Hiseye，accustomedtothedarkness，metfirstablind-
ingglare，andthenhemadeoutthefacesandformsofmanypeople，amidanextravagantdisplayofsplendidrobings——billowylaces，brilliant-huedfinery，ribbons，silksandmistydrapery。Andthenhecaughtthemean。
ingofthatjarringhum，andhesawthetired，pale，happyfaceofhiswife，bending，aswereascoreofothers，overhersewingmachine——toiling，toiling。Herewasthefollyshepursued，andtheendofhisquest。
Butnothisdeliverance，thougheventhenremorsestruckhim。Hisshamedsoulflutteredoncemorebeforeitretiredtomakeroomfortheotherandbetterone。
For，totemperhisthrillofjoy，theshineofthesatinandtheglimmerofornamentsrecalledthedisturbingfigureofthebespangledAmazon，andthebaseduplicatehistoriesitbytheglareoffootlightsandstolendiamonds。Itispastthewisdomofhimwhoonlysetsthescenes，eithertopraiseorblametheman。Butthistimehisloveover-
camehisscruples。Hetookaquickstep，andreachedouthishandforthedoorknob。FatherRoganwasquickertoarrestitanddrawhimback。
\"Youusemytrustinyouqueerly，\"saidtheprieststernly。\"Whatareyouabouttodo？\"
\"Iamgoingtomywife，\"saidLorison。\"Letmepass。\"
\"Listen，\"saidthepriest，holdinghimfirmlybythearm。\"Iamabouttoputyouinpossessionofapieceofknowledgeofwhich，thusfar，youhavescarcelyproveddeserving。Idonotthinkyoueverwill；butIwillnotdwelluponthat。Youseeinthatroomthewomanyoumarried，workingforafrugallivingforherself，andagenerouscomfortforanidolizedbrother。Thisbuildingbelongstothechiefcostumerofthecity。FormonthstheadvanceordersforthecomingMardiGrasfestivalshavekepttheworkgoingdayandnight。ImyselfsecuredemploymenthereforNorah。Shetoilshereeachnightfromnineo\'clockuntildaylight，and，besides，carrieshomewithhersomeofthefinercostumes，requiringmoredelicateneedlework，andworkstherepartoftheday。
Somehow，youtwohaveremainedstrangelyignorantofeachother\'slives。Areyouconvincednowthatyourwifeisnotwalkingthestreets？\"
\"Letmegotoher，\"criedLorison，againstruggling，\"andbegherforgiveness!\'
\"Sir，\"saidthepriest，\"doyouowemenothing？Bequiet。ItseemssooftenthatHeavenletsfallitschoicestgiftsintohandsthatmustbetaughttoholdthem。Listenagain。Youforgotthatrepentantsinmustnotcomprom-
ise，butlookup，forredemption，tothepurestandbest。
Youwenttoherwiththefine-spunsophistrythatpeacecouldbefoundinamutualguilt；andshe，fearfuloflosingwhatherheartsocraved，thoughtitworththepricetobuyitwithadesperate，pure，beautifullie。Ihaveknownhersincethedayshewasborn；sheisasinnocentandunsulliedinlifeanddeedasaholysaint。Inthatlowlystreetwhereshedwellsshefirstsawthelight，andshehaslivedthereeversince，spendingherdaysingenerousself-sacrificeforothers。Och，yespalpeen!\"continuedFatherRogan，raisinghisfingerinkindlyangeratLorison。
\"Whatfor，Iwonder，couldshebeaftermakingafoolofhersilf，andshamin\'herswatesoulwithlies，forthelikeofyou!\"
\"Sir，\"saidLorison，trembling，\"saywhatyoupleaseofme。Doubtitasyoumust，Iwillyetprovemygratitudetoyou，andmydevotiontoher。Butletmespeaktoheroncenow，letmekneelforjustonemomentatherfeet，and——\"
\"Tut，tut!\"saidthepriest。\"Howmanyactsofalovedramadoyouthinkanoldbookwormlikemecapableofwitnessing？Besides，whatkindoffiguresdowecut，spyinguponthemysteriesofmidnightmillinery!Gotomeetyourwifeto-morrow，assheorderedyou，andobeyherthereafter，andmaybesometimeIshallgetforgive-
nessforthepartIhaveplayedinthisnight\'swork。Offwidyezdowntheshtairs，now!\'Tislate，andanouldmanlikemeshouldbetakin\'hisrest。\"
MADAMEBO-PEEP，OFTHERANCHES
\"AUNTELLEN，\"saidOctavia，cheerfully，asshethrewherblackkidglovescarefullyatthedignifiedPersiancatonthewindow-seat，\"I\'mapauper。\"
\"Youaresoextremeinyourstatements，Octavia，dear，\"saidAuntEllen，mildly，lookingupfromherpaper。
\"Ifyoufindyourselftemporarilyinneedofsomesmallchangeforbonbons，youwillfindmypurseinthedrawerofthewritingdesk。\"
OctaviaBeaupreeremovedherhatandseatedherselfonafootstoolnearheraunt\'schair，claspingherhandsaboutherknees。Herslimandflexiblefigure，cladinamodishmourningcostume，accommodateditselfeasilyandgracefullytothetryingposition。Herbrightandyouthfulface，withitspairofsparkling，life-enamouredeyes，triedtocomposeitselftotheseriousnessthattheoccasionseemedtodemand。
\"Yougoodauntie，itisn\'tacaseofbonbons；itisabject，staring，unpicturesquepoverty，withready-madeclothes，gasolinedgloves，andprobablyoneo\'clockdinnersallwaitingwiththetraditionalwolfatthedoor。I\'vejustcomefrommylawyer，auntie，and，\'Please，ma\'am，I
ain\'tgotnothink\'tall。Flowers，lady？Buttonhole，gentleman？Pencils，sir，threeforfive，tohelpapoorwidow？\'DoIdoitnicely，auntie，or，asabread-winneraccomplishment，weremylessonsinelocutionentirelywasted？\"
\"Dobeserious，mydear，\"saidAuntEllen，lettingherpaperfalltothefloor，\"longenoughtotellmewhatyoumean。ColonelBeaupree\'sestate——\"
\"ColonelBeaupree\'sestate，\"interruptedOctavia，emphasizingherwordswithappropriatedramaticges-
tures，\"isofSpanishcastellararchitecture。ColonelBeaupree\'sresourcesare——wind。ColonelBeaupree\'sstocksare——water。ColonelBeaupree\'sincomeis——
allin。ThestatementlacksthelegaltechnicalitiestowhichIhavebeenlisteningforanhour，butthatiswhatitmeanswhentranslated。\"
\"Octavia!\"AuntEllenwasnowvisiblypossessedbyconsternation。\"Icanhardlybelieveit。Anditwastheimpressionthathewasworthamillion。AndtheDePeystersthemselvesintroducedhim!\"
Octaviarippledoutalaugh，andthenbecameproperlygrave。
\"Demortuisnil，auntie——noteventherestofit。Thedearoldcolonel——whatagoldbrickhewas，afterall!
Ipaidformybargainfairly——I\'mallhere，amInot？——
items:eyes，fingers，toes，youth，oldfamily，unques-
tionablepositioninsocietyascalledforinthecontractnowild-catstockhere。\"Octaviapickedupthemorningpaperfromthefloor。\"ButI\'mnotgoingto\'squeal\'——isn\'tthatwhattheycallitwhenyourailatFortunebecauseyou\'ve，lostthegame？\"Sheturnedthepagesofthepapercalmly。\"\'Stockmarket\'——nouseforthat。\'Society\'sdoings\'——that\'sdone。Hereismypage——thewishcolumn。AVanDressercouldnotbesaidto\'want\'foranything，ofcourse。\'Chamber-
maids，cooks，canvassers，stenographers-\"
\"Dear，\"saidAuntEllen，withalittletremorinhervoice，\"pleasedonottalkinthatway。Evenifyouraffairsareinsounfortunateacondition，thereismythreethousand——\"
Octaviaspranguplithely，anddepositedasmartkissonthedelicatecheekoftheprimlittleelderlymaid。
\"Blessedauntie，yourthreethousandisjustsufficienttoinsureyourHysontobefreefromwillowleavesandkeepthePersianinsterilizedcream。IknowI\'dbewelcome，butIprefertostrikebottomlikeBeelzebubratherthanhangaroundlikethePerilisteningtothemusicfromthesideentrance。I\'mgoingtoearnmyownliving。There\'snothingelsetodo。I\'ma——Oh，oh，oh!——
Ihadforgotten。There\'sonethingsavedfromthewreck。It\'sacorral——no，aranchin——letmesee——
Texas:anasset，dearoldMr。Bannistercalledit。Howpleasedhewastoshowmesomethinghecoulddescribeasunencumbered!I\'veadescriptionofitamongthosestupidpapershemademebringawaywithmefromhisoffice。I\'lltrytofindit。\"
Octaviafoundhershopping-bag，anddrewfromitalongenvelopefilledwithtypewrittendocuments。
\"AranchinTexas，\"sighedAuntEllen。\"Itsoundstomemorelikealiabilitythananasset。Thosearetheplaceswherethecentipedesarefound，andcowboys，andfandangos。\"
\"\'TheRanchodelasSombras，\'\"readOctaviafromasheetofviolentlypurpletypewriting\"\'issituatedonehundredandtenmilessoutheastofSanAntonio，andthirty-eightmilesfromitsnearestrailroadstation，Nopal，ontheI。andG。N。Ranch，consistsof7，680acresofwell-
wateredland，withtitleconferredbyStatepatents，andtwenty-twosections，or14，080acres，partlyunderyearlyrunningleaseandpartlyboughtunderState\'stwenty-
year-purchaseact。Eightthousandgradedmerinosheep，withthenecessaryequipmentofhorses，vehiclesandgeneralranchparaphernalia。Ranch-housebuiltofbrick，withsixroomscomfortablyfurnishedaccordingtotherequirementsoftheclimate。Allwithinastrongbarbed-wirefence。
\"\'Thepresentranchmanagerseemstobecompetentandreliable，andisrapidlyplacinguponapayingbasisabusinessthat，inotherhands，hadbeenallowedtosufferfromneglectandmisconduct。
\"\'ThispropertywassecuredbyColonelBeaupreeinadealwithaWesternirrigationsyndicate，andthetitletoitseemstobeperfect。Withcarefulmanagementandthenaturalincreaseoflandvalues，itoughttobemadethefoundationforacomfortablefortuneforitsowner。\'\"
WhenOctaviaceasedreading，AuntEllenutteredsomethingasnearasniffasherbreedingpermitted。
\"Theprospectus，\"shesaid，withuncompromisingmetropolitansuspicion，\"doesn\'tmentionthecentipedes，ortheIndians。Andyouneverdidlikemutton，Octavia。
Idon\'tseewhatadvantageyoucanderivefromthis——
desert。\"
ButOctaviawasinatrance。Hereyesweresteadilyregardingsomethingquitebeyondtheirfocus。Herlipswereparted，andherfacewaslightedbythekindlingfuroroftheexplorer，theardent，stirringdisquietoftheadventurer。Suddenlysheclaspedherhandstogetherexultantly。
\"Theproblemsolvesitself，auntie，\"shecried。\"I\'mgoingtothatranch。I\'mgoingtoliveonit。I\'mgoingtolearntolikemutton，andevenconcedethegoodqualitiesofcentipedes——atarespectfuldistance。It\'sjustwhatIneed。It\'sanewlifethatcomeswhenmyoldoneisjustending。It\'sarelease，auntie；itisn\'tanarrow-
ing。Thinkofthegallopsoverthoseleaguesofprairies，withthewindtuggingattherootsofyourhair，thecom-
ingclosetotheearthandlearningoveragainthestoriesofthegrowinggrassandthelittlewildflowerswithoutnames!Gloriousiswhatitwillbe。ShallIbeashepherdesswithaWatteauhat，andacrooktokeepthebadwolvesfromthelambs，oratypicalWesternranchgirl，withshorthair，likethepicturesofherintheSundaypapers？Ithinkthelatter。Andthey\'llhavemypicture，too，withthewild-catsI\'veslain，single-handed，hangingfrommysaddlehorn。\'FromtheFourHundredtotheFlocks\'isthewaythey\'llheadlineit，andthey\'llprintphotographsoftheoldVanDressermansionandthechurchwhereIwasmarried。Theywon\'thavemypicture，butthey\'llgetanartisttodrawit。I\'llbewildandwoolly，andI\'llgrowmyownwool。\"
\"Octavia!\"AuntEllencondensedintotheonewordalltheprotestsshewasunabletoutter。
\"Don\'tsayaword，auntie。I\'mgoing。I\'llseetheskyatnightfitdownontheworldlikeabigbutter-dishcover，andI\'llmakefriendsagainwiththestarsthatI
haven\'thadachatwithsinceIwasaweechild。Iwishtogo。I\'mtiredofallthis。I\'mgladIhaven\'tanymoney。IcouldblessColonelBeaupreeforthatranch，andforgivehimforallhisbubbles。Whatifthelifewillberoughandlonely!I——Ideserveit。Ishutmyhearttoeverythingexceptthatmiserableambition。I——oh，Iwishtogoaway，andforget——forget!\"
Octaviaswervedsuddenlytoherknees，laidherflushedfaceinheraunt\'slap，andshookwithturbulentsobs。
AuntEllenbentoverher，andsmoothedthecoppery-
brownhair。
\"Ididn\'tknow，\"shesaid，gently；\"Ididn\'tknow——
that。Whowasit，dear？
WhenMrs。OctaviaBeaupree，n閑VanDresser，steppedfromthetrainatNopal，hermannerlost，forthemoment，someofthateasycertitudewhichhadalwaysmarkedhermovements。Thetownwasofrecentestab-
lishment，andseemedtohavebeenhastilyconstructedofundressedlumberandflappingcanvas。Theelementthathadcongregatedaboutthestation，thoughnotoffensivelydemonstrative，wasclearlycomposedofcitizensaccustomedtoandpreparedforrudealarms。
Octaviastoodontheplatform，againstthetelegraphoffice，andattemptedtochoosebyintuitionfromtheswaggering，stragglingstring，ofloungers，themanageroftheRanchodelasSombras，whohadbeeninstructedbyMr。Bannistertomeetherthere。Thattall，serious，looking，elderlymanintheblueflannelshirtandwhitetieshethoughtmustbehe。But，no；hepassedby，removinghisgazefromtheladyashersrestedonhim，accordingtotheSoutherncustom。Themanager，shethought，withsomeimpatienceatbeingkeptwaiting，shouldhavenodifficultyinselectingher。Youngwomenwearingthemostrecentthinginash-colouredtravellingsuitswerenotsoplentifulinNopal!
Thuskeepingaspeculativewatchonallpersonsofpossiblemanagerialaspect，Octavia，withacatchingbreathandastartofsurprise，suddenlybecameawareofTeddyWestlakehurryingalongtheplatforminthedirectionofthetrain——ofTeddyWestlakeorhissun-
brownedghostincheviot，bootsandleather-girdledhat——TheodoreWestlake，Jr。，amateurpoloalmost
champion，all-roundbutterflyandcumbererofthesoil；
butabroader，surer，moreemphasizedanddeterminedTeddythantheoneshehadknownayearagowhenlastshesawhim。
HeperceivedOctaviaatalmostthesametime，deflectedhiscourse，andsteeredforherinhisold，straightforwardway。Somethinglikeawecameuponherasthestrange-
nessofhismetamorphosiswasbroughtintocloserrange；
therich，red-brownofhiscomplexionbroughtoutsovividlyhisstraw-colouredmustacheandsteel-grayeyes。
Heseemedmoregrown-up，and，somehow，fartheraway。
But，whenhespoke，theold，boyishTeddycamebackagain。Theyhadbeenfriendsfromchildhood。
\"Why，\'Tave!\"heexclaimed，unabletoreducehisperplexitytocoherence。\"How——what——when——
where？\"
\"Train，\"saidOctavia；\"necessity；tenminutesago；
home。Yourcomplexion\'sgone，Teddy。Now，how——
what——when——where？\"
\"I\'mworkingdownhere，\"saidTeddy。Hecastsideglancesaboutthestationasonedoeswhotriestocombinepolitenesswithduty。
\"Youdidn\'tnoticeonthetrain，\"heasked，\"anoldladywithgraycurlsandapoodle，whooccupiedtwoseatswithherbundlesandquarrelledwiththeconductor，didyou？\"
\"Ithinknot，\"answeredOctavia，reflecting。\"Andyouhaven\'t，byanychance，noticedabig，gray-mustachedmaninablueshirtandsix-shooters，withlittleflakesofmerinowoolstickinginhishair，haveyou？\"
\"Lotsof\'em，\"saidTeddy，withsymptomsofmentaldeliriumunderthestrain。Doyouhappentoknowanysuchindividual？\"
\"No；thedescriptionisimaginary。Isyourinterestintheoldladywhomyoudescribeapersonalone？\"
\"Neversawherinmylife。She\'spaintedentirelyfromfancy。SheownsthelittlepieceofpropertywhereI
earnmybreadandbutter-theRanchodelasSombras。
Idroveuptomeetheraccordingtoarrangementwithherlawyer。\"
Octavialeanedagainstthewallofthetelegraphoffice。
Wasthispossible？Anddidn\'theknow？
\"Areyouthemanagerofthatranch？\"sheaskedweakly。
\"Iam，\"saidTeddy，withpride。
\"IamMrs。Beaupree，\"saidOctaviafaintly；\"butmyhairneverwouldcurl，andIwaspolitetotheconductor。\"
Foramomentthatstrange，grown-uplookcameback，andremovedTeddymilesawayfromher。
\"Ihopeyou\'llexcuseme，\"hesaid，ratherawkwardly。
\"Yousee，I\'vebeendownhereinthechaparralayear。
Ihadn\'theard。Givemeyourchecks，please，andI\'llhaveyourtrapsloadedintothewagon。Jos？willfollowwiththem。Wetravelaheadinthebuckboard。\"
SeatedbyTeddyinafeather-weightbuckboard，behindapairofwild，cream-colouredSpanishponies，Octaviaabandonedallthoughtfortheexhilarationofthepresent。
Theysweptoutofthelittletownanddownthelevelroadtowardthesouth。Soontheroaddwindledanddis-
appeared，andtheystruckacrossaworldcarpetedwithanendlessreachofcurlymesquitegrass。Thewheelsmadenosound。Thetirelessponiesboundedaheadatanunbrokengallop。Thetemperatewind，madefragrantbythousandsofacresofblueandyellowwildflowers，roaredgloriouslyintheirears。Themotionwasa雛ial，ecstatic，withathrillingsenseofperpetuityinitseffect。
Octaviasatsilent，possessedbyafeelingofelemental，sensualbliss。Teddyseemedtobewrestlingwithsomeinternalproblem。
\"I\'mgoingtocallyoumadama，\"heannouncedastheresultofhislabours。\"ThatiswhattheMexicanswillcallyou——they\'renearlyallMexicansontheranch，youknow。Thatseemstomeabouttheproperthing。\"
\"Verywell，Mr。Westlake，\"saidOctavia，primly。
\"Oh，now，\"saidTeddy，insomeconsternation，\"that\'scarryingthethingtoofar，isn\'tit？\"
\"Don\'tworrymewithyourbeastlyetiquette。I\'mjustbeginningtolive。Don\'tremindmeofanythingartificial。Ifonlythisaircouldbebottled!Thismuchaloneisworthcomingfor。Oh，lookItheregoesadeer!\"
\"Jack-rabbit，\"saidTeddy，withoutturninghishead。
\"CouldI——mightIdrive？\"suggestedOctavia，pant-
ing，withrose-tintedcheeksandtheeyeofaneagerchild。
\"Ononecondition。CouldI——mightIsmoke？\"
\"Forever!\"criedOctavia，takingthelineswithsolemnjoy。\"HowshallIknowwhichwaytodrive？\"
\"Keephersou\'bysou\'east，andallsailset。YouseethatblackspeckonthehorizonunderthatlowermostGulfcloud？That\'sagroupoflive-oaksandaland-
mark。Steerhalfwaybetweenthatandthelittlehilltotheleft。I\'llreciteyouthewholecodeofdrivingrulesfortheTexasprairies:keepthereinsfromunderthehorses\'feet，andswearat\'emfrequent。\"
\"I\'mtoohappytoswear，Ted。Oh，whydopeoplebuyyachtsortravelinpalace-cars，whenabuckboardandapairofplugsandaspringmorninglikethiscansatisfyalldesire？\"
\"Now，I\'llaskyou，\"protestedTeddy，whowasfutilelystrikingmatchaftermatchonthedashboard，\"nottocallthosedenizensoftheairplugs。Theycankickoutahundredmilesbetweendaylightanddark。\"Atlasthesucceededinsnatchingalightforhiscigarfromtheflameheldinthehollowofhishands。
\"Room!\"saidOctavia，intensely。\"That\'swhatproducestheeffect。IknownowwhatI\'vewanted——
scope——range——room!\"
\"Smoking-room，\"saidTeddy，unsentimentally。\"I
lovetosmokeinabuckboard。Thewindblowsthesmokeintoyouandoutagain。Itsavesexertion。\"
Thetwofellsonaturallyintotheirold-timegoodfellow-
shipthatitwasonlybydegreesthatasenseofthestrange-
nessofthenewrelationsbetweenthemcametobefelt。
\"Madama，\"saidTeddy，wonderingly，\"howeverdidyougetitintoyourbeadtocutthecrowdandcomedownhere？IsitafadnowamongtheupperclassestotrotofftosheepranchesinsteadoftoNewport？\"
\"Iwasbroke，Teddy，\"saidOctavia，sweetly，withherinterestcentreduponsteeringsafelybetweenaSpanishdaggerplantandaclumpofchaparral；\"Ihaven\'tathingintheworldbutthisranch——notevenanyotherhometogoto。\"
\"Come，now，\"saidTeddy，anxiouslybutineredu-
lously，\"youdon\'tmeanit？\"
\"Whenmyhusband，\"saidOctavia，withashyslurringoftheword，\"diedthreemonthsagoIthoughtIhadareasonableamountoftheworld\'sgoods。Hislawyerexplodedthattheoryinasixty-minutefullyillustratedlecture。Itooktothesheepasalastresort。DoyouhappentoknowofanyfashionablecapriceamongthegildedyouthofManhattanthatinducesthemtoabandonpoloandclubwindowstobecomemanagersofsheepranches？\"
\"It\'seasilyexplainedinmycase，\"respondedTeddy，promptly。\"Ihadtogotowork。Icouldn\'thaveearnedmyboardinNewYork，soIchummedawhilewitholdSandford，oneofthesyndicatethatownedtheranchbeforeColonelBeaupreeboughtit，andgotaplacedownhere。
Iwasn\'tmanageratfirst。Ijoggedaroundonponiesandstudiedthebusinessindetail，untilIgotallthepointsinmyhead。Isawwhereitwaslosingandwhatthereme-
dieswere，andthenSandfordputmeincharge。Igetahundreddollarsamonth，andIearnit。\"
\"PoorTeddy!\"saidOctavia，withasmile。
\"Youneedn\'t。Ilikeit。Isavehalfmywages，andI\'mashardasawaterplug。Itbeatspolo。\"
\"Willitfurnishbreadandteaandjamforanotherout-
castfromcivilization？\"
\"Thespringshearing，\"saidthemanager，\"justcleanedupadeficitinlastyear\'sbusiness。Wastefulnessandinattentionhavebeentheruleheretofore。Theautumnclipwillleaveasmallprofitoverallexpenses。Nextyeartherewillbejam。\"
When，aboutfouro\'clockintheafternoon，theponiesroundedagentle，brush-coveredhill，andthenswooped，likeadoublecream-colouredcyclone，upontheRanchodelasSombras，Octaviagavealittlecryofdelight。A
lordlygroveofmagnificentlive-oakscastanareaofgrateful，coolshade，whencetheranchhaddrawnitsname，\"delasSombras\"——oftheshadows。Thehouse，ofredbrick，onestory，ranlowandlongbeneaththetrees。
Throughitsmiddle，dividingitssixroomsinhalf，extendedabroad，archedpassageway，picturesquewithfloweringcactusandhangingredearthernjars。A\"gallery，\"lowandbroad，encircledthebuilding。Vinesclimbedaboutit，andtheadjacentgroundwas，foraspace，coveredwithtransplantedgrassandshrubs。Alittlelake，longandnarrow，glimmeredinthesunattherear。FurtherawaystoodtheshacksoftheMexicanworkers，thecorrals，woolshedsandshearingpens。Totherightlaythelowhills，splatteredwithdarkpatchesofchaparral；tothelefttheunboundedgreenprairieblendingagainsttheblueheavens。
\"It\'sahome，Teddy，\"saidOctavia，breathlessly；
that\'swhatitis——it\'sahome。\"
\"Notsobadforasheepranch，\"admittedTeddy，withexcusablepride。\"I\'vebeentinkeringonitatoddtimes。\"
AMexicanyouthsprangfromsomewhereinthegrass，andtookchargeofthecreams。Themistressandthemanagerenteredthehouse。
\"Here\'sMrs。MacIntyre，\"saidTeddy，asaplacid，neat，elderlyladycameoutuponthegallerytomeetthem。\"Mrs。Mac，here\'stheboss。Verylikelyshewillbewantingahunkofhamandadishofbeansafterherdrive。\"
Mrs。MacIntyre，thehousekeeper，asmuchafixtureontheplaceasthelakeorthelive-oaks，receivedtheimputationoftheranch\'sresourcesofrefreshmentwithmildindignation，andwasabouttogiveitutterancewhenOctaviaspoke。
\"Oh，Mrs。MacIntyre，don\'tapologizeforTeddy。
Yes，IcallhimTeddy。Sodoeseveryonewhomhehasn\'tdupedintotakinghimseriously。Yousee，weusedtocutpaperdollsandplayjackstrawstogetheragesago。Noonemindswhathesays。\"
\"No，\"saidTeddy，\"noonemindswhathesays，justsohedoesn\'tdoitagain。\"
Octaviacastoneofthosesubtle，sidelongglancestowardhimfrombeneathherloweredeyelids——aglancethatTeddyusedtodescribeasanupper-cut。Buttherewasnothinginhisingenuous，weather-tannedfacetowarrantasuspicionthathewasmakinganallusion——
nothing。Beyondadoubt，thoughtOctavia，hehadforgotten。
\"Mr。Westlakelikeshisfun，\"saidMrs。Maclntyre，assheconductedOctaviatoherrooms。\"But，\"sheadded，loyally，\"peoplearoundhereusuallypayattentiontowhathesayswhenhetalksinearnest。Idon\'tknowwhatwouldhavebecomeofthisplacewithouthim。\"
Tworoomsattheeastendofthehousehadbeenarrangedfortheoccupancyoftheranch\'smistress。Whensheenteredthemaslightdismayseizedherattheirbareappearanceandthescantinessoftheirfurniture；butshequicklyreflectedthattheclimatewasasemi-tropicalone，andwasmovedtoappreciationofthewell-conceivedeffortstoconformtoit。Thesasheshadalreadybeenremovedfromthebigwindows，andwhitecurtainswavedintheGulfbreezethatstreamedthroughthewidejalousies。
Thebarefloorwasamplystrewnwithcoolrugs；thechairswereinviting，deep，dreamywillows；thewallswerepaperedwithalight，cheerfulolive。Onewholesideofhersittingroomwascoveredwithbooksonsmooth，unpaintedpineshelves。Sheflewtotheseatonce。Beforeherwasawell-selectedlibrary。Shecaughtglimpsesoftitlesofvolumesoffictionandtravelnotyetseasonedfromthedampnessofthepress。
Presently，recollectingthatshewasnowinawildernessgivenovertomutton，centipedesandprivations，theincongruityoftheseluxuriesstruckher，and，withintuitivefemininesuspicion，shebeganturningtothefly-leavesofvolumeaftervolume。UponeachonewasinscribedinfluentcharactersthenameofTheodoreWestlake，Jr。
Octavia，fatiguedbyherlongjourney，retiredearlythatnight。Lyinguponherwhite，coolbed，sheresteddeliciously，butsleepcoquettedlongwithher。Shelistenedtofaintnoiseswhosestrangenesskeptherfacultiesonthealert——thefractiousyelpingofthecoyotes，theceaseless，lowsymphonyofthewind，thedistantboomingofthefrogsaboutthelake，thelamentationofaconcertinaintheMexicans\'quarters。Thereweremanyconflictingfeelingsinherheart——thankfulnessandrebellion，peaceanddisquietude，lonelinessandasenseofprotectingcare，happinessandanold，hauntingpain。
Shedidwhatanyotherwomanwouldhavedone——
soughtreliefinawholesometideofunreasonabletears，andherlastwords，murmuredtoherselfbeforeslumber，capitulating，camesoftlytowooher，were\"Hehasforgotten。\"
ThemanageroftheRanchodelasSombraswasnodilettante。Hewasa\"hustler。\"Hewasgenerallyup，mounted，andawayofmorningsbeforetherestofthehouseholdwereawake，makingtheroundsoftheflocksandcamps。Thiswasthedutyofthemajordomo，astatelyoldMexicanwithaprincelyairandmanner，butTeddyseemedtohaveagreatdealofconfidenceinhisowneyesight。Exceptinthebusyseasons，henearlyalwaysreturnedtotheranchtobreakfastateighto\'clock，withOctaviaandMrs。Maclntyre，atthelittletablesetinthecentralhallway，bringingwithhimatonicandbreezycheerfulnessfullofthehealthandflavouroftheprairies。
AfewdaysafterOctavia\'sarrivalhemadehergetoutoneofherridingskirts，andcurtailittoashortnessdemandedbythechaparralbrakes。
Withsomemisgivingsshedonnedthisandthepairofbuckskinleggingsheprescribedinaddition，and，mounteduponadancingpony，rodewithhimtoviewherposses-
sions。Heshowedhereverything——theflocksofewes，muttonsandgrazinglambs，thedippingvats，theshearingpens，theuncouthmerinoramsintheirlittlepasture，thewater-tanksIpreparedagainstthesummerdrought——
givingaccountofhisstewardshipwithaboyishenthus-
siasmthatneverflagged。
WherewastheoldTeddythatsheknewsowell？Thissideofhimwasthesame，anditwasasidethatpleasedher；butthiswasallsheeversawofhimnow。Wherewashissentimentality——thoseold，varyingmoodsofimpetuouslove-making，offanciful，quixoticdevotion，ofheart-breakinggloom，ofalternating，absurdtendernessandhaughtydignity？Hisnaturehadbeenasensitiveone，histemperamentborderingcloselyontheartistic。
Sheknewthat，besidesbeingafolloweroffashionanditsfadsandsports，hehadcultivatedtastesofafinernature。
Hehadwrittenthings，hehadtamperedwithcolours，hewassomethingofastudentincertainbranchesofart，andonceshehadbeenadmittedtoallhisaspirationsandthoughts。Butnow——andshecouldnotavoidthecon-
clusion——Teddyhadbarricadedagainsthereverysideofhimselfexceptone——thesidethatshowedthemanageroftheRanchodelasSombrasandajollychumwhohadforgivenandforgotten。QueerlyenoughthewordsofMr。Bannister\'sdescriptionofherpropertycameintohermind——\"allinclosedwithinastrongbarbed-wirefence。\"
\"Teddy\'sfenced，too，\"saidOctaviatoherself。
Itwasnotdifficultforhertoreasonoutthecauseofhisfortifications。IthadoriginatedonenightattheHammersmiths\'ball。ItoccurredatatimesoonaftershehaddecidedtoacceptColonelBeaupreeandhismillion，whichwasnomorethanherlooksandtheentr閑
sheheldtotheinnercircleswereworth。Teddyhadproposedwithallhisimpetuosityandfire，andshelookedhimstraightintheeyes，ansaid，coldlyandfinally:
\"Neverletmehearanysuchsillynonsensefromyouagain。\"\"Youwon\'t，\"saidTeddy，withanexpressionaroundhismouth，and——nowTeddywasinclosedwithinastrongbarbed-wirefence。
ItwasonthisfirstrideofinspectionthatTeddywasseizedbytheinspirationthatsuggestedthenameofMotherGoose\'sheroine，andheatoncebestowedituponOctavia。Theidea，supportedbybothasimilarityofnamesandidentityofoccupations，seemedtostrikehimasapeculiarlyhappyone，andhenevertiredofusingit。
TheMexicansontheranchalsotookupthename，addinganothersyllabletoaccommodatetheirlingualincapacityforthefinal\"p，\"gravelyreferringtoheras\"LaMadamaBo-Peepy。\"Eventuallyitspread，and\"MadameBo-
Peep\'sranch\"wasasoftenmentionedasthe\"RanchodelasSombras。\"
Camethelong，hotseasonfromMaytoSeptember，whenworkisscarceontheranches。Octaviapassedthedaysinakindoflotus-eater\'sdream。Books，hammocks，correspondencewithafewintimatefriends，arenewedinterestinheroldwater-colourboxandeasel——thesedisposedofthesultryhoursofdaylight。Theeveningswerealwayssuretobringenjoyment。BestofallweretherapturoushorsebackrideswithTeddy，whenthemoongavelightoverthewind-sweptleagues，chaperonedbythewheelingnight-hawkandthestartledowl。OftentheMexicanswouldcomeupfromtheirshackswiththeirguitarsandsingtheweirdestofheart-breakingsongs。
Therewerelong，cosychatsonthebreezygallery，andaninterminablewarfareofwitsbetweenTeddyandMrs。
MacIntyre，whoseabundantScotchshrewdnessoftenmorethanovermatchedthelighterhumourinwhichshewaslacking。
Andthenightscame，oneafteranother，andwerefiledawaybyweeksandmonths——nightssoftandlanguorousandfragrant，thatshouldhavedrivenStrephontoChloeoverwireshoweverbarbed，thatmighthavedrawnCupidhimselftohunt，lassoinhand，amongthoseamorouspastures——butTeddykepthisfencesup。
OneJulynightMadameBo-Peepandherranchman-
agerweresittingontheeastgallerv。Teddyhadbeenexhaustingthescienceofprognosticationastotheproba-
bilitiesofapriceoftwenty-fourcentsfortheautumnclip，andhadthensubsidedintoananestheticcloudofHavanasmoke。OnlyasincompetentajudgeasawomanwouldhavefailedtonotelongagothatatleastathirdofhissalarymusthavegoneupinthefumesofthoseimportedRegalias。
\"Teddy，\"saidOctavia，suddenly，andrathersharply，\"whatareyouworkingdownhereonaranchfor？\"
\"Onehundredper，\"saidTeddy，glibly，\"andfound。\"
\"I\'veagoodmindtodischargeyou。\"
\"Can\'tdoit，\"saidTeddy，withagrin。
\"Whynot？\"demandedOctavia，withargumentativeheat。
\"Undercontract。Termsofsalerespectallunexpiredcontracts。Minerunsuntil12P。m。，Decemberthirty-first。
Youmightgetupatmidnightonthatdateandfireme。
ifyoutryitsoonerI\'llbeinapositiontobringlegalproceedings。\"
Octaviaseemedtobeconsideringtheprospectsoflitigation。
\"But，\"continuedTeddycheerfully，\"I\'vebeenthink-
ingofresigninganyway。\"
Octavia\'srocking-chairceaseditsmotion。Therewerecentipedesinthiscountry，shefeltsure；andIndians，andvast，lonely，desolate，emptywastes；allwithinstrongbarbed-wirefence。TherewasaVanDresserpride，buttherewasalsoaVanDresserheart。Shemustknowforcertainwhetherornothehadforgotten。
\"Ah，well，Teddy，\"shesaid，withafineassumptionofpoliteinterest，\"it\'slonelydownhere；you\'relongingtogetbacktotheoldlife——topoloandlobstersandtheatresandballs。\"
\"Nevercaredmuchforballs，\"saidTeddyvirtuously。
\"You\'regettingold，Teddy。Yourmemoryisfailing。
Nobodyeverknewyoutomissadance，unlessitoccurredonthesamenightwithanotheronewhichyouattended。
Andyoushowedsuchshockingbadtaste，too，indancingtoooftenwiththesamepartner。Letmesee，whatwasthatForbesgirl\'sname——theonewithwalleyes——
Mabel，wasn\'tit？\"
\"No；Ad閘e。Mabelwastheonewiththebonyelbows。Thatwasn\'twallinAd閘e\'seyes。Itwassoul。
Weusedtotalksonnetstogether，andVerlaine。JustthenIwastryingtorunapipefromthePierianspring。\"
\"Youwereonthefloorwithher，\"saidOctavia，unde-
flected，\"fivetimesattheHammersmiths\'。\"
\"Hammersmiths\'what？\"questionedTeddy，vacuously。
\"Ball——ball，\"saidOctavia，viciously。\"Whatwerewetalkingof？\"
\"Eyes，Ithought，\"saidTeddy，aftersomereflection；
\"andelbows。\"
\"ThoseHammersmiths，\"wentonOctavia，inhersweetestsocietyprattle，aftersubduinganintensedesiretoyankahandfulofsunburnt，sandyhairfromtheheadlyingbackcontentedlyagainstthecanvasofthesteamerchair，\"hadtoomuchmoney。Mines，wasn\'tit？Itwassomethingthatpaidsomethingtotheton。Youcouldn\'tgetaglassofplainwaterintheirhouse。Everythingatthatballwasdreadfullyoverdone。\"
\"Itwas，\"saidTeddy。
\"Suchacrowdtherewas!\"Octaviacontinued，con-
sciousthatshewastalkingtherapiddrivelofaschool-
girldescribingherfirstdance。\"Thebalconieswereaswarmastherooms。I——lost——somethingatthatball。\"
Thelastsentencewasutteredinatonecalculatedtoremovethebarbsfrommilesofwire。
\"SodidI，\"confessedTeddy，inalowervoice。
\"Aglove，\"saidOctavia，fallingbackastheenemyapproachedherditches。
\"Caste，\"saidTeddy，haltinghisfiringlinewithoutloss。\"Ihobnobbed，halftheeveningwithoneofHammersmith\'sminers，afellowwhokepthishandsinhispockets，andtalkedlikeanarchangelaboutreductionplantsanddriftsandlevelsandsluice-boxes。\"
\"Apearl-grayglove，nearlynew，\"sighedOctavia，mournfully。
\"Abang-upchap，thatMcArdle，\"maintainedTeddyapprovingly。\"Amanwhohatedolivesandelevators；
amanwhohandledmountainsascroquettes，andbuilttunnelsintheair；amanwhoneverutteredawordofsillynonsenseinhislife。Didyousignthoselease-
renewalapplicationsyet，madama？They\'vegottobeonfileinthelandofficebythethirty-first。\"
Teddyturnedhisheadlazily。Octavia\'schairwasvacant。
Acertaincentipede，crawlingalongthelinesmarkedoutbyfate，expoundedthesituation。ItwasearlyonemorningwhileOctaviaandMrs。Maclntyreweretrim-
mingthehoneysuckleonthewestgallery。Teddyhadrisenanddepartedhastilybeforedaylightinresponsetowordthataflockofeweshadbeenscatteredfromtheirbeddinggroundduringthenightbyathunder-storm。
Thecentipede，drivenbydestiny，showedhimselfonthefloorofthegallery，andthen，thescreechesofthetwowomengivinghimhiscue，hescuttledwithallhisyellowlegsthroughtheopendoorintothefurthermostwestroom，whichwasTeddy\'s。Armingthemselveswithdomesticutensilsselectedwithregardtotheirlength，OctaviaandMrs。Maclntyre，withmuchclutchingofskirtsandskirmishingforthepositionofrearguardintheattackingforce，followed。
Onceoutside，thecentipedeseemedtohavedisappeared，andhisprospectivemurderersbeganathoroughbutcautioussearchfortheirvictim。
EveninthemidstofsuchadangerousandabsorbingadventureOctaviawasconsciousofanawedcuriosityonfindingherselfinTeddy\'ssanctum。Inthatroomhesatalone，silentlycommuningwiththosesecretthoughtsthathenowsharedwithnoone，dreamedtherewhateverdreamshenowcalledonnoonetointerpret。
ItwastheroomofaSpartanorasoldier。Inonecornerstoodawide，canvas-coveredcot；inanother，asmallbookcase；inanother，agrimstandofWinchestersandshotguns。Animmensetable，strewnwithletters，papersanddocumentsandsurmountedbyasetofpigeon-
holes，occupiedoneside。
Thecentipedeshowedgeniusinconcealinghimselfinsuchbarequarters。Mrs。Maclntyrewaspokingabroom-handlebehindthebookcase。OctaviaapproachedTeddy\'scot。Theroomwasjustasthemanagerhadleftitinhishurry。TheMexicanmaidhadnotyetgivenitherattention。Therewashisbigpillowwiththeimprintofhisheadstillinthecentre。ShethoughtthehorridbeastmighthaveclimbedthecotandhiddenitselftobiteTeddy。Centipedeswerethuscruelandvindictivetowardmanagers。
Shecautiouslyoverturnedthepillow，andthenpartedherlipstogivethesignalforreinforcementsatsightofalong，slender，darkobjectlyingthere。But，repressingitintime，shecaughtupaglove，apearl-grayglove，flattened——itmightbeconceived——bymany，manymonthsofnightlypressurebeneaththepillowofthemanwhohadforgottentheHammersmiths\'ball。Teddymusthaveleftsohurriedlythatmorningthathehad，foronce，forgottentotransferittoitsresting-placebyday。
Evenmanagers，whoarenotoriouslywilyandcunning，aresometimescaughtupwith。
Octaviaslidthegraygloveintothebosomofhersum-
merymorninggown。Itwashers。Menwhoputthem-
selveswithinastrongbarbed-wirefence，andrememberHammersmithballsonlybythetalkofminersaboutsluice-
boxes，shouldnotbeallowedtopossesssucharticles。
Afterall，whataparadisethisprairiecountrywas!
Howitblossomedliketherosewhenyoufoundthingsthatwerethoughttobelost!Howdeliciouswasthatmorningbreezecominginthewindows，freshandsweetwiththebreathoftheyellowratamablooms!Mightonenotstand，foraminute，withshining，far-gazingeyes，anddreamthatmistakesmightbecorrected？
WhywasMrs。Maclntyrepokingaboutsoabsurdlywithabroom？
\"I\'vefoundit，\"saidMrs。MacIntyre，bangingthedoor。
\"Hereitis。\"
\"Didyoulosesomething？askedOctavia，withsweetlypolitenon-interest。
\"Thelittledevil!\"saidMrs。Maclntyre，driventoviolence。\"Ye\'venoforgottenhimalretty？\"
Betweenthemtheyslewthecentipede。ThuswasherewardedforhisagencytowardtherecoveryofthingslostattheHammersmiths\'ball。
ItseemsthatTeddy，induecourse，rememberedtheglove，andwhenhereturnedtothehouseatsunsetmadeasecretbutexhaustivesearchforit。Notuntilevening，uponthemoonliteasterngallery，didhefindit。Itwasuponthehandthathehadthoughtlosttohimforever，andsohewasmovedtorepeatcertainnonsensethathehadbeencommandednever，nevertoutteragain。Teddy\'sfencesweredown。
Thistimetherewasnoambitiontostandintheway，andthewooingwasasnaturalandsuccessfulasshouldbebetweenardentshepherdandgentleshepherdess。
Theprairieschangedtoagarden。TheRanchodelasSombrasbecametheRanchofLight。
AfewdayslaterOctaviareceivedaletterfromMr。
Bannister，inreplytooneshehadwrittentohimaskingsomequestionsaboutherbusiness。Aportionoftheletterranasfollows:
\"Iamatalosstoaccountforyourreferencestothesheepranch。Twomonthsafteryourdeparturetotakeupyourresidenceuponit，itwasdiscoveredthatColonelBeaupree\'stitlewasworthless。Adeedcametolightshowingthathedisposedofthepropertybeforehisdeath。
Thematterwasreportedtoyourmanager，Mr。Westlake，whoatoncerepurchadtheproperty。Itisentirelybeyondmypowersofconjecturetoimaginehowyouhaveremainedinignoranceofthisfact。Ibegyouthatwillatonceconferwiththatgentleman，whowill，atleast，corroboratemystatement。\"
OctaviasoughtTeddy，withbattleinhereye。
\"Whatareyouworkingonthisranchfor？\"sheaskedoncemore。
\"Onehundred——\"hebegantorepeat，butsawinherfacethatsheknew。SheheldMr。Bannister\'sletterinherhand。Heknewthatthegamewasup。
\"It\'smyranch，\"saidTeddy，likeaschoolboydetectedinevil。\"It\'samightypoormanagerthatisn\'tabletoabsorbtheboss\'sbusinessifyougivehimtime。\"
\"Whywereyouworkingdownhere？\"pursuedOctaviastillstrugglingafterthekeytotheriddleofTeddy。
\"Totellthetruth，\'Tave，\"saidTeddy，withquietcandour，\"itwasn\'tforthesalary。Thataboutkeptmeincigarsandsunburnlotions。Iwassentsouthbymydoctor。\'Twasthatrightlungthatwasgoingtothebadonaccountofover-exerciseandstrainatpoloandgym-
nastics。Ineededclimateandozoneandrestandthingsofthatsort。\"
InaninstantOctaviawascloseagainstthevicinityoftheaffectedorgan。Mr。Bannister\'sletterflutteredtothefloor。
\"It\'s——it\'swellnow，isn\'tit，Teddy？\"
\"Soundasamesquitechunk。Ideceivedyouinonething。IpaidfiftythousandforyourranchassoonasIfoundyouhadnotitle。Ihadjustaboutthatmuchincomeaccumulatedatmybanker\'swhileI\'vebeenherdingsheepdownhere，soitwasalmostlikepickingthethinguponabargain-counterforapenny。There\'sanotherlittlesurplusofunearnedincrementpilingupthere，\'Tave。I\'vebeenthinkingofaweddingtripinayachtwithwhiteribbonstiedtothemast，throughtheMediterranean，andthenupamongtheHebridesanddownNorwaytotheZuyderZee。\"
\"AndIwasthinking，\"saidOctavia，softly，\"ofaweddinggallopwithmymanageramongtheflocksofsheepandbacktoaweddingbreakfastwithMrs。Mae-
Intyreonthegallery，with，maybe，asprigoforangeblossomfastenedtotheredjarabovethetable。\"
Teddylaughed，andbegantochant:
\"LittleBo-Peephaslosthersheep，Anddoesn\'tknowwheretofind\'em。
Let\'emalone，andthey\'llcomehome，And——\"
Octaviadrewhisheaddown，andwhisperedinhisear，Butthatisoneofthetalestheybroughtbehindthem。