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But you will be equally helpless； little one； if THEY should attract YOU；
and you had no tie to fall back upon。〃
It was an unfortunate speech。 The words were Don Caesar's； but the
thought she had heard before from her mother； although the deduction had
been of a very different kind。 Mamie followed the speaker with bright
but visionary eyes。 There must be some truth in all this。 Her mother
had said it； Mr。 Slinn had laughingly admitted it。 She HAD a brilliant
future before her！ Was she right in making it impossible by a rash and
foolish tie？ He himself had said she was inexperienced。 She knew it；
and yet； what was he doing now but taking advantage of that inexperience？
If he really loved her； he would be willing to submit to the test。 She did
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not ask a similar one from him； and was willing； if she came out of it free；
to marry him just the same。 There was something so noble in this
thought that she felt for a moment carried away by an impulse of
compassionate unselfishness； and smiled tenderly as she looked up in his
face。
〃Then you consent； Mamie？〃 he said； eagerly； passing his arm around
her waist。
〃Not now； Caesar；〃 she said； gently disengaging herself。 〃I must
think it over； we are both too young to act upon it rashly； it would be
unfair to you； who are so quiet and have seen so few girlsI mean
Americansto tie yourself to the first one you have known。 When I am
gone you will go more into the world。 There are Mr。 Slinn's two sisters
coming hereI shouldn't wonder if they were far cleverer and talked far
better than I doand think how I should feel if I knew that only a wretched
pledge to me kept you from loving them！〃 She stopped； and cast down
her eyes。
It was her first attempt at coquetry； for； in her usual charming
selfishness； she was perfectly frank and open； and it might not have been
her last； but she had gone too far at first； and was not prepared for a recoil
of her own argument。
〃If you admit that it is possiblethat it is possible to you！〃 he said；
quickly。
She saw her mistake。 〃We may not have many opportunities to meet
alone；〃 she answered； quietly； 〃and I am sure we would be happier when
we meet not to accuse each other of impossibilities。 Let us rather see
how we can communicate together； if anything should prevent our meeting。
Remember； it was only by chance that you were able to see me now。 If
ma has believed that she ought to have been consulted； our meeting
together in this secret way will only make matters worse。 She is even
now wondering where I am； and may be suspicious。 I must go back at
once。 At any moment some one may come here looking for me。〃
〃But I have so much to say；〃 he pleaded。 〃Our time has been so
short。〃
〃You can write。〃
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〃But what will your mother think of that？〃 he said； in grave
astonishment。
She colored again as she returned； quickly； 〃Of course； you must not
write to the house。 You can leave a letter somewhere for me say；
somewhere about here。 Stop！〃 she added； with a sudden girlish gayety；
〃see； here's the very place。 Look there！〃
She pointed to the decayed trunk of a blasted sycamore； a few feet
from the trail。 A cavity； breast high； half filled with skeleton leaves and
pine…nuts； showed that it had formerly been a squirrel's hoard； but for
some reason had been deserted。
〃Look！ it's a regular letter…box；〃 she continued； gayly； rising on tip…toe
to peep into its recesses。 Don Caesar looked at her admiringly； it seemed
like a return to their first idyllic love… making in the old days； when she
used to steal out of the cabbage rows in her brown linen apron and sun…
bonnet to walk with him in the woods。 He recalled the fact to her with
the fatality of a lover already seeking to restore in past recollections
something that was wanting in the present。 She received it with the
impatience of youth； to whom the present is all sufficient。
〃I wonder how you could ever have cared for me in that holland
apron；〃 she said； looking down upon her new dress。
〃Shall I tell you why？〃 he said； fondly； passing his arm around her
waist； and drawing her pretty head nearer his shoulder。
〃Nonot now！〃 she said； laughingly； but struggling to free herself。
〃There's not time。 Write it； and put it in the box。 There；〃 she added；
hastily； 〃listen！what's that？〃
〃It's only a squirrel；〃 he whispered reassuringly in her ear。
〃No； it's somebody coming！ I must go！ Please！ Caesar； dear！
There； then〃
She met his kiss half…way； released herself with a lithe movement of
her wrist and shoulder； and the next moment seemed to slip into the woods；
and was gone。
Don Caesar listened with a sigh as the last rustling ceased； cast a look
at the decayed tree as if to fix it in his memory； and then slowly retraced
his steps towards his tethered mustang。
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He was right； however； in his surmise of the cause of that interruption。
A pair of bright eyes had been watching them from the bough of an
adjacent tree。 It was a squirrel； who； having had serious and prior
intentions of making use of the cavity they had discovered； had only
withheld examination by an apparent courteous discretion towards the
intruding pair。 Now that they were gone he slipped down the tree and ran
towards the decayed stump。
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CHAPTER III
Apparently dissatisfied with the result of an investigation； which
proved that the cavity was unfit as a treasu