He saw that he had not deceived her after all, owing to the angry
chatter of Mrs. Meserve. He had been handcuffed twice in his
life, but no sheriff had ever discomfited him so thoroughly as
this child. Fury mounted to his brain, and as soon as she was
safely out from between the wheels he stood up in the wagon and
flung the flag out in the road in the midst of the excited group.
"Take it, you pious, stingy, scandal-talkin', flag-raisin' crew!"
he roared. "Rebecca never took the flag; I found it in the road,
I say!"
"You never, no such a thing!" exclaimed Mrs. Meserve. "You found
it on the doorsteps in my garden!"
"Mebbe 't was your garden, but it was so chock full o' weeds I
thought 't was the road," retorted Abner. "I vow I wouldn't 'a'
given the old rag back to one o' you, not if you begged me on
your knees! But Rebecca's a friend o'my folks and can do with her
flag's she's a mind to, and the rest o' ye can do what ye like
an' go where ye like, for all I care! "
So saying, he made a sharp turn, gave the gaunt white horse a
lash and disappeared in a cloud of dust, before the astonished
Mr. Brown, the only man in the party, had a thought of detaining
him.
"I'm sorry I spoke so quick, Rebecca," said Mrs. Meserve, greatly
mortified at the situation. "But don't you believe a word that
lyin' critter said! He did steal it off my doorstep, and how did
you come to be ridin' and consortin' with him? I believe it would
kill your Aunt Miranda if she should hear about it!"
The little school-teacher put a sheltering arm round Rebecca as
Mr.
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