when time blunted the keen edge of her feelings her

face became as sweet and mild, though not so lightsome,

as before.

Joe Blunt and Henri became leading men in the

councils of the Mustang Valley; but Dick Varley preferred

the woods, although, as long as his mother lived,

he hovered round her cottage--going off sometimes for

a day, sometimes for a week, but never longer. After

her head was laid in the dust, Dick took altogether to

the woods, with Crusoe and Charlie, the wild horse, as