He sat usually in the
shadow of the vine, and though his-face was unseen, Clayton could
feel his eyes fixed upon him with an intensity that sometimes
made him nervous. The mountaineer had evidently begun to
misinterpret his visits to the cabin. Clayton was regarded as a rival.
In what other light, indeed, could he appear to Raines? Friendly
calls between young people of opposite sex were rare in the
mountains. When a young man visited a young woman, his
intentions were supposed to be serious. Raines was plainly
jealous.
But Easter? What was 'the reason for her odd behavior? Could
she, too, have misconstrued his intentions as Raines had? It was
impossible. But even if she had, his manner had in no wise
changed. Some one else had aroused her suspicions, and if any
one it must have been Raines. It was not the mother, he felt sure.
For some time Clayton's mother and sister had been urging him to
make a visit home. He had asked leave of absence, but it was a
busy time, and he had delayed indefinitely. In a fort-night,
however, the stress of work would be over, and then he meant to
leave. During that fortnight he was strangely troubled. He did not
leave the camp, but his mind was busied with thoughts of
Easter-nothing but Easter. Time and again he had reviewed their
acquaintance minutely from the beginning, but he could find no
cause for the change in her.
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