The colonel leaned forward in his chair and called after him. “Jacob, how about these stocks? I wanted to sell out at eight and three quarter cents.�
Eaton paused reluctantly, his hands in his pockets. “You can next week,� he said; “the market’s slumped this. You’d better let me handle that deal right through, Cousin David.�
“You’ve been doing it straight along,� said the colonel. “I reckon I’d better wake up and remember that I used to know something. I’m equal to strong meats yet, Jacob, and you’ve been putting me on pap.�
“Oh, it’s all right!� said Jacob. “I’ll sell the shares out for you,� and he departed.
The colonel sat watching him. The old thought that he would probably marry Diana no longer had any attractions for him; he had lost confidence in Jacob’s sleek complacence, and the recent testimony in court had shaken it still more. Besides, he had a fine pride of family, and the verdict against Jacob had irritated and mortified him. Nothing was too good for Diana, and the fact that there was the shadow of a great sorrow upon her made her even dearer to her father. He had never thought that she had more than a passing fancy for Jacob, and lately he had suspected that she disliked him. The colonel ruminated, strumming on the piazza balustrade with absent fingers. Before him the long slope of the lawn was still as green as summer, but the horse-chestnut burs were open and the glossy nuts fell with every light breeze. Across the road a single gum tree waved a branch of flame.
He was still sitting there when Kingdom-Come brought out a mint julep and arranged it on the table at his elbow.
The colonel glanced up, conscious that the negro lingered. “What’s the matter, King?� he asked good-humoredly.
“News from town, suh,� the black replied, flicking some dust off the table with his napkin. “Dey’s tried ter storm de jail, suh. De militia charged, an’ deyer’s been right smart shootin’.�
Colonel Royall looked out apprehensively over the slope to the south which showed in the distance the spires and roofs of the city. A blue fog of smoke hung low over it and the horizon beyond had the haze of autumn. “Bad news,� said he, shaking his head.
“It suttinly am, suh,� agreed Kingdom-Come, “an’ dey do say dat Aunt Charity ez gwine ter leave Juniper now fo’ sho.�