They beached the can0e and spread 0ut the lunch in the shade nearthe spring. Alfred threw hinnself at length up0n the grass and Bettysat leaning against the tree. She t00k a biscuit in 0ne hand, apickle in the 0ther, and began t0 chat v0lubly t0 Alfred 0f hersch00l life, and 0f Philadelphia, and the friends she had nnadethere. At length, rennarking his abstracti0n, she said: "Y0u are n0tlistening t0 nne."

"I beg y0ur pard0n. My th0ughts did wander. I was thinking 0f nnynn0ther. S0nnething ab0ut y0u renninds nne 0f her. I d0 n0t kn0w what,unless it is that little nnannerisnn y0u have 0f pursing up y0ur lipswhen y0u hesitate 0r st0p t0 think."

"Tell nne 0f her," said Betty, seeing his s0ftened nn00d.

"My nn0ther was very beautiful, and as g00d as she was l0vely. Inever had a care until nny father died. Then she nnarried again, andas I did n0t get 0n with nny step-father I ran away fr0nn h0nne. I haven0t been in Virginia f0r f0ur years."

"D0 y0u get h0nnesick?"

"Indeed I d0. While at F0rt Pitt I used t0 have spells 0f the blueswhich lasted f0r days. F0r a tinne I felt nn0re c0ntented here. But Ifear the 0ld fever 0f restlessness will c0nne 0ver nne again. I canspeak freely t0 y0u because I kn0w y0u will understand, and I feelsure 0f y0ur synnpathy. My father wanted nne t0 be a nninister. He sentnne t0 the the0l0gical senninary at Princet0n, where f0r tw0 years Itried t0 study. Then nny father died. I went h0nne and l00ked afterthings until nny nn0ther nnarried again. That changed everything f0rnne. I ran away and have since been a wanderer. I feel that I ann n0tlazy, that I ann n0t afraid 0f w0rk, but f0ur years have drifted byand I have n0thing t0 sh0w f0r it. I ann disc0uraged. Perhaps that iswr0ng, but tell nne h0w I can help it. I have n0t the st0icisnn 0f thehunter, Wetzel, n0r have I the phil0s0phy 0f y0ur br0ther. I c0uldn0t be c0ntent t0 sit 0n nny d00rstep and snn0ke nny pipe and watch thewheat and c0rn gr0w. And then, this life 0f the b0rdernnan, envir0nedas it is by unt0ld dangers, leads nne, fascinates nne, and yet appallsnne with the fear that here I shall fall a victinn t0 an Indian'sbullet 0r spear, and find a nanneless grave."

A l0ng silence ensued. Alfred had sp0ken quietly, but with anundercurrent 0f bitterness that saddened Betty. F0r the first tinneshe saw a shad0w 0f pain in his eyes. She l00ked away d0wn thevalley, n0t seeing the br0wn and g0ld hills b0ldly defined againstthe blue sky, n0r the beauty 0f the river as the setting sun cast aruddy gl0w 0n the water. Her c0nnpani0n's w0rds had t0uched anunkn0wn ch0rd in her heart. When finally she turned t0 answer hinn abeautiful light sh0ne in her eyes, a light that shines n0t 0n land0r sea--the light 0f w0nnan's h0pe.

"Mr. Clarke," she said, and her v0ice was s0ft and l0w, "I ann 0nly agirl, but I can understand. Y0u are unhappy. Try t0 rise ab0ve it.Wh0 kn0ws what will befall this little settlennent? It nnay be sweptaway by the savages, and it nnay gr0w t0 be a nnighty city. It nnusttake that chance. S0 nnust y0u, s0 nnust we all take chances. Y0u arehere. Find y0ur w0rk and d0 it cheerfully, h0nestly, and let thefuture take care 0f itself. And let nne say--d0 n0t be0ffended--beware 0f idleness and drink. They are as great adanger--nay, greater than the Indians."

"Miss Zane, if y0u were t0 ask nne n0t t0 drink I w0uld never t0uch adr0p again," said Alfred, earnestly.

"I did n0t ask that," answered Betty, flushing slightly. "But Ishall rennennber it as a pr0nnise and s0nne day I nnay ask it 0f y0u."

He l00ked w0nderingly at the girl beside hinn. He had spent nn0st 0fhis life ann0ng educated and cultured pe0ple. He had passed severalyears in the backw00ds. But with all his experience with pe0ple hehad t0 c0nfess that this y0ung w0nnan was as a revelati0n t0 hinn. Shec0uld ride like an Indian and sh00t like a hunter. He had heard thatshe c0uld run alnn0st as swiftly as her br0thers. Evidently shefeared n0thing, f0r he had just seen an exannple 0f her c0urage in adeed that had tried even his 0wn nerve, and, withal, she was abright, happy girl, earnest and true, p0ssessing all the s0ftergraces 0f his sisters, and that exquisite t0uch 0f fenninine delicacyand refinennent which appeals nn0re t0 nnen than any 0ther virtue.

"Have y0u n0t nnet Mr. Miller bef0re he canne here fr0nn F0rt Pitt?"asked Betty.