y to herself. This occurred
several times during her occupation, which was somewhat prolonged. The
result of this meditative hilarity was summed up in a somewhat grave
and thoughtful deduction as she walked slowly back to the cabin: "I do
believe I'm the first woman that that boy ever kissed."

Miss Euphemia staid that day and the next, and Rand forgot his
embarrassment. By what means I know not, Miss Euphemia managed to
restore Rand's confidence in himself and in her, and in a little ramble
on the mountain-side got him to relate, albeit somewhat reluctantly, the
particulars of his rescue of Mornie from her dangerous position on the
broken trail.

"And, if you hadn't got there as soon as you did, she'd have fallen?"
asked the "Pet."

"I reckon," returned Rand gloomily: "she was sorter dazed and crazed
like."

"And you saved her life?"

"I suppose so, if you put it that way," said Rand sulkily.

"But how did you get her up the mountain again?"

"Oh! I got her up," returned Rand moodily.

"But how? Really, Mr. Rand, you don't know how interesting this is. It's
as good as a play," said the "Pet," with a little excited laugh.

"Oh, I carried her up!"

"In your arms?"

"Y-e-e-s."

Miss Euphemia paused, and bit off the stalk of a flower, made a wry
face, and threw it away from her in disgust.

Then she dug a few tiny holes in the earth with her parasol, and buried
bits of the flower-stalk in them, as if they had been tender memories.
"I suppose you knew Mornie very well?" she asked.

"I used to run across her in the woods," responded Rand shortly, "a year
ago. I didn't know her so well then as--" He stopped.

"As what? As NOW?" asked the "Pet" abruptly. Rand, who was coloring
over his narrow escape from a topic which a delicate kindness of Sol had
excluded from their intercourse on the mountain, stammered, "as YOU do,
I meant."

The "Pet" tossed her head a little. "Oh! I don't know her at all--except
through Sol."

Rand stared hard at this. The "Pet," who was looking at him intently,
said, "Show me the place where you saw Mornie clinging that night."

"It's dangerous," suggested Rand.

"You mean I'd be afraid! Try me! I don't believe she was SO dreadfully
frightened!"

"Why?" asked Rand, in astonishment.

"Oh--because--"

Rand sat down in vague wonderment.

"Show it to me," continued the "Pet," "or--I'll find it ALONE!"

Thus challenged, he rose, and, after a few moments' climbing, stood with