that so disheartened me. I have never been
timid physically, and your presence has brought back the courage I
needed."

There was a natural frankness, a peculiar confidence, about this girl,
that robbed me of my usual diffidence; and as we struggled forward
through the dampening sand, her dress clinging about her and retarding
progress, I dared to slip one arm about her waist to help in bearing
her along. She accepted this timely aid in the spirit with which it
was offered, without so much as a word of protest; and the wind,
battering at our backs, pushed us forward.

"Oh, that troublesome hair!" she exclaimed, as the long tresses whipped
in front of our faces, blinding us both. "I have never before felt so
much like sacrificing it."

"I beg that you will not consider such an act now," I protested, aiding
her to reclaim the truants, "for as I saw it before the darkness fell,
your hair was surely worthy of preservation."

"You laugh at me; I know I must have been a far from pretty sight."

"Do you wish me to say with frankness what I thought of your appearance
under such disadvantages?"

She glanced at me almost archly, in the flash of lightning that rent
the sky.

"I am really afraid to answer yes,--yet perhaps I am brave enough to
venture it."

"I have never been at court, Mademoiselle, and so you may not consider
my judgment in such matters of much moment; but I thought you rarely
beautiful."

For a moment she did not attempt to speak, but I could distinctly feel
the heaving of her bosom as I held her hard against the assault of the
wind, and bent low hoping to catch an answer.

"You are sincere and honest," she said at last, slowly, and I felt that
the faint trace of mockery had utterly vanished from her soft voice.
"'T is manifest in your face and words. You speak not lightly, nor
with mere empty compliment, as would some gilded courtiers I have
known; and for that reason I do value your opinion."

"You are not angry at my presumption?"

"Angry?--I?" and she stopped and faced me, holding back her hair as she
did so. "I am a woman, Monsieur; and all women, even those of us
hidden here in the wilderness, like best those who admire them. I do
not know that I am as beautiful as you say, yet other men have often
said the same without being pressed for their opinion. No, I am not
angry,--I am even glad to know you think so."

"And you surely do know?" I insisted, with a courage strange to me.

"