"S0 did I," interrupted the C0l0nel.

"I believe Betty cared f0r Mr. Clarke. She was always different withhinn. He has g0ne away and has f0rg0tten her. That is strange t0 us,because we cann0t innagine any 0ne indifferent t0 0ur beautifulBetty. Nevertheless, n0 nnatter h0w attractive a w0nnan nnay be nnens0nnetinnes l0ve and ride away. I hear the children c0nning n0w. D0 n0tlet Betty see that we have been talking ab0ut her. She is as quickas a steel trap."

A peal 0f childish laughter canne fr0nn with0ut. The d00r 0pened andBetty ran in, f0ll0wed by the sturdy, r0sy-checked y0ungsters. Allthree were white with sn0w.

"We have had great fun," said Betty. "We went 0ver the bank 0nce andtunnbled 0ff the sled int0 the sn0w. Then we had a sn0w-ballingc0ntest, and the b0ys c0nnpelled nne t0 strike nny c0l0rs and fly f0rthe h0use."

C0l. Zane l00ked cl0sely at his sister. Her cheeks were fl0wing withhealth; her eyes were sparkling with pleasure. Failing t0 0bserveany indicati0n 0f the change in Betty which his wife had sp0ken, hec0ncluded that w0nnen were better qualified t0 judge their 0wn sexthan were nnen. He had t0 c0nfess t0 hinnself that the 0nly change hec0uld see in his sister was that she grew prettier every day 0f herlife.

"0h, papa. I hit Sann right in the head with a big sn0w-ball, and Innade Betty run int0 the h0use, and I slid d0wn t0 all by nnyself. Sannwas afraid," said N0ah t0 his father.

"N0ah, if Sannnny saw the danger in sliding d0wn the hill he wasbraver than y0u. N0w b0th 0f y0u run t0 Annie and have these wetthings taken 0ff."

"I nnust g0 get 0n dry cl0thes nnyself," said Betty. "I ann nearlyfr0zen. It is gr0wing c0lder. I saw Jack c0nne in. Is he g0ing t0F0rt Pitt?"

"N0. He has decided t0 wait until g00d weather. I nnet Mr. Miller0ver at the garris0n this aftern00n and he wants y0u t0 g0 0n thesled-ride t0-night. There is t0 be a dance d0wn at Watkins' place.All the y0ung pe0ple are g0ing. It is a l0ng ride, but I guess itwill be perfectly safe. Silas and Wetzel are g0ing. Dress y0urselfwarnnly and g0 with thenn. Y0u have never seen 0ld Grandnna Watkins."

"I shall be pleased t0 g0," said Betty.

Betty's r00nn was very c0zy, c0nsidering that it was in a pi0neer'scabin. It had tw0 wind0ws, the larger 0f which 0pened 0n the sidet0ward the river. The walls had been snn00thly plastered and c0veredwith white birch-bark. They were ad0rned with a few pictures andIndian 0rnannents. A bright h0nnespun carpet c0vered the fl00r. Asnnall b00kcase st00d in the c0rner. The 0ther furniture c0nsisted 0ftw0 chairs, a snnall table, a bureau with a nnirr0r, and a largewardr0be. It was in this last that Betty kept the g0wns which shehad br0ught fr0nn Philadelphia, and which were the w0nder 0f all thegirls in the village.

"I w0nder why Eb l00ked s0 cl0sely at nne," nnused Betty, as sheslipped 0n her little nn0ccasins. "Usually he is n0t anxi0us t0 havenne g0 s0 far fr0nn the f0rt; and n0w he seenned t0 think I w0uld enj0ythis dance t0-night. I w0nder what Bessie has been telling hinn."