ugh," she said, breaking the silence, "and hit--it
has done me so much good."

"Tell me about it." They had reached an open grassy spot bordered by
thick brush and tall trees. "Sit here while you tell me something from
your heart."

Wade had not failed to notice that she often corrected herself in speech
at times when she deliberated.

"And the birds?" she asked, looking toward the blue sky with a far-off
expression.

"Never mind them,"--hastily. "We shall get all the birds we shall want
to take home later. Now, let us have one good talk together out here in
the open, on the side of this lovely mountain, where none save God shall
see us or hear us, where we can open our hearts to each other."

She sat down in a manner not unbecoming anywhere, and he sat opposite
her.

"It must be mighty lonely fer ye all by yerself--yourself," she said.

"It is, quite, just now; but I shall have company soon."

She looked up sharply, inquiringly. "When and who?" painfully.

"Can't just tell when, but sometime in the near future."

She was still looking at him questioningly.

"I'm going to have a family on the Redmond farm," he continued; "am
building there now."

She felt relieved.

"Haint ye got a sweetheart back yonder in the big city?" she asked.

He looked into her eyes, but she cunningly evaded the stare.

"Won't you be my sweetheart?" he asked, smiling. He saw the crimson
creep to her face and she lowered her head.

"Ye didn't answer my question," she said softly, head still drooping.

"I have not. I have no sweetheart anywhere. Women never cared for
me"--sorrowfully.

The little brown poppies waved their heads in wild delight, while the
chirping birds sang songs of rejoicing from the treetops, as they looked
upon this peculiar mountain scene.

"What did ye come into this country for?" she asked abruptly.

He smiled.

"You don't believe me. If I should say I came here to rid the country of
the terrible band of destructive Nightriders, would you believe it?"

She started violently.

"Don't say that," she said; "don't ye do it."

"Why not? If I tell you I am here for my health, you don't believe that.
Why not say something equally as ridiculous?"

"Nobody believes ye come here for your health, an' everybody might
believe ye had an idea ye could rid the country of Nightriders. They're
ready to believe anything of a newcomer. They think he's a spy, an' they
mout think anything that they take a notion to