was a kind of glow upon his clean-shaven brown cheek. "I've stole
a march on the other boys. There was Frank Slade pushin' me close,
and I was havin' some runnin' to keep Jim Bell back in my dust.
Even old man Nels made eyes at Christine! So I wasn't goin' to
take any chances. I just packed her off to El Cajon and married
her."

"Oh, so I heard," said Madeline, slowly, as she watched him.
"Ambrose, do you--love her?"

He reddened under her clear gaze, dropped his head, and fumbled
with his new sombrero, and there was a catch in his breath.
Madeline saw his powerful brown hand tremble. It affected her
strangely that this stalwart cowboy, who could rope and throw and
tie a wild steer in less than one minute, should tremble at a
mere question. Suddenly he raised his head, and at the beautiful
blase of his eyes Madeline turned her own away.

"Yes, Miss Hammond, I love her," he said. "I think I love her in
the way you're askin' about. I know the first time I saw her I
thought how wonderful it'd be to have a girl like that for my
wife. It's all been so strange--her comin' an' how she made me
feel. Sure I never knew many girls, and I haven't seen any girls
at all for years. But when she came! A girl makes a wonderful
difference in a man's feelin's and thoughts. I guess I never had
any before. Leastways, none like I have now. My--it--well, I
guess I have a little understandin' now of Padre Marcos's
blessin'."

"Ambrose, have you nothing to say to me?" asked Madeline.