did come to I found that I was pinned to the ground, and the animal--I hadn't recognized him for your dog yet--was stretched out on the rubbish above my body, looking down at me and growling. The critter growled so ferocious whenever I tried to move that I gin up trying. I had found out, though, that the animal was a dog, and, natterally, I'd a pretty clear idea whose dog it was." Mr. Horton concluded abruptly. He got up slowly and stiffly, and again started toward his horse. Watching him, as he walked away, I saw that he looked broken and humbled, and an impulsive desire to help him, who had so often hindered us, took possession of me. "Wait," I cried, starting up suddenly, for I had also found a seat on one of the fallen logs; "wait a minute, Mr. Horton!" He stopped, and I went up to him. "Mr. Horton," I said, earnestly, "I want to do what's right. I am sure that you are sorry for what you have done--" "I am, you may believe me, Miss Leslie; I am sorry. I've done many a mean thing in my life, but none meaner than this job of persecutin' a couple of orphan girls and their baby brother, and I've known it, and been ashamed of it, all along in my own heart. But I'd never 'a' given in, nor given nor owned up to what I'm telling you this minute, Leslie Gordon, if you'd 'a' shown less spunk and courage; and I'll be as good a friend to you after this as I've been merciless enemy before it. I don't ask you to believe me--" "But I do believe you! I do believe you! If I--if we can begin again--if keeping still about what happened last night--and--about other things; the button, and the fire, and the crops, with your cattle brand on them," I stammered, eagerly, not making things very clear in my haste, but Mr. Horton understood me. "You are a good girl, Leslie," he said, looking away from me; "you are a good girl. You see, my wife believes in me--she's a better man than I am." "Yes; she must not know. No one need know anything about it, for I have told no one. I have kept my own counsel, and I will keep it still." Mr. Horton faced me now, holding out his hand. There was a mist over his hard eyes, and wonderfully softened and improved those same eyes were in such unaccustomed setting. I laid my hand in his, he clasped it closely for an instant, then dropping it, observed in his usual tones: "Well, I reckon I'll ride over to the fur pasture; then I'll git home again jest about the time the folks come in from town." "No," I said; "come home with me first and have some breakfast, and get brushed up a little." "I will," he replied, readily, adding, with a rueful glance at his torn clothing, "I need a little mending done about as bad as any one I've seen lately." Guard and I walked along the ravine with him, while he led his horse. On emerging from the ravine Mr. Horton suddenly stopped, and began looking anxiously around. "That meat, now," he observed, at length, "it ought not to be left layin' around."