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of a woman。
In another moment he was on her track； and soon had the satisfaction
of seeing her reappear at a lesser distance。 But the continual intervention
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of the massive trunks made the chase by no means an easy one； and as he
could not keep her always in sight he was unable to follow or understand
the one intelligent direction which she seemed to invariably keep。
Nevertheless； he gained upon her breathlessly； and； thanks to the bark…
strewn floor； noiselessly。 He was near enough to distinguish and
recognize the dress she wore； a pale yellow； that he had admired when he
first saw her。 It was Nellie； unmistakably； if it were she of the brown
duster； she had discarded it； perhaps for greater freedom。 He was near
enough to call out now； but a sudden nervous timidity overcame him； his
lips grew dry。 What should he say to her？ How account for his
presence？ 〃Miss Nellie； one moment！〃 he gasped。 She darted forward
andvanished。
At this moment he was not more than a dozen yards from her。 He
rushed to where she had been standing； but her disappearance was perfect
and complete。 He made a circuit of the group of trees within whose
radius she had last appeared； but there was neither trace of her； nor a
suggestion of her mode of escape。 He called aloud to her； the vacant
Woods let his helpless voice die in their unresponsive depths。 He gazed
into the air and down at the bark…strewn carpet at his feet。 Like most of
his vocation； he was sparing of speech； and epigrammatic after his fashion。
Comprehending in one swift but despairing flash of intelligence the
existence of some fateful power beyond his own weak endeavor； he
accepted its logical result with characteristic grimness； threw his hat upon
the ground； put his hands in his pockets； and said
〃Well； I'm dd！〃
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CHAPTER III。
Out of compliment to Miss Nellie Wynn； Yuba Bill； on reaching
Indian Spring； had made a slight detour to enable him to ostentatiously set
down his fair passenger before the door of the Burnhams。 When it had
closed on the admiring eyes of the passengers and the coach had rattled
away； Miss Nellie； without any undue haste or apparent change in her
usual quiet demeanor； managed； however； to dispatch her business
promptly； and； leaving an impression that she would call again before her
return to Excelsior； parted from her friends and slipped away through a
side street to the General Furnishing Store of Indian Spring。 In passing
this emporium； Miss Nellie's quick eye had discovered a cheap brown
linen duster hanging in its window。 To purchase it； and put it over her
delicate cambric dress； albeit with a shivering sense that she looked like a
badly folded brown…paper parcel； did not take long。 As she left the shop
it was with mixed emotions of chagrin and security that she noticed that
her passage through the settlement no longer turned the heads of its male
inhabitants。 She reached the outskirts of Indian Spring and the high…road
at about the time Mr。 Brace had begun his fruitless patrol of the main
street。 Far in the distance a faint olive… green table mountain seemed to
rise abruptly from the plain。 It was the Carquinez Woods。 Gathering
her spotless skirts beneath her extemporized brown domino； she set out
briskly towards them。
But her progress was scarcely free or exhilarating。 She was not
accustomed to walking in a country where 〃buggy…riding〃 was considered
the only genteel young…lady…like mode of progression； and its regular
provision the expected courtesy of mankind。 Always fastidiously booted；
her low…quartered shoes were charming to the eye； but hardly adapted to
the dust and inequalities of the highroad。 It was true that she had thought
of buying a coarser pair at Indian Spring； but once face to face with their
uncompromising ugliness； she had faltered and fled。 The sun was
unmistakably hot； but her parasol was too well known and offered too
violent a contrast to the duster for practical use。 Once she stopped with
an exclamation of annoyance； hesitated； and looked back。 In half an hour
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she had twice lost her shoe and her temper； a pink flush took possession of
her cheeks； and her eyes were bright with suppressed rage。 Dust began
to form grimy circles around their orbits； with cat…like shivers she even
felt it pervade the roots of her blond hair。 Gradually her breath grew
more rapid and hysterical； her smarting eyes became humid； and at last；
encountering two observant horsemen in the road； she turned and fled；
until； reaching the wood； she began to cry。
Nevertheless she waited for the two horsemen to pass； to satisfy
herself that she was not followed； then pushed on vaguely； until she
reached a fallen tree； where； with a gesture of disgust； she tore off her
hapless duster and flung it on the ground。 She then sat down sobbing；
but after a moment dried her eyes hurriedly and started to her feet。 A few
paces distant； erect； noiseless； with outstretched hand； the young solitary
of the Carquinez Woods advanced towards her。 His hand had almost
touched hers； when he stopped。
〃What has happened？〃 he asked gravely。
〃Nothing；〃 she said； turning half away； and searching the ground with
her eyes； as if she had lost something。 〃Only I must be going back now。〃
〃You shall go back at once； if you wish it；〃 he said； flushing slightly。
〃But you have been crying； why？〃
Frank as Miss Nellie wished to be； she could not bring herself to say
that her feet hurt her； and the dust and heat were ruining her complexion。
It was therefore with a half…confident belief that her troubles were really of
a moral quality that she answered； 〃Nothingnothing； butbutit's wrong
to come here。〃
〃But you did not think it was wrong when you agreed to come； at our
last meeting；〃 said the young man； with that persistent logic which
exasperates the inconsequent feminine mind。 〃It cannot be any more
wrong to…day。〃
〃But it was not so far off；〃 murmured the young girl； without looking
up。
〃Oh； the distance makes it more improper； then；〃 he said abstractedly；
but after a moment's contemplation of her half… averted face； he asked
gravely； 〃Has anyone talked to you about me？〃
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Ten minutes before； Nellie had been burning to unburthen herself of
her father's warning； but now she felt she would not。 〃I wish you
wouldn't call yourself Low；〃 she said at last。
〃But it's my name；〃 he replied quietly。
〃Nonsense！ It's only a stupid translation of a stupid nickname。 They
might as well call you 'Water' at once。〃
〃But you said you liked it。〃
〃Well； so I do。 But don't you seeIoh dear！ you don't understand。〃
Low did not reply； but turned his head with resigned gravity towards
the deeper woods。 Grasping the barrel of his rifle with his left hand； he
threw his right arm across his left wrist and leaned slightly upon it with the
habitual ease of a Western hunterdoubly picturesque in his own lithe；
youthful symmetry。 Miss Nellie looked at him from under her eyelids； and
then half defiantly raised her head and her dark lashes。 Gradually an
almost magical change came over her features； her eyes grew lar