a few steps. Again he paused and looked up enquiringly at the
house. The old boatman had told him that Chapman lived there, when all
the embers of that love he had so long cherished for Mattie seemed to
kindle again into a living fire. And yet what changes might have taken
place since he left? If, however, she still loved him, and was true to
him, how could he pass the house, even at that late hour, without at
least letting her know he was in Nyack?

It was indeed late, and there was still a mile before he reached the
home of his parents. He could have more time in the morning to meet
Mattie, to unfold his heart to her, and to give her an account of the
many strange things that had happened to him since he left.

There was a bright light in two of the upper windows, but below the
house was nearly dark, and Bright was in his bar-room, settling up the
business of the day. Suddenly the light in the windows became brighter,
then the shadow of a female figure was seen crossing and recrossing the
room every few seconds. Tite watched and watched that flitting shadow,
for he read in it the object of his heart's love, read in it the joy
that was in store for him, perhaps--perhaps the sorrow. The figure was
Mattie's, and it was her shadow that was causing him all this
heart-aching. Now the figure took the place of the shadow, and stood
looking out at the window, as if contemplating the moon and the stars,
for nearly a minute. Yes, there was Mattie, watching and wondering what
had become of the man who was at that moment contemplating her
movements. Then the figure and the shadow disappeared, but it was only
to increase Tite's impatience to see her.

The three men now proceeded to the door and the bell was rung. A moving
of chairs and unlocking of doors indicated that the house had not gone
to bed. The door was soon opened by Titus Bright, in his shirt sleeves
and slippers, and holding a candle in his hand. "What's up, Flint?" he
enquired, for he saw only the boatmen; "what brings you over at this
time of night?"

"There was a shillin' to be made, you see, Bright, and a passenger what
wanted settin' over, you see," said the ferryman, his face beaming with
good nature. "Know you'd like to see him, you know, Bright, and to make
him as comfortable as you could for a night or so. Tom and me pulled him
across." Tite now advanced towards the inn-keeper, who gazed at him with
an air of astonishment, and held the candle above his head