nd and white face and the gleaming black hair. The
Harvester choked down a rising surge of desire for her, and took a new
grip on himself.

"Oh!" she cried breathlessly, as the clinging feet suddenly loosened and
the luna slowly flew away among the trees. She turned on the Harvester.
"You teach me wonders!" she cried. "You give life different meanings.
You are not as other men."

"If that be true, it is because I am of the woods. The Almighty does not
evolve all his wonders in animal, bird, and flower form; He keeps some
to work out in the heart, if humanity only will go to His school, and
allow Him to have dominion. Come now, you must go. I will come back and
put away all the things and tomorrow I will bring your ginseng money.
Any time you cannot come, if you want to tell me why, or if there is
anything I can do for you, put a line under the oilcloth. I will carry
the bucket."

"I am so afraid," she said.

"I will only go to the edge of the woods. You can see if there is any
one at the house first. If not, you can send the child away, and then I
will carry the bucket to the door for you, and it will furnish comfort
for one night, at least."

They went to the cleared land and the Girl passed on alone. Soon she
reappeared and the Harvester saw the child going down the road. He took
up the bucket and set it inside the door.

"Is there anything I can do for you?"

"Nothing but go, before you make trouble."

"Will you hide that stuff and walk back as far as the woods with me?
There is something more I want to say to you."

The Girl staggered under the heavy load, and the man turned his head and
tried to pretend he did not see. Presently she came out to him, and they
returned to the line of the woods. Just as they entered the shade there
was a flash before them, and on a twig a few rods away a little gray
bird alighted, while in precipitate pursuit came a flaming wonder of
red, and in a burst of excited trills, broken whistles, and imploring
gestures, perched beside her.

The Harvester hastily drew the Girl behind some bushes.

"Watch!" he whispered. "You are going to see a sight so lovely and so
rare it is vouchsafed to few mortals ever to behold."

"What are they fighting about?" she whispered.

"You are witnessing a cardinal bird declare his love," breathed the
Harvester.

"Do cardinals love different birds?"

"No. The female is gray, because if she is coloured the same as the
trees and branches and h