298 THE DRAPERY OF VINES 



the twiny end of the leaves like Tares, or loopin' 

 and twistin' the whole leaf around like this Bower 

 Vine here." 



The Bower Vine toward which Time o' Year 

 pointed was a wonderful plant of the Virgin's 

 Bower Clematis, which, by means of long canes 

 of standard Blackberries, had climbed to the cabin 

 eaves and seized upon an overhanging Maple branch 

 to continue its career. Then, buffeted by the 

 storm, it had fallen back in a mass upon the 

 Blackberries in that stage of relaxed perfection 

 of bloom that is followed by the gray -feathered 

 winged seeds. 



The old man looked quite himself once more, 

 except that the hurried speech, which for one of 

 his silent nature was akin to garrulous, told of ner- 

 vousness. Laying down the hammer, tacks, and 

 bits of leather with which he was fastening the 

 vines in place, until, as he expressed it, they could 

 "feel their fingers again," he went into the cabin 

 and brought out two long envelopes tied up in a 

 legal manner with red tape. 



"Here be those papers that we spoke about to- 

 gether a spell ago, her claims and mine, all wrote 

 out, a clear title, and swore to by the town clerk 

 over to the Center. He claims and he knows 



