ey have to do with
y'u, Miss Helen."

It had come at last, but, womanlike, she evaded the issue her heart had
sought. "Yes, I know. You think it would not be fair to throw away your
life in this foolish manner after I have saved it for you--how many
times was it you said?" The blue eyes lifted with deceptive frankness to
the gray ones.

"No, that isn't my reason. I have a better one than that. I love y'u,
girl, more than anything in this world."

"And so you try to prove it to me by running into a trap set for you to
take your life. That's a selfish kind of love, isn't it? Or it would be
if I loved you."

"Do y'u love me, Helen?"

"Why should I tell you, since you don't love me enough to give up this
quixotic madness?"

"Don't y'u see, dear, I can't give it up?"

"I see you won't. You care more for your pride than for me."

"No, it isn't that. I've got to go. It isn't that I want to leave y'u,
God knows. But I've given my word, and I must keep it. Do y'u want me
to be a quitter, and y'u so game yourself? Do y'u want it to go all over
this cattle country that I gave my word and took it back because I lost
my nerve?"

"The boy that takes a dare isn't a hero, is he! There's a higher courage
that refuses to be drawn into such foolishness, that doesn't give way to
the jeers of the empty headed."

"I don't think that is a parallel case. I'm sorry, we can't see this
alike, but I've got to go ahead the way that seems to me right."

"You're going to leave me, then, to go with that man?"

"Yes, if that's the way y'u have to put it." He looked at her
sorrowfully, and added gently: "I thought you would see it. I thought
sure you would."

But she could not bear that he should leave her so, and she cried out
after him. "Oh, I see it. I know you must go; but I can't bear it." Her
head buried itself in his coat. "It isn't right--it isn't a--a square
deal that you should go away now, the very minute you belong to me."

A happy smile shone in his eyes. "I belong to you, do I? That's good
hearing, girl o' mine." His arm went round her and he stroked the black
head softly. "I'll not be gone long, dear. Don't y'u worry about me.
I'll be back with y'u soon; just as soon as I have finished this piece
of work I have to do."

"But if you should get--if anything should happen to you?"

"Nothing is going to happen to me. There is a special providence looks
after lovers, y'u know."

"Be careful, Ned, of yourself. For my sa