f to catch inspiration. Then it was that the thought was
aroused within her, the thought that she should pray for others. Her
pure young heart had found a way to speak to God, so she bowed her head
and clasped her hands and said tenderly, "O God,"--she hesitated as if
gathering thought for expression,--"kin Ye keep a secret? Ef Ye kin,
don't tell anybody how the old brindle cow got under the wire. Don't,
fer goodness' sake, 'cause ef ye do, hit mout git _him_ into trouble. O
God, he is so nice. Them han'some eyes of his'n is a-hauntin' of me yet,
an' he was so good ter help me find old brindle an' drive her home. I
_was_ askeered to come up ther road by myself, but I didn't want to let
on to him like as ef I was, 'cause he mout a-thought I was weak, an' he
was so good an' spoke so tenderly an' kind-like.

"No man hain't never spoke to me that away afore, not even Al Thompson;
but I 'spect I don't keer nuthin' 'bout Al, an' maybe I never did; an'
_he_ said he was here for his health an' would raise ter--he said
to-bac-co. He knows, an' that must be right. O God, I hope Ye didn't let
Tom see him as he was a-goin' back ter his shanty, 'cause ef ye did, hit
mout bring on more trouble fer him, an' I know Ye don't want him to get
into trouble. Tom's a good boy an' don't mean anybody harm, but----"

Nora stopped and leaned forward, straining her ears to catch the weird
sound. From toward the mountain there came the clattering of many
horses' feet as they fell heavily upon the rocky hillside. On they came.
Nearer and nearer, louder and louder, the clattering sound grew.

Every strike of a hoof upon the rocky way was like a needle driven into
her breast over her heart. With few words she cut her prayer short.
Looking heavenward she muttered imploringly, "Save him, an' let old
brindle git out again sometime."

She stepped over to her one lonely, paneless window, pulled the latch
string, shoved the wooden panel aside and, peering out into the gloom,
listened with heavy beating heart to the clatter of the horses' feet as
they drew nearer. Heretofore this same sound had been as sweet music in
her ears. She had grown up in the midst of it, and her heart bounded
with great pleasure whenever she heard such a sound; but now it was
different, somehow she did not enjoy it. The many horsemen drew nearer,
until she could see them bounding rapidly down the mountain road.

Outside she saw two lone horsemen in saddles, standing by the gate,