rumors below Tularosa, and other matters interesting to citizens of
that land. We mentioned an impending visit of Eastern Capital bent
upon investigating our mineral wealth. We spoke of the vague rumor
that a railroad was heading north from El Paso, and might come close to
Heart's Desire if all went well; and, generous in the enthusiasm of the
hour, we builded upon that fancy, ending by a toast to Dan Anderson as
our first delegate to Congress. Dan bowed gravely, not knowing the
future any more than ourselves. Nor should it be denied that there was
talk of the new inhabitants across the arroyo. The morning promenade
of the man from Leavenworth had been productive of results; add to
these the results of so noble a feast as this Christmas dinner of ours,
and it was foregone that our hearts must expand to include in welcome
all humanity west of the Pecos.


After all, no man is better than the prettiest woman in his
environment. As to these girls from Kansas, it is to be said that
there had never before been a real woman in Heart's Desire. You, who
have always lived where there is law, and society, and women, and
home,--you cannot know what it is to see all these things gradually or
swiftly dawning upon your personal horizon. Yet this was the way of
Heart's Desire, where women and law and property were not.

It was perhaps the moon, or perhaps youth, or perhaps this state of
life to which I have referred. Assuredly the street was again flooded
with a grand, white moonlight, bright almost as a Northern day, when we
looked out of the little window.

Dan Anderson was the first to speak, after a silence which had fallen
amidst the dense tobacco smoke. "It cost us less than fifteen dollars