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in her nature was already developed something not akin to youth；
something impersonal； having nothing to do with one's number of years
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like the breath of experience； or the ancient freshness of a new day。 It was
born of the mountains and nourished in the solitude of the plains。
How different the girls of fifteen or sixteen such as he had known in
the city or in sophisticated villages in the East！ Lahoma had not been so
engrossed by trivial activities of exacting days that she had lacked time for
thought。 Her housekeeping cares were few and devoid of routine； leaving
most of the hours of each day for reading； for day…dreaming； for absorbed
meditation。 Somehow the dreams seemed to linger in； her voice； to hover
upon her brow； to form a part of her； and the longings of those dreams
were half…veiled in her eyes； looking out shyly as if afraid of wounding her
guardians by full revelation。 She wanted to meet life； to take a place in the
worldbut what would then become of Willock and Bill？
〃Bill used to live seven miles away at the mountain with the
precipice；〃 she went on； after she had told about the wonderful window。
〃But it was too far off。 When he got to know me； it tired him； walking this
far twice a day； morning and night；didn't it； Bill！ So at last Brick and Bill
decided to cut some cedars from the mountain and make me a cabin；they
took the dugout to sleep in。 There are two rooms in the cabin； one； the
kitchen where we eatand the other； my parlor where I sleep。 Some time
you shall visit me in the cabin； if Brick and Bill are willing。 They made it
for me； so I couldn't ask anybody in； unless they said so。〃
〃We aren't far enough along；〃 observed Bill； 〃to be shut up together
under a roof。〃
〃I'd like to have you visit my parlor；〃 Lahoma said somewhat wistfully。
〃I'd like to show you all my booksthey were Bill's when we first met him；
but since then he's given me everything he's got； haven't you； old Bill！〃
Lahoma leaned over and patted the unyielding shoulder。
Bill stared moodily at the top of the mountain as if in a gloomy trance；
hut Wilfred fancied he moved that honored shoulder a trifle nearer the girl。
She resumed； her face glowing with sudden rapture： 〃There are six
bookshalf a dozen！ Maybe you've heard of some of them。 Bill's read 'em
over lots of times。 He begins with the first on the shelf and when he's
through the row； he just takes 'em up； all over again。 I like to read parts of
themthe interesting parts。 This is the way they stand on the shelf： The
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Children of the Abbeythat's Bill's favorite； The Scottish Chiefs； David
Copperfield； The Talisman； The Prairie； The Last of the Mohicans。〃
〃I like The Children of the Abbey best； too；〃 observed Brick Willock
thoughtfully。 〃Lahoma； she's read 'em all to me； that's the way we get
through the winter months。 They's something softening and enriching
about that there Children of the Abbey； and Scottish Chiefs has got some
mighty high work in it； too。 I tells Lahoma that I guess them two books is
just about as near the real thing out in the big world as you can get。 David
Copperfield is sort of slow； I've went with people that knowed a powerful
sight more than them characters in David。 I used to drift about with a
bunch of fellows that Uriah Heep couldn't have stood up against for five
minutes。 The Talisman is noble doings； too； but not up…to…date。 As for The
Prairie and The Last of the Mohicans； them is dissatisfying books； they
make you think； being as you lives in just such quarters； interesting things
might happen most any minuteand they never does。〃
〃Why； Brick！〃 Lahoma reproached him。 〃THIS has happened〃 she
nodded at Wilfred Compton。 〃Don't you call that interesting？〃
〃That's the way _I_ discusses them books；〃 returned Willock with
manifest satisfaction。 〃I wasn't never no man to be overawed by no book；
which； however high and by whoever wrote； ain't no more like life than a
shadow in a pool。 Try to grab that shadow； and where is it？ Just to go out
after game and climb the mountains all day and come home of an evening
to sit down to a plate of bacon and eggs； and another of the same； with
coffee smoking on the little stove； and Lahoma urging on the feastthat's
more of real living than you'd get out of a big library。 Ain't it； Bill？〃
〃Now WE want to talk； Brick；〃 interposed Lahoma〃don't we；
Wilfred？〃
〃So your cabin was built；〃 Wilfred prompted her； 〃and the men took
the dugout。〃
〃Yesand then； oh！ the most wonderful thing happened： a family
settled in the arm of the mountain at the west enda family that had a
woman and a baby in ita sure…enough woman with a sweet face and of a
high grade though worked down pretty level what from hardshipsand a
baby that laughed； just laughed whenever he saw me coming in the
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dugoutand I was over there every day。 And that's how I got to be like a
woman； and know how to dress； and how to meet strangers without being
scared； and preside at table； and use language like this。 Other settlers
began coming into Greer； but they were far away； and Brick and Bill don't
like folks； so they stayed shut up pretty close。 But for three years I had the
mother and her baby to show me how to be a woman。 Then came the
soldiers。 Brick thinks a big cattle…king stood in with Congress； and he got
the soldiers sent here to drive out all the settlers because they were
beginning to farm the land instead of letting it grow wild for the cattle。
Anyway； all the settlers were driven out of the countryand it's been four
years since I lost my only friends in the worldexcept Brick and Bill。
What makes me and Brick and Bill mad is； that the soldiers didn't have
any right to drive out the settlers； because Texas claims this country； and
so does the United States； but it's never been settled。〃
〃But they didn't drive YOU out；〃 Wilfred remarked inquiringly。
〃You see；〃 Brick explained simply； 〃we didn't want to go。〃
〃It nearly broke Mrs。 Featherby's heart to have to leave；〃 Lahoma
added； 〃for they'd got a good stand of wheat and I think she liked me 'most
as well as I liked her。 But Mr。 Featherby came from Ohio； and he had
respect to the government； so when the soldiers said 'Go；' he pulled up
stakes。〃
〃We ain't got no respect to nothing；〃 Brick explained； 〃that stands in
the way of doing what we're a mind to。 The soldiers come to force us out；
but they changed their minds。 I reckon they knew they hadn't no morality
on their side。 Sure thing； they knowed they had but very little safety；
whilst occupying their position。 None was left but us in this country till
you cattlemen come monopolizing Heaven and earth。 Knowing we got just
as much right to this cove as Uncle Sam himself； we expect to stay here at
anchor till Lahoma steams out into the big world with sails spread。 She
expects to tug us along behind herbut I don't know； I'm afraid we'd draw
heavy。 Until that time comes； however； we 'lows to lay to； in this harbor。
We feels sheltered。 Nothing ain't more sheltering than knowing you have a
moral right and a dependable gun。〃
〃So that's about all；〃 Lahoma went on。 〃These past four years； we've
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just been to ourselves； with a long journey once a year to the settlements；
and all the time I had those sweet thoughts to dream over； about the little
family that used to live in the west mountain。 And I've tried to do like Mrs。
Featherby used to do； and be like she was； and if I can make as fine a
woman I needn't ask any more。 She'd been to Europe； too； and she'd taught
school in New England。 Bill Atkins is higher up than BrickBill used to
know Kit Carson and all thos