to the
last wall of all. "Come on," said Lewis, smiling and holding out his
hand.

"Not this time, silly," said Natalie. "Don't you see the bars are down?"

"Yes, I see," said Lewis, springing into the open gap in the wall, "but
you're not coming through here. You're going over."

"Am I?" said Natalie, and rushed at him. With one arm he caught her
around the waist and threw her back. She landed on all fours, like a
cat. Then, laughing, she sprang up and came at him again, only to be
hurled back once more. Lewis was laughing, too, laughing at this last
romp in the name of childhood. Natalie was so strong, so stipple, that
he handled her roughly without fear of hurting her. They both felt the
joy of strength and battle and exulted. Four times Natalie stormed the
breach, and four times was she hurled back. Then she stood, panting, and
holding her sides, the blood rioting in her cheeks, and fire in her
eyes.

"Give up?" asked Lewis.

Natalie shook her head.

"We'll be late for supper."

"I don't care," said Natalie. "I'll never give up; only I'm cold." She
shivered.

"Cold, Nat?" cried Lewis. "Here." He started to take off his thick tweed
coat. At the exact moment when his arms were imprisoned in the sleeves,
Natalie shot by him. She held her skirts above her knees and ran.

Long was the chase before Lewis caught her. He threw his arms around her
and held her. Natalie did not struggle.

"You can't carry me back," she gasped. "It's too far." Then suddenly
from her eyes a woman looked out--a woman Lewis did not know. His arms
dropped to his sides. He felt the blood pumping in his heart--his heart
that had been pressed but now against the breast of this strange
unknown. By one impulse they turned from each other and walked silently
to the house. They were strangers,

CHAPTER XLIX

That evening when Natalie was driving him home Lewis told her that
to-morrow was good-by. Gip, as usual, was holding Natalie's attention so
that she could scarcely pay heed to what Lewis was saying. But the
central fact that he and Leighton were going hung in her mind and sank
in slowly, so that when they got to the homestead she could say quite
evenly:

"Shall we see you again?"

"Of course," said Lewis, "Dad and I will come over to say good-by."

"Come for supper," said Natalie. "I won't be home in the morning. Good
night."

Lewis walked slowly to the house, Natalie had not given him time to ask
why she would not be