“We shall have a great time together, shan’t we?” and Jess turned to Mrs. Hampton as she spoke.  “I am looking forward so much to this day in such a beautiful spot as this.”

“So you won’t miss me at all, I suppose?” John queried as he looked lovingly upon the girl’s bright, animated face.

“Indeed we shall,” Jess smilingly told him.  “But you would not want us to mope around all day, simply because you are not with us, would you?  We shall look forward to your return this evening.”

“And don’t forget the milk,” Mrs. Hampton reminded.  “We forgot to bring any last night.  It was stupid of me.  And don’t tell anyone where we are.  Keep clear of Mrs. Tobin, if you possibly can.”

“That’s easier said than done,” John laughed, as he pushed off the boat and sprang lightly on board.  “However, I shall do the best I can.”

In a few minutes he was skimming over the water, while he kept his eyes fixed upon the girl standing upon the shore, waving her hand to him until he had landed and disappeared from view.  How happy he was that morning, and his heart was very light as he boarded his car and started for the river.  He felt sure now of the girl’s love, and he begrudged every minute he was away from her.  He would hurry through his work and get back to the island as speedily as possible.

He had just reached the gate of his home when he heard someone calling.  Looking around, he saw Mrs. Tobin running toward him and waving her arms for him to stop.  He smothered an exclamation of annoyance, as he pulled up his car.

“Have you seen anything of Eben?” the woman asked.  “He left home last night, and hasn’t been back since.”

“No, I haven’t seen anything of him,” John replied.  “But don’t worry, Eben is well able to look after himself.”

“I suppose he is, but we are all anxious about him.  I thought maybe you’d seen him.  You just came up the road, didn’t you?  Down to the city, I suppose?”

“No,” John curtly replied, as he started the car and drove on, leaving Mrs. Tobin standing gazing after him.

“She didn’t get anything out of me this time,” John muttered.  “She’ll be more curious now than ever to know where mother and Jess are.”

For a couple of hours John worked hard around the place.  He then went into the house for a lunch, which he ate in the kitchen.  His thoughts, however, were back in the hills, to the little cabin in the woods.  He pictured to himself the whole scene, and he longed to be there.

At times during the morning he had paused at his work and looked toward the lake.  Although he could not see the girl of his heart’s desire, it gave him some comfort to turn in her direction and gaze upon the hills which surrounded her.  He did this again when he came out of the house after his hasty meal.  But no sooner had he looked, than he uttered an exclamation of dismay.  The woods