It was not that he could not bear to look, but that he could not bear the disillusion sure to follow his first glimpse of this adopted daughter of Belllounds.
Sweet to delude himself! Ah! the years were bearing sterner upon his head! The old dreams persisted, sadder now for the fact that from long use they had become half-realities! Wade shuffled slowly across the green square to where the cowboy waited for him.

His eyes were dim, and a sickness attended the sinking of his heart.
"Wade, I ain't a bettin' fellar, but I'll bet Old Bill took you up," vouchsafed Billings, with interest.
"Glad to say he did," replied Wade.

"You're to show me the new cabin where I'm to bunk." "Come along," said Lem, leading off.

"Air you agoin' to handle stock or chase coyotes ?" "My job's huntin'." "Wal, it may be thet from sunup to sundown, but between times you'll be sure busy otherwise, I opine," went on Lem.

"Did you meet the boss's son ?" "Yes, he was there.