The Girl from Montana - Page 27/133

"What's the matter?" she called. "Come on! There's water in the valley."

The sound of water was good; and life seemed suddenly good for no reason

whatever but that the morning was bright, and the sky was wide, and there

was water in the valley. He rode forward, keeping close beside her now,

and in a moment there gleamed below in the hot sunshine the shining of a

sparkling stream.

"You seem to be running away from some one," he explained. "I thought you

wanted to get rid of me, and I would give you a chance."

She looked at him surprised.

"I am running away," she said, "but not from you."

"From whom, then, may I ask? It might be convenient to know, if we are to

travel in the same company."

She looked at him keenly.

"Who are you, and where do you belong?"