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〃You see；〃 Brick explained simply； 〃we didn't want to go。〃
〃It nearly broke Mrs。 Featherby's heart to have to leave；〃 Lahoma
added； 〃for they'd got a good stand of wheat and I think she liked me 'most
as well as I liked her。 But Mr。 Featherby came from Ohio； and he had
respect to the government； so when the soldiers said 'Go；' he pulled up
stakes。〃
〃We ain't got no respect to nothing；〃 Brick explained； 〃that stands in
the way of doing what we're a mind to。 The soldiers come to force us out；
but they changed their minds。 I reckon they knew they hadn't no morality
on their side。 Sure thing； they knowed they had but very little safety；
whilst occupying their position。 None was left but us in this country till
you cattlemen come monopolizing Heaven and earth。 Knowing we got just
as much right to this cove as Uncle Sam himself； we expect to stay here at
anchor till Lahoma steams out into the big world with sails spread。 She
expects to tug us along behind herbut I don't know； I'm afraid we'd draw
heavy。 Until that time comes； however； we 'lows to lay to； in this harbor。
We feels sheltered。 Nothing ain't more sheltering than knowing you have a
moral right and a dependable gun。〃
〃So that's about all；〃 Lahoma went on。 〃These past four years； we've
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just been to ourselves； with a long journey once a year to the settlements；
and all the time I had those sweet thoughts to dream over； about the little
family that used to live in the west mountain。 And I've tried to do like Mrs。
Featherby used to do； and be like she was； and if I can make as fine a
woman I needn't ask any more。 She'd been to Europe； too； and she'd taught
school in New England。 Bill Atkins is higher up than BrickBill used to
know Kit Carson and all those famous pioneers； and he's been most
everywhere except in settled places。 When a boy he saw Sam Houston
and ate with him； and he has heard David Crockett with his own earshas
heard him say 'Be sure you're right； then go ahead；' that's how far BILL
has been。 But it sort of hurt Brick's neck； and even Bill's； to look up high
enough to see where Mrs。 Featherby had risen。 She was like youright out
of the big world。 She came out here because the family was awful poor。 Is
that why you left the big world？〃
Wilfred shook his head。 〃I'm poor enough；〃 he said； 〃but it wasn't that。
It was a girl。〃
Brick Willock explained； 〃He's got a sweetheart； he's been carrying her
letters for about two years。 He's done spoke for； Lahoma； staked out； as a
fellow might say； and squatted on。〃
Lahoma looked at him in breathless interest。 〃A girl out in the big
world？ Completely civilized； I reckon！ Was she as old as I am？〃
〃Why； honey！〃 Brick exclaimed uneasily； 〃YOU ain't got no age at all；
to speak of！ What are you but a mere child？ This young man is talking
about them as has got up to be old enough to think of sweethearting
something respectable in YEARS。〃
〃And how old does a sweetheart have to be？〃 demanded Lahoma with
some displeasure。 〃I feel old enough for anything； and Wilfred doesn't
look any older than the knight standing guard in THE TALISMAN。
Besides； look at David Copperfield and Little Em'ly。〃
〃That was child's work；〃 retorted Brick。
〃I was afraid of this；〃 growled Bill Atkins restlessly。
Wilfred laughed out。 〃Don't worry。 My eastern girl is at least nineteen
years old； and so thoroughly civilized that she thinks this part of the world
is still overrun with Indians and buffaloes。 She wouldn't live out here for a
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fortune； and she wouldn't marry a man back East without onethat's why
I'm here。 I didn't have the fortune。〃
〃Does she LOVE you； Wilfred？〃 Her voice was so soft； her eyes were
so big； that Bill uttered a smothered groan； and even Brick sat up。
〃She did the last time I saw hercan't say how she feels now； that's
been about two years ago。〃 He spoke lightly； but gazing into the
wonderful depths of Lahoma's eyes； he felt a queer sensation like a lost
heart…beat。
〃Did she send you here as a kind of test？〃
〃Oh； no； she told me good…by and we parted forever。 Both of us were
poor；you can't live in the city if you're poor； you can BE poor there； but
not LIVE。 By this time she's found some one with property； I dare say
she's tremendously handsome and accomplished； and has a very
distinguished…looking mother and they have friends in societyshe'll make
it all right； no doubt。〃 His voice was matter…of…fact even to indifference；
but for all that； he seemed to be deeply inhaling Lahoma's freshness of
morning…rose sparkling with dew。
〃Does it pierce your heart to think of her marrying somebody else？〃
Her voice was sweet with the dream…passion of a young girl。
〃When I left home； I flung myself into the life of a cow…puncher and
did all I could to keep from thinking。 So my heart's rather callous by this
time。 I don't seem to mind like I thought I would if I should sit down to
think about it。 That's what I've avoided like the plaguesitting down to
think about it。 But I believe I could sit down and think about it now； pretty
calmly。〃
〃Then that's what I'd do；〃 Lahoma cried。 〃I'd just face it。 She isn't
worthy of you if she'd rather have a fortune than the man she loves。 I'd just
sit down and face it。〃
〃I will！〃 He had never before thought it could be easy。 It seemed very
easy； now。
〃Maybe I could help you；〃 Lahoma suggested earnestly。 〃When Mrs。
Featherby lived near； I asked her all about such cases and got her advice
and experience。 Change of scene and time are the greatest remedies。
You've had both。 Then you must tell yourself that she isn't worthy。 And
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then you'll remind yourself that there are OTHER girls in the world。 Then
you keep your mind occupied；that is a great thing。 If you come to the
cove to visit us； we will try to occupy your mindwon't we Brick？and
Bill？〃
Bill looked at Wilfred glumly。 〃It's too occupied now； I'm afraid。〃
〃Bill； this is a…growing on you；〃 Brick expostulated。 〃I like the you