buyin' cattle this time o' year; and he ain't a wantin' t' locate
a comin' in on foot; what else can he be but a revenue?"

To which Sammy replied with an unanswerable argument; "Look a
here, Mandy Ford; you jest tell me, would a low down revenue ask a
blessin' like Parson Bigelow does?"

At this Mandy gave up the case, saying in despair, "Well, what is
he a doin' here then? 'Tain't likely he's done come into th' woods
fer nothin'."

"He told Old Matt that he was sick and tired of it all," answered
the other.

"Did he look like he was ailin'?"

Sammy replied slowly, "I don't reckon it's that kind of sickness
he meant; and when you look right close into his eyes, he does
'pear kind o' used up like."

In connection with this discussion, it was easy to speak of Miss
Lane's fairy prospects, for, was not the stranger from the city?
and was not Sammy going to live in that land of wonders? The two
girls were preparing for the night, when Sammy, who was seated on
the edge of the bed, paused, with one shoe off, to ask
thoughtfully, "Mandy, what is love, anyhow?"

Mandy looked surprised. "I reckon you ought to know," she said
with a laugh; "Ollie's been a hangin' 'round you ever since I can
remember."