"A stranger here, I suppose?" "Not quite a stranger, Morton." "Patty, is this you?" Morton exclaimed Patty for her part was pleased and silent. "Are you a Methodist then?" "I am." "And what brought you to Jenkinsville?" he said, greatly agitated. "To save your life. I am glad I can make you some amend for the way I treated you the last time I saw you." "To save my life! How?" "I came to tell you that if you go to Salt Fork this afternoon you will be killed on the way." "How do you know?" "You must not ask any questions. I cannot tell you anything more." "I am afraid, Patty, you have believed somebody who wanted to scare me." Patty here remembered the mysterious piece of paper which Pinkey had given her. She handed it to Morton, saying: "I don't know what is in this, but the person who sent the message said that you would understand." Morton opened the paper and started. "Where is he?" he asked. "You must not ask questions," said Patty, smiling faintly. "And you rode all the way from Hissawachee to tell me?" "Not at all. When I joined the church Father pulled the latch-string in. I am teaching school at Hickory Ridge." "Come, Patty, you must have some dinner." Morton led her horse to the house of one of the members, introduced her as an old schoolmate, who had brought him an important warning, and asked that she receive some dinner. He then asked Patty to let him go back with her or send an escort, both of which she firmly refused. He left the house and in a minute sat on his Dolly before the gate. At sight of Dolly Patty could have wept. He called her to the gate. "If you won't let me go with you I must go to Salt Fork. These men must understand that I am not afraid. I shall ride ten miles farther round and they will never know how I did it. Dolly can do it, though. How shall I thank you for risking your life for me? Patty, if I can ever serve you let me know, and I'll die for you. I would rather die for you than not." "Thank you, Morton. You are married, I hear." "Not married, but I am to be married." He spoke half bitterly, but Patty was too busy suppressing her own emotion to observe his tone. "I hope you'll be happy." She had determined to say so much. "Patty, I tell you I am wretched, and will be till I die. I am marrying one I never chose. I am utterly miserable. Why didn't you leave me to be waylaid and killed? My life isn't worth the saving. But God bless you, Patty." So saying, he touched Dolly with the spurs and was soon gone away around the Wolf Creek road--a long hard ride, with no dinner, and a sermon to preach at three o'clock.