Jennette Lee

“ Her lips smiled, and one hand brushed aside the crowding tears. "Stupid man!" she breathed, softly.
He laughed quietly, holding her from him and looking into her eyes.
They fell beneath the look.
"We must go down," she said, slowly. "We must go down sometime."
A little wind stirred among the trees. The yellow leaves loosened and fell, drifting down slowly. The breathing of the horses came in gentle puffs.
They moved forward, down the mountain, to the road that curved at its base.
"Let us go back," said the girl, "the way we came." ”

“ She came through the gate, looking admiringly at the horse that he led by the bridle. "Isn't she a beauty!" She patted the glossy neck, running her hand down its length with slow, happy motion. The mare reached out a sensitive cushiony lip toward the girl's shoulder, sniffing it lightly and nuzzling it a little. The girl laughed out. She stroked the great nose softly, looking into the wide eyes and watching the pointed ears that moved back and forth in swift question and response. "She's a lady!" declared the girl. ”

“ She laughed a little tremulously as she tightened rein. "Come, let us hurry. We can go down faster than we came up."
"Yes—Leslie—" He still kept a hand on her rein, holding her back. "You are happy, child? Tell me—"
Her eyes studied his face a minute—full, serious—a woman's eyes. Then they fell. "No," she said, "I am not happy. But you have told me. I thank you for that. I might have kept on dreaming." The little drawl struck the words bravely. Then it faltered and broke.
The girl's hands had covered her face. They had come to the top of the path. ”

“ They had turned into a bridle-path that led up the mountain. She motioned to him, and they stopped while she gathered up the loose hair, winding it about her head. Her lips were smiling.
"You see, we had to come through." She said it almost gayly. "But it was not our fault."
"It has never been any one's fault," said the man, gravely.
She looked at him with wide eyes. "What are you talking about? Are you talking about something?"
A slow flush had risen in the man's face. "I was going to talk to you about going abroad," he said, quietly. "It was what I asked you to come for. ”

“ The eyes returned his glance unmoved, but a delicate line of color crept into the girl's face. "I don't believe I said it very nicely." The tone was apologetic. "I've never had much practice, you know." The little laugh behind the words was still friendly.
But the young man looked away without response. He stared out over the meadow. "It's deuced awkward, you know. Everybody expects it."
"Everybody?" The word held a quick demand.
He nodded. "All your folks and Uncle Will—"
"Did your uncle Will say so?" She spoke almost quickly, the little drawl brushing aside the words as they came. ”

“ Then it shrank again to the girl's face, quizzical and strong. "Do you think you can make her?" he said, quietly.
The youth's square chin lifted itself a little as he returned the cigar to his lips. "I'm sure of it." He gave a quick puff. "You can make any girl care, they say, if you keep at it long enough." ”

“ The longest-living author of this work died in 1951, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 71 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works. ”