From the door of the factory McElroy saw her go and the call of the
spring suddenly became unbearable.
With a word to Ridgar he stepped off the long log step and deliberately
followed.
The Irish blood within him lifted his head and sent his heart a-
bounding, while the half-holy mysticism that came from the Scottish
hills drew his glance upward to the blue sky arching above.
A tumult surged in his breast and every pulse in his body leaped at
thought of speech with her, and yet again a diffidence fell upon him
that set him trembling.
As the conqueror he went, pushing toward victory, yet humble in his
ambition.
He felt a mist in his eyes as he entered the high arched aisles, cool
beneath their canopy of young green, and he looked eagerly here and
there for sight of a tall form, upright, easy, plain in its dark garb.
Along the river bank he went where he saw a footprint in the soft loam,
and presently it turned deeper into the great woods and he swung
forward into those depths whose sweetness had called him subtly for
these many days.
She was a strong traveller, that straight young creature of the open
ways, and a full hour went swiftly before he caught the sight he
wanted.
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