e known what the word "home"
means, far better than I ever did in my life before. We have two
rooms--she built one of them, a little lean-to, with her own hands. And
her presence glorifies both of them.

"I am very glad, Dick."

That was all that Duncan could say. It was all there was need for him to
say.

XX

IN THE SUMMER TIME

Six months came and went before Duncan's work at the mine was done.
Then, in mid-July, he returned to Cairo and gave an account of his
stewardship. With Temple in control as superintendent and engineer, the
mine had become a richly paying property, and with Temple there, there
was no further need for Duncan's presence.

During that half year, Duncan had lived chiefly with the Temples in the
superintendent's house, which Mary Temple had quickly converted from a
barn-like structure, standing alone upon the face of the bald prairie,
into a home in the midst of a garden of flowers.

During his long stay at the mine, Duncan had made frequent visits to
Cairo. These were brief in duration, usually covering a Sunday, but each
visit gave Guilford Duncan two opportunities that he desired. He could
sit late on Saturday evening, discussing his plans with Captain Will
Hallam, and on Sunday he had opportunity to become more and more closely
acquainted with Barbara.

He made no formal calls upon her, and none were necessary. He simply
adopted the plan of remaining after the one o'clock Sunday dinner and,
little by little, Barbara came to feel that he expected her to join him
in the little parlor, after his cigar was finished. He seemed to like
the quiet conversations with her, while she regarded the opportunity to
talk with a man so superior in education, culture, and intellect, to any
other that she had known, as a privilege to be prized.

Their attitude toward each other at this time was peculiar. They were
good friends, fond of each other's society, and seemingly, at least,
they were nothing more. The fascination that Duncan had from the first
felt in Barbara's presence was still upon him, but he accepted it more
calmly now, and it soothed his natural restlessness, where at first it
had excited it.

To Barbara, Guilford Duncan's attitude seemed a gracious condescension,
which she did not dream that she deserved. She sometimes wondered that
this young man of rare quality, who was sure of a welcome wherever he
might go, should be content to sit with her throughout the Sunday
afternoons,