The Eagle's Heart

to see Harold before she left, but she was too much hurried to seek out Jack, the loyal go-between,

liness and bitter sorrow, and even when Jack came he brought very little

e to me? Why didn't

well as he was able. "

. "If she had cared for me, she'd have se

heart and turned his face to the sunset land which now called to the sad he

so many months, his father met him, and the white face of the boy made the father's heart contract. Haro

resses with cold dignity. His manner plainly expressed this feeling: "You are all st

f lately uncovered sward was in the air. The wind, soft, warm, and steady, blew from the west. Here and there a patch of grass, faintly green, showed where sullen snow banks had lately lain. And the sky! F

but that of Nature, and the father seemed to compre

m pass. Some of them were genuinely sympathetic, and bowed and smiled, intending to say, "Let by-gones be by-gones," but to their greetings H

most part, the citizens considered his punishment sufficient, and were disposed to give him another chance. To them, Harold, by his man

of Nature had been intensified by his captivity, while a bitter contempt and suspicion of all m

d his valise were ready for him, and Mrs. Excell had washed and ironed all his linen with scrupulous care. His sister Maud had

cattle, not to cobble trouse

o tell him you couldn't go for a few days. He's just about to Roseville now. I'll tell you what you do. You get on the train and go to Roseville-I'll let you have the money-and you strike him when

oing?" asked

e, I'm so near through. It wouldn't do to quit now. I'll stay t

but his face darkened

broken again and again by the weakness of his own voice and by the sobs of Maud and Mrs. Excell. Harold sat with rigid face, fix

his horse to take Harry out to the farm. The family sat in painful sus

y with any bitterness in your heart toward me." He waited a moment for his son to speak, but Harold continued silent, which again confused

ttle touched by the affection in his father

ght be useful at the start. You wi

u'll need all you can ear

"What makes you say that,

mean anything

ction which is growing up

ng of that particularly." He betrayed a li

ce these persons have used every effort to spread a feeling against me. How wide it is I can not tell,

ather had again struck the right note to win his son. "T

y sweet in Harold's sympathy. His eyes smiled, even while they

u to start. Don't you worry about me

in a flash of insight, understood that no more than this could be gained; but his heart

Harold," he ca

u, come out West," was Harold's reply; then he turned in his seat. "

d with exaltation by every familiar thing-by the flights of ground sparrows, by the patches of green

in. Some time I mean to find out where they go to." He took off his hat. "This wind will mighty soon take the white out o' me, won't it?" He was very gay. He slapped his chum on the sho

o talked on. "I must work up a big case of sunburn before

irl was driving the c

at kind o

ckled-chews gum and says 'da

idea of that girl. She might have heard so

kind of people that read newspapers; th

ying out: "You blessed boy! Get right down and let me hug you," and as he leaped down she

you look like a fightin' cock;

he kitchen, and chatted and laughed as if no ill thing had ever happened to him. Burns uttered the only doubtful word

"Harry has always wanted to go West and now i

r. "Still, I'm sorry to see him

to last him to San Francisco at the shortest. Even when the boys had entered the buggy she orde

, reaching down his hand to Mrs.

don't let the I

' that," he

y rolled through the gate into the west as the red

horse spattered through the mud. Slowly the night fell, and as t

ardwell had be

't care two straws for me; if she had s

may have b

know or sending some word. She didn't care

her after prayer meeting. They never tried it a second time. She's a wonder that way. One strange thing about her, she never acts like

e paused and his voice changed. "But when I'm a cattle king out West and can buy her the best home in Des Moines-maybe she won't pity

turned over to him all the money he ha

need it now, but I won't six months from now. I'm

eenly than he dared to show. Jack rode away crying-a brother could not have b