The old Colonel sprang up and clambered over the levee. Then forcing
himself to a more composed movement he hastened into the house and
ordered his horse.
"Tell my children to make merry while I am gone," he left word. "I shall
be back to-night," and the horse's hoofs clattered down a by-road
leading to the city.
"Charlie," said the planter, riding up to a window, from which the old
man's nightcap was thrust out, "what you say, Charlie,--my house for
yours, eh, Charlie--what you say?"
"Ello!" said Charlie; "from where you come from dis time of to-night?"
"I come from the Exchange in St. Louis Street." (A small fraction of the
truth.)
"What you want?" said matter-of-fact Charlie.
"I come to trade."
The low-down relative drew the worsted off his ears. "Oh! yass," he said
with an uncertain air.
"Well, old man Charlie, what you say: my house for yours,--like you
said,--eh, Charlie?"
"I dunno," said Charlie; "it's nearly mine now. Why you don't stay dare
youse'f?"
"_Because I don't want!_" said the Colonel savagely.
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