-wind, the
spring beneath the milk-house talked and murmured. Out in the big
corrals the cattle were beginning to stir and bawl.

In the kitchen old Anita and young Paula had breakfast waiting for the
men.

Deep in that dim south room where the pale Virgin kept watch and ward,
Kenset of the foothills slept in healing peace.

And at the step of the western door, Billy stood by Golden--Golden the
beautiful, who ranked next to El Rey himself--and his face was lifted
to Tharon who drooped against the lintel with her forehead on her
arm.

The boy held her hand clasped in both of his own, and there was a
yearning tenderness in his soft voice when he spoke, a pride and joy
ineffable that glowed above the pain that was never to leave him.

"It ain't that I love you less, Tharon, dear," he said gently, "that I
must go. Not that, little girl. I'll love you till I die--that I know
in dead certainty. But I can't stay here--not where I'll have to see
you givin' all your sweet self to another man. A good man, too,
Tharon--I think there ain't a better one in th' land--but--well,--I
can't--that's all. I can't thank you for all you've done for me sence
you was a little mite of a girl--five years back,"--his voice broke a
bit, but he controlled it, "nor for th' joy you've given me--th' rides
together--an' th' jokes an' playin'----"

He paused a moment, unhappily, and the mistress of Last's drooped more
heavily against the old adobe wall.

"Nor for Golden here," went on the rider, "we'll be pals as long as we
both live--nor fer-fer--" he stopped again, hesitated, looked
yearningly at the quivering cheek against the curving arm, and went on
to the finish.

"Nor fer that one kiss, Tharon--it's my one treasure for life, so help
me, God--that you give me that night. An' over all I want to thank you
fer--fer--killin' th' Pomo half-breed in th' Cup o' God--_fer you done
that trick fer me_! Th' one stain on your dear hands--fer me--the
_only_ one, fer Fate killed Courtrey, not you. His neck was clean
broke when they picked him up.... That memory will keep me alive, will
save th' beauty of th' stars at night fer me, will make th' rest worth
livin'.... That one kiss."

He stopped again and stood for a long time looking at her as if he
would fix forever in his memory the beauty of her, the fire, the
spirit, the elusive quality that was Tharon Last herself.

Then he sighed and smiled and gently shook the hand he held.

"Come--tell me