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broke； and worked over on to the Platte。 Rode for the C。 Y。 Outfit most a
year； and quit。 Blew in at Buffalo。 Rode for Balaam awhile on Butte
Creek。 Broke his leg。 Went to the Drybone Hospital； and when the fracture
was commencing to knit pretty good he broke it again at the hog…ranch
across the bridge。 Next time you're in Cheyenne get Dr。 Barker to tell
you about that。 McLean drifted to Green River last year and went up over
on to Snake； and up Snake； and was around with a prospecting outfit on
Galena Creek by Pitchstone Canyon。 Seems he got interested in some
Dutchwoman up there； but she had troubledied； I think they saidand he
came down by Meteetsee to Wind River。 He's liable to go to Mexico or
Africa next。〃
〃If you need him；〃 said the post…trader； closing his ledger； 〃you can
offer him five more a month。〃
〃That'll not hold him。〃
〃Well； let him go。 Have a cigar。 The bishop is expected for Sunday； and
I've got to see his room is fixed up for him。〃
〃The bishop！〃 said the foreman。 〃I've heard him highly spoken of。〃
〃You can hear him preach to…morrow。 The bishop is a good man。〃
〃He's better than that； he's a man；〃 stated the foreman〃at least so
they tell me。〃
Now； saving an Indian dance； scarce any possible event at the Shoshone
agency could assemble in one spot so many sorts of inhabitants as a visit
from this bishop。 Inhabitants of four colors gathered to view the
wolf…dance this afternoon red men； white men； black men； yellow men。
Next day； three sorts came to church at the agency。 The Chinese laundry
was absent。 But because； indeed （as the foreman said）； the bishop was not
only a good man but a man； Wyoming held him in respect and went to look
at him。 He stood in the agency church and held the Episcopal service this
Sunday morning for some brightly glittering army officers and their
families； some white cavalry； and some black infantry； the agency doctor；
the post…trader； his foreman； the government scout； three gamblers； the
waiter…girl from the hotel； the stage…driver； who was there because she
was； old Chief Washakie； white…haired and royal in blankets； with two
royal Utes splendid beside him； one benchful of squatting Indian
children； silent and marvelling； and； on the back bench； the commanding
officer's new hired…girl； and； beside her； Lin McLean。
Mr。 McLean's hours were already various and successful。 Even at the
wolf…dance； before he had wearied of its monotonous drumming and pageant；
his roving eye had rested upon a girl whose eyes he caught resting upon
him。 A look； an approach； a word； and each was soon content with the
other。 Then； when her duties called her to the post from him and the
stream's border； with a promise for next day he sought the hotel and
found the three gamblers anxious to make his acquaintance； for when a
cow…puncher has his pay many people will take an interest in him。 The
three gamblers did not know that Mr。 McLean could play cards。 He left
them late in the evening fat with their money； and sought the tepees of
the Arapahoes。 They lived across the road from the Shoshones； and among
their tents the boy remained until morning。 He was here in church now；
keeping his promise to see the bishop with the girl of yesterday； and
while he gravely looked at the bishop； Miss Sabina Stone allowed his arm
to encircle her waist。 No soldier had achieved this yet； but Lin was the
first cow…puncher she had seen； and he had given her the handkerchief
from round his neck。
The quiet air blew in through the windows and door； the pure； light
breath from the mountains； only； passing over their foot…hills it had
caught and carried the clear aroma of the sage…brush。 This it brought
into church； and with this seemed also to float the peace and great
silence of the plains。 The little melodeon in the corner； played by one
of the ladies at the post； had finished accompanying the hymn； and now it
prolonged a few closing chords while the bishop paused before his
address； resting his keen eyes on the people。 He was dressed in a plain
suit of black with a narrow black tie。 This was because the Union Pacific
Railroad； while it had delivered him correctly at Green River； had
despatched his robes towards Cheyenne。
Without citing chapter and verse the bishop began：
〃And he arose； and came to his father。 But when he was yet a great way
off； his father saw him； and had compassion； and ran； and fell on his
neck and kissed him。〃
The bishop told the story of that surpassing parable； and then proceeded
to draw from it a discourse fitted to the drifting destinies in whose
presence he found himself for one solitary morning。 He spoke unlike many
clergymen。 His words were chiefly those which the people round him used；
and his voice was more like earnest talking than preaching。
Miss Sabina Stone felt the arm of her cow…puncher loosen slightly； and
she looked at him。 But he was looking at the bishop； no longer gravely
but with wide…open eyes； alert。 When the narrative reached the elder
brother in the field； and how he came to the house and heard sounds of
music and dancing； Miss Stone drew away from her companion and let him
watch the bishop； since he seemed to prefer that。 She took to reading
hymns vindictively。 The bishop himself noted the sun…browned boy face and
the wide…open eyes。 He was too far away to see anything but the alert；
listening position of the young cow…puncher。 He could not discern how
that； after he had left the music and dancing and begun to draw morals；
attention faded from those eyes that seemed to watch him； and they filled
with dreaminess。 It was very hot in church。 Chief Washakie went to sleep；
and so did a corporal； but Lin McLean sat in the same alert position till
Miss Stone pulled him and asked if he intended to sit down through the
hymn。 Then church was out。 Officers； Indians； and all the people
dispersed through the great sunshine to their dwellings； and the
cow…puncher rode beside Sabina in silence。
〃What are you studying over； Mr。 McLean？〃 inquired the lady； after a
hundred yards。
〃Did you ever taste steamed Duxbury clams？〃 asked Lin； absently。
〃No； indeed。 What's them？〃
〃Oh； just clams。 Yu' have drawn butter； too。〃 Mr。 McLean fell silent
again。
〃I guess I'll be late for settin' the colonel's table。 Good…bye；〃 said
Sabina； quickly； and swished her whip across the pony； who scampered away
with her along the straight road across the plain to the post。
Lin caught up with her at once and made his peace。
〃Only；〃 protested Sabina； 〃I ain't used to gentlemen taking me out and
well； same as if I was a collie…dog。 Maybe it's Wind River politeness。〃
But she went riding with him up Trout Creek in the cool of the afternoon。
Out of the Indian tepees； scattered wide among the flat levels of
sage…brush； smoke rose thin and gentle； and vanished。 They splashed
across the many little running channels which lead water through that
thirsty soil； and though the range of mountains came no nearer； behind
them the post； with its white； flat buildings and green trees； dwindled
to a toy village。
〃My！ but it's far to everywheres here；〃 exclaimed Sabina； 〃and it's
little you're sayin' for yourself to…day； Mr。 McLean。 I'll have to do the
talking。 What's that thing now； where the rocks are？〃
〃That's Little Wind River Canyon；〃 said the young man。 〃Feel like goin'
there； Miss Stone？〃
〃Why； yes。 It looks real nice and shady like； don't it？ Let's。〃
So Miss Stone turned her pony in that direction。
〃When do your folks eat supper？〃 inquired Lin。
〃Half…past six。 Oh； we've lots of time！ Come on。〃
〃How many miles per hour do you figure that cayuse of yourn can travel？〃
Lin asked。
〃What are you a…talking about； anyway？ You're that strange to…day；〃 said
the lady。
〃Only if we try to make that canyon； I guess you'll be late settin' the
colonel's table；〃 Lin remarked； his hazel eyes smiling upon her。 〃That
is； if your horse ain't good for twenty miles an hour。 Mine ain't； I
know。 But I'll do my best to stay with yu'。〃
〃You're the teasingest man〃 said Miss Stone； pouting。 〃I might have
knowed it was ever so much further nor it looked。〃
〃Well； I ain't sayin' I don't want to go； if yu' was desirous of campin'
out to…night。〃
〃Mr。 McLean！ Indeed； and I'd do no such thing！〃 and Sabina giggled。
A sage…hen rose under their horses' feet； and hurtled away heavily over
the next rise of ground； taking a final wide sail out of sight。
〃Something like them partridges used to；〃 said Lin； musingly。
〃Partridges？〃 inquired Sabina。
〃Used to be in the woods between Lynn and Salem。 Maybe the woods are gone
by this time。 Yes； they must be gone； I guess。〃
Presently they dismounted and sought the stream bank。
〃We had music and dancing at Thanksgiving and such times；〃 said Lin； his
wiry length stretched on the grass beside th