The first hilltop they reached had its surprise
to offer the girl. In a little valley below them, scarce a mile
away, nestled a ranch with its corrals and buildings.
"Look!" she exclaimed; and then swiftly, "Didn't you know it was
there?"
"Yes, that's the Hilke place," he answered with composure. "It
hasn't been occupied for years."
"Isn't that some one crossing to the corral now?"
"No. A stray cow, I reckon."
They dropped into a hollow between the hills and left the ranch
on their left. She was not satisfied, and yet she had not grounds
enough upon which to base a suspicion. For surely the figure she
had seen had been that of a man.
CHAPTER 12. MISTRESS AND MAID
Now that it was safely concluded, Helen thought the adventure
almost worthwhile for the spontaneous expressions of good will it
had drawn forth from her adherents. Mrs. Winslow and Nora had
taken her to their arms and wept and laughed over her in turn,
and in their silent undemonstrative way she had felt herself
hedged in by unusual solicitude on the part of her riders. It was
good--none but she knew how good--to be back among her own, to
bask in a friendliness she could not doubt. It was best of all to
sit opposite Ned Bannister again with no weight on her heart from
the consciousness of his unworthiness.
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