the town. It was little Johnny Gale who first saw Necia and Poleon
on board, for he had recognized Father Barnum's craft at a distance,
and stationed himself at the bank hand-in-hand with Molly to bid the
good, kind old man welcome.

The men inside the house did not hear the boy crying Necia's name,
for his voice was small, and they had gone to the rear of the store.

"Understand! You leave Runnion to me," Burrell was saying. "No man
shall lay hands on him except me--" His voice trailed away; he rose
slowly to his feet, a strange light on his face. The others turned
to see what sight had drawn his eyes. In the opening, all splendid
with the golden sunlight, stood Necia and Poleon Doret, who had her
by the hand--and she was smiling!

Gale uttered a great cry and went to meet them, but the soldier
could move nothing save his lips, and stood dazed and disbelieving.
He saw them dimly coming towards him, and heard Poleon's voice as if
at a great distance, saw that the Frenchman's eyes were upon him,
and that his words were directed to him.

"I bring her back to you, M'sieu'!"

Doret laid Necia's hand in that of her lover, and Burrell saw her
smiling shyly up at him. Something gripped him chokingly, and he
could utter no sound. There was nothing to say-she was here, safe,
smiling, that was all. And the girl, beholding the glory in his
eyes, understood.

Gale caught her away from him then, and buried her in his arms.