flood of green. On the bottom lands the grasses began to start, the willows renewed their leafery. On the pools of the limpid strea

practically untrod lane along Sim's wire fence. Now and

ying his discontent. Here lay the ragged wood pile, showing the ax work of a winter. At the edge of a g

"Feller's hopeless, that's what," complained

pushed open the door. Sim Gage was still

r; and now, as usual, he had retired practically without removing his daily clothing. His face, stubbled and unshaven, swollen with sleep and surmount

id Wid, irritated beyond expre

ies of Sim Gage, who frowned a trifle as, after a due pause,

ether I git up a-tall or not, except my own," sai

it up this morning

hy

letter

reciseness. "What you been doing? Letter? W

ole correspondence, Sim. We-now-we allowed we'd ought t

Gage. "Fine busi

ut," said Wid Gardner, sud

? Who's a-co

ld water to which at the moment he was treating

es to fixing up a love correspondence, she's the ace! It all ain't my fault a-tall, Sim. We advertised-and we got a

ith me, you two?" demanded Sim

. "She's a-coming on out. Sim, it's up to you. I ain't b

, turning on to his neighbor. "When you find the ford's

says when she sees you she hopes you won't think she's deceived you. She says she knows you're everything you said you was-a gentle and chivalerous ranchman of the West, sure to be kind to a

is thing," said Sim Gage, his features

I'm some scared too, Sim. You don't really know how you been making love to this w

got to com

go to town

o town tomorrow and marry a woman I n

you one season-that's all. Said she wouldn't deceive you. God knows how you can keep from deceiving her. Look at this place. And you got to bring her here-to-morrow. She'll be at Two Forks station to-morrow morning at eight-thirty, on the P

d," said Sim, weakly. "Yo

e to take m

't right strong-didn't winter none too well-and I

of broncs," said Wid. "You

e'll do the best we can. Since there ain't a-going to be no marrying right off, you'll have to sleep in your wall tent outside. You'll have to git some wood cut u

en Eagle, and git yourself a full outfit, top to bottom-new shirts, new underclothes, new pants, new hat, new socks, new gloves, n

re I'm up, and tell me to burn my bed, and sleep in a tent, and borry a wagon and team and go to town fer

p to yo

or not? I ain't read no letters-nor wrot

ched a hand into his brea

as beautiful a young lady as any man is apt ever to see; so beautiful that this man's inexperienced heart stopped in his bosom. This picture once had been buttoned in the tunic of

d he, to conceal his confusion.

girl. Says she's had trouble. Says she's up against it now.

is voice awed as he looked at the high-b