Part 18 (1/2)

As a flash of lightning on a black night reveals well known landmarks and familiar objects, this incident brought back to Sammy the evening when, with Ollie and Young Matt, she had climbed the same way; when her horse had stumbled and her face had come close to the face of the big fellow whose hand was on the pony's neck. The whole scene came before her with a vividness that was startling; every word, every look, every gesture of the two young men, her own thoughts and words, the objects along the road, the very motion of her horse; she seemed to be actually living again those moments of the past. But more than this, she seemed not only to live again the incidents of that evening, but in some strange way to possess the faculty of a.n.a.lyzing and pa.s.sing judgment upon her own thoughts and words.

Great changes had come to Sammy, too, since that night when her lover had said good-by. And now, in her deeper life, the young woman felt a curious sense of shame, as she saw how trivial were the things that had influenced her to become Ollie's promised wife. She blushed, as she recalled the motives that had sent her to the shepherd with the request that he teach her to be a fine lady.

Coming out on top of the ridge, Brownie stopped of his own accord, and the girl saw again the figure of a young giant, standing in the level rays of the setting sun, with his great arms outstretched, saying, ”I reckon I was built to live in these hills. I don't guess you'd better count on me ever bein' more'n I am.” Sammy realized suddenly that the question was no longer whether Ollie would be ashamed of her. It was quite a different question, indeed.

CHAPTER XXIII.

OLLIE COMES HOME.

The day that Ollie was expected at the cabin on Dewey Bald, Mr.

Lane was busy in the field.

”I don't reckon you'll need me at th' house nohow,” he said with a queer laugh, as he rose from the dinner table; and Sammy, blus.h.i.+ng, told him to go on to his work, or Young Matt would get his planting done first.

Jim went out to get his horse from the stable, but before he left, he returned once more to the house.

”What is it, Daddy? Forget something?” asked Sammy, as her father stood in the doorway.

”Not exactly,” drawled Jim. ”I ain't got a very good forgetter.

Wish I had. It's somethin' I can't forget. Wish I could.”

In a moment the girl's arms were about his neck, ”You dear foolish old Daddy Jim. I have a bad forgetter, too. You thought when I began studying with Dad Howitt that my books would make me forget you. Well, have they?” A tightening of the long arm about her waist was the only answer. ”And now you are making yourself miserable trying to think that Ollie Stewart and his friends will make me forget you; just as if all the folks in the world could ever be to me what you are; you, and Dad, and Uncle Matt, and Aunt Mollie, and Young Matt. Daddy, I am ashamed of you. Honest, I am.

Do you think a real genuine lady could ever forget the father who had been so good to her? Daddy, I am insulted. You must apologize immediately.”

She pretended to draw away, but the long arm held her fast, while the mountaineer said in a voice that had in it pride and pain, with a world of love, ”I know, I know, girl. But you'll be a livin' in the city, when you and Ollie are married, and these old hills will be mighty lonesome with you gone. You see I couldn't never leave the old place. 'Tain't much, I know, so far as money value goes. But there's some things worth a heap more than their money value, I reckon. If you was only goin' t' live where I could ride over once or twice a week to see you, it would be different.”

”Yes, Daddy; but maybe I won't go after all. I'm not married, yet, you know.”

Something in her voice or manner caused Jim to hold his daughter at arm's length, and look full into the brown eyes; ”What do you mean, girl?”

Sammy laughed in an uneasy and embarra.s.sed way. She was not sure that she knew herself all that lay beneath the simple words. She tried to explain. ”Why, I mean that--that Ollie and I have both grown up since we promised, and he has been living away out in the big world and going to school besides. He must have seen many girls since he left me. He is sure to be changed greatly, and-- and, maybe he won't want a backwoods wife.”

The man growled something beneath his breath, and the girl placed a hand over his lips; ”You mustn't say swear words, Daddy Jim.

Indeed, you must not. Not in the presence of ladies, anyway.”

”You're changed a heap in some ways, too,” said Jim.

”Yes, I suppose I am; but my changes are mostly on the inside like; and perhaps he won't see them.”

”Would you care so mighty much, Sammy?” whispered the father.

”That's just it, Daddy. How can I tell? We must both begin all over again, don't you see?” Then she sent him away to his work.

Sammy had finished was.h.i.+ng the dinner dishes, and was putting things in order about the house, when she stopped suddenly before the little shelf that held her books. Then, with a smile, she carried them every one into her own room, placing them carefully where they could not be seen from the open door. Going next to the mirror, she deliberately took down her hair, and arranged it in the old careless way that Ollie had always known. ”You're just the same backwoods girl, Sammy Lane, so far as outside things go,” she said to the face in the gla.s.s; ”but you are not quite the same all the way through. We'll see if he--” She was interrupted by the loud barking of the dog outside, and her heart beat more quickly as a voice cried, ”h.e.l.lo, h.e.l.lo, I say; call off your dog!”

Sammy hurried to the door. A strange gentleman stood at the gate.

The strangest gentleman that Sammy had ever seen. Surely this could not be Ollie Stewart; this slender, pale-faced man, with faultless linen, well gloved hands and s.h.i.+ning patent leathers.