Devil's Ford

te of his fractious brute, exhibited such skill and confidence as to at once satisfy the young girls of his

y satisfaction. And when Christie, more fascinating than ever in her riding-habit, took her place on the other side of Dick, as they sallied from the gate, that gentleman felt his cup of happiness complete. His triumphal entree into the world of civilization and fashion was secure. He did not regret the

ay along the slope, crossing the high-road at right angles, to reach the deeper woods beyond. Dick would have lingered on the highway-ostensibly to point out to his com

would hev the grit to hold up such a bluff agin natur and agin luck ez that yer flume stands for. I don't say it 'cause you're his daughters, ladies! That ain't the style, ez YOU know, in sassiety, Miss Carr," he added, turning to Christie as the more socially experienced. "No! but there ain't another man to

it?" said Christie, slig

flume to show fo

f there isn't any more gold?" co

ady-own daughter of Philip Carr. She sez, says she," continued Dick, appealing to the sedate pines for apprecia

the flume isn't there to work it out?" said Jessie

ween the sisters. The richer humor of Jessie's r

n that's agitatin' this yer camp inter two speeches as clear as crystal. There's the hull crowd outside-and some on 'em ins

say that the flume was w

; "but I reckon he'd like some of the money it cost laid out for suthin'

who had replaced the millionaires in mere manual

utstretched and gently-detaining hands; strange wildflowers sprang up through the parting underbrush; even the granite rocks that at times pressed closely upon the trail appeared as if cushioned to her contact with star-rayed mosses, or lightly flung after her long lassoes of delicate vines. She recalled the absolute freedom of their al-fresco life in the old double cabin, when she spent the greater part of her waking hours under the mute trees in the encompassing solitude, and, half regretting the more civilized restraints of this newer and more ambitious abode, forgot that she had ever rebelled against it. The social complication that threatened her now seemed to her rather the outcome of her half-civilized parlor than of th

pring. At the worst she would have no difficulty in retracing her steps home. In her present mood, she could readily spare their compa

her horse forward until the trail broadened into the level forest again, which she now remembered was a part of the environs of Indian Spring. The stranger hesitated, pausing once or twice with his back towards her, as if engaged in carefully examining the dwarf willows to select a switch. Christie slightly checked her speed as she dr

r corroborate her father's opinion of his sentiments. If he was really in love with Jessie, she would learn what reasons he had for expecting a serious culmination of his suit, and perhaps she might be able delicately to open his eyes to the truth. If, as she believed, it was only a boy

at the last moment?" she added mischievously. "I thought only we women were permitted that!" Indeed, she could not help notici

e their minds?" asked George

eir ignorance to please yourselves, abuse them for being fickle." She stopped to observe the effect of what she believed a rather clear and significant exposition of Jessie's

e right," he sa

ly; "although you didn't come, and we were obliged to ask Mr.

which, as she glanced covertly at him, seemed to have grown so much olde

r epithets, for a sudden, angry conviction of some coquetry and disingenuousness in Jessie had come to her in contem

wly raising his beautiful eyes to the young girl half reproachfu

nfortunate passion had brought out all his latent manliness, or whether he had hitherto kept his serious nature in the background, certainly he was not a boy. And certainly his was not a passion that he could be laughed out of. It was getting very tiresome. She wished she had not met him-at

o say good-by

Spring, now; Mr. Hall and-and Jessie-cannot be far

"I only stopped you to say

ked, in half-incredulous astoni

oming back,

way she had precipitated an equally ridiculous catastrophe. "Surely you are n

f course-and you will give

there ever anything so perfectly

-that you have other duties more important than that of squire of dames. I am afraid this forgetfulness made me think you would not

d not

ay good-by,

out hi

eave-taking, I beg you will forgive and forget it-or, at least, let it have no more weight wit

o speak, darkened; his color, which had quic

s. You know what I meant a moment ago. I read it in your reply.

ual honesty. She knew that Jessie did not love him-wou

she said hesitatingly; "I only

pare me the avowal

ideas you might have gathered from some indiscreet frankness o

a moment's mortifying reflection, "I've been brought up in the woods, Miss Carr,

litation of Jessie's truthfulness to no

aid again, hold

od-

is eyes fixed upon hers. Then suddenly, as if obeying an uncontrollable impulse, he

one mad, or was this vicarious farewell a part of the courtship of Devil's Ford? She looked at her little hand, which had red

ris

m the wood to seek her. In ano

" said Jessie. "Good heavens! h

o on the trail. He is going away, and-a

of merriment, "he told you at l