We were on the brink of the river.  Saul drew my eyes away, and said,—­

“You are unhappy, Lucy.”

“No,” I answered,—­“not that.”

“That does not content me.  May I ask what troubles you?”

I aroused myself to reason.  Saul is never satisfied, unless I assign a reason for any mood I am in.

“Saul!” I questioned, “why do the mortals that we call Poets write, and why do non-Poets, like ourselves, sigh over the melancholy days of autumn, and why are we silent and thoughtful every time we think enough of the setting sun to watch its going down?”

“Simply because the winter coming is cold and dreary, in the one case,—­and in the other, there are several reasons.  Some natures dread the darkness; others have not accomplished the wishes or the work of the day.”

“I don’t think you go below the surface,” I ventured.  “It seems to me that the entire reason is simple want of faith, a vague uncertainty as to the coming back of the dried-up leaf and flower, when they perish, and a fear, though unexpressed, that the sun is going down out of your sight for the last time, and you would hold it a little longer.”

“Would you now to-night, Lucy?”

“If I could.”

My husband did not speak again for a long time, and gradually I went back into my individuality.

We came upon an eminence outside the river-valley, and within sight of the village.

“Is it well? do you like it?” asked Saul.

The village was nested in among the elms to such a degree that I could only reply,—­

“I am certain that I shall, when I find out what it is.”

Saul stayed the impatient horse at the point where we then were, and, indicating a height above and a depth below, told me the legend of the naming of his village.

It was given thus:—­

“A long time ago, when the soundless tread of the moccason walked fearlessly over the bed of echoes in this valley, two warriors, Wabausee and Waubeeneemah, came one day upon the river, at its opposite sides.  Both were, weary with the march; both wore the glory of many scalps.  Their belts were heavy with wampum, their hearts were heavy with hate.  Wabausee was down amid the dark pines that grew beside the river’s brink.  Waubeeneemah was upon the high land above the river.  With folded arms and unmoved faces they stood, whilst in successive flashes across the stream their eyes met, until Wabausee slowly opened out his arms, and, clasping a towering tree, cried out, ‘I see sky!’ and he steadfastly fixed his gaze upon the crevices of brightness that urged their way down amid the pines over his head.

“Waubeeneemah turned his eyes over the broad valley, and answered the cry with, ‘I see light!’

“Thus they stood, one with his eyes downward, the other with his intent on the sky, and fast and furious ran the river, swollen with the meltings of many snows, and fierce and quick rang the battle-cries of ’I see sky!’ ‘I see light!’