"Yes. If I remember right, there was a cabin here--upon the very spot on which your house is now standing. It was inhabited by an old hunter by the name of Rook--Jeremiah or Jerry Rook." "That is my father's name." "Then it must have been he. What a change! It was all standing timber around--scarce an acre of clearing." "That is true. It is only lately that my father bought the land, and cleared it as you see. We are better off than we were then." "Has your father any family besides yourself--a son, or _son-in-law_?" "Not any, sir," replied the young girl, turning upon the questioner a look of some surprise; "I am the only one--his only daughter. Why do you ask?" "I thought I remembered--or had heard--something--" "Heard what, sir?" asked she, cutting short the stammering speech. "Of a young man--a boy, rather--who lived in your father's cabin. Was he not your brother?" "I never had one. He you speak of was no relative to us." "There was some one, then?" "Yes. He is gone away--gone years ago." The serious tone in which these words were spoken--something like a sigh that accompanied them, with a shadow that made its appearance on the countenance of the speaker--were signs pleasing to the interrogator. His heart beat joyfully as he put upon them his own interpretation. Before he could question her further, the young girl, as if stirred by a sudden thought, looked inquiringly in his face. "You say you knew this place well, sir? When did you leave it? Was it a long time ago?" "Not so long either; but, alas! long enough for you to have forgotten me, Lena." "_Pierre, it is you_!" STORY ONE, CHAPTER SIXTEEN. ABSENCE EXPLAINED. It was Pierre Robideau who stood once more in the presence of Lena Rook--not in her presence alone, for they were locked in each other's embrace. From the first moment of seeing him, the young girl had felt strange thoughts stealing over her--weird memories, awakened by that manly presence that scarce seemed unknown to her. She knew that Pierre Robideau still lived, and that her father had compelled her to keep it a secret. But why, she knew not, nor why her father had sent him away. It was well she knew not this. Equally ignorant had she been kept as to where he had gone. California, her father told her; and this was indeed true. But what knew she of California? Nothing beyond the fact of its being a far distant land, where people went to gather gold. This much was known to every one in the settlements around--every one in America. Lena Rook thought not of the gold. She thought only of her old playmate, and wondered why he was staying so long away. Was he never going to return? He who had won the girl's heart--the firstlings of her young love--had stood under the forest tree, clasping her in his arms, and telling her she had won his!