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know Kit Carson and all those famous pioneers； and he's been most
everywhere except in settled places。 When a boy he saw Sam Houston
and ate with him； and he has heard David Crockett with his own earshas
heard him say 'Be sure you're right； then go ahead；' that's how far BILL
has been。 But it sort of hurt Brick's neck； and even Bill's； to look up high
enough to see where Mrs。 Featherby had risen。 She was like youright out
of the big world。 She came out here because the family was awful poor。 Is
that why you left the big world？〃
Wilfred shook his head。 〃I'm poor enough；〃 he said； 〃but it wasn't that。
It was a girl。〃
Brick Willock explained； 〃He's got a sweetheart； he's been carrying her
letters for about two years。 He's done spoke for； Lahoma； staked out； as a
fellow might say； and squatted on。〃
Lahoma looked at him in breathless interest。 〃A girl out in the big
world？ Completely civilized； I reckon！ Was she as old as I am？〃
〃Why； honey！〃 Brick exclaimed uneasily； 〃YOU ain't got no age at all；
to speak of！ What are you but a mere child？ This young man is talking
about them as has got up to be old enough to think of sweethearting
something respectable in YEARS。〃
〃And how old does a sweetheart have to be？〃 demanded Lahoma with
some displeasure。 〃I feel old enough for anything； and Wilfred doesn't
look any older than the knight standing guard in THE TALISMAN。
Besides； look at David Copperfield and Little Em'ly。〃
〃That was child's work；〃 retorted Brick。
〃I was afraid of this；〃 growled Bill Atkins restlessly。
Wilfred laughed out。 〃Don't worry。 My eastern girl is at least nineteen
years old； and so thoroughly civilized that she thinks this part of the world
is still overrun with Indians and buffaloes。 She wouldn't live out here for a
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fortune； and she wouldn't marry a man back East without onethat's why
I'm here。 I didn't have the fortune。〃
〃Does she LOVE you； Wilfred？〃 Her voice was so soft； her eyes were
so big； that Bill uttered a smothered groan； and even Brick sat up。
〃She did the last time I saw hercan't say how she feels now； that's
been about two years ago。〃 He spoke lightly； but gazing into the
wonderful depths of Lahoma's eyes； he felt a queer sensation like a lost
heart…beat。
〃Did she send you here as a kind of test？〃
〃Oh； no； she told me good…by and we parted forever。 Both of us were
poor；you can't live in the city if you're poor； you can BE poor there； but
not LIVE。 By this time she's found some one with property； I dare say
she's tremendously handsome and accomplished； and has a very
distinguished…looking mother and they have friends in societyshe'll make
it all right； no doubt。〃 His voice was matter…of…fact even to indifference；
but for all that； he seemed to be deeply inhaling Lahoma's freshness of
morning…rose sparkling with dew。
〃Does it pierce your heart to think of her marrying somebody else？〃
Her voice was sweet with the dream…passion of a young girl。
〃When I left home； I flung myself into the life of a cow…puncher and
did all I could to keep from thinking。 So my heart's rather callous by this
time。 I don't seem to mind like I thought I would if I should sit down to
think about it。 That's what I've avoided like the plaguesitting down to
think about it。 But I believe I could sit down and think about it now； pretty
calmly。〃
〃Then that's what I'd do；〃 Lahoma cried。 〃I'd just face it。 She isn't
worthy of you if she'd rather have a fortune than the man she loves。 I'd just
sit down and face it。〃
〃I will！〃 He had never before thought it could be easy。 It seemed very
easy； now。
〃Maybe I could help you；〃 Lahoma suggested earnestly。 〃When Mrs。
Featherby lived near； I asked her all about such cases and got her advice
and experience。 Change of scene and time are the greatest remedies。
You've had both。 Then you must tell yourself that she isn't worthy。 And
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then you'll remind yourself that there are OTHER girls in the world。 Then
you keep your mind occupied；that is a great thing。 If you come to the
cove to visit us； we will try to occupy your mindwon't we Brick？and
Bill？〃
Bill looked at Wilfred glumly。 〃It's too occupied now； I'm afraid。〃
〃Bill； this is a…growing on you；〃 Brick expostulated。 〃I like the young
chap first rate。 He's open and free。 Bill； you are hampering； at times。 I
would go to my dugout if I was you； and cool my head。〃
〃Your head'll be hot enough；〃 growled Bill； 〃when this has gone too
far。〃
Lahoma opened her eyes wide。 〃What do you mean？〃 she demanded；
sincerely perplexed。
〃Bill；〃 cried Brick warningly； 〃you're a…going to start up a fire where
they ain't even been no kindling laid。〃
Wilfred rose hastily。 〃I should like dearly to come； and come often；〃 he
exclaimed； 〃but I couldn't force myself where I'm not wanted。〃
〃In that case；〃 remarked Bill inflexibly； 〃you're seeing me for the last
time； and may look your fill！〃
Wilfred smiled at him tolerantly and turned to Willock。 〃I ought to go
to my work； Brick。 I won't try to explain what this hour has meant to me
for I believe you understand。 I'm like a man crossing the desert who finds
a spring and gets enough water to last him till the next oasis。〃
He held out his hand to Lahoma who had risen swiftly at these signs of
departure。 〃God bless you； little girl！〃 he said cheerily。 〃A man's fortunate
who finds such oases along his desert…trail！〃
It was not Bill's gruffness； but Lahoma's charm that warned him to flee
lest he break his promise to her guardians。
〃But you can't go； yet；〃 cried Lahoma； not taking his hand； 〃there are a
thousand things I want to do with you that I've never had a chance to do
with anybody elsestrolling； for instance。 Come and strollI'll show you
about the cove。 Brick and Bill don't know anything about strolling as they
do in pictures。 Hold out your arm with a crook in it and I'll slip my hand
just inside where you'll hold it soft and warm like a bird in its nest。。。。 Isn't
his noble？ And I holds backexcuse meI HOLD back my skirts with my
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other hand； and this is the way we stroll； like an engraving out of the
history of Louis the Fourteenth's court。 Do； oh； do！〃 Her bright eyes
glowed into his like beckoning stars。
〃We stroll；〃 he gravely announced； responding to the pressure of her
fingers； but at the same time feeling somewhat guilty as Bill rolled his
eyes fearfully at Brick。
When they were a few yards from the trees Lahoma whispered； 〃Make
for the other side of Turtle Hill。 I want to feel grown up when I do my
strolling； but I'm nothing but a little barefooted kid when Brick and Bill
are looking at me！〃
Hidden by the shoulder of the granite hill island she stopped； withdrew
her hand； and stood very straight as she said； with breathless eagerness；
〃Answer me quick！ Wilfred： ain't I old enough to be a sweetheart？〃
〃Oh； Lahoma；〃 he protested warmly； 〃please don't think of it。 Don't be
anybody's untiluntil I say the word。 You couldn't understand such matters；
dear； you wouldn't know thethe proper time。 I'll tell you when the time
comes。〃
She looked at him keenly。 〃Am I to wait for a time； or for a person？ I
wish you'd never met that girl back East I think you'd have filled the bill
for me； because； having always lived here in the mountains； I've not
learned to be particular。 Not but what I've seen lots of trappers and
squatters in my day； but I never wanted to stroll with them。 I don't see why
that eastern girl ever turned you loose from her trap。 I think a man's a very
wonderful thing； especially a young mandon't you； Wilfred？〃
〃Not half so wonderful as you； Lahoma。〃 His voice vibrated with
sudden intensity。 〃There's your wonderful hair； like light shining through a
brown veil 。。。 and your eyes where your soul keeps her lights flashing
when all the