eld-bred lad, he always
shies a bit at people."

"Your horse does, too, I notice. He arrived safely a week ago, and I
put him up at the livery here in Lafferton. I was afraid he would
demoralize all the horses at the farm."

"Good! I'll ride out this evening. I have a little business to attend
to here in town, and I want to see the Judge and his wife, of
course."

When the western sky line gleamed in crimson glory Joe came riding at
a long lope up the lane. He sat his spirited horse easily, one leg
thrown over the horn of his saddle. As he neared the house, a
thrashing machine started up. The desert-bred horse shied, and
performed maneuvers terrifying to Janey, but Joe in the saddle was
ever a part of the horse. Quietly and impassively he guided the
frightened animal until the machine was passed. Then he slid from the
horse and came up to Janey and David, who were awaiting his coming.

"This can never be little Janey!" he exclaimed, holding her hand
reverently.

"I haven't changed as much as Davey has," she replied, dimpling.

"Oh, yes, you have! You are a woman. David is still a boy, in spite of
his six feet."

"You don't know about Davey!" she said breathlessly. "He has won all
kinds of law cases, and he is going to the legislature."

Joe laughed.

"I repeat, he is still a boy."

On the morrow David started forth on a round of speech making,
canvassing the entire district. He returned at the wane of October's
golden glow for the round-up, as Joe termed the finish of the
campaign. The flaunting crimson of the maples, the more sedate tinge
of the oaks, the vivid yellow of the birches, the squashes piled up on
the farmhouse porches, and the fields filled with pyramidal stacks of
cornstalks brought a vague sense of loneliness as he rode out from
Lafferton to the farm. He left his horse at the barn and came up to
the house through the old orchard as the long, slanting rays of
sunlight were making afternoon shadows of all who crossed their path.

He found Janey sitting beneath their favorite tree. An open book lay
beside her. She was gazing abstractedly into space, with a new look in
her star-like eyes.

David's big, untouched heart gave a quick leap. He took up the book
and with an exultant little laugh discovered that it was a book of
poems! Janey, who could never abide fairy stories, reading poetry!
Surprised and embarrassed, after a shy greeting she hurried toward the
house, her cheeks flaming. Somethin