or an instant the sweet smile faded, but it was for the loss of her
mountains; not her doubt of her husband which drove it away.

"Yes," she murmured.

Then Sandy found his way back from his place of torment and he strode
to the two in the middle of the room. He laid his hand upon
Treadwell's shoulder, and all the smouldering passion in his heart rang
in his words.

"Lansing Treadwell, swear to me, that you will leave her soul to her
own keeping until----"

Treadwell gave him a long, steady look.

"I swear!" he said.

"When--her hour comes to--understand and choose--let her be white and
pure as she is now!"

"I swear it, Sandy Morley."

"Then," and now Sandy's eyes dimmed, "good-bye, little Cyn. You'll
miss the mountains--but there are good, true hearts--down beyond The
Way."

At this Marcia Lowe drew near:

"Little girl--come home! She is mine until you take her from Lost
Hollow, Lansing Treadwell."

The hands that held Cynthia's let her free. A pause followed. Then:

"Good-night--good-night!" The pretty, pale face flushed tenderly.
"Good-night. And now come, dear Cup-o'-Cold-Water Lady!"

The sweet attempt at cheer all but crushed those who heard and
understood.

CHAPTER XXIV

The Markhams came to Lost Mountain early in December. The weather was
fair and mild and much of the time could be spent out of doors.
Matilda, frail but with that gentle tenacity of life that marks many
women for longevity, settled at once into the semi-rough life of the
cabin with innate delicacy and aptness. The rooms Sandy had so
lovingly planned and furnished became _hers_ after the first day, and
no truer compliment could have been paid her host than this homelike
acceptance of his thoughtfulness. To see her soft, bright knitting in
the sitting-room gave Sandy a positive thrill and when he came back,
after a long day of tramping about with Levi, and found the dear,
smiling woman awaiting him, he knew the first touch of the mother in
his own home that had ever been his. And sorely the poor fellow needed
it just then!

Levi, too, was a saving grace in those empty hours after Cynthia's
going. Swelling with pride, he followed Sandy about from cabin to
factory; from factory to Home-school. In vain he struggled to suppress
any outward show of the pride and delight he took in everything he saw.
He sought to keep things upon a dull, business level, but exultation at
times overcame him when Sandy was well ou