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incline of the terrace； and he was astonished； in turning in the
saddle； to find that the casa； corral； and outbuildings had
completely vanished； and that behind him rolled only the long sea of
grain； which seemed to have swallowed them in its yellowing depths。
Before him lay the wooded ravine through which the stagecoach
passed； which was also the entrance to the rancho； and there； too；
probably； was the turning of which Susy had spoken。 But it was
still early for the rendezvous； indeed； he was in no hurry to meet
her in his present discontented state； and he made a listless
circuit of the field； in the hope of discovering the phenomena that
had caused the rancho's mysterious disappearance。 When he had found
that it was the effect of the different levels； his attention was
arrested by a multitude of moving objects in a still more distant
field； which proved to be a band of wild horses。 In and out among
them； circling aimlessly； as it seemed to him； appeared two horsemen
apparently performing some mystic evolution。 To add to their
singular performance； from time to time one of the flying herd；
driven by the horsemen far beyond the circle of its companions；
dropped suddenly and unaccountably in full career。 The field closed
over it as if it had been swallowed up。 In a few moments it
appeared again； trotting peacefully behind its former pursuer。 It
was some time before Clarence grasped the meaning of this strange
spectacle。 Although the clear； dry atmosphere sharply accented the
silhouette…like outlines of the men and horses； so great was the
distance that the slender forty…foot lasso； which in the skillful
hands of the horsemen had effected these captures； was COMPLETELY
INVISIBLE！ The horsemen were Peyton's vacqueros； making a selection
from the young horses for the market。 He remembered now that Peyton
had told him that he might be obliged to raise money by sacrificing
some of his stock； and the thought brought back Clarence's
uneasiness as he turned again to the trail。 Indeed； he was hardly
in the vein for a gentle tryst； as he entered the wooded ravine to
seek the madrono tree which was to serve as a guide to his lady's
bower。
A few rods further； under the cool vault filled with woodland
spicing； he came upon it。 In its summer harlequin dress of scarlet
and green； with hanging bells of poly…tinted berries； like some
personified sylvan Folly； it seemed a fitting symbol of Susy's
childish masquerade of passion。 Its bizarre beauty； so opposed to
the sober gravity of the sedate pines and hemlocks； made it an
unmistakable landmark。 Here he dismounted and picketed his horse。
And here； beside it； to the right； ran the little trail crawling
over mossy boulders； a narrow yellow track through the carpet of
pine needles between the closest file of trees； an almost
imperceptible streak across pools of chickweed at their roots； and a
brown and ragged swath through the ferns。 As he went on； the
anxiety and uneasiness that had possessed him gave way to a languid
intoxication of the senses； the mysterious seclusion of these
woodland depths recovered the old influence they had exerted over
his boyhood。 He was not returning to Susy； as much as to the older
love of his youth； of which she was； perhaps； only an incident。 It
was therefore with an odd boyish thrill again that； coming suddenly
upon a little hollow； like a deserted nest； where the lost trail
made him hesitate； he heard the crackle of a starched skirt behind
him； was conscious of the subtle odor of freshly ironed and scented
muslin； and felt the gentle pressure of delicate fingers upon his
eyes。
〃Susy！〃
〃You silly boy！ Where were you blundering to？ Why didn't you look
around you？〃
〃I thought I would hear your voices。〃
〃Whose voices； idiot？〃
〃Yours and Mary's；〃 returned Clarence innocently； looking round for
the confidante。
〃Oh； indeed！ Then you wanted to see MARY？ Well； she's looking for
me somewhere。 Perhaps you'll go and find her； or shall I？〃
She was offering to pass him when he laid his hand on hers to detain
her。 She instantly evaded it； and drew herself up to her full
height； incontestably displaying the dignity of the added inches to
her skirt。 All this was charmingly like the old Susy； but it did
not bid fair to help him to a serious interview。 And； looking at
the pretty； pink； mocking face before him； with the witchery of the
woodland still upon him； he began to think that he had better put it
off。
〃Never mind about Mary；〃 he said laughingly。 〃But you said you
wanted to see me； Susy； and here I am。〃
〃Said I wanted to see you？〃 repeated Susy； with her blue eyes lifted
in celestial scorn and wonderment。 〃Said I wanted to see you？ Are
you not mistaken； Mr。 Brant？ Really； I imagined that you came here
to see ME。〃
With her fair head upturned； and the leaf of her scarlet lip
temptingly curled over； Clarence began to think this latest phase of
her extravagance the most fascinating。 He drew nearer to her as he
said gently； 〃You know what I mean； Susy。 You said yesterday you
were troubled。 I thought you might have something to tell me。〃
〃I should think it was YOU who might have something to tell me after
all these years；〃 she said poutingly； yet self…possessed。 〃But I
suppose you came here only to see Mary and mother。 I'm sure you let
them know that plainly enough last evening。〃
〃But you said〃began the stupefied Clarence。
〃Never mind what I said。 It's always what I say； never what YOU
say； and you don't say anything。〃
The woodland influence must have been still very strong upon
Clarence that he did not discover in all this that； while Susy's
general capriciousness was unchanged； there was a new and singular
insincerity in her manifest acting。 She was either concealing the
existence of some other real emotion； or assuming one that was
absent。 But he did not notice it； and only replied tenderly：
〃But I want to say a great deal to you； Susy。 I want to say that if
you still feel as I do； and as I have always felt； and you think you
could be happy as I would be ififwe could be always together； we
need not conceal it from your mother and father any longer。 I am
old enough to speak for myself； and I am my own master。 Your mother
has been very kind to me；so kind that it doesn't seem quite right
to deceive her；and when I tell her that I love you； and that I
want you to be my wife； I believe she will give us her blessing。〃
Susy uttered a strange little laugh； and with an assumption of
coyness； that was； however； still affected； stooped to pick a few
berries from a manzanita bush。
〃I'll tell you what she'll say； Clarence。 She'll say you're
frightfully young； and so you are！〃
The young fellow tried to echo the laugh； but felt as if he had
received a blow。 For the first time he was conscious of the truth：
this girl； whom he had fondly regarded as a