the old civilization, but to the new. As he lay awake at night in
the log cabin that had been Lahoma's, his brain for a long time
every night was busy with thoughts of that new civilization, and he
was stirred with ambition to take part, so that when single
statehood or double statehood was achieved, he would be a recognized
factor in its transformation from a loosely-bound territory.

He began to think, too, of moving his residence to Oklahoma City,
where he would be closer to men of affairs--great men of great
enterprises. His farm, of course, would be managed under his
superintendence--unless Oklahoma City should be generous enough to
spread out and surround it, and lap it up, town-lot after town-lot,
till not a red clod was left.... And if a girl like Lahoma--for
surely she had not changed!--if she, little Lahoma.... And the
longing grew on him to see Annabel Sellimer and Lahoma together,
that he might study the girl he had once loved with the girl he
might love tomorrow. He almost made up his mind to take a brief
trip to Chicago, on quitting the cove; perhaps there would be
something in Lahoma's next letter to force a decision.

Two weeks passed, but Wilfred did not consider the time lost; there
were letters almost daily, by coach, from Lahoma, telling of her
adventures in the great world--the house-party had been delayed on
account of Mrs. Sellimer's illness, but was to take place
immediately--so said the last letter before the arrival of the news
that changed the course of events at the cove. As yet, Lahoma had
not met Mr. Gledware, but the fame of his riches and his luxurious
home had both increased her curiosity to see him, and her conviction
that Mr. Edgerton Compton stood no chance with Annabel. She had
discovered, too, that Edgerton Compton was a brother of the Wilfred