God's Country-And the Woman

is bewilderment. He had expected and hoped for immediate physical action, something that would at least partially clear away the cloud of mystery. And at this moment, when he was

than that roused by her fears of a short time before? She had told him that Jean was part Indian, part Fr

oblivious of Josephine's presence, they measured each other, the half-breed bent a little forward, the lithe alertness of a cat in his posture, his eyes burning darkly. He was a man whose age Philip could not guess. It might have been forty. Probably it was close to that. He was bareheaded, and his long coarse hair, black as an Indian's, was shot with gray. At first it woul

-Jean Jacques Croisset-and

he strange flash of fire in the half-breed's eyes, nor did she hear his still more sw

the other's shoulder and rested on Josephine. He was astonished at the change in her. Evidently Jean had not brought her bad news. She held the pages of an open letter in h

what he might have to tell me. But this letter has brought me fresh cause for thankfulness, though it may

, looking after Jean, who was moving tow

it not necessary that you mak

e flushed wi

rfully unreal to me that for a moment I forgot that you were

. Will you go and arrange your canoe now? Jean will bring down my things and exchange them for some of your dunna

rusting them into Philip's arms. "I have a paddle, too.

"It makes you work harder to see her. She is-what you call it-g

ne's eyes as Jean began pull

n," she whispered. "But now, go to your c

hich she did not wish him to hear. As he turned toward the coul

turer who had more than once faced death with a smile, he did not believe in burning bridges ahead of him. He loved Josephine. To him this love had come as it had come to Tristan and Isolde, to Paola and Francesca-sudden and irresistible, but, unlike theirs, as pure as the air of the world which he breathed. That he knew nothing of her, that she had not even revealed her full name to him, did not affect the depth or sincerity of his emotion. Nor had her frank avowal that he could expect no reward destroyed his hope. The o

. When he had finished this last task he turned to find Jean standing close behind him, hi

nto staying behind until I could see you for a moment as we are, alone, ma

a woman's, but deep in his eyes Philip s

it?" he

he first time. "I hadn't thought of it, Jean. Everything has happened so quickly, so strange

een there. I know that it breeds men. And our Josephine knows. I could swear that there is not one man in a million she would tru

eyes were neare

sked Phil

ilip understood. Silently he reached out and gripped the half-breed's hand, For an instant they stood, their faces close, looking into each other's ey

then. "But I will play it, and it is not fear that will

d Jean, and in his voice was

sephine climbing over the bulwark of rocks between them and the trail. He hurried to meet her. Her arms were full, and she allowed him to ta

e," he said to Philip. "If you paddl

coils of her hair. There filled him an overwhelming desire to reach over and touch the shining braids, to feel the thrill of their warmth and sweetness, and something of this desire was in his face when she looked up at him, a look of gentle thankfulness disturbed a little by anxiety in her eyes. He had not noticed fully how wonderfully blue her eyes were unt

u laugh?"

with a first deep stroke. "I have never been happier in my

rful sacrifice for me. You have nothing to gain, nothing to expect but the things that make me shudder. And I ha

. "I have nothing much to

chin in the cup of her hand

ave pe

mother was the last. She

e no sisters

e li

ent. Then she said gentl

you away. You are different from other men I have known-and you have had your suffering. And now-I must hurt

all-because y

ed at her breast. She looked beyond

w. It all happened so suddenly that I could not think. But if you love me you must not go on. It is impossib

ck her emotion, fighting to h

ring into his set face. "If you don't

grief that cut to his soul. She was sobbing now, like a child. In this moment Philip forgot all restraint. He leaned forward and p

what to expect. You have told me; and I, too, believe. But whatever happens, in spite of all that may happen, I will still have

head, until for an instant his lips touched the soft, living warmth of her hair. And then he leaned back, freeing her hand, and into his face had leaped soul and life and fighting strength;