was
simple man enough to find relief in it.

"There'll be a deal for him to fix before he gets back home," Nan went
on.

She spoke in the earnest fashion of deep consideration. Bud glanced
round at her again, steadying his powerful horse to permit her pony to
push its nose ahead. Her manner had startled him. But he refrained
from the folly of replying. He had that in his mind to impart the
thought of which nearly broke his heart. But it must be told, and by
him. And a passionate desire to lighten the blow made him watch
desperately for the best opportunity.

But he was dealing with a nature stronger, deeper, more honest and
clear-sighted than he knew. He was dealing with a woman who could
sacrifice all to the well-being and happiness of those she loved. With
Nan self held a particularly subservient place to every other emotion.
And when it did manage to obtrude itself it was her way to fight her
battle alone, at a time when no prying eyes were there to witness her
sufferings. To the daylight she presented a pair of sweet brown
smiling eyes, and lips as full, and ripe, and firm as though no shadow
of doubt and unhappiness had ever crossed her path.

She went on rapidly, speaking as though the matter under consideration
were fully accepted between them.

"It's queer how things fix themselves the way you don't guess," she
said reflectively. "Just one week, and they're changed around in a way
that makes you wonder if you aren't dreaming. It's sort of like the
Indian summer, isn't it? There's the beautiful light of the full sun
on colors that set you 'most crazy with delight. Pictures that make
you feel Providence is just the biggest painter ever set brush to
canvas. Then, with a shiver of wind from the north, down the leaves
tumble, and right on top of 'em comes the snow, and then you're moving
around in a sort of crystal fairy web, and wonder when you'll wake up.
A week ago Jeff didn't even know her; she wasn't in the world so far as
he knew. Now he's going to marry her."

Nan stated the fact without a tremor of voice, without a shadow of
hesitation. The sunny smile was entirely without a cloud. Her father
stared down at her from his superior height with eyes wide with
astonishment and something of alarm.

"Say, did Jeff tell you?" he asked sharply.

Nan shook her head.

"Then how in hell d'you know it all? Say----"

"How d'you know anything that affects you here, Daddy?" the girl
retorted,