ence。Whentherewasnowhereelsetogo，sheusedtositforhoursinMrs。Smiley’smillineryandnotionstore，lis—
teningtothetalkofthewomenwhocamein，watchingthemwhiletheytriedonhats，blinkingatthemfromhercornerwithhersharp，restlesslittleeyes。Shenevertalkedmuchherself，butsheknewallthegossipofthetownandshehadasharpearforracyanecdotes——\"travelingmen’sstories，\"theyusedtobecalledinMoonstone。Herclickinglaughsoundedlikeatypewritingmachineinaction，and，forverypointedstories，shehadalittlescreech。
Mrs。ArchiehadbeenMrs。Archieforonlysixyears，andwhenshewasBelleWhiteshewasoneofthe\"pretty\"
girlsinLansing，Michigan。Shehadthenatrainofsuitors。
ShecouldtrulyremindArchiethat\"theboyshungaroundher。\"Theydid。Theythoughtherveryspiritedandwerealwayssaying，\"Oh，thatBelleWhite，she’sacase！\"Sheusedtoplayheavypracticaljokeswhichtheyoungmen
thoughtveryclever。Archiewasconsideredthemostpromisingyoungmanin\"theyoungcrowd，\"soBelleselectedhim。Shelethimsee，madehimfullyaware，thatshehadselectedhim，andArchiewasthesortofboywhocouldnotwithstandsuchenlightenment。Belle’sfamilyweresorryforhim。Onhisweddingdayhersisterslookedatthebig，handsomeboy——hewastwenty—four——ashewalkeddowntheaislewithhisbride，andthentheylookedateachother。Hisbesottedconfidence，hissober，radiantface，hisgentle，protectingarm，madethemuncomfort—
able。Well，theyweregladthathewasgoingWestatonce，tofulfillhisdoomwheretheywouldnotbeonlookers。Any—
how，theyconsoledthemselves，theyhadgotBelleofftheirhands。
Morethanthat，Belleseemedtohavegotherselfoffherhands。Herreputedprettinessmusthavebeenentirelytheresultofdetermination，ofafiercelittleambition。Onceshehadmarried，fastenedherselfonsomeone，cometoport，——itvanishedliketheornamentalplumagewhichdropsawayfromsomebirdsafterthematingseason。Theoneaggressiveactionofherlifewasover。Shebegantoshrinkinfaceandstature。Ofherharum—scarumspirittherewasnothingleftbutthelittlescreech。Withinafewyearsshelookedassmallandmeanasshewas。
Thor’schariotcreptalong。Theaapproachedthehouseunwillingly。Shedidn’tcareaboutthestrawberries，any—
how。ShehadcomeonlybecauseshedidnotwanttohurtDr。Archie’sfeelings。ShenotonlydislikedMrs。Archie，shewasalittleafraidofher。WhileTheawasgettingtheheavybaby—buggythroughtheirongatesheheardsomeonecall，\"Waitaminute！\"andMrs。Archiecamerunningaroundthehousefromthebackdoor，herapronoverherhead。Shecametohelpwiththebuggy，becauseshewasafraidthewheelsmightscratchthepaintoffthegate—
posts。Shewasaskinnylittlewomanwithagreatpileoffrizzylighthaironasmallhead。
\"Dr。Archietoldmetocomeupandpicksomestraw—
berries，\"Theamuttered，wishingshehadstayedathome。
Mrs。Archieledthewaytothebackdoor，squintingandshadinghereyeswithherhand。\"Waitaminute，\"shesaidagain，whenTheaexplainedwhyshehadcome。
ShewentintoherkitchenandTheasatdownontheporchstep。WhenMrs。Archiereappearedshecarriedinherhandalittlewoodenbutter—baskettrimmedwithfringedtissuepaper，whichshemusthavebroughthomefromsomechurchsupper。\"You’llhavetohavesomethingtoputthemin，\"shesaid，ignoringtheyawningwillowbasketwhichstoodemptyonThor’sfeet。\"Youcanhavethis，andyouneedn’tmindaboutreturningit。Youknowaboutnottramplingthevines，don’tyou？\"
Mrs。ArchiewentbackintothehouseandThealeanedoverinthesandandpickedafewstrawberries。Assoonasshewassurethatshewasnotgoingtocry，shetossedthelittlebasketintothebigoneandranThor’sbuggyalongthegravelwalkandoutofthegateasfastasshecouldpushit。Shewasangry，andshewasashamedforDr。Archie。Shecouldnothelpthinkinghowuncomfortablehewouldbeifheeverfoundoutaboutit。Littlethingslikethatweretheonesthatcuthimmost。Sheslunkhomebythebackway，andagainalmostcriedwhenshetoldhermotheraboutit。
Mrs。Kronborgwasfryingdoughnutsforherhusband’ssupper。Shelaughedasshedroppedanewlotintothehotgrease。\"It’swonderful，thewaysomepeoplearemade，\"
shedeclared。\"ButIwouldn’tletthatupsetmeifIwasyou。Thinkwhatitwouldbetolivewithitallthetime。
Youlookintheblackpocketbookinsidemyhandbagandtakeadimeandgodowntownandgetanice—creamsoda。
That’llmakeyoufeelbetter。Thorcanhavealittleoftheice—creamifyoufeedittohimwithaspoon。Helikesit，don’tyou，son？\"Shestoopedtowipehischin。Thorwasonlysixmonthsoldandinarticulate，butitwasquitetruethathelikedice—cream。
VI
Seenfromaballoon，MoonstonewouldhavelookedlikeaNoah’sarktownsetoutinthesandandlightlyshadedbygray—greentamarisksandcottonwoods。Afewpeopleweretryingtomakesoftmaplesgrowintheirturfedlawns，butthefashionofplantingincongruoustreesfromtheNorthAtlanticStateshadnotbecomegen—
eralthen，andthefrail，brightlypainteddeserttownwasshadedbythelight—reflecting，wind—lovingtreesofthedesert，whoserootsarealwaysseekingwaterandwhoseleavesarealwaystalkingaboutit，makingthesoundofrain。Thelongporousrootsofthecottonwoodareirre—
pressible。Theybreakintothewellsasratsdointograna—
ries，andthievethewater。
ThelongstreetwhichconnectedMoonstonewiththedepotsettlementtraversedinitscourseaconsiderablestretchofroughopencountry，stakedoutinlotsbutnotbuiltupatall，aweedyhiatusbetweenthetownandtherailroad。Whenyousetoutalongthisstreettogotothestation，younoticedthatthehousesbecamesmallerandfartherapart，untiltheyceasedaltogether，andtheboardsidewalkcontinueditsunevencoursethroughsunflowerpatches，untilyoureachedthesolitary，newbrickCatholicChurch。Thechurchstoodtherebecausethelandwasgiventotheparishbythemanwhoownedtheadjoiningwastelots，inthehopeofmakingthemmoresalable——
\"Farrier’sAddition，\"thispatchofprairiewascalledintheclerk’soffice。Aneighthofamilebeyondthechurchwasawashout，adeepsand—gully，wheretheboardsidewalkbecameabridgeforperhapsfiftyfeet。JustbeyondthegullywasoldUncleBillyBeemer’sgrove，——twelvetownlotssetoutinfine，well—growncottonwoodtrees，delightful
tolookupon，ortolistento，astheyswayedandrippledinthewind。UncleBillyhadbeenoneofthemostworthlessolddrunkardswhoeversatonastoreboxandtoldfilthystories。Onenightheplayedhide—and—seekwithaswitchengineandgothissoddenbrainsknockedout。Buthisgrove，theonecreditablethinghehadeverdoneinhislife，rustledon。Beyondthisgrovethehousesofthedepotsettlementbegan，andthenakedboardwalk，thathadruninoutofthesunflowers，againbecamealinkbetweenhumandwellings。
Oneafternoon，lateinthesummer，Dr。HowardArchiewasfightinghiswaybacktotownalongthiswalkthroughablindingsandstorm，asilkhandkerchieftiedoverhismouth。Hehadbeentoseeasickwomandowninthedepotsettlement，andhewaswalkingbecausehisponieshadbeenoutforaharddrivethatmorning。
AshepassedtheCatholicChurchhecameuponTheaandThor。Theawassittinginachild’sexpresswagon，herfeetoutbehind，kickingthewagonalongandsteeringbythetongue。Thorwasonherlapandsheheldhimwithonearm。Hehadgrowntobeabigcubofababy，withacon—
stitutionalgrievance，andhehadtobecontinuallyamused。
Theatookhimphilosophically，andtuggedandpulledhimabout，gettingasmuchfunasshecouldunderherencumbrance。Herhairwasblowingaboutherface，andhereyesweresquintingsointentlyattheunevenboardsidewalkinfrontofherthatshedidnotseethedoctoruntilhespoketoher。
\"Lookout，Thea。You’llsteerthatyoungsterintotheditch。\"
Thewagonstopped。Theareleasedthetongue，wipedherhot，sandyface，andpushedbackherhair。\"Oh，no，Iwon’t！Ineverranoffbutonce，andthenhedidn’tgetanythingbutabump。Helikesthisbetterthanababy—
buggy，andsodoI。\"
\"Areyougoingtokickthatcartallthewayhome？\"
\"Ofcourse。Wetakelongtrips；whereverthereisaside—
walk。It’snogoodontheroad。\"
\"Lookstomelikeworkingprettyhardforyourfun。
Areyougoingtobebusyto—night？Wanttomakeacallwithme？SpanishJohnny’scomehomeagain，allusedup。
Hiswifesentmewordthismorning，andIsaidI’dgoovertoseehimto—night。He’sanoldchumofyours，isn’the？\"
\"Oh，I’mglad。She’sbeencryinghereyesout。Whendidhecome？\"
\"Lastnight，onNumberSix。Paidhisfare，theytellme。
Toosicktobeatit。There’llcomeatimewhenthatboywon’tgetback，I’mafraid。Comearoundtomyofficeabouteighto’clock，——andyouneedn’tbringthat！\"
Thorseemedtounderstandthathehadbeeninsulted，forhescowledandbegantokickthesideofthewagon，shouting，\"Go—go，go—go！\"Thealeanedforwardandgrabbedthewagontongue。Dr。Archiesteppedinfrontofherandblockedtheway。\"Whydon’tyoumakehimwait？
Whatdoyoulethimbossyoulikethatfor？\"
\"Ifhegetsmadhethrowshimself，andthenIcan’tdoanythingwithhim。Whenhe’smadhe’slotsstrongerthanme，aren’tyou，Thor？\"Theaspokewithpride，andtheidolwasappeased。Hegruntedapprovinglyashissisterbegantokickrapidlybehindher，andthewagonrattledoffandsoondisappearedintheflyingcurrentsofsand。
ThateveningDr。Archiewasseatedinhisoffice，hisdeskchairtiltedback，readingbythelightofahotcoal—oillamp。
Allthewindowswereopen，butthenightwasbreathlessafterthesandstorm，andhishairwasmoistwhereithungoverhisforehead。Hewasdeeplyengrossedinhisbookandsometimessmiledthoughtfullyasheread。WhenTheaKronborgenteredquietlyandslippedintoaseat，henodded，finishedhisparagraph，insertedabookmark，androsetoputthebookbackintothecase。Itwasoneoutofthelongrowofuniformvolumesonthetopshelf。
\"NearlyeverytimeIcomein，whenyou’realone，you’rereadingoneofthosebooks，\"Thearemarkedthoughtfully。
\"Theymustbeverynice。\"
Thedoctordroppedbackintohisswivelchair，themot—
tledvolumestillinhishand。\"Theyaren’texactlybooks，Thea，\"hesaidseriously。\"They’reacity。\"
\"Ahistory，youmean？\"
\"Yes，andno。They’reahistoryofalivecity，notadeadone。AFrenchmanundertooktowriteaboutawholecityfulofpeople，allthekindsheknew。Andhegotthemnearlyallin，Iguess。Yes，it’sveryinteresting。You’llliketoreaditsomeday，whenyou’regrownup。\"
Thealeanedforwardandmadeoutthetitleontheback，\"ADistinguishedProvincialinParis。\"
\"Itdoesn’tsoundveryinteresting。\"
\"Perhapsnot，butitis。\"Thedoctorscrutinizedherbroadface，lowenoughtobeinthedirectlightfromunderthegreenlampshade。\"Yes，\"hewentonwithsomesat—
isfaction，\"Ithinkyou’lllikethemsomeday。You’realwayscuriousaboutpeople，andIexpectthismanknewmoreaboutpeoplethananybodythateverlived。\"
\"Citypeopleorcountrypeople？\"
\"Both。Peopleareprettymuchthesameeverywhere。\"
\"Oh，no，they’renot。Thepeoplewhogothroughinthedining—cararen’tlikeus。\"
\"Whatmakesyouthinktheyaren’t，mygirl？Theirclothes？\"
Theashookherhead。\"No，it’ssomethingelse。Idon’tknow。\"Hereyesshiftedunderthedoctor’ssearchinggazeandsheglancedupattherowofbooks。\"HowsoonwillIbeoldenoughtoreadthem？\"
\"Soonenough，soonenough，littlegirl。\"Thedoctorpattedherhandandlookedatherindexfinger。\"Thenail’scomingallright，isn’tit？ButIthinkthatmanmakesyoupracticetoomuch。Youhaveitonyourmindallthetime。\"Hehadnoticedthatwhenshetalkedtohim
shewasalwaysopeningandshuttingherhands。\"Itmakesyounervous。\"
\"No，hedon’t，\"Thearepliedstubbornly，watchingDr。
Archiereturnthebooktoitsniche。
Hetookupablackleathercase，putonhishat，andtheywentdownthedarkstairsintothestreet。Thesummermoonhungfullinthesky。Forthetimebeing，itwasthegreatfactintheworld。Beyondtheedgeofthetowntheplainwassowhitethateveryclumpofsagestoodoutdis—
tinctfromthesand，andtheduneslookedlikeashininglake。ThedoctortookoffhisstrawhatandcarrieditinhishandastheywalkedtowardMexicanTown，acrossthesand。
NorthofPueblo，MexicansettlementswererareinColoradothen。Thisonehadcomeaboutaccidentally。
SpanishJohnnywasthefirstMexicanwhocametoMoon—
stone。Hewasapainteranddecorator，andhadbeenworkinginTrinidad，whenRayKennedytoldhimtherewasa\"boom\"oninMoonstone，andagoodmanynewbuildingsweregoingup。AyearafterJohnnysettledinMoonstone，hiscousin，FamosSerrenos，cametoworkinthebrickyard；thenSerrenos’cousinscametohelphim。
Duringthestrike，themastermechanicputagangofMexicanstoworkintheroundhouse。TheMexicanshadarrivedsoquietly，withtheirblanketsandmusicalinstru—
ments，thatbeforeMoonstonewasawaketothefact，therewasaMexicanquarter；adozenfamiliesormore。
AsTheaandthedoctorapproachedthe’dobehouses，theyheardaguitar，andarichbarytonevoice——thatofFamosSerrenos——singing\"LaGolandrina。\"AlltheMexicanhouseshadneatlittleyards，withtamariskhedgesandflowers，andwalksborderedwithshellsorwhite—
washedstones。Johnny’shousewasdark。Hiswife，Mrs。
Tellamantez，wassittingonthedoorstep，combingherlong，blue—blackhair。（MexicanwomenareliketheSpar—
tans；whentheyareintrouble，inlove，understressofany
kind，theycombandcombtheirhair。）Sherosewithoutembarrassmentorapology，combinhand，andgreetedthedoctor。
\"Good—evening；willyougoin？\"sheaskedinalow，musicalvoice。\"Heisinthebackroom。Iwillmakealight。\"Shefollowedthemindoors，litacandleandhandedittothedoctor，pointingtowardthebedroom。Thenshewentbackandsatdownonherdoorstep。
Dr。ArchieandTheawentintothebedroom，whichwasdarkandquiet。Therewasabedinthecorner，andamanwaslyingonthecleansheets。Onthetablebesidehimwasaglasspitcher，half—fullofwater。SpanishJohnnylookedyoungerthanhiswife，andwhenhewasinhealthhewasveryhandsome：slender，gold—colored，withwavyblackhair，around，smooththroat，whiteteeth，andburningblackeyes。Hisprofilewasstrongandsevere，likeanIndian’s。Whatwastermedhis\"wildness\"showeditselfonlyinhisfeverisheyesandinthecolorthatburnedonhistawnycheeks。Thatnighthewasacopperygreen，andhiseyeswerelikeblackholes。Heopenedthemwhenthedoc—
torheldthecandlebeforehisface。
\"MITESTA！\"hemuttered，\"MITESTA，doctor。\"LA
FIEBRE！\"Seeingthedoctor’scompanionatthefootofthebed，heattemptedasmile。\"MUCHACHA！\"heexclaimeddeprecat—
ingly。
Dr。Archiestuckathermometerintohismouth。\"Now，Thea，youcanrunoutsideandwaitforme。\"
TheaslippednoiselesslythroughthedarkhouseandjoinedMrs。Tellamantez。ThesomberMexicanwomandidnotseeminclinedtotalk，buthernodwasfriendly。
Theasatdownonthewarmsand，herbacktothemoon，facingMrs。Tellamantezonherdoorstep，andbegantocountthemoonflowersonthevinethatranoverthehouse。
Mrs。Tellamantezwasalwaysconsideredaveryhomelywoman。Herfacewasofastronglymarkedtypenotsym—
pathetictoAmericans。Suchlong，ovalfaces，withafull
chin，alarge，mobilemouth，ahighnose，arenotuncom—
moninSpain。Mrs。Tellamantezcouldnotwritehername，andcouldreadbutlittle。Herstrongnatureliveduponitself。ShewaschieflyknowninMoonstoneforherforbear—
ancewithherincorrigiblehusband。
NobodyknewexactlywhatwasthematterwithJohnny，andeverybodylikedhim。Hispopularitywouldhavebeenunusualforawhiteman，foraMexicanitwasunprece—
dented。Histalentswerehisundoing。Hehadahigh，uncertaintenorvoice，andheplayedthemandolinwithexceptionalskill。Periodicallyhewentcrazy。Therewasnootherwaytoexplainhisbehavior。Hewasacleverworkman，and，whenheworked，asregularandfaithfulasaburro。Thensomenighthewouldfallinwithacrowdatthesaloonandbegintosing。Hewouldgoonuntilhehadnovoiceleft，untilhewheezedandrasped。Thenhewouldplayhismandolinfuriously，anddrinkuntilhiseyessankbackintohishead。Atlast，whenhewasputoutofthesaloonatclosingtime，andcouldgetnobodytolistentohim，hewouldrunaway——alongtherailroadtrack，straightacrossthedesert。Healwaysmanagedtogetaboardafreightsomewhere。OncebeyondDenver，heplayedhiswaysouthwardfromsaloontosaloonuntilhegotacrosstheborder。Heneverwrotetohiswife；butshewouldsoonbegintogetnewspapersfromLaJunta，Albuquerque，Chihuahua，withmarkedparagraphsan—
nouncingthatJuanTellamantezandhiswonderfulman—
dolincouldbeheardattheJackRabbitGrill，orthePearlofCadizSaloon。Mrs。Tellamantezwaitedandweptandcombedherhair。Whenhewascompletelywrungoutandburnedup，——allbutdestroyed，——herJuanalwayscamebacktohertobetakencareof，——oncewithanuglyknifewoundintheneck，oncewithafingermissingfromhisrighthand，——butheplayedjustaswellwiththreefingersashehadwithfour。
PublicsentimentwaslenienttowardJohnny，butevery—
bodywasdisgustedwithMrs。Tellamantezforputtingupwithhim。Sheoughttodisciplinehim，peoplesaid；sheoughttoleavehim；shehadnoself—respect。Inshort，Mrs。
Tellamantezgotalltheblame。EvenTheathoughtshewasmuchtoohumble。To—night，asshesatwithherbacktothemoon，lookingatthemoonflowersandMrs。Tella—
mantez’ssomberface，shewasthinkingthatthereisnoth—
ingsosadintheworldasthatkindofpatienceandresigna—
tion。ItwasmuchworsethanJohnny’scraziness。SheevenwonderedwhetheritdidnothelptomakeJohnnycrazy。
Peoplehadnorighttobesopassiveandresigned。ShewouldliketorolloverandoverinthesandandscreechatMrs。Tellamantez。Shewasgladwhenthedoctorcameout。
TheMexicanwomanroseandstoodrespectfulandex—
pectant。Thedoctorheldhishatinhishandandlookedkindlyather。
\"Sameoldthing，Mrs。Tellamantez。He’snoworsethanhe’sbeenbefore。I’veleftsomemedicine。Don’tgivehimanythingbuttoastwateruntilIseehimagain。You’reagoodnurse；you’llgethimout。\"Dr。Archiesmileden—
couragingly。Heglancedaboutthelittlegardenandwrinkledhisbrows。\"Ican’tseewhatmakeshimbehaveso。He’skillinghimself，andhe’snotarowdysortoffel—
low。Can’tyoutiehimupsomeway？Can’tyoutellwhenthesefitsarecomingon？\"
Mrs。Tellamantezputherhandtoherforehead。\"Thesaloon，doctor，theexcitement；thatiswhatmakeshim。
Peoplelistentohim，anditexciteshim。\"
Thedoctorshookhishead。\"Maybe。He’stoomuchformycalculations。Idon’tseewhathegetsoutofit。\"
\"Heisalwaysfooled，\"——theMexicanwomanspokerapidlyandtremulously，herlongunderlipquivering。
\"Heisgoodatheart，buthehasnohead。Hefoolshimself。
Youdonotunderstandinthiscountry，youareprogressive。
Buthehasnojudgment，andheisfooled。\"Shestoopedquickly，tookuponeofthewhiteconch—shellsthatbordered
thewalk，and，withanapologeticinclinationofherhead，heldittoDr。Archie’sear。\"Listen，doctor。Youhearsomethinginthere？Youhearthesea；andyettheseaisveryfarfromhere。Youhavejudgment，andyouknowthat。Butheisfooled。Tohim，itistheseaitself。A
littlethingisbigtohim。\"Shebentandplacedtheshellinthewhiterow，withitsfellows。Theatookitupsoftlyandpressedittoherownear。Thesoundinitstartledher；itwaslikesomethingcallingone。SothatwaswhyJohnnyranaway。Therewassomethingawe—inspiringaboutMrs。Tellamantezandhershell。
TheacaughtDr。Archie’shandandsqueezedithardassheskippedalongbesidehimbacktowardMoonstone。
Shewenthome，andthedoctorwentbacktohislampandhisbook。Heneverlefthisofficeuntilaftermidnight。
Ifhedidnotplaywhistorpoolintheevening，heread。
Ithadbecomeahabitwithhimtolosehimself。
VII
Thea’stwelfthbirthdayhadpassedafewweeksbeforehermemorablecalluponMrs。Tellamantez。
TherewasaworthymaninMoonstonewhowasalreadyplanningtomarryTheaassoonassheshouldbeoldenough。
HisnamewasRayKennedy，hisagewasthirty，andhewasconductoronafreighttrain，hisrunbeingfromMoonstonetoDenver。Raywasabigfellow，withasquare，openAmericanface，arockchin，andfeaturesthatonewouldneverhappentoremember。Hewasanaggressiveidealist，afreethinker，and，likemostrailroadmen，deeplysenti—
mental。ThealikedhimforreasonsthathadtodowiththeadventurouslifehehadledinMexicoandtheSouth—
west，ratherthanforanythingverypersonal。Shelikedhim，too，becausehewastheonlyoneofherfriendswhoevertookhertothesandhills。Thesandhillswereacon—
stanttantalization；shelovedthembetterthananythingnearMoonstone，andyetshecouldsoseldomgettothem。
Thefirstduneswereaccessibleenough；theywereonlyafewmilesbeyondtheKohlers’，andshecouldrunoutthereanydaywhenshecoulddoherpracticinginthemorningandgetThoroffherhandsforanafternoon。Buttherealhills——theTurquoiseHills，theMexicanscalledthem——
weretengoodmilesaway，andonereachedthembyaheavy，sandyroad。Dr。ArchiesometimestookTheaonhislongdrives，butasnobodylivedinthesandhills，heneverhadcallstomakeinthatdirection。RayKennedywasheronlyhopeofgettingthere。
ThissummerTheahadnotbeentothehillsonce，thoughRayhadplannedseveralSundayexpeditions。OnceThorwassick，andoncetheorganistinherfather’schurchwasawayandTheahadtoplaytheorganforthethreeSunday
services。ButonthefirstSundayinSeptember，RaydroveuptotheKronborgs’frontgateatnineo’clockinthemorn—