"Well--you know she was just a child when I was here before, but
she's hovered before my mind a good deal--I've been too busy to seek
the acquaintance of strangers--just want to keep the few I know."
He blew a rueful breath. "You can't think how all my air-castles
have fallen about my ears! I wanted to see Lahoma! Yes, I wanted
to see how she'd turned out. I have a good farm, now, not very far
from Oklahoma City and-- Well, being alone there, year after year,
a fellow gets to imagining a great many things--" He stopped
abruptly.

"That's so," Willock agreed sympathetically. "I ain't a-saying that
if Lahoma'd been like me and Bill, she mightn't of liked farming
with you first-class. But she was born as an associate of high men
and women, not cows and chickens. It's the big world for her, and
that's where she's gone. She's with real folks. Be Mr. Edgerton
Compton your brother, or be he not, you can't imagine him setting
down with us sociable in this dugout. You're right about his being
different. And the fact that Miss Sellimer turned you down is
encouraging, too. It shows you couldn't run in her course; you
didn't have the speed. I guess we ain't made no mistake after ail."

There was silence, broken presently, by Bill--"I'm glad you've come,
sure!"

Presently the door opened, and the Indian chief glided into the
apartment with a grunt of salutation. He spread his blanket in a
corner, and sat down, turning a stolid face to the fire.

"Don't pay no attention to him," remarked Willock, as if speaking
of some wild animal. "He comes and goes, and isn't troublesome if