his cheek, thrilled Annixter with a delight such as he had never known.
He bent his head and kissed her upon the nape of her neck, where the
delicate amber tint melted into the thick, sweet smelling mass of her
dark brown hair. She shivered a little, holding him closer, ashamed
as yet to look up. Without speech, they stood there for a long minute,
holding each other close. Then Hilma pulled away from him, mopping her
tear-stained cheeks with the little moist ball of her handkerchief.

"What do you say? Is it a go?" demanded Annixter jovially.

"I thought I hated you all the time," she said, and the velvety
huskiness of her voice never sounded so sweet to him.

"And I thought it was that crockery smashing goat of a lout of a
cow-puncher."

"Delaney? The idea! Oh, dear! I think it must always have been you."

"Since when, Hilma?" he asked, putting his arm around her. "Ah, but it
is good to have you, my girl," he exclaimed, delighted beyond words that
she permitted this freedom. "Since when? Tell us all about it."

"Oh, since always. It was ever so long before I came to think of
you--to, well, to think about--I mean to remember--oh, you know what I
mean. But when I did, oh, THEN!"

"Then what?"

"I don't know--I haven't thought--that way long enough to know."

"But you said you thought it must have been me always."

"I know; but that was different--oh, I'm all mixed up. I'm so nervous
and trembly now. Oh," she cried suddenly, her face overcast with a look
of earnestness and great seriousness, both her hands catching at his
wrist, "Oh, you WILL be good to me, now, won't you? I'm only a little,
little child in so many ways, and I've given myself to you, all in a
minute, and I can't go back of it now, and it's for always. I don't know
how it happened or why. Sometimes I think I didn't wish it, but now it's
done, and I am glad and happy. But NOW if you weren't good to me--oh,
think of how it would be with me. You are strong, and big, and rich, and
I am only a servant of yours, a little nobody, but I've given all I had
to you--myself--and you must be so good to me now. Always remember
that. Be good to me and be gentle and kind to me in LITTLE things,--in
everything, or you will break my heart."

Annixter took her in his arms. He was speechless. No words that he had
at his command seemed adequate. All he could say was:

"That's all right, little girl. Don't you be frightened. I'll take care
of you. That's all right