"I _had_ heard them--in my heart. When I heard your voice to-night, I knew
that it was you who sang them there--had been singing them for me always."

"So!" she cried, gaily. "All that debate about a pretty speech!" Then,
sinking before him in a deep courtesy, "I am beholden to you," she said.
"Do you think that no man ever made a little flattery for me before
to-night?"

At the edge of the orchard, where they could keep an unseen watch on the
garden and the bank of the creek. Judge Briscoe and Mr. Todd were
ensconced under an apple-tree, the former still armed with his shot-gun.
When the two young people got up from their bench, the two men rose
hastily, and then sauntered slowly toward them. When they met, Harkless
shook each of them cordially by the hand, without seeming to know it.

"We were coming to look for you," explained the judge. "William was afraid
to go home alone; thought some one might take him for Mr. Harkless and
shoot him before he got into town. Can you come out with young Willetts in
the morning, Harkless," he went on, "and go with the ladies to see the
parade? And Minnie wants you to stay to dinner and go to the show with
them in the afternoon."

Harkless seized his hand and shook it fervently, and then laughed
heartily, as he accepted the invitation.

At the gate, Miss Sherwood extended her hand to him and said politely, and
with some flavor of mockery: "Good-night, Mr. Harkless. I do not leave
to-morrow. I am very glad to have met you."