"Just look at Duke!" Kate Underwood exclaimed, shaking hands with
Darrell; "and this is only the second time he has met you! You surely
have won his heart, Mr. Darrell."
"You are the only person outside of Katherine he has ever condescended
to notice," said Mrs. Dean, with a smile.
"I assure you I feel immensely flattered by his friendship," Darrell
replied, caressing the collie; "the more so because I know it to be
genuine."
"He won't so much as look at me," Mrs. Dean added.
"That is because you objected at first to having him here," said Kate;
"he knows it, and he'll not forget it. But, Mr. Darrell, where is papa?"
"He will be here directly," Darrell answered, smiling as he suddenly
recalled the little note within his pocket; "he is returning from the
war-path with the trophies of victory."
Kate laughed and colored slightly. "Your own scalp has not suffered, at
any rate," she said.
"But he has brought me back a captive; here he comes now!"
The wagon loaded with Darrell's belongings was just coming slowly into
view, with Mr. Underwood on the seat beside the driver, the other teams
having been sent to the stables by another route.
Darrell noted the surprise depicted on the faces beside him, and,
turning to Mrs. Dean, who stood next him, he said, in a low tone,-"I have come back to the old home, mother, for a little while; is there
room for me?"
Mrs. Dean looked at him steadily for an instant, while Kate ran to meet
her father; then she replied, earnestly,-"There will always be room in the old home for you. I only wish that I
could hope it would always hold you."