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 ty years now and everybody knows me.—I live just beyond here.—

"All right, Mrs. Gorton. I'll take you home."

"Thank 'e, Bub. But don't call me Mrs. Gorton. Ain't had no one call me that since my sparkin' days. Call me Aunt Sally. Everybody does. I like it. We're all neighbors in these parts and to them all I'm plain Aunt Sally. So call me that."

"All right, Aunt Sally," humoring her. "If you're Aunt Sally to all then you'll be Aunt Sally to me. Do you live far?"

The chauffeur had now taken his place at the wheel and Bennet stepped into the car. "Couple of miles ahead.—Used to live on Park Lauriston's place—lived there good many years but moved 'bout this time last year." Mrs. Gorton was now herself, confidence returning quickly as she sat by the good looking youth at her side and prattled away like a young girl, in her hospitable, open hearted southern way.

At the name Lauriston, Bennet's heart gave a wild throb sending the blood pulsing to his face.

"Ah, you know the Lauristons, then?" he asked trying to hide his confusion by making the question casual.

"Know them—know them. I know the whole kit and kaboodle of them. Known them since their bib and tucker days. Old Park Lauriston and I almost grew up together. Say I do know them!" Then turning to look shrewdly at the young man at her side, she asked: "You ain't coming courting, are you? If you are you might's