pered once; but with the consciousness of
manhood and womanhood, and divinity within, they talked of how their
lives had grown together till, in all that is holy and best, they were
already one.

At last they started down the trail. It was late. The moon had crossed
the sky dome of the valley and was hastening toward Eagle Peak. A
peace and silence that could be felt filled the world, and found a
deep response in their souls. They were going down from the Mount of
Transfiguration, one with God, one with each other. Love, pure and
holy, was master of their lives. A joy unspeakable filled their
hearts. The culmination of the years had come. With the forests and
mountains for witness, under the evening sky, with innumerable worlds
looking down, with the presence of Infinite Power all about them, Jane
Reed and Job Malden had, once for all, plighted their love to God and
each other.

CHAPTER XXIII.

THE canyon TRAIL.

It was just four days later, the day before the Fourth, that Job,
mounted on Bess, rode up to Camp Comfort, as Jane called the little
spot where she kept house in the open air for her father, listening to
the roar of the Yosemite Falls back of her, and prepared their humble
meals over the camp-fire. Job was going home; the old man would
expect him on the Fourth, and that keen sense of duty which was ever
stronger than his longing to linger near Jane, impelled him to go. He
had come to say good-by. Old Tom Reed, sick and selfish, had been
blind to the new light in Jane's eyes and did not know the secret
which the birds and trees and sky had learned and seemed never to
cease whispering about to Jane. He did not like Job. That pride of
poverty which hates success put a gulf between him and this noble
young fellow, who looked so manly as he rode up on Bess. Tom Reed
liked Dan and thought, of course, that matters were settled between
him and his black-eyed daughter. He felt to-day like telling this
young aristocrat from the Pine Tree Ranch that it would be agreeable
to both himself and Jane if he would seek other company. Only physical
weakness kept him from following as Jane walked away by Job's side
patting Bess' neck. She would see him to the end of the valley, she
said; she did not mind the walk. Well, if she would--and what did Job
want better than that?--she must mount Bess and let him walk. How
pretty she looked on Bess' black back, with her shining hair and
flashing eyes and ruddy cheeks! Never