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plunged into the woods； with the parcel swung behind her like a
knapsack。 Leaving the trail； she presently struck off in a
straight line through cover and underbrush with the unerring
instinct of an animal； climbing hand over hand the steepest ascent；
or fluttering like a bird from branch to branch down the deepest
declivity。 She soon reached that part of the trail where the
susceptible Postmaster had seen the fascinating unknown。 Assuring
herself she was not followed； she crept through the thicket until
she reached a little waterfall and basin that had served the
fugitive Lance for a bath。 The spot bore signs of later and more
frequent occupancy； and when Flip carefully removed some bark and
brushwood from a cavity in the rock and drew forth various folded
garments； it was evident she had used it as a sylvan dressing…room。
Here she opened the parcel； it contained a small and delicate shawl
of yellow China crepe。 Flip instantly threw it over her shoulders
and stepped hurriedly toward the edge of the wood。 Then she began
to pass backward and forward before the trunk of a tree。 At first
nothing was visible on the tree； but a closer inspection showed a
large pane of ordinary window glass stuck in the fork of the
branches。 It was placed at such a cunning angle against the
darkness of the forest opening that it made a soft and mysterious
mirror； not unlike a Claude Lorraine glass； wherein not only the
passing figure of the young girl was seen； but the dazzling green
and gold of the hillside； and the far…off silhouetted crests of the
Coast Range。
But this was evidently only a prelude to a severer rehearsal。 When
she returned to the waterfall she unearthed from her stores a large
piece of yellow soap and some yards of rough cotton 〃sheeting。〃
These she deposited beside the basin and again crept to the edge of
the wood to assure herself that she was alone。 Satisfied that no
intruding foot had invaded that virgin bower； she returned to her
bath and began to undress。 A slight wind followed her； and seemed
to whisper to the circumjacent trees。 It appeared to waken her
sister naiads and nymphs； who； joining their leafy fingers； softly
drew around her a gently moving band of trembling lights and
shadows； of flecked sprays and inextricably mingled branches； and
involved her in a chaste sylvan obscurity； veiled alike from
pursuing god or stumbling shepherd。 Within these hallowed
precincts was the musical ripple of laughter and falling water； and
at times the glimpse of a lithe brier…caught limb； or a ray of
sunlight trembling over bright flanks； or the white austere outline
of a childish bosom。
When she drew again the leafy curtain； and once more stepped out of
the wood； she was completely transformed。 It was the figure that
had appeared to the Postmaster； the slight； erect； graceful form of
a young woman modishly attired。 It was Flip； but Flip made taller
by the lengthened skirt and clinging habiliments of fashion。 Flip
freckled； but； through the cunning of a relief of yellow color in
her gown； her piquant brown…shot face and eyes brightened and
intensified until she seemed like a spicy odor made visible。 I
cannot affirm that the judgment of Flip's mysterious modiste was
infallible； or that the taste of Mr。 Lance Harriott； her patron；
was fastidious； enough that it was picturesque； and perhaps not
more glaring and extravagant than the color in which Spring herself
had once clothed the sere hillside where Flip was now seated。 The
phantom mirror in the tree fork caught and held her with the sky；
the green leaves； the sunlight and all the graciousness of her
surroundings； and the wind gently tossed her hair and the gay
ribbons of her gypsy hat。 Suddenly she started。 Some remote sound
in the trail below； inaudible to any ear less fine than hers；
arrested her breathing。 She rose swiftly and darted into cover。
Ten minutes passed。 The sun was declining； the white fog was
beginning to creep over the Coast Range。 From the edge of the wood
Cinderella appeared； disenchanted； and in her homespun garments。
The clock had struckthe spell was past。 As she disappeared down
the trail even the magic mirror； moved by the wind； slipped from
the tree top to the ground； and became a piece of common glass。
CHAPTER IV。
The events of the day had produced a remarkable impression on the
facial aspect of the charcoal…burning Fairley。 Extraordinary
processes of thought； indicated by repeated rubbing of his forehead；
had produced a high light in the middle and a corresponding
deepening of shadow at the sides； until it bore the appearance of a
perfect sphere。 It was this forehead that confronted Flip
reproachfully as became a deceived comrade； menacingly as became an
outraged parent in the presence of a third party anda Postmaster！
〃Fine doin's this； yer receivin' clandecent bundles and letters；
eh？〃 he began。 Flip sent one swift； withering look of contempt at
the Postmaster； who at once becoming invertebrate and groveling；
mumbled that he must 〃get on〃 to the Crossing； and rose to go。 But
the old man； who had counted on his presence for moral support； and
was clearly beginning to hate him for precipitating this scene with
his daughter； whom he feared； violently protested。
〃Sit down； can't ye？ Don't you see you're a witness？〃 he screamed
hysterically。
It was a fatal suggestion。 〃Witness；〃 repeated Flip； scornfully。
〃Yes； a witness！ He gave ye letters and bundles。〃
〃Weren't they directed to me？〃 asked Flip。
〃Yes；〃 said the Postmaster； hesitatingly； 〃in course； yes。〃
〃Do YOU lay claim to them？〃 she said； turning to her father。
〃No；〃 responded the old man。
〃Do you？〃 sharply； to the Postmaster。
〃No；〃 he replied。
〃Then；〃 said Flip； coolly； 〃if you're not claimin' 'em for
yourself； and you hear father say they ain't his； I reckon the less
you have to say about 'em the better。〃
〃Thar's suthin' in that；〃 said the old man； shamelessly abandoning
the Postmaster。
〃Then why don't she say who sent 'em； and what they are like；〃 said
the Postmaster； 〃if there's nothin' in it？〃
〃Yes；〃 echoed Dad。 〃Flip； why don't you？〃
Without answering the direct question； Flip turned upon her father。
〃Maybe you forget how you used to row and tear round here because
tramps and such like came to the ranch for suthin'； and I gave it
to 'em？ Maybe you'll quit tearin' round and letting yourself be
made a fool of now by that man； just because one of those tramps
gets up and sends us some presents back in turn？〃
〃'Twasn't me； Flip；〃 said the old man； deprecatingly； but glaring
at the astonished Postmaster。 〃Twasn't my doin'。 I allus said if
you cast your bread on the waters it would come back to you by
return mail。 The fact is； the Gov'ment is gettin' too high…handed！
Some o' these bloated officials had better climb down before next
leckshen。〃
〃Maybe；〃 continued Flip to her father； without looking at her
discomfited visitor； 〃ye'd better find out whether one of those
officials comes up to this yer ranch to steal away a gal about my
own size； or to get points about diamond…making。 I reckon he don't
travel round to find out who writes all the letters that go through
the Post Office。〃
The Postmaster had seemingly miscalculated the old man's infirm
temper and the daughter's skillful use of it。 He was unprepared
for Flip's boldness and audacity； and when he saw that both barrels
of the accusation had taken effect on the charcoal burner； who was
rising with epileptic rage； he fairly turned and fled。 The old man
would have followed him with objurgation beyond the door； but for
the restraining hand of Flip。
Baffled and beaten； nevertheless Fate was not wholly unkind to the
retreating suitor。 Near the Gin and Ginger Woods he picked up a
letter which had fallen from Flip's pocket。 He recognized the
writing； and did not scruple to read it。 It was not a love
epistle；at least； not such a one as he would have written；it
did not give the address nor the name of the correspondent； but he
read the following with greedy eyes：
〃Perhaps it's just as well that you don't rig yourself out for the
benefit of those dead beats at the Crossing； or any tramp that
might hang round the ranch。 Keep all your style for me when I
come。 I can't tell you when； it's mighty uncertain before the
rainy season。 But I'm coming soon。 Don't go back on your promise
about lettin up on the tramps； and being a little more high…toned。
And don't you give 'em so much。 It's true I sent you hats TWICE。
I clean forgot all about the first； but I wouldn't have given a
ten…dollar hat to a nigger woman who had a sick baby because I had
an extra hat。 I'd have let that baby slide。 I forgot to ask
whether the skirt is worn separately； I must see the dressmaking
sharp about it； but I think you'