"It might be a passing cloud--"

"There's none in the sky."

"Tell me!" she pleaded.

"A herd of buffalo."

"That big black field! It must be ten acres--"

The man laughed at her ignorance with a sudden longing in his heart to
help and protect her.

"Ten acres! Look again. They are twenty miles away. The herd is packed
so densely, the ground is invisible. They cover a thousand acres."

"Impossible--"

"I assure you, it's true. They were once even more plentiful. But we're
pushing them back with the Indians into the sunset. And they, too, will
fade away into the twilight at last--"

He stopped suddenly. He had almost spoken a sentence that would have
committed him beyond retreat. It was just on his lips to say:

"I didn't take such tender views of Indians and buffaloes until I met
you!"

For the life of him he couldn't make the girl out. Her voice was music.
Her laughter contagious. And yet she was reserved. About her personality
hung a spell which forbade familiarity. Flirting was a pastime in the
army. But it had never appealed to him. He was not so sure about her
when she laughed.

And then her father worried him. The fiery old Southerner had the temper
of the devil when roused. He could see that this second daughter was his
favorite. He had caught a look of unreasonable anger and jealousy in his
eye only that afternoon when they rode away together.

Still he must risk it. He had really suggested this sunset scene for
that purpose. The field was his own choosing. Only a coward could run
now.

He managed at last to get his lips to work.

"Since you came, Miss Sarah--I've been seeing life at a new angle--" he
paused awkwardly.

The red blood mounted to her cheeks.

"You have given me new eyes--"

[Illustration: "'You have given me new eyes'"]

She turned her head away. There was no mistaking the tremor of his
tones. She was too honest to simper and pretend. Her heart was pounding
so loudly she wondered if he could hear.

He fumbled nervously with his glove, glanced at her from the corner of
his eye, and his voice sank to a whisper:

"I--I love you, Sarah!"

She turned slowly and looked at him through dimmed eyes:

"And I love you--"

She paused, brushed a tear from her cheek, and with sweet reproach
quietly added:

"Why didn't you tell me sooner? We've lost so many beautiful days that
might have been perfect--"

He suddenly stooped and kissed her full lips.

"We'll not lose any