man。　　Thea　had　often　seen　the　desert　sunrise；a　light…
  hearted　affair；　where　the　sun　springs　out　of　bed　and　the
  world　is　golden　in　an　instant。　　But　this　canyon　seemed　to
  waken　like　an　old　man；　with　rheum　and　stiffness　of　the
  joints；　with　heaviness；　and　a　dull；　malignant　mind。　　She
  crouched　against　the　wall　while　the　stars　faded；　and　thought
  what　courage　the　early　races　must　have　had　to　endure　so
  much　for　the　little　they　got　out　of　life。
  At　last　a　kind　of　hopefulness　broke　in　the　air。　　In　a　mo…
  ment　the　pine　trees　up　on　the　edge　of　the　rim　were　flashing
  with　coppery　fire。　　The　thin　red　clouds　which　hung　above
  their　pointed　tops　began　to　boil　and　move　rapidly；　weaving
  in　and　out　like　smoke。　　The　swallows　darted　out　of　their
  rock　houses　as　at　a　signal；　and　flew　upward；　toward　the
  rim。　　Little　brown　birds　began　to　chirp　in　the　bushes　along
  the　watercourse　down　at　the　bottom　of　the　ravine；　where
  everything　was　still　dusky　and　pale。　　At　first　the　golden
  light　seemed　to　hang　like　a　wave　upon　the　rim　of　the　can…
  yon；　the　trees　and　bushes　up　there；　which　one　scarcely
  noticed　at　noon；　stood　out　magnified　by　the　slanting　rays。
  Long；　thin　streaks　of　light　began　to　reach　quiveringly
  down　into　the　canyon。　　The　red　sun　rose　rapidly　above　the
  tops　of　the　blazing　pines；　and　its　glow　burst　into　the　gulf；
  about　the　very　doorstep　on　which　Thea　sat。　　It　bored　into
  the　wet；　dark　underbrush。　　The　dripping　cherry　bushes；
  the　pale　aspens；　and　the　frosty　PINONS　were　glittering　and
  trembling；　swimming　in　the　liquid　gold。　　All　the　pale；　dusty
  little　herbs　of　the　bean　family；　never　seen　by　any　one　but
  a　botanist；　became　for　a　moment　individual　and　import…
  ant；　their　silky　leaves　quite　beautiful　with　dew　and　light。
  The　arch　of　sky　overhead；　heavy　as　lead　a　little　while　be…
  fore；　lifted；　became　more　and　more　transparent；　and　one
  could　look　up　into　depths　of　pearly　blue。
  The　savor　of　coffee　and　bacon　mingled　with　the　smell　of
  wet　cedars　drying；　and　Fred　called　to　Thea　that　he　was
  ready　for　her。　　They　sat　down　in　the　doorway　of　his
  kitchen；　with　the　warmth　of　the　live　coals　behind　them　and
  the　sunlight　on　their　faces；　and　began　their　breakfast；
  Mrs。　Biltmer's　thick　coffee　cups　and　the　cream　bottle
  between　them；　the　coffee…pot　and　frying…pan　conveniently
  keeping　hot　among　the　embers。
  〃I　thought　you　were　going　back　on　the　whole　proposi…
  tion；　Thea；　when　you　were　crawling　along　with　that　lan…
  tern。　　I　couldn't　get　a　word　out　of　you。〃
  〃I　know。　　I　was　cold　and　hungry；　and　I　didn't　believe
  there　was　going　to　be　any　morning；　anyway。　　Didn't　you
  feel　queer；　at　all？〃
  Fred　squinted　above　his　smoking　cup。　　〃Well；　I　am
  never　strong　for　getting　up　before　the　sun。　　The　world
  looks　unfurnished。　　When　I　first　lit　the　fire　and　had　a　square
  look　at　you；　I　thought　I'd　got　the　wrong　girl。　　Pale；　grim
  you　were　a　sight！〃
  Thea　leaned　back　into　the　shadow　of　the　rock　room　and
  warmed　her　hands　over　the　coals。　　〃It　was　dismal　enough。
  How　warm　these　walls　are；　all　the　way　round；　and　your
  breakfast　is　so　good。　　I'm　all　right　now；　Fred。〃
  〃Yes；　you're　all　right　now。〃　　Fred　lit　a　cigarette　and
  looked　at　her　critically　as　her　head　emerged　into　the　sun
  again。　　〃You　get　up　every　morning　just　a　little　bit　hand…
  somer　than　you　were　the　day　before。　　I'd　love　you　just　as
  much　if　you　were　not　turning　into　one　of　the　loveliest　wo…
  men　I've　ever　seen；　but　you　are；　and　that's　a　fact　to　be
  reckoned　with。〃　　He　watched　her　across　the　thin　line　of
  smoke　he　blew　from　his　lips。　　〃What　are　you　going　to　do
  with　all　that　beauty　and　all　that　talent；　Miss　Kronborg？〃
  She　turned　away　to　the　fire　again。　　〃I　don't　know　what
  you're　talking　about；〃　she　muttered　with　an　awkwardness
  which　did　not　conceal　her　pleasure。
  Ottenburg　laughed　softly。　　〃Oh；　yes；　you　do！　　Nobody
  better！　　You're　a　close　one；　but　you　give　yourself　away
  sometimes；　like　everybody　else。　　Do　you　know；　I've　de…
  cided　that　you　never　do　a　single　thing　without　an　ulterior
  motive。〃　　He　threw　away　his　cigarette；　took　out　his
  tobacco…pouch　and　began　to　fill　his　pipe。　　〃You　ride　and
  fence　and　walk　and　climb；　but　I　know　that　all　the　while
  you're　getting　somewhere　in　your　mind。　　All　these　things
  are　instruments；　and　I；　too；　am　an　instrument。〃　　He　looked
  up　in　time　to　intercept　a　quick；　startled　glance　from　Thea。
  〃Oh；　I　don't　mind；〃　he　chuckled；　〃not　a　bit。　　Every
  woman；　every　interesting　woman；　has　ulterior　motives；
  many　of　'em　less　creditable　than　yours。　　It's　your　constancy
  that　amuses　me。　　You　must　have　been　doing　it　ever　since
  you　were　two　feet　high。〃
  Thea　looked　slowly　up　at　her　companion's　good…humored
  face。　　His　eyes；　sometimes　too　restless　and　sympathetic　in
  town；　had　grown　steadier　and　clearer　in　the　open　air。　　His
  short　curly　beard　and　yellow　hair　had　reddened　in　the　sun
  and　wind。　　The　pleasant　vigor　of　his　person　was　always
  delightful　to　her；　something　to　signal　to　and　laugh　with　in
  a　world　of　negative　people。　　With　Fred　she　was　never　be…
  calmed。　　There　was　always　life　in　the　air；　always　something
  coming　and　going；　a　rhythm　of　feeling　and　action；
  stronger　than　the　natural　accord　of　youth。　　As　she　looked
  at　him；　leaning　against　the　sunny　wall；　she　felt　a　desire　to
  be　frank　with　him。　　She　was　not　willfully　holding　anything
  back。　　But；　on　the　other　hand；　she　could　not　force　things
  that　held　themselves　back。　　〃Yes；　it　was　like　that　when　I
  was　little；〃　she　said　at　last。　　〃I　had　to　be　close；　as　you
  call　it；　or　go　under。　　But　I　didn't　know　I　had　been　like　that
  since　you　came。　　I've　had　nothing　to　be　close　about。　　I
  haven't　thought　about　anything　but　having　a　good　time
  with　you。　　I've　just　drifted。〃
  Fred　blew　a　trail　of　smoke　out　into　the　breeze　and　looked
  knowing。　　〃Yes；　you　drift　like　a　rifle　ball；　my　dear。　　It's
  youryour　direction　that　I　like　best　of　all。　　Most　fellows
  wouldn't；　you　know。　　I'm　unusual。〃
  They　both　laughed；　but　Thea　frowned　questioningly。
  〃Why　wouldn't　most　fellows？　　Other　fellows　have　liked
  me。〃
  〃Yes；　serious　fellows。　　You　told　me　yourself　they　were　all
  old；　or　solemn。　　But　jolly　fellows　want　to　be　the　whole
  target。　　They　would　say　you　were　all　brain　and　muscle；
  that　you　have　no　feeling。〃
  She　glanced　at　him　sidewise。　　〃Oh；　they　would；　would
  they？〃
  〃Of　course　they　would；〃　Fred　continued　blandly。　　〃Jolly
  fellows　have　no　imagination。　　They　want　to　be　the　animat…
  ing　force。　　When　they　are　not　around；　they　want　a　girl　to
  beextinct；〃　he　waved　his　hand。　　〃Old　fellows　like　Mr。
  Nathanmeyer　understand　your　kind；　but　among　the　young
  ones；　you　are　rather　lucky　to　have　found　me。　　Even　I
  wasn't　always　so　wise。　　I've　had　my　time　of　thinking　it
  would　not　bore　me　to　be　the　Apollo　of　a　homey　flat；　and
  I've　paid　out　a　trifle　to　learn　better。　　All　those　things　get
  very　tedious　unless　they　are　hooked　up　with　an　idea　of
  some　sort。　　It's　because　we　DON'T　come　out　here　only　to
  look　at　each　other　and　drink　coffee　that　it's　so　pleasant　to
  look　at　each　other。〃　　Fred　drew　on　his　pipe　for　a　while；
  studying　Thea's　abstraction。　　She　was　staring　up　at　the
  far　wall　of　the　canyon　with　a　troubled　expression　that　drew
  her　eyes　narrow　and　her　mouth　hard。　　Her　hands　lay　in　her
  lap；　one　over　the　other；　the　fingers　interlacing。　　〃Suppose；〃
  Fred　came　out　at　length；〃suppose　I　were　to　offer　you
  what　most　of　the　young　men　I　know　would　offer　a　girl
  they'd　been　sitting　up　nights　about：　a　comfortable　flat　in
  Chicago；　a　summer　camp　up　in　the　woods；　musical　even…
  ings；　and　a　family　to　bring　up。　　Would　it　look　attractive
  to　you？〃
  Thea　sat　up　straight　and　stared　at　him　in　alarm；　glared
  into　his　eyes。　　〃Perfectly　hideous！〃　she　exclaimed。
  Fred　dropped　back　against　the　old　stonework　and
  laughed　deep　in　his　chest。　　〃Well；　don't　be　frightened。　　I
  won't　offer　them。　　You're　not　a　nest…building　bird。　　You
  know　I　always　liked　your　song；　‘Me　for　the　jolt　of　the
  breakers！'　　I　understand。〃
  She　rose　impatiently　and　walked　to　the　edge　of　the　cliff。
  〃It's　not　that　so　much。　　It's　waking　up　every　morning
  with　the　feeling　that　your　life　is　your　own；　and