and appreciate. Thereafter he concealed his repulsion, and treated
the rough bear so affably that Easter's eyes grew moist with
gratitude.

Darkness was gathering in the valley below when he rose to go.
Easter had scarcely spoken to him, but her face and her eyes, fixed
always upon him, were eloquent with joy. Once as she passed
behind him her hand rested with a timid, caressing touch upon his
shoulder, and now, as he walked away from the porch, she called
him back. He turned, and she had gone into the house.

What is it, Easter? " he asked, stepping into the dark room. His
hand was grasped in both her own and held tremblingly.

Don't mind dad," she whispered, softly. Something warm and
moist fell upon his hand as she unloosed it, and she was gone.

That night he wrote home in a better frame of mind. The charm of
the girl's personality had asserted its power again, and hopes that
had almost been destroyed by his trip home were rekindled by her
tasteful appearance, her delicacy of feeling, and by her beauty,
which he had not overrated. He asked that his sister might meet
him in Louisville after the wedding-whenever that should be. They
two could decide then what should be done. His own idea was to
travel; and so great was his confidence in Easter, he believed that,
in time, he could take her to New York without fear.

XII

IT was plain that Raines-to quiet the old man's uneasiness,