d, "She is dear to me as my
own soul," and the joy of it would sweep everything else away.

There was no more sleep to be had for her.

The stars grew pale, and the rose dawn grew in the east. She presently
heard her companion return and replenish the fire, stirring about softly
among the dishes, and move away again, but she had turned her head away
that he might not see her face, and he evidently thought her still
sleeping.

So she lay and tried to reason things out; tried to scold herself for
thinking his words applied to her; tried to recall her city life and
friends, and how utterly alien this man and his work would be to them;
tried to think of the new day when she would probably reach her friends
again and this new friend would be lost sight of; felt a sharp twinge of
pain at the thought; wondered if she could meet Milton Hamar and what
they would say to one another, and if any sort of comfortable relations
could ever be established between them again; and knew they could not.
Once again the great horror rolled over her at thought of his kiss. Then
came the startling thought that he had used almost the same words to her
that this man of the desert had used about her, and yet how infinitely
different! How tender and deep and true, and pure and high his face in
contrast to the look she had seen upon that handsome, evil face bent
over her! She covered her eyes and shuddered again, and entertained a
fleeting wish that she might stay forever here and not return to his
hated presence.

Then back like a flood-tide of sunshine would come the thought of the
missionary and his love for her, and everything else would be
obliterated in the rapture it brought.

And thus on rosy wings the morning dawned, a clean, straight sunrise.

Hazel could hear the missionary stepping softly here and there preparing
breakfast, and knew he felt it time to be on the move. She must bestir
herself and speak, but her cheeks grew pink over the thought of it. She
kept waiting and trying to think how to say good-morning without a look
of guilty knowledge in her eyes. Presently she heard him call to Billy
and move away in the direction where the horse was eating his breakfast.
Then snatching her opportunity she slipped from under the canvas into
her green boudoir.

But even here she found evidences of her wise guide's care, for standing
in front of the largest cedar were two tin cups of clear water and
beside them a small pocket soap-case an