Chapter XXIII

The Reunion

Stephen awoke quite late in the morning
after his arrival in Pat's home town. Standing
before a window in his room at the hotel,
he saw a young woman cantering across the railroad
tracks in the direction of the mesa. It was
Helen, and, at sight of her, for a brief and awful
moment he wavered in his decision. Then he
remembered his suffering, and the determination
made while convalescing, and, hastening his toilet,
he hurried through breakfast and made his way
to the livery-stable where Pat had spent the night.
Pat nickered joyful greeting, as if understanding
what was to come. Bridling and saddling him,
Stephen mounted and rode into the street at a
canter. He turned into the avenue, crossed the
railroad tracks, and mounted the long, slow rise
to the mesa at a walk. He moved slowly because
he wanted time to think, to pull himself together,
to the end that he might hold himself firmly to
his decision in this last talk. And yet -- and this
was the conflict he suffered -- he could hardly restrain
himself, hold himself back, from urging
Pat to his utmost.

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