A Mountain Europa

h a quiet submission that touched him. Of Raines he had seen nothing and heard nothing since the night he had left the cabin in anger;

home, I hear,"

ed Clayton; "

e a piece, ef ye don't mind

an aged look; the eyes were hollow as from physical suffering or from fasting. He preceded Clayton down the

hev ye step inter my house. I don't mean ye no

y," said

ble little hut were visible through the dark woods. Raines thrust the door open. The sing

a cheer," said Raines, "

e could hear the keen, smooth sound of th

swered; " fe

ne corner; a few utensils hung near the fireplace, wherein were remnants of potatoes roasting in the ashes, and close to the wooden shutter which served as a window was a board table. On it lay a large book-a Bible-a pen, a bottle of ink, and a piece of paper on which

me much. Do ye know whut I've been doin'?" he said, with sudden vehemence, stopping still and

mount'in," he continued, pacing rapidly back and forth. "I was waitin' fer ye. I meant to tell ye jest whut I'm goin' to tell ye ter-night; 'n' whe

re I knowed it I was hyer in the house thar at the fire mouldin' a bullet to kill ye

out takin' the life of

tryin' to be a ser

d dead, 'n' the heavens opened 'n' the face o' the Lord was thar, 'n'

pt his dark hair back with one hand, he rose in sudden horror. Across the mountaineer's foreh

ome to ye as he hev tol' me. I hevn't tol' ye this fer nothin'. Y'u in see now whut I think o' Easter, ef I was tempted to take the life o' the man who tuk her from me, 'n' I reckon ye will say I've got the right to ax ye whut I'm a-goin' to. I hev knowed the gal sence she was a baby. We was children together, and thar hain't no use hidin' that I never keered a straw fer anuther woman. She used to be mighty wilful 'n' contrary, but as soon as you come I seed at oncet that a chan

ing slowly over him gave an unearthly aspect to his tall, gaunt figure, as

-hidin' from jestice in the mount'ins-and I'm a-standin' in

heart a sudden great admiration for this rough, uncouth fellow who was capable of such unselfishness; who, true to the trust of her father and his God, was putting aside the strongest passion of his life for what he b

stful and suspicious. I did not expect the present state of affairs to come about, but since it h

y her? He must in all probability stay in the mountains for years, and after that time he wou

h ready acquiescence. He had almost begun to fear from Clayton's silence

stretched o

et I wish ye well. I hope ye won't think hard on me," he continued; "I he had a hard fight with the devil as long as

he mountaineer stopped him f

; 'n' when he seed ye goin' to the house, he got it inter his head that ye mought be meanin' harm to Easter, who air the only thing alive thet he keers fer much. He promised not to tech ye, 'n' I knowed he would k

n was in Jellico. It

t through the night. The mists almost hid the mountains. They seemed very, very far away. A red star trembled in the crest of Wolf Mountain. Easter's cabin must be almost under that Star. He wondered if she were asleep. Perhaps she was out on the porch, lonely, suffering, and thinking of him. He felt her

ster to New York. How

y! There stood his fa

they had! Here was h

ce of manner! But Ea

igures needed read

ncongruous-Ah! now he

e was