Noon
Only her father and Miss Sarah and Caleb were present when they were married . And then , and not alone because she knew he wished it , but because it was the dearest wish of her own heart , they turned their faces towards the cabin on the balsam knoll . That day was theirs alone to be shared with no other living thing , save the lesser brethren of the wilderness . Noon found them far north of the foothills , deep in the hushed and higher ridges ; twilight had come and gone and the first of the stars were already blurred points of light in the riffles , when they raised the river ahead . And there he checked his horse , to point out the cabin , white-streaked with clay chinking against a wall of green -- he dismounted and lifted her to the ground , for suddenly she wanted to go the rest of the way on foot . She let her weight lie against him , the top of her head scarce higher than his chin , and sighed a little . `` Tired ? ''