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the driver； commended his daughter to his care in the name of the
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universal brotherhood of man and the Christian fraternity。 Carried away
by his heartiness； he forgot his previous caution； and confided to the
expressman Miss Nellie's regrets that she was not to have that gentleman's
company。 The result was that Miss Nellie found the coach with its
passengers awaiting her with uplifted hats and wreathed smiles at the
Crossing； and the box seat （from which an unfortunate stranger； who had
expensively paid for it； had been summarily ejected） at her service beside
Yuba Bill； who had thrown away his cigar and donned a new pair of
buckskin gloves to do her honor。 But a more serious result to the young
beauty was the effect of the Rev。 Mr。 Wynn's confidences upon the
impulsive heart of Jack Brace； the expressman。 It has been already
intimated that it was his 〃day off。〃 Unable to summarily reassume his
usual functions beside the driver without some practical reason； and
ashamed to go so palpably as a mere passenger； he was forced to let the
coach proceed without him。 Discomfited for the moment； he was not；
however； beaten。 He had lost the blissful journey by her side； which
would have been his professional right； butshe was going to Indian
Spring！ could he not anticipate her there？ Might they not meet in the
most accidental manner？ And what might not come from that meeting
away from the prying eyes of their own town？ Mr。 Brace did not hesitate；
but saddling his fleet Buckskin； by the time the stage…coach had passed the
Crossing in the high…road he had mounted the hill and was dashing along
the 〃cutoff〃 in the same direction； a full mile in advance。 Arriving at
Indian Spring； he left his horse at a Mexican posada on the confines of the
settlement； and from the piled debris of a tunnel excavation awaited the
slow arrival of the coach。 On mature reflection he could give no reason
why he had not boldly awaited it at the express office； except a certain
bashful consciousness of his own folly； and a belief that it might be
glaringly apparent to the bystanders。 When the coach arrived and he had
overcome this consciousness； it was too late。 Yuba Bill had discharged
his passengers for Indian Spring and driven away。 Miss Nellie was in the
settlement； but where？ As time passed he became more desperate and
bolder。 He walked recklessly up and down the main street； glancing in at
the open doors of shops； and even in the windows of private dwellings。
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It might have seemed a poor compliment to Miss Nellie； but it was an
evidence of his complete preoccupation； when the sight of a female face at
a window； even though it was plain or perhaps painted； caused his heart to
bound； or the glancing of a skirt in the distance quickened his feet and his
pulses。 Had Jack contented himself with remaining at Excelsior he might
have vaguely regretted； but as soon become as vaguely accustomed to；
Miss Nellie's absence。 But it was not until his hitherto quiet and passive
love took this first step of action that it fully declared itself。 When he
had made the tour of the town a dozen times unsuccessfully； he had
perfectly made up his mind that marriage with Nellie or the speedy death
of several people； including possibly himself； was the only alternative。
He regretted he had not accompanied her； he regretted he had not
demanded where she was going； he contemplated a course of future action
that two hours ago would have filled him with bashful terror。 There was
clearly but one thing to doto declare his passion the instant he met her；
and return with her to Excelsior an accepted suitor； or not to return at all。
Suddenly he was vexatiously conscious of hearing his name lazily
called； and looking up found that he was on the outskirts of the town； and
interrogated by two horsemen。
〃Got down to walk； and the coach got away from you； Jack； eh？〃
A little ashamed of his preoccupation； Brace stammered something
about 〃collections。〃 He did not recognize the men； but his own face；
name； and business were familiar to everybody for fifty miles along the
stage…road。
〃Well； you can settle a bet for us； I reckon。 Bill Dacre thar bet me
five dollars and the drinks that a young gal we met at the edge of the
Carquinez Woods； dressed in a long brown duster and half muffled up in a
hood； was the daughter of Father Wynn of Excelsior。 I did not get a fair
look at her； but it stands to reason that a high…toned young lady like Nellie
Wynn don't go trap'sing along the wood like a Pike County tramp。 I took
the bet。 May be you know if she's here or in Excelsior？〃
Mr。 Brace felt himself turning pale with eagerness and excitement。
But the near prospect of seeing her presently gave him back his caution；
and he answered truthfully that he had left her in Excelsior； and that in his
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two hours' sojourn in Indian Spring he had not met her once。 〃But；〃 he
added； with a Californian's reverence for the sanctity of a bet； 〃I reckon
you'd better make it a stand…off for twenty…four hours； and I'll find out and
let you know。〃 Which； it is only fair to say； he honestly intended to do。
With a hurried nod of parting； he continued in the direction of the
Woods。 When he had satisfied himself that the strangers had entered the
settlement； and would not follow him for further explanation； he
quickened his pace。 In half an hour he passed between two of the
gigantic sentinels that guarded the entrance to a trail。 Here he paused to
collect his thoughts。 The Woods were vast in extent； the trail dim and
uncertainat times apparently breaking off； or intersecting another trail as
faint as itself。 Believing that Miss Nellie had diverged from the highway
only as a momentary excursion into the shade； and that she would not dare
to penetrate its more sombre and unknown recesses； he kept within sight
of the skirting plain。 By degrees the sedate influence of the silent vaults
seemed to depress him。 The ardor of the chase began to flag。 Under the
calm of their dim roof the fever of his veins began to subside； his pace
slackened； he reasoned more deliberately。 It was by no means probable
that the young woman in a brown duster was Nellie； it was not her
habitual traveling dress； it was not like her to walk unattended in the road；
there was nothing in her tastes and habits to take her into this gloomy
forest； allowing that she had even entered it； and on this absolute question
of her identity the two witnesses were divided。 He stopped irresolutely；
and cast a last； long； half…despairing look around him。 Hitherto he had
given that part of the wood nearest the plain his greatest attention。 His
glance now sought its darker recesses。 Suddenly he became breathless。
Was it a beam of sunlight that had pierced the groined roof above； and
now rested against the trunk of one of the dimmer； more secluded giants？
No； it was moving； even as he gazed it slipped away； glanced against
another tree； passed across one of the vaulted aisles； and then was lost
again。 Brief as was the glimpse； he was not mistakenit was the figure
of a woman。
In another moment he was on her track； and soon had the satisfaction
of seeing her reappear at a les