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it is： Give up this intention of yours to seek adventure； and come with us。 It
seems to me you need not hunt for excitement here； it will come unsought。〃
〃I wish I were Jim；〃 said he； suddenly。
〃Who is Jim？〃
〃My brother。〃
〃Tell me of him。〃
〃There's nothing much to tell。 He and I are all that are left of our people；
as are you and Kate of yours。 Jim's a preacher； and the best fellowoh！ I
cared a lot for Jim。〃
〃Then； why did you leave him？〃
〃I was tired of WilliamsburgI quarreled with a fellow； and hurt him。
Besides； I wanted to see the West； I'd like to hunt deer and bear and fight
Indians。 Oh； I'm not much good。〃
〃Was Jim the only one you cared for？〃 asked Nell； smiling。 She was surprised
to find him grave。
〃Yes； except my horse and dog； and I had to leave them behind；〃 answered Joe；
bowing his head a little。
〃You'd like to be Jim because he's a preacher； and could help uncle convert
the Indians？〃
〃Yes； partly that； but mostly becausesomehowsomething you've said or done
has made me care for you in a different way； and I'd like to be worthy of
you。〃
〃I don't think I can believe it； when you say you are 'no good；'〃 she replied。
〃Nell；〃 he cried； and suddenly grasped her hand。
She wrenched herself free； and leaped away from him。 Her face was bright now；
and the promise of smiles was made good。
〃Behave yourself； sir。〃 She tossed her head with a familiar backward motion to
throw the chestnut hair from her face； and looked at him with eyes veiled
slightly under their lashes。 〃You will go with Kate and me？〃
Before he could answer； a cry from some one on the plain below attracted their
attention。 They turned and saw another wagon…train pulling into the
settlement。 The children were shooting and running alongside the weary oxen；
men and women went forward expectantly。
〃That must be the train uncle expected。 Let us go down；〃 said Nell。
Joe did not answer； but followed her down the path。 When they gained a clump
of willows near the cabins he bent forward and took her hand。 She saw the
reckless gleam in his eyes。
〃Don't。 They'll see；〃 she whispered。
〃If that's the only reason you have； I reckon I don't care；〃 said Joe。
〃What do you mean？ I didn't sayI didn't telloh！ let me go！〃 implored Nell。
She tried to release the hand Joe had grasped in his broad palm； but in vain；
the more she struggled the firmer was his hold。 A frown wrinkled her brow and
her eyes。 sparkled with spirit。 She saw the fur…tader's wife looking out of
the window； and remembered laughing and telling the good woman she did not
like this young man； it was； perhaps； because she feared those sharp eyes that
she resented his audacity。 She opened her mouth to rebuke him； but no words
came。 Joe had bent his head and softly closed her lips with his own。
For the single instant during which Nell stood transfixed； as if with
surprise； and looking up at Joe； she was dumb。 Usually the girl was ready with
sharp or saucy words and impulsive in her movements； but now the bewilderment
of being kissed； particularly within view of the trader's wife； confused her。
Then she heard voices； and as Joe turned away with a smile on his face； the
unusual warmth in her heart was followed by an angry throbbing。
Joe's tall figure stood out distinctly as he leisurely strolled toward the
incoming wagon…train without looking backward。 Flashing after him a glance
that boded wordy trouble in the future； she ran into the cabin。
As she entered the door it seemed certain the grizzled frontiersman sitting on
the bench outside had grinned knowingly at her； and winked as if to say he
would keep her secret。 Mrs。 Wentz； the fur…trader's wife； was seated by the
open window which faced the fort； she was a large woman； strong of feature；
and with that calm placidity of expression common to people who have lived
long in sparsely populated districts。 Nell glanced furtively at her and
thought she detected the shadow of a smile in the gray eyes。
〃I saw you and your sweetheart makin' love behind the willow；〃 Mrs。 Wentz said
in a matter…of…fact voice。 〃I don't see why you need hide to do it。 We folks
out here like to see the young people sparkin'。 Your young man is a
fine…appearin' chap。 I felt certain you was sweethearts； for all you allowed
you'd known him only a few days。 Lize Davis said she saw he was sweet on you。
I like his face。 Jake； my man； says as how he'll make a good husband for you；
and he'll take to the frontier like a duck does to water。 I'm sorry you'll not
tarry here awhile。 We don't see many lasses； especially any as pretty as you；
and you'll find it more quiet and lonesome the farther West you get。 Jake
knows all about Fort Henry； and Jeff Lynn； the hunter outside； he knows Eb and
Jack Zane； and Wetzel； and all those Fort Henry men。 You'll be gettin' married
out there； won't you？〃
〃You arequite wrong；〃 said Nell； who all the while Mrs。 Wentz was speaking
grew rosier and rosier。 〃We're not anything…〃
Then Nell hesitated and finally ceased speaking。 She saw that denials or
explanations were futile； the simple woman had seen the kiss； and formed her
own conclusions。 During the few days Nell had spent at Fort Pitt； she had come
to understand that the dwellers on the frontier took everything as a matter of
course。 She had seen them manifest a certain pleasure； but neither surprise；
concern； nor any of the quick impulses so common among other people。 And this
was another lesson Nell took to heart。 She realized that she was entering upon
a life absolutely different from her former one； and the thought caused her to
shrink from the ordeal。 Yet all the suggestions regarding her future home；
the stories told about Indians； renegades； and of the wild border…life；
fascinated her。 These people who had settled in this wild region were simple；
honest and brave； they accepted what came as facts not to be questioned； and
believed what looked true。 Evidently the fur…trader's wife and her female
neighbors had settled in their minds the relation in which the girl stood to
Joe。
This latter reflection heightened Nell's resentment toward her lover。 She
stood with her face turned away from Mrs。 Wentz； the little frown deepened；
and she nervously tapped her foot on the floor。
〃Where is my sister？〃 she presently asked。
〃She went to see the wagon…train come in。 Everybody's out there。〃
Nell deliberated a moment and then went into the open air。 She saw a number of
canvas…covered wagons drawn up in front of the cabins； the vehicles were dusty
and the wheels encrusted with yellow mud。 The grizzled frontiersman who had
smiled at Nell stood leaning on his gun； talking to three men； whose
travel…stained and worn homespun clothes suggested a long and toilsome
journey。 There was the bustle of excitement incident to the arrival of
strangers； to the quick exchange of greetings； the unloading of wagons and
unharnessing of horses and oxen。
Nell looked here and there for her sister。 Finally she saw her standing near
her uncle while he conversed with one of the teamsters。 The girl did not
approach them； but glanced quickly around in search of some one else。 At
length she saw Joe unloading goods from one of the wagons； his back was turned
toward her； but she at once recognized the challenge conveyed by the broad
shoulders。 She saw no other person； gave heed to nothing save what was to her；
righteous indignation。
Hearing her footsteps； the young man turned； glancing at her admiringly； said：
〃Good evening； Miss。〃
Nell had not expected such a matter…of…fact greeting from Joe。 There was not
the slightest trace of repentance in his calm face； and he placidly continued
his labor。
〃Aren't you sorry youyou treated me so？〃 burst out Nell。
His coolness was exasperating。 Instead of the contrition and apology she had
expected； and which was her due； he evidently intended to tease her； as he had
done so often。
The young man dropped a blanket and stared。
〃I don't understand；〃 he said； gravely。 〃I never saw you before。〃
This was too much for quick…tempered Nell。 She had had some vague idea of
forgiving him； after he had sued sufficiently for pardon； but now； forgetting
her good intentions in the belief that he was making sport of her when he
should have pleaded for forgiveness； she swiftly raised her hand and slapped
him smartly。
The red blood flamed to the young man's face； as he staggered backward with
his hand to his cheek； she heard a smothered exclamation behind her； and then
the quick； joyous barking of a dog。
When Nell turned she was amazed to see Joe standing beside the wagon； while a
big white dog was leaping upon him。 Suddenly she felt faint。 Bewildered； she
looked from Joe to the man she had just struck； but could not say which was
the man who professed to love her。
〃Jim！ So you followe