he was in the presence of Elizabeth in a moment.
    The cold distance that often crossed the demeanour of the heiress, in her
intercourse with Edwards, was now entirely banished, and two hours were passed
by the party, in the free, unembarrassed, and confiding manner of old and
esteemed friends. Judge Temple had forgotten the suspicions engendered during
his morning's ride, and the youth and maiden conversed, laughed, and were sad,
by turns, as impulse directed. At length Edwards, after repeating his intention
to do so for the third time, left the Mansion-house, to go to the Rectory on a
similar errand of friendship.
    During this short period, a scene was passing at the hut, that completely
frustrated the benevolent intentions of Judge Temple in favour of the Leather-
and at once destroyed the short-lived harmony between the youth and Marmaduke.
    When Hiram Doolittle had obtained his search-warrant, his first business was
to procure a proper officer to see it executed. The Sheriff was absent,
summoning, in person, the grand inquest for the county; the deputy, who resided
in the village, was riding on the same errand, in a different part of the
settlement; and the regular constable of the township had been selected for his
station from motives of charity, being lame of a leg. Hiram intended to
accompany the officer as a spectator, but he felt no very strong desire to bear
the brunt of the battle. It was, however, Saturday, and the sun was already
turning the shadows of the pines towards the east; on the morrow the
conscientious magistrate could not engage in such an expedition at the peril of
his soul; and long before Monday, the venison, and all vestiges of the death of
the deer, might be secreted or destroyed. Happily, the lounging form of Billy
Kirby met his eye, and Hiram, at all times fruitful in similar expedients, saw
his way clear at once. Jotham, who was associated in the whole business, and who
had left the mountain in consequence of a summons from his coadjutor, but who
failed, equally with Hiram, in the unfortunate particular of nerve, was directed
to summon the wood-chopper to the dwelling of the magistrate.
    When Billy appeared, he was very kindly invited to take the chair in which
he had already seated himself, and was treated, in all respects, as if he were
an equal.
    »Judge Temple has set his heart on putting the deer law in force,« said
Hiram, after the preliminary civilities were over, »and a complaint