Colour came to her face and
her heart beat faster. At the foot of the spur the road had been
widened and showed signs of heavy hauling. There was sawdust in
the mouth of the creek and, from coal-dust, the water was black.
The ring of axes and the shouts of ox-drivers came from the
mountain side. Up the creek above her father's cabin three or four
houses were being built of fresh boards, and there in front of her
was a new store. To a fence one side of it two horses were hitched
and on one horse was a side-saddle. Before the door stood the Red
Fox and Uncle Billy, the miller, who peered at her for a moment
through his big spectacles and gave her a wondering shout of
welcome that brought her cousin Loretta to the door, where she
stopped a moment, anchored with surprise. Over her shoulder peered
her cousin Dave, and June saw his face darken while she looked.
"Why, Honey," said the old miller, "have ye really come home
agin?" While Loretta simply said:
"My Lord!" and came out and stood with her hands on her hips
looking at June.
"Why, ye ain't a bit changed! I knowed ye wasn't goin' to put on
no airs like Dave thar said "--she turned on Dave, who, with a
surly shrug, wheeled and went back into the store.
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