"Over on Bush Mountain, to work in Aaron Brown’s ’stillery," he said, answering her last question first. "Don’t do that!" the girl cried, in dismay. "Oh, please don’t do that! Think how the revenue men has watched it; an’ once, don’t you know? they tuk the Brown boys off to jail." "I don’t keer," he muttered, sullenly. "Pa an’ me’s had a fallin’ out. He lows we’ll never marry if he can help it, an’ I ’low we will." He crossed the floor and laid his hands gently on her shoulders. "Let ’em do an’ say what they will, they can’t come between us, honey, can they?" his voice sinking to a softer, tenderer key. "I didn’t ’low they’d keer so much," Sarah Betsy faltered, with downcast eyes, in which hot tears were swimming. "You er not thinkin’ o’ goin’ back on yer word to me, air you?" Hurd exclaimed, his face darkening. "We must wait, John—we must wait." "Yes, tel I can git a start," in a relieved tone. "Tel my ma an’ your pa air willin’," she said, taking up the shuttle. "I care more for you th’n for what they may say, an’ I ’lowed you did the same, or you wouldn’t ’a’ promised to marry me. I s’pose you didn’t mean it." "I did mean it; but it’s more’n I can do to go ag’in’ ’em so p’intedly all at once," she said, and turned from him to lean against the loom, love and duty struggling mightily together in her heart. "Well, it ain’t more’n I can do," he replied, grimly; "an’ when I get settled I’m jest bound to keep you to yer promise." He drew nearer to her, hesitated, then kissed her cheek. "I love you Sarah Betsy—I love you, honey," he whispered, then turned quickly away. She followed him to the door, and when he had disappeared from her sight she looked long and gravely at Bush Mountain, a vast pile rising against the sky, its rugged slopes softened by a hazy veil. It had been invested with new interest for her as the temporary home and refuge of her lover. The outbreak of the old feud between the Hurds and the Hardings was soon known throughout the Cove, and discussed at every fireside. Bitter feelings were engendered between sympathizing friends of the two families, and the peaceful settlement was divided into factions. The Harding boys were too young to take much part in the wordy war, but Mrs. Harding did not lack chivalrous support from some of her neighbors, who loudly declared that no lone woman should be trampled upon. The women, at least the younger women, and those inclined to sentiment, expressed great sympathy for Sarah Betsy and John. It seemed hard that the lovers should be divided by a quarrel between the elder members of the families.