There was a moment of agonizing suspense.
"What is it ?" Rotha repeated.
Still there came no reply.

Ralph had risen, but he knelt again.

His breath was coming fast.

Rotha thought she could hear the beating of his heart.
"Oh, but I must know!" cried the girl.

And she stepped backward as though to touch for herself the thing that lay there.
"Nothing," said Ralph, rising and taking her firmly by the hand that she had outstretched,--"nothing--a sack of corn has fallen from the wagon, nothing more." He spoke in a hoarse whisper.
He drew her forward a few paces, but she stopped.