YOURS WITH ALL MY HEART 



for him, nor had he for them. A sense of 

 injury at their hand stirred in his hot heart. 

 He was getting a little wing-weary for want 

 of practice, although he was exultant at the 

 speed at which he had accomplished his first 

 mile inland. 



For now he looked down upon the long, 

 straight line of the railroad track, cutting 

 through the pine and oak woods, and saw 

 the twinkling lights of the little country 

 grocery store and post-office combined, over 

 against the station. 



The glowing lamp of the country grocery 

 store, with its tin reflector, was the spark 

 that kindled the fuse to his belligerent spirit. 

 For he knew that many an old adversary of 

 his made it his headquarters; he had never 

 been able to fly there till now, but he had 

 propelled himself by half-winged foot-power 

 over the forest road to its well-worn door- 

 sill before, and he knew the village denizens 

 were gathering there tonight. 



Inside, the old standbys were already in 

 position. ' I tell yer, Uncle Siah, there can't 

 none o' them ere city chaps boss us round; 

 I reckon our eye-teeth's cut 'fore they's born. 

 That idee o' turning out in winter weather 



197 



