to be resting on the saddle horn as he spoke,
and the story of the maiming emphasized potently the truth of his claim.

"Don't you assume a good deal, Mr. Collins, when you imply that I have
any desire to master you?"

"Not a bit," he assured her cheerfully. "Every woman wants to boss the
man she's going to marry, but if she finds she can't she's glad of it,
because then she knows she's got a man."

"You are quite sure I am going to marry you?" she asked gently--too
gently, he thought.

"I'm only reasonably sure," he informed her. "You see, I can't tell for
certain whether your pride or your good sense is the stronger."

She caught a detached glimpse of the situation, and it made for
laughter.

"That's right, I want you should enjoy it," he said placidly.

"I do. It's the most absurd proposal--I suppose you call it a
proposal--that ever I heard."

"I expect you've heard a good many in your time.

"We'll not discuss that, if you please."

"I AM more interested in this one," he agreed.

"Isn't it about time to begin on Tucson?"

"Not to-day, ma'am. There are going to be a lot of to-morrows for you
and me, and Tucson will have to wait till then."

"Didn't I give you an answer last week?"

"You did, but I didn't take it. Now I'm ready for your sure-enough
answer."

She flashed a look at him that mocked his confidence. "I've heard
about the vanity of girls, but never in my experience have I met any so
colossal as this masculine vanity now on exhibit. Do you really
think, Mr. Collins, that all you have to do to win a woman is to look
impressive and tell her that you have decided to marry her?"

"Do I look as if I thought that?" he asked her.

"It is perfectly ridiculous--your absurd attitude of taking everything
for granted. Well, it may be the Tucson custom, but where I come from it
is not in vogue."

"No, I reckon not. Back there a boy persuades girl he loves her by
ruining her digestion with candy and all sorts of ice arrangements from
soda-fountain. But I'm uncivilized enough to assume you're a woman of
sense and not a spoiled schoolgirl."

The velvet night was attuned to the rhythm of her love. She felt
herself, in this sea of moon romance, being swept from her moorings.
Star-eyed, she gazed at him while she still fought again his dominance.

"You ARE uncivilized. Would you beat me when I didn't obey?" she asked
tremulously.

He laughed in slow contentment. "Perhaps; but I'd love you while I di