the suggestion
of purchasing the natural right of every man. "There's a woman's love
for every man in the world. That surely is so. Guess it's the good
God's scheme of things. Saint or sinner it doesn't matter a thing.
We're as God made us. And He's provided for all our needs. Some day
you'll wonder what it was ever made you feel this way. Some day," she
went on, smiling gently into the round face and the glowing eyes
regarding her, "when you're old, and rich, and happy in the bosom of
your family, in a swell house, maybe in New York City, you'll likely
get wondering how it came you sat right here making fool talk to a girl
denying the things Providence had set out for you." Her pretty eyes
became grave as she leaned forward earnestly. "Say, I can see it all
for you now. The picture's standing right out clear. I can see your
wife now----"

The man smiled at her earnestness as she paused.

"Can you?"

Jessie nodded. Her gaze was turned upon the far reach of the river.

"Yes. She's medium height--like you. She's a woman of sort of
practical motherly instinct. Her eyes are blue, and clear, and fine,
revealing the wholesome mind behind. She'll be slim, I guess, and her
gown's just swell--real swell. She'll----"

The man broke in on an impulse which he was powerless to deny.

"She won't be tall?" he demanded, his eyes shining into hers with an
intensity which made Jessie shrink before them. "She won't move with
the grace of--of a Juno, straight limbed, erect? She won't have dandy
gray eyes that look through and beyond all the time? She won't have
lovely brown hair which sort of reflects the old sun every time it
shines on it? She won't have a face so beautiful it sets a feller just
crazy to look at it? Say, if it was like that," he cried, in a voice
thrilling with passion, "I'd feel I didn't owe Providence the kick
I've----"

How far his feelings would have carried him it was impossible to say.
He had been caught off his guard, and had flung caution to the winds.
But he was spared the possible consequences by an interruption which
would not be denied. It was an interruption which had claimed them
both at the same instant.

A sound came out of the distance on the still evening air. It came
from the bend of the river where it swung away to the northwest. It
was the sound of the dipping of many paddles, a sound which was of
paramount importance to these people at all times.

The girl was on