They shook hands and parted. Before night-fall Tom had started on his new journey in quest of gold.
CHAPTER XXV.
WHITEFACE.
Mark Nelson missed sorely the cow which he had been compelled to yield to the squire on account of default of interest. Whiteface was his best cow, and a great favorite with all the children. She gave nearly as much milk as the other two, and had been one of the main dependences of the family. It was worth considerably more than the thirty dollars for which the squire took it; but he insisted upon that and no other, and Whiteface had to go.
Six months had passed, and there seemed to be very little chance of redeeming the lost cow. Squire Hudson had agreed to give her back on payment of the balance due, with accrued interest; but neither he nor Mark Nelson expected that such an offer would be made.
"I was passing Squire Hudson's to-day, and saw poor Whiteface," said Walter, one evening. "I think she knew me, for when I called her she lowed back."
"I wish we had her back," said Sarah. "It was heartless in the squire to take her. He had a dozen cows of his own."
"He hasn't any heart," said Walter, "or, if he has, it must be pretty small."