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〃Yes； it isunless you promise to stay with me when I go to live in the
big world。〃
〃Honey； I'll promise you this： When you are ready to live out there； I'll
sure go with you and stay with youif you want me； when the time
comes。〃
Lahoma seized his hand； and jumped up and down in delight。
〃It's a safe promise；〃 remarked Bill Atkins dryly。
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CHAPTER IX
A YOUNG MAN'S FANCY
One evening in May； a tall lithe figure crept the southern base of the
mountain range； following its curves with cautious feet as if fearful of
discovery。 It was a young man of twenty…one or two； bronzed； free of
movement； agile of step。 His face was firm； handsome and open； although
at present a wish to escape observation caused the hazel eyes to dart here
and there restlessly； while the mouth tightened in an aspect of sternness。
This air of wild resolution was heightened by the cowboy's ordinary
gannents； and the cowboy's indispensable belt well…stocked with weapons。
On reaching the spur that formed the western jaw of the horseshoe； he
crept on hands and knees； but satisfied by searching glances that the inner
expanse was deserted； he half rose and stole shadow…like along the granite
wall； until he had reached the hill…island that concealed the cove。 Again
falling on hands and knees； he drew himself slowly up among the huge flat
rocks that covered the hill in all directions。 In a brief time he had traversed
it； and a view of the cove was suddenly unrolled below。 A few yards from
Brick Willock's dugout； now stood a neat log cabin； and not far from the
door of this cabin was a girl of about fifteen； seated on the grass。
She had been reading； but her book had slipped to her feet。 With hands
clasped about her knee； and head tilted back； she was watching the lazy
white clouds that stretched like wisps of scattered cotton across the blue
field of the sky。 At first the young man was startled by the impression that
she had discovered his presence and was scrutinizing his position； but a
second glance reassured him； and he stretched himself where a block of
granite and； below it； a cedar tree； effectually protected him from
discovery。 Thus hidden； he stared at the girl unblinkingly。
He was like a thirsty traveler drinking at a cool well unexpectedly
discovered in a desert country。 For two years he had led the life of the
cowboy； exiled from his kind； going with the boys from lower Texas to
Kansas along the Chisholm Trail； overseeing great herds of cattle； caring
for them day and night； scarcely ever under a roof； even that of a dugout。
Through rain and storm； the ground had been his bed； and many a
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blistering summer day a pony captured wild from the plains； and broken to
stand like a dog； had been his only shade。 During these two years of hard
life； reckless companions and exacting duties； he had easily slipped into
the grooves of speech and thought common to his fellows。 Only his face；
his unconscious movements and accents； distinguished him from the other
boys of 〃Old Man Walker〃the boss of the 〃G…Bar Outfit。〃 On no other
condition but that of apparent assimilation could he have retained his place
with Walker's ranchmen； and in his efforts to remove as quickly as
possible the reproach of tender…foot it was not his fault that he had
retained the features of a different world； or that a certain air； not of the
desert； was always breaking through the crust under which he would have
kept his real self out of sight。 He himself was the least conscious that this
was so。
For two years he had seen no one like the girl of the cove； none
though he had seen women and girls of the settlements； often enough
who even suggested her kind。 Her dress； indeed； was plain enough； and
obviously chosen in cheerful ignorance of forms and conventions； though
the color； a delicate pink； was all he could have wished。 After all； the
clothes revealed nothing except absence from city shops and city
standards。
That was wonderful hair； its brown tresses gleaming though untouched
by the sun； as if in it were enmeshed innumerable particles of light。 It
seemed to glow from its very fineness； its silkinessthe kind of hair one is
prompted to touch； to feel if it is really that way！ The face was more
wonderful； because it told many things that can not be expressed in mere
hair…language。 There was the seal of innocence on the lips； the proof of
fearlessness in the eyes； the touch of thought on the brow； the sign of
purpose about the resolute little chin。 The slender brown hands spoke of
life in the open air； and the glow of the cheeks told of burning suns。 Her
form； her attitude； spoke not only of instinctive grace； but of a certain
wildness in admirable harmony with the surrounding scene。 Somehow； the
ruggedness of the mountains and the desolate solitudes of the plains were
reflected from her face。
The young man gazed as if his thirst would never be appeased。 The
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flavor of nights about the camp…fire and other nights spent in driving sleet；
also days when the first flowers come and the wide beds of the desert
rivers are swollen with overbrimming floods； the cruel exposure of winter；
the thrilling balminess of early springall spoke to him again from that
motionless figure。 He recalled companions of his boyhood and youth； but
they were not akin to this child of the desert mountains。 Still more alien
were those of the saloon stations； the haunts at the outskirts of civilization。
It seemed to him that in this young girl； who bad the look and poise of a
woman； he had found what hitherto he had vainly sought in the
wildernessthe beauty and the charm of it； refined and separated from its
sordidness and its uncouthnessin a word； from all that was base and ugly。
It was for this that he had left his home in the East。 Here was typified that
loveliness