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direction； they burst through the jealous rampart； and came upon the
sylvan haunt of the hidden spring。 The great angle of the half…fallen tree
acted as a harrier to the wind and drifting smoke； and the cool spring
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sparkled and bubbled in the almost translucent air。 He laid her down
beside the water； and bathed her face and hands。 As he did so his quick
eye caught sight of a woman's handkerchief lying at the foot of the
disrupted root。 Dropping Teresa's hand； he walked towards it； and with the
toe of his moccasin gave it one vigorous kick into the ooze at the overflow
of the spring。 He turned to Teresa； but she evidently had not noticed the
act。
〃Where are you？〃 she asked； with a smile。
Something in her movement struck him！ He came towards her； and
bending down looked into her face。 〃Teresa！ Good God！look at me！
What has happened？〃
She raised her eyes to his。 There was a slight film across them； the
lids were blackened； the beautiful lashes gone forever！
〃I see you a little now； I think；〃 she said； with a smile； passing her
hands vaguely over his face。 〃It must have happened when he fainted；
and I had to drag him through the blazing brush； both my hands were full；
and I could not cover my eyes。〃
〃Drag whom？〃 said Low； quickly。
〃Why； Dunn。〃
〃Dunn！ He here？〃 said Low； hoarsely。
〃Yes； didn't you read the note I left on the herbarium？ Didn't you
come to the camp…fire？〃 she asked hurriedly； clasping his hands。 〃Tell
me quickly！〃
〃No！〃
〃Then you were not therethen you didn't leave me to die？〃
〃No！ I swear it； Teresa！〃 the stoicism that had upheld his own agony
breaking down before her strong emotion。
〃Thank God！〃 She threw her arms around him； and hid her aching
eyes in his troubled breast。
〃Tell me all； Teresa；〃 he whispered in her listening ear。 〃Don't move；
stay there； and tell me all。〃
With her face buried in his bosom； as if speaking to his heart alone；
she told him part； but not all。 With her eyes filled with tears； but a smile
on her lips； radiant with new…found happiness； she told him how she had
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overheard the plans of Dunn and Brace； how she had stolen their
conveyance to warn him in time。 But here she stopped； dreading to say a
word that would shatter the hope she was building upon his sudden
revulsion of feeling for Nellie。 She could not bring herself to repeat their
interview that would come later； when they were safe and out of danger；
now not even the secret of his birth must come between them with its
distraction； to mar their perfect communion。 She faltered that Dunn had
fainted from weakness； and that she had dragged him out of danger。 〃He
will never interfere with usI mean；〃 she said softly； 〃with ME again。 I
can promise you that as well as if he had sworn it。〃
〃Let him pass； now；〃 said Low； 〃that will come later on；〃 he added；
unconsciously repeating her thought in a tone that made her heart sick。
〃But tell me； Teresa； why did you go to Excelsior？〃
She buried her head still deeper； as if to hide it。 He felt her broken
heart beat against his own； he was conscious of a depth of feeling her rival
had never awakened in him。 The possibility of Teresa loving him had
never occurred to his simple nature。 He bent his head and kissed her。
She was frightened； and unloosed her clinging arms； but he retained her
hand； and said； 〃We will leave this accursed place； and you shall go with
me as you said you would； nor need you ever leave me； unless you wish
it。〃
She could hear the beating of her own heart through his words； she
longed to look at the eyes and lips that told her this； and read the meaning
his voice alone could not entirely convey。 For the first time she felt the
loss of her sight。 She did not know that it was； in this moment of
happiness； the last blessing vouchsafed to her miserable life。
A few moments of silence followed； broken only by the distant rumor
of the conflagration and the crash of falling boughs。
〃It may be an hour yet；〃 he whispered； 〃before the fire has swept a
path for us to the road below。 We are safe here； unless some sudden
current should draw the fire down upon us。 You are not frightened？〃
She pressed his hand； she was thinking of the pale face of Dunn； lying in
the secure retreat she had purchased for him at such a sacrifice。 Yet the
possibility of danger to him now for a moment marred her present
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happiness and security。 〃You think the fire will not go north of where
you found me？〃 she asked softly。
〃I think not；〃 he said； 〃but I will reconnoitre。 Stay where you are。〃
They pressed hands； and parted。 He leaped upon the slanting trunk
and ascended it rapidly。 She waited in mute expectation。
There was a sudden movement of the root on which she sat； a
deafening crash； and she was thrown forward on her face。
The vast bulk of the leaning tree； dislodged from its aerial support by
the gradual sapping of the spring at its roots； or by the crumbling of the
bark from the heat； had slipped； made a half revolution； and； falling；
overbore the lesser trees in its path； and tore； in its resistless momentum； a
broad opening to the underbrush。
With a cry to Low； Teresa staggered to her feet。 There was an
interval of hideous silence； but no reply。 She called again。 There was a
sudden deepening roar； the blast of a fiery furnace swept through the
opening； a thousand luminous points around her burst into fire； and in an
instant she was lost in a whirlwind of smoke and flame！ Fr