"Words that hev to be took back, Seth Davis," she said hastily, "hev passed between you and my man.

Out of my way, then, that I may pass, too." "Not much betwixt you and me, Aunt Rachel," he said with slouching deprecation, using the old household title by which he had familiarly known her.

"I've nothin agin you--and I kin prove it by wot I'm yer to say.

And I ain't trucklin' to yer for myself, for ez far ez me and your'n ez concerned," he continued, with a malevolent glance, "thar ain't gold enough in Caleforny to mak the weddin' ring that could hitch me and Cress together.

I want to tell you that you're bein' played; that you're bein' befooled and bamboozled and honey-fogled.