ht need. It was all pleasant but Hazel felt
impatient of the interruption when their time together was now so short.
She was glad when, mounted on Billy again, and her companion on a rough
little Indian pony with wicked eyes, they rode away together into the
sunshine of the afternoon.

But now it seemed but a breathless space before they would come into the
presence of people, for the two horses made rapid time, and the
distances flew past them mile by mile, the girl feeling each moment more
shy and embarrassed, and conscious of the words she had overheard in the
early morning.

It seemed to her a burden she could not carry away unknown upon her soul
and yet how could she let him know?

VIII

RENUNCIATION

They had entered a strip of silvery sand, about two miles wide, and rode
almost in silence, for a singular shyness had settled upon them.

The girl was conscious of his eyes upon her with a kind of tender
yearning as if he would impress the image on his mind for the time when
she would be with him no more. Each had a curious sense of understanding
the other's thoughts, and needing no words. But as they neared a great
rustling stretch of corn he looked at her keenly again and spoke:

"You are very tired, I'm sure." It was not a question but she lifted her
eyes to deny it, and a flood-tide of sweet colour swept over the cheeks.
"I knew it," he said, searching her raised eyes. "We must stop and rest
after we have passed through this corn. There is a spot under some trees
where you will be sheltered from the sun. This corn lasts only a mile or
so more, and after you have rested we will have only a short distance
to go"--he caught his breath as though the words hurt him--"our journey
is almost over!" They rode in silence through the corn, but when it was
passed and they were seated beneath the trees the girl lifted her eyes
to him filled with unspeakable things.

"I haven't known how to thank you," she said earnestly, the tears almost
in evidence.

"Don't, please!" he said gently. "It has been good to me to be with you.
How good you never can know." He paused and then looked keenly at her.

"Did you rest well last night, your first night under the stars? Did you
hear the coyotes, or feel at all afraid?"

Her colour fled, and she dropped her glance to Billy's neck, while her
heart throbbed painfully.

He saw how disturbed she was.

"You were afraid," he charged gently. "Why didn't you call? I was clo