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〃Bill； this is a…growing on you；〃 Brick expostulated。 〃I like the young
chap first rate。 He's open and free。 Bill； you are hampering； at times。 I
would go to my dugout if I was you； and cool my head。〃
〃Your head'll be hot enough；〃 growled Bill； 〃when this has gone too
far。〃
Lahoma opened her eyes wide。 〃What do you mean？〃 she demanded；
sincerely perplexed。
〃Bill；〃 cried Brick warningly； 〃you're a…going to start up a fire where
they ain't even been no kindling laid。〃
Wilfred rose hastily。 〃I should like dearly to come； and come often；〃 he
exclaimed； 〃but I couldn't force myself where I'm not wanted。〃
〃In that case；〃 remarked Bill inflexibly； 〃you're seeing me for the last
time； and may look your fill！〃
Wilfred smiled at him tolerantly and turned to Willock。 〃I ought to go
to my work； Brick。 I won't try to explain what this hour has meant to me
for I believe you understand。 I'm like a man crossing the desert who finds
a spring and gets enough water to last him till the next oasis。〃
He held out his hand to Lahoma who had risen swiftly at these signs of
departure。 〃God bless you； little girl！〃 he said cheerily。 〃A man's fortunate
who finds such oases along his desert…trail！〃
It was not Bill's gruffness； but Lahoma's charm that warned him to flee
lest he break his promise to her guardians。
〃But you can't go； yet；〃 cried Lahoma； not taking his hand； 〃there are a
thousand things I want to do with you that I've never had a chance to do
with anybody elsestrolling； for instance。 Come and strollI'll show you
about the cove。 Brick and Bill don't know anything about strolling as they
do in pictures。 Hold out your arm with a crook in it and I'll slip my hand
just inside where you'll hold it soft and warm like a bird in its nest。。。。 Isn't
his noble？ And I holds backexcuse meI HOLD back my skirts with my
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other hand； and this is the way we stroll； like an engraving out of the
history of Louis the Fourteenth's court。 Do； oh； do！〃 Her bright eyes
glowed into his like beckoning stars。
〃We stroll；〃 he gravely announced； responding to the pressure of her
fingers； but at the same time feeling somewhat guilty as Bill rolled his
eyes fearfully at Brick。
When they were a few yards from the trees Lahoma whispered； 〃Make
for the other side of Turtle Hill。 I want to feel grown up when I do my
strolling； but I'm nothing but a little barefooted kid when Brick and Bill
are looking at me！〃
Hidden by the shoulder of the granite hill island she stopped； withdrew
her hand； and stood very straight as she said； with breathless eagerness；
〃Answer me quick！ Wilfred： ain't I old enough to be a sweetheart？〃
〃Oh； Lahoma；〃 he protested warmly； 〃please don't think of it。 Don't be
anybody's untiluntil I say the word。 You couldn't understand such matters；
dear； you wouldn't know thethe proper time。 I'll tell you when the time
comes。〃
She looked at him keenly。 〃Am I to wait for a time； or for a person？ I
wish you'd never met that girl back East I think you'd have filled the bill
for me； because； having always lived here in the mountains； I've not
learned to be particular。 Not but what I've seen lots of trappers and
squatters in my day； but I never wanted to stroll with them。 I don't see why
that eastern girl ever turned you loose from her trap。 I think a man's a very
wonderful thing； especially a young mandon't you； Wilfred？〃
〃Not half so wonderful as you； Lahoma。〃 His voice vibrated with
sudden intensity。 〃There's your wonderful hair； like light shining through a
brown veil 。。。 and your eyes where your soul keeps her lights flashing
when all the rest of you is in twilight 。。。 and your hands and feet； four
faithful little guides to the wonderful treasures that belong only to
maidenhood 。。。 and your mouth； changing with your thoughtsan adorable
little thermometer； showing how high the smiles have risen in your heart； a
mouth so pure and sweet〃
〃Hey！〃 shouted Bill Atkins； as he and Brick came around the angle of
the hill。 〃Hi； there！ You may call that strolling； but if so； it's because you
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don't know its true name； if you ask ME！〃
Wilfred came to himself with a sharp indrawing of his breath。 〃Yes；〃
he stammered； somewhat dizzily； 〃Yes； II must be going； now。〃
She held his hand beseechingly。 〃But you'll come again； won't you？
When I hold your hand； it's like grabbing at a bit of the big world。〃
〃No； Lahoma； I'm not coming again。〃 His look was long and steady；
showing sudden purpose which concealed regret beneath a frank smile of
liking。
She still held his hand； her brown eyes large with entreaty。 〃You WILL
come again； Wilfred！ You must come again！ Don't mind Bill。 I'll have a
talk with him after you're gone。 I'll send him over to the ranch after you。
Just say you'll come again if I send for you。〃
〃Of course he'll come； honey；〃 said Brick； melted by the tears that
sounded in her voice。 〃He won't get huffy over a foolish old codger like
Bill Atkins。 Of course he'll come again and tell you about street…cars and
lamp…posts。 Let him go to his work now； he's been up all night； just to get
a word with you。 Let him gohe'll come back tomorrow； I know。〃
Wilfred turned to Brick and looked into his eyes as he slowly released
Lahoma's hand。
〃Oh！〃 said Brick； considerably disconcerted。 〃No； I reckon he won't
come back； honeyyes； I guess he'll be busy the rest of the summer。 Well；
son； put 'er thereshake！ I like you fine； just fine； and as you can't come
here to see us no more； being so busy andand otherwise elsewhere
boundI'm kinder sorry to see you go。〃
〃Partings；〃 said Bill； somewhat mollified； 〃are painful but necessary；
else there wouldn't be any occasion for dentists' chairs。〃
〃That's so；〃 Brick agreed。 〃You called Lahoma an oasis。 And what is
an oasis？ Something you come up to； and go away from； and that's the end
of the story。 You don't settle down and live at a spring just because it give
you a drink when you was thirsty。 A man goes on his way rejoicing； and
Wilfred according。〃
Lahoma walked up to Wilfred with steady eyes。 〃Are you coming back
to see me？〃 she asked gravely。
〃No； Lahoma。 At least not for a long； long time。 I don't be