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acceptance of it； she had been led astray by the child's easy
transference of dependence and the forgetfulness of youth； and was
only now dimly conscious of finding herself face to face with an
alien nature。
She started to her feet and followed the direction that Susy had
taken。 For a moment she had to front the afternoon trade wind which
chilled her as it swept the plain beyond the gateway； but was
stopped by the adobe wall； above whose shelter the stunted treetops
through years of exposureslanted as if trimmed by gigantic
shears。 At first； looking down the venerable alley of fantastic；
knotted shapes； she saw no trace of Susy。 But half way down the
gleam of a white skirt against a thicket of dark olives showed her
the young girl sitting on a bench in a neglected arbor。 In the
midst of this formal and faded pageantry she looked charmingly
fresh； youthful； and pretty； and yet the unfortunate woman thought
that her attitude and expression at that moment suggested more than
her fifteen years of girlhood。 Her golden hair still hung
unfettered over her straight； boy…like back and shoulders； her short
skirt still showed her childish feet and ankles； yet there seemed to
be some undefined maturity or a vague womanliness about her that
stung Mrs。 Peyton's heart。 The child was growing away from her；
too！
〃Susy！〃
The young girl raised her head quickly； her deep violet eyes seemed
also to leap with a sudden suspicion； and with a half…mechanical；
secretive movement； that might have been only a schoolgirl's
instinct； her right hand had slipped a paper on which she was
scribbling between the leaves of her book。 Yet the next moment；
even while looking interrogatively at her mother； she withdrew the
paper quietly； tore it up into small pieces； and threw them on the
ground。
But Mrs。 Peyton was too preoccupied with her news to notice the
circumstance； and too nervous in her haste to be tactful。 〃Susy；
your father has invited that boy； Clarence Brant；you know that
creature we picked up and assisted on the plains； when you were a
mere baby；to come down here and make us a visit。〃
Her heart seemed to stop beating as she gazed breathlessly at the
girl。 But Susy's face； unchanged except for the alert； questioning
eyes； remained fixed for a moment； then a childish smile of wonder
opened her small red mouth； expanded it slightly as she said
simply：
〃Lor； mar！ He hasn't； really！〃
Inexpressibly； yet unreasonably reassured； Mrs。 Peyton hurriedly
recounted her husband's story of Clarence's fortune； and was even
joyfully surprised into some fairness of statement。
〃But you don't remember him much； do you； dear？ It was so long ago；
andyou are quite a young lady now；〃 she added eagerly。
The open mouth was still fixed； the wondering smile would have been
idiotic in any face less dimpled； rosy； and piquant than Susy's。
After a slight gasp； as if in still incredulous and partly
reminiscent preoccupation； she said without replying：
〃How funny！ When is he coming？〃
〃Day after to…morrow；〃 returned Mrs。 Peyton； with a contented smile。
〃And Mary Rogers will be here； too。 It will be real fun for her。〃
Mrs。 Peyton was more than reassured。 Half ashamed of her jealous
fears； she drew Susy's golden head towards her and kissed it。 And
the young girl； still reminiscent； with smilingly abstracted
toleration； returned the caress。
CHAPTER II。
It was not thought inconsistent with Susy's capriciousness that she
should declare her intention the next morning of driving her pony
buggy to Santa Inez to anticipate the stage…coach and fetch Mary
Rogers from the station。 Mrs。 Peyton； as usual； supported the young
lady's whim and opposed her husband's objections。
〃Because the stage…coach happens to pass our gate； John； it is no
reason why Susy shouldn't drive her friend from Santa Inez if she
prefers it。 It's only seven miles； and you can send Pedro to follow
her on horseback to see that she comes to no harm。〃
〃But that isn't Pedro's business；〃 said Peyton。
〃He ought to be proud of the privilege；〃 returned the lady； with a
toss of her head。
Peyton smiled grimly； but yielded； and when the stage…coach drew up
the next afternoon at the Santa Inez Hotel； Susy was already waiting
in her pony carriage before it。 Although the susceptible driver；
expressman； and passengers generally； charmed with this golden…
haired vision； would have gladly protracted the meeting of the two
young friends； the transfer of Mary Rogers from the coach to the
carriage was effected with considerable hauteur and youthful dignity
by Susy。 Even Mary Rogers； two years Susy's senior； a serious
brunette； whose good…humor did not； however； impair her capacity for
sentiment； was impressed and even embarrassed by her demeanor； but
only for a moment。 When they had driven from the hotel and were
fairly hidden again in the dust of the outlying plain； with the
discreet Pedro hovering in the distance； Susy dropped the reins；
and； grasping her companion's arm； gasped； in tones of dramatic
intensity：
〃He's been heard from； and is coming HERE！〃
〃Who？〃
A sickening sense that her old confidante had already lost touch
with herthey had been separated for nearly two weeksmight have
passed through Susy's mind。
〃Who？〃 she repeated； with a vicious shake of Mary's arm； 〃why；
Clarence Brant； of course。〃
〃No！〃 said Mary； vaguely。
Nevertheless； Susy went on rapidly； as if to neutralize the effect
of her comrade's vacuity。
〃You never could have imagined it！ Never！ Even I； when mother told
me； I thought I should have fainted； and ALL would have been
revealed！〃
〃But；〃 hesitated the still wondering confidante； 〃I thought that was
all over long ago。 You haven't seen him nor heard from him since
that day you met accidentally at Santa Clara； two years ago； have
you？〃
Susy's eyes shot a blue ray of dark but unutterable significance
into Mary's； and then were carefully averted。 Mary Rogers； although
perfectly satisfied that Susy had never seen Clarence since；
nevertheless instantly accepted and was even thrilled with this
artful suggestion of a clandestine correspondence。 Such was the
simple faith of youthful friendship。
〃Mother knows nothing of it； of course； and a word from you or him
would ruin everything；〃 continued the breathless Susy。 〃That's why
I came to fetch you and warn you。 You must see him first； and warn
him at any cost。 If I hadn't run every risk to come here to…day；
Heaven knows what might have happened！ What do you think of the
ponies； dear？ They're my own； and the sweetest！ This one's Susy；
that one Clarence；but privately； you know。 Before the world and
in the stables he's only Birdie。〃
〃But I thought you wrote to me that you called them 'Paul and
Virginie；'〃 said Mary doubtfully。
〃I do； sometimes；〃 said Susy calmly。 〃But one h