"I shall keep a close watch. Not that I have any fears of death, or that Thompson will kill me, but for your sake."
"For my sake, Jack? For my sake only?"
"For your sake only. Let me tell you, little girl, I have but one hope this side of heaven, but one longing. The hope is for you, the longing is for your happiness. Don't you know that you have transformed my life? Once I was a raging lion, to-day I am meek and lowly. The only ray of hope within me was transplanted by your own life. I have studied you from the beginning of your growth until you began to bud, and on until you were a full-grown flower; how, then, can I help but be interested in you? You have torn from my heart most evil designs."
"Were there ever such designs there, Jack?"
"Once, yes. None now. I have much to tell you at some more opportune time; not now."
"If I may venture to say it, I am very glad to have been an assistance to you, because you have been as a shining light to my dark pathway from the first time we met. Dear old Brindle," she said.
"Dear old Brindle," repeated Wade softly. "And now we have old Brindle home again, and we must part, though not forever, I hope. Tomorrow, if all goes well through the night, I should like to take you over to the brook fishing. Will you go?"
"We might be endangering our lives to go over there just at this time. That is Thompson's territory, don't you know?"
"Yes, I know; but what's the use to go through life full of fears for what we might meet? The obstacles which we naturally encounter are so nearly insurmountable as to discourage us, so therefore let us not look forward to those which might confront us."
"I shall admit that the natural ones are many, but caution is what has been taught me. We should be grateful to God that they are not more numerous."