h."

Wilfred moved uneasily. "Has Lahoma made their acquaintance, then?"

"It looks like it, don't it?"

"What looks like it?" Wilfred asked with sudden sharpness.

"Why, her going off, with 'em to spend the winter in high life."

"That's why I was so glad to see you," Bill explained, "her being gone,
and us so lonesome. That's why I'd like to have you stay with us a
long time--until she comes back, if it suits you."

"But I thought.... But I came here to see Lahoma," cried Wilfred,
unable to conceal his disappointment. "I thought as I came up the road
that I saw her half-opening the cabin-door."

"That was Red Feather taking a peep at you. He's the Indian that
brought Lahoma to Willock, as a child. He comes, about once a year, to
see us, but this time he was a little too late for Lahoma. Yes, she's
gone East--they're all putting up in Kansas City just now; on their way
to Chicago."

"Son," said Willock, puffing steadily at his pipe, "why did you want to
see Lahoma?"

"Well--you know she was just a child when I was here before, but she's
hovered before my mind a good deal--I've been too busy to seek the
acquaintance of strangers--just want to keep the few I know." He blew a
rueful breath. "You can't think how all my air-castles have fallen
about my ears! I wanted to see Lahoma! Yes, I wanted to see how she'd
turned out. I have a good farm, now, not very far from Oklahoma City
and-- Well, being alone there, year after year, a fellow gets to
imagining a great many things--" He stopped abruptly.

"That's so," Willock agreed sympathetically. "I ain't a-saying that if
Lahoma'd been like me and Bill, she mightn't of liked farming with you
first-class. But she was born as an associate of high men and women,
not cows and chickens. It's the big world for her, and that's where
she's gone. She's with real folks. Be Mr. Edgerton Compton your
brother, or be he not, you can't imagine him setting down with us
sociable in this dugout. You're right about his being different. And
the fact that Miss Sellimer turned you down is encouraging, too. It
shows you couldn't run in her course; you didn't have the speed. I
guess we ain't made no mistake after ail."

There was silence, broken presently, by Bill--"I'm glad you've come,
sure!"

Presently the door opened, and the Indian chief glided into the
apartment with a grunt of salutation. He spread his blanket in a
corner, and sat down, turning a stolid face