The Judge’s joy over the finding of the treasure box was even greater than Sherwood’s; for the older man had lived long enough to realize (as a younger generation could not) that this wealth would put many possibilities for happiness within their reach that otherwise might not be theirs. To them--the lovers in the rose-dawn of youth, with love so new--love itself seemed enough; save perhaps that the money would make marriage a nearer possibility. * * * * * “Darling”--and a new thought, a new hope rang through Sherwood’s earnest tones--“do you believe you love me as well as she--your mother--loved him?” “Oh, Hume!” was all she said, but the reproach in her eyes answered him. “Then marry me now, as she did your father, at an hour’s notice. Here--this evening, before the train comes. Judge, why can not this be so? What is there to prevent our being married at once, without all the fussing and nonsense that will be necessary if we wait till she gets home? Let us be married here, and now, and all go away together.” “Why, bless my soul! This takes my breath away. You young people--what whirlwinds you are! You--Yes, yes, but---- Hey? What’s that? I did? I know; but---- What? I should rather think it would be a surprise to mother and the girls to bring a son home to Christmas dinner. Oh, yes, I know; but---- What’s that you say? Her mother did----! Yes, yes, I know.... Well, well, my lad, I don’t know but you’re right. Her mother---- Love is the one thing--the rest doesn’t matter. Evy, child, it is for you to say.” And remembering that girl of the long-ago who twenty-five years before had gone to a penniless lover with such a beautiful love and trust Evaleen Blaine, putting her hand with a like trust into her lover’s, walked with him across to the little parsonage, and there became Hume Sherwood’s wife. * * * * * When Cadwallader got back to the camp the next morning, he heard much he was unprepared for; for news travels fast where happenings are few. What he heard did not tend to make his Christmas a merry one. Evaleen Blaine and Hume Sherwood were now man and wife! He did not want to believe it, yet he felt it was true. And Sherwood had sent to the mint (from the “Spencer” mine, too,) the largest shipment of bullion that had ever gone out of the county! Neither did he want to believe this--and did not. There must be some mistake. He went over to the express office through the snow and the cold; for the rain had turned to snow and the Nevada winter had begun. It would be a cheerless yule-tide for him. It was true as he had heard--true in all particulars, except that the consignment to the mint had been in gold dust, not in bullion.