He looked at his watch; it was early yet. Then
going on a little, he suddenly stopped--that was not his mother! He drew
nearer and pushed aside a bush for a better view.
His heart leaped at sight of the familiar blue dress and its white
trimming! The figure turned slightly as if to look up the trail. The big
fellow on the mountain side trembled.
"How like," he whispered half aloud, "God, how like--"
Softly as one fearing to dispel a welcome illusion he drew
nearer--nearer--nearer. Suddenly a dry bush on the ground snapped under
his foot. She turned her face quickly toward him.
Then, springing to her feet Hope Farwell stood waiting with joy--lighted
face, as Dan went stumbling in wondering haste down the hill.
"I thought you were never coming," she said. "I have been waiting so
long." And then for a little while there was nothing more said that we
have any right whatever to hear.
When he insisted upon an explanation of the miracle, she laughed merrily.
"Why it's like most miracles, I fancy, if only one knew about them--the
most natural thing that could happen after all. Dr. Miles came to me some
two months ago, and said that he had a patient whom he was sending into
the mountains with a nurse, and asked me if I would take the case. He
said he thought that I would like to see the Mutton Hollow country,
and--and that he thought that I needed the trip. You can imagine how
quickly I said that I would go. I am living down at the Jones place.
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