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Page 45
"Oh, I think so--I hope so," answered Flo, as if in distress.
"I'm not so shore. But then I can't savvy her. Lord knows I hope so, too.
If she doesn't--if she goes back East an' leaves him here--I reckon my
case--"
"Hush! I know she's out here to take him back. Let's go downstairs now."
"Aw, wait--Flo," he begged. "What's your hurry? . . . Come-give me--"
"There! That's all you get, birthday or no birthday," replied Flo, gayly.
Carley heard the soft kiss and Stanton's deep breath, and then footsteps as
they walked away in the gloom toward the stairway. Carley leaned against
the log wall. She felt the rough wood--smelled the rusty pine rosin. Her
other hand pressed her bosom where her heart beat with unwonted vigor.
Footsteps and voices sounded beneath her. Twilight had deepened into night.
The low murmur of the waterfall and the babble of the brook floated to her
strained ears.
Listeners never heard good of themselves. But Stanton's subtle doubt of any
depth to her, though it hurt, was not so conflicting as the ringing truth
of Flo Hutter's love for Glenn. This unsought knowledge powerfully affected
Carley. She was forewarned and forearmed now. It saddened her, yet did not
lessen her confidence in her hold on Glenn. But it stirred to perplexing
pitch her curiosity in regard to the mystery that seemed to cling round
Glenn's transformation of character. This Western girl really knew more
about Glenn than his fiancee knew. Carley suffered a humiliating shock when
she realized that she had been thinking of herself, of her love, her life,
her needs, her wants instead of Glenn's. It took no keen intelligence or
insight into human nature to see that Glenn needed her more than she needed
him.
Thus unwontedly stirred and upset and flung back upon pride of herself,
Carley went downstairs to meet the assembled company. And never had she
shown to greater contrast, never had circumstance and state of mind
contrived to make her so radiant and gay and unbending. She heard many
remarks not intended for her far-reaching ears. An old grizzled Westerner
remarked to Hutter: "Wall, she's shore an unbroke filly." Another of the
company--a woman--remarked: "Sweet an' pretty as a columbine. But I'd like
her better if she was dressed decent." And a gaunt range rider, who stood
with others at the porch door, looking on, asked a comrade: "Do you reckon
that's style back East?" To which the other replied: "Mebbe, but I'd gamble
they're short on silk back East an' likewise sheriffs."
Carley received some meed of gratification out of the sensation she
created, but she did not carry her craving for it to the point of
overshadowing Flo. On the contrary, she contrived to have Flo share the
attention she received. She taught Flo to dance the fox-trot and got Glenn
to dance with her. Then she taught it to Lee Stanton. And when Lee danced
with Flo, to the infinite wonder and delight of the onlookers, Carley
experienced her first sincere enjoyment of the evening.
Her moment came when she danced with Glenn. It reminded her of days long
past and which she wanted to return again. Despite war tramping and Western
labors Glenn retained something of his old grace and lightness. But just to
dance with him was enough to swell her heart, and for once she grew
oblivious to the spectators.
"Glenn, would you like to go to the Plaza with me again, and dance between
dinner courses, as we used to?" she whispered up to him.
"Sure I would--unless Morrison knew you were to be there," he replied.
"Glenn! . . . I would not even see him."
"Any old time you wouldn't see Morrison!" he exclaimed, half mockingly.
His doubt, his tone grated upon her. Pressing closer to him, she said,
"Come back and I'll prove it."
But he laughed and had no answer for her. At her own daring words Carley's
heart had leaped to her lips. If he had responded, even teasingly, she
could have burst out with her longing to take him back. But silence
inhibited her, and the moment passed.
At the end of that dance Hutter claimed Glenn in the interest of
neighboring sheep men. And Carley, crossing the big living room alone,
passed close to one of the porch doors. Some one, indistinct in the shadow,
spoke to her in low voice: "Hello, pretty eyes!"
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