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had left。 Even in the mischievous glances of evasive squirrels and
the moist eyes of the contemplative rabbits there were faint
suggestions of some of his own truants。 The woods were trembling
with gentle memories of the independence he had always known here
of that sweet and grave retreat now so ridiculously invaded。
He began to hesitate； with one of those revulsions of sentiment
characteristic of his nature： Why should he bother himself about
this girl after all？ Why not make up his mind to accept her as his
predecessor had done？ Why was it necessary for him to find her
inconsistent with his ideas of duty to his little flock and his
mission to them？ Was he not assuming a sense of decorum that was
open to misconception？ The absurdity of her school costume； and
any responsibility it incurred； rested not with him but with her
parents。 What right had he to point it out to them； and above all
how was he to do it？ He halted irresolutely at what he believed
was his sober second thought； but which； like most reflections that
take that flattering title； was only a reaction as impulsive and
illogical as the emotion that preceded it。
Mr。 McKinstry's 〃snake rail〃 fence was already discernible in the
lighter opening of the woods； not far from where he had halted。 As
he stood there in hesitation； the pretty figure and bright gown of
Cressy McKinstry suddenly emerged from a more secluded trail that
intersected his own at an acute angle a few rods ahead of him。 She
was not alone； but was accompanied by a male figure whose arm she
had evidently just dislodged from her waist。 He was still trying
to resume his lost vantage； she was as resolutely evading him with
a certain nymph…like agility； while the sound of her half…laughing；
half…irate protest could be faintly heard。 Without being able to
identify the face or figure of her companion at that distance； he
could see that it was NOT her former betrothed； Seth Davis。
A superior smile crossed his face； he no longer hesitated； but at
once resumed his former path。 For some time Cressy and her
companion moved on quietly before him。 Then on reaching the rail…
fence they turned abruptly to the right； were lost for an instant
in the intervening thicket； and the next moment Cressy appeared
alone； crossing the meadow in a shorter cut towards the house；
having either scaled the fence or slipped through some familiar
gap。 Her companion had disappeared。 Whether they had noticed that
they were observed he could not determine。 He kept steadily along
the trail that followed the line of fence to the lane that led
directly to the farm…building； and pushed open the front gate as
Cressy's light dress vanished round an angle at the rear of the
house。
The house of the McKinstrys rose； or rather stretched； itself
before him； in all the lazy ungainliness of Southwestern
architecture。 A collection of temporary make…shifts of boards； of
logs； of canvas； prematurely decayed； and in some instances
abandoned for a newer erection； or degraded to mere outhousesit
presented with singular frankness the nomadic and tentative
disposition of its founder。 It had been repaired without being
improved； its additions had seemed only to extend its primitive
ugliness over a larger space。 Its roofs were roughly shingled or
rudely boarded and battened； and the rafters of some of its 〃lean…
to's〃 were simply covered with tarred canvas。 As if to settle any
doubt of the impossibility of this heterogeneous mass ever taking
upon itself any picturesque combination； a small building of
corrugated iron； transported in sections from some remoter
locality； had been set up in its centre。 The McKinstry ranch had
long been an eyesore to the master： even that morning he had been
mutely wondering from what convolution of that hideous chrysalis
the bright butterfly Cressy had emerged。 It was with a renewal of
this curiosity that he had just seen her flutter back to it again。
A yellow dog who had observed him hesitating in doubt where he
should enter； here yawned； rose from the sunlight where he had been
blinking； approached the master with languid politeness； and then
turned towards the iron building as if showing him the way。 Mr。
Ford followed him cautiously； painfully conscious that his
hypocritical canine introducer was only availing himself of an
opportunity to gain ingress into the house； and was leading him as
a responsible accomplice to probable exposure and disgrace。 His
expectation was quickly realized： a lazily querulous； feminine
outcry； with the words； 〃Yer's that darned hound agin！〃 came from
an adjacent room； and his exposed and abashed companion swiftly
retreated past him into the road again。 Mr。 Ford found himself
alone in a plainly…furnished sitting…room confronting the open door
leading to another apartment at which the figure of a woman；
preceded hastily by a thrown dishcloth； had just appeared。 It was
Mrs。 McKinstry； her sleeves were rolled up over her red but still
shapely arms； and as she stood there wiping them on her apron； with
her elbows advanced； and her closed hands raised alternately in the
air； there was an odd pugilistic suggestion in her attitude。 It
was not lessened on her sudden discovery of the master by her
retreating backwards with her hands up and her elbows still well
forward as if warily retiring to an imaginary 〃corner。〃
Mr。 Ford at once tactfully stepped back from the doorway。 〃I beg
your pardon；〃 he said； delicately addressing the opposite wall；
〃but I found the door open and I followed the dog。〃
〃That's just one of his pizenous tricks；〃 responded Mrs。 McKinstry
dolefully from within。 〃On'y last week he let in a Chinaman； and
in the nat'ral hustlin' that follered he managed to help himself
outer the pork bar'l。 There ain't no shade o' cussedness that
or'nary hound ain't up to。〃 Yet notwithstanding this ominous
comparison she presently made her appearance with her sleeves
turned down； her black woollen dress 〃tidied；〃 and a smile of
fatigued but not unkindly welcome and protection on her face。
Dusting a chair with her apron and placing it before the master；
she continued maternally； 〃Now that you're here； set ye right down
and make yourself to home。 My men folks are all out o' door； but
some of 'em's sure to happen in soon for suthin'； that day ain't
yet created that they don't come huntin' up Mammy McKinstry every
five minutes for this thing or that。〃
The glow of a certain hard pride burned through the careworn
languor of her brown cheek。 What she had said was strangely true。
This raw…boned woman before him； although scarcely middle…aged； had
for years occupied a self…imposed maternal and protecting relation；
not only to her husband and brothers； but to the three or four men；
who as partners； or hired hands； lived at the ranch。 An inherited
and trained sympathy with what she called her 〃boys's〃 and her 〃men
folk；〃 and their need