did come to I found that I was pinned to the ground, and the animal--I
hadn't recognized him for your dog yet--was stretched out on the
rubbish above my body, looking down at me and growling. The critter
growled so ferocious whenever I tried to move that I gin up trying. I
had found out, though, that the animal was a dog, and, natterally, I'd
a pretty clear idea whose dog it was."

Mr. Horton concluded abruptly. He got up slowly and stiffly, and again
started toward his horse. Watching him, as he walked away, I saw that
he looked broken and humbled, and an impulsive desire to help him, who
had so often hindered us, took possession of me. "Wait," I cried,
starting up suddenly, for I had also found a seat on one of the fallen
logs; "wait a minute, Mr. Horton!" He stopped, and I went up to him.
"Mr. Horton," I said, earnestly, "I want to do what's right. I am
sure that you are sorry for what you have done--"

"I am, you may believe me, Miss Leslie; I am sorry. I've done many a
mean thing in my life, but none meaner than this job of persecutin' a
couple of orphan girls and their baby brother, and I've known it, and
been ashamed of it, all along in my own heart. But I'd never 'a' given
in, nor given nor owned up to what I'm telling you this minute, Leslie
Gordon, if you'd 'a' shown less spunk and courage; and I'll be as good
a friend to you after this as I've been merciless enemy before it. I
don't ask you to believe me--"

"But I do believe you! I do believe you! If I--if we can begin
again--if keeping still about what happened last night--and--about
other things; the button, and the fire, and the crops, with your
cattle brand on them," I stammered, eagerly, not making things very
clear in my haste, but Mr. Horton understood me.

"You are a good girl, Leslie," he said, looking away from me; "you are
a good girl. You see, my wife believes in me--she's a better man than
I am."

"Yes; she must not know. No one need know anything about it, for I
have told no one. I have kept my own counsel, and I will keep it
still."

Mr. Horton faced me now, holding out his hand. There was a mist over
his hard eyes, and wonderfully softened and improved those same eyes
were in such unaccustomed setting. I laid my hand in his, he clasped
it closely for an instant, then dropping it, observed in his usual
tones:

"Well, I reckon I'll ride over to the fur pasture; then I'll git home
again jest about the time the folks come in from town."