And so they were. They dismounted easily, threw their bridles, Western fashion, over the heads of their horses, and walked forward with pleasant greetings. But even their voices were different. They too seemed solemn. “It must be the night,” thought Azalea. She took Carin’s hand, and they all walked back to the Point, and sat there watching the little islands of cloud as they floated across the path of the moon and turned from cloud into something precious and radiant, not quite so pale as silver nor as bright as gold. CHAPTER XV AZALEA CHOOSES “We might be eagles—or angels,” murmured Mrs. Carson, sinking into her seat. “We couldn’t stand it in the house any longer,” Carin explained. “We made up our minds we’d have a ride even if the roads were bad.” “The ford must have been pretty deep,” remarked Pa McBirney. “I took the leading straps of the horses the ladies were riding, and we made a rush for it together,” Mr. Carson explained. Then silence fell. There certainly was something strange about the night. “We had other reasons for coming up here to-night,” Mr. Carson said at last. “We came because we knew that we could sit out here with you all, and that we could all look at this wonderful scene, and forget all about our bodies, and our troubles, and our little human way of looking at things. We could be, as my wife said, like eagles, or like angels. We could realize that we really were spirits.” It was Ma McBirney who murmured: “Yes.” “We came,” went on Mr. Carson gently, “to ask Azalea to make a choice. We are going to invite her to live with us and to be as our own daughter. She will share equally with Carin in everything; at least as far as it is possible for us to make an equal division. We know the story of her life and that under more fortunate circumstances the home we live in would have been hers. She would have been educated in the best manner and fitted for the life of a lady of position. Now, of our four children only one is left. So we offer her a share of our hearts and our substance. Do you understand, Azalea?” Carin threw an arm about Azalea’s waist. “Oh, say yes, dear. We will be so happy.” “We will make you welcome from our heart of hearts,” said Mrs. Carson. But it seemed as if she were holding something back; and Azalea saw her white hand laid upon Ma McBirney’s arms.