"
Very soon--within a month at most--the creek which ran so joyfully to
the great ocean yonder would have run altogether out of sight, leaving
a parched and desolate watercourse in its place. The grass, now a
vivid green, bespangled with brilliant poppies, would fade into
premature age and ugliness. The trees would have assumed the dust-
covered livery of summer. The birds would be mute.
Sadie shrugged, protestingly, her slender shoulders.
"Suppose we talk of something else this lovely day?"
But Jeff paid no attention. In a crude, boyish fashion he had come to
a decision.
"Shall I tell you a story?"
"Oh, please!"
"It happened to a friend of mine, a man I knew real well."
"A love story, Mr. Wells?"
"There's love in it, Miss Sadie."
"I'm glad of that."
"This man, my friend, he was a brother deputy o' mine, came to be
twenty-six without ever falling in love."
"My! He must have been hard-hearted--your friend."
"Mebbee. Well, one fine day he met his mate----"
"What was she like?"
"Like? Why, she was the sweetest thing on earth. I'd as lief try to
describe a day such as this----"
"Oh! I know what's coming.
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