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It seemed to fairly scorch the eye…balls。
〃Oh； we're West； now；〃 Kate said； exult… antly。 〃I've seen a thousand
types。 But yet not quite THE type not the imper… sonation of
simplicity and daring that I was looking for。〃
The major didn't know quite what she was talking about。 But he
acquiesced。 All he cared about was to see her grow stronger； and that she
was doing every day。 She was growing amazingly lovely； too； at least
the major thought so。 Every one looked at her； but that was； perhaps； be…
cause she was such a sylph of a woman。 Beside the stalwart major； she
looked like a fairy princess。
One day she suddenly realized the fact that she had had a companion
on the veranda for several mornings。 Of course； there were a great many
persons invalids； largely sitting about； but one of them had been
obtruding himself persistently into her consciousness。 It was not that he
was rude； it was only that he was thinking about her。 A person with a
temperament like Kate's could not long be oblivious to a thing like that；
and she furtively observed the offender with that genius for psycho…
logical perception which was at once her greatest danger and her charm。
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The man was dressed with a childish attempt at display。 His shirt…
front was decorated with a diamond； and his cuff… buttons were of onyx
with diamond settings。 His clothes were expensive and perceptibly new；
and he often changed his costumes； but with a noticeable disregard for
pro… priety。 He was very conscious of his silk hat； and frequently wiped it
with a handker… chief on which his monogram was worked in blue。
When the 'busses brought up their loads； he was always on hand to
watch the new… comers。 He took a long time at his din… ners； and appeared
to order a great deal and eat very little。 There were card…rooms and a
billiard…hall； not to mention a bowling… alley and a tennis…court； where the
other guests of the hotel spent much time。 But this man never visited them。
He sat often with one of the late reviews in his hand； looking as if he
intended giving his atten… tion to it at any moment。 But after he had
scrupulously cut the leaves with a little carved ivory paper…cutter； he sat
staring straight before him with the book open； but unread； in his hand。
Kate took more interest in this melan… choly； middle…aged man than
she would have done if she had not been on the out… look for her Western
type； the man who was to combine all the qualities of chivalry； daring；
bombast； and generosity； seasoned with piquant grammar； which she
firmly believed to be the real thing。 But notwith… standing this kindly and
somewhat curious interest； she might never have made his acquaintance if
it had not been for a rather unpleasant adventure。
The major was 〃closing up a deal〃 and had hurried away after
breakfast； and Kate； in the luxury of convalescence； half…reclined in a
great chair on the veranda and watched the dusky blue mist twining itself
around the brown hills。 She was not thinking of the babies； she was not
worrying about home； she was not longing for anything； or even indulging
in a dream。 That vacuous content which engrosses the body after long
indisposition； held her imperatively。 Sud… denly she was aroused from
this happy con… dition of nothingness by the spectacle of an enormous
bull…dog approaching her with threatening teeth。 She had noticed the
monster often in his kennel near the sta… bles； and it was well understood
that he was never to be permitted his freedom。 Now he walked toward her
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A Mountain Woman
with a solid step and an alarming deliberateness。 Kate sat still and tried to
assure herself that he meant no mis… chief； but by the time the great body
had made itself felt on the skirt of her gown she could restrain her fear no
longer； and gave a nervous cry of alarm。 The brute answered with a growl。
If he had lacked provocation before； he considered that he had it now。 He
showed his teeth and flung his detestable body upon her； and Kate felt
herself grow… ing dizzy with fear。 But just then an arm was interposed and
the dog was flung back。 There was a momentary struggle。 Some
gentlemen came hurrying out of the office； and as they beat the dog back
to its retreat； Kate summoned words from her parched throat to thank her
benefactor。
It was the melancholy man with the new clothes。 This morning he was
dressed in a suit of the lightest gray； with a white marseilles waistcoat；
over which his glitter… ing chain shone ostentatiously。 White tennis…
shoes； a white rose in his button… hole； and a white straw hat in his hand
com… pleted a toilet over which much time had evidently been spent。
Kate noted these details as she held out her hand。
〃I may have been alarmed without cause；〃 she said； 〃but I was horribly
frightened。 Thank you so much for coming to my res… cue。 And I think； if
you would add to your kindness by getting me a glass of water 〃
When he came back； his hand was trem… bling a little； and as Kate
looked up to learn the cause； she saw that his face was flushed。 He was
embarrassed。 She decided that he was not accustomed to the society of
ladies。 〃Brutes like that dog ain't no place in th' world that's my opinion。
There are some bad things we can't help havin' aroun'； but a bull…dog ain't
one of 'em。〃
〃I quite agree with you；〃 Kate acqui… esced； as she drank the water。
〃But as this is the first unpleasant experience of any kind that I have had
since I came here； I don't feel that I have any right to complain。〃
〃You're here fur yur health？〃
〃Yes。 And I am getting it。 You're not an invalid； I imagine？〃
〃No no…op。 I'm here be well； I've thought fur a long time I'd like t'
stay at this here hotel。〃
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〃Indeed！〃
〃Yes。 I've been up th' gulch these fif… teen y