ve her over here, for
here and there shot a sunbeam message from that outer world down through
the leaves, and yet it seemed that black night had suddenly fallen about
her, and helplessly she wondered about it all, with her hands gripped
tight and her eyes wide. But the mood was gone when they emerged at the
"deadening" on the last spur and she saw Lonesome Cove and the roof
of her little home peacefully asleep in the same sun that shone on the
valley over the mountain. Colour came to her face and her heart beat
faster. At the foot of the spur the road had been widened and showed
signs of heavy hauling. There was sawdust in the mouth of the creek and,
from coal-dust, the water was black. The ring of axes and the shouts of
ox-drivers came from the mountain side. Up the creek above her father's
cabin three or four houses were being built of fresh boards, and there
in front of her was a new store. To a fence one side of it two horses
were hitched and on one horse was a side-saddle. Before the door stood
the Red Fox and Uncle Billy, the miller, who peered at her for a moment
through his big spectacles and gave her a wondering shout of welcome
that brought her cousin Loretta to the door, where she stopped a moment,
anchored with surprise. Over her shoulder peered her cousin Dave, and
June saw his face darken while she looked.

"Why, Honey," said the old miller, "have ye really come home agin?"
While Loretta simply said:

"My Lord!" and came out and stood with her hands on her hips looking at
June.

"Why, ye ain't a bit changed! I knowed ye wasn't goin' to put on no
airs like Dave thar said "--she turned on Dave, who, with a surly shrug,
wheeled and went back into the store. Uncle Billy was going home.

"Come down to see us right away now," he called back. "Ole Hon's might
nigh crazy to git her eyes on ye."

"All right, Uncle Billy," said June, "early termorrer." The Red Fox
did not open his lips, but his pale eyes searched the girl from head to
foot.

"Git down, June," said Loretta, "and I'll walk up to the house with ye."

June slid down, Devil Judd started the old horse, and as the two girls,
with their arms about each other's waists, followed, the wolfish side of
the Red Fox's face lifted in an ironical snarl. Bub was standing at the
gate, and when he saw his father riding home alone, his wistful eyes
filled and his cry of disappointment brought the step-mother to the
door.

"Whar's June?" he cried, and June hea