DEDICATION
To my husband, J. C. Bayne, who in this, as in all else I have attempted, has given loving, loyal, unstinted support and encouragement.
CONTENTS
| PAGE | |
| [CHAPTER I.] | |
| The Coming of the Schoolmaster | 1 |
| [CHAPTER II.] | |
| Getting to Work | 19 |
| [CHAPTER III.] | |
| Cane Ridge Meeting-house | 27 |
| [CHAPTER IV.] | |
| Winter School-days | 38 |
| [CHAPTER V.] | |
| "Settin' Till Bedtime" | 42 |
| [CHAPTER VI.] | |
| One Hundred Years Ago | 59 |
| [CHAPTER VII.] | |
| The "House-raisin'" | 69 |
| [CHAPTER VIII.] | |
| Love's Young Dream | 75 |
| [CHAPTER IX.] | |
| The Great Revival | 78 |
| [CHAPTER X.] | |
| Afternoon in the Grove | 82 |
| [CHAPTER XI.] | |
| Light Dawns | 91 |
| [CHAPTER XII.] | |
| Comment and Criticism | 96 |
| [CHAPTER XIII.] | |
| Court Day | 103 |
| [CHAPTER XIV.] | |
| Betsy Says "Wait" | 107 |
| [CHAPTER XV.] | |
| The Waiting-time | 113 |
| [CHAPTER XVI.] | |
| A Singular Will | 120 |
| [CHAPTER XVII.] | |
| At Cane Ridge Again | 130 |
| [CHAPTER XVIII.] | |
| Drake Practices Penmanship | 135 |
| [CHAPTER XIX.] | |
| The Betrothal | 141 |
| [CHAPTER XX.] | |
| The Lone Grave in the Mountains | 151 |
| [CHAPTER XXI.] | |
| Gilcrest's Attitude | 159 |
| [CHAPTER XXII.] | |
| Banishment | 169 |
| [CHAPTER XXIII.] | |
| Mason Rogers' Diplomacy | 173 |
| [CHAPTER XXIV.] | |
| The Bar Sinister | 181 |
| [CHAPTER XXV.] | |
| The Package of Old Letters | 190 |
| [CHAPTER XXVI.] | |
| Springfield Presbytery | 199 |
| [CHAPTER XXVII.] | |
| Betsy Declines the Honor | 203 |
| [CHAPTER XXVIII.] | |
| At the Blue Heron | 213 |
| [CHAPTER XXIX.] | |
| Aunt Dilsey to the Rescue | 221 |
| [CHAPTER XXX.] | |
| Young Lochinvar | 228 |
| [CHAPTER XXXI.] | |
| A Novel Bridal Tour | 232 |
| [CHAPTER XXXII.] | |
| Exit James Anson Drane | 241 |
| [CHAPTER XXXIII.] | |
| The Stranger Preacher | 252 |
| [CHAPTER XXXIV.] | |
| The Cup of Cold Water | 258 |
| [CHAPTER XXXV.] | |
| Conclusion | 263 |
| [Appendix] | 269 |
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
| PAGE | |
| 1. Abner gently checked his mare, and sat watching her | [Frontispiece] |
| 2. Cane Ridge Meeting-house | [27] |
| 3. Portrait of Barton Warren Stone | [113] |
| 4. "I have come for my answer, Betty" | [143] |
| 5. At this juncture the door was flung open by old Dilsey | [225] |
| 6. The bridal equipage comes to grief | [236] |
PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS.
- Abner Dudley (Logan,) a young schoolmaster from Virginia.
- Major Gilcrest, ex-Revolutionary soldier and prominent churchman.
- Mason Rogers, pioneer settler and warm advocate of Barton Stone.
- Barton Warren Stone, preacher at Cane Ridge meeting-house.
- James Anson Drane, young lawyer and land agent.
- Betsy Gilcrest, only daughter of Major and Mrs. Gilcrest.
- Abby Patterson, niece of Major Gilcrest.
- Sarah Jane Gilcrest, wife of Major Gilcrest.
- Cynthia Ann Rogers, bustling wife of Mason Rogers.
- Aunt Dilsey, negro nurse and under-house keeper at Oaklands.