Well, so am I."
Under the influence of this train of thought she grew more and
more silent. The sun was sinking westward in undimmed splendor,
but her face was clouded. The air was sweet, balmy, well adapted
to sentiment and the setting out of trees, but she was growing
frosty.
"Hiram," she said shortly, "you've got that oak crooked; let me
hold it." And thereafter she held the trees for the old colored
man as he filled in the earth around them.
Minturn appeared as oblivious as he was keenly observant. At first
the change in Sue puzzled and discouraged him; then, as his acute
mind sought her motives, a rosy light began to dawn upon him. "I
may be wrong," he thought, "but I'll take my chances in acting as
if I were right before I go home."
At last Hiram said: "Reckon I'll have to feed de critters again;"
and he slouched off.
Sue nipped at the young trees further and further away from the
young man who must "play spy before being lover." The spy helped
Mr. Banning set out the last tree. Meantime, the complacent farmer
had mused: "The little girl's safe for another while, anyhow.
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