noon
and with a faint smile , Morgan went on his way . Houston stood watching him for a few moments , then turned back in the direction of the house , little thinking how , or where , they would meet again . The next morning dawned fair and cloudless , giving promise of one of those royal days , so frequent in the almost perfect climate of the higher altitudes . Long before noon the heat would be intense , but in the early morning there was wafted down from the mountain side , where the pines were nodding and whispering so mysteriously , a cool , exhilarating breeze , which kissed the surface of the azure lake , sleeping so peacefully , and , awakening immediately into smiles , it lay rippling and dimpling with laughter in the sunlight . The vines , transplanted by Miss Gladden and Lyle , under their fostering care , had transformed the little porch into a bower of beauty . Here stood Van Dorn , his fair , almost feminine face flushed with pleasure , and his blue eyes sparkling , as the light breeze played with the auburn curls clustering about his forehead , and he looked forth on the beauty of the scene . `` Ah -- h ! ''