was time to start home he went down to
the wagon-yard. He found them seated in the buggy, and, to his surprise,
he saw nothing in the manner of either to indicate that any sort of
understanding had been reached.

"I reckon it's time we was on the way," Henley announced to her, as he
shaded his eyes and glanced at the declining sun.

"Yes, it's high time," Dixie answered, crisply. "I was wondering where
on earth you was. I'll have to pay for this jaunt, and the sooner I set
in to my work at home the better it will be for me."

Long made elaborate excuses to Dixie for absenting himself, and followed
Henley to where his horse was hitched.

"Well," said Henley, as he was putting the collar on the animal, "how
did you make out?"

"I hardly know, Alf." Long looked very grave. "There is no use saying
she is exactly the thing I am looking for, but, as much as I've seen of
her to-day, I don't know any more'n a rabbit what my showing is. She
ain't a bit like these town-women; you _can_ sorter get at them, for
they are on the carpet, and they don't make no beans about it. But this
un has a way of making you watch every step you take and every word you
speak. I've been in the habit of having women folks listen to all I
say, and laugh hearty now and then, but this un has her eyes on
everything that is passing, and seems to me to laugh at the wrong time,
when there ain't the slightest call for amusement. I reckon maybe I'd
have made more progress if we'd been where thar wasn't so much to
attract her attention. I don't know--I'm just guessing. But I'm game to
the backbone, Alf, and I'm in the race. You hear me? I'm in to stay."

"That's the way to talk," Henley agreed. "A woman that ain't hard to win
ain't worth having. These town-gals are after your money; it is my
opinion that this one will have to like you a powerful lot before she
gives up her freedom."

"She's as independent as a hog on ice." Long smiled, but not at his
simile. "I hardly knowed what to do when we got to the hotel. I thought
she was accepting my invite, you see, when, lo and behold, at settling
time she drawed out her money and insisted on planking down her part to
a fraction of a cent. I argued as strong as I knowed how agin it, but
nothing would do her but to pay her way. I feel mean about that, Alf.
What would _you_ have done?"

"Why, it's the part of a gentleman to let a lady have her way in _every
single thing_," Henley opined. "If she asks you to g