CHAPTER I



  There had been a thunder-shower in the middle of
the afternoon, but it had passed away about five
o'clock, accompanied by sullen rumbles and intermit-
tent flashes of uncertain lightning. Then the sun
burst forth and poured its light over the drenched
Kentucky landscape. It showed millions of diamonds
and pearls strung upon the bending blades of blue-
grass; broad expanses of molten silver where the
ponds lay, and smaller mirrors of the same metal
where puddles had formed from the recent downpour.
It showed boundless hoards of gold where the nas-
turtiunms were banked in a crimson mass, and the mot-
tled bells of the rank trumpet-vines sent forth a silent
summons to the answering sunshine. In the vivid
green of a large oak tree a pair of orioles wove a
wonderful pattern of living flame as they darted
about among the boughs. Two honey-bees crawled
out upon the tiny porch of their little home, and,
being assured by the instinct which God gave them
that the storm was over, arose on buzzing wings to
seek some distant store of sweets.
  His attention being drawn by the sunlight bursting
suddenly through the window of the library where he
sat reading-to be exact, it fell upon the open page
before his eyes-Major Thomas Dudley closed the
book, leaving one long fore-finger between the leaves
                                            [9]