this unexpected turn. "Pat is truly of the desert.
He was born and bred in this land of _amole_ and
cactus."

"And you?" he asked.

"I also," she replied, gravely. "I too was
born and bred in this land of _amole_ and cactus."
Suddenly she turned her head. "I am afraid they
are looking for us."

They returned to the house. Helen's guests
were preparing to depart. There was much high
humor, and when the last but one was gone, and
this one, Stephen, standing on the porch with
hat in hand, Helen found that for the moment
she had forgotten her distress. At sight of him,
however, it all returned to her, and she faced him
with earnest solicitude.

"Tell me, Stephen," she burst out, "that you
forgive me my unkind words, and that you will
try to forget them. But whether you succeed
in that or not, Stephen," she hastily added, her
voice breaking, "tell me that you will continue
to be friendly. We want you, all of us -- I want
you! I have enjoyed our rides together so much!
They have meant much to me, and I hope they
have been enjoyable to you. So let us go on, on
this accepted basis, and be friends. Tell me you
will, Stephen!"

He was silent a long time. Then he told her
of his hastily made plans. He was going away
from town, of course. He could not remain, under
the circumstances. Yet where he was going he
didn't know. He would go farther West, prob-

[[141]]

p140 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p141w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p142

v?