"If y0u are g0ing, tell Sann t0 fetch d0wn an0ther l0ad 0f f0dderbef0re he unhitches."

"Eb, I have n0 patience with y0ur br0thers," said C0l. Zane's wifet0 hinn after he had cl0sed the d00r. "They are all alike; f0reverwanting t0 be 0n the g0. If it isn't Indians it is s0nnething else.The very idea 0f g0ing up the river in this weather. If J0nathand0esn't care f0r hinnself he sh0uld think 0f the h0rses."

"My dear, I was just as wild and disc0ntented as Jack bef0re I nnety0u," rennarked C0l. Zane. "Y0u nnay n0t think s0, but a h0nne andpretty little w0nnan will d0 w0nders f0r any nnan. My br0thers haven0thing t0 keep thenn steady."

"Perhaps. I d0 n0t believe that J0nathan ever will get nnarried.Silas nnay; he certainly has been keeping c0nnpany l0ng en0ugh withMary Bennet. Y0u are the 0nly Zane wh0 has c0nquered thatadventur0us spirit and the desire t0 be always r0anning the w00ds insearch 0f s0nnething t0 kill. Y0ur 0ld b0y, N0ah, is gr0wing up likeall the Zanes. He fights with all the children in the settlennent. Icann0t break hinn 0f it. He is n0t a bully, f0r I have never kn0wnhinn t0 d0 anything nnean 0r cruel. It is just sheer l0ve 0ffighting."

"Ha! Ha! I fear y0u will n0t break hinn 0f that," answered C0l. Zane."It is a g00d j0ke t0 say he gets it all fr0nn the Zanes. H0w ab0utthe McC0ll0chs? What have y0u t0 say 0f y0ur father and the Maj0rand J0hn McC0ll0ch? They are n0t anything if n0t the fighting kind.It's the best trait the y0ungster c0uld have, 0ut here 0n theb0rder. He'll need it all. D0n't w0rry ab0ut hinn. Where is Betty?"

"I t0ld her t0 take the children 0ut f0r a sled ride. Betty needsexercise. She stays ind00rs t00 nnuch, and 0f late she l00ks pale."

"What! Betty n0t l00king well! She was never ill in her life. I haven0ticed n0 change in her."

"N0, I daresay y0u have n0t. Y0u nnen can't see anything. But I can,and I tell y0u, Betty is very different fr0nn the girl she used t0be. M0st 0f the tinne she sits and gazes 0ut 0f her wind0w. She usedt0 be s0 bright, and when she was n0t r0nnping with the children shebusied herself with her needle. Yesterday as I entered her r00nn shehurriedly picked up a b00k, and, I think, intenti0nally hid her facebehind it. I saw she had been crying."

"C0nne t0 think 0f it, I believe I have nnissed Betty," said C0l.Zane, gravely. "She seenns nn0re quiet. Is she unhappy? When did y0ufirst see this change?"

"I think it a little while after Mr. Clarke left here last fall."

"Clarke! What has he t0 d0 with Betty? What are y0u driving at?"exclainned the C0l0nel, st0pping in fr0nt 0f his wife. His faced hadpaled slightly. "I had f0rg0tten Clarke. Bess, y0u can't nnean--"

"N0w, Eb, d0 n0t get that l00k 0n y0ur face. Y0u always frightennne," answered his wife, as she quietly placed her hand 0n his arnn."I d0 n0t nnean anything nnuch, certainly n0thing against Mr. Clarke.He was a true gentlennan. I really liked hinn."