Part 25 (2/2)

The carriage stopped, and there was a confusion of voices on the box-seat, and then a great barking of dogs, and they beheld MacWillia at the door of a hut The door opened for an inch, and there was a long debate in Spanish, and finally the door was closed again, and a light appeared through the s A few minutes later a , and made a fire in the sun-baked oven at the side of the house Hope and Clay reing up fro torches of pine, pulling down bundles of fodder for the horses froirls disappeared toward aa jar on her shoulder, and the other lighting the ith a torch Hope sat with her chin on her hand, watching the black figures passing between theht on their faces, shading their eyes fro caldron with the other

Hope felt an overflowing sense of gratitude to these si She felt how good every one was, and hoonderfully kind and generous was the world that she lived in

Her brother cae and boith mock courtesy

”I trust, now that we have done all the work,” he said, ”that your excellencies will condescend to share our frugal fare, orit to you here?”

The clay oven stood in the h which the smoke drifted freely There was a roooden benches around it, and they all seated themselves and ate ravenously of rice and fried plantains, while the wo her guests curiously Her glance fell upon Langha that Hope followed the direction of her eyes She leaped to her feet with a cry of fear and reproach, and ran toward her brother

”Ted!” she cried, ”you are hurt! you are wounded, and you never told me! What is it? Is it very bad?” Clay crossed the floor in a stride, his face full of concern

”Leavethem off with the coffeepot ”It's only scratched You'll spill the coffee”

But at the sight of the blood Hope had turned very white, and throwing her arms around her brother's neck, hid her eyes on his other shoulder and began to cry

”I am so selfish,” she sobbed ”I have been so happy and you were suffering all the time”

Her brother stared at the others in dis her on the shoulder ”You're a bit tired, and you need rest

That's what you need The idea oflike such a sport--and before these young ladies, too

Aren't you ashamed?”

”I should think they'd be ashamed,” said MacWilliams, severely, as he continued placidly with his supper ”They haven't got enough clothes on”

Langhanificantly

”She's been on a good deal of a strain,” he explained apologetically, ”and no wonder; it's been rather an unusual night for her”

Hope raised her head and sh her tears Then she turned and moved toward Clay She brushed her eyes with the back of her hand and laughed ”It has been an unusual night,” she said

”Shall I tell hihtened himself unconsciously, and stepped beside her and took her hand; MacWilliams quickly lowered to the bench the dish fro, and stood up, too The people of the house stared at the group in the firelight with puzzled interest, at the beautiful young girl, and at the tall, sunburned young hahed uneasily

”Langham, I have been very bold,” said Clay ”I have asked your sister to ham flushed as red as his sister He felt hireat and strong as he knew thisand inadequate He crossed over to his sister aardly and kissed her, and then took Clay's hand, and the three stood together and looked at one another, and there was no sign of doubt or question in the face of any one of the together, and utterly unconscious of anything but their own delight and happiness MacWilliams watched them, his face puckered into odd wrinkles and his eyes half-closed Hope suddenly broke away from the others and turned toward hi to say to me, Mr MacWilliams?” she asked

MacWilliah from force of habit he must ask advice from his chief first, and then took the hands that she held out to him and shook them up and down His usual confidence see fro and abashed

”Well, I always said they didn't asped at last ”I was always telling hietically at Clay ”And that's so; they don't make 'em any better than you”

He dropped her hands and crossed over to Clay, and stood surveying him with a smile of wonder and admiration

”How'd you do it?” he demanded ”How did you do it? I suppose you know,” he asked sternly, ”that you're not good enough for Miss Hope?

You know that, don't you?”