o arrange for another meeting. Ambrose stuck close to his ca

her's threat, though he had a young man's healthy hor

against embroiling Colina with her father. She had only known him, Ambro

ind. He considered a night expedition to the fort; he considered sending a mes

gotten. He sprang to the bank. Job heard the hoofs, too, and recognized the horse. Job hop

swept over Ambrose; but something was wrong. She st

whispered to him that it was no more than to be expected

. "Colina!" he cri

h me!" she

at is the matte

at him. "I-I have had a bad night," she murmure

ity?" he

rget what happened l

as pale as she. He

f his blank, sick dismay she quickly turned he

was a

kily: "What has hap

ce and his silence terrified her. "Aren't you a little relieved?"

it. It came to him that he was being put to a test. The revulsion of fe

he harshl

no thought

and, turning back, seized

a game is this

terrified, delight

bank and sat down, staring sightlessly across the river and striving to still the

him and humbly

y," she w

d at her

ricks," he said. "A man's

icious to Colina in aba

hand and pressed

she murmured. "Other

urprised you,"

a. The suspicion of a dimp

for a minute," he sai

rse and loosened

here he had left her until he came back. He sat down again, but no

, "did you do it just for

d a r

" he asked in

hile you are angry wi

right away," he said

It is doubtful if any real tears flowed, but the move was just as

ve you. You know I-I am mad with loving you! Why-it would have been mo

never dreamed it would hurt s

ken his name. He paused for a mom

e asked

na s

averting her head from him. "I thought that nothing so swift could poss

isowned me. I came right on-I told him I was coming. And on the wa

about father and I-you would feel that you had to stand by me anyway!

nation was perfectl

me?" he asked wistfully. "Can

en!" she murmured. "When I am not with y

eloquence his heart lent his tongue.

o feel the same toward each other! I always though

Women are not supposed to give anything away! It

e humble,"

!" she b

lder than yo

ld," said Colina; "men's n

ng back on the t

as lovely as pearl!" he wh

throat tremble

ming out!"

iful as-what is the most beautiful thing I kno

ich I like bette

at?" h

e me or abuse me.

"I am wondering this m

eathe hard for f

ed encha

hispered. "These

h, "We must talk hard sense to each oth

against h

decide," she

ather say to you

elling!" she said. "I have th

care,"

went on. "He was so angry he could scarcely speak. If he had let it go it wouldn't ha

just plain mad! I taunted him until he was almost in a state of

tened to lock me up. He said things about you that put me beside myself. We said ghastly things to each

y chance,

went on. "I know he is

ve y

with him yet," said

can I go back a

eet you

get in the dugout and

swer. She saw

way," she murmured, "sinc

g breath and

ke you now," h

"I was only joking. But why?" she a

aid, frowning. "It would be

murmured, with a

o anything prudent myself. I hate it. But I can't let you chuck everything-wi

so easy," she said, "q

useless to write letters from Moultrie to Enterprise. I'm out of the w

h to month without a word! It

s," he said sagely. "I could

talk about it!" sh

en you call me cold you sh

every minute," she said na?vely, "it sha

laughed

ther interlude of

olina who withdrew

, "every minute of this is making it hard

d to take her in

to be sensible. We haven't dec

id Ambrose, "to work

far," sh

er sets in I'll send a messenger. And you, you keep a little book and

n't hold it all,"

king a place for you.

ltr

aske

"In a way Peter is my boss, you see

"But if there was no

I have always intended to open other posts. I'll take the first one, and yo

they raised a shini

ly, "or father will be equippi

," he agreed

als without any move being

ood-by?" s

nod

ere silent. They gazed at eac

mured Colina brokenly. "Suc

to each ot

o you to-morrow morning-everything I think of to-night. I'l

e, if you forget

tell you, you have ch

t you unless I