Harley speaking to her uncle, and
a flush crept into her cheeks. Then she shook herself in a sudden little
whirl of anger, and abruptly opened the letter with a swift, tearing
sound. It was a longer letter than he usually wrote, and he said:

"MY DEAREST LITTLE SYLVIA--I have been here just two hours, and, I
tell you, the sight of Idaho is good for the eyes, though it would
be better if you were here with me, as you soon will be all the
time, little one."

She paused a moment, looking away, and the shadow of the shadow came
back to her face. Then she murmured: "He is the best man in the world,"
and resolutely went on:

"The more I see of the other states the better I like Idaho, and I
like next best those that are most like it. Every peak out here
nodded a welcome to me as I came in on the train. I've known them
all for thirty years. I was a little afraid of them at first, they
were so tall and solemn with their white crests, but we are old
friends now--I'll have a white crest myself before long, and I'm
fairly tall now, though perhaps I'll never be solemn. And I drew a
deep breath and a long breath, the first one in days, the moment I
crossed the Idaho line. The East sits rather heavy on me [he called
Chicago the East], and my eyes get tired with so many people
passing before them. Now, I'm not running down the East, which is
all right in its own way, but I am glad we have so much mountain
and unwatered plain out here, because then the people can never get
so thick that they tread on you; not that they mean to do it, but
crowds shove just because they can't help it."

Sylvia smiled, and for a moment there was a little moisture in her eyes.
"Good old daddy," she murmured. Somehow, the pet name "daddy" seemed
just to fit him. Then the resolute little frown came over her face again
and she went on.

"As I said, Idaho is a good state. I like it when I am here, and I
like it all the better when I come back to it. God's people live in
these Rocky Mountain states, and that is a reason why I am so
red-hot to have your uncle James elected. He is one of God's
people, too, and they have never yet had a man of ours sitting in
the White House down there at Washington and bossing the job. I
think maybe he will teach them a new trick or two in running the
old ship of state. But, Sylvia,