When Mainwaring returned from the shrubbery, he went softly to the
window. The disappearance of the letter and stone satisfied him of the
success of his stratagem, and for the space of three hours relieved his
anxiety. But at the end of that time, finding no response from Louise,
his former uneasiness returned. Was she offended, or--the first doubt of
her acceptance of him crossed his mind!

A sudden and inexplicable sense of shame came upon him. At the same
moment, he heard his name called from the steps, turned--and beheld
Minty.

Her dark eyes were shining with a pleasant light, and her lips parted on
her white teeth with a frank, happy smile. She advanced and held out her
hand. He took it with a mingling of disappointment and embarrassment.

"You're wondering why I kem on here, arter I sent word this morning that
I kelkilated not to come. Well, 'twixt then and now suthin' 's happened.
We've had fine doin's over at our house, you bet! Pop don't know which
end he's standin' on; and I reckon that for about ten minutes I didn't
know my own name. But ez soon ez I got fairly hold o' the hull thing,
and had it put straight in my mind, I sez to myself, Minty Sharpe, sez
I, the first thing for you to do now, is to put on yer bonnet and shawl,
and trapse over to Jim Bradley's and help them two womenfolks get dinner
for themselves and that sick stranger. And," continued Minty, throwing
herself into a chair and fanning her glowing face with her apron, "yer I
am!"

"But you have not told me WHAT has happened," said Mainwaring, with a
constrained smile, and an uneasy glance towards the house.

"That's so," said Minty, with a brilliant laugh. "I clean forgot the
hull gist of the thing. Well, we're rich folks now--over thar' on Barren
Ledge! That onery brother of mine, Richelieu, hez taken some of his
specimens over to Jim Bradley to be tested. And Bradley, just to please
that child, takes 'em; and not an hour ago Bradley comes running, likety
switch, over to Pop to tell him to put up his notices, for the hull of
that ledge where the forge stands is a mine o' silver and copper. Afore
ye knew it, Lordy! half the folks outer the Summit and the mill was
scattered down thar all over it. Richardson--that stranger ez knows
you--kem thar too with Jim, and he allows, ef Bradley's essay is right,
it's worth more than a hundred thousand dollars ez it stands!"

"I suppose I must congratulate you, Miss Sharpe," said Mainwaring with
an