Gordon Keith

and divides into two branches, one of which flows northward and empties into the Amazon, whilst the other, turning to the southward, pours its

chool, his books under his arm, when, so to speak, he came on the stone

dors of Spring filled eyes and nostrils, and called to his spirit with that subtle voice which has stirred Youth since Youth's own Spring awoke amid the leafy trees. In its call were

m was crying. At the same moment there turned the curve beyond them, coming toward him, a girl on horseback. He watched her with growing interest as she gallope

hat was the matter with the little one, and the older child's reply that she was crying becau

prang from

le kitten. I'll give you some money. Won't you hold

ad come up and stood watching her with quickening breath. All he could see under her hat was an oval chin and the dainty curve of a pink cheek where it faded into snow, and at the back of a small head a knot of brown hair resting on the nape of a shapely neck. For the rest,

e said, raising h

d up just as th

do yo

ged into Keith's face, and the ha

ul! Her eyes were as

half kindly. "Where did she drop it?" He did not take hi

dear! She was on her way to the store

little, smeared face began to pucker ag

ckel! A whole nickel!" This with the sweetest smile. "Well, yo

tic," said Keith to himself.

about her skirt, a

have left my purse at the

to feel in his pocket, but as he did so his

shall have to do like the woman in the Bible, and

ig eyes that were beginning to be troubled again, she paused. The next second she drew a small bracel

She wouldn't appreciate it, and it

in her blue eyes, as a vigorous twist br

. I have enjoyed it, and I am glad to have you ha

below, set like a mirror among the green hills. A little girl in white, with brown eyes, was handing a doll to a

l, put up her little mouth, and the girl kissed her, only to

real look at Keith,--a look provoked by the casual glance she had had of him but a moment before,--and as she did so the color stole up into her cheeks, as she thought of

is?" she asked, falteringly. "

o'clock--it was half-past three when I left school,

her horse. "I must get ba

orestal

help

you know how

neat shoe. She evidently expected Keith to let her step into his hand. He knew of this mode of helping a lady up, but he had never tried it.

can do it that wa

st learn it. But I know how to do it this wa

spring, and he lifted her like a f

away, he remarked that she sat her horse very well and had a very straight, slim figure; but the pic

form flitted dipping across the road, and, taking his

n't get caught by a pretty girl, in a ragged c

his life swept over him. He suddenly seemed lonelier than he had been. Then the picture of the girl on her knees

oung, strange man, a country boy, it was true, and very plainly dressed, but with the manner and tone of a gentleman, quite good-looking, and very strong. Strength, mere physical strength, appeals to all girls at certai

like the idea of his being the only doctor at the Springs, he had been very nice to her. He had seen her sitting on the ground the day bef

aid. And he had looked at her

you begin flattering? And at

she found her mother and Mrs. Nailor engage

ying in the road, and gave a humorous account of t

ayly. "I think he must be studying for the mini

ught it rather improper for her to

the base of the Ridge, and took a foot-path which led winding up through the woods over the Ridge. It was a path that Gordon often chose when he wanted to be alone. The way was steep and rocky, and was so little used that often he never met any one from the time he plunged into the woods until he emerged from them on the other side of the Ridge. In some places the pines were so thick that it was always twil

ion of the poetry contained in history. He told them the story of Hannibal--his aim, his struggles, his conquest. As he told

ghbor the attention he himself was withholding. The neighbor was Dave Dennison. Dave was of late actually trying to learn something. Dave was the only boy who was listening. A little girl with a lisp was trying in vain to divide her

as trying with very poor success to justify himself for his outbreak of impatience. His failure spoile

and Gordon turned out of the dim path to walk on the thick brown carpet of pine-needles. It was a favorite s

ed out eastward over the rolling country below to where, far beyond sloping hills covered with forest, it merged into a soft blue that faded away into the sky itself. In that misty space lay everything that Gordon Keith had known and

t world, the world of which he had had as a boy

were closed, and her face was so white that the thought sprang into Keith's mind that she was dead, and his heart leaped into his throat. At the distance of a few yards he stopped and scanned her closely. She had on a riding-habit; her hat had fallen on her neck; her dark hair, loosened, lay about her throat, increasing the deep pallor of her face.

soft carpeting of pine-needles, he observed how delicate her features were; the blue veins showed clearly

of her throat struck him almost dazzlingly. Instinctively he took the little crumpled handkerchief that lay on the pine carpet

moved again with a faint sigh; and then her eyelids opened slowl

w a long, deep breath, as though she were returning from some

tried to ride my horse down the bank, and he slipped and fell with me, and I do not remember much after

ome distance along the little path. When he retu

" she asked langu

e home. He was galloping. I

I can wal

to her cheek for a second and then fled back to her heart, and she sank bac

he hotel without me, my mother will be dreadf

rush the tears away with her fingers; but one or two slipped past and dropped on her dress. With face still

an very curiously. She seemed suddenly much younger, quite like a little

mine." He pressed his handkerchief on her

ng down the barriers of conventionality and bridges years. Keith in a moment had come to feel

ing had happened to me--and she has not been very well." She made a brave effort to command herself, and sat up very straight. "There. Thank you very much." She han

gather up his books and

below, and there is no road; but I will carry you do

are not strong enough I want you to get me a carriage or a wagon,

the books into his pocket, an

g down, he slipped his arms under her and lifted her as

ward, but, under the weight he was carrying, was so close shut as to bring out the chin boldly. The cheekbones were rather high; the gray eyes were wide open and full of li

ing the rising color in his face, the dilation of his nost

ow and rest; y

r that if he had not been able to mount her on he

id guilefully. He stopped instantly, and

I was a brute, think

ance at her face. Their eyes met, and he l

g into her voice: "May I inquire what your name is? I am Miss York

here are you from?" His man

New

ght you

l. Without a word he rose and started to lift her again. She made a gesture of dissent. But before she could object f

"It is the only way to get down. No vehicle could get up here at present, unless it

Every atom of pride and protec

re a vehicle at the hotel. But he said he could not leave her alone by the r

ith boyish pride, standing before her very st

in dudgeon over

different from

If you keep on looking back, you don'

was heard in the distance, and th

w," said the girl, wa

p. She was a handsome woman of middle age and was richly

hotel two hours ago, and when your horse came without you! You will kill me

ord for her, declaring that she had been dreadfu

ing back to her daughter. "Mrs. Nailor was the first who heard your horse had come ho

knee when one's horse falls. That is part of the programme. This--gentleman happened to come along, and helped me down

d that she did not say anything of the way

condescension. He was conscious that she gave him a sweeping glance, and w

to California; but you would come South. After Mr. Wickers

ow I can settle h

retchedness of a region where th

e village. Dr. Balsam is one of the

d Mrs. Yorke, "but in a case like this! What does he know about surgery?" She turned b

shed at h

im," he said coldly. "And he has had about as much

again to beli

absolutely nothi

or. I met him the other day. He is a dear

best," said

her. "Can you help put my daughter into the carriage?" Mrs. Yorke looked at the driv

put her up into the vehicle. She simply smiled and said, "Thank you," quite as if she were accu

's eyes op

exclaimed, with a woman's ad

flush mounting to his che

said the girl, half turning her eyes on K

oked at her i

xclaimed reprovingl

self," asserted th

do so again," s

or she was not quite sure what he was. His face and air belied his shabby

my daughter," she began. "I do not know how I can compensate you; but if you will come to the hotel sometime to-

been more than compensated in being able to render a service to a lady. I have a school, and I make

irl said, "Thank you" an

e? What is he?"

Mr. Keith. He i

ation of his position seemed to strike him all on a sudden. That stout, full-voiced woman, with her rich clothes, had interposed between him an

ay slowly and musingly in

ad opened before him. One young girl had effected it. His

all others he would rather have met--Dr. Balsam. He instantly informed the Do

lue eyes and brown hai

or stole into

, who is always talking about he

now. Yes,

limb broken?" he a

but badly sprained. She fai

occurred up

e big pines--

e is no road." He was gazing up

" A little color fl

rted her? She

. I had to bring her. She c

I'll hurry on an

off he ga

e for this boy to make a fool of himself and he will probably do it, as I did." As the Doctor jogged on over the rocky road, his brow was knit in