oung man whom they had barely met.

"You talk, Mollie, as if he were a villain in a play," Bab protested.

Mollie knew she had been obstinate. All she had answered was: "Well, he
would probably be a villain, if he had the opportunity. I hope I shan't
see him again. I don't see, Bab, why you should be so interested in him.
He's lots older than you are."

"I am not interested in him," Bab retorted indignantly. And the two
sisters had separated.

"Of course, Miss Sallie knows we are going to practise shooting?"
mimicked Grace. "What is the matter with Miss Mollie Thurston this
morning? Don't you know Mr. Stuart sent us a rifle. He told us learning
to shoot might prove a useful part of our education. _Do_ come on with us
Mollie."

"No, thank you," Mollie declared. "I hate the noise of a gun. Oh, I am
not afraid, Grace Carter, so you needn't tease; but I prefer more
ladylike amusements. I am going for a walk."

"Don't go too far by yourself, Mollie," pleaded Grace, who didn't mind
Mollie's tantrums. "You don't know your way about these hills, yet, and
it isn't safe to wander any distance. How I wish I could find my coat."

"Here, take Aunt Sallie's," cried Ruth, appearing suddenly in the
doorway. "It is not such a charming color as your scarlet one, and it may
be a trifle large, but it will keep you warm. Coming, child?" she asked
Mollie.

Mollie shook her head. Without waiting for Bab to join them she started
on her walk. The child wanted to be alone. Besides being in a bad humor
she had several things to think about. She certainly would not tell Bab
and the other girls, just to be laughed at; but again that morning she
had heard a light noise outside their window. It didn't sound like an
animal. Mollie wrinkled her pretty forehead, and a puzzled expression
crept into her blue eyes. How absurd even to dream of a thief, here on
their beautiful hillside far away from the rest of the world. And, she, a
great girl of fourteen, knew better than to believe in ghosts.

Mollie slipped down the path and crossed the gully that divided the
nearer hill from the higher one back of it. Already her bad humor was
disappearing. She had no idea of going far from their cabin; another day
she might persuade the girls to explore this mysterious hill, with its
lost Indian trail; but she should not attempt it alone. This morning she
wanted only to creep away for an hour or so into the woodland quiet.

Mollie Thurston had a curious pass