notion of calamity, as if it were something to be
resented, and even snubbed, in its approach to her. It was as if she had
now gone to trace it to its source, and defy it there; to stamp upon the
presumptuous rumor and destroy it.

Just before he reached the crest of the upland that shut out the village
from him, he heard the clash of sleigh-bells; a pair of horses leaped
into sight, and came bearing down upon him with that fine throw of their
feet, which you get only in such a direct encounter. He stepped into the
side track, and then he heard Miss Sue Northwick call to her horses and
saw her pulling them up. She had her father's fondness for horses, and
the pair of little grays were a gift from him with the picturesque
sledge they drew. The dasher swelled forward like a swan's breast, and
then curved deeply backward; from either corner of the band of iron
filagree at the top, dangled a red horsetail. The man who had driven her
to the station sat in a rumble behind; on the seat with Suzette was
another young lady, who put out her hand to Wade with a look of uncommon
liking, across the shining bearskin robe, and laughed at his
astonishment in seeing her. While they talked, the clipped grays
nervously lifted and set down their forefeet in the snow, as if
fingering it; they inhaled the cold air with squared nostrils, and blew
it out in blasts of white steam. Suzette said, in, explanation of her
friend's presence: "Louise had seen the account, and she made her
brother bring her up. They think just as I do, that there's nothing of
it; one of the papers had the name Nordeck; but we've left Mr. Hilary at
the station, fighting the telegraph and telephone in all directions, and
he isn't to stop till he gets something positive. He's trying Wellwater
now." She said all this very haughtily, but she added, "The only thing
is, I can't understand why my father hasn't been heard of at the Mills.
Some one was asking for him there yesterday."

"Probably he went on to Willoughby Junction, as you suggested."

"Of course he did," said Louise. "We haven't heard from there yet."

"Oh, I'm not in the least troubled," said Sue, "but it's certainly very
provoking." She lifted her reins. "I'm hurrying home to let Adeline
know."

"She'll be very glad," Wade returned, as if it were the certainty of
good news she was carrying. "I think I'll join Matt at the station," he
suggested to Louise.

"Do!" she answered. "You can certainly manage somet