Wilfred laughed without bitterness.Don't let my kinship to brother Edgerton disturb your ideal.We're so different that we parted without saying good-by,and although I had the weakness to imagine we might patch up old differences if we could meet here in the desert,I suppose we'd have fallen out in a day or two--we're so unlike.And as to Miss Sellimer--Annabel Sellimer--she is the girl whose letters I was carrying about with me when I first saw you.She refused me because I was as poor as herself;so you see,the whole bunch is out of my class.
That's good,Willock's face cleared up.Mind you,I ain't saying that as for me and Bill,we'd wouldn't rather sit with you in a dugout than with them in a palace on Lake Michigan.But it's all a matter of getting Lahoma out into the big world,and you gave me a terrible jolt,scaring me that after all we'd made a mistake,and they was just of your plain every-day cloth.
Wilfred moved uneasily.Has Lahoma made their acquaintance,then?
It looks like it,don't it?
What looks like it?Wilfred asked with sudden sharpness.Why,her going off,with 'em to spend the winter in high life.
That's why I was so glad to see you,Bill explained,her being gone,and us so lonesome.That's why I'd like to have you stay with us a long time--until she comes back,if it suits you.
But I thought....But I came here to see Lahoma,cried Wilfred,unable to conceal his disappointment.I thought as I came up the road that I saw her half-opening the cabin-door.
That was Red Feather taking a peep at you.He's the Indian that brought Lahoma to Willock,as a child.He comes,about once a year,to see us,but this time he was a little too late for Lahoma.Yes,she's gone East--they're all putting up in Kansas City just now;on their way to Chicago.
Son,said Willock,puffing steadily at his pipe,why did you want to see Lahoma?
Well--you know she was just a child when I was here before,but she's hovered before my mind a good deal--I've been too busy to seek the acquaintance of strangers--just want to keep the few I know.He blew a rueful breath.You can't think how all my air-castles have fallen about my ears!I wanted to see Lahoma!Yes,I wanted to see how she'd turned out.I have a good farm,now,not very far from Oklahoma City and--Well,being alone there,year after year,a fellow gets to imagining a great many things--He stopped abruptly.
That's so,Willock agreed sympathetically.I ain't a-saying that if Lahoma'd been like me and Bill,she mightn't of liked farming with you first-class.But she was born as an associate of high men and women,not cows and chickens.It's the big world for her,and that's where she's gone.She's with real folks.Be Mr.Edgerton Compton your brother,or be he not,you can't imagine him setting down with us sociable in this dugout.You're right about his being different.And the fact that Miss Sellimer turned you down is encouraging,too.It shows you couldn't run in her course;you didn't have the speed.I guess we ain't made no mistake after ail.
There was silence,broken presently,by Bill--I'm glad you've come,sure!
Presently the door opened,and the Indian chief glided into the apartment with a grunt of salutation.He spread his blanket in a corner,and sat down,turning a stolid face to the fire.
Don't pay no attention to him,remarked Willock,as if speaking of some wild animal.He comes and goes,and isn't troublesome if you feeds and sleeps him,and don't try to lay your hand on him.
Bill Atkins rose.ButI always light up when he comes,he remarked,reaching stiffly for a lantern which in due time glimmered from the partition wall.Are you hungry,Wilfred?We never feed till late;it gives us something to sleep on.I lie awake pretty constantly all night,anyhow,and when I eat late,my stomach sorter keeps me company.
Wilfred declared that he was not in the least hungry.
I'm afraid you're disappointed,son,observed Willock,filling his pipe anew.
Wilfred turned to him with a frank smile.Brick--it's just awful!It's what comes from depending on something you've no right to consider a sure thing.I never thought of this cove without Lahoma in it;didn't seem like it could be so empty....How did she get acquainted with Annabel?--and with my brother?
It come about,son.I see at once that the bunch of 'em was from the big world.I come home and told Bill,'Them's the people to tow Lahoma out into life,'says I.So they invited her to spend the winter with them,the Sellimers did,and show her city doings.
Yes--but how did it come about?
Nothing more natural.I goes over to their tent and I tells them of the curiosities and good points of these mountains,and gets 'em to come on a sort of picnic to explore.So here they comes,and they gets scattered,what with Bill and Lahoma and me taking different ways--they liked Lahoma first time they see her,as a matter of course.And so,that Miss Sellimer,she gets separated from all the rest,and I shows her a dandy hiding-place where nobody couldn't find her,and I shows her what a good joke it would be to pretend to be lost.So I leaves her there to go to tell her crowd she dares 'em to find her.Are you listening?
Of course.
