lay of mirth. "I guess if you wanted to marry a man
you'd leave him about as much chance as he'd have with a wildcat."
Then her smile died out. "Anyway it doesn't seem to be a matter for
other folk to concern themselves with. I'm not a child."

"No. But you're going to throw away the chance of a lifetime if you
don't act right now. Why, girl, Jeff Masters is the pick of the whole
bunch of cattlemen around this district. He's going to be one of the
cattle kings of the country, or I don't guess I know a thing. He's
right here to your hand, and as tame as a lap-dog. To-morrow he's off
again to the ranch, and that girl of his partner's will have him to
herself for a year. Why, you're crazy to let him go. Four years
you've lived here since--since----"

"I wish you'd stop worrying, Momma--and," the girl added with
unconcealed resentment, "get on with your knitting."

Elvine had risen to her feet. She moved swiftly over to the window
which gave on to a wide stoop, the roof of which was supported on
well-built rag stone columns. She was more angry than her words
admitted. Her fine eyes were sparkling, her delicately penciled brows
were slightly knitted.

She made a handsome picture. Her wealth of dark hair was carefully
dressed, but with the usual consummate simplicity. Her figure was
superb, with all the ripeness of maturity, but without the smallest
inclination toward any gross development. She was statuesque, with all
the perfect cunning of Nature's art. She was a woman to find favor in
any eyes, man's or woman's, and to perform that dual feat was a test
which few women could hope to survive.

The mother's reply came sharply and without yielding.

"It's just four years since you came back to home. Five or more since
you first married. Anyway, you've sat around here for four years
having a good time without a thought of the future. You're spending
your money, which didn't amount to----"

The girl flashed round.

"I won't tolerate it. I just won't, Momma," she cried, with an energy
which brought the other's eyes swiftly to her face. "You've talked of
four years wasted, but you don't say a word of the other year, the
fifth. It's taken me all that time to--forget what your judgment might
have saved me from. Oh, yes. You know it just as well as I do. Don't
blind yourself. I was foolish then, I thought I was in love, and it
was the moment when the advice of a woman worth having might have
helpe