an the one who sat on the
fence with Missouri Joe, less than two weeks agone.

Perhaps Miss Edwards noticed the change, and innocently encouraged him
to aspire. We must not blame her if she did. This is what woman's
education makes of her. The most cultured women must be grateful and
flattering toward the rudest men, if circumstances throw them together.
Born to depend on somebody, they must depend on their inferiors when
their superiors are not at hand; must, in fact, assume an inferiority to
those inferiors. If they sometimes turn their heads with the dangerous
deference, what wonder!

Secure in the distance between them, Miss Edwards assumed that she could
safely defer to Sandy-haired Jim, if, as it seemed, he enjoyed the sense
of being her protector. Even had he been her equal, she would have said
to herself, "He knows my heart is breaking for another, and will respect
my grief." In this double security, she paid no heed to the devotion of
her companion, only thinking him the kindest and most awkward of good
and simple-minded men. That is just what any of us would have thought
about Sandy-haired Jim, gentle readers.

John Edwards received his sister with a grave kindliness, which
aggravated her grief. He would not ask her a question, nor give her the
smallest opportunity of appealing to his sympathies. She had undertaken
this business without his sanction, and without his sympathy she must
abide the consequences. Toward her, personally, he should ever feel and
act brotherly; but toward her foolish weakness for Erskine, he felt no
charity. He was surprised and pleased to see that his sister's spirit
was nearly equal to his own; for, though visibly "pale and pining,"
after the absurd fashion of women, she went about her duties and
recreations as usual, and prosecuted the threatened preparations for
Christmas with enthusiasm.

In some of these, it was necessary to employ the services of one of the
men, and Miss Edwards, without much thought of why, except that she was
used to him, singled out Jim as her assistant. To her surprise, he
excused himself, and begged to substitute Missouri Joe.

"You see, Miss Edwards, I've been a long time meanin' to take a trip
into the mount'ins. I allow it'll rain in less nor a week, an' then
it'll be too late; so ef you'll excuse me this onct, I'll promise to be
on hand next time, sure."

"Oh, certainly, Mr. Harris; Joe will do very well, no doubt; and there
is no need for you to