A Mountain Europa

d with great, shaggy rugs of green. The woods were resonant with song-birds, and the dew dripped and sparkled wherever a shaft of sunlight pierced the thick leaves.

great oaks, fallen trunks, loose bowlders, and threatening cliffs until light glimmered whitely between the boles of the trees. From a gap where he paused to rest, a fire-scald " was visible close to the' crest of the adjoining mountain. It was filled with the charred, ghost-li

ff the vines had crept to roof and chimney, and were waving their tendrils about a thin blue spiral of smoke. The cabin was gray and tottering with age. Above the porch on the branches of an apple-tree hung leaves that matched in richness of tint the thick moss on the rough shingles. Under it an old woman sat spinning, and a hound lay asleep at her feet. Easter was nowhere to be seen, but her voice came from below him

led by the sound, the girl began to rise; but, giving him one quick,

at. The girl did not raise her face. The wh

ith ready hospitality. "

ittle embarrassed by Easter's odd

old woman, looking

o git som

but Clayton, picking up

," he added, noticing a tiny stream that tric

he mother asked, in a low voice,

hev come into Injun Creek,"

you some?" The old woman shook her head. Easter's eyes were

go dry. You better come in and rest a spell. I suppose ye air

, isn't there? " he went on, feeling that some explanation

r did not look toward him,

say?" asked

peated his

ty year ago, but the varmints hev mostly been killed out. But Easter kin tell you better'n

t the match the other

man's face-" whar she beat Sherd Raines? Sherd want

ther's laugh, though the corner

on. "I would go into a match, but I'

said the old woman, pointing at his repe

Clayton, smiling; "

w f

a lon

ing with magnificent ease high above them. Thinking that he

old woman, grinning. The girl had looked towa

bird sank as though hit, curved downward, a

t him!"said the old woman, in amaz

she looked straight at him, and her little smile of derisi

y to scare him,

l carry twi

an. 'Hit air five dollars fine to kill a buzzard around

times," said Clayto

shots in quick succession at a dead tree in the ploughed fiel

her feet in astonishment, and the

ad a gun like that,

mechanism of the gun to her, without appearing to notice her

me see your g

flint-lock, and handed i

g," he said. " I never

n the mountains," said the old woman, " 'n

o trade one for mine,

"I'll give you all my

tion. Clayton saw that both wondered what

take home with me. It wo

u kin hev one ef ye want hit

r and delicate; her mouth small, resolute, and sensitive; heavy, dark lashes shaded her downcast eyes; and her brow suggested a mentality that he felt a strong desire to test. Her feet were small, and so were her quick, nervous hands, which were still finely shaped, in spite of the hard usage that had left them brown and callous. He wondered if she was really as lovely as she seemed; if his standard might not have been affected by his long stay in the mountains; if her picturesque environment might not have influenced his judgment. He tri

izon, and bluer and softer than the sky above it. He longed to know what her thoughts were; if in them there might be a hint of what he hoped to find. Probably she could not tell them, should he ask her, so unconscious was she of her mental life, whatever that might be. Indeed, she seemed scarcely to know of her own existence; there was about her a simplicity to which he had felt himself

e spinning-wheel cea

He wondered how lon

ow long the silence m

never address him

ter of the gun had br

the unplastered walls; the beds with old-fashioned high posts, mattresses of straw, and cords instead of slats; the home-made chairs with straight backs, tipped with carved knobs; the mantel filled with utensils and overhung with bunches of drying herbs; a ladder with half a dozen smooth-worn steps leading to the loft; and a wide, deep fireplace-the only suggestion of cheer and comfort in the gloomy interior. An open porch

at really lay beneath

must be, he who co

nt possib

this country, I reckon. Y

broken the si

on; "but I like

I 'lowed you folks from the settlemints

heir trunks is so exquisite, and the shade is so fine," he concluded, lamely, noticing a blank look on t

hes is beautiful to me when they

mor in the old woman's tone that showed an appreciation of their different standpoints. It was lost on Clayton, ho

asked, " w

burst into a low, suppressed laugh. Her mothe

not knowing what they meant, was overcome by a sense of her inferiority. The incident gave him the key to his future conduct. A moment later she looked up covertly, and, meeting his eyes, laughed again. The ice was broken. He began to wonder if she really had noticed him so little at

hev some dinner?,'

thank

cordially, adding the

sh ye

, I will.

rude sketch of their first meeting, the bull coming at him like a tornado. The color c

?" asked the mother, stopping

o the house, hiding the paper in her bo

tickled 'bout one, nother. Well, he air as accommodatin' a feller as I ev