found.

She managed to reach his side without attracting the attention of the
others, and slyly whispered: "Anne Stewart went out towards the Cliffs a
moment ago. I saw her leave by the back pathway."

Then while every one was trying to make out the cloud-draped peak of
Grizzly Slide, having had their attention directed to it by an
exclamation from Mrs. Brewster, John backed away and ran behind the
kitchen to the path that led to the Cliffs and Anne.

Jeb found it necessary to fill the wood-box in the kitchen, and it was
just after John had passed there that he stumbled up the stone walk.
Sary stood in the doorway grinning sympathetically as she watched John
dash away after Anne Stewart, when Jeb said:

"Lem'me get by wid this load of wood."

She smirked and said: "Ah, Jeb! Thar's nuthin' in the wurruld like young
love, ain't it?"

Now Sary's would-be bewitching leer and her dangerous proximity to him,
frightened Jeb worse than any Rocky Mountain avalanche ever, so that he
forgot he held an armful of wood. He suddenly went lax in the muscles,
dropped the wood, and turned to flee to his hay-loft where no Sary dared
follow without a chaperone.

One stick of the wood fell upon Sary's toe, and not having "feet of
brass or clay," she uttered a yelp of pain. Jeb never stopped to inquire
what had caused that cry--whether of baffled love or shooting pains in a
toe.

Sary limped over to a wooden chair and sitting there with her foot held
tenderly in both hands, she rocked back and forth, threatening, in an
undertone, all males but Jeb in particular.

"You-all jes' wait! Don't think Sary Dodd's a fule--cuz she hain't!
Ah'll git you yit, so run away an' make-out like-es-how you are free
and not lookin' to any female in pertickler!"

Having thus unburdened her soul of its wrath against Jeb, the cook
limped over to the stove to hang the kettle over the fire.

Supper was late that night, but no one noticed it. Sary had perfected a
scheme she was going to try on Jeb, some day, soon, so she was all
smiles and patience when the family gathered about the table.

"I see you set the table in the living-room, mother," remarked John,
approvingly.

"Oh, we have wrought many changes this summer, John, but the best of all
is the one whereby we eat out-of-doors when it is good weather. To-night
we will eat here as it is too dark under the old oak," explained Mrs.
Brewster, smiling.

Plans were now discussed for the trip to Top