Brewster smiled as she continued her darning.

"Who's with Noddy now--did you give Jeb careful instructions, Paw?"
anxiously queried Polly.

"Noddy's sleeping as peacefully as a babe, so you-all needn't worry any
more. Now tell me all about the wonderful letter."

"Sam, do you remember that golden-haired young lady from Denver, who
took Miss Shalp's place at Bear Forks school for a few months?" quickly
asked Mrs. Brewster.

The note of anxiety in the query was not overlooked by the rancher, but
he answered indifferently--to all appearances:

"Shore thing, wife. Could any one forget such a nice girl in a hurry?"

"Well, Sam, the letter's from her--Anne Stewart is her name."

"Don't tell him what! Let me read it, Maw!" cried Polly.

So the letter was read again and the moment it was concluded Polly and
Mrs. Brewster looked fearfully at Mr. Brewster, for they both expected
violent objections from him.

But the rancher stood boring a hole with the toe of his boot down
through the soft grass sod, while he seemed to study the cobbler's
handiwork. After a few moments of tense silence, he looked up and
laughed heartily.