olygamous teachings of the prophet were a matter to mention
with lowered voice. Miss Gillespie, riding on the other side, was not
supposed to hear, and certainly appeared to take no interest in Mexico,
or Texas, or Joseph Smith and his unholy doctrines.

She made no attempt to enter into the conversation, and it seemed to
David, who now and then stole a shy look at her to see if she was
impressed by his intelligent comments, that she did not listen. Once
or twice, when the talk was at its acutest point of interest, she
struck her horse and left them, dashing on ahead at a gallop. At
another time she dropped behind, and his ear, trained in her direction,
heard her voice in alternation with Daddy John's. When she joined them
after this withdrawal she was bright eyed and excited.

"Father," she called as she came up at a sharp trot, "Daddy John says
the prairie's not far beyond. He says we'll see it soon--the prairie
that I've been thinking of all winter!"

Her enthusiasm leaped to David and he forgot the Mexican boundaries and
the polygamous Mormons, and felt like a discoverer on the prow of a
ship whose keel cuts unknown seas. For the prairie was still a word of
wonder. It called up visions of huge unpeopled spaces, of the flare of
far flung sunsets, of the plain blackening with the buffalo, of the
smoke wreath rising from the painted tepee, and the Indian, bronzed and
splendid, beneath his feathered crest.

"It's there," she cried, pointing with her whip. "I can't wait. I'm
going on."

David longed to go with her, but the doctor was deep in the extension
of slavery and of all the subjects this burned deepest. The prairie
was interesting but not when the repeal of the Missouri Compromise was
on the carpet. Watching the girl's receding shape, David listened
respectfully and heard of the dangers and difficulties that were sure
to follow on the acquisition of the great strip of Mexican territory.

All afternoon they had been passing through woods, the remnant of that
mighty forest which had once stretched from the Missouri to the
Alleghenies. Now its compact growth had become scattered and the sky,
flaming toward sunset, shone between the tree trunks. The road
ascended a slight hill and at the top of this Miss Gillespie appeared
and beckoned to them. As they drew near she turned and made a sweeping
gesture toward the prospect. The open prairie lay before them.

No one spoke. In mute wonderment they ga