Laddie bowed from the waist,and put the reins in her fingers all in one movement.He caught the glance she gave him too;I could almost feel it like a band passing between them.Then she called a laughing good-bye to all of us at once,and showed us how to ride right,as she flashed toward the Little Hill.That was riding,you may believe,and mother sighed as she watched her.
"If I were a girl again,"she said,"I would ride as well as that,or I'd never mount a horse.""She's been trained from her cradle,and her father deals in horses.Half the battle in riding is a thoroughbred,"said Laddie."No such horse as that ever stepped these roads before.""And no such girl ever travelled them,"said my mother,folding her hands one over the other on top of a post of the hitching rack."I must say I don't know how this is coming out,and it troubles me.""Why,what's up?"asked Laddie,covering her hands with his and looking her in the eyes.
"Just this,"said my mother."She's more beautiful of face and form than God ought to allow any woman to be,in mercy to the men who will be forced to meet her.Her speech is highly cultured.
Her manners are perfect,and that is a big and unusual thing in a girl of her age.Every word she said,every move she made to-day,was exactly as I would have been proud to hear,and to see a daughter of mine speak and move.If I had only myself to consider,I would make her my friend,because I'm seasoned in the ways of the world,and she could influence me only as I chose to allow her.With you youngsters it is different.You'll find her captivating,and you may let her ways sway you without even knowing it.All these outward things are not essential;they are pleasing,I grant,but they have nothing to do with the one big,elemental fact that a Godless life is not even half a life.Inever yet have known any man or woman who attempted it who did not waste life's grandest opportunities,and then come crawling and defeated to the foot of the cross in the end,asking God's mercy where none was deserved or earned.It seems to me a craven way.I know all about the forgiveness on the cross!I know God is big enough and merciful enough to accept even death-bed repentance,but what is that to compare with laying out your course and running it a lifetime without swerving?I detest and distrust this infidel business.I want no child of mine under its influence,or in contact with it.""But when your time comes,if you said just those things to hers and won her,what a triumph,little mother!""`If!'"answered mother."That's always the trouble!One can't be sure!`If'I knew I could accomplish that,I would get on my knees and wrestle with the Lord for the salvation of the soul of a girl like that,not to mention her poor,housebound mother,and that man with the unhappiest face I ever have seen,her father.
It's worth trying,but suppose I try and fail,and at the same time find that in bringing her among us she has influenced some of mine to the loss of their immortal souls then,what will I have done?"
"Mother,"said Laddie;"mother,have you such a poor opinion of the things you and father have taught us,and the lives you've lived before us,that you're really afraid of a slip of a girl,almost a stranger?""The most attractive girl I ever have seen,and mighty willing to be no longer a stranger,Lad.""Well,I can't promise for the others,"said Laddie,"but for myself I will give you my word of honour that I won't be influenced the breadth of one hair by her,in a doctrinal way.""Humph!"said my mother."And it is for you I fear.If a young man is given the slightest encouragement by a girl like that,even his God can't always hold him;and you never have made a confession of faith,Laddie.It is you she will be most likely to captivate.""If you think I have any chance,I'll go straight over and ask her father for her this very evening,"said Laddie,and even mother laughed;then all of us started to the house,for it was almost supper time.I got ready and thought I'd take one more peep at the dress before Sally pinned it in the sheet again,and when I went back,there all huddled in a bunch before it stood Miss Amelia,the tears running down her cheeks.
"Did Sally say you might come here?"I asked.
"No,"said Miss Amelia,"but I've been so crazy to see I just slipped in to take a peep when I noticed the open door.I'll go this minute.Please don't tell her."I didn't say what I would do,but I didn't intend to.
"What are you crying about?"I inquired.
