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steadfastness of affection seemed to emanate from her. It was an affection upon which Abner knew in his heart he could rely all the rest of his life; that she would always love him, always absolve his frailties, his intemperances and shortcomings with the endless patience of the hill women for their men.

The thought that he was leaving such a largesse filled him with a great depression. To defend his own failing heart he pressed her hand and said to her, "But, Nessie, I can come back jest any time on the train; it makes a trip ever' day."

She nodded faintly, drew in her lips and bit them.

A pang went through Abner that he had not clung to the externals of the scene: the furniture, the labourers, a pet goat of one of the children.

Nearly all the men had wives; women who followed them everywhere. He and Nessie stood apart, alone in this eternal parting, this melting pain. He gripped the girl's hand till he hurt her.

"Nessie . . ." he began in a taut undertone.

At that moment the whistle of the locomotive deafened their ears. Amid the din they could faintly distinguish a dog howling. The blast swept the lovers out of their entranced security and flung them into the very moment of parting. They shrunk as best they could behind the corner of the depot and caught each other passionately in their arms. They pressed their lips and bodies together as if they could never tear away.

"Abner, good-bye. . . . God bless you. . . . O-oh, Abner . . ."

"Good-bye, good-bye. . . . I'll be back. . . ."

The teamster could barely make out her face blurred by his tears. It seemed to the youth as if he were tearing out a very part of his own body. His desire to marry her, to keep her by him for ever arose to an agony. Other men were not subject to these tearings asunder. He took his lips from hers.

"Nessie," he trembled, "I want you to be my . . ."

At that moment the last blast of the locomotive over-