"He wouldn't hurt ye--he's jest as gentle as a lamb," said Sinth. She paused to cut the cake, and added, with a far-away look in her eyes, "Still an' all, I dunno what I'd do if he was to make love to me." Sinth ate in silence for a moment and remarked, dreamily, "Men are awful cur'is critters when they git love in 'em." For a little, one might have heard only the chatter of the children and the barking of Zeb. By-and-by the maiden said, "I am sure that Mr. Master is--is a good man." "No nicer in the world," Sinth answered. "Pleasant spoke, an' he don't set around as if he wanted ye t' breathe fer him. He'll be a good provider, too." After a few moments the children took their cake and went away to share it with Zeb and the tame crow. "Do you--do you think he would care to see me again?" Edith Dunmore asked, blushing and looking down as she touched a wild rose on her breast. "'Course he would," Sinth answered, promptly. "Can't sleep nights, an' looks kind o' sick an' dreamy, like a man with a felon." Sinth looked into the eyes of the girl and added, soberly, "I guess _you're_ in love with him fast enough." "I do not know," said Miss Dunmore, with a sigh. "I--I know that all the light of the day is in his eyes--that I am lonely when I cannot find him." Sinth nodded. "It's love," said she, decisively--"the real, genuwine, pure quill. Don't ye let him know it." She sat looking down for a moment with a dreamy look in her eyes. "I know what 'tis," she went on, sadly. "Had a beau myself once. Went off t' the war." After a little pause she added, "He never come back--shot dead in battle." She began to pick up the dishes. Having stowed them in a pail, she turned and said, in a solemn manner: "He was goin' t' bring me a gold ring with a shiny purple stone in it. Not that I'd 'a' cared for that if I could have had him." That old look of sickliness and resignation returned to the face of Sinth. "Folks has to give fer their country," she added soon. "My father an' my gran'father an' my oldest brother an' my true love all died in the wars. I hope you'll never have to give so much." A great, earth-quaking roar from far down the valley of Lost River sped over the hills, and shook the towers of the wilderness and broke the peace of that remote chamber in which they stood. It was Business breaking through the side of a mountain to make a trail for the iron horse. "Blastin'!" Sinth exclaimed. "It's the king of the world coming through the woods--so my father tells me," said Miss Dunmore. Then, as if fearful that he might arrive that day, she rose quickly and said: "I--must go home. I must go home." Sinth kissed her, and the children came and bade her good-bye and stood calling and waving their hands as Edith Dunmore, with the ribboned crow, slowly went up the trail to Catamount. XX