in a great gash of
clearing, a low, rambling structure only a little better than the cow
sheds, with wide, unpainted porches all about it, and a straggling line
of out-houses near by. A Chinese cook came out of a swinging door to
stare at the arrival, two or three Portuguese girls, evidently
house-servants, entered into a cheerful, nasal conversation with Joe
Bettancourt, from their seats by the kitchen door, and a very handsome
young woman, whom Mrs. Phelps at first thought merely another servant
came running down to the wagon. This young creature had a well-rounded
figure, clad in faded, crisp blue linen, slim ankles that showed above
her heavy buckled slippers, and a loosely-braided heavy rope of bright
hair. Her eyes were a burning blue, the lashes curled like a doll's
lashes, and the brows as even and dark as a doll's, too. She was
extraordinarily pretty, even Mrs. Phelps could find no fault with the
bright perfection of her face.

"Don't say you're Mother Phelps!" cried this young person, delightedly,
lifting the older woman almost bodily from the wagon. "But I know you
are!" she continued joyously. "Do you know who I am? I'm Manzanita
Boone!"

Mrs. Phelps felt her heart grow sick within her. She had thought
herself steeled for any shock,--but not this! Stricken dumb for a
moment, she was led indoors, and found herself listening to a stream of
gay chatter, and relieved of hat and gloves, and answering questions
briefly and coldly, while all the time an agonized undercurrent of
protest filled her heart: "He cannot--he SHALL NOT marry her!"

Austin was up at the mine, of course, but Miss Boone despatched a
messenger for him in all haste. The messenger was instructed to say
merely that Manzanita had something she wanted to show him, but the
simple little ruse failed. Austin guessed what the something was, and
before he had fairly dismounted from his wheeling buckskin, his mother
heard his eager voice: "Mater! Where are you! Where's my mother?"

He came rushing into the ranch-house, and caught her in his arms,
laughing and eager, half wild with the joy of seeing his mother and his
girl in each other's company, and too radiant to suspect that his
mother's happiness was not as great as his own.

"You got my letter about our engagement, mater? Of course,--and you
came right on to meet my girl yourself, didn't you? Good little mater,
that was perfectly great of you! This is just about the best thing that
ever--and i