wrong. But, just the same, it all goes on, all the time, toward the sea
for which it starts when it first begins at some little spring away
over there somewhere in the mountains. Of course you will stay with me,
Brian,--until the river carries you on again."



CHAPTER XI.

RE-CREATION.


From the very day of his decision, to which he had been so unexpectedly
helped by Judy, Brian Kent was another man. The gloomy, despondent,
undecided spirit that was the successor of the wretched creature that
Judy had helped to Auntie Sue's that morning was now succeeded by a
cheerful, hopeful, contented man, who went to his daily task with a
song, did his work with a smile and a merry jest, and returned, when the
day was done, with peace in his heart and laughter on his lips.

As the days of the glorious Ozark autumn passed, Brian's healthful,
outdoor work on the timbered mountain-side brought to the man of the
cities a physical grace and beauty he had lacked,--the grace of physical
strength and the beauty of clean and rugged health. The bright autumn
sun and the winds that swept over the many miles of tree-clad hills
browned his skin; while his work with the ax developed his muscles and
enforced deep breathing of the bracing mountain air, thus bringing
a more generous supply of richer blood, which touched his now firmly
rounded cheeks with color.