飘

　pick　our　bones　a　little　barer　than　they　already　are。　I　tell　you　Atlanta’s　going　to　be　a　big　town　soon。　They’ve　got　to　have　lumber　for　their　houses；　so　I’m　going　to　buy　this　mill　just　as　soon　as—well；　as　soon　as　some　of　the　bills　owing　me　are　paid。　By　this　time　next　year；　I　ought　to　be　breathing　easier　about　money。　I—I　guess　you　know　why　I’m　so　anxious　to　make　money　quickly；　don’t　you？”
　He　blushed　and　cackled　again。　He’s　thinking　of　Suellen；　Scarlett　thought　in　disgust。
　For　a　moment　she　considered　asking　him　to　lend　her　three　hundred　dollars；　but　wearily　she　rejected　the　idea。　He　would　be　embarrassed；　he　would　stammer；　he　would　offer　excuses；　but　he　wouldn’t　lend　it　to　her。　He　had　worked　hard　for　it；　so　he　could　marry　Suellen　in　the　spring　and　if　he　parted　with　it；　his　wedding　would　be　postponed　indefinitely。　Even　if　she　worked　on　his　sympathies　and　his　duty　toward　his　future　family　and　gained　his　promise　of　a　loan；　she　knew　Suellen　would　never　permit　it。　Suellen　was　getting　more　and　more　worried　over　the　fact　that　she　was　practically　an　old　maid　and　she　would　move　heaven　and　earth　to　prevent　anything　from　delaying　her　marriage。
　What　was　there　in　that　whining　complaining　girl　to　make　this　old　fool　so　anxious　to　give　her　a　soft　nest？　Suellen　didn’t　deserve　a　loving　husband　and　the　profits　of　store　and　a　sawmill。　The　minute　Sue　got　her　hands　on　a　little　money　she’d　give　herself　unendurable　airs　and　never　contribute　one　cent　toward　the　upkeep　of　Tara。　Not　Suellen！　She’d　think　herself　well　out　of　it　and　not　care　if　Tara　went　for　taxes　or　burned　to　the　ground；　so　long　as　she　had　pretty　clothes　and　a　“Mrs。”　in　front　of　her　name。
　As　Scarlett　thought　of　Suellen’s　secure　future　and　the　precarious　one　of　herself　and　Tara；　anger　flamed　in　her　at　the　unfairness　of　life。　Hastily　she　looked　out　of　the　buggy　into　the　muddy　street；　lest　Frank　should　see　her　expression。　She　was　going　to　lose　everything　she　had；　while　Sue—　Suddenly　a　determination　was　born　in　her。
　Suellen　should　not　have　Frank　and　his　store　and　his　mill！
　Suellen　didn’t　deserve　them。　She　was　going　to　have　them　herself。　She　thought　of　Tara　and　remembered　Jonas　Wilkerson；　venomous　as　a　rattler；　at　the　foot　of　the　front　steps；　and　she　grasped　at　the　last　straw　floating　above　the　shipwreck　of　her　life。　Rhett　had　failed　her　but　the　Lord　had　provided　Frank。
　But　can　I　get　him？　Her　fingers　clenched　as　she　looked　unseeingly　into　the　rain。　Can　I　make　him　forget　Sue　and　propose　to　me　real　quick？　If　I　could　make　Rhett　almost　propose；　I　know　I　could　get　Frank！　Her　eyes　went　over　him；　her　lids　flickering。　Certainly；　he’s　no　beauty；　she　thought　coolly；　and　he’s　got　very　bad　teeth　and　his　breath　smells　bad　and　he’s　old　enough　to　be　my　father。　Moreover；　he’s　nervous　and　timid　and　well　meaning；　and　I　don’t　know　of　any　more　damning　qualities　a　man　can　have。　But　at　least；　he’s　a　gentleman　and　I　believe　I　could　stand　living　with　him　better　than　with　Rhett。　Certainly　I　could　manage　him　easier。　At　any　rate；　beggars　can’t　be　choosers。
　That　he　was　Suellen’s　fiancé　caused　her　no　qualm　of　conscience。　After　the　complete　moral　collapse　which　had　sent　her　to　Atlanta　and　to　Rhett；　the　appropriation　of　her　sister’s　betrothed　seemed　a　minor　affair　and　one　not　to　be　bothered　with　at　this　time。
　With　the　rousing　of　fresh　hope；　her　spine　stiffened　and　she　forgot　that　her　feet　were　wet　and　cold。　She　looked　at　Frank　so　steadily；　her　eyes　narrowing；　that　he　became　somewhat　alarmed　and　she　dropped　her　gaze　swiftly；　remembering　Rhett’s　words：　“I’ve　seen　eyes　like　yours　above　a　dueling　pistol。　。。。　They　evoke　no　ardor　in　the　male　breast。”
　“What’s　the　matter；　Miss　Scarlett？　You　got　a　chill？”
　“Yes；”　she　answered　helplessly。　“Would　you　mind—”　She　hesitated　timidly。　“Would　you　mind　if　I　put　my　hand　in　your　coat　pocket？　It’s　so　cold　and　my　muff　is　soaked　through。”
　“Why—why—of　course　not！　And　you　haven’t　any　gloves！　My；　my；　what　a　brute　I’ve　been　idling　along　like　this；　talking　my　head　off　when　you　must　be　freezing　and　wanting　to　get　to　a　fire。　Giddap；　Sally！　By　the　way；　Miss　Scarlett；　I’ve　been　so　busy　talking　about　myself　I　haven’t　even　asked　you　what　you　were　doing　in　this　section　in　this　weather？”
　“I　was　at　the　Yankee　headquarters；”　she　answered　before　she　thought。　His　sandy　brows　went　up　in　astonishment。
　“But　Miss　Scarlett！　The　soldiers—　Why—”
　“Mary；　Mother　of　God；　let　me　think　of　a　real　good　lie；”　she　prayed　hastily。　It　would　never　do　for　Frank　to　suspect　she　had　seen　Rhett。　Frank　thought　Rhett　the　blackest　of　blackguards　and　unsafe　for　decent　women　to　speak　to。
　“I　went　there—I　went　there　to　see　if—if　any　of　the　officers　would　buy　fancy　work　from　me　to　send　home　to　their　wives。　I　embroider　very　nicely。”
　He　sank　back　against　the　seat　aghast；　indignation　struggling　with　bewilderment。
　“You　went　to　the　Yankees—　But　Miss　Scarlett！　You　shouldn’t。　Why—why　。。。　Surely　your　father　doesn’t　know！　Surely；　Miss　Pittypat—”
　“Oh；　I　shall　die　if　you　tell　Aunt　Pittypat！”　she　cried　in　real　anxiety　and　burst　into　tears。　It　was　easy　to　cry；　because　she　was　so　cold　and　miserable；　but　the　effect　was　startling。　Frank　could　not　have　been　more　embarrassed　or　helpless　if　she　had　suddenly　begun　disrobing。　He　clicked　his　tongue　against　his　teeth　several　times；　muttering　“My！　My！”　and　made　futile　gestures　at　her。　A　daring　thought　went　through　his　mind　that　he　should　draw　her　head　onto　his　shoulder　and　pat　her　but　he　had　never　done　this　to　any　woman　and　hardly　knew　how　to　go　about　it。　Scarlett　O’Hara；　so　high　spirited　and　pretty；　crying　here　in　his　buggy。　Scarlett　O’Hara；　the　proudest　of　the　proud；　trying　to　sell　needlework　to　the　Yankees。　His　heart　burned。
　She　sobbed　on；　saying　a　few　words　now　and　then；　and　he　gathered　that　all　was　not　well　at　Tara。　Mr。　O’Hara　was　still　“not　himself　at　all；”　and　there　wasn’t　enough　food　to　go　around　for　so　many。　So　she　had　to　come　to　Atlanta　to　try　to　make　a　little　money　for　herself　and　her　boy。　Frank　clicked　his　tongue　again　and　suddenly　he　found　that　her　head　was　on　his　shoulder。　He　did　not　quite　know　how　it　got　there。　Surely　he　had　not　placed　it　there；　but　there　her　head　was　and　there　was　Scarlett　helplessly　sobbing　against　his　thin　chest；　an　exciting　and　novel　sensation　for　him。　He　patted　her　shoulder　timidly；　gingerly　at　first；　and　when　she　did　not　rebuff　him　he　became　bolder　and　patted　her　firmly。　What　a　helpless；　sweet；　womanly　little　thing　she　was。　And　how　brave　and　silly　to　try　her　hand　at　making　money　by　her　needle。　But　dealing　with　the　Yankees—that　was　too　much。
　“I　won’t　tell　Miss　Pittypat；　but　you　must　promise　me；　Miss　Scarlett；　that　you　won’t　do　anything　like　this　again。　The　idea　of　your　father’s　daughter—”
　Her　wet　green　eyes　sought　his　helplessly。
　“But；　Mr。　Kennedy；　I　must　do　something。　I　must　take　care　of　my　poor　little　boy　and　there　is　no　one　to　look　after　us　now。”
　“You　are　a　brave　little　woman；”　he　pronounced；　“but　I　won’t　have　you　do　this　sort　of　thing。　Your　family　would　die　of　shame。”
　“Then　what　will　I　do？”　The　swimming　eyes　looked　up　to　him　as　if　she　knew　he　knew　everything　and　was　hanging　on　his　words。
　“Well；　I　don’t　know　right　now。　But　I’ll　think　of　something。”
　“Oh；　I　know　you　will！　You　are　so　smart—Frank。”
　She　had　never　called　him　by　his　first　name　before　and　the　sound　came　to　him　as　a　pleasant　shock　and　surprise。　The　poor　girl　was　probably　so　upset　she　didn’t　even　notice　her　slip。　He　felt　very　kindly　toward　her　and　very　protecting。　If　there　was　anything　he　could　do　for　Suellen　O’Hara’s　sister；　he　would　certainly　do　it。　He　pulled　out　a　red　bandanna　handkerchief　and　handed　it　to　her　and　she　wiped　her　eyes　and　began　to　smile　tremulously。
　“I’m　such　a　silly　little　goose；”　she　said　apologetically。　“Please　forgive　me。”
　“You　aren’t　a　silly　little　goose。　You’re　a　very　brave　little　woman　and　you　are　trying　to　carry　too　heavy　a　load。　I’m　afraid　Miss　Pittypat　isn’t　going　to　be　much　help　to　you。　I　hear　she　lost　most　of　her　property　and　Mr。　Henry　Hamilton’s　in　bad　shape　himself。　I　only　wish　I　had　a　home　to　offer　you　shelter　in。　But；　Miss　Scarlett；　you　just　remember　this；　when　Miss　Suellen　and　I　are　married；　there’ll　always　be　a　place　for　you　under　our　roof　and　for　Wade　Hampton　too。”
　Now　was　the　time！　Surely　the　saints　and　angels　watched　over　her　to　give　her　such　a　Heaven…sent　opportunity。　She　managed　to　look　very　startled　and　embarrassed　and　opened　her　mouth　as　if　to　speak　quickly　and　then　shut　it　with　a　pop。
　“Don’t　ten　me　you　didn’t　know　I　was　to　be　your　brother…in…law　this　spring；”　he　said　with　nervous　jocularity。　And　then；　seeing　her　eyes　fill　up　with　tears；　he　questioned　in　alarm：　“What’s　the　matter？　Miss　Sue’s　not　ill；　is　she？”
　“Oh；　no！　No！”
　“There　is　something　wrong。　You　must　tell　me。”
　“Oh；　I　can’t！　I　didn’t　know！　I　thought　surely　she　must　have　written　you—　Oh；　how　mean！”
　“Miss　Scarlett；　what　is　it？”
　“Oh；　Frank；　I　didn’t　mean　to　let　it　out　but　I　thought；　of　course；　you　knew—that　she　had　written　you—”
　“Written　me　what？”　He　was　trembling。
　“Oh；　to　do　this　to　a　fine　man　like　you！”
　“What’s　she　done？”
　“She　didn’t　write　you？　Oh；　I　guess　she　was　too　ash