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work He's begun so noble。 When she's growed up； when she's a woman； it
ain't for us to say how you come and how you go； take from or add to。 But
while she's a kid； it is different； according。〃
〃You have my word of honor to all these conditions；〃 Wilfred cried
lightly。 〃As a child of the mountains I ask for her acquaintance。 If I should
ever feel differently about her； I'll go away and stay away until she's a
woman。 Surely that's enough to promise！〃
〃There ain't too much to promise； when it comes to the peace and
happiness of our little girl；〃 retorted the old man； 〃but I can't think of any
more for you to take oath to。〃
〃Me nuther； Bill；〃 agreed Willock。 〃Seems to me the young man is
bound as firm as humans can do the binding。 Now you sit right here； son；
don't come a step nigher the house； and we'll go to breakfast； and later
you'll know whether or not all this promising has been idle waste of time。〃
〃But I can see how it'll turn out；〃 growled Atkins； 〃for she is always a…
looking for something new； something out of the big world that she don't
know nothing about。〃
〃Never mind； Bill； don't give up so quick；〃 Willock reproached him； as
they turned away。 〃She's been having a good look at him all this time； and
it may be she have took a distaste to him already。〃
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CHAPTER XI
THE HALF…OPENED BUD
The two men went into the cabin。 An hour later they reappeared；
accompanied by the girl。 Wilfred was still seated obediently on the rock；
but at sight of them he rose with a gay laugh and advanced。
〃Come over here in the shade；〃 Willock called； as he strode toward a
grassy bank that sloped up to a line of three cedar trees of interlocked
branches。 〃Come over here and know her。 This is our gal。〃
Lahoma looked at the young man with grave interest； taking note of
his garments and movements as she might have examined the skin and
actions of some unknown animal。 Bill Atkins also watched him； but with
suspicious eye； as if anticipating a sudden spring on his ward。
〃Set down；〃 said Willock； sinking on the grass。 〃The last man up is the
biggest fool in Texas！〃
Lahoma and Wilfred instantly dropped as if shot； at the same time
breaking into unexpected laughter that caused Willock's beard to quiver
sympathetically。 Bill Atkins； sour and unresponsive； stood as stiffly erect
as possible； aided no little in this obstinate attitude by the natural
unelasticity of age。
The young man exclaimed boyishly； still smiling at the girl； 〃We're
friends already； because we've laughed together。〃
〃Yes；〃 cried Lahoma； 〃and Brick is in it； too。 That's best of all。〃
〃_I_ ain't in it；〃 cried Bill Atkins so fiercely that the young man was
somewhat discomposed。
〃Now； Bill；〃 exclaimed the girl reprovingly； 〃you sit right down by my
side and do this thing right。〃 She explained to the young man； 〃Bill Atkins
has been higher up than Brick； and he knows forms and ceremonies； but
he despises to act up to what he knows。 Sit right down； Bill； and make the
move。〃 There was something so unusual in the attitude of the blooming
young girl toward the weather…beaten； forbidding…looking man； something
so authoritative and at the same time so protecting； at once the air of a
superior who commands and who shelters from the tyranny of othersthat
Wilfred was both amused and touched。
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〃Yes； Bill；〃 said Willock； 〃make the move。 Make 'em know each
other。〃
〃This is Miss Lahoma Willock；〃 growled Bill； 〃and this〃waving at
the young man disparagingly〃SAYS he is Wilfred Compton。 Know each
other！〃
〃I'm glad to know you；〃 Lahoma declared frankly。 〃It's mighty lucky
you came this way； for； you see； I just live here in the cove and never
touch the big world。 I believe you know a thousand things about the world
that we ain't never dreamed of〃
〃That we have never dreamed of；〃 corrected Bill Atkins。
〃That we have never dreamed of；〃 resumed Lahoma meekly； 〃and
that's what I would like to hear about。 I expect to go out in the big world
and be a part of it； when I am older； when I know how to protect myself；
Brick says。 I'm just a little girl now； if I do look so big； I'm only fifteen；
but when I am of age I'm going out into the big world； so that's why I'm
glad to know you； to use you like a kind of dictionary。 Are you coming
back here again？〃
〃I hope so！〃 he exclaimed fervently。
〃And so do I。 In my cabin I have a long list of things written down in
my tablet that I'd like to know about； questions that come to me as I sit
looking over the hill into the sky； things Brick doesn't know； and not even
Bill Atkins。 You going to tell me them there things？〃
Bill interposed： 〃Will you kindly tell me those things？〃
〃Will you kindly tell me those things？〃 Lahoma put the revised
question as calmly as if she had not suffered correction。
〃You see how it is； son；〃 Willock remarked regretfully； 〃Lahoma keeps
pretty close to me； and I'm always a…leading her along the wrong trails； not
having laid out an extensive education when I was planning the grounds I
calculated to live in。 When I got anything to say； I just follows the easiest
way； knowing I'll get to the end of it if I talk constant。 People in the big
world ain't no more natural in talking than in anything else。 They builds up
fences and arbitrary walls； and is careful to stay right in the middle of the
beaten path； and I'm all time keeping Bill busy at putting up the bars after
me； so Lahoma will go straight。〃
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〃So that's why I'm glad to know you；〃 Lahoma said gravely。 〃But why
did you want to know ME？〃 She fastened on him her luminous brown
eyes； with red lips parted； awaiting the clearing up of this mystery。
Wilfred preserved a solemn countenance； 〃I've been awfully lonesome；
Lahoma； the last two years because； up to that time； I'd lived in a city with
friends all about town and no end of gay times and these last two years；
I've been in the terrible desert。 You are the first girl I've seen that reminded
me of home； when I saw you and knew you were my kind； the way you
held yourself and the smile in your eyes〃
Bill interposed： 〃Don't you forget that binding； young man！〃
〃Of course not。 But I don't know how to tell just what it means to me
to be with herwith all of you； I meanbut her especially； becausewell； I
had so many friends among the girls； back home andand It's no use
trying to explain； if you've known the horrible lonesomeness of the plains
you already understand； and if you don't。。。〃
〃I know what you mean；〃 Willock remarked； with a reminiscent sigh。
〃Let it not be put in words；〃 Bill persisted。 〃If a thing can't be
expressed； words only mislead。 I never knew any good to come of talking
about smiles in eyes。 There's nothing to it but misleading words。〃
〃Go on； Lahoma；〃 said Willock encouragingly； 〃we're both staying
with you； to see that you come out of this with flying colors。 Just go
ahead。〃
〃I want to ask you all about yourself；〃 remarked Lahoma thoughtfully；
〃because I can see from your face； and the way you talk； that you're a real
sample of the big world。 If I tell you all about myself； will you do the
same？〃
Wilfred promised； and Lahoma entered on the history of her childhood。
Wilfred looked and listened joyously； conscious of the unusual scene；
alive to the subtle charm of her fearless eyes； her unreserved confidences；
the melting harmony of her musical tones。 To be sure； she was only a child；
but he saw already the promise of the woman。 The petals as yet were
closed； but the faint sweet fragrance was already astir。 He found； too； that
in her nature was already developed something not akin to youth；
something impersonal； having nothing to do with one's nu