s lions to the stranger,
for here the world-renowned author of "In His Steps" has preached every
Sabbath for many years. But on that night it seemed far away from the
river and the town nestling beside it.

"I'll go down and take a look at your cottonwood before I go home. May
I? You promised me last Spring." Rachel's voice was pleasant to hear.

"Why, of course. Come on. Mr. Tillhurst will be there, I am sure, and
glad as I shall be to see you."

"Oh, you rogue! always hunting for somebody else. I am not going to
loose you from your promise. Remember that you said you'd let everybody
else alone when I came. Now your Mr. Tillhurst can look after all the
girls you have been flirting with down there, but you are my friend.
Didn't we settle that in those days together at dear old Rockport? We'll
just have the happiest time together, you and I, and nobody shall
interfere to mar our pleasure."

She was leaning toward me and her big dark eyes were full of feeling. I
stood up before her. "My dear friend," I took her hand and she rose to
her feet. "You have been very, very good to me. But I want to tell you
now before you come to Springvale"--she was close beside me, her hand on
my arm, gentle and trembling. I seemed like a brute to myself, but I
went on. "I want you to know that as my aunt's guest and mine, your
pleasure will be mine. But I am not a flirt, and I do not care to hide
from you the fact that my little Springvale girl is the light of my
life. You will understand why some claims are unbreakable. Now you know
this, let me say that it will be my delight to make your stay in the
West pleasant." She bowed her proud head on my arm and the tears fell
fast. "Oh, Rachel, I'm a beast, a coarse, crude Westerner. Forgive my
plain speech. I only wanted you to know."

But she didn't want to know. She wanted me to quit saying anything to
her and her beautiful dark hair was almost against my cheek. Gently as I
could, I put her from me. Drawing her hand through my arm, I patted it
softly, and again I declared myself the bluntest of speakers. She only
wept the more, and asked me to take her to her aunt's. I was glad to do
it, and I bade her a humble good-bye at the door. She said not a word,
but the pressure of her hand had speech. It made me feel that I had
cruelly wronged her.

As I started for town beyond the college, I shook my fist at that lone
locust tree. "You blamed old sapling! If you ever tell what you saw
to-night