r to wish him joy. And Madeline
actually found that expression trembling to her lips. She held it back
until she could be severe. But Madeline feared she would fail of much
severity. Something warm and sweet, like a fragrance, had entered the
room with Ambrose.

"Ambrose, what have you done?" she asked.

"Miss Hammond, I've been and gone and got married," replied Ambrose, his
words tumbling over one another. His eyes snapped, and there was a kind
of glow upon his clean-shaven brown cheek. "I've stole a march on the
other boys. There was Frank Slade pushin' me close, and I was havin'
some runnin' to keep Jim Bell back in my dust. Even old man Nels made
eyes at Christine! So I wasn't goin' to take any chances. I just packed
her off to El Cajon and married her."

"Oh, so I heard," said Madeline, slowly, as she watched him. "Ambrose,
do you--love her?"

He reddened under her clear gaze, dropped his head, and fumbled with
his new sombrero, and there was a catch in his breath. Madeline saw
his powerful brown hand tremble. It affected her strangely that this
stalwart cowboy, who could rope and throw and tie a wild steer in less
than one minute, should tremble at a mere question. Suddenly he raised
his head, and at the beautiful blase of his eyes Madeline turned her own
away.

"Yes, Miss Hammond, I love her," he said. "I think I love her in the
way you're askin' about. I know the first time I saw her I thought how
wonderful it'd be to have a girl like that for my wife. It's all been
so strange--her comin' an' how she made me feel. Sure I never knew many
girls, and I haven't seen any girls at all for years. But when she came!
A girl makes a wonderful difference in a man's feelin's and thoughts.
I guess I never had any before. Leastways, none like I have now.
My--it--well, I guess I have a little understandin' now of Padre
Marcos's blessin'."

"Ambrose, have you nothing to say to me?" asked Madeline.

"I'm sure sorry I didn't have time to tell you. But I was in some
hurry."

"What did you intend to do? Where were you going when Stillwell found
you?"

"We'd just been married. I hadn't thought of anything after that.
Suppose I'd have rustled back to my job. I'll sure have to work now and
save my money."

"Oh, well, Ambrose, I am glad you realize your responsibilities. Do you
earn enough--is your pay sufficient to keep a wife?"

"Sure it is! Why, Miss Hammond, I never before earned half the salary
I'm gettin' now. It