that day when
Uncle Ephraim told her of the different paths there were through life,
some pleasant and free from care, some thorny and full of grief. Katy
had never forgotten the conversation, and, without knowing why, she had
always avoided that rock beneath the butternut as a place where there
had been revealed to her a glimpse of something sad; and so, when
Wilford proposed resting there, she at first objected, but yielded at
last, and, with his arm around her, listened to the story of his love.
It was what she had expected and thought herself prepared for, but when
it came it was so real, so earnest, that she could only clasp her hands
over her face, which she hid on Wilford's shoulder, weeping passionately
as she thought how strange it was for a man like Wilford Cameron to seek
her for his wife. Katy was no coquette; whatever she felt she expressed,
and when she could command herself she frankly confessed to Wilford her
love for him, telling him how the fear that he had forgotten her had
haunted her all the long, long winter; and then with her clear, truthful
blue eyes looking into his, asking him why he had not sent her some
message if, as he said, he loved her all the time.

For a moment Wilford's lip was compressed and a flush overspread his
face, as, drawing her closer to him, he replied: "My little Katy will
remember that in my first note I spoke of certain circumstances which
had prevented my writing earlier. I do not know that I asked her not to
seek to know those circumstances; but I ask it now. Will Katy trust me
so far as to believe that all is right between us, and never allude to
these circumstances?"

He was kissing her fondly, and his voice was so winning that Katy
promised all that was required; and then came the hardest, the trying to
tell her all, as he had said to his mother he would. Twice he essayed to
speak, and as often something sealed his lips, until at last he began:
"You must not think me perfect, Katy, for I have faults, and perhaps if
you knew my past life you would wish to revoke your recent decision and
render a different verdict to my suit. Suppose I unfold the blackest
leaf for your inspection?"

"No, no, oh, no," and Katy playfully stopped his mouth with her hand.
"Of course you have some faults, but I would rather find them out
myself. I could not hear anything against you now. I am satisfied to
take you as you are."

Wilford felt his heart throb wildly with the feeling that h