when the
more hopeful mood was upon him; "neither of us is in danger of being
hung for our good looks, but I've got the bulge on him dead sure. I
had too much in the way of whiskers to suit the little one, when I
came back from the war; she wanted to see me as I was when I left;
_why was that_?"

After pausing for a reply, he continued:

"So accordin' I trimmed 'em off and she says I'm better looking than
ever, and what she says in Dead Man's Gulch and New Constantinople,
goes. She meant it, too, as I could see by the sparkle of her eyes.

"I went all through the war without swallerin' a mouthful of strong
drink, even when the doctor ordered it. I've contrived, sort of
accerdental and off hand like, to let her know them circumstances and
I've seen it pleased her immense. I've been layin' out some of my
money for clothes, too, since I got back. Vose bought me a coat in
Sacramento, blue with brass buttons. I've had a necktie that has been
laid away till the proper time comes to put it on. There are three or
four yards of silk in it and it will knock a rainbow out of sight. I
didn't want to overwhelm her too sudden like, and have been layin'
back for the right occasion.

"It's arriv! I must knock that leftenant out, and that necktie will do
it! I'm mighty glad the parson hain't got any foolish dreams 'bout
the gal. The leftenant is the only galoot I've got to look out for, or
rather," added the miner grimly, "I'm the one he's got to beware of.
I'm in dead earnest this time."

CHAPTER XIII

YOUNG LOVE'S DREAM

That which in the nature of things was inevitable came to pass.
Lieutenant Russell, in the same moment that his eyes rested upon
Nellie Dawson, was smitten, as hopelessly as ever ardent lover was
smitten by the lady whom he worshiped. The many things which the
father had told him about his daughter naturally excited interest in
her, but the young officer never dreamed of looking upon such
marvelous beauty as that which met his gaze in that secluded canyon of
the Sierras. It required all his self-control from drawing attention
to himself by his admiration of her.

"I never saw such a perfect combination of face, feature and figure,"
he reflected when alone. "It is an illustration of what nature can do
when left to herself. Then, too, she has a fund of knowledge that is
amazing, when all the circumstances are considered. I haven't had much
chance to converse with her, but I heard enough to know that s