lood the mountain side like a
promise, and her face lit up with the old wondrous smile. "Of course we
will," she cried. "Why, I mean to be your own special nurse some day,
and help you always. Good-night, dear Don."

She turned and ran quickly into the cabin, so that he should not see the
tears which followed the smile.

"Rose war right erbout yo'r goin',--I reckon she air allus right," came
Big Jerry's voice. "Yo' hev got ter go; but I'm ergoin' ter miss ye
powerful, likewise, lad."

"But I'll see you again, too, before long. I've got some of my sense
back, and I mean to write Judd that I am engaged to a girl in the
city--not that I want his friendship after what has happened,
however--and I will be down here again, for a few days at least, when
the atmosphere has cleared--perhaps early this winter."

"Taint likely yo'll ever see me ergin on earth, son," Jerry said
heavily. "Reckon I'm most done fer."

"Your heart? Is it very bad?" queried Donald.

"I allows hit's nigh ter bustin'," was the steady response. "But mebbe
I'll last some while yet--I hopes so, fer leetle Smiles' sake. I haint
blind ter what hes happened, an' I knows thet the time air comin' when
she's es plumb sartain ter fly erway from this hyar mountain es a
homein' dove; fer she hes heard the call uv her city blood, an' hit
haint ter be denied. But I reckon she haint ready ter leave the old nest
yet, so I aims ter stay on erwhile longer ... fer her, though hit haint
goin' ter be in no wise easy fer ter do."

The younger man knew not what answer to make to this affecting
declaration; but the necessity of a reply was forestalled, for Big Jerry
stepped closer and continued earnestly, "Since yo' wished fer ter be a
son ter me, I air ergoin' ter treat ye es sich, an' tell ye something
thet I've done fer the leetle gal, an' thet she don't yet know erbout.

"Back in the spring when I seen thet her mind war made up ter be a
nurse, an' I knowed thet my own time war comin', I sold the timber
rights ter these hyar woods ter a city lumber company fer a thousand
dollars. They haint ergoin' ter cut fer some years yet, an' by thet time
I won't be hyar ter grieve, an' Smiles won't neither.

"Thet money, an' a leetle more what I hev saved, air ter be hern ...
hit's in er savin' bank down ter the city now. But thet haint all I
wants ye ter know. The reverend drawed a last will an' testiment fer me,
leavin' this hyar land ter her--she haint blood kin of mine, yo'