ear that dress?"

"Yes, dear."

"I will if you want me to, but I must hurry to aunt's, or she'll think
I'm lost."

Gill lifted the heavy basket and went with her.

The gentle autumn day was asleep on the crazy patchwork quilt spread
over the vast mountains, and the lovers walked along in silence, lest
they should disturb its rest.

CHAPTER IV.

THREE-SISTERS.

It is one town and not three contiguous villages as its name might
suggest. Three blast-furnaces stood on the bank of the river below the
town. These Colonel Hornberger had named for his daughters, Martha,
Sarah, and Henrietta. So the town that grew up near them came to be
known as Three-Sisters, and was often spoken of as Three-Girls.

On all sides of it mountains, through which there were three gaps, rise
precipitously. Through one of the gaps Boomer Creek, a clear and rapid
stream, given to sudden rises, runs into the river, which is picturesque
and famous, and almost encircles the town. Through another gap the river
glides to the village, and by still another pursues its journey towards
the sea.

Beginning above the town, and running parallel to the river, the race
conducts the water to the huge wheels in the bellows-house and at the
saw-mill.

The railroad runs to the left of the village, crossing the flat on which
it is built, while the river flows to the right.

A long wooden covered bridge spans the river and race, and the island
between them, and connects Three-Sisters with Boomer Creek Valley, in
which are many farms that are gradually encroaching on the forests.

Many of the streets and alleys in the town were given high-sounding
titles, but nearly all have their nicknames. The street on which the
proprietor dwells is called Big-bug Avenue. There are Goose Street and
Backbiter's Alley. Harmony Lane is where the worst wranglers in the
village live. And there is the Block-of-Blazes, standing at the head of
Big-bug Avenue, yet giving it the cold shoulder, for not a door of the
Block opens, not a window looks, except askance, upon the Avenue.

The people of Three-Sisters, in the days of this story, were laborious,
frugal, and patient; they had few grievances. Strikes were unheard of,
and no trouble was fermented, except by the tavern whiskey, which flowed
freely on Saturday nights, when there were frequent fights among the
men.

The women were given to gossip, but were honest. Scandal was rare among
them, and they prided themselves on b