"I saw you climbing up here as I passed in the coach a few minutes ago,"
she said, with a smile, "and as soon as I had shaken the dust off I
followed you."
"Where's Kitty?" he stammered.
The color faded from her face as it had come, and a shade of something
like reproach crept into her dark eyes. And whatever it had been her
purpose to say, or however carefully she might have prepared herself for
this interview, she was evidently taken aback by the sudden directness
of the inquiry. Barker saw this as quickly, and as quickly referred it
to his own rudeness. His whole soul rushed in apology to his face as he
said, "Oh, forgive me! I was anxious about Kitty; indeed, I had thought
of coming again to Boomville, for you've heard the news, of course? Van
Loo is a defaulter, and has run away with the poor child's money."
Mrs. Horncastle had heard the news at the hotel. She paused a moment to
collect herself, and then said slowly and tentatively, with a watchful
intensity in her eyes, "Mrs. Barker went, I think, to the Divide"--
But she was instantly interrupted by the eager Barker. "I see. I thought
of that at once. She went directly to the company's offices to see if
she could save anything from the wreck before she saw me. It was like
her, poor girl! And you--you," he went on eagerly, his whole face
beaming with gratitude,--"you, out of your goodness, came here to tell
me.
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