samine. "I do wish you would come and live with me and Lin," said he.
"Lin's awful nice."

"Don't I know it?" said Jessamine, tenderly.

"Cause I heard you say you were going to marry him," went on Billy.
"And I seen him kiss you and you let him that time we went away when you
found out about mother. And you're not mad, and he's not, and nothing
happens at all, all the same! Won't you tell me, please?"

Jessamine's eyes were glistening, and she took him in her lap. She was
not going to tell him that he was too young this time. But whatever
things she had shaped to say to the boy were never said.

Through the noise of the gale came the steadier sound of the train,
and the girl rose quickly to preside over her ticket-office and duties
behind the railing in the front room of the station. The boy ran to the
window to watch the great event of Separ's day. The locomotive loomed
out from the yellow clots of drift, paused at the water-tank, and then
with steam and humming came slowly on by the platform. Slowly its long
dust-choked train emerged trundling behind it, and ponderously halted.
There was no one to go. No one came to buy a ticket of Jessamine. The
conductor looked in on business, but she had no telegraphic orders
for him. The express agent jumped off and looked in for pleasure. He
received his daily smile and nod of friendly discouragement. Then the
light bundle of mail was flung inside the door. Separ had no mail to
go out. As she was picking up the letters young Billy passed her like a
shadow, and fled out. Two passengers had descended from the train, a man
and a large woman. His clothes were loose and careless upon him. He held
valises, and stood uncertainly looking about him in the storm. Her
firm, heavy body was closely dressed. In her hat was a large, handsome
feather. Along between the several cars brakemen leaned out, watched
her, and grinned to each other. But her big, hard-shining blue eyes were
fixed curiously upon the station where Jessamine was.

"It's all night we may be here, is it?" she said to the man, harshly.

"How am I to help that?" he retorted.

"I'll help it. If this hotel's the sty it used to be, I'll walk to
Tommy's. I've not saw him since I left Bear Creek."

She stalked into the hotel, while the man went slowly to the station. He
entered, and found Jessamine behind her railing, sorting the slim mail.

"Good-evening," he said. "Excuse me. There was to be a wagon sent here."

"For th