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his departure。 Perhaps the mountaineer knew he was going。 It was known at the camp。 If he knew； then Easter must have known。 Perhaps she had felt hurt because he had not spoken to her earlier。 What might Raines not have told her； and honestly； too？ Perhaps he was unconsciously confirming all the mountaineer might have said。 He ought to have spoken to her。 Perhaps she could not speak to him。 He wheeled suddenly in the path to return to the cabin； and stopped still。
Something was hurrying down through the undergrowth of the cliffside which towered darkly behind him。 Nearer and nearer the bushes crackled as though some hunted animal were flying for life through them； and then through the laurel…hedge burst the figure of a woman； who sank to the ground in the path be…fore him。 The flash of yellow hair and a white face in the moonlight told him who it was。
〃Easter； Easter！ 〃 he exclaimed； in sickening fear。 〃My God！ is that you？ Why； what is the matter； child？ What are you doing here？〃
He stooped above the sobbing girl； and pulled away her hands from her face； tear…stained and broken with pain。 The limit of her self…repression was reached at last； the tense nerves； strained too much； had broken； and the passion； so long checked； surged through her like fire。 Ah； God！ what had he done？ He saw the truth at last。 In an impulse of tenderness he lifted the girl to her feet and held her； sobbing uncontrollably； in his arms； with her head against his breast； and his cheek on her hair； soothing her as though she had been a child。
Presently she felt a kiss on her forehead。 She looked up with a sudden fierce joy in her eyes； and their lips met。
VIII
CLAYTON shunned all self…questioning after that night。 Stirred to the depths by that embrace on the mountain…side； he gave himself wholly up to the love or infatuation…he did not ask which…that enthralled him。 Whatever it was； its growth had been subtle and swift。 There was in it the thrill that might come from taming some wild creature that had never known control； and the gentleness that to any generous spirit such power would bring。 These； with the magnetism of the girl's beauty and personality； and the influence of her environment； he had felt for a long time； but now richer chords were set vibrating in response to her great love； the struggle she had against its disclosure； the appeal for tenderness and protection in her final defeat。 It was ideal； he told himself； as he sank into the delicious dream； they two alone with nature； above all human life； with its restraints； its hardships； its evils； its distress。 For them was the freedom of the open sky lifting its dome above the mountains； for them nothing less kindly than the sun shining its benediction； for their eyes only the changing beauties of day and night； for their ears no sound harsher than the dripping of dew or a bird…song； for them youth； health； beauty； love。 And it was primeval love； the love of the first woman for the first man。 She knew no convention； no prudery； no doubt。 Her life was impulse； and her impulse was love。 She was the teacher now； and he the taught； and he stood in wonder when the plant he had tended flowered into such beauty in a single night。 Ah； the happy； happy days that followed！ The veil that had for a long time been unfolding itself between him and his previous life seemed to have almost fallen； and they were left alone to their happiness。 The mother kept her own counsel。 Raines had disappeared as though Death had claimed him。 And the dream lasted till a summons home broke into it as the sudden flaring up of a candle will shatter a reverie at twilight。
IX
THE summons was from his father； and was emphatic； and Clayton did not delay。 The girl accepted his departure with a pale face； but with a quiet submission that touched him。 Of Raines he had seen nothing and heard nothing since the night he had left the cabin in anger； but as he came down the mountain after bidding Easter good…by； he was startled by the mountaineer stepping from the bushes into the path。
Ye air a…goin' home； I hear；〃 he said； quietly。
〃Yes；〃 answered Clayton； 〃 at midnight。〃
Well； I'll walk down with ye a piece； ef ye don't mind。 Hit's not out o' my way。〃
As he spoke his face was turned suddenly to the moonlight。 The lines in it had sunk deeper； giving it almost an aged look； the eyes were hollow as from physical suffering or from fasting。 He preceded Clayton down the path； with head bent； and saying nothing till they reached the spur of the mountain。 Then in the same voice：
〃I want to talk to ye awhile； 'n' I'd like to hev ye step inter my house。 I don't mean ye no harm；〃 he added； quickly； 〃 'n' hit ain't fer。〃
Certainly；〃 said Clayton。
The mountaineer turned into the woods by a narrow path； and soon the outlines of a miserable little hut were visible through the dark woods。 Raines thrust the door open。 The single room was dark except for a few dull coals in a gloomy cavern which formed the fireplace。
Sit down； ef ye kin find a cheer；〃 said Raines； 〃 'n' I'll fix up the fire。〃
Do you live here alone？〃 asked Clayton。 He could hear the keen； smooth sound of the mountaineer's knife going through wood。
〃Yes；〃 he answered； 〃 fer five year。〃
The coals brightened； tiny flames shot from them； in a moment the blaze caught the dry fagots； and shadows danced over the floor； wall； and ceiling； and vanished as the mountaineer rose from his knees。 The room was as bare as the cell of a monk。 A rough bed stood in one corner； a few utensils hung near the fireplace； wherein were remnants of potatoes roasting in the ashes； and close to the wooden shutter which served as a window was a board table。 On it lay a large book…a Bible…a pen； a bottle of ink； and a piece of paper on which were letters traced with great care and difficulty。 The mountaineer did not sit down； but began pacing the floor behind Clayton。 Clayton moved his chair； and Raines seemed unconscious of his presence as with eyes on the floor he traversed the narrow width of the cabin。
Y'u hevn't seed me up on the mount 'in lately； hev ye？ 〃 he asked。 〃I reckon ye haven't missed me much。 Do ye know whut I've been doin'？〃 he said； with sudden vehemence； stopping still and resting his eyes； which glowed like an animal's from the darkened end of the cabin； on Clayton。
〃I've been tryin' to keep from killin' ye。 Oh； don't move…don't fear now； ye air as safe as ef ye were down in the camp。 I seed ye that night on the mount'in；〃 he continued； pacing rapidly back and forth。 〃I was waitin' fer ye。 I meant to tell ye jest whut I'm goin' to tell ye ter…night； 'n' when Easter come a…tearin' through the bushes； 'n' I seed ye…ye…a…standin' together 〃…the words seemed to stop in his throat…〃 I knowed I was too late。
〃I sot thar fer a minute like a rock； 'n' when ye two went back up the mount'in； before I knowed it I was hyer in the house thar at the fire mouldin' a bullet to kill ye with as ye come back。 All at oncet I heerd a voice plain as my own is at this minute：
〃'Air you a…thinkin' 'bout takin' the life of a fellow…creatur； Sherd Raines…you that air tryin' to be a servant o' the Lord？'〃
〃But I k