“Yes, suh, me and my husban’ was both here. He ain’t home to-day. We was takin’ care of de place when it ketched fire—dat’s how we come to save dis cabin. Dere warn’t no water and nobody to help, and dis was all we could do.”
Again Adam bowed his head. Was there nothing left?—nothing to recall even her smile? Then slowly, as if he feared the result:
“Was anything saved—any furniture, or—pictures—or——”
“Nothin’ but dem two chairs inside dar—and dat bench what you’s settin’ on. Dey was on de lawn and dat’s how we come to git ’em.”
For some minutes Adam sat looking into the ground at his feet, his eyes blurred with tears.
“Thank you,” was all he said.
And once more he turned his horse’s head towards the North.