intent happiness in his daughter's eyes, he continued: "He's young yet,
and couldn't be expected to hev done the studyin' and law and everythin'.
You kin be sartin that the old man'll do all he knows to help start
you fair. All I kin. If you're sot upon it! That's enough fer me,
I guess, ef you're rale sot on it, and you don't think 'twould be better
like to wait a little. He could study with Barkman fer a year anyway
without losin' time. No! wall, wall. I'm right thar when you want me.
I'll go to work to do what I kin....

"P'r'aps we might sell off and go East, too. The farm's worth money now
it's all settled up round hyar. The mother and me and Jake could get
along, I reckon, East or West. I know more'n I did when I came out in
'59.

"I'm glad you've told me. I think a heap more of him now. There must be
a pile of good in any one you like, Loo. Anyhow he's lucky." And he
stroked her crumpled dress awkwardly, but with an infinite tenderness.

"I've got to go now, father," she exclaimed, suddenly remembering the
time. "But there!"--and again she threw her arms round his neck and
kissed him. "You've made me very happy. I've got to go right off, and
you've all the chores to do, so I mustn't keep you any longer."

She hurried to the road along which Jake would have to come with the
news of the fight. When she reached the top of the bluff whence the road
fell rapidly to the creek, no one was in sight. She sat down and gave
herself up to joyous anticipations.

"What would George say to her news? Where should they be married?"----a
myriad questions agitated her. But a glance down the slope from time to