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her clear amber eyes； in her imperious red lips； in her sensitive nostrils。
Need it be said that the youth and middle age of Excelsior were madly；
because apparently hopelessly； in love with her？ For the rest； she had
been expensively educated； was profoundly ignorant in two languages；
with a trained misunderstanding of music and painting； and a natural and
faultless taste in dress。
The Rev。 Mr。 Wynn was engaged in a characteristic hearty parting with
one of his latest converts； upon his own doorstep； with admirable al fresco
effect。 He had just clapped him on the shoulder。 〃Good…by； good…by；
Charley； my boy； and keep in the right path； not up； or down； or round the
gulch； you knowha； ha！but straight across lots to the shining gate。〃
He had raised his voice under the stimulus of a few admiring spectators；
and backed his convert playfully against the wall。 〃You see！ we're goin'
in to win； you bet。 Good…by！ I'd ask you to step in and have a chat； but
I've got my work to do； and so have you。 The gospel mustn't keep us from
that； must it； Charley？ Ha； ha！〃
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The convert （who elsewhere was a profane expressman； and had
become quite imbecile under Mr。 Wynn's active heartiness and brotherly
horse…play before spectators） managed； however； to feebly stammer with a
blush something about 〃Miss Nellie。〃
〃Ah； Nellie。 She； too； is at her taskstrimming her lampyou know；
the parable of the wise virgins；〃 continued Father Wynn hastily； fearing
that the convert might take the illustration literally。 〃There； theregood…
by。 Keep in the right path。〃 And with a parting shove he dismissed
Charley and entered his own house。
That 〃wise virgin；〃 Nellie； had evidently finished with the lamp； and
was now going out to meet the bridegroom； as she was fully dressed and
gloved； and had a pink parasol in her hand； as her father entered the
sitting…room。 His bluff heartiness seemed to fade away as he removed
his soft； broad…brimmed hat and glanced across the too fresh…looking
apartment。 There was a smell of mortar still in the air； and a faint
suggestion that at any moment green grass might appear between the
interstices of the red…brick hearth。 The room； yielding a little in the point
of coldness； seemed to share Miss Nellie's fresh virginity； and； barring the
pink parasol； set her off as in a vestal's cell。
〃I supposed you wouldn't care to see Brace； the expressman； so I got
rid of him at the door；〃 said her father； drawing one of the new chairs
towards him slowly； and sitting down carefully； as if it were a hitherto
untried experiment。
Miss Nellie's face took a tint of interest。 〃Then he doesn't go with the
coach to Indian Spring to…day？〃
〃No； why？〃
〃I thought of going over myself to get the Burnham girls to come to
choir…meeting；〃 replied Miss Nellie carelessly； 〃and he might have been
company。〃
〃He'd go now； if he knew you were going；〃 said her father； 〃but it's
just as well he shouldn't be needlessly encouraged。 I rather think that
Sheriff Dunn is a little jealous of him。 By the way； the sheriff is much
better。 I called to cheer him up to…day〃 （Mr。 Wynn had in fact
tumultuously accelerated the sick man's pulse）； 〃and he talked of you； as
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usual。 In fact； he said he had only two things to get well for。 One was
to catch and hang that woman Teresa； who shot him； the othercan't you
guess the other？〃 he added archly； with a faint suggestion of his other
manner。
Miss Nellie coldly could not。
The Rev。 Mr。 Wynn's archness vanished。 〃Don't be a fool；〃 he said
dryly。 〃He wants to marry you； and you know it。〃
〃Most of the men here do；〃 responded Miss Nellie； without the least
trace of coquetry。 〃Is the wedding or the hanging to take place first； or
together； so he can officiate at both？〃
〃His share in the Union Ditch is worth a hundred thousand dollars；〃
continued her father； 〃and if he isn't nominated for district judge this fall；
he's bound to go to the legislature； anyway。 I don't think a girl with your
advantages and education can afford to throw away the chance of shining
in Sacramento； San Francisco； or； in good time； perhaps even
Washington。〃
Miss Nellie's eyes did not reflect entire disapproval of this suggestion；
although she replied with something of her father's practical quality。
〃Mr。 Dunn is not out of his bed yet； and they say Teresa's got away to
Arizona； so there isn't any particular hurry。〃
〃Perhaps not； but see here； Nellie； I've some important news for you。
You know your young friend of the Carquinez WoodsDorman； the
botanist； eh？ Well； Brace knows all about him。 And what do you think
he is？〃
Miss Nellie took upon herself a few extra degrees of cold； and didn't
know。
〃An Injin！ Yes； an out…and…out Cherokee。 You see he calls himself
DormanLow Dorman。 That's only French for 'Sleeping Water；' his Injin
name！'Low Dorman。'〃
〃You mean 'L'Eau Dormante；'〃 said Nellie。
〃That's what I said。 The chief called him 'Sleeping Water' when he
was a boy； and one of them French Canadian trappers translated it into
French when he brought him to California to school。 But he's an Injin；
sure。 No wonder he prefers to live in the woods。〃
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〃Well？〃 said Nellie。 〃Well；〃 echoed her father impatiently； 〃he's an
Injin； I tell you； and you can't of course have anything to do with him。
He mustn't come here again。〃
〃But you forget；〃 said Nellie imperturbably； 〃that it was you who
invited him here； and were so much exercised over him。 You remember
you introduced him to the Bishop and those Eastern clergymen as a
magnificent specimen of a young Californian。 You forget what an
occasion you made of his coming to church on Sunday； and how you made
him come in his buckskin shirt and walk down the street with you after
service！〃
〃Yes； yes；〃 said the Rev。 Mr。 Wynn； hurriedly。
〃And；〃 continued Nellie carelessly； 〃how you made us sing out of the
same book 'Children of our Father's Fold；' and how you preached at him
until he actually got a color！〃
〃Yes；〃 said her father； 〃but it wasn't known then he was an Injin； and
they are frightfully unpopular with those Southwestern men among whom
we labor。 Indeed； I am quite convinced that when Brace said 'the only
good Indian was a dead one' his expression； though extravagant； perhaps；
really voiced the sentiments of the majority。 It would be only kindness to
the unfortunate creature to warn him from exposing himself to their rude
but conscientious antagonism。〃
〃Perhaps you'd better tell him； then； in your own popular way； which
they all seem to understand so well；〃 responded the daughter。 Mr。 Wynn
cast a quick glance at her； but there was no trace of irony in her face
nothing but a half…bored indifference as she walked toward the window。
〃I will go with you to the coach…office；〃 said her father； who generally
gave these simple paternal duties the pronounced character of a public
Christian example。
〃It's hardly worth while；〃 replied Miss Nellie。 〃I've to stop at the
Watsons'； at the foot of the hill； and ask after the baby； so I shall go on to
the Crossing and pick up the coach when it passes。 Good…by。〃
Nevertheless； as soon as Nellie had departed； the Rev。 Mr。 Wynn
proceeded to the coach…office； and publicly grasping the hand of Yuba Bill；
the driver； commended his daughter to his care in the name of the