Justin Wingate, Ranchman

e came with Lucy Davison up the path to the arbor seat in the cottonwoods, after a stroll by the stream. Planted when the ranch was established, the trees were now a cool and screening grove. Just

beautiful and it gave him a strange and

g down upon the arbor seat. "You told me about that sc

he said, as he

ust have been

he came down here in that queer way and has stayed h

t I can't; it was a good thing for me; it kept me

or here," she said, wi

ave been sent away when Mr. Wingate died,

e declared, tossing her

With a boldness that gripped his throat he sl

I had nev

ouldn't hav

ht have; it seems to me that something woul

the brown hair blown in a tangle across the oval of her face, the delicate curve of the white throat, the y

f I had never known you," he declared earnestly

friends now,

to be something more

closer about her

understand so well what it meant then, but now I know-I know that I love you, and love you, and love

his. A dash of tears

hurt your

Jus

d him that, with an impulsive motion, and a courage he wo

say that you do l

id, with girlish earnestness, "

close against his heart. "I have always dreamed of this; that we might love each other,

, as if thus he would k

me always?" she asked,

ver since

d care for Mary

ys like

u like

you; and that i

ong and so masterful that the touch of his hands and the pressure of his arms ga

ed for Mary as

er, and we used to have great fun together.

lear white of the skin and the deep line of tan at the wrist. She ventured to look at his face-the side of

think you a

r," he sai

ustang that day, so that he wouldn't be killed?

n; but I was anxiou

again, as if

le Philip didn't want me to go near him after that. But I would; and I've ridden him ever since; though Pearl has told me a doz

her agai

he mustang; for-for some time, you kno

d not

ay off, that s

not look

, if I can," sh

you

Philip wil

rdian, and you'll b

a good w

t will

it wil

t some time," he pro

minutes. They did not know they had so many things to talk over. Every subject was colored with a n

e warm inner light that illumined him flowed out upon the world and brightened it. He walked

glish setter he had recently purchased, and sought to show off the good points of the dog, Justin was

er and kindlier, his manner more urbane and noble, and the simple order he gave to Ben concerning work to be done fell in kindlier t

r into it like a bird; she was in that house now, he reflected, brightening it with her