sun had never been so bright, the air so clear,
the sky so high, the world so smiling, as here and now. The men who had
ridden forth to seek her were smiling, too, and they were shaking her
hands and congratulating her. Even the Guzman boys, who were shy in the
presence of American ladies, were wishing her the best of fortune and
the greatest of happiness.

Blaze Jones was the last to leave. With especial emphasis upon her
name, he said: "Miz Austin, Paloma and me would like to have you come
to our house and stay until you feel like goin' back to Las Palmas."

When Alaire declined with moistened eyes, explaining that she could not
well accept his invitation, he signified his understanding.

"We're goin' to see a lot of you, just the same," he promised her,
"'cause we feel as if you sort of belonged to us. There's a lot of good
people in this part of Texas, and them that ain't so good God and the
Rangers is slowly weedin' out. We don't always know the ones we like
best until something happens to 'em, but if you'd heard the prayers the
folks of Jonesville have been sayin' lately you'd know you was our
favorite." Then, with a meaning twinkle in his eye, he told her,
gravely: "It seems a pity that I ain't younger and better-lookin'. I
would sure cut short your grief." Then he raised his hat and rode away,
chuckling.

Alaire turned to Dave in dismay. "He knows!" she cried.

"I'm afraid they all know. But don't worry; they'll respect our wishes."

Father O'Malley had ridden on ahead with Benito and Dolores; Dave and
Alaire followed leisurely. Now that the moment of their parting was at
hand, they lingered by the way, delaying it as long as possible,
feeling a natural constraint at what was in their minds.

"How long--will it be?" he asked her, finally. "How long before I can
really have you for my own?"

Alaire smiled into his eyes. "Not long. But you'll be patient, won't
you, dear?"

He took her hand in his, and they rode on silently, a song in the heart
of each of them.

THE END

End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Heart of the Sunset, by Rex Beach

*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HEART OF THE SUNSET ***

***** This file should be named 5099.txt or 5099.zip *****
This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
http://www.gutenberg.org/5/0/9/5099/

Produced by Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team

Updated editions will replace the