THE SOUTH BAY. 175 



myself, and was arranging a little plan of reconcilia- 

 tion, when our servant girl brought word that Mr. 

 Goodlow had forbidden her drawing water from the 

 well." 



Harry looked at his father with a surprised, 

 troubled, and slightly angry look. The well was on 

 Mr. Goodlow's land, but had been used from time 

 immemorial by both families, as there was none other 

 near. He began to think the matter was more seri- 

 ous than he had at first supposed. 



"I felt this to be unchristian," continued his 

 father, " and could not bring- myself to make the 

 first advance after it." 



"I can hardly believe the story, and will cross- 

 question the girl," replied Harry. 



It turned out to be true, however ; the girl had 

 been going to the well, as Deacon Goodlow descend- 

 ed, " all mud," as she described it, from his buggy, 

 and he seeing her at first seemed inclined to avoid a 

 meeting, but suddenly changing his mind told her 

 angrily never to come there for water again. With 

 all due allowance for kitchen exaggeration, the fact 

 could scarcely be disputed, and Harry suddenly 

 burst forth : 



" We will dig a well of our own ; I have always 

 hated dependence for anything, even on her father, 

 and then we'll see " 



What they would see was not very clear, except 

 that they would see the well built, for Harry, with 

 his usual impetuosity, at once set about making the 

 necessary arrangements, his new position enabling 



