piece over by the Big Spring, Judy?"

Judith turned uncertainly. The boys had passed on up to the sheds to get
on dry clothing. It was nearly time for her to be going back to the
waggon. Bohannon was dipping Doss Provine's sister Luna. A group of
trembling, tearful candidates, mostly young girls, were being heartened
and encouraged for the ordeal by the helpers on the bank.

"Tell me here--cain't ye?" she said listlessly.

"I heared from a feller that got it from another feller," Blatch began
smilingly, "that Huldy Spiller an' Creed Bonbright was wedded and gone to
Texas. I reckon hit's true, becaze the man that told me was aimin' to buy
the Bonbright farm."

Judith did not cry out. She hoped her colour did not change very much,
for Blatch's eyes were on her face. After a while she managed to say in a
fairly steady voice,

"Does Wade know? Have ye sent any word to him?"

"No," drawled Blatch. "Unc' Jep aimed to break off with me, and he left
you the only one o' the family that dared speak with me. Mebbe you would
like to write an' tell Wade?"

"I don't know," sighed Judith hopelessly. "What's the use?"

"Farewell," said Blatch, using a common mountain form of adieu. "I reckon
Unc' Jep won't want to see me standin' around talkin' to ye. You tell
Wade," significantly. "The sooner he gets Huldy out of his head the
better for him. No use cryin' over spilt milk. They's as good fish in the
sea as ever come out of it."

He looked long at her downcast face.

"Jude, the man that told me that about Bonbright," he said, speaking
apparently on sudden impulse, "'lowed that the feller had left you--give
ye the mitten. You're a fool ef ye let that be said, when his betters is
wantin' ye."

Without another word, without a glance, he turned and slouched swiftly
away down the path behind the fringe of bushes by the creek side.

The baptising was over. Judith, crossing the stream, saw her uncle's
waggon, Beck and Pete already hitched to it, being loaded with Jim Cal
and his tribe. Andy and Jeff were horseback with the Lusk girls. She
hurried forward to join them and make ready for departure when, to her
dismay, she encountered Drane at the foot of the slope coming toward
her.

"Wasn't that thar Blatchley Turrentine?" inquired the elder.

The girl nodded.

"I didn't see him in the church," Drane pursued.

"I reckon he wasn't there," assented Judith lifelessly, making as though
to pass on.

"He jest came here to have