While they sat there in silence they heard the sound of hoofs on the
frozen ground, and a moment later Bailey's pleasant voice arose: "Hullo,
the house!" Burke went to the door, and Blanche rose to meet the visitor
with a smile, the knot in her forehead smoothed out. There was no alloy
in her pure respect and friendship for Bailey.
He came in cheerily, his hearty voice ringing with health and good-will.
He took her hand in his with a quick, strong grip, and the light of his
brown eyes brought a glow to her heart.
"I've come over to see if you don't want to go to the city to-morrow?
I've got Joe Pease to stay in the store, and so I thought I'd take an
outing."
Burke looked at his wife; she replied, eagerly:
"I should like to go, Mr. Bailey, very much. Our old team is so feeble
we daren't drive so far. I'm afraid every time old Dick stumbles he'll
fall down on the road."
"We'll have to get back to-morrow night," Burke said.
"Oh, we'll do that all right," replied Bailey.
As she planned the trip with tremulous eagerness, Bailey studied her.
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