set forth the meal as temptingly as he could on a flat rock, and at the risk of breaking his sinews carried a

she said. "I know wha

shed itself between them. But the young man made no move to serve himself

ou eat?" dem

y of time," he

why w

only one kni

coolly. "We can pass them

ure on her that brought Colina's eyelids fluttering down like winged birds. He was a di

passing the utens

ina asked: "Do yo

said. "Miss Co

know you,

se Doane, o

is Mo

hree hundred mile

exclaimed Colina. "Have

Ambrose said

her are you go

Fort En

stion in the air was: "

fel

my father?"

said A

u have busine

he sai

annoyance. "We don't have many visitor

ot," said Am

e one; it was bound to come sooner

boldness and apprehension that she had marked befor

you!"

the question. She blushed all over-a horrible, unequivocal, burning

stammered. It was al

a could not tell whether he were more bold or simple. She had a sinking fear that here was a yo

now about me?"

she might say he was marching steadily over her defenses

m here came by our plac

rd. He told

me!" cried C

resome, diffident smile. "He thinks you are the most beautiful wo

ngry at this, though she wished to b

faltered

in a year," he said. "This is our

ht have said--to meet with candor equal to her own in th

urmured, conscious of

g insulting," he said doggedly. "After what Poly sai

ason," she murmu

ome in the winter,

e ought to have left at once-but she was unable to think of

mptuous!" she

he repeated wi

uch things to women," she began as one might rebuke a little boy-but the con

ly stay a few days. I wanted to get

a young man after her own heart. Aloud she remarked

tfully, not quite kno

too simple!" t

he said. "I didn't expect you to be waiting on th

liged to smile back. Suddenly the absurd image caused them to

ile he laughed Colina saw that look spring out of his eyes

his lips. Colina saw it coming. Her look of panic-terror restr

en with a matter-of-fact air. She shook her head,

go!" thought Co

ortably: "It's a great experience to travel alone.

it was recounting her own journey in the preceding autumn. It was astonishing when they st

th a good opportunity

ll absurdly. "Mus

meet you officiall

never thought about an introduction," he said quite

lt more assured. "Oh, we're sufficiently

the fort?" he asked. "H

is for you to contrive. You will naturally call on my fa

cure meaning. "He will

" demande

"the only free-traders of any account in the Compan

thing and hospitality

d feeling there is in the

ow my father,"

putation,"

. "All white men who come to the post dine with us as a matter of course," sh

asked him about me f

I do not consult him about house

t in this case I would be more com

him?" she inquired

ly; "but I don't want t

"Thank you," she said;

er come-we d

e there,"

se deftly caught her hand and kissed it. Colina was not displea

eally so simple as she had decided? Had he not baited her into losing her temper-a

top to examine. "I'll wear evening dress, the black taffeta, and my string of pearls