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to warn him from exposing himself to their rude but conscientious
antagonism。〃
〃Perhaps you'd better tell him； then； in your own popular way；
which they all seem to understand so well；〃 responded the
daughter。 Mr。 Wynn cast a quick glance at her； but there was no
trace of irony in her facenothing but a half…bored indifference
as she walked toward the window。
〃I will go with you to the coach…office；〃 said her father； who
generally gave these simple paternal duties the pronounced
character of a public Christian example。
〃It's hardly worth while；〃 replied Miss Nellie。 〃I've to stop at
the Watsons'； at the foot of the hill； and ask after the baby； so
I shall go on to the Crossing and pick up the coach when it
passes。 Good…by。〃
Nevertheless； as soon as Nellie had departed； the Rev。 Mr。 Wynn
proceeded to the coach…office； and publicly grasping the hand of
Yuba Bill； the driver； commended his daughter to his care in the
name of the universal brotherhood of man and the Christian
fraternity。 Carried away by his heartiness； he forgot his
previous caution； and confided to the expressman Miss Nellie's
regrets that she was not to have that gentleman's company。 The
result was that Miss Nellie found the coach with its passengers
awaiting her with uplifted hats and wreathed smiles at the
Crossing； and the box seat （from which an unfortunate stranger；
who had expensively paid for it； had been summarily ejected） at
her service beside Yuba Bill； who had thrown away his cigar and
donned a new pair of buckskin gloves to do her honor。 But a more
serious result to the young beauty was the effect of the Rev。 Mr。
Wynn's confidences upon the impulsive heart of Jack Brace； the
expressman。 It has been already intimated that it was his 〃day
off。〃 Unable to summarily reassume his usual functions beside
the driver without some practical reason； and ashamed to go so
palpably as a mere passenger； he was forced to let the coach
proceed without him。 Discomfited for the moment； he was not；
however； beaten。 He had lost the blissful journey by her side；
which would have been his professional right； butshe was going
to Indian Spring！ could he not anticipate her there？ Might they
not meet in the most accidental manner？ And what might not come
from that meeting away from the prying eyes of their own town？
Mr。 Brace did not hesitate； but saddling his fleet Buckskin； by
the time the stage…coach had passed the Crossing in the high…road
he had mounted the hill and was dashing along the 〃cutoff〃 in the
same direction； a full mile in advance。 Arriving at Indian
Spring； he left his horse at a Mexican posada on the confines of
the settlement； and from the piled debris of a tunnel excavation
awaited the slow arrival of the coach。 On mature reflection he
could give no reason why he had not boldly awaited it at the
express office； except a certain bashful consciousness of his own
folly； and a belief that it might be glaringly apparent to the
bystanders。 When the coach arrived and he had overcome this
consciousness； it was too late。 Yuba Bill had discharged his
passengers for Indian Spring and driven away。 Miss Nellie was in
the settlement； but where？ As time passed he became more
desperate and bolder。 He walked recklessly up and down the main
street； glancing in at the open doors of shops； and even in the
windows of private dwellings。 It might have seemed a poor
compliment to Miss Nellie； but it was an evidence of his complete
preoccupation； when the sight of a female face at a window； even
though it was plain or perhaps painted； caused his heart to
bound； or the glancing of a skirt in the distance quickened his
feet and his pulses。 Had Jack contented himself with remaining
at Excelsior he might have vaguely regretted； but as soon become
as vaguely accustomed to； Miss Nellie's absence。 But it was not
until his hitherto quiet and passive love took this first step of
action that it fully declared itself。 When he had made the tour
of the town a dozen times unsuccessfully； he had perfectly made
up his mind that marriage with Nellie or the speedy death of
several people； including possibly himself； was the only
alternative。 He regretted he had not accompanied her； he
regretted he had not demanded where she was going； he
contemplated a course of future action that two hours ago would
have filled him with bashful terror。 There was clearly but one
thing to doto declare his passion the instant he met her； and
return with her to Excelsior an accepted suitor； or not to return
at all。
Suddenly he was vexatiously conscious of hearing his name lazily
called； and looking up found that he was on the outskirts of the
town； and interrogated by two horsemen。
〃Got down to walk； and the coach got away from you； Jack； eh？〃
A little ashamed of his preoccupation； Brace stammered something
about 〃collections。〃 He did not recognize the men； but his own
face； name； and business were familiar to everybody for fifty
miles along the stage…road。
〃Well； you can settle a bet for us； I reckon。 Bill Dacre thar
bet me five dollars and the drinks that a young gal we met at the
edge of the Carquinez Woods； dressed in a long brown duster and
half muffled up in a hood； was the daughter of Father Wynn of
Excelsior。 I did not get a fair look at her； but it stands to
reason that a high…toned young lady like Nellie Wynn don't go
trap'sing along the wood like a Pike County tramp。 I took the
bet。 May be you know if she's here or in Excelsior？〃
Mr。 Brace felt himself turning pale with eagerness and
excitement。 But the near prospect of seeing her presently gave
him back his caution； and he answered truthfully that he had left
her in Excelsior； and that in his two hours' sojourn in Indian
Spring he had not met her once。 〃But；〃 he added； with a
Californian's reverence for the sanctity of a bet； 〃I reckon
you'd better make it a stand…off for twenty…four hours； and I'll
find out and let you know。〃 Which； it is only fair to say； he
honestly intended to do。
With a hurried nod of parting； he continued in the direction of
the Woods。 When he had satisfied himself that the strangers had
entered the settlement； and would not follow him for further
explanation； he quickened his pace。 In half an hour he passed
between two of the gigantic sentinels that guarded the entrance
to a trail。 Here he paused to collect his thoughts。 The Woods
were vast in extent； the trail dim and uncertainat times
apparently breaking off； or intersecting another trail as faint
as itself。 Believing that Miss Nellie had diverged from the
highway only as a momentary excursion into the shade； and that
she would not dare to penetrate its more sombre and unknown
recesses； he kept within sight of the skirting plain。 By degrees
the sedate influence of the silent vaults seemed to depress him。
The ardor of the chase began to flag。 Under the calm of their
dim roof the fever of his veins began to subside； his pace
slackened； he reasoned more deliberately。 It was by no means
probable that the young woman in a brown duster was Nellie； it
was not her habitual traveling dress； it was not like her to walk
u