ge demanding instant
action reached him. "Landson, hear me now! I wouldn't take a million
dollars for that girl, y' understand--and I wouldn't trade a mangy
cayuse for another!"

So, grumbling, he found his way to his room and began a wrestle with his
"store" clothes. Before the fight was over he was being reminded through
the door that he wasn't roping a steer, and everybody was waiting. At
the last moment he discovered that he had neglected to buy shoes. There
was nothing for it but his long ranch boots, so on they went.

He sought Zen in her room. "Will I do in this?" he asked, feeling very
sheepish.

Zen could have laughed, or she could have cried, but she did neither.
She sensed in some way the fact that to her father this experience was a
positive ordeal. So she just slipped her arm through his and whispered,
"Of course you'll do, you silly old duffer," and tripped down the stairs
by the side of his ponderous steps.

After the ceremony the elder people sat down to dinner in the house,
and the others in the bunk-house. Zen was radiant and calm; Transley
handsome, delighted, self-possessed. His good luck was the subject of
many a comment, both inside and out of the old house. He accepted it at
its full value, and yet as one who has a right to expect that luck will
play him some favors.

Suddenly there was a rush from outside, and Zen found herself being
carried bodily away. The young people had decided that the dancing could
wait no longer, so a half dozen hustlers had been deputed to kidnap
the bride and carry her to the barn, where the fiddles were already
strumming. Zen insisted that the first dance must belong to Transley,
but after that she danced with the young ranchers and cowboys with
strict impartiality. And even as she danced she found herself wondering
if, among all this representation of the countryside, that one upon whom
her thoughts had turned so much should be missing. She found herself
watching the door. Surely it would have been only a decent respect to
her--surely he might have helped to whirl her joyously away into the new
life in which the past had to be forgotten.... How much better that they
should part that way, than with the memories they had!

But Dennison Grant did not appear. Evidently he preferred to keep his
memories....

When at last the night had worn thin and it was time for the bridal
couple to leave if they were to catch the morning train in town,
and they had ridden down