as was her mother before her and
the mother before her--to an unnamed
Virginian. Grayson sat near, smoking a
pipe; and when I read the girl's name
I saw him take the meerschaum from
his lips, and I felt his eyes on me. It
was a mystery how, but I knew at once
that Grayson was the man. He sought
me out after that and seemed to want
to make friends. I was willing, or, rather
he made me more than willing; for
he was irresistible to me, as I imagine
he would have been to anybody. We
got to walking together and riding
together at night, and we were soon rather
intimate; but for a long time he never
so much as spoke the girl's name. Indeed,
he kept away from the Bluegrass
for nearly two months; but when he
did go he stayed a fortnight.

This time he came for me as soon as
he got back to the Gap. It was just
before midnight, and we went as usual
back of Imboden Hill, through moon-
dappled beeches, and Grayson turned
off into the woods where there was
no path, both of us silent. We rode
through tremulous, shining leaves--
Grayson's horse choosing a way for