they took long walks together on the mountains。 This was contrary to mountain etiquette； but they were remote even from the rude conventionalities of the life below them。 They even went hunting together； and Easter had the joy of a child when she discovered her superiority to Clayton in woodcraft and in the use of a rifle。 If he could tell her the names of plants and flowers they found； and how they were akin； she could show him where they grew。 If he could teach her a little more about animals and their habits than she already knew； he had always to follow her in the search for game。 Their fellowship was； in consequence； never more complete than when they were roaming the woods。 In them Easter was at home； and her ardent nature came to the surface like a poetic glow from her buoyant health and beauty。 Then appeared all that was wayward and elfin…like in her character； and she would be as playful； wilful； evanescent as a wood…spirit。 Sometimes； when they were separated； she would lead him into a ravine by imitating a squirrel or a wild…turkey； and； as he crept noiselessly along with bated breath and eyes peering eagerly through the tree…tops or the underbrush； she would step like a dryad from behind some tree at his side； with a ringing laugh at his discomfiture。 Again； she might startle him by running lightly along the fallen trunk of a tree that lay across a torrent； or； in a freak of wilfulness； would let herself down the bare face of some steep cliff。 If he scolded her； she laughed。 If he grew angry； she was serious instantly； and once she fell to weeping and fled home。 He followed her； but she barricaded herself in her room in the loft； and would not be coaxed down。 The next day she had forgotten that she was angry。
Her mother showed no surprise at any of her moods。 Easter was not like other 〃 gals；〃 she said； she had always been〃 quar；〃 and she reckoned would〃 al'ays be that way。〃 She objected in no wise to Clayton's intimacy with her。 The furriner；〃 she told Raines； was the only man who had ever been able to manage her； and if she wanted Easter to do anything 〃 ag'in her will； she went to him fust 〃…a simple remark that threw the mountaineer into deep thoughtfulness。
Indeed； this sense of power that Clayton felt over the wilful； passionate creature thrilled him with more pleasure than he would have been willing to admit； at the same time it suggested to him a certain responsibility。 Why not make use of it； and a good use？ The girl was perhaps deplorably ignorant； could do but little more than read and write； but she was susceptible of development； and at times apparently conscious of the need of it and desirous for it。 Once he had carried her a handful of violets； and thereafter an old pitcher that stood on a shelf blossomed every day with wild…flowers。 He had transplanted a vine from the woods and taught her to train it over the porch； and the first hint of tenderness he found in her nature was in the care of that plant。 He had taken her a book full of pictures and fashion…plates； and he had noticed a quick and ingenious adoption of some of its hints in her dress。
One afternoon； as he lay on his bed in a darkened corner of his room； a woman's shadow passed across the wall； returned； and a moment later he saw Easter's face at the window。 He had lain quiet； and watched her while her wondering eyes roved from one object to another； until they were fastened with a long； intent look on a picture that stood upon a table near the window。 He stirred； and her face melted away instantly。 A few days later he was sitting with Easter and Raines at the cabin。 The mother was at the other end of the porch； talking to a neighbor who had stopped to rest on his way across the mountains。
Easter air a…gettin' high notions；〃 she was saying； 〃 'n' she air a…spendin' her savin 's； 'n' all mine she kin git hold of； to buy fixin's at the commissary。 She must hev white crockery； 'n' towels； 'n' newfangled forks； 'n' sichlike。〃 A conscious flush came into the girl's face； and she rose hastily and went into the house。
〃I was afeard；〃 continued the mother； 〃 that she would hev her hair cut short； 'n' be a…flyin' with ribbons； 'n' spangled out like a rainbow； like old 'Lige Hicks's gal； ef I hadn't heerd the furriner tell her it was ' beastly。' Thar ain't no fear now； fer what that furriner don't like； Easter don't nother。〃
For an instant the mountaineer's eyes had flashed on Clayton； but when the latter； a trifle embarrassed； looked up； Raines apparently had heard nothing。 Easter did not reappear until the mountaineer was gone。
There were othcr hopeful signs。 Whenever Clayton spoke of his friends； she always listened eagerly； and asked innumerable questions about them。 If his attention was caught by any queer custom or phrase of the mountain dialect； she was quick to ask in return how he would say the same thing； and what the custom was in the settlemints。〃 She even made feeble attempts to model her own speech after his。
In a conscious glow that he imagined was philanthropy； Clayton began his task of elevation。 She was not so ignorant as he had supposed。 Apparently she had been taught by somebody； but when asked by whom； she hesitated answering； and he had taken it for granted that what she knew she had puzzled out alone。 He was astonished by her quickness； her docility； and the passionate energy with which she worked。 Her instant obedience to every suggestion； her trust in every word he uttered； made him acutely and at times uncomfortably conscious of his responsibility。 At the same time there was in the task something of the pleasure that a young sculptor feels when； for the first time； the clay begins to yield obedience to his fingers； and something of the delight that must have thrilled Pygmalion when he saw his statue tremulous with conscious life。
VI
THE possibility of lifting the girl above her own people； and of creating a spirit of discontent that might embitter her whole life； had occurred to Clayton； but at such moments the figure of Raines came into the philanthropic picture forming slowly in his mind； and his conscience was quieted。 He could see them together； the gradual change that Easter would bring about in him； the influence of the two on their fellows。 The mining…camp grew into a town with a modest church on the outskirts； and a cottage where Raines and Easter were installed。 They stood between the old civilization and the new； understanding both； and protecting the native strength of the one from the vices of the other； and training it after more breadth and refinement。 But Raines and Easter did not lend themselves to the picture so readily； and gradually it grew vague and shadowy； and the figure of the mountaineer was blurred。
Clayton did not bring harmony to the two。 At first he saw nothing of the mountaineer； and when they met at the cabin Raines remained only a short time。 If Easter cared for him at all； she did not show it。 How he was regarded by the mother； Clayton had learned long ago； when； in answer to one of his questions； she had said； with a look at Easter； that 〃 Raines was the likeliest young feller in them mountains 〃； that 〃he knew morn'n anybody round thar〃； that 〃 he had spent a year in the settlemints； was mighty religious； and would one day be a circuit…rider。 Anyhow；〃 she concluded； 〃 he was a mighty good friend o' theirn。〃
But as for Easter； she treated him with unvarying indifference； though Clayton noticed she was more quiet and reserved in the mountaineer's presence； and； what was unintelligible to him； she refused to speak of her studies when Raines was at the cabin； and warned her mother with an angry frown when the latter began telling the mountaineer of 〃whut a change had come over Easter； and how she reckoned the gal was a…gittin' eddicated enough fer to teach anybody in the mountains； she was a…larnin' so much。〃
After that little incident； he met Raines at the cabin oftener。 The mountaineer was always taciturn； though he listened closely when anything was said； and even when addressed by Easter's mother his attention； Clayton noticed； was fixed on Easter and himself。 He felt that he was being watched； and it irritated him。 He had tried to be friendly with the mountaineer； but his advances were received with a reserve that was almost suspicion。 As time went on； the mountaineer's visits increased in frequency and in length； and at last one night he stayed so long that； for the first time； Clayton left him there。
Neither spoke after the young engineer was gone。 The mountaineer sat looking closely at Easter； who was listlessly watching the moon as it rose above the Cumberland Range and brought into view the wavering outline of Pine Mountain and the shadowed valley below。 It was evident from his face and his eyes； which glowed with the suppressed fire of some powerful emotion within； that he had remained for a purpose； and when he rose and said； 〃I reckon I better be a…goin'； Easter；〃 his voice was so unnatural that the girl looked up quickly。
Hit air late；〃 she said； after a slight pause。
His face flushed； but he set his lips and caught the back of his chair； as though to steady himself。
〃I reckon；〃 he said； with slow bitterness； 〃that hit would 'a' been early long as the furriner was hyeh。〃
The girl was roused instantly； but she said nothing； and he continued； in a determined tone：
〃Easter； thar's a good deal I've wanted to say to ye fer a long time； but I hev kept a…puttin' hit off until I'm afeard maybe hit air too late。 But I'm a…goin' to say hit now； and I want ye to listen。〃 He cleared his throat huskily。 〃 Do ye know； Easter； what folks in the mountains is a…sayin'？
The girl's quick insight told her what was coming； and her face hardened。
〃Have ye ever knowed me； Sherd Raines； to keer what folks in the mountains say？ I reckon ye mean as how they air a…talkin' about me
That's what I mean；〃 said the mountaineer…〃 you 'n' him。〃
〃Whut air they a…sayin'？〃 she asked； defiantly。 Raines watched her narrowly。
〃They air a…sayin' as how he air a…comin' up here mighty often； as how Easter Hicks； who hev never keered fer no man； air in love with this furriner from the settlemints。〃
The girl reddened； in spite of her