them--close, so close that he could have reached
out and touched her. Slowly there came over them a filmy softness. And
then, marvellously, he saw the tears gathering, as dew might gather
over the sweet petals of a flower. And still for a moment she did not
speak. There came a little quiver at her throat, and she caught herself
with a quick, soft breath.

"Yes, I thought you were some one else--whom I fear," she said then.
"But why should I tell you? You are from down there, from what you
please to call civilization. I should distrust you because of that. So
why--why should I tell you?"

In an instant Philip was at her side. In his rough, storm-beaten hand
he caught the white fingers that trembled at her breast. And there was
something about him now that made her completely unafraid.

"Why?" he asked. "Listen, and I will tell you. Four years ago I came up
into this country from down there--the world they call Civilization. I
came up with every ideal and every dream I ever had broken and crushed.
And up here I found God's Country. I found new ideals and new dreams. I
am going back with them. But they can never be broken as the others
were--because--now--I have found something that will make them live.
And that something is YOU! Don't let my words startle you. I mean them
to be as pure as the sun that shines over our heads. If I leave you
now--if I never see you again--you will have filled this wonderful
world for me. And if I could do something to prove this--to make you
happier--why, I'd thank God for having sent me ashore to cook a mess of
prunes."

He released her hand, and stepped back from her.

"That is why you should tell me," he finished.

A swift change had come into her eyes and face. She was breathing
quickly. He saw the sudden throbbing of her throat. A flush of colour
had mounted into her cheeks. Her lips were parted, her eyes shone like
stars.

"You would do a great deal for me?" she questioned breathlessly. "A
great deal--and like--A MAN?"

"Yes."

"A MAN--one of God's men?" she repeated.

He bowed his head.

Slowly, so slowly that she scarcely seemed to move, she drew nearer to
him.

"And when you had done this you would be willing to go away, to promise
never to see me again, to ask no reward? You would swear that?"

Her hand touched his arm. Her breath came tense and fast as she waited
for him to answer. "If you wished it, yes," he said.

"I almost believe," he heard, as if she were