the strictly
portable early developed in the rover. He had never even possessed a
photograph of his sister. Now this sudden discovery that such things
might be part of the woof of another person's spiritual garment came to
him ready-grown to the proportions of a problem.

In selecting the districts for the season's cut, he had included in his
estimates this very grove. Since then he had seen no reason for changing
his decision. The operations would not commence until winter. By that
time the lovers would no longer care to use it as at present. Now
rapidly he passed in review a dozen expedients by which his plan might
be modified to permit of the grove's exclusion. His practical mind
discovered flaws in every one. Other bodies of timber promising a return
of ten thousand dollars were not to be found near the river, and time
now lacked for the cutting of roads to more distant forties.

"Hilda," he broke in abruptly at last, "the men you hear are clearing a
road to this very timber."

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"This timber is marked for cutting this very winter."

She had not a suspicion of the true state of affairs. "Isn't it lucky
I spoke of it!" she exclaimed. "How could you have forgotten to
countermand the order! You must see to it to-day; now!"

She sprang up impulsively and stood waiting for him. He arose more
slowly. Even before he spoke her eyes dilated with the shock from her
quick intuitions.

"Hilda, I cannot," he said.

She stood very still for some seconds.

"Why not?" she asked quietly.

"Because I have not time to cut a road through to another bunch of pine.
It is this or nothing."

"Why not nothing, then?"

"I want the money this will bring."

His choice of a verb was unfortunate. The employment of that one little
word opened the girl's mind to a flood of old suspicions which the frank
charm of the northland had thrust outside. Hilda Farrand was an heiress
and a beautiful girl. She had been constantly reminded of the one fact
by the attempts of men to use flattery of the other as a key to her
heart and her fortune. From early girlhood she had been sought by the
brilliant impecunious of two continents. The continued experience
had varnished her self-esteem with a glaze of cynicism sufficiently
consistent to protect it against any but the strongest attack. She
believed in no man's protestations. She distrusted every man's
motives as far as herself was concerned. This attitude of mind w