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I will； too； and watch 'em step around。〃 For a moment his mind dwelt
upon this； and he whistled a revengeful strain。
〃Goodness； Billy！〃 said Jessamine； at the sight of the next stocking。
〃The whole heel is scorched off。〃
He eyed the ruin with indifference。 〃Ah； that was last month when I
and Lin shot the bear in the swamp willows。 He made me dry off my legs。
Chuck it away。〃
〃And spoil the pair？ No； indeed！〃
〃Mother always chucked 'em； an' father'd buy new ones till I skipped
from home。 Lin kind o' mends 'em。〃
〃Does he？〃 said Jessamine； softly。 And she looked at the photograph。
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〃Yes。 What made you write him for to let me come and bring my
stockin's and things？〃
〃Don't you see； Billy； there is so little work at this station that I'd be
looking out of the window all day just the pitiful way you do？〃
〃Oh！〃 Billy pondered。 〃And so I said to Lin；〃 he continued； 〃why
didn't he send down his own clothes； too； an' let you fix 'em all。 And
Honey Wiggin laughed right in his coffee…cup so it all sploshed out。 And
the cook he asked me if mother used to mend Lin's clothes。 But I guess
she chucked 'em like she always did father's and mine。 I was with father；
you know； when mother was married to Lin that time。〃 He paused again；
while his thoughts and fears struggled。 〃But Lin says I needn't ever go
back；〃 he went on； reasoning and confiding to her。 〃Lin don't like mother
any more； I guess。〃 His pondering grew still deeper； and he looked at
Jessamine for some while。 Then his face wakened with a new theory。
〃Don't Lin like you any more？〃 he inquired。
〃Oh；〃 cried Jessamine； crimsoning； 〃yes！ Why； he sent you to me！〃
〃Well； he got hot in camp when I said that about sending his clothes to
you。 He quit supper pretty soon； and went away off a walking。 And that's
another time they said I was too young。 But Lin don't come to see you any
more。〃
〃Why； I hope he loves me；〃 murmured Jessamine。 〃Always。〃
〃Well； I hope so too；〃 said Billy； earnestly。 〃For I like you。 When I
seen him show you our cabin on Box Elder； and the room he had fixed for
you； I was glad you were coming to be my mother。 Mother used to be
awful。 I wouldn't 'a' minded her licking me if she'd done other things。 Ah；
pshaw！ I wasn't going to stand that。〃 Billy now came close to Jessamine。
〃I do wish you would come and live with me and Lin；〃 said he。 〃Lin's
awful nice。〃
〃Don't I know it？〃 said Jessamine； tenderly。
〃Cause I heard you say you were going to marry him；〃 went on Billy。
〃And I seen him kiss you and you let him that time we went away when
you found out about mother。 And you're not mad； and he's not； and nothing
happens at all； all the same！ Won't you tell me； please？〃
Jessamine's eyes were glistening； and she took him in her lap。 She was
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not going to tell him that he was too young this time。 But whatever things
she had shaped to say to the boy were never said。
Through the noise of the gale came the steadier sound of the train； and
the girl rose quickly to preside over her ticket…office and duties behind the
railing in the front room of the station。 The boy ran to the window to
watch the great event of Separ's day。 The locomotive loomed out from the
yellow clots of drift； paused at the water…tank； and then with steam and
humming came slowly on by the platform。 Slowly its long dust…choked
train emerged trundling behind it； and ponderously halted。 There was no
one to go。 No one came to buy a ticket of Jessamine。 The conductor
looked in on business； but she had no telegraphic orders for him。 The
express agent jumped off and looked in for pleasure。 He received his daily
smile and nod of friendly discouragement。 Then the light bundle of mail
was flung inside the door。 Separ had no mail to go out。 As she was picking
up the letters young Billy passed her like a shadow； and fled out。 Two
passengers had descended from the train； a man and a large woman。 His
clothes were loose and careless upon him。 He held valises； and stood
uncertainly looking about him in the storm。 Her firm； heavy body was
closely dressed。 In her hat was a large； handsome feather。 Along between
the several cars brakemen leaned out； watched her； and grinned to each
other。 But her big； hard…shining blue eyes were fixed curiously upon the
station where Jessamine was。
〃It's all night we may be here； is it？〃 she said to the man； harshly。
〃How am I to help that？〃 he retorted。
〃I'll help it。 If this hotel's the sty it used to be； I'll walk to Tommy's。
I've not saw him since I left Bear Creek。〃
She stalked into the hotel； while the man went slowly to the station。 He
entered； and found Jessamine behind her railing； sorting the slim mail。
〃Good…evening；〃 he said。 〃Excuse me。 There was to be a wagon sent
here。〃
〃For the telegraph…mender？ Yes； sir。 It came Tuesday。 You're to find
the pole…wagon at Drybone。〃
This news was good； and all that he wished to know。 He could drive
out and escape a night at the Hotel Brunswick。 But he lingered； because
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Jessamine spoke so pleasantly to him。 He had heard of her also。
〃Governor Barker has not been around here？〃 he said。
〃Not yet； sir。 We understand he is expected through on a hunting…trip。〃
〃I suppose there is room for two and a trunk on that wagon？〃
〃I reckon so； sir。〃 Jessamine glanced at the man； and he took himself
out。 Most men took themselves out if Jessamine so willed； and it was
mostly achieved thus； in amity。
On the platform the man found his wife again。
〃Then I needn't to walk to Tommy's；〃 she said。 〃And we'll eat as we
travel。 But you'll wait till I'm through with her。〃 She made a gesture
toward the station。
〃Whywhywhat do you want with her。 Don't you know who she is？〃
〃It was me told you who she was； James Lusk。 You'll wait till I've been
and asked her after Lin McLean's health； and till I've saw how the likes of
her talks to the