Well, that suited his mood. He had come out into the wilderness to think

and to forget. Here was ample opportunity. There had been a little too

much of it yesterday, when he wandered from the rest of his party who had

come out to hunt; and for a time he had felt that he would rather be back

in his native city with a good breakfast and all his troubles than to be

alone in the vast waste forever. But now there was human company, and a

possibility of getting somewhere sometime. He was content.

The lithe, slender figure of the girl ahead seemed one with the horse it

rode. He tried to think what this ride would be if another woman he knew

were riding on that horse ahead, but there was very small satisfaction in

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that. In the first place, it was highly improbable, and the young man was

of an intensely practical turn of mind. It was impossible to imagine the

haughty beauty in a brown calico riding a high-spirited horse of the

wilds. There was but one parallel. If she had been there, she would, in

her present state of mind, likely be riding imperiously and indifferently

ahead instead of by his side where he wanted her. Besides, he came out to

the plains to forget her. Why think of her?

The sky was exceedingly bright and wide. Why had he never noticed this

wideness in skies at home? There was another flock of birds. What if he

should try to shoot one? Idle talk. He would probably hit anything but the

birds. Why had that girl shot that bird, anyway? Was it entirely because

she might need it for food? She had picked it up significantly with the

other things, and fastened it to her saddle-bow without a word. He was too

ignorant to know whether it was an edible bird or not, or she was merely

carrying it to remind him of her skill.

And what sort of a girl was she? Perhaps she was escaping from justice.

She ran from him yesterday, and apparently stopped only when utterly

exhausted. She seemed startled and anxious when the antelopes came into

sight. There was no knowing whether her company meant safety, after all.

Yet his interest was so thoroughly aroused in her that he was willing to

risk it.

Of course he might go more slowly and gradually, let her get ahead, and he

slip out of sight. It was not likely he had wandered so many miles away

from human habitation but that he would reach one sometime; and, now that

he was re-enforced by food, perhaps it would be the part of wisdom to part

with this strange maiden. As he thought, he unconsciously slackened his

horse's pace. The girl was a rod or more ahead, and just vanishing behind

a clump of sage-brush. She vanished, and he stopped for an instant, and

looked about him on the desolation; and a great loneliness settled upon

him like a frenzy. He was glad to see the girl riding back toward him

with a smile of good fellowship on her face.




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