She was leaning gently on the arm of her aged companion as they stood in the doorway of their southern home, gazing upon the surrounding landscape, until his eye had caught sight of an object in the distance which had startled the foregoing dialogue.
“I see him, grandpa!” she exclaimed, as her gaze followed the direction he pointed out.
“He seems to be coming this way, Mara. Who can it be?”
“I cannot tell, grandpa. Oh, in these terrible times I tremble lest every comer be a foe.”
“Nay, child; I think we have nothing to fear. Ah, he heads more to the south. He is not coming here.”
The maiden drew a breath of relief, and as the strange rider disappeared from sight a minute later, she said:
“He is gone. I am so glad, too. But, grandpa, have you forgotten that you were to go to Hammond’s for me? You will have to start at once, while I shall have to look after my work.”
“Yes, yes, Mara, my child. But hark! Dinah is calling for you now. I never saw such a troublesome nigger.”
With the words he went into the house, leaving her still standing in the doorway.
She was about to follow her grandparent, when a moving object in the distance caught her gaze.