Part 13 (1/2)

”Well,” laughed Hale, ”you will want to talk like them anyhow, because everybody who is learning tries to talk the same way.” June was silent, and Hale plunged unconsciously on.

”Up at the Pine now you said, 'I SEED you when I was A-LAYIN on the edge of the cliff'; now you ought to have said, 'I SAW you when I was LYING--'”

”I wasn't,” she said sharply, ”I don't tell lies--” her hand shot from his waist and she slid suddenly to the ground. He pulled in his horse and turned a bewildered face. She had lighted on her feet and was poised back above him like an enraged eaglet--her thin nostrils quivering, her mouth as tight as a bow-string, and her eyes two points of fire.

”Why--June!”

”Ef you don't like my clothes an' the way I talk, I reckon I'd better go back home.” With a groan Hale tumbled from his horse. Fool that he was, he had forgotten the sensitive pride of the mountaineer, even while he was thinking of that pride. He knew that fun might be made of her speech and her garb by her schoolmates over at the Gap, and he was trying to prepare her--to save her mortification, to make her understand.

”Why, June, little girl, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. You don't understand--you can't now, but you will. Trust me, won't you? _I_ like you just as you are. I LOVE the way you talk. But other people--forgive me, won't you?” he pleaded. ”I'm sorry. I wouldn't hurt you for the world.”

She didn't understand--she hardly heard what he said, but she did know his distress was genuine and his sorrow: and his voice melted her fierce little heart. The tears began to come, while she looked, and when he put his arms about her, she put her face on his breast and sobbed.

”There now!” he said soothingly. ”It's all right now. I'm so sorry--so very sorry,” and he patted her on the shoulder and laid his hand across her temple and hair, and pressed her head tight to his breast. Almost as suddenly she stopped sobbing and loosening herself turned away from him.

”I'm a fool--that's what I am,” she said hotly.

”No, you aren't! Come on, little girl! We're friends again, aren't we?”

June was digging at her eyes with both hands.

”Aren't we?”

”Yes,” she said with an angry little catch of her breath, and she turned submissively to let him lift her to her seat. Then she looked down into his face.

”Jack,” she said, and he started again at the frank address, ”I ain't NEVER GOIN' TO DO THAT NO MORE.”

”Yes, you are, little girl,” he said soberly but cheerily. ”You're goin'

to do it whenever I'm wrong or whenever you think I'm wrong.” She shook her head seriously.

”No, Jack.”

In a few minutes they were at the foot of the mountain and on a level road.

”Hold tight!” Hale shouted, ”I'm going to let him out now.” At the touch of his spur, the big black horse sprang into a gallop, faster and faster, until he was pounding the hard road in a swift run like thunder.

At the creek Hale pulled in and looked around. June's bonnet was down, her hair was tossed, her eyes were sparkling fearlessly, and her face was flushed with joy.

”Like it, June?”

”I never did know nothing like it.”

”You weren't scared?”

”Skeered o' what?” she asked, and Hale wondered if there was anything of which she would be afraid.

They were entering the Gap now and June's eyes got big with wonder over the mighty up-shooting peaks and the rus.h.i.+ng torrent.

”See that big rock yonder, June?” June craned her neck to follow with her eyes his outstretched finger.

”Uh, huh.”