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〃But； Nellie； I never thought that you〃
〃Never thought that Iwhat？ Do you think that I could ever be
anything to a man who did not believe in justification by faith；
or in the covenant of church fellowship？ Do you think father
would let me？〃
In his eagerness to defend himself he stepped to her side。 But
seeing her little feet shining through the dark water； like
outcroppings of delicately veined quartz； he stopped embarrassed。
Miss Nellie； however； leaped to one foot； and； shaking the other
over the pool； put her hand on his shoulder to steady herself。
〃You haven't got a towelor；〃 she said dubiously； looking at her
small handkerchief； 〃anything to dry them on？〃
But Low did not； as she perhaps expected； offer his own handkerchief。
〃If you take a bath after our fashion；〃 he said gravely； 〃you
must learn to dry yourself after our fashion。〃
Lifting her again lightly in his arms； he carried her a few steps
to the sunny opening； and bade her bury her feet in the dried
mosses and baked withered grasses that were bleaching in a
hollow。 The young girl uttered a cry of childish delight； as the
soft ciliated fibres touched her sensitive skin。
〃It is healing； too；〃 continued Low； 〃a moccasin filled with it
after a day on the trail makes you all right again。〃
But Miss Nellie seemed to be thinking of something else。
〃Is that the way the squaws bathe and dry themselves？〃
〃I don't know； you forget I was a boy when I left them。〃
〃And you're sure you never knew any？〃
〃None。〃
The young girl seemed to derive some satisfaction in moving her
feet up and down for several minutes among the grasses in the
hollow； then； after a pause； said； 〃You are quite certain I am
the first woman that ever touched this spring？〃
〃Not only the first woman； but the first human being； except
myself。〃
〃How nice！〃
They had taken each other's hands； seated side by side； they
leaned against a curving elastic root that half supported； half
encompassed； them。 The girl's capricious； fitful manner
succumbed as before to the near contact of her companion。
Looking into her eyes； Low fell into a sweet； selfish lover's
monologue； descriptive of his past and present feelings towards
her； which she accepted with a heightened color； a slight
exchange of sentiment； and a strange curiosity。 The sun had
painted their half…embraced silhouettes against the slanting
tree…trunk； and began to decline unnoticed； the ripple of the
water mingling with their whispers came as one sound to the
listening ear； even their eloquent silences were as deep； and； I
wot； perhaps as dangerous； as the darkened pool that filled so
noiselessly a dozen yards away。 So quiet were they that the
tremor of invading wings once or twice shook the silence； or the
quick scamper of frightened feet rustled the dead grass。 But in
the midst of a prolonged stillness the young man sprang up so
suddenly that Nellie was still half clinging to his neck as he
stood erect。 〃Hush！〃 he whispered； 〃some one is near！〃
He disengaged her anxious hands gently； leaped upon the slanting
tree…trunk； and running half…way up its incline with the agility
of a squirrel； stretched himself at full length upon it and
listened。
To the impatient； inexplicably startled girl； it seemed an age
before he rejoined her。
〃You are safe；〃 he said； 〃he is going by the western trail
towards Indian Spring。〃
〃Who is HE？〃 she asked； biting her lips with a poorly restrained
gesture of mortification and disappointment。
〃Some stranger；〃 replied Low。
〃As long as he wasn't coming here； why did you give me such a
fright？〃 she said pettishly。 〃Are you nervous because a single
wayfarer happens to stray here？〃
〃It was no wayfarer； for he tried to keep near the trail；〃 said
Low。 〃He was a stranger to the wood； for he lost his way every
now and then。 He was seeking or expecting some one； for he
stopped frequently and waited or listened。 He had not walked
far； for he wore spurs that tinkled and caught in the brush； and
yet he had not ridden here； for no horse's hoofs passed the road
since we have been here。 He must have come from Indian Spring。〃
〃And you heard all that when you listened just now？〃 asked Nellie；
half disdainfully。
Impervious to her incredulity Low turned his calm eyes on her
face。 〃Certainly； I'll bet my life on what I say。 Tell me： do
you know anybody in Indian Spring who would likely spy upon you？〃
The young girl was conscious of a certain ill…defined uneasiness；
but answered； 〃No。〃
〃Then it was not YOU he was seeking；〃 said Low thoughtfully。
Miss Nellie had not time to notice the emphasis； for he added；
〃You must go at once； and lest you have been followed I will show
you another way back to Indian Spring。 It is longer； and you
must hasten。 Take your shoes and stockings with you until we are
out of the bush。〃
He raised her again in his arms and strode once more out through
the covert into the dim aisles of the wood。 They spoke but
little； she could not help feeling that some other discordant
element； affecting him more strongly than it did her； had come
between them； and was half perplexed and half frightened。 At the
end of ten minutes he seated her upon a fallen branch； and
telling her he would return by the time she had resumed her shoes
and stockings glided from her like a shadow。 She would have
uttered an indignant protest at being left alone； but he was gone
ere she could detain him。 For a moment she thought she hated
him。 But when she had mechanically shod herself once more； not
without nervous shivers at every falling needle； he was at her side。
〃Do you know anyone who wears a frieze coat like that？〃 he asked；
handing her a few torn shreds of wool affixed to a splinter of bark。
Miss Nellie instantly recognized the material of a certain
sporting coat worn by Mr。 Jack Brace on festive occasions； but a
strange yet infallible instinct that was part of her nature made
her instantly disclaim all knowledge of it。
〃No；〃 she said。
〃Not anyone who scents himself with some doctor's stuff like
cologne？〃 continued Low； with the disgust of keen olfactory
sensibilities。
Again Miss Nellie recognized the perfume with which the gallant
expressman was wont to make redolent her little parlor； but again
she avowed no knowledge of its possessor。 〃Well；〃 returned Low
with some disappointment； 〃such a man has been here。 Be on your
guard。 Let us go at once。〃
She required no urging to hasten her steps； but hurried
breathlessly at his side。 He had taken a new trail by which they
left the wood at right angles with the highway； two miles away。
Following an almost effaced mule track along a slight depression
of the plain； deep enough； however； to hide them from view； he
accompanied her； until； rising to the level again； she saw they
were beginning to approach the highway and the distant roofs of
Indian Spring。 〃Nobody meeting you now；〃 he whispered； 〃would
suspect where you had been。 Good night！ until next weekremember。〃
They pressed each other's hands； and standing on the slight ridge
outlined against the paling sky； in full view of the highway；
parting careless