h too much 'round here ye know good an' well what mout happen
ter him putty quick, don't ye?"

Tom gave Nora a slap in the face and followed on after his horse.

Old Peter Judson came out of the barn and, upon seeing Tom, asked if he
had given the warning to everybody. He had, he said, "and what's more,
everybody'd be thar."

Nora took up her milk pails and hurried into the house, where she found
her mother busily engaged in getting supper on the table. After
straining the milk and putting it away in its accustomed place, she
assisted her mother in the work.

Silence prevailed within her soul. Not a word escaped her lips as she
busied herself over the meal. Somehow she felt a strange foreboding. Her
heart was full of thought for the safety of the newcomer, in whom she
felt a peculiar interest.

He, not at all like other men she had known, had spoken kind words to
her, and they touched a tender spot in her heart. He had assisted her to
find the old brindle cow and had helped to drive her home. What was it
that attracted this wild flower of the mountain to this man? And what
was it that caused the unhappy throb when Tom remarked concerning him?
These remarks were anything but reassuring. She worked on amid her
soliloquy.

Mrs. Judson could not refrain from remarking the contrast between this
thoughtful girl and her own Nora.

"Ye air mighty quiet, Nora," she said, her face drawn up gingerly.
"What's ther matter of ye, that yer tongue hain't a-waggin' as usual?"

Nora stood for one moment thoughtfully pondering, while she deftly
dried, for the third time, the saucer which she held in her hand, then
throwing the dish towel over her shoulder, she faced her mother.

"Cain't a feller be quiet 'thout somebody a-thinkin' somethin's wrong?"

She was smiling deeply, the dimples in her cheeks showing beautifully.

"Not 'round this hyar kintry," replied Mrs. Judson. "Ye know yerself
that when everythings quiet like 'round this hill somethin's 'bout ter
happen. Now what does ail ye? What is ther matter with yer?"

"Tom says theys a-goin' ter be doin's 'round here to-night," replied
Nora, "an' I reckon he knows, ef anybody does."

Mrs. Judson now assumed an air of utter silence. She knew full well that
her daughter spoke the truth, that when Tom said that something was
likely to happen about the valley it usually did happen, and very soon
thereafter.

Tom and his father came into supper and ate quietly, while the women