rough thing, she could see--but he had to make it at odd times with
what iron he could pick up or pay for, and at different forges where he
worked.

She begged his pardon--where--

WHERE HE WORKED.

Ah, then he was the machinist or engineer here?

No, he worked here just like the others, only he was allowed to put up a
forge while the grain was green, and have his bench in consideration of
the odd jobs he could do in the way of mending tools, etc. There was
a heap of mending and welding to do--she had no idea how quickly
agricultural machines got out of order! He had done much of his work on
the steam-engine on moonlit nights. Yes; she had no idea how perfectly
clear and light it was here in the valley on such nights; although of
course the shadows were very dark, and when he dropped a screw or a nut
it was difficult to find. He had worked there because it saved time
and because it didn't cost anything, and he had nobody to look on or
interfere with him. No, it was not lonely; the coyotes and wild cats
sometimes came very near, but were always more surprised and frightened
than he was; and once a horseman who had strayed off the distant road
yonder mistook him for an animal and shot at him twice.

He told all this with such freedom from embarrassment and with such
apparent unconsciousness of the blue eyes that were following him, and
the light, graceful figure,--which was so near his own that in some
of his gestures his grimy hands almost touched its delicate
garments,--that, accustomed as she was to a certain masculine aberration