Mister Bob's for me before breakfast?”

”You knows I do--'foh breakfas', an' arter breakfas'!”

”Then get your mule--I'll have something for you to take.”

While Zack was hurrying to the stables, Brent walked excitedly to the garden to pick a bouquet of flowers; but, although there were thousands of blossoms from which to choose, their selection seemed a most difficult problem. More difficult, however, was a note he tried to write a few minutes later in the library; and Zack was waiting patiently before the third attempt--which happened to be the successful one--was sealed.

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