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the sight of a rival was added the knowledge that she was seeking
him in her extremity； such a mighty wave of anger swept the
Cardinal that he appeared twice his real size。 Like a flaming
brand of vengeance he struck that Limberlost upstart； and sent
him rolling to earth； a mass of battered feathers。 With beak and
claw he made his attack； and when he so utterly demolished his
rival that he hopped away trembling； with dishevelled plumage
stained with his own blood； the Cardinal remembered his little
love and hastened back； confidently hoping for his reward。
She was so securely hidden； that although he went searching；
calling； pleading； he found no trace of her the remainder of that
day。 The Cardinal almost went distracted； and his tender
imploring cries would have moved any except a panic…stricken
bird。 He did not even know in what direction to pursue her。
Night closed down； and found him in a fever of love…sick fear；
but it brought rest and wisdom。 She could not have gone very
far。 She was too worn。 He would not proclaim his presence。
Soon she would suffer past enduring for food and water。
He hid in the willows close where he had lost her； and waited
with what patience he could； and it was a wise plan。 Shortly
after dawn； moving stilly as the break of day； trembling with
fear； she came slipping to the river for a drink。 It was almost
brutal cruelty； but her fear must be overcome someway； and with a
cry of triumph the Cardinal； in a plunge of flight； was beside
her。 She gave him one stricken look； and dashed away。 The chase
began once more and continued until she was visibly breaking。
There was no room for a rival that morning。 The Cardinal flew
abreast of her and gave her a caress or attempted a kiss whenever
he found the slightest chance。 She was almost worn out； her
flights were wavering and growing shorter。 The Cardinal did his
utmost。 If she paused to rest； he crept close as he dared； and
piteously begged： 〃Come here！ Come here！〃
When she took wing； he so dexterously intercepted her course that
several time she found refuge in his sumac without realizing
where she was。 When she did that； he perched just as closely as
he dared； and while they both rested； he sang to her a soft
little whispered love song； deep in his throat； and with every
note he gently edged nearer。 She turned her head from him； and
although she was panting for breath and palpitant with fear； the
Cardinal knew that he dared not go closer； or she would dash away
like the wild thing she was。 The next time she took wing； she
found him so persistently in her course that she turned sharply
and fled panting to the sumac。 When this had happened so often
that she seemed to recognize the sumac as a place of refuge； the
Cardinal slipped aside and spent all his remaining breath in an
exultant whistle of triumph； for now he was beginning to see his
way。 He dashed into mid…air； and with a gyration that would have
done credit to a flycatcher； he snapped up a gadfly that should
have been more alert。
With a tender 〃Chip！〃 from branch to branch； slowly； cautiously；
he came with it。 Because he was half starved himself； he knew
that she must be almost famished。 Holding it where she could
see； he hopped toward her； eagerly； carefully； the gadfly in his
beak； his heart in his mouth。 He stretched his neck and legs to
the limit as he reached the fly toward her。 What matter that she
took it with a snap； and plunged a quarter of a mile before
eating it？ She had taken food from him！ That was the beginning。
Cautiously he impelled her toward the sumac； and with untiring
patience kept her there the remainder of the day。 He carried her
every choice morsel he could find in the immediate vicinity of
the sumac； and occasionally she took a bit from his beak； though
oftenest he was compelled to lay it on a limb beside her。 At
dusk she repeatedly dashed toward the underbrush； but the
Cardinal； with endless patience and tenderness； maneuvered her to
the sumac； until she gave up； and beneath the shelter of a
neighbouring grapevine； perched on a limb that was the Cardinal's
own chosen resting…place； tucked her tired head beneath her wing；
and went to rest。 When she was soundly sleeping； the Cardinal
crept as closely as he dared； and with one eye on his little gray
love； and the other roving for any possible danger； he spent a
night of watching for any danger that might approach。
He was almost worn out； but this was infinitely better than the
previous night； at any rate； for now he not only knew where she
was； but she was fast asleep in his own favourite place。 Huddled
on the limb； the Cardinal gloated over her。 He found her beauty
perfect。 To be sure； she was dishevelled； but she could make her
toilet。 There were a few feathers gone； but they would grow
speedily。 She made a heart…satisfying picture； on which the
Cardinal feasted his love…sick soul； by the light of every
straying moonbeam that slid around the edges of the grape leaves。
Wave after wave of tender passion shook him。 In his throat half
the night he kept softly calling to her： 〃Come here！ Come here！〃
Next morning； when the robins announced day beside the shining
river； she awoke with a start； but before she could decide in
which direction to fly； she discovered a nice fresh grub laid on
the limb close to her； and very sensibly remained for breakfast。
Then the Cardinal went to the river and bathed。 He made such
delightful play of it； and the splash of the water sounded so
refreshing to the tired draggled bird； that she could not resist
venturing for a few dips。 When she was wet she could not fly
well； and he improved the opportunity to pull her broken quills；
help her dress herself； and bestow a few extra caresses。 He
guided her to his favourite place for a sun bath； and followed
the farmer's plow in the corn field until he found a big sweet
beetle。 He snapped off its head； peeled the stiff wing shields；
and daintily offered it to her。 He was so delighted when she
took it from his beak； and remained in the sumac to eat it； that
he established himself on an adjoining thorn…bush； where the
snowy blossoms of a wild morning…glory made a fine background for
his scarlet coat。 He sang the old pleading song as he never had
sung it before； for now there was a tinge of hope battling with
the fear in his heart。
Over and over he sang； rounding； fulling； swelling every note；
leaning toward her in coaxing tenderness； flashing his brilliant
beauty as he swayed and rocked； for her approval； and all that he
had suffered and all that he hoped for was in his song。 Just
when his heart was growing sick within him； his straining ear
caught the faintest； most timid call a lover ever answered。 Only
one imploring； gentle 〃Chook！〃 from the sumac！ His song broke in
a suffocating burst of exultation。 Cautiously he hopped from
twig to twig toward her。 With te