and he therefore gladly accepted the kind invitation to lunch. Wade
turned to go, but some supernatural power impelled him to hesitate, and
that hesitation brought forth her whom he of all people most desired to
see. Nora, seeing that the conversation between her father and the
newcomer was about completed, stepped out, with flushed face and
throbbing heart, to thank him for the book which she said she had read
and enjoyed.

"I have others," he said. "I shall bring another to you soon."

"Thank ye. Are ye goin' a-huntin' fer game, er what?"

"For game."

"I can show you where ye can git lots of birds."

"That she kin," said Peter. "I most forgot. Jest take mine an' Tom's
guns an' leave yer rifle here, an' that gal'll show ye how ter hunt in
this kintry. She knows ther haunts o' every bird an' every squirrel in
the mountain."

This arrangement was very agreeable to Wade, who accepted with beaming
pleasure, leaving his rifle while he took a shotgun, as suggested by
Nora Judson's father. Wade desired to saddle a horse for Nora, but she
protested stoutly, saying that she could throw a saddle on a horse
quicker than he could, which he readily agreed was true. Together and
happily they rode toward the mountain, with light hearts--they were both
young--conversing as freely as if they had been lifelong acquaintances.
Over the rugged mountain side they rode, sometimes down the little
ravines or nitches, sometimes beside the rough boulders, always side by
side, talking, laughing, joking, until they reached a spot where they
were to hitch the horses and traverse farther in on foot. The sweet wild
mountain flowers waving in the breeze nodded their little dew-dipped
golden heads in the light of the summer sun as they passed them by.

Wade dreamed of their beauty and fragrance as they peeped up from their
rocky beds with a look of entire approval and recognition. He stopped
once to pluck a flower, which he gave to Nora, and which she accepted
blushing. This one simple act carried to her heart, inexperienced as it
was in the ways of the world, greater significance than Wade had meant.
He was so thoroughly unacquainted with the customs of these mountain
people, and didn't know. She was silent for a brief spell,--she was
always very silent when thinking,--then as if impelled by the spirits of
the air she thanked him in her simple, innocent way, while her head
dropped until her chin rested on her bosom.

"I read your book thro