Bob Hampton of Placer - Page 131/205

She smiled, her eyes uplifted for a single instant to his own. "It was

rather thought just merging into dream, and there are few things in

life more sweet. I know not whether it is the common gift of all

minds, but my day-dreams are almost more to me than my realities."

"First it was moods, and now dreams." He seated himself comfortably at

her feet. "You would cause me to believe you a most impractical

person, Miss Naida."

She laughed frankly, that rippling peal of unaffected merriment which

sounded so like music to his ears. "If that were only true, I am sure

I should be most happy, for it has been my fortune so far to conjure up

only pleasure through day-dreaming--the things I like and long for

become my very own then. But if you mean, as I suspect, that I do not

enjoy the dirt and drudgery of life, then my plea will have to be

guilty. I, of course, grant their necessity, yet apparently there are

plenty who find them well worth while, and there should be other work

for those who aspire. Back of what you term practical some one has

said there is always a dream, a first conception. In that sense I

choose to be a dreamer."

"And not so unwise a choice, if your dreams only tend toward results."

He sat looking into her animated face, deeply puzzled by both words and

actions. "I cannot help noticing that you avoid all reference to my

meeting with Mr. Hampton. Is this another sign of your impractical

mind?"

"I should say rather the opposite, for I had not even supposed it

concerned me."

"Indeed! That presents a vastly different view from the one given us

an hour since. The distinct impression was then conveyed to both our

minds that you were greatly distressed regarding the matter. Is it

possible you can have been acting again?"

"I? Certainly not!" and she made no attempt to hide her indignation.

"What can you mean?"

He hesitated an instant in his reply, feeling that possibly he was

treading upon thin ice. But her eyes commanded a direct answer, and he

yielded to them.

"We were informed that you experienced great anxiety for fear we might

quarrel,--so great, indeed, that you had confided your troubles to

another."

"To whom?"

"Miss Spencer. She came to us ostensibly in your name, and as a

peacemaker."

A moment she sat gazing directly at him, then she laughed softly.