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many of them at the hotel。 Every one was expected to do his best to make
it a success； and Kate； not at all averse to a waltz or two； dressed herself
for the occasion with her habitual striving after artistic effect。 She was one
of those women who make a picture of themselves as naturally as a bird
sings。 She had an opal necklace which Jack had given her because； he said；
she had as many moods as an opal had colors； and she wore this with a
cré；pe gown； the tint of the green lights in her necklace。 A box of
flowers came for her as she was dressing； they were Puritan roses； and
Peter Roeder's card was in the midst of them。 She was used to having
flowers given her。 It would have seemed remark… able if some one had not
sent her a bouquet when she was going to a ball。
〃I shall dance but twice；〃 she said to those who sought her for a
partner。 〃Neither more nor less。〃
〃Ain't you goin' t' dance with me at all？〃 Roeder managed to say to her
in the midst of her laughing altercation with the gentlemen。
〃Dance with you！〃 cried Kate。 〃How do men learn to dance when they
are up a gulch？〃
〃I ken dance；〃 he said stubbornly。 He was mortified at her chaffing。
〃Then you may have the second waltz； 〃 she said； in quick contrition。
〃Now you other gentlemen have been dancing any number of times these
last fifteen years。 But Mr。 Roeder is just back from a hard campaign； a
campaign against fate。 My second waltz is his。 And I shall dance my best。〃
It happened to be just the right sort of speech。 The women tried good…
naturedly to make Roeder's evening a pleasant one。 They were filled with
compassion for a man who had not enjoyed the society of their sex for
fifteen years。 They found much amuse… ment in leading him through the
square dances； the forms of which were utterly unknown to him。 But he
waltzed with a sort of serious alertness that was not so bad as it might
have been。
Kate danced well。 Her slight body seemed as full of the spirit of the
waltz as a thrush's body is of song。 Peter Roeder moved along with her in
a maze； only half… answering her questions； his gray eyes full of mystery。
Once they stopped for a moment； and he looked down at her； as with
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A Mountain Woman
flushed face she stood smiling and waving her gossamer fan； each motion
stirring the frail leaves of the roses he had sent her。
〃It's cur'ous；〃 he said softly； 〃but I keep thinkin' about that black
gulch。〃
〃Forget it；〃 she said。 〃Why do you think of a gulch when 〃 She
stopped with a sudden recollection that he was not used to persiflage。 But
he anticipated what she was about to say。
〃Why think of the gulch when you are here？〃 he said。 〃Why； because it
is only th' gulch that seems real。 All this； these pleasant； polite people；
this beautiful room； th' flowers everywhere； and you； and me as I am；
seem as if I was dreamin'。 Thar ain't anything in it all that is like what I
thought it would be。〃
〃Not as you thought it would be？〃
〃No。 Different。 I thought it would be well； I thought th' people
would not be quite so high…toned。 I hope you don't mind that word。〃
〃Not in the least；〃 she said。 〃 It's a mu… sical term。 It applies very well
to people。〃
They took up the dance again and waltzed breathlessly till the close。
Kate was tired； the exertion had been a little more than she had bargained
for。 She sat very still on the veranda under the white glare of an electric
ball； and let Roeder do the talking。 Her thoughts； in spite of the
entertainment she was deriving from her present experiences； would go
back to the babies。 She saw them tucked well in bed； each in a little iron
crib； with the muslin curtains shielding their rosy faces from the light。 She
wondered if Jack were reading alone in the library or was at the club； or
perhaps at the summer con… cert； with the swell of the violins in his ears。
Jack did so love music。 As she thought how delicate his perceptions
were； how he responded to everything most subtle in nature and in art； of
how life itself was a fine art with him； and joy a thing to be cultivated； she
turned with a sense of deep compassion to the simple man by her side。 His
rough face looked a little more unat… tractive than usual。 His evening
clothes were almost grotesque。 His face wore a look of solitude； of
hunger。
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〃What were you saying？〃 she said； dreamily。 〃I beg your pardon。〃
〃I was sayin' how I used t' dream of sittin' on the steps of a hotel like
this； and not havin' a thing t' do。 When I used t' come down here out of the
gulch； and see men who had had good dinners； an' good baths； sittin'
around smokin'； with money t' go over there t' th' bookstan' an' get any…
thin' they'd want； it used t' seem t' me about all a single man could wish
fur。〃
〃Well； you've got it all now。〃
〃But I didn't any of th' time suppose that would satisfy a man long。
Only I was so darned tired I couldn't help wantin' t' rest。 But I'm not so
selfish ur s' narrow as to be satisfied with THAT。 No； I'm not goin' t' spend
m' pile that way quite！〃
He laughed out loud； and then sat in silence watching Kate as she lay
back wearily in her chair。
〃I've got t' have that there garden；〃 he said； laughingly。 〃Got t' get them
roses。 An' I'll have a big bath…house； plenty of springs in this country。
You ken have a bath here that won't freeze summer NOR winter。 An' a
baby！ I've got t' have a baby。 He'll go with th' roses an' th' bath。〃 He
laughed again heartily。
〃It's a queer joke； isn't it？〃 Roeder asked。 〃Talkin' about my baby；
an' I haven't even a wife。〃 His face flushed and he turned his eyes away。
〃Have I shown you the pictures of my babies？〃 Kate inquired。 〃You'd
like my boy； I know。 And my girl is just like me； in miniature。〃
There was a silence。 She looked up after a moment。 Roeder
appeared to be examining the monogram on his ring as if he had never
seen it before。
〃I didn't understand that you were mar… ried；〃 he said gently。
〃Didn't you？ I don't think you ever called me by any name at all； or I
should have noticed your mistake and set you right。 Yes； I'm married。 I
came out here to get strong for the babies。〃
〃Got a boy an' a girl； eh？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃How old's th' boy？〃
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〃Five。〃
〃An' th' girl？〃
〃She'll soon be four。〃
〃An' yer husband he's livin'？〃
〃I should say so！ I'm a very happy woman； Mr。 Roeder。 If only I
were stronger！〃
〃Yer lookin' much better；〃 he said； gravely； 〃than when you come。
You'll be all right。〃
The moon began to come up scarlet beyond the eastern hills。 The two
watched it in silence。 Kate had a feeling of guilt； as if she had been hurting
some helpless thing。
〃I was in hopes；〃 he said； suddenly； in a voice that seemed abrupt and
shrill； 〃thet you'd see fit t' stay here。〃
〃Here in Helena？ Oh； no！〃
〃I was thinkin' I'd offer you that two hundred thousand dollars； if you'd
stay。〃
〃Mr。 Roeder！ You don't mean surely 〃
〃Why； yes。 Why not？〃 He spoke rather doggedly。 〃I'll never see no
other woman like you。 You're different from others。 How good you've
been t' me！〃
〃Good！ I'm afraid I've been very bad at least； very stupid。〃
〃I say； now your husband's good t' you； ain't he？〃
〃He is the kindest man that ever lived。〃
〃Oh； well； I didn't know。〃
A rather awkward pause followed which was broken by Roeder。
〃I don't see jest what I'm goin' t' do with that thar two hundred
thousand dol… lars；〃 he said； mournfully。
〃Do with it？ Why； live with it！ Send some to your mother。〃
〃Oh； I've done that。 Five thousand dollars。 It don't se