un；　and　somehow　to　her　singularly　detached　from　the　life　wherein　he　had　once　moved　and　to　which　she　yearned　to　take　him　back。　Suddenly　an　unaccountable　flashing　query　assailed　her　conscience：　How　dare　she　want　to　take　him　back？　She　seemed　as　shocked　as　if　some　stranger　had　accosted　her。　What　was　this　dimming　of　her　eye；　this　inward　tremulousness；　this　dammed　tide　beating　at　an　unknown　and　riveted　gate　of　her　intelligence？　She　felt　more　then　than　she　dared　to　face。　She　struggled　against　something　in　herself。　The　old　habit　of　mind　instinctively　resisted　the　new；　the　strange。　But　she　did　not　come　off　wholly　victorious。　The　Carley　Burch　whom　she　recognized　as　of　old；　passionately　hated　this　life　and　work　of　Glenn　Kilbourne's；　but　the　rebel　self；　an　unaccountable　and　defiant　Carley；　loved　him　all　the　better　for　them。
  Carley　drew　a　long　deep　breath　before　she　called　Glenn。　This　meeting　would　be　momentous　and　she　felt　no　absolute　surety　of　herself。
  Manifestly　he　was　surprised　to　hear　her　call；　and；　dropping　his　sack　and　implement；　he　hurried　across　the　tilled　ground；　sending　up　puffs　of　dust。　He　vaulted　the　rude　fence　of　poles；　and　upon　sight　of　her　called　out　lustily。　How　big　and　virile　he　looked！　Yet　he　was　gaunt　and　strained。　It　struck　Carley　that　he　had　not　looked　so　upon　her　arrival　at　Oak　Creek。　Had　she　worried　him？　The　query　gave　her　a　pang。
  〃Sir　Tiller　of　the　Fields；〃　said　Carley；　gayly；　〃see；　your　dinner！　I　brought　it　and　I　am　going　to　share　it。〃
  〃You　old　darling！〃　he　replied；　and　gave　her　an　embrace　that　left　her　cheek　moist　with　the　sweat　of　his。　He　smelled　of　dust　and　earth　and　his　body　was　hot。　〃I　wish　to　God　it　could　be　true　for　always！〃
  His　loving；　bearish　onslaught　and　his　words　quite　silenced　Carley。　How　at　critical　moments　he　always　said　the　thing　that　hurt　her　or　inhibited　her！　She　essayed　a　smile　as　she　drew　back　from　him。
  〃It's　sure　good　of　you；〃　he　said；　taking　the　basket。　〃I　was　thinking　I'd　be　through　work　sooner　today；　and　was　sorry　I　had　not　made　a　date　with　you。　Come；　we'll　find　a　place　to　sit。〃
  Whereupon　he　led　her　back　under　the　trees　to　a　half…sunny；　half…shady　bench　of　rock　overhanging　the　stream。　Great　pines　overshadowed　a　still；　eddying　pool。　A　number　of　brown　butterflies　hovered　over　the　water；　and　small　trout　floated　like　spotted　feathers　just　under　the　surface。　Drowsy　summer　enfolded　the　sylvan　scene。
  Glenn　knelt　at　the　edge　of　the　brook；　and；　plunging　his　hands　in；　he　splashed　like　a　huge　dog　and　bathed　his　hot　face　and　head；　and　then　turned　to　Carley　with　gay　words　and　laughter；　while　he　wiped　himself　dry　with　a　large　red　scarf。　Carley　was　not　proof　against　the　virility　of　him　then；　and　at　the　moment；　no　matter　what　it　was　that　had　made　him　the　man　he　looked；　she　loved　it。
  〃I'll　sit　in　the　sun；〃　he　said；　designating　a　place。　〃When　you're　hot　you　mustn't　rest　in　the　shade；　unless　you've　coat　or　sweater。　But　you　sit　here　in　the　shade。〃
  〃Glenn；　that'll　put　us　too　far　apart；〃　complained　Carley。　〃I'll　sit　in　the　sun　with　you。〃
  The　delightful　simplicity　and　happiness　of　the　ensuing　hour　was　something　Carley　believed　she　would　never　forget。
  〃There！　we've　licked　the　platter　clean；〃　she　said。　〃What　starved　bears　we　were！　。　。　。　。　I　wonder　if　I　shall　enjoy　eatingwhen　I　get　home。　I　used　to　be　so　finnicky　and　picky。〃
  〃Carley；　don't　talk　about　home；〃　said　Glenn；　appealingly。
  〃You　dear　old　farmer；　I'd　love　to　stay　here　and　just　dreamforever；〃　replied　Carley；　earnestly。　〃But　I　came　on　purpose　to　talk　seriously。〃
  〃Oh；　you　did！　About　what？〃　he　returned；　with　some　quick；　indefinable　change　of　tone　and　expression。
  〃Well；　first　about　your　work。　I　know　I　hurt　your　feelings　when　I　wouldn't　listen。　But　I　wasn't　ready。　I　wanted　toto　just　be　gay　with　you　for　a　while。　Don't　think　I　wasn't　interested。　I　was。　And　now；　I'm　ready　to　hear　all　about　itand　everything。〃
  She　smiled　at　him　bravely；　and　she　knew　that　unless　some　unforeseen　shock　upset　her　composure；　she　would　be　able　to　conceal　from　him　anything　which　might　hurt　his　feelings。
  〃You　do　look　serious；〃　he　said；　with　keen　eyes　on　her。
  〃Just　what　are　your　business　relations　with　Hutter？〃　she　inquired。
  〃I'm　simply　working　for　him；〃　replied　Glenn。　〃My　aim　is　to　get　an　interest　in　his　sheep；　and　I　expect　to；　some　day。　We　have　some　plans。　And　one　of　them　is　the　development　of　that　Deep　Lake　section。　You　rememberyou　were　with　us。　The　day　Spillbeans　spilled　you？〃
  〃Yes；　I　remember。　It　was　a　pretty　place；〃　she　replied。
  Carley　did　not　tell　him　that　for　a　month　past　she　had　owned　the　Deep　Lake　section　of　six　hundred　and　forty　acres。　She　had；　in　fact；　instructed　Hutter　to　purchase　it；　and　to　keep　the　transaction　a　secret　for　the　present。　Carley　had　never　been　able　to　understand　the　impulse　that　prompted　her　to　do　it。　But　as　Hutter　had　assured　her　it　was　a　remarkably　good　investment　on　very　little　capital；　she　had　tried　to　persuade　herself　of　its　advantages。　Back　of　it　all　had　been　an　irresistible　desire　to　be　able　some　day　to　present　to　Glenn　this　ranch　site　he　loved。　She　had　concluded　he　would　never　wholly　dissociate　himself　from　this　West；　and　as　he　would　visit　it　now　and　then；　she　had　already　begun　forming　plans　of　her　own。　She　could　stand　a　month　in　Arizona　at　long　intervals。
  〃Hutter　and　I　will　go　into　cattle　raising　some　day；〃　went　on　Glenn。　〃And　that　Deep　Lake　place　is　what　I　want　for　myself。〃
  〃What　work　are　you　doing　for　Hutter？〃　asked　Carley。
  〃Anything　from　building　fence　to　cutting　timber；〃　laughed　Glenn。　〃I've　not　yet　the　experience　to　be　a　foreman　like　Lee　Stanton。　Besides；　I　have　a　little　business　all　my　own。　I　put　all　my　money　in　that。〃
  〃You　mean　herethisthis　farm？〃
  〃Yes。　And　the　stock　I'm　raisin'。　You　see　I　have　to　feed　corn。　And　believe　me；　Carley；　those　cornfields　represent　some　job。〃
  〃I　can　well　believe　that；〃　replied　Carley。　〃Youyou　looked　it。〃
  〃Oh；　the　hard　work　is　over。　All　I　have　to　do　now　it　to　plant　and　keep　the　weeds　out。〃
  〃Glenn；　do　sheep　eat　corn？〃
  〃I　plant　corn　to　feed　my　hogs。〃
  〃Hogs？〃　she　echoed；　vaguely。
  〃Yes；　hogs；〃　he　said；　with　quiet　gravity。　〃The　first　day　you　visited　my　cabin　I　told　you　I　raised　hogs；　and　I　fried　my　own　ham　for　your　dinner。〃
  〃Is　that　what　youput　your　money　in？〃
  〃Yes。　And　Hutter　says　I've　done　well。〃
  〃Hogs！〃　ejaculated　Carley；　aghast。
  〃My　dear；　are　you　growin'　dull　of　comprehension？〃　retorted　Glenn。　〃H…o…g…s。〃　He　spelled　the　word　out。　〃I'm　in　the　hog…raising　business；　and　pretty　blamed　well　pleased　over　my　success　so　far。〃
  Carley　caught　herself　in　time　to　quell　outwardly　a　shock　of　amaze　and　revulsion。　She　laughed；　and　exclaimed　against　her　stupidity。　The　look　of　Glenn　was　no　less　astounding　than　the　content　of　his　words。　He　was　actually　proud　of　his　work。　Moreover；　he　showed　not　the　least　sign　that　he　had　any　idea　such　information　might　be　startlingly　obnoxious　to　his　fiancee。
  〃Glenn！　It's　soso　queer；〃　she　ejaculated。　〃That　youGlenn　Kilbourne…　should　ever　go　in　forfor　hogs！　。　。　。　It's　unbelievable。　How'd　you　everever　happen　to　do　it？〃
  〃By　Heaven！　you're　hard　on　me！〃　he　burst　out；　in　sudden　dark；　fierce　passion。　〃How'd　I　ever　happen　to　do　it？　。　。　。　What　was　there　left　for　me？　I　gave　my　soul　and　heart　and　body　to　the　governmentto　fight　for　my　country。　I　came　home　a　wreck。　What　did　my　government　do　for　me？　What　did　my　employers　do　for　me？　What　did　the　people　I　fought　for　do　for　me？　。　。　。　Nothingso　help　me　Godnothing！　。　。　。　I　got　a　ribbon　and　a　bouqueta　little　applause　for　an　hourand　then　the　sight　of　me　sickened　my　countrymen。　I　was　broken　and　used。　I　was　absolutely　forgotten。　。　。　。　But　my　body；　my　life；　my　soul　meant　all　to　me。　My　future　was　ruined；　but　I　wanted　to　live。　I　had　killed　men　who　never　harmed　meI　was　not　fit　to　die。　。　。　。　I　tried　to　live。　So　I　fought　out　my　battle　alone。　Alone！　。　。　。　No　one　understood。　No　one　cared。　I　came　West　to　keep　from　dying　of　consumption　in　sight　of　the　indifferent　mob　for　whom　I　had　sacrificed　myself。　I　chose　to　die　on　my　feet　away　off　alone　somewhere。　。　。　。　But　I　got　well。　And　what　made　me　welland　saved　my　soulwas　the　first　work　that　offered。　Raising　and　tending　hogs！〃
  The　dead　whiteness　of　Glenn's　face；　the　lightning　scorn　of　his　eyes；　the　grim；　stark　strangeness　of　him　then　had　for　Carley　a　terrible　harmony　with　this　passionate　denunciation　of　her；　of　her　kind；　of　the　America　for　whom　he　had　lost　all。
  〃Oh；　Glenn！forgiveme！　〃　she　faltered。　〃I　was　onlytalking。　What　do　I　know？　Oh；　I　am　blindblind　and　little！〃
  She　could　not　bear　to　face　him　for　a　moment；　and　she　hung　her　head。　Her　intelligence　seemed　concentrating　swift；　wild　thoughts　round　the　shock　to　her　consciousness。　By　that　terrible　expression　of　his　face；　by　those　thundering　words　of　scorn；　would　she　come　to　realize　the　mighty　truth　of　his　descent　into　the　abyss　and　his　rise　to　the　heights。　Vaguely　she　began　to　see。　An　awful　sense　of　her　deadness；　of　her　soul…blighting　selfishness；　began　to　dawn　upon　her　as　something　monstrous　out　of　dim；　gray　obscurity。　She　trembled　under　the　reality　of　thoughts　that　were　not　new。　How　she　had　babbled　about　Glenn　and　the　crippled　soldiers！　How　she　had　imagined　she　sympathized！　But　she　had　only　been　a　vain；　worldly；　complacent；　effusive　little　fool。　She　had　here　the　shock　of　her　life；　and　she　se