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tenants of the woodwith a more graceful and airy presence and a
far sweeter voice。
The open horizon towards the west had taken a warmer color from the
already slanting sun when Mr。 Hamlin； having rested his horse；
turned to that direction。 He had noticed that the wood was thinner
there； and； pushing forward； he was presently rewarded by the sound
of far…off wheels； and knew he must be near the high…road that the
boy had spoken of。 Having given up his previous intention of
crossing the stream； there seemed nothing better for him to do than
to follow the truant's advice and take the road back to Green
Springs。 Yet he was loath to leave the wood； halting on its verge；
and turning to look back into its charmed recesses。 Once or twice
perhaps because he recalled the words of the poemthat yellowish
sea of ferns had seemed instinct with hidden life； and he had even
fancied； here and there； a swaying of its plumed crests。 Howbeit；
he still lingered long enough for the open sunlight into which he
had obtruded to point out the bravery of his handsome figure。 Then
he wheeled his horse； the light glanced from polished double bit
and bridle…fripperies； caught his red sash and bullion buttons；
struck a parting flash from his silver spurs； and he was gone！
For a moment the light streamed unbrokenly through the wood。 And
then it could be seen that the yellow mass of undergrowth HAD moved
with the passage of another figure than his own。 For ever since he
had entered the shade； a woman； shawled in a vague； shapeless
fashion； had watched him wonderingly； eagerly； excitedly； gliding
from tree to tree as he advanced； or else dropping breathlessly
below the fronds of fern whence she gazed at him as between parted
fingers。 When he wheeled she had run openly to the west； albeit
with hidden face and still clinging shawl； and taken a last look at
his retreating figure。 And then； with a faint but lingering sigh；
she drew back into the shadow of the wood again and vanished also。
CHAPTER III
At the end of twenty minutes Mr。 Hamlin reined in his mare。 He had
just observed in the distant shadows of a by…lane that intersected
his road the vanishing flutter of two light print dresses。 Without
a moment's hesitation he lightly swerved out of the high…road and
followed the retreating figures。
As he neared them； they seemed to be two slim young girls；
evidently so preoccupied with the rustic amusement of edging each
other off the grassy border into the dust of the track that they
did not perceive his approach。 Little shrieks； slight scufflings；
and interjections of 〃Cynthy！ you limb！〃 〃Quit that； Eunice； now！〃
and 〃I just call that real mean！〃 apparently drowned the sound of
his canter in the soft dust。 Checking his speed to a gentle trot；
and pressing his horse close beside the opposite fence； he passed
them with gravely uplifted hat and a serious； preoccupied air。 But
in that single； seemingly conventional glance； Mr。 Hamlin had seen
that they were both pretty； and that one had the short upper lip of
his errant little guide。 A hundred yards farther on he halted； as
if irresolutely； gazed doubtfully ahead of him； and then turned
back。 An expression of innocentalmost childlikeconcern was
clouding the rascal's face。 It was well； as the two girls had
drawn closely together； having been apparently surprised in the
midst of a glowing eulogium of this glorious passing vision by its
sudden return。 At his nearer approach； the one with the short
upper lip hid that piquant feature and the rest of her rosy face
behind the other's shoulder； which was suddenly and significantly
opposed to the advance of this handsome intruder； with a certain
dignity； half real； half affected； but wholly charming。 The
protectress appearedpossibly from her defensive attitudethe
superior of her companion。
Audacious as Jack was to his own sex； he had early learned that
such rare but discomposing graces as he possessed required a
certain apologetic attitude when presented to women； and that it
was only a plain man who could be always complacently self…
confident in their presence。 There was； consequently； a hesitating
lowering of this hypocrite's brown eyelashes as he said； in almost
pained accents；
〃Excuse me； but I fear I've taken the wrong road。 I'm going to
Green Springs。〃
〃I reckon you've taken the wrong road； wherever you're going；〃
returned the young lady； having apparently made up her mind to
resent each of Jack's perfections as a separate impertinence： 〃this
is a PRIVATE road。〃 She drew herself fairly up here； although
gurgled at in the ear and pinched in the arm by her companion。
〃I beg your pardon；〃 said Jack； meekly。 〃I see I'm trespassing on
your grounds。 I'm very sorry。 Thank you for telling me。 I should
have gone on a mile or two farther； I suppose； until I came to your
house；〃 he added； innocently。
〃A mile or two！ You'd have run chock ag'in' our gate in another
minit；〃 said the short…lipped one； eagerly。 But a sharp nudge from
her companion sent her back again into cover； where she waited
expectantly for another crushing retort from her protector。
But； alas！ it did not come。 One cannot be always witty； and Jack
looked distressed。 Nevertheless； he took advantage of the pause。
〃It was so stupid in me； as I think your brother〃looking at
Short…lip〃very carefully told me the road。〃
The two girls darted quick glances at each other。 〃Oh； Bawb！〃 said
the first speaker； in wearied accents；〃THAT limb！ He don't
keer。〃
〃But he DID care；〃 said Hamlin； quietly； 〃and gave me a good deal
of information。 Thanks to him； I was able to see that ferny wood
that's so famousabout two miles up the road。 You knowthe one
that there's a poem written about！〃
The shot told！ Short…lip burst into a display of dazzling little
teeth and caught the other girl convulsively by the shoulders。 The
superior girl bent her pretty brows； and said； 〃Eunice； what's gone
of ye？ Quit that！〃 but； as Hamlin thought； paled slightly。
〃Of course；〃 said Hamlin； quickly； 〃you knowthe poem everybody's
talking about。 Dear me！ let me see！ how does it go？〃 The rascal
knit his brows； said； 〃Ah； yes；〃 and then murmured the verse he had
lately sung quite as musically。
Short…lip was shamelessly exalted and excited。 Really she could
scarcely believe it！ She already heard herself relating the whole
occurrence。 Here was the most beautiful young man she had ever
seenan entire strangertalking to them in the most beautiful and
natural way； right in the lane； and reciting poetry to her sister！
It was like a novelonly more so。 She thought that Cynthia； on
the other hand； looked distressed； andshe must say it〃silly。〃
All of which Jack noted； and was wise。 He had got all he wanted
at present。 He gathered up his reins。
〃Thank you so much； and your brother； too； Miss Cynthia；〃 he said；
without looking up。 Then； adding； with a parting glance and smile；
〃But don't tell Bob how stupid I was；〃 he swiftly departed。
In half an hour he was at the Green Springs Hotel。 As he rode into
the stable yard； he noticed that the coach had only just arrived；
having been detained by a land…slip on the Summit road。 With the
recollection of Bob fresh in his mind； he glanced at the loungers
at the stage office。 The boy was not there； but a moment later
Jack detected him among the waiting crowd at the post…office
opposite。 With a view of following up his inquiries； he crossed
the road as the boy entered the vestibule of the post…office。 He
arrived in time to see him unlock one of a row of numbered letter…
boxes rented by subscribers； which occupied a partition by the
window； and take out a small package and a letter。 But in that
brief glance Mr。 Hamlin detected the printed address of the
〃Excelsior Magazine〃 on the wrapper。 It was enough。 Luck was
certainly with hi