She knew no convention,
no prudery, no doubt. Her life was impulse, and her impulse was
love. She was the teacher now, and he the taught; and he stood in
wonder when the plant he had tended flowered into such beauty in
a single night. Ah, the happy, happy days that followed! The veil
that had for a long time been unfolding itself between him and his
previous life seemed to have almost fallen, and they were left
alone to their happiness. The mother kept her own counsel. Raines
had disappeared as though Death had claimed him. And the dream
lasted till a summons home broke into it as the sudden flaring up
of a candle will shatter a reverie at twilight.
IX
THE summons was from his father, and was emphatic; and
Clayton did not delay. The girl accepted his departure with a pale
face, but with a quiet submission that touched him. Of Raines he
had seen nothing and heard nothing since the night he had left the
cabin in anger; but as he came down the mountain after bidding
Easter good-by, he was startled by the mountaineer stepping from
the bushes into the path.
Ye air a-goin' home, I hear," he said, quietly.
"Yes," answered Clayton; " at midnight."
Well, I'll walk down with ye a piece, ef ye don't mind. Hit's not
out o' my way."
As he spoke his face was turned suddenly to the moonlight.
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