hitching-block, where Clarke had reined in his fiery steed.

"Ah, Alfred. Been out for a ride?"



"Yes, I have been giving Roger a little exercise."

"That's a magnificent animal. I never get tired watching him move. He's the



best bit of horseflesh on the river. By the way, we have not seen much of you

since the siege. Of course you have been busy. Getting ready to put on the



harness, eh? Well, that's what we want the young men to do. Come over and see

us."



"I have been trying to come. You know how it is with me--about Betty, I mean.

Col. Zane, I--I love her. That's all."



"Yes, I know, Alfred, and I don't wonder at your fears. But I have always

liked you, and now I guess it's about time for me to put a spoke in your wheel



of fortune. If Betty cares for you--and I have a sneaking idea she does--I

will give her to you."



"I have nothing. I gave up everything when I left home."

"My lad, never mind about that," said the Colonel, laying his hand on Clarke's



knee. "We don't need riches. I have so often said that we need nothing out

here on the border but honest hearts and strong, willing hands. These you



have. That is enough for me and for my people, and as for land, why, I have

enough for an army of young men. I got my land cheap. That whole island there



I bought from Cornplanter. You can have that island or any tract of land along

the river. Some day I shall put you at the head of my men. It will take you



years to cut that road through to Maysville. Oh, I have plenty of work for

you."



"Col. Zane, I cannot thank you," answered Alfred, with emotion. "I shall try

to merit your friendship and esteem. Will you please tell your sister I shall



come over in the morning and beg to see her alone."

"That I will, Alfred. Goodnight."



Col. Zane strode across his threshold with a happy smile on his face. He loved

to joke and tease, and never lost an opportunity.



"Things seem to be working out all right. Now for some fun with Her Highness,"

he said to himself.



As the Colonel surveyed the pleasant home scene he felt he had nothing more to

wish for. The youngsters were playing with a shaggy little pup which had



already taken Tige's place in their fickle affections. His wife was crooning a

lullaby as she gently rocked the cradle to and fro. A wonderful mite of



humanity peacefully slumbered in that old cradle. Annie was beginning to set

the table for the evening meal. Isaac lay with a contented smile on his face,



fast asleep on the couch, where, only a short time before, he had been laid

bleeding and almost dead. Betty was reading to Myeerah, whose eyes were



rapturously bright as she leaned her head against her sister and listened to

the low voice.



"Well, Betty, what do you think?" said Col. Zane, stopping before the girls.

"What do I think?" retorted Betty. "Why, I think you are very rude to



interrupt me. I am reading to Myeerah her first novel."

"I have a very important message for you."



"For me? What! From whom?"

"Guess."



Betty ran through a list of most of her acquaintances, but after each name her

brother shook his head.



"Oh, well, I don't care," she finally said. The color in her cheeks had

heightened noticeably.



"Very well. If you do not care, I will say nothing more," said Col. Zane.

At this juncture Annie called them to supper. Later, when Col. Zane sat on the



doorstep smoking, Betty came and sat beside him with her head resting against

his shoulder. The Colonel smoked on in silence. Presently the dusky head moved



restlessly.

"Eb, tell me the message," whispered Betty.



"Message? What message?" asked Col. Zone. "What are you talking about?"

"Do not tease--not now. Tell me." There was an undercurrent of wistfulness in



Betty's voice which touched the kindhearted brother.

"Well, to-day a certain young man asked me if he could relieve me of the



responsibility of looking after a certain young lady."

"Oh."



"Wait a moment. I told him I would be delighted."

"Eb, that was unkind."



"Then he asked me to tell her he was coming over to-morrow morning to fix it

up with her."



"Oh, horrible!" cried Betty. "Were those the words he used?"

"Betts, to tell the honest truth, he did not say much of anything. He just



said: 'I love her,' and his eyes blazed."

Betty uttered a half articulate cry and ran to her room. Her heart was



throbbing. What could she do? She felt that if she looked once into her

lover's eyes she would have no strength. How dared she allow herself to be so



weak! Yet she knew this was the end. She could deceive him no longer: For she

felt a stir in her heart, stronger than all, beyond all resistance, an

• circle [´sə:kəl] n.圆圈 v.环绕；盘旋 (初中英语单词)


• striking [´straikiŋ] a.显著的，明显的 (初中英语单词)


• slender [´slendə] a.细长的；微薄的 (初中英语单词)


• bullet [´bulit] n.子弹 (初中英语单词)


• breeze [bri:z] n.微风；不费力的事 (初中英语单词)


• hunter [´hʌntə] n.猎人；猎狗；猎马 (初中英语单词)


• opening [´əupəniŋ] n.开放；开端 a.开始的 (初中英语单词)


• sprang [spræŋ] spring 的过去式 (初中英语单词)


• thrust [θrʌst] v.&n.猛推；冲；刺；挤进 (初中英语单词)


• cannon [´kænən] n.大炮 (初中英语单词)


• ashamed [ə´ʃeimd] a.惭愧；不好意思 (初中英语单词)


• valley [´væli] n.谷；河谷；流域 (初中英语单词)


• indian [´indiən] a.印度的 n.印度人 (初中英语单词)


• retreat [ri´tri:t] v.&n.退却；撤退；放弃 (初中英语单词)


• interval [´intəvəl] n.间隙；(工间)休息 (初中英语单词)


• gallant [´gælənt, gə´lænt] a.英勇的；华丽的 (初中英语单词)


• glorious [´glɔ:riəs] a.光荣的；辉煌的 (初中英语单词)


• virginia [və´dʒinjə] n.佛吉尼亚(州) (初中英语单词)


• construction [kən´strʌkʃən] n.建设；修建；结构 (初中英语单词)


• persuasion [pə´sweiʒən] n.说服(力)；劝说；见解 (初中英语单词)


• prosperous [´prɔspərəs] a.繁荣的；顺利的 (初中英语单词)


• wealthy [´welθi] a.富有的；丰富的 (初中英语单词)


• pioneer [,paiə´niə] n.拓荒者 v.开辟；倡导 (初中英语单词)


• magnificent [mæg´nifisənt] a.壮丽的；豪华的 (初中英语单词)


• riches [´ritʃiz] n.房地产；丰富 (初中英语单词)


• willing [´wiliŋ] a.情愿的，乐意的 (初中英语单词)


• emotion [i´məuʃən] n.感情；情绪；激动 (初中英语单词)


• working [´wə:kiŋ] a.工人的；劳动的 (初中英语单词)


• gently [´dʒentli] ad.温和地；静静地 (初中英语单词)


• cradle [´kreidl] n.摇篮；发源地 (初中英语单词)


• beginning [bi´giniŋ] n.开始，开端；起源 (初中英语单词)


• reading [´ri:diŋ] n.(阅)读；朗读；读物 (初中英语单词)


• presently [´prezəntli] ad.不久；目前 (初中英语单词)


• relieve [ri´li:v] v.救济，援救；减轻 (初中英语单词)


• deceive [di´si:v] vt.欺骗，欺诈 (初中英语单词)


• resistance [ri´zistəns] n.抵抗；抵制；耐力 (初中英语单词)


• sprung [sprʌŋ] spring的过去分词 (高中英语单词)


• colonel [´kə:nəl] n.海(陆)军上校 (高中英语单词)


• sweetheart [´swi:thɑ:t] n.爱人；情人 (高中英语单词)


• persistent [pə´sistənt] a.坚持的；固执的 (高中英语单词)


• garrison [´gærisən] n.警备队 vt.驻防 (高中英语单词)


• rejoicing [ri´dʒɔisiŋ] n.高兴；欢呼 (高中英语单词)


• liveliness [´laivlinis] n.生气勃勃；繁华 (高中英语单词)


• prophecy [´prɔfisi] n.预言(能力) (高中英语单词)


• seeing [si:iŋ] see的现在分词 n.视觉 (高中英语单词)


• esteem [i´sti:m] n.尊重 vt.认为；感到 (高中英语单词)


• strode [strəud] stride的过去式 (高中英语单词)


• threshold [´θreʃhəuld] n.门槛；入门；开端 (高中英语单词)


• contented [kən´tentid] a.满足的；心满意足的 (高中英语单词)


• clearing [´kliəriŋ] n.(森林中的)空旷地 (英语四级单词)


• detachment [di´tætʃmənt] n.分开(离)；分遣队 (英语四级单词)


• daybreak [´deibreik] n.黎明，拂晓 (英语四级单词)


• eastward [´i:stwəd] a.&ad.向东(的) (英语四级单词)


• muster [´mʌstə] n.集合 v.集合；征召 (英语四级单词)


• hatchet [´hætʃit] n.短柄小斧 (英语四级单词)


• accomplished [ə´kʌmpliʃt] a.完成了的；熟练的 (英语四级单词)


• genial [´dʒi:niəl] a.愉快的；和蔼的 (英语四级单词)


• trying [´traiiŋ] a.难堪的；费劲的 (英语四级单词)


• shaggy [´ʃægi] a.蓬乱的；多粗毛的 (英语四级单词)


• extended [iks´tendid] a.伸长的；广大的 (英语六级单词)


• doubly [´dʌbli] ad.加倍地，双重地 (英语六级单词)


• heroism [´herəuizəm] n.英勇；英雄主义 (英语六级单词)


• sullenly [´sʌlənli] ad.不高兴地 (英语六级单词)


• despairing [di´speəriŋ] a.感到绝望的 (英语六级单词)


• fickle [´fikəl] a.轻浮的；多变的 (英语六级单词)


• peacefully [´pisfuli] ad.平静地；安宁地 (英语六级单词)


• articulate [ɑ:´tikjulit] a.口齿清楚的 v.连接 (英语六级单词)