_" he cried, as she turned away. There was genuine distress
in his voice. Columbine felt again an assurance that had troubled her.
No matter how she was reacting to this new relation, it seemed a fearful
truth that Jack was really falling in love with her. This time she did
not soften.

"I'll call dad to _make_ you stay home," he burst out again, his temper
rising.

Columbine wheeled as on a pivot.

"If you do you've got less sense than I thought."

[Illustration: "I know why you're going. It's to see that club-footed
cowboy Moore!... Don't let me catch you with him."]

Passion claimed him then.

"I know why you're going. It's to see that club-footed cowboy Moore!...
Don't let me catch you with him!"

Columbine turned her back upon Belllounds and swung away, every pulse in
her throbbing and smarting. She hurried on into the road. She wanted to
run, not to get out of sight or hearing, but to fly from something, she
knew not what.

"Oh! it's more than his temper!" she cried, hot tears in her eyes. "He's
mean--_mean_--MEAN! What's the use of me denying that--any more--just
because I love dad?... My life will be wretched.... It _is_ wretched!"

Her anger did not last long, nor did her resentment. She reproached
herself for the tart replies that had inflamed Jack. Never again would
she forget herself!

"But he--he makes me furious," she cried, in sudden excuse for herself.
"What did he say? 'That club-footed cowboy Moore'!... Oh, that was vile.
He's heard, then, that poor Wilson has a bad foot, perhaps permanently
crippled.... If it's true.... But why should he yell that he knew I
wanted to see Wilson?... I did _not!_ I _do_ not.... Oh, but I do,
I do!"

And then Columbine was to learn straightway that she would forget
herself again, that she had forgotten, and that a sadder, stranger truth
was dawning upon her--she was discovering another Columbine within
herself, a wilful, passionate, different creature who would no longer
be denied.

Almost before Columbine realized that she had started upon the visit she
was within sight of the Andrews ranch. So swiftly had she walked! It
behooved her to hide such excitement as had dominated her. And to that
end she slowed her pace, trying to put her mind on other matters.

The children saw her first and rushed upon her, so that when she
reached the cabin door she could not well have been otherwise than rosy
and smiling. Mrs. Andrews, ruddy and strong, looked the pioneer