Just what happened after that, Norton never knew ;
for when he raised his face from his hands where he
had buried it he saw the King holding his daughter
in his arms, while she sobbed with joy. The old man
beckoned for audience. The moment when he had
stood by his horse while the Guide asked for the safe
return of his child he had promised that he would
acknowledge the benefit if heaven should grant it. It
had been given, and he was a man of his word. From
now on they might coimt him as committed to the
church and all it stood for. There was one thing too
that he wished with all his heart, and that was the
peace of the valleys. Whatever his part had been in
the feud he would do his best to make it right. He
would meet any man njore than half way on a mission
of reconciliation. Some of the older men shook their
heads in a mystified way. Strange things were hap-
pening — ^things they could not understand.
It was at this time that Norton noticed the absence
of DuMont. He had left the house while Mary was
in the arms of her father.
Outwardly calm, Norton knew a great inner joy.
He was conscious of men coming to wring his hand,
and of words which voiced the gratitude of rugged
breasts. Jenny Mallow slipped into the seat by Mary
and wept silently on the neck of her friend. In the
hush which followed, Norton dismissed them.
Baldwin rode beside his friend that night as they
went up the road from the Junction.
