"That was his son that ran away. Aunt Mary told me that long ago. She told us children never to tease him, or worry him, but that we needn't be afraid of him, either. He wouldn't hurt us. I heard once that he was always stern and sober, and that that was why his son ran away. But that it 'most killed him--the father--when he did go. And now I couldn't find him! Isn't it terrible, Genevieve?" Cordelia's eyes were full of tears. "Yes," sighed Genevieve. "But you aren't to blame, dear." It was very beautiful in the hushed green light of the woods, with now and then a bird-call, or the swift scampering of a squirrel's feet to break the silence. But the girls were not noticing birds or squirrels to-day, and they became more and more silent as they neared the end of their journey. The little cabin was almost in sight when Genevieve caught Cordelia's arm convulsively. "Cordelia, sh-h-h! Isn't that some one--talking?" she whispered. Cordelia held her right foot suspended in the air for a brief half minute. "Yes. That's Hermit Joe's voice. He _is_ talking to some one." "Then there must be somebody there with him." "Yes. Genevieve, I--I _guess_ I won't tell him to-day," faltered Cordelia. "Let's go back. I'll come again to-morrow." "Nonsense! Go back, and have you worrying about this thing another twenty-four hours? No, indeed! Come, Cordelia, we must tell him now. I think we ought to do it, really." "All right," sighed the other despairingly. "Come, then." The next minute she gave a sharp cry. "Why, Mr. _Edwards_!" she breathed. They had come to the turn which brought the cabin into plain sight; and on the stone step with Hermit Joe sat the man Cordelia had last seen driving away from the Six Star Ranch in Texas. Both men rose abruptly. The younger stepped forward. There was a whimsical smile on his lips, but his eyes were wonderfully tender. "Yes, 'Mr. Edwards,' Miss Cordelia--but Mr. 'Jonathan Edwards _Sanborn_.' You see, you didn't know all my name, perhaps." To every one's surprise and consternation Cordelia sat down exactly where she was, and began to cry softly. "Why, Cordelia!" Genevieve was at her friend's side at once. Hermit Joe looked plainly distressed. Mr. Jonathan Edwards Sanborn hurried forward in frightened dismay. "Oh, but Miss Cordelia, don't, please don't--I beg of you! Don't you understand? I am John Sanborn, Hermit Joe's son; and 'twas all through you that I came home again." Cordelia only sobbed the harder. Genevieve dropped on her knees at the girl's side, and put her arms about her. "Cordelia, Cordelia, dear--don't you see?--it's all come out right. You did find him, after all! Why are you crying so?" "T-that's why," stuttered Cordelia, smiling through tear-wet eyes. "It's because I d-did find him, and I'm so glad, and everything!" "But, if you're glad, why cry?" began Hermit Joe's son, in puzzled wonder, but Genevieve patted Cordelia's back, and smiled cheerily.