d by your own life. I have studied you
from the beginning of your growth until you began to bud, and on until
you were a full-grown flower; how, then, can I help but be interested in
you? You have torn from my heart most evil designs."

"Were there ever such designs there, Jack?"

"Once, yes. None now. I have much to tell you at some more opportune
time; not now."

"If I may venture to say it, I am very glad to have been an assistance
to you, because you have been as a shining light to my dark pathway from
the first time we met. Dear old Brindle," she said.

"Dear old Brindle," repeated Wade softly. "And now we have old Brindle
home again, and we must part, though not forever, I hope. Tomorrow, if
all goes well through the night, I should like to take you over to the
brook fishing. Will you go?"

"We might be endangering our lives to go over there just at this time.
That is Thompson's territory, don't you know?"

"Yes, I know; but what's the use to go through life full of fears for
what we might meet? The obstacles which we naturally encounter are so
nearly insurmountable as to discourage us, so therefore let us not look
forward to those which _might_ confront us."

"I shall admit that the natural ones are many, but caution is what has
been taught me. We should be grateful to God that they are not more
numerous."

"Will you accompany me, then?"

"I shall, if all goes well to-night."

CHAPTER XI

There is a certain charm about the hills that will in time take away
from one that feeling of loneliness which always exists in the heart of
one who has not been long about them. This charm turns the rugged hills
into things of rare beauty, the misty valley into a dream, and peace and
contentment finally take hold upon a life that before had been nothing
but sorrow and grief.

Jack Wade was no longer lonesome in his lonely little cabin in the
foothills, he no longer felt the pangs of that sadness which had
hitherto shot over him to cause him to feel like giving up his plans and
returning to civilization. There were many reasons for this peace and
contentment. The greatest of them was that old Peter Judson and his
entire family had done so much to aid and assist him and to drive away
all loneliness, and for this cause they had endeared themselves to him.
It was now a pleasure to Wade to rise very early in the morning and
glance out through the breaking day toward the Cumberland, and watch the
mountain grow