ent ahead, as is the custom of lordly man in the
mountains--horseback or afoot--asking no questions, answering June's in
the fewest words possible. Uncle Billy, the miller, had been complaining
a good deal that spring, and old Hon had rheumatism. Uncle Billy's
old-maid sister, who lived on Devil's Fork, had been cooking for him at
home since the last taking to bed of June's step-mother. Bub had "growed
up" like a hickory sapling. Her cousin Loretta hadn't married, and some
folks allowed she'd run away some day yet with young Buck Falin. Her
cousin Dave had gone off to school that year, had come back a month
before, and been shot through the shoulder. He was in Lonesome Cove now.

This fact was mentioned in the same matter-of-fact way as the other
happenings. Hale had been raising Cain in Lonesome Cove--"A-cuttin'
things down an' tearin' 'em up an' playin' hell ginerally."

The feud had broken out again and maybe June couldn't stay at home long.
He didn't want her there with the fighting going on--whereat June's
heart gave a start of gladness that the way would be easy for her to
leave when she wished to leave. Things over at the Gap "was agoin' to
perdition," the old man had been told, while he was waiting for June and
Hale that day, and Hale had not only lost a lot of money, but if things
didn't take a rise, he would be left head over heels in debt, if that
mine over in Lonesome Cove didn't pull him out.

They were approaching the big Pine now, and June was beginning to ache
and get sore from the climb. So Hale was in trouble--that was what he
meant when he said that, though she could leave the mountains when she
pleased, he must stay there, perhaps for good.

"I'm mighty glad you come home, gal," said the old man, "an' that ye air
goin' to put an end to all this spendin' o' so much money. Jack says
you got some money left, but I don't understand it. He says he made a
'investment' fer ye and tribbled the money. I haint never axed him no
questions. Hit was betwixt you an' him, an' 'twant none o' my business
long as you an' him air goin' to marry. He said you was goin' to marry
this summer an' I wish you'd git tied up right away whilst I'm livin',
fer I don't know when a Winchester might take me off an' I'd die a sight
easier if I knowed you was tied up with a good man like him."

"Yes, Dad," was all she said, for she had not the heart to tell him the
truth, and she knew that Hale never would until the last moment he