imagine. A tired body, in sympathy with an overwrought brain, had left
her peculiarly susceptible to the nervous shock of her forest
experience. The exposure for several hours in her wet clothing to the
damps and miasma of the swamp had brought on an attack of brain fever.
The next morning, she was delirious. One of the children took word to
the schoolhouse that the teacher was sick and there would be no school
that day. A number of curious and sympathetic people came in from time
to time and suggested various remedies, several of which old Mrs.
Johnson, with catholic impartiality, administered to the helpless
teacher, who from delirium gradually sunk into a heavy stupor scarcely
distinguishable from sleep. It was predicted that she would probably
be well in the morning; if not, it would then be time to consider
seriously the question of sending for a doctor.

XXXII

THE POWER OF LOVE

After Tryon's failure to obtain an interview with Rena through Plato's
connivance, he decided upon a different course of procedure. In a few
days her school term would be finished. He was not less desirous to
see her, was indeed as much more eager as opposition would be likely to
make a very young man who was accustomed to having his own way, and
whose heart, as he had discovered, was more deeply and permanently
involved than he had imagined. His present plan was to wait until the
end of the school; then, when Rena went to Clinton on the Saturday or
Monday to draw her salary for the month, he would see her in the town,
or, if necessary, would follow her to Patesville. No power on earth
should keep him from her long, but he had no desire to interfere in any
way with the duty which she owed to others. When the school was over
and her work completed, then he would have his innings. Writing
letters was too unsatisfactory a method of communication--he must see
her face to face.

The first of his three days of waiting had passed, when, about ten
o'clock on the morning of the second day, which seemed very long in
prospect, while driving along the road toward Clinton, he met Plato,
with a rabbit trap in his hand.

"Well, Plato," he asked, "why are you absent from the classic shades of
the academy to-day?"

"Hoddy, Mars Geo'ge. W'at wuz dat you say?"

"Why are you not at school to-day?"

"Ain' got no teacher, Mars Geo'ge. Teacher's gone!"

"Gone!" exclaimed Tryon, with a sudden leap of the heart. "Gone where?
What do