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child； it was with the humorous tolerance of an admiring superior；
and not the didactic impulse of a guardian。 She did not say this；
nor did her pretty eyes indicate it； as in the instance of her
brief anger with Slinn。 She only said gently；
〃I should have thought you； of all men； would have been particular
about your wife doing the proper thing。 But never mind！ Don't let
us talk any more about it。 Perhaps as it seems such a great thing
to you； and so much trouble； there may be no necessity for it at
all。〃
I do not think that the young lady deliberately planned this
charmingly illogical deduction from Don Caesar's speech； or that
she calculated its effect upon him； but it was part of her nature
to say it； and profit by it。 Under the unjust lash of it； his
pride gave way。
〃Ah； do you not see why I wish to go with you？〃 he said； with
sudden and unexpected passion。 〃You are beautiful； you are good；
it has pleased Heaven to make you rich also； but you are a child in
experience； and know not your own heart。 With your beauty； your
goodness； and your wealth； you will attract all to youas you do
herebecause you cannot help it。 But you will be equally
helpless； little one； if THEY should attract YOU； and you had no
tie to fall back upon。〃
It was an unfortunate speech。 The words were Don Caesar's； but the
thought she had heard before from her mother； although the
deduction had been of a very different kind。 Mamie followed the
speaker with bright but visionary eyes。 There must be some truth
in all this。 Her mother had said it； Mr。 Slinn had laughingly
admitted it。 She HAD a brilliant future before her！ Was she right
in making it impossible by a rash and foolish tie？ He himself had
said she was inexperienced。 She knew it； and yet； what was he
doing now but taking advantage of that inexperience？ If he really
loved her； he would be willing to submit to the test。 She did not
ask a similar one from him； and was willing； if she came out of it
free； to marry him just the same。 There was something so noble in
this thought that she felt for a moment carried away by an impulse
of compassionate unselfishness； and smiled tenderly as she looked
up in his face。
〃Then you consent； Mamie？〃 he said； eagerly； passing his arm around
her waist。
〃Not now； Caesar；〃 she said； gently disengaging herself。 〃I must
think it over； we are both too young to act upon it rashly； it
would be unfair to you； who are so quiet and have seen so few
girlsI mean Americansto tie yourself to the first one you have
known。 When I am gone you will go more into the world。 There are
Mr。 Slinn's two sisters coming hereI shouldn't wonder if they
were far cleverer and talked far better than I doand think how I
should feel if I knew that only a wretched pledge to me kept you
from loving them！〃 She stopped； and cast down her eyes。
It was her first attempt at coquetry； for； in her usual charming
selfishness； she was perfectly frank and open； and it might not
have been her last； but she had gone too far at first； and was not
prepared for a recoil of her own argument。
〃If you admit that it is possiblethat it is possible to you！〃 he
said； quickly。
She saw her mistake。 〃We may not have many opportunities to meet
alone；〃 she answered； quietly； 〃and I am sure we would be happier
when we meet not to accuse each other of impossibilities。 Let us
rather see how we can communicate together； if anything should
prevent our meeting。 Remember； it was only by chance that you were
able to see me now。 If ma has believed that she ought to have been
consulted； our meeting together in this secret way will only make
matters worse。 She is even now wondering where I am； and may be
suspicious。 I must go back at once。 At any moment some one may
come here looking for me。〃
〃But I have so much to say；〃 he pleaded。 〃Our time has been so
short。〃
〃You can write。〃
〃But what will your mother think of that？〃 he said； in grave
astonishment。
She colored again as she returned； quickly； 〃Of course； you must
not write to the house。 You can leave a letter somewhere for me
say； somewhere about here。 Stop！〃 she added； with a sudden girlish
gayety； 〃see； here's the very place。 Look there！〃
She pointed to the decayed trunk of a blasted sycamore； a few feet
from the trail。 A cavity； breast high； half filled with skeleton
leaves and pine…nuts； showed that it had formerly been a squirrel's
hoard； but for some reason had been deserted。
〃Look！ it's a regular letter…box；〃 she continued； gayly； rising on
tip…toe to peep into its recesses。 Don Caesar looked at her
admiringly； it seemed like a return to their first idyllic love…
making in the old days； when she used to steal out of the cabbage
rows in her brown linen apron and sun…bonnet to walk with him in
the woods。 He recalled the fact to her with the fatality of a
lover already seeking to restore in past recollections something
that was wanting in the present。 She received it with the
impatience of youth； to whom the present is all sufficient。
〃I wonder how you could ever have cared for me in that holland
apron；〃 she said； looking down upon her new dress。
〃Shall I tell you why？〃 he said； fondly； passing his arm around her
waist； and drawing her pretty head nearer his shoulder。
〃Nonot now！〃 she said； laughingly； but struggling to free
herself。 〃There's not time。 Write it； and put it in the box。
There；〃 she added； hastily； 〃listen！what's that？〃
〃It's only a squirrel；〃 he whispered reassuringly in her ear。
〃No； it's somebody coming！ I must go！ Please！ Caesar； dear！
There； then〃
She met his kiss half…way； released herself with a lithe movement
of her wrist and shoulder； and the next moment seemed to slip into
the woods； and was gone。
Don Caesar listened with a sigh as the last rustling ceased； cast a
look at the decayed tree as if to fix it in his memory； and then
slowly retraced his steps towards his tethered mustang。
He was right； however； in his surmise of the cause of that
interruption。 A pair of bright eyes had been watching them from
the bough of an adjacent tree。 It was a squirrel； who； having had
serious and prior intentions of making use of the cavity they had
discovered； had only withheld examination by an apparent courteous
discretion towards the intruding pair。 Now that they were gone he
slipped down the tree and ran towards the decayed stump。
CHAPTER III
Apparently dissatisfied with the result of an investigation； which
proved that the cavity was unfit as a treasure hoard for a discreet
squirrel； whatever its value as a receptacle for the love…tokens of
incautious humanity； the little animal at once set about to put
things in order。 He began by whisking out an immense quantity of
dead leaves； disturbed a family of tree…spiders； dissipated a drove
of patient aphides browsing in the bark； as well as their attendant
dairymen； the ants； and otherwise ruled it with the high hand of
dispossession and a contemptuous opinion of the previous
incumbents。 It must not be supposed； however； that his proceedings
were altogether free from contemporaneous criticism； a venerable
crow sitting on a branch above him displayed great interest in his
occupation； and； hopping down a few moments afterwards； disposed of
some worm…eaten nuts； a few larvae； and an insect or two； with
languid dignity and without prejudice。 Certain incumbrances；
however； still resisted the squirrel's general eviction； among them
a folded square of paper with sharply defined edges； that declined
investigation； and； owing to a nauseous smell of tobacco； escaped
nibbling as it had apparently escaped insect ravages。 This； owing
to its sharp angles； which persisted in catching in the soft
decaying wood in his whirlwind of house…cleaning； he allowed to
remain。 Having thus； in a general way； prepared for the coming
winter； the self…satisfied little rodent dismissed the subject from
his active mind。
His rage and indignation a few days later may be readily conceived；
when he found； on returning to his new…made home； another square of
paper； folded like the first； but much fresher and whiter； lying
within the cavity； on top of some moss which had evidently been
placed there for the purpose。 This he felt was really more than he
could bear； but it was smaller； and with a few energetic kicks and
whisks of his tail he managed to finally dislodge it through the
opening； where it fell ignominiously to the earth。 The eager eyes
of the ever…attendant crow； however； instantly detected it； he flew
to the ground； and； turning it over； examined it gravely。 It was
certainly not edible； but it was exceedingly rare； and； as an old
collector of curios； he felt he could not pass it by。 He lifted it
in his beak； and； with a desperate struggle against the
superincumbent weight； regained the branch with his prize。 Here；
by one of those delicious vagaries of animal nature； he apparently
at once discharged his mind of the whole affair； became utterly
oblivious of it； allowed it to drop without the least concern； and
eventually flew away with an abstracted air； as if he had been
another bird entirely。 The pap