E-text prepared by Janet Keller, D. Alexander, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net) Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 28271-h.htm or 28271-h.zip: (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/8/2/7/28271/28271-h/28271-h.htm) or (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/8/2/7/28271/28271-h.zip) SEVEN MILES TO ARDEN by RUTH SAWYER Author of _The Primrose Ring_ Illustrated Harper & Brothers Publishers New York & London SEVEN MILES TO ARDEN Copyright, 1915, 1916, by The Curtis Publishing Company Copyright, 1915, 1916, by Harper & Brothers Printed in the United States of America Published April, 1916 * * * * * BOOKS BY RUTH SAWYER SEVEN MILES TO ARDEN. Illustrated. Post 8vo THE PRIMROSE RING. Illustrated. Post 8vo HARPER & BROTHERS, NEW YORK * * * * * [Illustration: (See page 220) "Where twin oaks rustle in the wind There waits a lad for Rosalind"] _TO HIMSELF_ _It leads away, at the ring o' day, On to the beckoning hills; And the throstles sing by the holy spring Which the Blessed Virgin fills. White is the road and light is the load, For the burden we bear together. Our feet beat time on the upward climb That ends in the purpling heather. There is spring in the air and everywhere The throb of a life new-born, In mating thrush and blossoming brush, In the hush o' the glowing morn. Our hearts bound free as the open sea; Where now is our dole o' sorrow? The winds have swept the tears we've wept-- And promise a braver morrow. But this I pray as we go our way: To find the Hills o' Heather, And, at hush o' night, in peace to light Our roadside fire together._ CONTENTS CHAP. PAGE I. THE WAY OF IT 1 II. A SIGN-POST POINTS TO AN ADVENTURE 12 III. PATSY PLAYS A PART 25 IV. THE OCCUPANT OF A BALMACAAN COAT 39 V. A TINKER POINTS THE ROAD 48 VI. AT DAY'S END 64 VII. THE TINKER PLAYS A PART 85 VIII. WHEN TWO WERE NOT COMPANY 106 IX. PATSY ACQUIRES SOME INFORMATION 121 X. JOSEPH JOURNEYS TO A FAR COUNTRY 139 XI. AND CHANCE STAGES MELODRAMA INSTEAD OF COMEDY 153 XII. A CHANGE OF NATIONALITY 165 XIII. A MESSAGE AND A MAP 191 XIV. ENTER KING MIDAS 202 XV. ARDEN 216 XVI. THE ROAD BEGINS ALL OVER AGAIN 231 SEVEN MILES TO ARDEN I THE WAY OF IT