THE ORDEAL AT MT. HOPE
all of a sudden he hollered dat I had his gal an' commenced hittin' me."
"He's a bully and a coward, or he would not have made use of his superior strength in that way. What's your name, friend?"
"'Lias Gray," was the answer, which startled the minister into exclaiming,—
"What! are you Aunt Caroline's son?"
"Yes, suh, I sho is; does you know my mothah?"
"Why, I'm stopping with her, and we were talking about you last night. My name is Dokesbury, and I am to take charge of the church here."
"I thought mebbe you was a preachah, but I could n't scarcely believe it after I seen de way you held Sam an' looked at him."
Dokesbury laughed, and his merriment seemed to make his companion feel better, for the sullen, abashed look left his face, and he laughed a little himself as he said: "I was n't a-pesterin' Sam, but I tell you he pestered me mighty."
Dokesbury looked into the boy's face,—he was hardly more than a boy,—lit up as it was by a smile, and concluded that Aunt Caroline was right. 'Lias might be 'ca'less, but he was n't
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