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To Miss Nellie's several gifts I fear the gods had not added poetry。 A
slight knowledge of English verse of a select character； unfortunately； did
not assist her in the interpretation of the young man's speech； nor relieve
her from the momentary feeling that he was at times deficient in intellect。
She preferred； however； to take a personal view of the question； and
expressed her sarcastic regret that she had not known before that she had
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been indebted to the great flume and ditch at Excelsior for the pleasure of
his acquaintance。 This pert remark occasioned some explanation； which
ended in the girl's accepting a kiss in lieu of more logical argument。
Nevertheless； she was still conscious of an inward irritation always
distinct from her singular and perfectly material passion which found
vent as the difficulties of their undeviating progress through the
underbrush increased。 At last she lost her shoe again； and stopped short。
〃It's a pity your Indian friends did not christen you 'Wild Mustard' or
'Clover；'〃 she said satirically； 〃that you might have had some sympathies
and longings for the open fields instead of these horrid jungles！ I know
we will not get back in time。〃
Unfortunately； Low accepted this speech literally and with his
remorseless gravity。 〃If my name annoys you； I can get it changed by the
legislature； you know； and I can find out what my father's name was； and
take that。 My mother； who died in giving me birth； was the daughter of a
chief。〃
〃Then your mother was really an Indian？〃 said Nellie； 〃and you are〃
She stopped short。
〃But I told you all this the day we first met；〃 said Low； with grave
astonishment。 〃Don't you remember our long talk coming from church？〃
〃No；〃 said Nellie coldly； 〃you didn't tell me。〃 But she was obliged to
drop her eyes before the unwavering； undeniable truthfulness of his。
〃You have forgotten；〃 he said calmly； 〃but it is only right you should
have your own way in disposing of a name that I have cared little for； and
as you're to have a share of it〃
〃Yes； but it's getting late； and if we are not going forward〃
interrupted the girl impatiently。
〃We ARE going forward；〃 said Low imperturbably； 〃but I wanted to
tell you； as we were speaking on THAT subject〃 （Nellie looked at her
watch）； 〃I've been offered the place of botanist and naturalist in Professor
Grant's survey of Mount Shasta； and if I take itwhy； when I come back；
darlingwell〃
〃But you're not going just yet；〃 broke in Nellie； with a new expression
in her face。
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〃No。〃
〃Then we need not talk of it now；〃 she said； with animation。
Her sudden vivacity relieved him。 〃I see what's the matter；〃 he said
gently； looking down at her feet； 〃these little shoes were not made to keep
step with a moccasin。 We must try another way。〃 He stooped as if to
secure the erring buskin； but suddenly lifted her like a child to his shoulder。
〃There；〃 he continued； placing her arm round his neck； 〃you are clear of
the ferns and brambles now； and we can go on。 Are you comfortable？〃
He looked up； read her answer in her burning eyes and the warm lips
pressed to his forehead at the roots of his straight dark hair； and again
moved onward as in a mesmeric dream。 But he did not swerve from his
direct course； and with a final dash through the undergrowth parted the
leafy curtain before the spring。
At first the young girl was dazzled by the strong light that came from a
rent in the interwoven arches of the wood。 The breach had been caused
by the huge bulk of one of the great giants that had half fallen； and was
lying at a steep angle against one of its mightiest brethren； having borne
down a lesser tree in the arc of its downward path。 Two of the roots； as
large as younger trees； tossed their blackened and bare limbs high in the
air。 The springthe insignificant cause of this vast disruptiongurgled；
flashed； and sparkled at the base； the limpid baby fingers that had laid bare
the foundations of that fallen column played with the still clinging rootlets；
laved the fractured and twisted limbs； and； widening； filled with sleeping
water the graves from which they had been torn。
〃It had been going on for years； down there；〃 said Low； pointing to a
cavity from which the fresh water now slowly welled； 〃but it had been
quickened by the rising of the subterranean springs and rivers which
always occurs at a certain stage of the dry season。 I remember that on that
very nightfor it happened a little after midnight； when all sounds are
more audibleI was troubled and oppressed in my sleep by what you
would call a nightmare； a feeling as if I was kept down by bonds and
pinions that I longed to break。 And then I heard a crash in this direction；
and the first streak of morning brought me the sound and scent of water。
Six months afterwards I chanced to find my way here； as I told you； and
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gave it your name。 I did not dream that I should ever stand beside it with
you； and have you christen it yourself。〃
He unloosened the cup from his flask； and filling it at the spring
handed it to her。 But the young girl leant over the pool； and pouring the
water idly back said； 〃I'd rather put my feet in it。 Mayn't I？〃
〃I don't understand you；〃 he said wonderingly。
〃My feet are SO hot and dusty。 The water looks deliciously cool。
May I？〃
〃Certainly。〃
He turned away as Nellie； with apparent unconsciousness； seated
herself on the bank； and removed her shoes and stockings。 When she had
dabbled her feet a few moments in the pool； she said over her shoulder
〃We can talk just as well； can't we？〃
〃Certainly。〃
〃Well； then； why didn't you come to church more often； and why didn't
you think of telling father that you were convicted of sin and wanted to be
baptized？〃
〃I don't know；〃 hesitated the young man。
〃Well； you lost the chance of having father convert you； baptize you；
and take you into full church fellowship。〃
〃I never thought〃 he began。
〃You never thought。 Aren't you a Christian？〃
〃I suppose so。〃
〃He supposes so！ Have you no convictionsno profession？〃
〃But； Nellie； I never thought that you〃
〃Never thought that Iwhat？ Do you think that I could ever be
anything to a man who did not believe in justification by faith； or in the
covenant of church fellowship？ Do you think father would let me？〃
In his eagerness to defend himself he stepped to her side。 But seeing
her little feet shining through the dark water； like outcroppings of
delicately veined quartz； he stopped embarrassed。 Miss Nellie； however；
leaped to one foot； and； shaking the other over the pool； put her hand on
his shoulder to steady herself。 〃You haven't got a towelor；〃 she said
dubiously； looking at her small handkerchief； 〃anything to dry them on？〃
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But Low did not； as she perhaps expected； offer his own handkerchief。
〃If you take a bath after our fashion；〃 he said gravely； 〃you must learn
to dry yourself after our fashion。〃
Lifting her again lightly in his arms； he carried her a few steps to the
sunny opening； and bade her bury her feet in the dried mosses and baked
withered grasses that were bleaching in a hollow。 The young girl uttered
a cry of childish delight； as the soft ciliated fibres touched her sensitive
skin。
〃It is healing； too；〃 continued Low； 〃a moccasin filled with it after a
day on the trail makes you all right agai